prologue & chapter 1

Prologue:

Yuri is an exceptionally intelligent student who has always stood out among her peers. She not only excelled academically by acing every class but also demonstrated strong leadership skills by consistently being elected as the class president. Despite her numerous achievements and hard work, her mother never seemed to appreciate any of them, which was a source of great disappointment for Yuri.

From a young age, Yuri witnessed constant arguments between her parents. These fights often escalated until her father eventually found another woman and abandoned the family. This event marked a significant turning point in Yuri's life. Her mother, who had once been loving and supportive, underwent a drastic change in attitude. Consumed by bitterness and grief, she became an alcoholic and, tragically, even attempted to physically harm Yuri on several occasions.

When Yuri's grandparents learned about the deteriorating situation at home and her mother's abusive behavior, they decided to intervene. They took Yuri into their care, hoping to provide her with a safer environment and to support her mother in recovering from her struggles. Despite these efforts, many years have passed since Yuri last saw her mother, leaving a lingering sense of unresolved sadness and longing in Yuri's heart.

When she turned seventeen, she was in senior high school with only one year left before she would be heading off to college. The anticipation and excitement of this final year were palpable, and Yuri couldn't wait to see what adventures awaited her.

Chapter 1

Yuri woke up extra early to get ready for her first day of school. She wanted to make a good impression and ensure that she had enough time to get everything in order. After a quick breakfast, she grabbed her backpack and headed to the bus stop. The ride to school felt longer than usual, her mind racing with thoughts of her new classes, teachers, and classmates.

Once she arrived at the school, Yuri made her way to the second floor where her classroom was supposed to be. She thought she would be the only one there since it was still early, but when she opened the door, she was surprised to see many girls already inside. They were chatting excitedly, and a group of them, including the popular ones, were surrounding someone in the middle of the room.

Yuri tried to get a better look but was suddenly pulled to the side. It was her best friend, Sorah, who had a mischievous grin on her face. "You're finally here! I was wondering when you'd show up," Sorah said, giving Yuri a playful nudge. Yuri smiled, feeling a bit more at ease with her friend's familiar presence.

"What's going on over there?" Yuri asked, nodding towards the group of girls.

“Oh, you haven't heard about Enzo Hyung? He transferred to our school,” Sorah replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Enzo Hyung?” Yuri responded, her curiosity piqued.

“Yes, Enzo Hyung,” Sorah continued. “He’s the only son of the Hyung family, the ones who manage the largest company in Korea. Their family is incredibly well-known because of their immense success and influence in the business world. People say they have connections everywhere, and Enzo has always been in the spotlight because of it. It’s a big deal that he’s come to our school. Everyone’s talking about it.”

Yuri’s eyes widened as she absorbed the information. She had heard of the Hyung family before, but she never imagined she would be attending the same school as someone from such a prestigious background. The anticipation for her senior year had just reached a whole new level.

Suddenly, Yuri froze. He's almost perfect. What if he takes my place as valedictorian? Yuri thought to herself until sorah shrugged her shoulders and asked if she was alright.

“Can I go find my seat first?” Yuri asked, starting to walk towards the rows of desks. She wanted to settle in and organize her things before the class began. However, just as she was about to reach her seat, she was suddenly pushed hard to the ground.

Dazed and slightly hurt, Yuri looked back to see who had shoved her. It was Charlotte, one of the most popular students in the school. Charlotte stood there with a smug expression on her face, her eyes glinting with malice. Yuri knew that Charlotte was not just popular but also incredibly envious and jealous, traits that often led her to bully others.

As Yuri tried to pick herself up, she felt a sharp pain in her foot. Glancing down, she noticed that her toes had started bleeding from the harsh fall. The sight of her own blood made her wince, but she was determined not to show any weakness.

She looked around the room, hoping for some support. Her eyes met those of her boyfriend, Mike, who was standing nearby. To her dismay, he was just watching her, not making any move to help. His indifferent expression sent a pang through her heart, adding to her humiliation.

Just then, Sorah stepped in. With a look of concern and determination, she quickly moved to Yuri's side. "Come on, let's get you to the clinic," Sorah said, helping Yuri to her feet. She shot a glare at Charlotte before guiding Yuri out of the room.

At the clinic, the nurse carefully bandaged Yuri's toes, making sure the bleeding had stopped. "You should be more careful," the nurse advised gently. Yuri nodded, although she knew it wasn't her fault.

With her toes bandaged, Yuri and Sorah began walking back to their classroom. The hallway seemed quieter, the earlier excitement of the day now overshadowed by the incident.

As they walked, Sorah couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Why didn't Mike step in to help you?" she asked, her voice tinged with frustration on Yuri's behalf.

Yuri kept herself quiet, her mind swirling with hurt and confusion. She didn't want to admit how much Mike's inaction had affected her. Instead, she focused on putting one foot in front of the other, determined to get through the rest of the day despite everything.

Sorah noticed Yuri's silence and gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder. "It's going to be okay. We'll figure this out together," she said softly, offering her unwavering support.

As Yuri opened the classroom door, they saw that their classmates were already settled in their seats. The advisor, standing in front of her desk, gestured for Yuri and Sorah to take their places.

As Yuri made her way to her seat, she was taken aback to find Enzo Hyung already seated beside her.

-to be continued

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