Y/N had never believed in bad luck—until this morning.

Her alarm hadn’t gone off, her toast had burned, and now she was sprinting through the courtyard of Seoul Performing Arts High, clutching an iced coffee and a half-zipped backpack.

“Kea, hurry!” she yelled, her ponytail flying.

“I’m trying!” Kea shouted back, laughing breathlessly. “You’re running like we’re in a zombie movie!”

Maria trailed calmly behind them, holding her bag neatly as always. “You two should’ve left earlier.”

“We overslept!” Kea said, which was only half true. They had stayed up the night before watching ENHYPEN clips—mostly because Kea wouldn’t stop fangirling over Sunghoon’s skating videos.

Y/N dashed through the doors just as the bell rang. “Made it—”

And then everything went wrong.

She slammed right into someone tall and firm, and her iced coffee exploded like a caffeinated bomb. The brown liquid splattered across a crisp white shirt.

“Oh no…” she whispered. “Please don’t be—”

“It’s fine,” a voice said, low and calm. Then the boy looked up.

Sharp eyes. Perfect hair. A face she recognized instantly from every music show.

Jay. Jay from ENHYPEN.

Her stomach dropped. “Oh my god.”

He blinked, looking down at his soaked shirt. “Seriously?”

Kea’s voice echoed from behind. “Oh my god, you just baptized Jay with caffeine.”

Maria muttered, “This is the kind of chaos only Y/N can summon.”

Y/N bowed frantically. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean—”

Jay sighed dramatically, wiping his sleeve. “You owe me one.”

“Anything! I’ll buy you a new drink—”

“I meant the shirt,” he said. “Limited edition. Not replaceable.”

Y/N’s eyes widened. “What?! You can’t be serious—”

He smirked, stepping closer. “I’m always serious. Guess we’re even now—you ruined my morning; I get to ruin yours.”

Kea whispered, “This is literally a K-drama scene.”

Maria nodded. “She’s doomed.”

The bell rang again, and Y/N realized they were standing in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by curious students.

Jay sighed and finally said, “Relax. I’m joking.”

“Not funny,” Y/N muttered, cheeks pink.

“Oh, it’s a little funny,” he said, smirking as he walked past her. “See you around, Coffee Girl.”

The rest of the morning was a blur. Every time Y/N walked through the halls, someone whispered about the “coffee incident.”

By lunchtime, Kea was scrolling through her phone, gasping. “Y/N, you’re on the school blog.”

Y/N grabbed her phone. There it was—a picture of her, mid-apology, eyes wide like a deer in headlights.

The caption: “Jay from ENHYPEN’s mystery girl?!”

Maria said quietly, “At least you’re photogenic.”

“I’m dead,” Y/N groaned, hiding her face.

Just then, the cafeteria went silent. Jay had walked in with Jake, Sunoo, and Jungwon. Y/N’s stomach twisted.

Jake spotted her instantly. “Ohhh, Coffee Girl!”

Jay shook his head. “Don’t start.”

Sunoo giggled. “So this is her! She’s cute!”

Y/N wanted to disappear.

Jay looked at her and smirked. “You still owe me, by the way.”

“I’m not buying you another drink,” Y/N said, flustered.

“Who said anything about a drink?” Jay winked before walking away.

Kea fanned herself dramatically. “Y/N, you’re living my dream.”

“Your dream is my nightmare,” Y/N muttered.

Maria smiled faintly. “Maybe not for long.”

That night, Y/N stared at her reflection in the dorm mirror, replaying the day in her mind.

She groaned. “I can’t believe I embarrassed myself in front of a celebrity.”

From her bed, Kea grinned. “Oh, you didn’t just embarrass yourself—you created a love story.”

“More like a disaster,” Y/N said.

But somewhere deep inside, she wondered why she couldn’t stop thinking about his teasing smile.

“Everyone, listen up!” their teacher announced, clapping her hands at the front of the music room. “You’ll be working in pairs for your midterm project — a duet performance. I’ll assign partners randomly.”

Y/N froze. She hated random pairings. Every time fate got involved, it went wrong.

Kea leaned over and whispered, “Manifesting Jake.”

Maria whispered back, “Manifesting Sunghoon.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “I’m manifesting anyone but Jay.”

As if the universe was waiting for her to say that, the teacher scanned her list and said cheerfully, “Jay Park and Y/N!”

The room erupted in giggles and gasps.

Y/N’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Jay looked over from his seat, the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Guess you’re stuck with me, Coffee Girl.”

Kea was clutching Maria’s arm, whispering, “This is a fanfic in real life. Oh my gosh.”

Maria sighed softly, “Poor Y/N. She’s never catching a break.”

---

After class, Jay sauntered over, casual as ever. “Hey, partner.”

“Don’t call me that,” Y/N said, stuffing her notebook into her bag.

“Why not? We’re partners now.”

“You’re only happy because you get to make my life miserable.”

He grinned. “That’s a bonus.”

Y/N rolled her eyes and started walking, but he matched her pace. “You sing, right?” he asked.

“Obviously. This is a performance class.”

“Good,” Jay said, nodding. “Then let’s meet after class tomorrow to practice. Studio 3.”

She blinked. “Wait, you’re actually taking this seriously?”

“Of course. I’m not about to lose to Jungwon and Sunoo again.”

“Wow,” she muttered. “So I’m just your strategy?”

Jay flashed a teasing smile. “Nah. You’re my lucky charm.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat—just one. Then she quickly looked away. “You’re unbelievable.”

---

The next afternoon, she showed up to Studio 3 with a notebook full of song ideas. Jay was already there, sitting on the piano bench, tapping out a melody with casual confidence.

He looked up when she entered. “You’re late.”

“I’m two minutes early,” she said, dropping her bag.

He smirked. “Exactly. Late by Jay Standard Time.”

She groaned. “Remind me why I agreed to this?”

“Because I’m talented and handsome?”

“Because it’s graded,” she snapped, but her lips twitched in spite of herself.

---

They started practicing — and to Y/N’s surprise, Jay was… good. Really good. His voice was smooth, deep, and blended perfectly with hers. When they sang together, the air in the room felt electric, like something more than just notes was connecting them.

But of course, Jay noticed.

He smirked mid-verse. “You’re blushing, Coffee Girl.”

Y/N stopped playing and threw her pencil at him. “I’m not—”

“Totally are.”

She crossed her arms. “You’re impossible.”

He chuckled, leaning back against the piano. “And you’re fun to annoy. Good teamwork.”

Y/N huffed, turning away to hide her smile.

---

Hours later, as they packed up, Jay surprised her by saying quietly, “You’re actually really good, you know.”

She blinked. “What?”

“Your voice,” he said, not looking at her. “You sing with… feeling. It’s rare.”

Y/N felt her chest tighten a little. It wasn’t the words—it was the way he said them. Like he meant it.

“Thanks,” she murmured, unsure where to look.

Then Jay’s teasing tone returned. “Don’t let it get to your head, Coffee Girl.”

She groaned. “And there it is.”

He grinned, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Same time tomorrow?”

Y/N hesitated. “Yeah. Same time.”

---

As he left the room, Kea popped her head through the doorway. “So? Did you guys fight?”

Y/N sighed, gathering her papers. “Not exactly.”

Maria joined her, smiling knowingly. “Not yet, you mean.”

Y/N rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop smiling.

For someone who was “definitely not her type,” Jay had a way of making her heart beat just a little faster every time he looked at her.

By the third day of practice, Y/N had decided that working with Jay was like babysitting a confident, good-looking tornado.

He was talented—she couldn’t deny that—but he was also late every single time.

When she arrived at Studio 3, Jay was nowhere in sight. She set down her bag, checked the time, and sighed. “Fifteen minutes late. Typical.”

Kea’s voice buzzed in her head from this morning: “He’s testing you. Don’t fall for his charm.”

Maria’s calm advice followed: “Patience is a virtue.”

Y/N groaned, flopping into a chair. “Virtue or not, I’m about to lose mine.”

Just as she was about to pack up, the door creaked open. Jay slipped in, sunglasses on, holding two iced coffees.

“You’re late,” Y/N said flatly.

“I come bearing peace offerings,” he said, handing her one.

She raised a brow. “Is this supposed to make me forget that you wasted fifteen minutes of my life?”

He grinned. “Maybe twenty.”

Y/N glared—but took the drink anyway.

---

They started their usual warm-ups, Jay on guitar this time while Y/N scribbled notes on their song choice. They’d decided to perform a pop ballad — a mix of harmony and emotional build-up. Something simple, yet intimate.

Jay strummed a few chords. “Try that bridge again,” he said.

Y/N sang softly, focusing on the pitch. “I don’t need forever… just tonight with you…”

When she looked up, Jay was staring.

“What?” she asked.

He blinked, smiling faintly. “You hit that note perfectly this time.”

“Oh.” She turned quickly to her notebook. “Thanks.”

The silence that followed wasn’t awkward—it was something else. The air between them felt charged, like they were both pretending not to notice the way it felt to be this close.

Jay was the first to break it. “So, why’d you join this school anyway?”

Y/N looked up. “Singing’s always been my thing. Music feels… like home.”

He nodded slowly. “Same.”

It was a rare moment—Jay being serious. She found herself watching him, his usual smirk replaced by something softer.

Then he caught her staring. “Why? Falling for me already?”

Her serious expression vanished. “And there it is.”

He laughed, the sound deep and warm. “You make it too easy to tease you.”

“Well, stop.”

“Can’t. It’s my new hobby.”

Y/N grabbed a paper ball and threw it at him. He dodged effortlessly, grinning. “Terrible aim, Coffee Girl.”

“Terrible timing, Jay.”

---

After two hours, they managed to get through the whole song without stopping. For the first time, they sounded like an actual duo. Their voices melted together in a way that even Y/N had to admit was kind of magical.

When the last note faded, they both sat quietly, breathing heavily.

“That… wasn’t bad,” Jay said, still catching his breath.

Y/N smiled a little. “Coming from you, that’s practically an essay of praise.”

He chuckled, strumming a random chord. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“I won’t,” she said. But she was smiling anyway.

---

Later that evening, Y/N walked out of the studio with her earphones in, replaying their recording. She couldn’t believe how good they sounded together.

Maria and Kea were waiting near the dorm gates, waving.

“So?” Kea asked, eyes sparkling. “Was there tension? Did he flirt? Did you almost kiss?”

Y/N sighed. “It was practice, Kea. Not a drama scene.”

Maria smirked. “But you’re blushing.”

“I’m hot!” Y/N protested, tugging at her collar.

Kea wiggled her eyebrows. “Hot because of Jay maybe?”

“Goodbye.” Y/N walked past them, trying not to laugh.

But as she reached her dorm room, she couldn’t stop thinking about the way Jay looked at her when she sang. The way his voice softened when he said her name.

He wasn’t her type.

At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.

---

✨ End of Chapter 3 ✨