Sooheon's pov from 3 years ago :

The teacher's office was filled with the low hum of voices, papers shuffling, and the faint scent of coffee and whiteboard markers.

Sooheon stood at the entrance, his hands in his pockets, waiting for whatever formality came with being the new kid-again. Hyosan High was his fourth school transfer, and by now, he was used to the routine.

Sooheon had stopped counting the number of times he had walked into a new school, a new classroom, and a new life he had no intention of settling into. Hyosan High was just supposed to be another stop, another place he would pass through before inevitably moving again.

He didn't plan on staying long anyway. He never did.

Just as he took a step forward, someone brushed past him.

A girl.

The movement was quick-silent, like she was barely there. But for some reason, Sooheon's gaze lingered.

She was dressed in the crisp Hyosan uniform, her posture perfect, her steps precise. Straight dark hair framed a face that was striking in a way he hadn't expected-sharp eyes, high cheekbones, lips pressed into a neutral line.

She didn't look at him. Didn't pause.

Just walked right past as if he wasn't there.

But for a split second, when their shoulders nearly brushed, Sooheon caught a glimpse of something-

A fleeting hesitation. A moment where she had almost looked at him but chose not to.

And then she was gone, disappearing down the hallway, her presence fading as quickly as it had appeared.

Sooheon exhaled, shaking off the thought.

She's probably one of those top students. The kind that lived in a different world from his.

Still-

She's pretty.

The thought came and went before he could stop it.

A teacher called his name, snapping him back to reality. He turned away, pushing the moment to the back of his mind.

It was just a bump in the hallway. Just another unfamiliar face in a school that wouldn't matter to him in the long run.

Or so he thought.

Sooheon was well-acquainted with the attention that followed him everywhere. It was part of the package deal: new school, new faces, and everyone wanting something from him. He could tell who was genuinely interested and who was just drawn in by his looks.

But there were two people who, no matter what, seemed completely uninterested in him-Cheongsan and Namra.

Cheongsan, the smart kid in class, always kept to himself. While everyone else was vying for Sooheon's attention, he barely acknowledged him. There were no attempts at friendly small talk or any of the usual gestures of wanting to be a part of his orbit.

Sooheon didn't mind at first, but it was unusual. Was he different from the others, or just too smart to fall for the usual act?

He noticed Cheongsan more in the days that followed, sitting at the front of the class, scribbling notes, eyes constantly on the textbooks instead of scanning the room. And when the class chatter picked up, when the girls would giggle or the guys would throw jabs, Cheongsan's eyes didn't even flicker toward the noise.

That was when Sooheon started paying attention.

Even when he'd pass by Cheongsan in the hallways, there was nothing. No acknowledgement, no greeting, not even a glance.

It wasn't that Cheongsan didn't notice him-he just didn't care. And Sooheon couldn't help but be intrigued by that.

Then there was Namra.

She was another mystery.

The top student. The one everyone else in class admired, but no one really talked to.

She never looked at Sooheon, even though he was sure they'd crossed paths in the hallway a few times. When their eyes met by accident, there was nothing in her gaze. No curiosity. No acknowledgment. Just... blankness.

She moved through the halls like she was untouchable, a shadow who didn't need to be seen. And when the group around him tried to engage her in small talk or ask for help with assignments, she'd nod politely but remain distant.

Namra didn't talk to him, didn't give him the slightest sign that she saw him any differently than anyone else.

Sooheon was used to people being drawn to him- but these two? They weren't. They weren't part of the world that revolved around him.

For some reason, that made them stand out even more.

While everyone else in school was caught up in the swirling chaos of social dynamics, there was one constant in Lee Cheongsan's life: Nam Onjo.

She was his best friend. The one person who, no matter what, stayed by his side. She was the one person he would fight for, protect, and, on occasion, even chase.

But other than that, Cheongsan had no time for anyone else. Certainly not Sooheon.

Most people had noticed it-the way Cheongsan was completely indifferent to the attention Sooheon attracted, and the way he treated Onjo like no one else existed when she was around.

It was clear to Sooheon from the first day he saw Cheongsan and Onjo together. They were inseparable. And it was obvious to anyone who paid attention that Cheongsan wasn't interested in anything beyond their friendship.

Wherever Onjo went, Cheongsan followed.

He wasn't one to waste time on superficial connections. He didn't care about being liked or admired by his peers. His focus was on her, always.

He would walk her to class, help her with assignments, and even wait for her after school when she stayed late for student council work. Every moment he spent near her, his attention was wholly on her.

Sooheon couldn't help but observe. He wasn't interested in Cheongsan's loyalty, but he couldn't ignore the way Cheongsan's world seemed to revolve entirely around Onjo. It was different from how the others acted around him-people who wanted something from him.

Cheongsan didn't need anyone's approval. He only needed one person: Onjo.

And as Sooheon witnessed it again and again, it made him realize that, maybe, there was a strength in focusing on just one person. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to life than being the center of attention.

---

He had perfected the art of being unbothered-keep his head down, don't get too attached, don't bother remembering names because soon enough, he'd be gone. That's how it always was.

But somehow, this time was different.

At first, he didn't notice it happening. It started small-the way Cheongsan slowly began to casually greet him like they had known each other forever, the way Daesu and Gyeongsu roped him into conversations with ridiculous jokes with Woojin joining, or how Joonyeong would pass him notes in class whenever the teacher droned on too long. He wasn't used to people pulling him in so naturally, making space for him without expecting anything in return.

And then there was her.

Namra.

She barely spared him a glance. She was quiet, always reading, always composed, and completely unfazed by anything. He had seen people like her before-reserved, unreachable. But somehow, with her, it wasn't distance; it was just how she was. And for some reason, that intrigued him.

He didn't realize when curiosity turned into something more. Maybe it was the way she always noticed when someone was struggling, even if she never said much. Or how she carried herself with an effortless confidence that made people respect her without question. Or maybe it was the rare moments when he caught her off guard, completely different from usual.

By the time he understood what was happening, it was already too late. He had friends. He had people who actually cared about him. And he had a crush he couldn't ignore.

Two and a half years. That was the longest he had ever stayed put anywhere. And maybe, just maybe, this time, he didn't mind staying a little longer.