It’s the start of the school day at Kocher High School Bangkok. The entrance sign claims the title ‘salt of the earth and light of the 3.’ New girl Hana introduces herself to Gorya.

Hana asks why Gorya is sitting alone, and hears that she’s one of few athletic scholarship students in a school of elites. She tells Hana it’s okay to move on as she’s pretty boring anyway. But she’s still a little downcast as Hana walks away.

Hana returns with a snack and a smile, ready to become friends. Gorya welcomes her with a warning of systemic bullying. She explains that the better and safer a school seems…

As message alerts start pinging around the classroom, Gorya details the ‘Game’ played at their school. Starting with a red card hanging in a locker. That card makes one an instant target for the entire school.

There are rules. No photos, nothing in front of CCTV cameras – anything that happens looks like an accident. No evidence, no crime. Even teachers don’t dare to interfere.

The victim is herded to an out-of-use stadium. As the beatings begin, F4, the rulers of the school, show up to watch from their designated seats.

As F4 leader Thyme reads out the crime – trying to expose the Game – MJ, another F4 member, has his team wipe out all evidence. Thyme explains that for them, nothing has ever been difficult.

As Thyme beats the upstart, F4 members MJ and Kavin time the assault, guessing how many hits he’ll take. While fourth member Ren seems bored and takes his leave.

The victim appeals to the other students, that they can stop the Game if they work together. Thyme explains that it’s not F4 ordering the others – that everyone wants to play. F4 simply allows it. As they exit, Kavin notes they should make sure the kid gets out alive.

Disgusted, Gorya heads to the school roof to shout her frustration about the whole system and F4 in particular. As she walks away, we see that Ren has witnessed her outburst

Gorya heads to her part-time job at a flower store, sharing exasperation with her best friend(Kanning) and their employer. Their boss looks up each member of F4, explaining their family backgrounds while Gorya notes the real truth.

Thyme’s family is the best of Thai real estate and he’s a top student – but he plays all day so must be buying his grades. MJ’s family leads in the entertainment industry – but they’re actually mafia.

She shuts it down quickly as her friend takes an interest in the handsome Kavin whose family is among the oldest, most revered in Thailand, noting he’s a total player. But when they get to Ren, whose family is in medicine, she notes he’s a bit different but still – he doesn’t object to his friends’ bad behaviour.

She confirms that F4 are the source of all the school bullying. They agree that a bad guy, no matter how gorgeous, isn’t worth it. Her boss warns that the power of influence can be dangerous. If it gets too hard, Gorya will just quit.

At home, her sweet family happily celebrates her 222nd day at Kocher High. They’re banking on her making connections there or perhaps even meeting a handsome, rich boy. Gorya worries that they’re doing without to send her to such a school.

She recalls the Open House where she was inspired by fellow student Mira, who instilled a message of following your dream. But Kocher is not what she anticipated. She berates herself for becoming like the others, watching as someone else gets bullied.

At lunch, Gorya and Hana talk about how Mira inspired them both. They agree to stay quiet and safe until graduation. But as Hana gets up from the table she bumps into Thyme and drops her lunch on his one-of-a-kind shoe.

She tries to apologise as the student body looks on. The jackals jeer at her to lick his shoe clean. Gorya hits her limit and tells Thyme he’s gone too far. Realising her mistake, she tries to backtrack and beg him to forgive Hana. Sure, he says.

But when Gorya goes to her locker, she finds a red card. Texts start zinging – the Game is on. Gorya excuses herself from class to the infirmary. But the group chat reveals her destination. As a pair of guys check for her, she climbs out the window.

Several other ‘accidents’ happen leaving her drenched by a bucket of water. Hana disappears as soon as she hears the others approach, leaving Gorya to fend for herself. Gorya heads to the roof to vent and Ren scolds her for making noise in his quiet place.

But hides her as other classmates appear. As he leaves, she finds a drawing of her shouting. Kids at school get a message from Thyme to move things along. They grab her and as she fights, they rip her clothes. Ren steps in, setting off the fire sprinklers so she can escape.

Hiding at home, Gorya tries for some quiet to think things through. But her mother insists on speaking, again pointing out that she could find a rich handsome guy at school. She also reminds Gorya how strong she is. However, they end arguing about the importance of money.

While at home, the guys enjoy the largess of privilege. Except for Thyme, who’s teaching a lesson to the kids that failed to get rid of Gorya. MJ steps in and points out that giving a red card to a girl is going a bit too far.

Just then, a staff member pulls Thyme away to meet with his mother. In an interview, she ruthlessly concludes that employees who cause trouble deserve a red card. At dinner she reminds Thyme that if he can’t rule the school, how can he control anything?

Flash to Kavin as he tells a gaggle of girls about the worst part of being on top – not just the temperature but the pressure. Thyme gets into a roadside fight with randoms to release his exasperation.

And Gorya’s Dad gives her a new pair of shoes, saying her Mom spent her savings on them and that Gorya is facing troubles because her shoes are worn. He quotes that bad shoes take you to bad places while good ones take you to good places.

These shoes may take you to a good place that’s hidden. Gorya pictures Ren and agrees to fight on. Her brother draws grass flowers to personalise her shoes.

Then, at school, reality returns. Someone steals her shoe and the chase is on, landing her at the stadium. Thyme cuts it with a blade, destroying it, but she puts it back on anyway. He continues to goad and here comes that famous kick.

She thwacks him right in the midsection, knocking him to the ground. As the guys look on in astonishment, she vows to fight Thyme in everything.

Episode 2 jumps straight in at that powerful kick from last week and its subsequent wildfire race through social media.

The guys note that Gorya is a rising threat to their supremacy at school – particularly for Thyme. They figure they have no choice but to leave it to him to solve. And he does!

The next morning, Thyme’s men pick up Gorya. Her kidnapping entails a make-over, clothes, jewellery and even a car. As long as she publicly apologizes to him. But she throws it back in Thyme’s face, not interested in selling her soul.

In the end, Thyme’s mother shows up and tosses Gorya out of the house, putting a hard stop to their arguing. The car key is bundled with her stuff. It’s a little tempting but…

Back to reality at school, the kids are sniggering over nasty things written on the board about Gorya – that she sleeps around, has a kid, etc, etc. She makes an excuse to get out of class as the baseless rumours spread like a virus.

Once again shouting on the rooftop, she encounters Ren and thanks him for helping her in the storage room. Instead of responding, he asks about the travel time from France. The mean girls observe them speaking.

At the flower shop, Gorya works out the travel time question. She admits to her friend that Ren is not like the others. Their boss overhears their giggles and talks about the importance of a first kiss, as there can be only one.

Hana shows up at the shop to apologize for not sticking with Gorya during the bullying. Gorya suggests that it might be better if she handles things on her own but that Hana can quietly support her in the background.

Elsewhere, Kavin and MJ can’t believe Thyme had Gorya kidnapped. MJ advises they take back Gorya’s red card, that it’s not too late. Thyme takes off in a huff to see Ren instead.

But Ren is out star-gazing at Mira’s billboard ad. Gorya spots him and delivers the travel time calculation she’s worked out. They get close, but as she dreams of kisses, he treats her like a child. She makes her escape back to Hana but Thyme witnesses the entire exchange.

The next day, Hana receives a red card. The school minions are looking to shave her head at the stadium but Gorya intervenes, realizing Thyme is really aiming at her. He offers her the opportunity to shave her own head by way of apology. Ren steps in with a distraction and MJ takes the opportunity to send the other students on their way.

Gorya wonders why Ren helped her yet again and notes the tide turning, with some students now facelessly cheering her on via #TeamGorya. Even the means girls invite her to Mira’s welcome home party, noting that it’s casual.

Later, the guys await Mira at the airport. Ren is ecstatic to see her again but she treats them all a bit like younger brothers.

Gorya and her middle school friend Kaning show up at the party only to be embarrassed by their plain attire. As they try to slip out, F4 arrives. So Gorya escapes to the pool instead.

The mean girls follow her out to give her a hard time. But as Thyme eyeballs from a window, it’s Ren who again steps in. And then Mira too. She not only sends the three girls into the pool, but upgrades Gorya’s wardrobe, hair and make-up. Mira says that Ren has spoken of her and further bolsters Gorya’s confidence.

Kavin intervenes when Kaning tries to find Gorya. She scolds him for standing by as things happen to her friend. He counters that she should have more faith in Gorya instead.

Upstairs, Mira commends Gorya for opposing Thyme. Fighting back is something she’s never had the guts to do, like a bird trapped in a gilded cage. Gorya re-enters the party at Mira’s side, capturing all of F4’s attention.

Ren looks ready to create a portrait. As he offers his hand, Thyme jumps in to object, especially as they’d given Gorya a red card. They end up punching each other. But Gorya steps in, knocking Thyme over and landing lip-to-lip with him. It’s Thyme who runs from the room, with the guys speculating that it’s his first kiss.

Episode 3 takes us to a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the original work as Gorya and family watch ‘Flower over Boy’ on TV, laughing about the classic trope of one falling onto another’s lips. Well, there you go.

Hanging with the guys, Thyme too thinks the lip-lock could only have been intentional as he giggles to himself. MJ and Kavin tease him about his first kiss but aren’t convinced that Gorya is interested. They’re more concerned about getting Thyme and Ren speaking again as social spreads the news of their falling out.

Mira is thinking the same thing as she tries to get Ren to end the stalemate. But he’s more curious about Mira’s plans for the future. She drops the bomb about wanting to follow her own path.

Meanwhile, Gorya is preoccupied with finding Ren to confirm that the kiss with Thyme was an accident. She resolves to return his handkerchief – an excuse to speak with him. But she can’t find him in the usual spots. MJ and Kavin catch her loitering and send her in the right direction.

Outside Mira’s house, Gorya accidentally eavesdrops on Mira and Ren arguing over her decision to return to France. And observes how upset Ren is.

As Mira publicly announces her plans, Gorya’s boss suggests that it’s an opportunity to get closer to Ren with Mira out of the way.

Her head full of Ren, Gorya jumps on the bus to school. Only, she finds that Thyme has bought out all the seats, likely making others late for work or school as it whizzes along. She’s not in the least impressed. As they bicker, a woman in the car behind the bus notices and forces it to stop.

She kicks Thyme to the ground as he tries to run after after Gorya. Of course, it’s Thyme’s sister Tia, who has just returned to Thailand. She sends Gorya to school with her driver, noting she’d never seen her brother chase a girl before.

The siblings catch up about the family business and Thyme acknowledges that his carefree days are coming to an end. She thinks he may have grown up a bit, perhaps because of Gorya.

The next day, Gorya spots Ren throwing paper planes along with his dreams of a future with Mira. He explains their long-standing relationship, noting Mira’s stubbornness and that there’s nothing he can do. He takes Gorya to say farewell to Mira.

Mira gives Gorya shoes that will take her to good places, noting that it’s from observing Gorya that she was able to find the strength to make her choice. Gorya begs her to stay for Ren’s sake.

Ren overhears the exchange and later tells Gorya to stay out of it. She pushes him to find his strength, noting that having tried – doing everything one can – is its own comfort.

F3 and Gorya see Mira off at the airport. Ren shows up later, but with a ticket to follow her, thanking Gorya for propelling him. Thyme is upset at seeing his friend leave without discussing it, but they part as friends

Tia tells Thyme that their mother will be away on business, noting an opportunity to pursue Gorya freely and offering sisterly advice. She suggests he straightforwardly ask Gorya on a date.

Over the school TV channel and using her full name, Thyme commands when and where Gorya should meet him. She meets Kaning instead, intending to get her phone fixed as Thyme waits at the appointed venue

Out shopping, Gorya notices a pre-recorded TV interview with Thyme and feels guilty, running to meet him. Several hours late, she finds him drenched and still waiting.