The morning classes crawled by slowly. Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting soft golden lines across the desks. Bomi tried to focus on the lesson, but her mind kept drifting to the boy sitting a few rows behind her.
Hanz Hyungsoo.
Quiet. Sharp eyes. Distant.
And, somehow, the center of every rumor.
✦ ✦ ✦
The moment the bell rang, the classroom burst into chatter. Bomi packed her books, but her ears caught the conversations around her—whether she wanted to hear them or not.
"Did you hear? They say he beat up three seniors last year."
"No, no—someone said he hacked the school system and almost got expelled."
"I heard he transferred schools because of a fight."
"His eyes are scary. I wouldn't go near him."
The voices blended together into an annoying buzz.
Bomi paused.
She didn't believe things that easily.
But… curiosity still tugged at her.
She had seen Hanz up close before—he didn't look dangerous. Cold maybe, but more like someone who kept to himself… someone shy. Definitely not the monster people talked about.
She hugged her notebook tighter.
Why do people talk like they know everything…?
Does Hanz really have some dark past?
She shook her head quickly.
No. Don't judge someone you barely know.
✦ ✦ ✦
During lunch break, Bomi went to buy a drink from the vending machine. When she returned to the hallway, she spotted a familiar figure leaning against the wall with a bottled drink.
Hanz.
Alone, like always.
The hallway filled with whispers the moment people noticed him.
"There he is…"
"Don't get close."
"He looks like he'll snap any second."
"He totally scares people on purpose."
Hanz didn't react to any of it. His expression stayed unreadable.
But Bomi noticed something no one else did:
His fingers tightened slightly around the bottle.
…He was holding something in.
Bomi felt a small sting in her chest.
Before she even realized it, her feet moved toward him.
"H–Hi," she greeted softly.
Hanz looked up. "…You again."
His tone wasn't annoyed—just flat.
Bomi stood there awkwardly, her cold drink still in hand.
"I, um… heard some things," she said cautiously. "About you."
Hanz blinked once. "Rumors?"
"Y-Yeah…"
He let out a quiet breath, like he'd faced this a hundred times already.
"Don't believe them."
Bomi looked at him. "…You're not angry?"
"Why would I be?" he replied calmly. "People talk. It's easier to ignore it."
But she saw it—
That faint loneliness in his eyes.
"…Even if it hurts?" she whispered without meaning to.
Hanz's gaze flickered for a moment.
"It doesn't matter."
His voice dropped just a little.
"I'm used to it."
Bomi's heart tightened.
He wasn't scary.
He was… alone.
And for the first time, she truly felt it.