Prologue

She always felt loved, but not always understood. Her parents cared for her, but their love was heavy with expectations. There were constant comparisons to her younger sister, the “perfect one.” It wasn’t jealousy—it was frustration. How could she measure up when she was never given a chance? Every argument seemed to end the same way: her parents pointing out how her sister excelled at everything, while she felt invisible.

Her dream of playing volleyball had long been tucked away, buried under years of “maybe next time” and “focus on your studies.” It hurt, but she had learned to stay quiet, to avoid the fights that left her feeling like an outsider in her own home. More than anything, she wanted to leave—not because she didn’t love her family, but because she longed for a place where she could truly be herself.

At school, things were simpler. Her world revolved around Sara and Somi, her only two friends. They were her escape, her safe place in the chaos. The three of them were inseparable, always laughing about their small “triangle” and finding joy in the little things. But even with them, she often felt a quiet restlessness, a nagging feeling that something was missing.

And then there was him.

He was a senior, the youngest son of his family, adored by everyone. Pampered yet grounded, he had a way of noticing things most people didn’t. The way someone’s eyes lingered a little too long on the floor, the way their voice faltered when they spoke—he saw it all. And one day, he saw her.

It wasn’t anything dramatic. She had dropped her books in the hallway, crouched down to pick them up as others rushed past. He had stopped to help, and for the briefest moment, their eyes met. She had smiled—a small, nervous smile—but it was the kind of smile that lingered. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real.

There was something about her that stayed with him after that day. Maybe it was the quiet way she carried herself, as though she was holding the weight of something she couldn’t share. Or maybe it was the way she smiled—soft and hesitant, with a dimple that appeared only when she forgot to hide it. She wasn’t like the others. She didn’t try to stand out, but somehow, she was impossible to ignore.

For her, it was just another moment in her day. She didn’t think twice about him, too preoccupied with her own thoughts, her own struggles. But for him, that moment was the beginning of something he couldn’t explain.

He started noticing her in the hallways, at the edge of the volleyball court during PE, watching from the sidelines. She seemed lost in her own world, her face a mixture of quiet determination and sadness. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. What was it about her that pulled him in?

She had no idea. She was too busy trying to escape—escape the comparisons, the arguments, the feeling of being trapped. All she wanted was a chance to be free, to find herself in a world that felt too small.

But fate had other plans. Sometimes, the people who see us when we can’t see ourselves are the ones who change everything.

This is their story—a tale of quiet observations, unspoken emotions, and the moments that bring two souls together when they least expect it......

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