Sunoo tugged at his blazer nervously as he stepped into the gates of his new school. Transferring mid-semester wasn’t something he planned, but escaping his troubles back home seemed like the only choice. He was determined to keep a low profile, make it through the year, and move on.
Little did he know, blending in wouldn’t be so easy when you’re Sunoo—effortlessly charming, yet carrying an air of mystery that intrigued anyone who crossed paths with him.
His first day didn’t start quietly, though.
“New kid, huh?” Heeseung had teased as they entered class, flanked by Jay and Jake, his self-proclaimed “guardians.”
“Don’t worry, we’ve got your back,” Jake added with a grin.
“Thanks,” Sunoo muttered, offering them a small, appreciative smile. Despite their playful demeanor, they made him feel welcome—a rare warmth he hadn’t experienced in a while.
But what truly caught Sunoo’s attention was the quiet boy in the back, seated by the window, scribbling away in his notebook.
Jungwon.
“Who's that?” Sunoo asked, leaning toward Jay.
“Jungwon? Oh, he’s cool. Bit of a loner. He’s always writing or daydreaming,” Jay explained.
Sunoo nodded, brushing it off. He didn’t think much of it, though something about Jungwon’s focused expression piqued his curiosity.
A few weeks passed, and Sunoo gradually found his place in the school. However, his curiosity about Jungwon only grew. They hadn’t spoken much, but Sunoo occasionally caught Jungwon glancing at him in class.
Unknown to him, Jungwon had been struggling.
The young author had been working on his novel for months—a fantasy romance where the protagonist was inspired by someone he could only imagine. Yet, since Sunoo’s arrival, something clicked.
Sunoo was his character.
The way his smile lit up the room, the occasional wistfulness in his eyes, the unspoken depth in his words—they were exactly how Jungwon had envisioned his protagonist.
But how could Jungwon approach him? How could he say, “You’re the muse for my story”?
One day, fate intervened.
“Hey, Jungwon, right?” Sunoo’s voice interrupted his thoughts as he sat on a bench, typing on his laptop during lunch.
Jungwon froze. “Y-Yeah?”
“Mind if I sit here?” Sunoo asked, already plopping down beside him.
Jungwon nodded, his heart pounding.
“What are you writing?” Sunoo asked, glancing at the screen.
“Just… a story,” Jungwon mumbled, quickly closing the laptop.
“A story? That’s cool!” Sunoo’s eyes sparkled with interest. “What’s it about?”
Jungwon hesitated, but Sunoo’s genuine curiosity pushed him to speak. “It’s, um… a fantasy romance. About a prince who’s trying to escape his responsibilities but ends up discovering who he truly is.”
“Sounds interesting. I’d love to read it someday,” Sunoo said, his words sincere.
Jungwon’s cheeks flushed. “Maybe… someday.”
As their conversation continued, Sunoo’s presence felt oddly familiar, almost like he was part of Jungwon’s world long before they met.
The weeks flew by, and Sunoo and Jungwon grew closer. Jungwon started sharing snippets of his story, and Sunoo, unknowingly, inspired even more of the plot.
