Chapter 2 Classroom Shadows & Rotten Games

The classroom buzzed with excitement as the homeroom teacher led Jae-min to the front.

"Class, we have a new transfer student. Please welcome...."

"Han Jae-min," he said, cutting her off politely but firmly.

Every eye in the room locked onto the tall, clean-cut boy with an intimidating aura. His uniform sat perfectly on him, his sleek black hair framing sharp cheekbones and piercing dark eyes.

Sera's eyes sparkled as she gave him a wave. "Jae-min!" she squealed, rising from her seat. "You're in our class?!"

But Jae-min didn't acknowledge her. His gaze had already shifted-to a girl seated quietly at the back, hunched slightly like she wanted to disappear. Yoon Ha-rin.

Their eyes met.

It wasn't a simple glance-it was as if time froze. Her lips parted in silent recognition. His expression flickered, like a memory long buried had resurfaced.

"Jae-min, you can take the empty seat behind Ha-rin," the teacher said.

Sera's jaw clenched. That was supposed to be her moment. She flopped down with a scowl, while her two best friends, Mina and Joo-mi, exchanged confused glances.

As class began, whispers traveled like wildfire.

"Isn't he the Han Corp heir?"

"He's seriously hot."

"Why's he sitting behind her though?"

Ha-rin stared down at her notebook, knuckles white. Her heart raced, but she dared not look back.

---

Lunchtime Chaos

The bell rang, and students dashed out to the cafeteria. Ha-rin moved slower, clutching her bag tightly. She knew what was coming.

"Hey loser," Sera sneered as she leaned on Ha-rin's desk. "Got any leftover crumbs from the trash you usually eat?"

Mina and Joo-mi giggled, then revealed a plastic bag.

Inside it? A rotting fish head.

"Ew-gross!" Mina shrieked as she dropped it on Ha-rin's desk.

The smell wafted through the room instantly.

Some students laughed. Others grimaced.

Ha-rin froze, throat tightening. Her hands trembled.

Before she could react, Joo-mi snatched her backpack.

"Let's see what she's hiding!"

"No-!" Ha-rin reached for it, but Joo-mi flung it across the room. The contents spilled out-her worn books, a sandwich wrapped in a napkin, a tiny keychain with a faded picture of her parents.

Sera picked it up and smirked. "Still clinging to dead memories?"

Ha-rin's fists curled.

"You guys are pathetic."

The words weren't loud, but sharp.

Sera turned. "What did you just say?"

Ha-rin stepped forward. "I said you act like children. Are you that insecure that you need to humiliate someone to feel powerful?"

Silence.

Sera's cheeks flushed with rage. "You little-"

"She's right."

The voice came from behind.

Jae-min.

He stepped forward, lifting Ha-rin's bag and gathering her things calmly. "You three are embarrassing yourselves."

Mina gasped. Joo-mi's mouth hung open.

Sera's face turned beet red.

Jae-min handed Ha-rin her bag, then gently took her hand.

"Let's go."

Ha-rin's eyes widened. "W-What?"

"You shouldn't let people like them walk all over you," he said quietly.

He led her out, ignoring the gaping crowd.

---

Back at the Han Mansion

Thunder echoed through the house-not from the skies, but from Han Dong-wook's voice.

"You call this a son?!" he roared, slamming a newspaper on the dining table.

Jae-hyun, Jae-min's older brother, stood silent, blood staining the edge of his shirt.

"Bar fight. Drugs. You're a disgrace!" their father spat.

Their mother, Hye-won, tried to intervene. "Dong-wook, please, he's hurt-"

"This is your doing!" Dong-wook snapped. "You raised him like this! What kind of mother can't control her sons?!"

Jae-min entered just in time to see his brother slump into a chair, wiping blood from his lip. Their mother's eyes welled with tears, but she said nothing more.

Jae-min clenched his fists.

His father's cruelty ran deeper than anyone knew.

---

Meanwhile... Sera's House

Tears streamed down Sera's face as she collapsed onto her mother's lap.

"I don't understand! She's nothing! But he looked at her! Like I didn't even exist!"

Her mother, elegant in a silk robe, stroked her hair.

"You're my daughter," she said firmly. "No one is allowed to take what belongs to us. Not some ragged charity case."

"But she-she stood up to me! In front of him!" Sera sobbed. "Everyone saw it."

"Then make her regret it," her mother said coldly. "Put her back in her place. I'll speak to the school board, but you-" she tapped Sera's temple, "-you need to remind her who controls this school. Don't be soft. Crush her spirit."

Sera's sobs slowed. Her expression hardened.

"I want her gone," she whispered. "I want her forcibly transferred."

Her mother smiled. "Then make it happen."

---

Nightfall Jae-min's Room

He stared at the ceiling, headphones in, the soft hum of jazz drowning out his thoughts.

But his mind wasn't on the music.

It was on her.

Yoon Ha-rin.

The moment their eyes met, something twisted in his chest. A memory, faint but warm. A little girl... in tears... a promise made long ago.

He took out his old photo album and flipped to the last page.

A photograph of a girl with chubby cheeks and big sad eyes... holding his hand.

Could it be her?

"Ha-rin..." he whispered.

---

Ha-rin's World

She sat by the window, knees pulled to her chest. Her aunt's voice screamed in the background.

"You're lucky I even let you sleep under this roof! And now you're talking back to rich kids?!"

She hadn't eaten dinner.

Her stomach growled, but she didn't move.

Her hand touched the keychain with her parents' photo.

"They'd never believe me... but he remembered me," she whispered.

Tears slipped silently down her cheeks.

---

A New Battle Begins

The next morning, the school gates buzzed with news.

"Did you hear what Jae-min did yesterday?"

"He stood up for her. Like, in front of everyone."

"Is he into her?!"

Ha-rin entered, trying to stay small.

She felt the eyes.

But then, she saw him.

Jae-min.

Leaning casually against the wall, one hand in his pocket. His eyes met hers.

And for the first time in years, someone smiled at her with no pity-only recognition.

Then Sera appeared, all smiles.

"Jae-min!" she said, skipping toward him.

He didn't move. Didn't respond.

His eyes were locked on Ha-rin.

Sera's smile faded. "Why are you looking at that loser?" she snapped. "That dirty, pathetic girl-"

He still didn't reply.

The bell rang.

Ha-rin and Jae-min stared at each other.

And the war... had just begun.