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THE LIBRARY WAS CLOAKED IN THE USUAL QUIET, the kind that stretched thin over the scratch of pens and the soft rustle of turning pages. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting shifting rectangles of gold across the polished wooden tables. The girl sat at her usual corner spot, a slight frown creasing her forehead as she glanced at her phone for the fourth time in ten minutes. The screen glared back at her, taunting her with the last text she'd sent Kwon that morning: I swear, if you don't show up today, I'll personally drag you here.

She had been relentless, flooding his phone with texts and emails all night, a strategy that earned her only one reply: Chill. I'm coming. Now, with her notes neatly stacked and her laptop open, she drummed her fingers against the table, every tick of the clock biting at her patience.

A familiar shuffling sound caught her attention, and she looked up to see Kwon strolling in, ten minutes late but still earlier than she'd expected. He wore his usual expression, an infuriating mix of boredom and confidence, dark hair tousled and eyes scanning the room as if daring someone to question why he was there at all. He spotted her and ambled over, a lazy smirk pulling at the corner of his mouth.

"Look who's here, early as promised," he said, dropping into the chair across from her without so much as a greeting.

"Ten minutes late isn't early, genius," y/n sighed, kinda used to this by now. "But it's an improvement, so I'll give you that."

Kwon leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "I see you've been busy," he said, nodding at the towering stack of notes and the detailed plan displayed on her laptop screen. "Did you leave any trees alive in the making of this?"

Ignoring his sarcasm, she pushed the laptop toward him. "Here's the breakdown of what we need to cover today. Organic chemistry—compounds, reactions, the whole shebang. I even color-coded it for you since I know how easily distracted you are."

He leaned forward, eyes scanning the organized chaos on the screen. "Wow, you really think I'm that stupid, don't you?" His tone was teasing, but there was a challenge in his eyes.

"Not dumb, just... pathetic, really." She said, giving him a sugary smile. "Now, shut up and pay attention."

They spent the next hour in an unusual state of focus. y/n walked him through the key points, answering questions as they came. Despite his typical devil-may-care attitude, Kwon seemed oddly attentive, catching on faster than she'd expected. When he did crack a joke or mutter something sarcastic under his breath, she shot back a retort just as sharp, the back-and-forth keeping them both on their toes.

Eventually, y/n handed him a set of custom test papers. "Time to see if any of that actually stuck. This'll show me what you actually know versus what you pretend to know."

Kwon took the papers, eyes narrowing. "You mean I get tested on your yapping now? Great," he muttered, but there was a gleam of resolution in his onyx gaze as he set to work.

The library's silence deepened as they both focused—Kwon scribbling answers while y/n tapped away at her laptop, updating her own study checklist. The occasional sigh or rustle of paper was the only sound between them. Every now and then, Kwon glanced up, catching her eye just long enough for a silent exchange: Am I doing this right?—Keep going.

An hour passed before the boy dropped his pen with an exaggerated groan. "Done. You're lucky I don't have a brain cramp."

Y/n reached for the papers, smirking. "Let's see how bad you did." She scanned through his answers, red pen in hand, making corrections and adding notes with a ruthlessness that only she could muster. Kwon watched, resting his chin on his palm, expression a mix of curiosity and mock terror. He couldn't help but note the differences in her persona. With him she was not only rude and sassy, but also confident and expressive. In school however, especially in the class they shared together, she was quiet and unresponsive, only exchanging a few jokes next to the girl she sat next to. Basically, she was nothing like the girl he saw on the first day... getting coffee dumped all over her and letting it go without a fight.

"Not bad," she said after a moment, tapping the paper with her pen. "68%. Honestly, better than I expected."

Kwon's eyes lit up, his signature smirk returning. "Admit it, you're impressed."

"Don't push it," she tried to cover up her smile, and there was a grudging nod of approval as well. "Now, let's go over what you got wrong."

As they dove back into his mistakes, the energy shifted. Kwon's cocky air started to waver, and frustration settled in the tight line of his jaw, eyes narrowing as he scribbled out the same answer for the fifth time. y/n's patience was running thin; she could practically feel it slipping like sand through her fingers. The explanation came out clipped, harsh as she pointed at the page again, her voice rising with each word.

"Seriously, it's not that hard," she snapped, leaning over to jab the page with her pen, the sharp point denting the paper. "Look, if you just apply-"

"I said I get it!" Kwon barked, voice rough and edged with frustration. He shoved the paper aside, rubbing the back of his neck with a rough hand as his eyes darted to the clock. The muscle in his jaw ticked as he glanced away. "It's almost time for my training, and I'm not wasting any more time here listening to you nag."

"Oh no, you don't." The girl's voice dropped an octave, low and biting as she stepped in front of him, blocking his path before he could even think about getting up. Her eyes narrowed with that strict determination that made him hate and admire her all at once. "You're not leaving until you understand this. I didn't drag you here just so you could half-ass it and bail. So sit. the fuck. down."

He let out a harsh laugh, more of a scoff really, before his gaze met hers, unyielding and defiant. "You're insufferable, you know that?" His tone was laced with venom, the usual playful edge gone, replaced with something sharper.

"Yeah? And you're a lazy prick," she shot back, rolling her eyes. "So plant your ass back in that seat and let's finish this before I lose what's left of my sanity."

The tension crackled between them, a silent war of wills, neither willing to back down. Kwon's fingers curled into fists at his sides, and for a split second, y/n thought he might just walk out. But then he dropped back into his chair with a heavy thud, arms crossed, eyes stormy.

"Fine," he muttered, voice low and acidic. "But I'm done listening to you yell in my ear. I'm tired, y/n. Can you get that through your head? I'm. Done."

She clenched her jaw, the flare of her anger softening just slightly as she exhaled through her nose. He wasn't just being dramatic; she could see the exhaustion in the lines of his face, the tightness in his posture. The relentless back-and-forth had worn them both down. Still, she wouldn't let him off that easily.

"Alright, fine." She glanced away for a moment, biting the inside of her cheek. "How about this: we change the scene. Let's get some air, grab coffee from the café around the corner. Deal?"

He didn't answer right away, eyes scanning her face as if searching for the catch. The seconds ticked by, stretching uncomfortably before he huffed, breaking the silence with a snort. "I guess I can put up with you for another hour if there's caffeine involved. But only because it's free food."

She shook her head, slinging her bag over her shoulder with a triumphant scoff. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let's move before I change my mind."

Kwon stood up, pushing the chair back with more force than necessary as it scraped the floor, the sharp sound echoing between them. "If this wasn't for the stupid test, I'd be out of here already."

She shot him a look over her shoulder, half-amused, half-annoyed. "And if I had a choice, you wouldn't even be my problem, Kwon. Now come on, move it."

The walk to the café was a mix of silence and sharp banter, like a battle where neither of them wanted to lose ground. y/n walked slightly ahead, her head held high, while Kwon strolled with a lazy swagger, hands stuffed in his pockets.

When they reached the café, the smell of fresh coffee and pastries a welcome change from the academic tension. As they approached the counter, y/n ordered a latte, which happened to be a bestseller here, and Kwon stepped up, surprising her by ordering the strongest, darkest, black coffee with no sugar. Then, he added a couple of cupcakes to his order.

Y/n raised an eyebrow, struggling to hold back her laughter. "Cupcakes, really? For all your tough talk, you're a cupcake kind of guy?"

He shrugged, grabbing the order slip. "Better than drinking milk disguised as coffee like you. Plus, who doesn't like cupcakes?"

"You know what, fair enough." She nodded, grinning as she rolled her eyes. He went off to wait for his order, leaving her shaking her head in amusement. When he returned, carrying his scalding black coffee and a plate of frosted cupcakes, they settled at a small table in the corner, both falling into an uncharacteristic silence as they sipped their drinks. For a few minutes, there were no snarky remarks or annoyed sighs, just the hum of other conversations around them and the occasional clink of cups. The boy seemed content, surprisingly mellow as he sipped, gaze distant.

After a while, he finally broke the silence, his tone lighter than usual. "So, what's your deal anyway? Why do you even care if I pass or fail? Last time I checked, we're not exactly friends and you were supposed to tutor me only for the summer."

Y/n shrugged, taking a thoughtful sip of her latte. "Maybe because I hate seeing someone throw away their potential. It's like watching a perfectly good book get tossed in the trash without anyone even giving it a chance. Plus, I'm getting extra credits every hour I spend with you. Looks good on my record. Not to mention, if you fail, I have to hear about it from the teacher, and frankly, that sounds like torture..."

He smirked, tapping his cup against the table. "So, what, I'm your little charity project now?"

"Hmm... more like my last nerve personified." She retorted.

He chuckled, the sound surprisingly soft. "Careful. You're starting to sound like you actually enjoy my company."

She rolled her eyes, but the smile lingered. "Let's not get carried away, alright?"

The moment hung there, unusually comfortable—until he glanced toward the counter, noting his gamtae cream cheese buns were ready. "Yep, those are for my halmeoni..."He pushed back his chair with a reluctant sigh. "Be right back. Try not to miss me too much."

"No promises," she pouted satirically.

As he disappeared into the crowd, y/n found herself drifting into thought. She didn't know much about Kwon, but seeing him get something for someone else reminded her there was more to him than the cocky, rough-edged persona he threw around. The way he mentioned his grandma casually piqued her curiosity, something she hadn't anticipated. She hadn't pictured him as someone who'd even have a family, let alone care for anyone. The way he acted, it was almost like he was alone in the world, with nothing to lose and no one to care for. It was a pleasant surprise, to say the least. 

As she mused over this, her attention was pulled back by the sight of his bag, which had been left wide open on the chair next to her. She sighed, rolling her eyes. "Typical," she muttered, reaching over to zip it up so he wouldn't lose anything on the way back.

But just as she leaned forward, someone shoulder-checked her, hard. Her arm slipped, hitting her coffee cup, which tipped over and spilled everywhere, soaking the table and splattering onto her shirt. She yelped, stumbling back as she clutched her damp shirt, the shock giving way to immediate frustration. Laughter erupted from a few feet away, loud and taunting. She didn't need to look up to know who it was — Jae-chul, Yoo-mi's boyfriend, was smirking, his arms crossed as he watched her with amusement. His friends snickered beside him, one of them elbowing him in a silent cheer. 

The girl clenched her teeth, feeling a wave of anger flare in her chest. She thought after the incident in chemistry class, they would've backed off. She'd gone nearly a month without any drama, and she'd started to think it was over. Clearly, she was wrong.

"Oh, nice one, Jae-chul," one of his friends sneered, loud enough for her to hear. "Didn't think she'd spill that easily."

Y/n grit her teeth, forcing herself to focus on apologizing to the café worker who was already coming over to clean the mess. "I'm so sorry," she said quietly, her face flushed with embarrassment as the cleaner reassured her it was okay.

"Would you like a refill?" the lady offered, a kind smile on her face.

Y/n shook her head quickly, trying to brush it off. "No, really, it's fine. I'm... I'm good."

The laughter behind her didn't fade, and her earlier confidence and defiance were nowhere to be seen. She felt exposed, vulnerable in a way she hated. Her typical no-nonsense attitude melted away, replaced by an uncomfortable awkwardness she couldn't shake. They had a way of making her feel small, and she hated it.

Meanwhile, Kwon was returning with his order in hand, eyebrows furrowing as he took in the scene. He didn't need to ask what had happened; Jae-chul's laughter and y/n's downcast eyes told him everything. He set his food down and shot the group a withering glare, jaw clenched as he started to step forward.

"What the hell is your problem?" he snapped, his fists clenched.

Y/n quickly stepped in front of him, grabbing his arm and pulling him back. "Just... don't. Let's go, okay? They're not worth it."

He scowled, glancing down at her with a mixture of irritation and something else—something close to pity. "Are you serious? You're just going to let them push you around like that?"

"Just drop it, alright?" She kept her voice low, her grip firm on his arm. "I don't want any more trouble."

He shook her hand off, eyes blazing as he crossed his arms. "You're pathetic, you know that? Letting people walk all over you because you're too scared to stand up for yourself."

Her expression hardened, eyes flashing as she met his gaze. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," he shot back, voice sharp. "It's no wonder they mess with you. You practically ask for it by rolling over and taking it."

Her face flushed with anger, hands curling into fists. "Shut the fuck up, Kwon. You don't know anything about me or why I do what I do."

"No? Maybe I know more than you think." His tone was biting, pushing her to the edge. "Maybe if you stopped being such a coward for once, they'd leave you alone."

Her patience snapped. "Oh please- like I'm gonna take social advice from Seoul's biggest redflag. the only reason people avoid you is because everyone knows you're a psychotic asshole."

The words hit hard, and she saw something flicker in his eyes—hurt, maybe, but it vanished quickly, replaced by a cold, furious stare.

"Fine," he muttered, grabbing his bag and shoving his chair back. "Have fun letting people walk all over you. Hope you enjoy being everyone's doormat."

He turned to leave, his jaw clenched, and she felt a pang of instant regret pierce through her. She called after him, voice softer, almost pleading. "We still have concepts to cover for the test!"

He spun around, his expression stony. "Go to hell, l/n." And with that, he stormed off, leaving her standing there alone, her earlier confidence reduced to ashes.

A day that dawned with promise unraveled into shadows far too soon...

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