The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, casting a dull gray over the suburban neighborhood. Minhyuk Lee stepped out of the moving truck with a heavy sigh, the weight of a new beginning pressing down on him. His new home was far from impressive—a modest two-story house with pale beige walls and a garden that seemed to have been forgotten by its previous owners. It wasn’t much, but to Minhyuk, it was a fresh start, a way to escape the past that clung to him like a shadow.

As he adjusted the strap of his backpack, he couldn’t help but glance up at the neighborhood, his new surroundings. The houses here were all too similar, rows of cookie-cutter homes, each one housing a family or a dream—neither of which Minhyuk had anymore. He was alone. His family was miles away, lost in their own lives, and he had no friends to rely on. His hand lingered on the edge of the moving truck as his thoughts wandered to his old life, the one he had to leave behind to start over again.

Across the street, Seoyeon Park was perched on her bicycle, her sunglasses pushed to the top of her head as she casually observed the newcomer. She was used to the eyes of strangers on her, her face famous from the countless dramas she’d starred in, but today, she was the one doing the watching.

Seoyeon wasn’t looking for a new friend, especially not one who seemed so... ordinary. Her life was filled with flashing lights, red carpets, and people who always had a reason to approach her. This boy, though, seemed different—out of place. His awkward movements caught her attention. No fanfare. No excitement. Just a quiet arrival.

She watched him struggle with a box too large for his frame and thought about how the neighborhood would soon buzz with gossip about the new “mysterious” boy. But before she could entertain the thought any longer, her phone buzzed. Work-related messages. Something about her next project. It was just another typical day, but something about this boy felt oddly intriguing.

As she was about to ride off, a voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Seoyeon, what are you staring at now?"

Yujin Kang appeared beside her, holding a coffee cup in one hand, her expression effortlessly cool. Yujin, an idol with thousands of fans and millions of eyes on her, was always the center of attention. But Seoyeon, her longtime friend, wasn’t fazed by her beauty or her fame.

"Just a new neighbor," Seoyeon said with a smirk. "Nothing special."

Yujin raised an eyebrow, glancing across the street. "A new neighbor? Don’t tell me you’re already planning to make him part of your ‘circle.’"

Seoyeon shrugged. "I’m not the welcoming committee. Just curious."

Yujin chuckled, "Well, as long as he’s not another one of your adoring fans, you’re free to do whatever you want."

Seoyeon rolled her eyes, shifting her weight onto the pedals. "He doesn’t seem like much."

Yujin smirked, lifting her coffee to her lips. "We’ll see."

---

The next day, the first day of the school week, Minhyuk entered the gates of Seonghwa High School. The crisp blue-and-white uniform did nothing to hide his nerves. His hands gripped the strap of his backpack, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him as he walked through the crowded hallways. He wasn’t looking for attention, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t get it. The students gave him brief, curious glances, whispering among themselves.

In Class 2-A, Seoyeon sat near the front, absorbed in her phone. Her latest drama had aired the night before, and her feed was flooded with adoration from her fans. She smiled faintly as she scrolled through the messages, then tucked the phone away when the teacher entered.

Yujin, sitting by the window, was lost in her own world. Her eyes flicked between her classmates and the faint daydreams of her next music video shoot. School wasn’t where her heart was, but she had to be here, for now. She was an idol, and her life outside these walls was a whirlwind.

The teacher’s voice broke through the chatter. “Alright, everyone, settle down. We have a new student joining us today.”

Minhyuk stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Hello, my name is Minhyuk Lee. I just transferred here. Please take care of me.”

His voice was soft, hesitant. He avoided making eye contact with anyone, keeping his gaze firmly planted on the floor. The class was silent for a moment, the only sound the rustle of papers. Seoyeon’s eyes flicked up for a second, her interest piqued. The boy from across the street. She wondered if he would turn out to be as interesting as she thought.

Yujin, however, didn’t even glance up. She was too busy tapping her nails against the desk, unimpressed.

“He seems quiet,” Yujin muttered under her breath.

Seoyeon smirked, leaning over to her friend. “Let’s see how interesting he turns out.”

---

At lunch, Minhyuk wandered into the cafeteria, holding a tray of food. The noise was overwhelming, the energy too much for him to handle. He had no idea where to sit. Most tables were occupied, and he didn’t have the courage to sit with strangers.

Seoyeon, sitting with a group of friends, noticed him standing at the edge of the cafeteria, unsure. She gestured to the empty seat next to her, her voice carrying over the chatter. “Hey, you can sit here.”

Minhyuk hesitated, looking at her as if to make sure she wasn’t joking. “Um, thank you.”

As he sat down, Seoyeon casually continued her conversation with her friends, effortlessly making small talk. She occasionally threw a question Minhyuk’s way, but he didn’t seem particularly eager to respond. It was clear he wasn’t the type to open up easily.

Yujin, seated across from Minhyuk, observed the boy with disinterest. She was picking at her food, not paying much attention, but her eyes flicked up now and then. He was quiet. Too quiet. She didn’t know what to make of him. Not her type, she thought, but there was something intriguing about the way he seemed out of place in this world of constant noise.

---

Later that evening, after filming her latest project, Seoyeon rode past Minhyuk’s house on her bike, her mind still buzzing from the day. As she pedaled slowly, she saw him in the front yard, working on the overgrown garden. She stopped, curious.

“You like plants?” she called out, her voice light.

Minhyuk looked up, startled. “Oh, uh... no. It was just a mess, so I thought I’d clean it up.”

Seoyeon smiled, watching him work. “Well, it’s nice to see someone care about their space.”

He glanced at her, his face slightly flushed. “Thanks... I’ll manage, though.”

Seoyeon didn’t push the conversation further, simply nodding before riding off. But something about the interaction lingered in her mind, a quiet curiosity she couldn’t shake.

---

Over the following weeks, Minhyuk’s presence was subtle but undeniable. His struggle to fit in became clear. Seoyeon and Yujin, though intrigued, remained at arm’s length, neither knowing how to break through the walls he had built around himself. It wasn’t easy to become friends, especially with someone as quiet as him.

But as the days passed, they began to realize that the more they ignored him, the more they couldn’t help but wonder about the boy who kept to himself—his past, his silence, and his strange allure.

---

The days blurred together for Minhyuk Lee as he navigated through his new school life. Each morning, he would sit quietly in the back of Class 2-A, his eyes glued to the textbooks in front of him, only glancing up when necessary. He didn’t make any attempt to stand out, and the other students didn’t seem eager to draw him in. The atmosphere in the classroom felt cold, indifferent, and the thought of trying to make friends seemed daunting.

The only interaction that stood out was with Seoyeon. She greeted him with a friendly smile in the hallway, but her words were always casual, never lingering. He wasn’t sure if she was just being polite, or if she genuinely saw something in him. Yujin, on the other hand, didn’t acknowledge him much, her attention always elsewhere. As a popular idol, it made sense that she had a life outside school that didn’t leave much room for people like him.

At lunch on Monday, Seoyeon waved him over to sit with her again, and although he hesitated, he eventually walked to her table. The group of students around her were all talking, but Minhyuk felt like an outsider. The conversation flowed easily between them, and he tried his best to participate, but his answers were brief and measured. Seoyeon seemed to take it in stride, but he could tell Yujin wasn’t all that interested in him.

“So, Minhyuk, where are you from?” one of Seoyeon’s friends asked.

Minhyuk shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I’m from Seoul,” he replied. “But we moved here for... personal reasons.”

A slight pause followed his answer, but the chatter continued, and he was soon forgotten in the whirlwind of casual conversation. Seoyeon seemed to notice, glancing at him occasionally, but she never pushed him to open up.

After a while, Minhyuk excused himself from the table, feeling the weight of his own awkwardness. He didn’t want to feel like a burden on anyone, especially not someone like Seoyeon, who was always surrounded by people and attention. As he left the cafeteria, he noticed Yujin standing by the vending machine, scrolling through her phone. She looked up for a brief second, catching his gaze before turning away.

It was the same look he’d gotten the past few days. It was as if he wasn’t there at all, but the distance between them made it clear she wasn’t just ignoring him—she was dismissing him altogether.

---

The next day, after school, Minhyuk found himself walking the streets of the neighborhood, aimlessly wandering with no real purpose. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the pavement as he passed by Seoyeon’s house. It had been a few days since their last conversation, and he hadn’t seen much of her since. Maybe she was busy with her acting career.

As he walked past her house, he saw her bike leaning against the porch. She was out there, chatting with her manager, a middle-aged man in a suit. He was gesturing passionately, talking about some upcoming project. Seoyeon was nodding, her attention divided between him and something on her phone.

Minhyuk stopped for a moment, wondering if he should say hello. But as quickly as the thought came, it vanished. He didn’t belong in that world—he didn’t even belong in this one. His feet felt heavy, and he turned to leave, but not before Seoyeon caught a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye.

“Minhyuk, hey!” she called out, her voice slicing through the silence.

He froze in his tracks, turning to face her. “Oh, hi, Seoyeon.”

Her smile was warm, and for a brief second, he felt like he wasn’t invisible. “You’re always walking around by yourself, huh? What do you do when you get home?”

Minhyuk hesitated, unsure of how to respond. “I... I study. And sometimes, I work on some art stuff. I like drawing.”

Seoyeon raised an eyebrow. “Really? You never told me that.” She glanced at her manager. “Maybe you could show me sometime.”

Minhyuk’s face flushed with sudden embarrassment. “It’s nothing special,” he muttered, looking down.

“No need to be modest,” she said with a teasing smile. “I’m sure you’re good. Just... don’t hide it, okay?”

Minhyuk gave a soft nod, feeling both elated and self-conscious at the same time. For a moment, he had a sense of connection, but just as quickly, it felt fleeting, like something that could slip away at any second.

---

The next day, in class, Minhyuk found himself in a similar situation. The class was busy with chatter, the students talking about an upcoming school festival. Seoyeon was laughing with her friends, and Yujin was lost in her phone, her attention clearly elsewhere. Minhyuk didn’t know why he kept trying to connect with them. They were worlds apart, and he was just a shadow in their lives.

It wasn’t until the end of the school day that something unusual happened.

“Minhyuk,” Yujin called out, her voice cutting through his thoughts.

He turned, surprised to hear her speak directly to him. Yujin was standing near the classroom door, her hand resting on the frame. She had her headphones around her neck, and a soft smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“Are you heading home?” she asked, her tone surprisingly friendly.

“Uh... yeah,” Minhyuk replied, still caught off guard. “I’m just going to walk around, I guess.”

Yujin nodded. “Walk with me for a bit. I could use some fresh air.”

Minhyuk blinked, his mind racing. Yujin Kang, the idol, wanted to walk with him?

“Sure,” he said, unsure of what to expect but not wanting to turn her down.

The two of them walked side by side in silence for a few moments before Yujin spoke up again. “You know, you’re a lot quieter than I thought you’d be. It’s kind of... refreshing.”

Minhyuk chuckled softly, though he was unsure how to take the compliment. “I just... don’t really know what to say.”

Yujin gave him a side glance. “That’s okay. I’m not exactly the best at starting conversations either.” She paused, then added, “I know it’s not easy. People like us, you know, we have our own struggles.”

Minhyuk didn’t know how to respond to that, but something about her words felt real. For the first time, he realized that Yujin, despite her fame, was more like him than he’d ever imagined. And maybe—just maybe—the walls between them weren’t as insurmountable as he thought.

---

The weeks passed, and Minhyuk found himself slipping deeper into the monotony of his school life. His routine had become almost mechanical: wake up, go to school, sit through the lessons, eat lunch quietly at the back of the cafeteria, and then head home to draw or read in silence.

Though Seoyeon and Yujin occasionally interacted with him, the conversations felt hollow. They were polite, even friendly, but there was a distance between them—one that Minhyuk couldn’t quite bridge. He was a ghost in their world, never quite part of their lives.

However, something changed one chilly afternoon in early October. Minhyuk was sitting in the school library, tucked away in a corner, as he always did after class. He preferred the solitude, the quiet hum of pages turning around him. He had become more comfortable in this space, his sanctuary away from the bustling halls of Seonghwa High.

It was then that Seoyeon found him.

“Minhyuk,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper as she approached his table.

Startled, he looked up, momentarily disoriented by her presence. She stood there, looking down at him with a curious expression.

“Oh,” he muttered, adjusting in his seat. “Hi, Seoyeon. What’s up?”

“I was just wondering what you were reading,” she said, peeking over his shoulder at the book in his hands. It was a thick novel, one he’d been carrying around for weeks but hadn’t managed to finish. “You always seem to be buried in books.”

Minhyuk smiled awkwardly. “I like reading. It helps me relax.”

Seoyeon tilted her head. “What’s it about?”

“It's a historical fiction novel,” he said, almost shyly. “About a man who time-travels to ancient Korea. It's... kind of complicated.”

“Sounds interesting,” she said, her tone a bit more engaged than usual. “I never really have time to read books like that. My schedule is always packed.” She hesitated for a moment. “You seem different from most of the people here. Quiet. Focused. I like that.”

Minhyuk’s heart skipped a beat at her compliment. “I’m just... I don’t know. I don’t really like standing out.”

Seoyeon nodded thoughtfully, her eyes lingering on him for a moment longer. “Well, I think that's nice. Not everyone has to be loud or be in the spotlight to be noticed.”

The sincerity in her words surprised Minhyuk. For the first time since moving to this town, he felt like Seoyeon wasn’t just being polite. She actually saw something in him that others didn’t.

Before he could respond, Yujin suddenly appeared by the table, her arms full of her textbooks.

“Seoyeon,” she greeted, her usual aloofness softened by a faint smile. She turned to Minhyuk, who was still caught off guard by Seoyeon’s unexpected kindness. “You’re still reading? You’re probably the only one here who does it for fun.”

Seoyeon laughed lightly. “I guess I need to learn a thing or two from him.”

Yujin raised an eyebrow. “You? Reading? That’s a stretch.”

“Hey, I’m a multi-faceted person,” Seoyeon teased, though her smile remained genuine. “We should all make time for things we enjoy, even if it’s just for a little while.”

Yujin didn’t say anything, but her expression softened. For a moment, Minhyuk could sense the tension between the two of them. It wasn’t hostility, but something unspoken—like they were both trying to figure out how they fit into each other’s lives.

“So, Minhyuk,” Yujin spoke up after a brief silence, “Are you going to the festival tomorrow? It’s pretty big. I heard there’s going to be a performance. You should come, at least for a little while. Maybe you can sketch something while you’re there.”

Minhyuk blinked, surprised by the invitation. “Uh... I hadn’t really planned on it.”

Seoyeon glanced at Yujin, who was already walking away. “It’s not a bad idea,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “You don’t have to stay the whole time. But maybe it would be good to step out of your comfort zone for once.”

Minhyuk was torn. He didn’t want to go to an event where he didn’t know anyone, where he’d likely feel out of place. But at the same time, Seoyeon’s suggestion stirred something inside him. Perhaps she was right. Maybe he needed to start breaking down the walls he’d built around himself.

The next day, after school, he found himself standing outside the entrance to the festival. The sound of music filled the air, blending with the laughter and chatter of students. Minhyuk hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. He scanned the crowd, hoping to find a familiar face. It didn’t take long for him to spot Seoyeon, who was chatting with a group of friends by the food stalls.

“Minhyuk!” Seoyeon called out, spotting him from afar. She waved him over with a bright smile. “I’m glad you made it!”

He approached cautiously, feeling out of place in the sea of people. “I didn’t expect it to be this crowded,” he admitted, glancing around at the various stalls and performances.

“Yeah, it’s always like this,” Seoyeon said, her voice light. “But hey, you’re here, so that’s what matters.”

As she spoke, Minhyuk felt something stir within him. For once, he wasn’t invisible. He was here, in this moment, with people who seemed to care just a little bit. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make him believe that maybe—just maybe—he could find his place here.

Seoyeon led him to one of the benches, where they sat and watched the performances unfold in front of them. The sounds of music, laughter, and voices filled the air, and for a fleeting moment, Minhyuk felt like he belonged. He wasn’t just the quiet transfer student anymore; he was part of something, even if it was just for a little while.

---