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Nara clutched her bag tightly as she stood at the front of the classroom. It was her first day at the academy, and she could feel her cheeks flush as every eye toward her. "Hello, everyone. My name is Nara Kim," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
As she scanned the room, her gaze landed on a boy beside the window, slouched over his desk with his eyes closed, completely not aware of the introduction. His messy black hair fell across his face, and his arms folded in a way that made him look both relaxed and intimidating.
"Nara," the teacher's voice pulled her attention back. "There's a seat available next to Taesan. Please, go ahead and sit down."
Murmurs passed through the class. A few students exchanged worried glances, and someone in the back quietly whispered, "She's doomed." Another girl mouthed, "Turn back while you still can."
But there was no turning back now. Mentally prepared for herself, Nara made her way down the row and slid into the empty seat beside the sleeping boy. Just as she was placing her bag on the floor, her elbow accidentally brushed against his arm.
Instantly, Taesan jolted awake, eyes snapping open and narrowing on her. His gaze was intense, dark and piercing as he looked her over with an aura of annoyance.
"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded in a low voice.
Startled, Nara quickly mumbled, "I—uh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to wake you. I was just sitting down."
He stared at her for a few more seconds, as if judging her, then scoffed and turned away, muttering, "Just mind your own business."
The class went quiet, every student looking at her as if she had narrowly escaped some unseen danger. But Nara lifted her chin, finding a solution not to let him intimidate her.
When the bell rang for recess, Nara got up to leave, but before she could even take a step, she felt a firm hand on her arm. Turning, she found herself face-to-face with Taesan's intense glare.
"Come with me," he muttered, not waiting for an answer. He led her down the hallway, through the curious glances of other students, and up several flights of stairs until they reached the rooftop.
As soon as they were alone, he let go of her arm, turned around to face her, and his voice erupted, "Do you think it's fun, disturbing people like that?"
Nara blinked in surprise. "I already told you I was sorry. It was an accident."
Taesan's face was with frustration, his expression a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite place. "Just stay out of my way, okay?" he said, his voice harsh but his eyes betraying a flicker of something softer. "And don't think you can just walk in here and mess things up."
Nara squared her shoulders, meeting his gaze without flinching. "Mess things up? I'm just here to go to school, not to provide for your... needs." She gave him one last look, full of opposition, before turning on her heel and walking away, her footsteps echoing in the quiet stairwell.
...
The next day, as Nara walked into the school courtyard, she noticed a crowd gathering near the wall. Pushing her way through, she found Taesan shoving a smaller boy, who looked both frightened and had no choice but to accept, against the brick wall.
Without a second thought, Nara rushed over, her voice yelling out louder than she intended, "Taesan, let him go!"
The crowd hushed, watching the scene unfold in silence.
Taesan turned, surprise in his eyes before being replaced by a dark smirk. "And what makes you think you can tell me what to do?" he challenged, crossing his arms.
"Because what you're doing is wrong," Nara replied, her voice unwavering. "You think bullying others makes you important? It just makes you cruel."
For a second, she thought she saw a hurt feeling behind his eye, but he quickly covered it with a smug smile. "I'm the captain of the soccer team. Everyone here looks up to me. And you're just some new girl who doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut."
But Nara didn't back down. She reached up and slapped his face, her glare fierce and steady. "I don't care who you are. No one has the right to treat people like that."
The crowd were whispering with each other as Taesan's face darkened, though he seemed more shocked than angry. And in that split second of hesitation, Nara took the smaller boy's hand and pulled him away, leaving Taesan standing in the courtyard with an unreadable expression.
When they were safely away from the crowd, Nara turned to the boy. "Are you okay?" she asked gently.
He nodded, though his hands were still trembling. "Thank you... No one's ever stood up to him like that."
"Has he been bullying you for long?" she asked, her voice softening.
The boy glanced around as if making sure no one else was listening. "Ever since his ex-girlfriend left," he said quietly. "He... changed after that. The seat you're in... it was hers. She was the only one who could calm him down."
Nara frowned, putting together some of the mystery. She wanted to ask more but decided to leave it for now. "If he bothers you again, come to me," she said firmly, giving him a reassuring smile.
Over the next few weeks, Taesan's dislike toward Nara became a school-wide topic of gossip. Every time he picked on someone, she would be there, challenging him, pulling the students out of his control, and scolding him in front of everyone.
One day, after yet another confrontation, Taesan leaned over her desk with a provoking smirk. "You know, Nara, since you're so obsessed with stopping me, maybe you should just be my girlfriend," he teased, his tone filling with sarcasm. "Would make things a lot easier, don't you think?"
Nara burst into laughter, catching him off guard. "As if I'd ever go out with a bully like you," she said, dismissing him with her hand.
The class laughed, and Taesan for the first time, seemed lost for words. He stared at her as if she were the first person who had ever truly seen him, flaws and all.
But it didn't stop there. Over time, his teasing became gentler, his insult half-hearted. He began seeking her out, not to bully her but to talk, annoy her with questions, or simply sit nearby.
One afternoon, as they sat in class, he looked over at her, a softer expression on his face. "Nara," he murmured, "why do you even bother with me?"
She glanced at him, considering her answer. "Because, Taesan, I believe people can change. And maybe you're not as bad as you want everyone to think."
Something shifted in his gaze, a glimmer of hope and vulnerability. "Would you give me a chance, then?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Be my girlfriend?"
She smiled, amused but kind. "You'll have to do a lot more than that to impress me, Taesan," she replied, turning back to her notebook.
As he watched her, a determined smile formed on his lips. He didn't say it aloud, but he knew he was willing to try, to change—because of her. For the first time in his life, he wanted to be better. And for the first time, he knew what he was fighting for.
