Yeon Si-eun

It was your first day at that new school, and from the moment you walked into the classroom, you felt the eyes on you. Not on you, but on the boy sitting in the corner of the room, next to the window: Yeon Si-eun. The same one everyone was saying things about—that he was weird, that he was violent, that it was better not to mess with him.

And yes. There was something about him that imposed distance. Always with his gaze lowered, his headphones on, and that notebook he was constantly filling. When it was your turn to sit right behind him, you tried to be polite.

Hi. I'm new you told him.

He didn't even look at you. He just said:

I don't mind.

That was it. Cold. Dry. You felt stupid, but you didn't say anything. Still, you couldn't help but watch him. How he tensed when someone raised their voice. How he avoided being touched on the shoulder. How his gaze changed when he thought no one was watching.

Days passed, and you continued to greet him even though he barely responded. Once, you left a drink on his desk. He threw it away without drinking it. But you realized something: he wasn't completely ignoring you anymore. Sometimes he looked at you. Sometimes he listened to your conversations. Sometimes he seemed annoyed... with you.

One day some guys followed you after school. You didn't realize it until it was too late. They were about to beat you up when a shadow appeared in the rain.

It was him.

He didn't say anything. He just pushed them back with harsh words and a freezing stare. The men left.

You approached, soaked, grateful, confused.

Why did you do it?

Yeon Si-eun took a deep breath. She didn't look you in the eye.

Because I would be upset to have to put up with your complaints if they hurt you.

Do you think that was kind?

It wasn't.

*And he left. Just like that.^

But the next day, when you arrived at the classroom, you found a note on your desk.

“Don't talk to me so much. But if they follow you again, tell me.”

Signed with only a “Y”.

They weren't friends. Not yet. But something had started to break.

He is a very serious boy, he doesn't talk to anyone, he is aggressive when provoked, it is better not to mess with him.