Minjin finally arrived at the house she thought Minjun was living in. She stopped outside, gazing up at the gate.
"This has to be it, right?" she murmured, scanning her surroundings for confirmation.
Her gaze landed on the nameplate beside the door, which was engraved clearly with the name "Kang." She held her breath—she had discovered the right place. Minjin paused briefly, uncertainty washing over her.
As Minjin heard footsteps approaching from the house, she quickly panicked and ducked behind a nearby parked car. Peering out from her hiding spot, she saw Minjun emerging from the gate.
"T-that's Minjun," she murmured.
Minjin found herself unable to resist following him, staying a few steps back and hiding behind objects whenever he looked around. Although she felt like a stalker, her curiosity kept driving her forward.
Minjun eventually entered a building, and Minjin squinted at the sign above. It indicated a study room where students could focus on their tasks. She followed him inside and saw Minjun sitting alone at a desk, his head buried in a book. Nearby, a few girls were watching him intently, whispering among themselves.
After a moment, one of them mustered the courage to approach. "Excuse me, you're Kang Minjun, right?" the girl whispered, trying to get his attention.
Minjin let out a soft sigh. "He's incredibly boring. He even studies on the weekends."
###
As Monday arrived, Minjin gazed out the window from her desk. She couldn't believe she would be attending the same school as Minjun. After arriving in Korea, he had never crossed her mind. Then she remembered the letter she had promised to return to him. She sighed and thought she might, but not considering her family's circumstances. She wondered if he wanted to be friends now that he was popular.
Kim Aecha's coldness toward Minjin intensified. Their previously vibrant and friendly conversations shifted to brief nods and averted gazes. The other girls in their group noticed the rising tension and frequently attempted to invite Minjin to join them.
Minjin kindly declined their offers to avoid further drama. She began spending more time by herself, having lunch alone.
Heo Yeong-hwan noticed something was different when he saw Minjin eating alone during lunch. Out of curiosity, he invited his friends to sit with her, and they attempted to start conversations. Although Minjin initially seemed hesitant, she gradually began to engage more openly.
###
Heo Yeong-hwan and his friends discovered Minjin sitting alone once more. Determined not to let her feel lonely, they approached her table again. Heo Yeong-hwan flashed her a quick, playful smile as he sat, with his friends following suit. They chatted casually, and Minjin appeared to relax.
Later that afternoon, as Heo Yeong-hwan walked down the stairs after class, his friends gathered around him with playful smiles.
"Why do you always hang out with Park Minjin?" one of them asked, giving him a teasing grin.
Heo Yeong-hwan shrugged, attempting to seem nonchalant. "What's wrong with that?"
His friend smiled broadly, moving in closer. "You can't be saying you like her?!"
Before he could say anything, another friend joked, "Yeah, we noticed you grinning like a fool whenever she's around."
Flustered, Heo Yeong-hwan quickly covered his friend's mouth with his hand, glancing around to ensure no one else was listening.
"Shh! Don't say anything foolish," he snapped, his cheeks flushed.
The two friends erupted in laughter. "So, it's true then?" they teased, nudging him playfully.
Heo Yeong-hwan rolled his eyes. Although he wanted to ignore it, he couldn't shake the feeling that thoughts of Minjin had been invading his mind more often lately.
One of Heo Yeong-hwan's friends mischievously grinned and said, "If you like her, we'll treat her like our boss!"
Heo Yeong-hwan paused, looking at his friends with a serious expression. "Promise?" He extended his pinky finger, signaling a pinky swear.
The two friends exchanged glances, pausing momentarily before breaking into wide smiles. They intertwined their pinkies with Heo Yeong-hwan's and declared together, "I promise."
Heo Yeong-hwan chuckled in relief, "Okay, then. If you ever cause her trouble, you must face me first."
His friends laughed, but their tone was earnest as they responded, "Deal."
###
Once Minjin finished her cleaning duties, she strolled through the hallways. Glancing at the windows, she was captivated by the autumn leaves in shades of brown and orange. It struck her how quickly time had passed since her father's death. However, returning to Korea brought her a sense of comfort. She wondered if it would have been better for her and her father to have stayed together in Korea years ago.
She heard gentle guitar strumming and a singing voice as she walked through the corridors. She paused at the doorway and saw a boy surrounded by a group of students passionately playing his guitar. She stayed outside to listen to him.
When he finished, the boy noticed her. "Annyeong! Is there anything you need?" he asked with a warm smile.
Minjin swiftly shook her head. "Aniyo."
Would you like to join our club?" the boy asked, gesturing toward the vibrant "Music Club" sign on the door.
"Ne?" Minjin responded.
The boy rose and approached her with a grin. "We're always seeking new members."
"Aniyo," Minjin replied.
Just as he was about to speak again, a girl appeared beside him, playfully chiding, "Ya, Choi Ye-joon! Stop trying to recruit students who aren't interested in your club!"
The girl then focused on Minjin, scrutinizing her more intently. "Hold on. You're the courageous girl who stood up to Heo Yeong-hwan!" she declared.
Choi Ye-joon appeared intrigued. "You're a grade 11?" he inquired.
"Ne," Minjin confirmed, bowing slightly before she continued down the corridor.
"Ya, help me with our calculus homework," the girl said, glancing back at Choi Ye-joon.
"Ya, Lee Deji, we're on the same intellectual level," Choi Ye-joon retorted with a smirk.
Lee Deji let out a dramatic sigh. "I wish someone could handle our assignment; I'm ready to pay for it."
Minjin stopped in her tracks. She then turned around and walked back to the two. "What will you pay?" she asked.
"What?" Lee Deji blinked.
"I can take on your calculus assignment," Minjin proposed.
Choi Ye-joon and Lee Deji exchanged a confused look before breaking into laughter. "You? How could you possibly solve calculus? You're just a grade 11!" Lee Deji scoffed.
"Try me," Minjin challenged.
Lee Deji looked ready to refuse, but Choi Ye-joon raised his hand to intervene. "Alright, Ms. Smarty Pants, go ahead and solve it," he said with a grin.
"Are you out of your mind, Ye-joon-ah?" Lee Deji whispered.
Minjin boldly took Lee Deji's calculus book and entered the music room. The others followed, with Lee Deji appearing uncertain and Choi Ye-joon smiling playfully.
Minjin settled at a desk and opened the book. "Which page are you on?"
"Page 75. We're learning about trigonometric functions." Lee Deji answered.
"Okay, please take a seat. I need a moment to review it," Minjin replied calmly and with authority.
"Are you sure?" Lee Deji started to say, but Choi Ye-joon nudged her shoulder, encouraging her to sit down and observe.
Everyone in the room watched Minjin tackle the calculus problems effortlessly, her pen gliding swiftly across the page. Lee Deji and Choi Ye-joon exchanged looks, their faces transforming from skepticism to amazement. Minjin appeared to answer each question easily as if it were the simplest task imaginable.
Once she completed the problems, Minjin confidently returned the notebook to Lee Deji. Lee Deji quickly skimmed through the answers, her eyes widening in wonder.
"No way," Lee Deji murmured, genuinely astonished.
Minjin extended her hand, palm up. Lee Deji rummaged through her bag, retrieved her wallet, and handed Minjin 50,000 won.
"Isn't that a bit too much?" Choi Ye-joon questioned.
"No, it's just enough," Minjin responded steadily while accepting the money, offering a slight bow in appreciation.
"What's your name? "Lee Deji inquired.
"Park Minjin."
Choi Ye-Joon began to object, saying, "Just because you're wealthy doesn't mean you should—"
But Lee Deji swiftly pressed a finger to her lips, silencing him. "Shh, I believe this is fine," she murmured, looking at Minjin with fresh admiration.
Then she turned and exited the room, leaving Choi Ye-joon behind, his face flushed as he touched his lips, feeling a stir in his chest.
Minjin then faced them again. "I'm curious—do you know Kang Minjun?"
The unexpected question took aback Lee Deji. "Of course. He's the most popular guy in school. Everyone treats Kang Minjun like a prince and even calls him Jeoha." She smirked and playfully pretended to gag.
"Is he really number one?" Minjin inquired.
"Yeah, are you interested in him too? It's not surprising. He's very popular among the girls," Lee Deji replied with a sly smile.
"I heard he and Mun Sara are close," Minjin inquired.
Choi Ye-joon laughed. "Everyone knows about them since she's second only to Kang Minjun."
Lee Deji nodded in agreement. "Yeah, some have also linked the two. There are whispers that Kang Minjun has been turning down girls because she's fond of Mun Sara."
Minjin smiled gently. "Oh, really? Are they dating then?"
Choi Ye-joon laughed playfully. "You seem quite interested in him. They're not a couple because many girls have confessed their feelings to him."
Minjin smirked and sighed dramatically, "Sure, right."
When Minjin walked back into the classroom, she couldn't believe her eyes at the chaotic scene unfolding. The room buzzed with loud voices, and right at the heart of the commotion were Kim Aecha and Choi Eun-Hwa, their hands tangled in each other's hair and their faces flushed with anger.
Tables lay overturned, chairs scattered across the floor, and other students recoiled in shock. Without hesitation, Minjin rushed in to help Heo Yeong-hwan, who bravely tried to separate the two girls. With a strong pull, Heo Yeong-hwan grabbed Choi Eun-hwa by the arm and gently pulled her away.
"Stop it!" he shouted.
Minjin reached for Kim Aecha, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Kim Aecha, please stop!" she pleaded.
Kim Aecha struggled momentarily, gasping for breath, but Minjin held her tighter, unwilling to let go.
"Please calm down!" Minjin urged, attempting to comfort her while keeping her grip steady.
"You are such!" Choi Eun-hwa shouted, attempting to free herself from Heo Yeong-hwan's hold.
"That's enough, Choi Eun-hwa!" Heo Yeong-hwan responded, his voice reflecting a blend of frustration and concern. "Both of you, stop this immediately!"
At that moment, Mr. Yu burst in, his expression serious and eyes blazing with anger.
"What's going on here?!"
Kim Aecha quickly pointed at Choi Eun-hwa. "She pulled my hair first!" she retorted defensively.
Mr. Yu's expression grew stern as he looked at both girls. "No more excuses. You both need to come to my office right now!"
Kim Aecha and Choi Eun-hwa shot furious glares at each other. However, they hesitantly eased their tension after a moment as Mr. Yun gestured for them to follow. The two girls walked solemnly toward the door, exchanging heated looks along the way.
The rest of the class stayed silent, and a heavy stillness enveloped the room. Heo Yeong-hwan took a deep breath, remaining in his place, and looked at Minjin.
He approached Minjin with curiosity. "I heard they were fighting over a boy."
Minjin smirked, shaking her head as she threw her backpack over her shoulder. "Fighting over a boy is pointless," she replied dismissively.
Heo Yeong-hwan raised an eyebrow, "Is that why Kim Aecha has been avoiding you?"
Minjin paused briefly, then sighed. "Yeah, she's crossed a line."
As she headed for the exit, her classmates, recovering from the recent chaos, called out, "Ya! Minjin-ah! Help us clean up this mess!" She continued walking toward the door, ignoring the plea.