The Lie That Felt Like Home

Jimin is a chaebol heir who transfers to a new school to disappear-not to stand out. Leaving behind luxury and a name that opens every door, he chooses plain uniforms, quiet routines, and silence. He only wants to be average.
Instead, he becomes an anomaly.
His restraint, and refusal to compete with privilege make him different. Whispers follow him through the halls, and soon the students reach a conclusion of their own-Jimin isn't special. He's just poor.

Taehyung notices him first.
Kind, intuitive, and unable to ignore what others overlook, Taehyung assumes Jimin is struggling more than he lets on. He starts caring for him in small, thoughtful ways-sharing food, defending him without asking, staying close without questions.
For Jimin, it's unfamiliar. This care is not bought, not demanded, not expected. It's real.
But a lie, even a gentle one, has an expiration date