New uniforms, new streets, new language. Everything smelled different. Sounded louder. Looked sharper.

I clutched my bag a little tighter, lips pressed in a thin line as the massive school gates opened before me. People walked in groups. Girls linked arms. Boys yelled across the courtyard. A breeze swept through my skirt and whispered through my hair like a reminder:

*You don't belong here. Not yet.

I walked past the students in stiff silence, chin high, trying to mask the nerves dancing behind my wide eyes. My accent was still thick, my words still clumsy, I don't understand Korean, and I didn't know where my class even was.

As I stepped in—heads snapped towards me..

All the students gasped

*"그녀는 누구야?" "한국인 같지 않아." "정말 예쁘네." "그녀를 위해서라면 풀이라도 뜯어먹을 수 있어." ("Who is she?""She doesn't look Korean""She is so pretty""I would eat grass for her")

Literally—Some people said "I would kill for her" some said "I will kill *her*"

Envy. Jealousy. Admirers. Crushes. Already flooding the whole academy like Tsunami. Some boys already smirking and planning to approach me and catch this pretty butterfly, fighting with each other who will walk me home first *EVEN GIRLS TOO. And some already planning to target me as their next bullying victim.

Korean words. Too much unknown words. I was mumbling something in my language, already having level 10000 anxiety.

Then I felt it.

*Eyes.

Watching.

No—*his eyes.

Leaning against the window ledge of the second-floor hallway, a boy tilted his head slightly as I passed below. He had soft brown hair tousled just enough to look intentional, warm brown eyes that seemed... curious. Not mocking. Not judging. Just... watching.

Like he was seeing a new character walk into his favorite show.

He nudged the guy next to him. *"저 사람은 누구야?"

*"해외에서 온 전학녀인가 보다" the other student shrugged.

The boy blinked, still watching me, lips quirking into a slight smile. *"허... 흥미롭군요."

---

I finally found my classroom—barely on time—and slid into a seat near the window, heartbeat still uneven.

*"Hey." A low voice beside me made me freeze.

I turned.

*Him.

Brown hair. Warm eyes. That faint smile again.

*"You dropped this," he said, switched to English. holding up a small keychain. My keychain—the one from home. It must've fallen off my bag.

I blinked, reaching for it. *"Oh... thank you."

He didn't move. Just held it a second longer before finally letting it drop into my palm. His fingers brushed mine. Brief. Intense.

*"You new here, right?" he asked. His tone was casual, but his eyes stayed locked on mine, like he was mapping every inch of my expression.

*"Yes..." I said softly, my accent curling around the word.

He smirked a little at my voice. *"Cool. I'm—"

*"—Take your seats!" the teacher barked, cutting him off.

He winked instead. *"We'll talk later, foreign girl."

And as he leaned back in his chair, one arm slung lazily over the back of his seat, he added just loud enough for me to hear:

*"I like your voice."