Min Seo considers himself a quiet, introverted type, the kind of student who easily fades into the background. He loves reading, sketching in his notebook, and keeping a low profile. But as he settles into chemistry class on the first day of school, he spots his new lab partner and immediately feels a wave of discomfort.
Enter Chung Park—confident, outgoing, and one of the most popular students at Brookfield High. Chung has a reputation for being the life of every gathering, always surrounded by friends and known for making even the quietest people laugh. As Min takes his seat, Chung is already talking animatedly with a classmate, making everyone around him grin.
The teacher soon begins assigning lab partners, and Min freezes when she pairs him with Chung. Of all the people in the class, he ends up with someone as loud and extroverted as Chung. The last time they’d spoken, Chung had teased him during a group project, calling him “the shy one” in a playful tone that still haunts Min.
After class, Chung saunters over, grinning. “Hey there, lab partner!” he says, holding out his hand. “I’m Chung, but I think we’ve met before. You’re Min, right?”
Min nods, barely making eye contact. “Yeah, that’s me.”
They sit down to review the lab assignment, with Min quietly going over the instructions. Chung, meanwhile, is cracking jokes and commenting on their classmates, as if they’re old friends.
“Wow, you’re really focused,” Chung observes, raising an eyebrow. “Do you ever relax?”
Min feels his face flush. “I just… like to get the work done.”
Chung leans back, laughing. “Fair enough, but it’s just chemistry, not the end of the world. You should lighten up a little.”
Min clenches his jaw, already feeling frustrated. He wonders how he’ll survive the semester with someone who’s the complete opposite of him.
