A Glimpse of Belonging

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, casting a soft light on Seoyeon’s room. Today was a new day—her first full day at Mokhwa High School. She couldn’t decide whether she was nervous or excited. A mixture of both settled deep in her chest as she adjusted her uniform and glanced at her reflection. She was about to step into the unknown once again.

As she and her younger sister walked alongside their father, the familiar streets of Mokhwa felt a little less daunting, though the weight of the unknown still hung heavily over Seoyeon. Her sister, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed, chattering away about her new school day as if nothing had changed. Seoyeon smiled faintly, but her heart raced a little faster with every step toward the school gates.

Once they reached the school, Seoyeon’s sister was taken to her own class, and Seoyeon was left alone with a senior student who had been assigned to guide her to her new class.

The senior’s name was Jiwon, a kind-faced girl with short hair and a welcoming smile. As they walked toward the classroom, Seoyeon felt a slight knot in her stomach. The halls were filled with the chatter of students—laughter, voices, the constant hum of activity. The door to the classroom opened, and Seoyeon stepped inside.

The moment she entered, all conversations seemed to pause. The entire room fell silent for a brief second, and every pair of eyes turned toward her. Seoyeon could feel the weight of their gazes, each one curious, skeptical, or indifferent. Just as quickly, however, the students returned to their conversations, laughing and chatting again as if nothing had happened.

“Alright, everyone,” Jiwon said loudly, her voice cutting through the noise. “This is Seoyeon. She’s a new student, so let’s make sure she feels comfortable here.”

Seoyeon felt a slight flush on her cheeks. No one had ever made her feel like this—like she was seen, like she mattered. But it didn’t ease the awkwardness that gripped her. Jiwon turned to Seoyeon and asked, “Is there a specific seat you’d like to take?”

Seoyeon blinked in surprise. The question was simple, yet it made her feel strangely vulnerable. No one’s ever asked me what I prefer before, she thought to herself. But she didn’t know how to answer.

“I… I don’t mind,” Seoyeon muttered, avoiding everyone’s gaze.

Jiwon, sensing her hesitation, smiled gently and led her to a desk in the middle of the room, where two girls were already sitting.

“These two will sit with you,” Jiwon said. “Take care of her, okay?” She turned to the girls, who nodded enthusiastically.

Seoyeon sat down, her heart pounding in her chest. She was still trying to adjust, still unsure of how to talk to her new classmates. The two girls beside her began talking as if they had known each other for years, their voices light and easy.

One of the girls, with long dark hair and a warm smile, turned to Seoyeon. “I’m Sumin,” she said. “Nice to meet you!”

Seoyeon smiled, unsure of how to respond, but said softly, “I’m Seoyeon.”

The other girl, with shorter hair and an easygoing demeanor, smiled as well. “I’m Haeun. Welcome to our class!”

The three of them introduced themselves, and for the first time in a long while, Seoyeon felt like she was part of something. Even though she was still feeling a little awkward, the warmth in their voices made her feel a little less out of place. The girls continued talking with each other, mostly about their classes and upcoming school events, while Seoyeon quietly listened, still trying to find her place in the conversation.

Suddenly, Haeun paused and looked over to the third row, where a boy was sitting alone. She narrowed her eyes and then called out loudly, “Jinwoo! What are you looking at?”

Seoyeon’s heart skipped a beat as she followed Haeun’s gaze. The boy—Jinwoo—was sitting two rows over, and his eyes were fixed on her. His gaze was intense but fleeting, as if he hadn’t meant to be caught staring. As soon as he realized he’d been noticed, he quickly looked away, a small laugh escaping his lips.

The whole bench burst into laughter, except for Seoyeon. She could feel her face warm in embarrassment, but she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Jinwoo.

Haeun giggled, nudging Seoyeon. “He’s cute, right? Don’t worry, he’s harmless.”

Seoyeon didn’t respond, her gaze still fixed on Jinwoo, who was now awkwardly pretending to study his notebook, his cheeks slightly flushed. She couldn’t help but wonder Is he really looking at me? Or am i just being delusional?

Jinwoo looked up once more, his eyes meeting Seoyeon’s for a split second before he quickly looked away, his lips curving into a shy smile. The whole room seemed to fade into the background as Seoyeon’s heart skipped another beat.

“He’s kind of shy, huh?” Haeun whispered with a teasing grin.

Seoyeon didn’t know how to respond. She just smiled faintly, feeling both embarrassed and oddly curious.

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