𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐄; boysnextdoor

number one leehan

                                                                                

                                                                                ✧˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

Y/N didn't believe in fate or luck—she believed in hard work. Growing up in a cramped, rundown house that didn't even belong to her family, Y/N learned early that dreams were useless if you didn't have the means to reach them. Her mother worked late nights, her father was absent, and her siblings were young enough to not understand what they didn't have.

For Y/N, success was her only way out. So she studied, long after her classmates had closed their textbooks and wandered off to their lives. She was awake late at night, studying under the dim light of her desk lamp, pushing herself harder than anyone else. Her only goal: to stay on top. Being the best at school meant opportunities—scholarships, prestige, respect. It meant hope for a future where poverty couldn't touch her family.

Every time she saw her name at the top of the rankings, it felt like a step closer to freedom.

That's why, on the day she saw someone else's name above hers, she felt her world crumble just a bit.

She'd stared at the board in shock, her eyes burning into the name "Leehan" above hers, as if that could erase it. She'd never even spoken to him, but she knew who he was—Leehan, the quiet transfer student who somehow managed to steal her spot without anyone noticing his rise.

From that day on, Leehan became her silent rival.

                                                                              ✧˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

Days turned into weeks, and Y/N poured herself into her studies with more focus than ever. Yet, somehow, no matter how much she studied, he stayed right ahead of her. They had a few classes together, and she'd occasionally catch glimpses of him—a silent presence in the corner of the room, never drawing attention, never speaking out. He had that casual confidence she envied, the kind that implied he didn't need to prove himself because he already knew his worth.

Y/N hated how it irked her.

It was during one of their shared study periods that he approached her for the first time. She was at her usual corner table, headphones in, deeply focused on her calculus problems, when she felt someone pull out the chair across from her.

She looked up, her expression frozen as Leehan settled into the seat.

"What do you want?" she asked, her tone sharper than intended.

He smiled a little, unfazed. "I noticed we're both pretty serious about academics."

"You mean, you noticed I was number one and took my spot," she shot back, still clutching her pen tightly.

Leehan chuckled, his eyes softening in a way that caught her off guard. "Maybe," he admitted, "but I wanted to see what you were like. It's rare to find someone who actually cares about more than just passing."

Y/N bristled, unsure if she should be offended or flattered. She watched him for a moment, trying to find an edge, some sign of weakness.

"You should know something," she said finally, leaning forward. "I'm not going to let you keep that spot. I've worked too hard to let it slip away."

Leehan's smile didn't waver. In fact, it grew slightly, his gaze steady. "I'd be disappointed if you did."

                                                                            ✧˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚

That was how it started—a strange, unspoken rivalry that quickly became her obsession. Every time she solved a difficult problem, her mind would whisper, "Would Leehan get this right?" Every time she scored well, she'd wonder if he had scored higher. He was like a ghost, haunting her every step, and it only fueled her determination.

But as days went by, something else slipped in with that rivalry—something unsettling and confusing.

They kept running into each other, and each encounter only deepened her confusion. Sometimes he'd be there in the library, his gaze lifting to meet hers as if he'd been waiting. Other times, they'd pass in the hall, and he'd offer her a small nod, a gesture that felt almost... personal.

Once, she found herself watching him from afar during lunch, observing the way he held his books, the way he spoke to the few friends he had. She'd told herself it was only because he was her rival, and understanding him would give her an advantage.

But it was getting harder to believe that lie.

The turning point came one chilly afternoon as she left the school late after a meeting. She was walking down the street, hugging her books close to her chest, when she noticed Leehan a few steps ahead, headphones on and oblivious to the world around him. She felt an urge to call out, but the thought embarrassed her, and she quickly shook it off.

As she slowed her pace, though, he noticed her. He slipped his headphones down and waited for her to catch up.

"Long day?" he asked, falling into step beside her.

Y/N nodded, feeling self-conscious.

They walked in silence for a while, the city lights casting a soft glow on the streets, until he spoke again.

"I heard that you tutor some of the younger students," he said. "I think that's... impressive."

Y/N blinked, caught off guard. "I didn't think you'd care about that."

"Why wouldn't I?" He looked at her, genuinely curious. "You're more than just some name on a ranking board. I mean... aren't you?"

She froze, his words hitting her unexpectedly hard. No one had ever spoken to her like that—as if she were more than just her achievements, more than her ambition. And hearing it from him, her rival, made it even more surreal.

For a brief moment, she felt an urge to tell him everything—to let him know why she worked so hard, why that number one spot meant everything to     her, why she could never afford to lose it.

But she swallowed the words.

Instead, she simply nodded, muttering, "I guess so."

                                                                             ✧˚⋆𐙚｡⋆𖦹.✧˚⋆˚

Over the next few weeks, their rivalry softened, replaced by a strange, fragile friendship. They'd study together sometimes, trading notes, exchanging a few words, a few glances. Her feelings toward him were a mixture of admiration, frustration, and something else—something softer and warmer that she didn't know how to name.

Yet, she didn't allow herself to admit it fully. Falling for Leehan felt like giving up, like letting go of everything she'd fought for. How could she let someone like him, a rival, a distraction, get under her skin?

But one evening, as they sat side by side in the library, she couldn't hold it back any longer. The silence between them was comfortable, the kind that didn't need to be filled with words. And suddenly, she felt his hand brush against hers, his fingers lingering just slightly.

She looked up, meeting his gaze. There was a vulnerability in his eyes, something unguarded and open.

"You're not just my rival, you know," he said softly. "I think... I think you mean a lot more to me than that."

Y/N's heart thudded, her mind scrambling for a response. But words failed her, and in that moment, she knew that no amount of ambition could stop her from feeling what she felt.

Slowly, she reached for his hand, entwining her fingers with his.

They didn't need to speak.