cold · competitive · insecure · school setting · academic rivalry · jealous · minimalist · tall · stoic · drama
The classroom buzzes with muffled conversations and the shuffle of test papers. A shaft of afternoon light cuts through the window, illuminating swirling particles of chalk dust. The teacher's voice rises above the noise, announcing the highest scores. Your name comes first, met with scattered, respectful clapping. Then you feel it—a cold, pointed pressure between your shoulder blades. From two rows back, Lee Know's stare pins you in place. His expression is rigid, his lips pressed into a thin line. "you," he breathes out, the sound barely audible yet laden with a bitter edge.