Chapter 1 – The First Clash

The classroom buzzed with the usual morning chaos—chairs scraping, whispers bouncing, the faint smell of marker ink clinging to the air.

Sunwoo sat near the window, chin propped on his palm, eyes fixed on the blue sky outside. If he focused hard enough, maybe he could pretend he wasn’t here at all—just a drifting cloud, far away from the noise and the one person who always seemed to zero in on him.

The door slammed open.

“Move,” Eric’s sharp voice cut through the chatter.

The tall boy strode in with his usual swagger, blazer hanging loose, tie untied. His presence filled the room instantly—half the class shrank back, the other half watched with a mix of awe and fear. Eric didn’t have to try to be the center of attention. He just was.

And, of course, his eyes landed right on Sunwoo.

“Morning, princess,” Eric drawled, tossing his bag on Sunwoo’s desk. “Did you miss me?”

Sunwoo sighed through his nose, refusing to look at him. “Wow. Guess the zoo forgot to lock its cages again.”

A snicker escaped from a nearby student, quickly stifled when Eric turned his head. His grin sharpened.

“Oh? What was that?” Eric leaned down, bracing one hand on Sunwoo’s desk, his face dangerously close. “Say it again. Louder this time.”

Sunwoo finally looked up, his dark eyes cool and defiant. For a second, the two of them just stared—Eric’s smirk, Sunwoo’s glare.

But when Eric’s hand closed over Sunwoo’s chair, tilting it slightly off the ground, Sunwoo’s heart skipped. He swallowed, his bravado faltering just a little.

“…I said, you’re exhausting,” Sunwoo muttered, his voice low now.

Eric chuckled, satisfied. “That’s better. Don’t forget your place, sassy boy.” He released the chair, letting it thud back down. Then, with infuriating ease, he plopped into the seat behind Sunwoo as if nothing had happened.

Sunwoo clenched his fists under the desk. He hated this—how his own words betrayed him, how Eric always had the last laugh. And yet… part of him was burning with something he couldn’t name.

As the teacher entered, Eric leaned forward, voice low near Sunwoo’s ear.

“Don’t get too comfortable, Sunwoo. I’m just getting started.”

Sunwoo shivered, refusing to turn around.

He hated Eric. Absolutely hated him.

…At least, that’s what he told himself.

The second period had barely begun when Sunwoo realized his life was doomed.

From the corner of his eye, he caught Eric leaning back in his chair, long legs sprawled, gaze fixed directly on him like a predator sizing up its prey.

Sunwoo gripped his pen tighter. If I ignore him, maybe he’ll get bored.

“Hey, Shorty,” Eric drawled under his breath, his voice a low rumble only Sunwoo could hear. “Forgot to bring your brain today too?”

Sunwoo’s pen snapped across the page. He didn’t look up. “Forgot to bring your manners again, I see. Oh wait—did you ever have any?”

The boy next to them stifled a laugh. Eric’s smirk widened.

Leaning forward, he plucked the pen right out of Sunwoo’s hand. “Hm. This one looks useful. I’ll borrow it.”

“That’s my only pen!” Sunwoo hissed, snatching at it, but Eric stretched his arm back with infuriating ease, holding it just out of reach.

“You should say please,” Eric teased.

“Please choke.”

A ripple of laughter passed through the nearby desks. Sunwoo’s ears burned, but he refused to back down. He crossed his arms and glared daggers at Eric.

Eric studied him for a beat, lips twitching—then he laughed. Actually laughed. It wasn’t his usual mocking snicker, but a genuine laugh that caught Sunwoo off guard.

Sunwoo blinked. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Eric said quickly, slipping the pen back into Sunwoo’s hand. His smirk returned in full force. “You’re just entertaining when you’re mad.”

Sunwoo wanted to throw the pen at his face. Instead, he bent back over his notebook, determined not to give Eric the satisfaction.

But the torment didn’t stop there.

Every few minutes, Eric leaned closer, whispering things designed to drive Sunwoo insane.

“Your handwriting looks like a dying spider.”

“Are you actually taking notes, or just drawing weird hieroglyphics?”

“Bet you’ll fail even with my help.”

Sunwoo’s responses grew sharper each time.

“Better a dying spider than a brain-dead gorilla.”

“At least my hieroglyphics make sense.”

“And no thanks—I’d rather fail than owe you anything.”

The teacher’s voice cut through suddenly. “You two. Since you enjoy each other’s company so much, you’ll be partners for the history project.”

The class erupted in snickers.

Sunwoo froze. Eric leaned back in his chair with the calm satisfaction of a cat catching a mouse.

“Looks like fate wants us together, partner,” he said, drawing out the last word until it dripped with mockery.

Sunwoo groaned, burying his face in his hands. This can’t be happening.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***