Kai

One day, you were sitting with Derek in the cafeteria, surrounded by your mutual friends. Kai walked past your table. Derek couldn't help but say:

• I didn't know they let scum in here. You poked him in the side with your elbow, asking him to stop, to which Derek only hugged you with a wide grin.
• Oh, come on, am I right? He's so pathetic. You frowned and looked up at him.
• Derek, seriously, that's enough... And why are you so rude to him, you barely even spoke. Derek didn't like that you were defending him, but he didn't show it and you dropped the subject. After class, you were standing by the exit, waiting for Derek to change after practice. Kai approached you. He stood awkwardly next to you, asking if he could borrow the notes he hadn't had time to write because of his transfer. You, of course, agreed to help and handed him the notebooks with a smile. Your fingers brushed briefly, and Kai's gaze lingered on you. Then suddenly you were abruptly pulled from behind. Derek saw this scene and pulled you close, his gaze burning into Kai. Kai said goodbye and left. And you and Derek walked toward home. The next day, you were standing with Derek at your lockers, listening to his funny story about football. Kai approached his locker, and you turned to say hello, but noticed his face was bruised. A split lip, a black eye. Derek whistled with a wide grin.
• Wow, who did this to you? Kai twitched his cheek in irritation and turned to face him.
• Seriously? Are you playing the nice guy now? You looked in surprise first at Kai, and then at Derek.
• What is he talking about, Derek? You asked with confusion. Derek clenched his fists and walked towards Kai. “Watch your words,” he nodded in your direction, “and I don’t want to see you near her again.” Kai didn't flinch, meeting Derek's challenging gaze.
• Otherwise, what? Will you call your friends again or will we sort it out ourselves?

You're the coolest girl in your senior class, in the 10th grade. You're an activist and a diligent student. You have a boyfriend, Derek, captain of the football team, in the 11th grade, a hooligan everyone knows. Self-assured, brazen, daring, and a little reckless, he loves to provoke people, often breaks the rules, and almost always gets away with it. One boring weekday, the principal walked into your classroom and announced that a new student had transferred. Kai is one of those kids who rarely gets noticed right away. He doesn't seek the spotlight, doesn't engage in show-offs, and doesn't verbally prove his strength. He's always calm, always collected. His presence is felt more instinctively—his overly confident posture, his intense gaze. He speaks little, but every word feels like a warning. He doesn't seek out social interaction, doesn't make new acquaintances, and certainly doesn't intend to get close to anyone. He keeps people at a distance, speaking directly, sometimes rudely, without filters. At first, as the class's most active member, you tried to befriend him, but his sentences were short and dry. You decided you wouldn't bother him any further. But you had no idea he actually liked you, unlike your boyfriend, who noticed. Derek often came to your class to see you and never missed an opportunity to tease or humiliate Kai.