I've always been told that life has a way of repeating itself. Sometimes in ways you notice, sometimes in ways you don't. I didn't realize just how literal that saying would be until the day I met him.
It was the admission exam for my new school—a new building, new classrooms, new faces. My parents had always said our families were connected to Minjun Ryu's family, but until that day, I'd never actually met him. And yet, the moment I looked up, there he was.
Minjun. Sitting across the exam hall, calm, confident, almost annoyingly put together. I don't know what it was—maybe the way he held his pencil, the slight curve of his smile, or the familiar weight in my chest—but I felt something that made my heart skip before we'd even exchanged a word.
I failed at concentrating on the math problem in front of me. Instead, I found myself stealing glances, memorizing his profile like I was trying to store it in my brain for later. That day, I knew I'd be thinking about him for a long time. That day, I fell at first sight.
The first day of school, I was trying not to be nervous. New school, new faces—again. But Minjun Ryu? Same school, same class. Fate, I suppose, had a wicked sense of humor.
I stepped into the classroom, my shoes squeaking a little on the polished floor. The chatter dimmed as the teacher clapped his hands. "Class, we have a new student joining us today—please welcome Byun Doheon."
And then I noticed him.
From the corner of my eye, someone was looking at me. A boy with dark, calm eyes, standing at the back, leaning slightly against the wall. Our eyes met for a brief, fleeting moment. That was it—just a flicker of awareness and then he looked away, as if he hadn't been watching me at all. I didn't know his name and I didn't think much of it. My mind was elsewhere. Minjun. All I could focus on was Minjun Ryu, sitting casually at his desk, that familiar, effortless charm making my chest tighten. Whoever that boy at the back was didn't matter. Not yet.
i took a deep breath and tried to steady myself. Okay, Doheon. You've got this. Sit. Smile. Don't look like a total mess.
The only empty seat was… next to him. Minjun. Of course. Fate was really testing me today.
Sliding into the chair beside him, I offered a small, casual smile. "Hey… mind if I sit here?"
He glanced at me, one eyebrow quirking up, and then gave that effortless smile that made my heart do that stupid little flip. "Go ahead," he said smoothly, as if he'd been expecting me.
"Byun Doheon," I said, extending a hand as I tried not to fidget with my pen.
"Minjun Ryu," he replied, shaking it. His grip was firm, confident, and—God, was that a spark of amusement in his eyes? I tried not to melt.
"So… you're new too, huh?" I added, leaning slightly forward, like I meant to look casual, but also interested. "Transferred from somewhere else?"
He chuckled softly, a warm, easy sound. "Yeah. My old school just… wasn't really my scene." He tilted his head, studying me like he was already trying to figure me out. "And you? Same story?"
I grinned, letting a little confidence show. "Pretty much. Figured I'd shake things up, see what a new school has to offer."
"Bold move," he said, smirking. And just like that, my confidence wavered—how could someone make a simple compliment feel like both a tease and a compliment at the same time?
Before I could overthink more, a friendly voice cut through the quiet classroom.
"Hey! You two are the new students, right?"
I turned my head to see a tall boy with messy hair grinning at us, and a girl standing beside him, her eyes bright and curious. They looked approachable, and for some reason, it made my chest relax just a little.
"I'm Donghyun Dae," he said, extending his hand like we were already friends. "And this is Minseo Shin." She waved, smiling warmly.
I returned the handshakes, trying to keep my nerves in check. "Byun Doheon," I said. "Nice to meet you."
Minjun gave them a quick nod, that effortless charm still plastered on his face. "Minjun Ryu," he said, keeping it brief.
Donghyun's grin widened. "Ah, perfect! Now we've got the new transfer duo officially in our class." He nudged Minjun lightly. "Right?"
Minjun's smirk didn't falter. "Sure."
I sank a little lower into my seat, trying to look nonchalant. Inside, though… I was hyper-aware. Not just of Minjun, but also of the strange, calm presence I'd glimpsed earlier—the boy leaning against the back wall, watching. I didn't know who he was yet, and honestly, I didn't care. Not right now. All that mattered was Minjun.
The teacher began explaining the syllabus and class rules, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept stealing glances at Minjun, memorizing the way he laughed at something Donghyun said, the way he flipped his pen absentmindedly. Each movement made my chest tighten in a way I couldn't control.
"You're staring again," Minjun whispered suddenly, leaning just a fraction closer. My heart practically skipped a beat.
"I… uh… just thinking," I stammered, trying to sound casual. Too late—my face probably betrayed me.
He chuckled softly, that sound low and teasing. "Thinking about school, I hope?"
I groaned silently. "Of course. Totally school-related. Definitely not… anything else."
His smirk deepened. "Uh-huh. Sure, Doheon."
By the end of the class, Minseo and Donghyun had already pulled us into a little conversation about clubs and teachers, showing us the ropes. I noticed how naturally they included both of us—Minjun seemed comfortable enough, but still, there was that aura about him. Effortless. Untouchable. And I? I was completely caught in it.
By lunchtime, the classroom chatter had died down a bit, and most of the students had gone to the cafeteria. Minjun and I gathered our books, still walking side by side without thinking about it. It was absurd how natural it felt, even though I was hyper-aware of every detail about him.
"Do you… usually sit with new students?" I asked, trying to sound casual, though my stomach was doing somersaults.
He smirked without looking at me. "Depends on the student." He finally glanced my way, those dark eyes assessing me. "You seem… different."
"Different good or different bad?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Different… interesting," he said smoothly, almost teasing. "You'll see."
I wanted to roll my eyes, but my chest betrayed me with a small, involuntary flutter. Interesting? I repeated the word in my head.
We made it to the cafeteria, and I spotted Donghyun waving at us from a table near the window. Minseo was already sitting there, busy arranging her lunch neatly.
"Over here!" Donghyun called, grinning.
Sliding into the seat beside Minseo, I gave a small smile. "Thanks for saving us a spot."
"No problem," she said brightly. "You're new, so we have to make sure you don't get lost or end up eating alone on your first day."
I glanced at Minjun, who had taken the seat next to me.
Minjun gave a small, almost imperceptible smirk, like he was silently judging my nerves—or maybe just amused by them.
"Don't worry," I muttered, trying to act casual, "I can survive the first day."
"Survive?" Donghyun laughed, loud and easy, and I could feel the stares of a few nearby students, but he didn't seem to care. "First day at a new school is all about survival. Trust me, I've got years of experience."
Minseo giggled softly. "Yeah, and we're here to make sure you don't get eaten alive by the cafeteria food or the seniors."
I forced a small laugh, though my focus was still mostly on Minjun. He was leaning back slightly, casually flipping through his timetable, completely at ease. I couldn't help but notice how natural it looked—the effortless way he carried himself made my chest tighten again.
As lunch continued, Minjun picked at his food casually, occasionally glancing my way. I wanted to look calm, but the flutter in my chest betrayed me every time his dark eyes flicked toward me. He wasn't saying anything, and that only made it worse—just existing in the same space as him felt… heavy, magnetic, impossible to ignore.
"So," Donghyun began, nudging me lightly, "what clubs are you thinking of joining? Sports? Music? Debate?"
I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "I haven't really decided yet. Something low-key, I guess."
Minjun chuckled softly, his voice quiet but smooth. "Low-key, huh? You strike me as the type who gets noticed no matter what."
I almost choked on my food. "What… what do you mean by that?"
He smirked, the faintest teasing glint in his eyes. "You'll see soon enough. Just… different. Interesting, remember?"
i felt my stomach twist, a strange, familiar tingle crawling up my spine. It wasn't nerves exactly—at least, not the usual kind. It was… anticipation. A sense that something was coming, something I couldn't quite see yet. My hand went to brush a stray hair from my face, and I felt that tiny pulse again. Like a warning.
I blinked, shaking it off. Don't be paranoid, Doheon. Just your imagination.
But the feeling lingered, stubborn. Every time Minjun laughed, every time he shifted in his seat, my chest tightened in a way that didn't make sense. Not just because I liked him—or was obsessed, as Donghyun might tease—but because it was like… the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something.
"Doheon?" Minjun's quiet voice snapped me back. He was leaning just slightly closer, dark eyes focused on me, calm but sharp.
"Uh… yeah?" I stammered, heart thumping.
"You spaced out again," he said, smirking ever so slightly, just enough to make my cheeks warm. "Something on your mind?"
I hesitated. Could I tell him? Could I even put this… feeling into words? No. Not yet. Not this early. Instead, I shook my head, forcing a small smile.
"Just… thinking about lunch," I muttered. A weak excuse.
Minjun tilted his head, observing me with that same casual curiosity. "Mmh… thinking about lunch, huh?" he teased, not unkindly. "You sure you're not thinking about… something else?"
I swallowed hard, trying not to give away the flutter in my chest. "Maybe," I admitted softly, hoping it sounded casual.
He chuckled quietly, that low, smooth sound that made my chest tighten again. "You're different," he said. "I like that. Interesting. I'll keep an eye on you."
Minjun's smirk deepened, the teasing glint in his eyes making my chest feel like it had its own heartbeat. "You'll see soon enough. Just… different. Interesting, remember?"
Before I could respond, Donghyun elbowed me lightly, grinning like a mischief magnet. "Hey! Don't tell me Minjun's already psychoanalyzing you. We haven't even survived the cafeteria yet!"
I groaned, trying to hide my blush. "He's not—he's just… talking."
Minseo rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm. "Talking, sure. He's sizing you up. Admit it, Doheon, you noticed too."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Donghyun jumped in first, loud and teasing as always. "Ha! Of course he did! Don't tell me you're actually… flustered?"
I glared, silently willing them to drop it. But they didn't. Because of course they didn't. They were both idiots. Both laughing at me while I was trying to keep my dignity intact.
i forced a breath I didn't know I was holding, trying to calm the heat creeping up my neck. Donghyun's grin was too bright, too infuriating, and Minseo's gentle chuckle didn't exactly help.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," I muttered, waving a hand, hoping my voice sounded casual instead of totally embarrassed. "Just… let me eat my lunch in peace, okay?"
Donghyun laughed, waving his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine! Peace for now… but only because it's your first day."
Minseo nudged me lightly. "See? Not so bad, right? At least we're nice idiots."
I shot her a grateful, if awkward, smile. "Thanks… I guess."
The rest of lunch passed in a blur. Donghyun and Minseo chattered about school clubs, teachers, and the weird quirks of the cafeteria, while I nodded along, pretending to follow the conversation. My eyes, however, kept drifting back to Minjun, who was casually picking at his food. The way he laughed, the way his dark hair fell over his forehead, the way he seemed completely at ease in this sea of unfamiliar students—it was maddening.
The rest of the day was a haze of introductions, classroom rules, and wandering between new classrooms. Everywhere I went, I felt the familiar tension in my chest, the strange pulse whenever Minjun was near. And yet, there was that other presence—the boy at the back of the cafeteria, the one I didn't even know yet—who kept threading through my thoughts.
By mid-afternoon, we were walking through the long, sunlit hallway between classes. Donghyun and Minseo were chatting ahead of me, leaving me just a few steps behind. I felt Minjun's presence beside me again, leaning just slightly toward me as if unconsciously closing the space.
"You've got that look," he said quietly, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. "Like you're carrying a storm in your chest."
I froze. "I… what?"
He smirked, faint and teasing, but not unkind. "That distant, distracted look. You do it when you're thinking about something… or someone."
My stomach twisted. "It's… nothing," I mumbled, hoping my voice didn't betray me.
"Uh-huh," he said, clearly unconvinced, and his smirk deepened. "We'll see how long that lasts."
We walked in silence for a few more steps, the only sounds being our footsteps against the polished floor. Every now and then, he'd glance at me, and every time he did, that flutter in my chest returned with full force. I had no idea how one person could make my heart feel like it was simultaneously exploding and stuttering.
The bell rang, a sharp sound that echoed through the long hallway, signaling the start of our next class. Students began shifting and shuffling in all directions, backpacks bumping against lockers, shoes squeaking on the polished floor. I kept pace with Minjun, trying not to stumble over my own nerves. Every subtle movement of his—how he adjusted his bag strap, how he tilted his head while looking ahead—made my chest tighten in ways I wasn't ready to understand.
The next class was history, a subject I usually enjoyed, but today I struggled to focus. Minjun sat beside me, quietly observing, occasionally jotting down notes but mostly glancing in my direction when he thought I wasn't looking. Every little glance made my thoughts scatter, my mind jumping from the lesson to him and back again, like some cruel ping-pong match my brain couldn't win.
Minjun noticed my distraction immediately. "Something on your mind?" he asked softly, leaning slightly toward me.
I shook my head quickly. "No, just… the lesson," I lied, feeling my face heat.
His lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Uh-huh. Sure. Keep telling yourself that."
I groaned silently, wishing I could disappear into my seat
By the time the final bell rang, releasing the flood of students into the hallways, my mind was a jumble of Minjun's teasing smirks, Donghyun's chatter, Minseo's bright smile, and that strange, silent boy at the back.
"End of the day already?" I muttered, adjusting my bag.
Minjun's smirk was faint but sharp. "Time flies when you're… interesting."
"Shut up," I muttered, glaring at him while simultaneously feeling my chest tighten.
He leaned closer, almost conspiratorial, and whispered, "Don't deny it. You're thinking about today… all of it."
"I'm… I'm not," I stammered, even though I was already thinking about it. About him. About every glance, every word, every touch that had made my chest flutter and my thoughts scatter.
We walked out together, side by side, following the familiar corridors to the school gate. The sunlight had softened into late afternoon gold, long shadows stretching across the pavement.
The sunlight had softened into a warm, golden glow as we finally reached the school gate. Students milled about, some chatting with friends, others heading off in groups to buses or waiting cars. I adjusted my bag, feeling the weight of the day finally hitting me. My legs were tired, my chest still fluttering from… well, everything.
Minjun walked beside me, hands casually tucked into his pockets, that effortless smirk still playing at the corners of his mouth. "First day survived," he said lightly, glancing at me.
"I… think so," I muttered, trying to sound casual,
as we walked past the gate and out into the street, We lingered at the school gate for a few more moments, Donghyun and Minseo chatting about where they'd meet tomorrow, completely unaware of the storm of thoughts swirling in my head. Minjun stood beside me, hands in his pockets, smirk still faint but teasing. With a small wave, Donghyun and Minseo split off, heading in different directions, leaving Minjun and me standing at the edge of the gate.
"See you tomorrow?" he asked, voice soft, almost teasing.
"Yeah… see you tomorrow," I said, heart hammering in my chest.
And just like that, we parted ways. Minjun walked off in one direction, still calm, still teasing, leaving me standing there, feeling the pulse in my chest stubbornly insist that something
As I walked home, the sun dipping lower in the sky, I felt that quiet, persistent pulse again. And deep down, I knew that my life, my heart… and maybe even fate itself, were about to take a turn I wasn't ready for.