LEE SEUNG-MIN'S POV (present)

Exactly one year ago I received the message of my parent's death. Exactly one year ago my life shattered into million pieces. Exactly one year ago I lost the two people who raised me and cared for me. Exactly one year ago I wanted to disappear.

Nonetheless, I stayed strong, standing on two feet even after I fell. I didn't wanted to give up because that's what my parents wouldn't want me to do. They would want me to be happy and to stay the smart boy I am.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade- they always say. But what if the lemonade was poisonous? What if it killed me in the inside? What if I'm not that strong?

What would my parents think if they saw my scars? The only proof that I wasn't strong enough.

Starting a new chapter might be easy but staring a whole new book of your life? That is difficult.

Exactly as difficult as it is to be forced to move out of your country to the US and live with your Aunt. Plus, going to a completely new school, with new teachers, new students, a new school system and new rules.

But here I am, standing in front of a school named Private Foxcroft High School in the middle of Maine.

I inhale deeply, looking at the school that stands proudly in front of me, its red brick facade glowing in the morning sun, the paint around the window frames chipped and flaking with age.

My aunt is standing next to me, looking at me with a proud smile. Her silver hair is swept up neatly into a low bun, her makeup matching the colours of her brown jacket and white jeans.

,,You can do this, Seung-min. Do this for your parents, okay?", she says and strokes my arm. I sigh and nod:,,Okay, I will."

My aunt's eyes become glassy and she looks away, sighing:,,Your parents would be so proud of you." I swallow down the lump in my throat, not wanting to cry. But they're dead...

After we say goodbye to each other, I enter the school. I walk through the long, dim corridors lined with rows of metal lockers. Some are open, students taking out stuff from it, others are painted and decorated with signs, banners or artworks.

On some doors there are brightly coloured posters advertising for various events like an art exhibition, a singing competition or a prom. There is a group of students standing in front of a classroom, chatting and laughing and I start to feel a little nervous.

I walk towards the principal's office, my gaze landing on the trophy cases filled with shiny awards and team photo's near the office before I knock on the door. A few seconds later, a woman in her early thirties opens the door, giving me a warm smile:,,Hello?"

,,U-Uh... Hi, I'm Lee Seung-min, the new student..", I say, watching as she nods and walks back inside, grabbing something from her table. Suddenly a sharp ring of a bell echoes through the hall, the students walking towards their classrooms.

I watch them, my eyes landing on a girl with long, blonde hair and headphones on, the students making place for her to pass by, seemingly scared. ,,Okay, come in..", the principal says, making me snap out of my head.

I walk into her office and she gives me a sheet of paper. ,,Fill the paper out. Oh and I'm Miss Smith by the way", she gives me a warm smile again and I nod. Then I grab a pen and fill out the paper.

When I finish, Miss Smith and I walk out of her office and she walks me down the hallway, towards a classroom. She presses a keychain under the doorknob, the door opening with a soft klick.

I walk inside, with Miss Smith beside me and the teacher who was teaching a few seconds ago, looks at me curiously. Then my gaze shifts to the students in the class, each one of them giving me a bemused smile except...

My eyes land on the girl with blonde hair but instead of looking at me, she is looking at something under her desk. Her phone?

,,Hello, class. You have a new classmate that came from South Korea. Would you like to introduce yourself? ", Miss Smith says, looking at me and placing a hand on my back.

,,Yeah sure...", I smile and look around, trying to think of a good way of introducing myself.

Then I bow my head and bend my upper body a bit. However, I quickly realise that I made my first mistake as students start to giggle and I straighten my back, heat creeping up my cheeks.

,,H-Hey... I'm Lee Seung-min and I'm 18 years old. My hobbies are-"

,,Stop that yapping, we've heard enough of you!", a boy suddenly shouts, making me flinch and the class starts to laugh. More heat creeps up my cheeks and I swallow.

,,Travis!", Miss Smith shouts warningly and looks at me apologetically, ,,I'm sorry, Seung-min, you can continue.."

I shake my head and swallow:,,It's fine, thank you.."

,,Well, then...", the teacher, who has been silent the whole time, says and gestures to the table next to the girl with blonde hair, ,,Take a seat next to Katerina."

I look at her and she looks up, looking me up and down. She narrows her eyes before looking back down. I swallow.

Then I walk to the seat, sitting down next to her:,,Hey, Katerina.."

,,Hi", she answers, making the girls behind us gasp. I raise an eyebrow but ignore it, feeling weirdly safe next to Katerina.

While the teacher continues with his lesson, I give Katerina quick glances, admiring her defined jawline, her hair that catches the light- a cascade of dark blonde that looks almost golden. Her hair falls in loose strands, brushing her shoulders.

There is something effortless about the way she carries herself, like she doesn't realise how striking she is.

Her eyes, a shade of beautiful ocean blue, are sharp. I flinch when she looks up to meet my gaze and I immediately look away, hiding my face. I hear a snort from her and heat creeps up my cheeks. Jeez. Stop being so embarrassing!

This is my first day at this school and it's already going... fantastic.