The first day of Jang Y/n’s final year of high school dawned with a mix of relief and dread. She was almost free from this so-called institution—filled with fake smiles, hollow friendships, and everything else that felt artificial. At 7:00 a.m., her alarm blared, signaling that she was, as usual, running late.

Throwing on the first outfit she could find, Y/n bolted down the stairs, determined not to make her best friend, Jisoo, leave without her—again.

But before rushing out, a thought stopped her. Jang Y/n lived with her mother. It was just the two of them—a quiet but unshakable bond. Her father? He’d walked out of their lives when she was just a little girl. She didn’t dwell on him. He was nothing but a shadow, a figure she had no intention of forgiving. Her mother might believe in “forgive and forget,” but Y/n couldn’t. Why should she? The man had shattered her childhood, leaving nothing but scars behind. And love? Don’t even get her started. Love was a pretty mask for betrayal, heartache, and endless pain. If that made her bitter, so be it.

Jisoo’s honk tore through her thoughts. Time to go. “Bye, Mom. Love you!” she called. Silence. No response. Y/n sighed.

Sliding into Jisoo’s car, Y/n barely had time to fasten her seatbelt before Jisoo glared at her. “What were you doing, staring at nothing? We’re going to be late!” she snapped. No greeting, no small talk—just an annoyance. Y/n braced herself for the day ahead.

They reached school ten minutes later, joining their small circle of friends. Jisoo, Jennie, and Jaemin were already chatting animatedly about their summer adventures. Y/n, on the other hand, stayed quiet. Her summer had been uneventful—just books and music, her usual retreat. Introverted? Sure, but who cared what anyone thought?

The group’s conversation shifted when Jisoo shared news about their new Literature teacher. Ms. Lee, a teacher Y/n had admired, had retired, and Mr. Kim T. would be taking her place.

After enduring an intense Chemistry lecture with Mr. Jeon, Y/n was ready to go home. Mr. Marks was a decent teacher, but his piercing stares made her feel like he was drilling holes into her skull. Following back-to-back classes in Math and Psychology, lunchtime finally arrived.

The cafeteria buzzed with gossip about the “supposedly hot” new Literature teacher. Y/n, fed up with the noise, escaped to the library. Books were her sanctuary, her way of finding peace amidst the chaos. She browsed the shelves, picked up three titles, and spent the rest of her lunch break absorbed in words.

The hour passed quickly, and soon it was time for Literature. Curious yet apprehensive, Y/n entered the classroom and sat beside Jisoo. Minutes ticked by, but Mr. Kim was nowhere to be seen. Late on the first day? Impressive.

Just as she was about to bury herself in her book, the classroom fell silent. The sound of a deep, commanding voice echoed through the room “Apologies for being late. I promise it won’t become a habit.”

The class chuckled, but Y/n remained indifferent. Conceited already. Great.

Mr. Kim began a roll call. Y/n raised her hand without looking up, too engrossed in her book to care. Yet, she could feel his gaze lingering on her. Ignoring it, she stayed focused on the words in front of her.

When he finished, he invited questions. The response was predictable: hands shot up, mostly from the girls. “How old are you?” Jihyo asked eagerly. “Twenty-two,” he replied with a small smile.

“Are you single?” another girl asked. Y/n rolled her eyes. Relationship status—really?

Curiosity eventually got the better of her. Glancing up from her book, her eyes met his. For a moment, everything seemed to freeze. His expression faltered, as though he wasn’t expecting her gaze.

Recovering quickly, Mr. Kim distributed the books for the term. When he reached Y/n’s desk, their hands accidentally brushed. A strange jolt shot through her, leaving her startled. Judging by his widened eyes, he felt it too.

Throughout the lesson, his eyes kept straying to her, though he tried to mask it. Y/n, uneasy but unwilling to react, focused on the class.

As the bell rang and students began filing out, Mr. Kim called her name. “Ms. Jang, could you stay for a moment?”

Annoyed but curious, Y/n walked back toward him. “Yes, Mr. Kim?”

“I went through your file,” he began, “and noticed your exceptional grades. I’d like to offer you the position of my assistant for this class. It comes with additional subject credits and even a college credit. Would you be interested?”

His words unsettled her. He went through my file? That’s…odd. Still, the opportunity was hard to pass up. “Sure, I’d love to,” she replied.

His expression brightened. “Great.”

“What would I have to do?”

Stepping closer—too close—he smirked. “Nothing too demanding. Helping grade papers, assisting in class. That sort of thing.”

Y/n shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. He was now inches away, his presence suffocating. She stared at the floor, hoping he’d back off. Instead, he gently tilted her chin upward, forcing her to meet his eyes.

For a moment, he simply looked at her. The intensity in his gaze was unsettling, almost hypnotic. “Uhh, Sir?” she stammered, breaking the silence.

He blinked, seeming to snap out of a trance. Taking a step back, he cleared his throat. “My apologies, Ms. Jang. You’re dismissed.”

Without a word, Y/n turned and walked away, acutely aware of his lingering gaze on her back.

What just happened?

Cover credit: thvfiqz