"Who are they?" Soo-ji questioned, genuinely puzzled.
"The Heirs," Bo-ram replied simply, sipping her drink.
"I thought you'd never ask," Joon-seok said, all hyped up. "Get seated," he said, tapping the seat beside him.
Still puzzled but oddly interested, Soo-ji slowly sat beside him.
The Seven Heirs.
The untouchables of Byeolrim Academy.
Born into wealth, wrapped in luxury, feared by teachers, worshipped by students.
There were rumors that the school itself only existed because their families funded more than half the campus.
And honestly? Nobody doubted it.
They were divided into two circles: The Royals and The Elites. Together, they ruled the school like modern-day aristocrats.
First to step in was Park Do-yoon.
Soft brown hair fell naturally over his forehead, his sleepy eyes carrying that unfair kind of beauty that made people melt instantly. His tie hung loose around his neck while a lollipop rested between his lips.
The girls nearest to the cafeteria door nearly collapsed.
"He's so cute…"
"The cutest Royal, seriously."
Do-yoon simply smiled politely before bowing slightly at an elderly janitor carrying boxes.
That alone caused another wave of screams.
Unlike the others, Do-yoon never acted superior. He remembered birthdays, helped first-years carry books, and somehow made kindness look attractive.
Rumors claimed he secretly trained under a famous K-pop entertainment company.
Nobody knew if it was true. But with visuals like that? People believed anything.
Then came the sound of heavy footsteps.
Min-jae stepped in next.
And the entire mood changed.
Tall. Broad shoulders. Cold eyes sharp enough to make people nervous from a distance alone. His blazer rested carelessly over one shoulder while his sleeves were rolled up slightly, exposing veined forearms that had become a literal topic on the school confession page.
Students immediately straightened up.
Min-jae didn't smile.
He rarely ever did, but that only made him worse… or better.
Depending on who you asked.
"Didn't he dump a university girl last month?"
"No, no, she dumped him."
"She cried for three days—"
"Wasn't she twenty-two?"
The whispers spread instantly.
It was an unspoken fact throughout Byeolrim Academy that Min-jae only dated older women, and never for more than six weeks.
Nobody knew why.
Nobody dared ask.
He walked past the crowd with one hand in his pocket, completely unfazed by the attention following him like perfume.
Then—
The atmosphere froze.
Even the teachers went silent.
Because only one person walked into places like he owned them.
Han Jae-woo.
Leader of the Royals.
The boy every parent wanted their son to become.
Top athlete. Student council president. National fencing representative. Second smartest student in the entire academy. Not to forget, it was impossible to, terrifyingly handsome.
Jae-woo stepped in calmly, adjusting the cuff of his watch before lifting his eyes toward the crowd.
The reaction was immediate.
Phones rose.
Whispers exploded.
Some girls literally hid behind their friends to avoid eye contact.
Unlike Do-yoon's warmth or Min-jae's dangerous charm, Han Jae-woo carried something colder.
Control.
He never wasted words.
Never lost composure.
Never dated girls from Byeolrim Academy.
Not once.
Which somehow made half the female population even more obsessed with him.
Jae-woo glanced at the crowd only briefly before speaking.
"We're late."
That was it.
Three words.
And somehow, it sounded expensive.
The Elites arrived right after.
The first girl to walk in was Nari.
Quiet. Elegant. Untouchable.
While others fought for attention, Nari seemed to avoid it completely.
Her headphones rested around her neck while a cello case was carefully held beside her body. Long dark hair flowed perfectly against her uniform, her expression unreadable as always.
Third smartest student in the academy.
Winner of multiple national art and music competitions.
People often described her as "beautiful in a painful way."
Nobody truly knew what she was thinking, and maybe that mystery made her even more admired.
"She rejected a scholarship to Juilliard, right?"
"My cousin said she composes music at night."
"She's insane at painting too…"
Nari ignored every whisper and walked silently inside like she belonged somewhere far away from everyone else.
Then came the sound of heels.
Sharp. Confident. Expensive.
Kim Seo-ra stepped in next while fixing the sleeve of her designer cardigan.
Fashion icon of Byeolrim Academy.
Trendsetter. Social butterfly. Professional heartbreaker.
Seo-ra always treated the school hallway like her personal runway, and honestly? Nobody complained.
Every week, students copied her hairstyles, accessories, even the way she rolled her sleeves.
She noticed it too.
Which only fed her ego further.
"Oh my God, that bag is from Paris."
"She changed her nails again…"
"She's literally unreal."
Seo-ra smirked after hearing the comments before slipping on her sunglasses dramatically despite being indoors.
Extra for absolutely no reason.
And finally—
Silence.
Not admiration.
Fear.
Choi Soo-jin stepped in like a villain entering her own movie scene.
Perfect makeup. Sharp gaze. Cold expression.
Her heels clicked against the pavement while students immediately moved aside without being told.
The apparent leader of the Elites.
And the cruelest girl in Byeolrim Academy.
Soo-jin didn't need to raise her voice to intimidate people. One look from her was enough to make first-years apologize for things they didn't even do.
Rich. Ruthless. Beautiful.
A dangerous combination.
"She made a girl transfer last semester…"
"I heard she got suspended in middle school."
"Shh, she'll hear you—"
Soo-jin's eyes swept across the crowd before stopping briefly on a trembling student blocking her path.
"Move."
The girl nearly tripped over herself trying to obey.
"I've never seen the hype around her honestly. Don't get intimidated by her, she's not all that," Bo-ram said nonchalantly.
Soo-jin's eyes met Bo-ram's once, then she simply walked past.
Seo-ra chuckled softly.
Nari remained expressionless.
And just like that,
The Seven Heirs reunited at the VVIP table.
The Royals above.
The Elites below.
Like two kingdoms meeting in the middle of the empire they ruled.
"Wow… they are so cool, and I thought this type of stuff only happened in dramas," Soo-ji said, amused. Then she paused. "But there are only six here. Who is the last one?" she questioned curiously.
Joon-seok shook his head.
"Kang Jae-hyuk. He doesn't like to be talked about. He never identifies with the Heirs, never. In fact, he never identifies with anyone. Even teachers are scared of him. He's the top student not only in Seongbuk-dong, but in the entirety of Korea. Second-best athlete at Byeolrim Academy too."
"Rumors have it his father is the most powerful among all of them," Bo-ram contributed.
"His parents are well feared in Korea. They were both involved in politics before they left Korea," Joon-seok explained.
"If they're no longer here, does that mean…" she said, letting her words trail off.
"Correct. All the Royals and Elites live alone. All their parents stay abroad except Soo-jin," Bo-ram said and scoffed. "I told you all she's just overrated."
"Anyways," Joon-seok said, trying to shift the mood, "who is your bias?" he questioned curiously.
"My bias?" she questioned, confused.
"Yes, among the Heirs, who intrigues you the most?" Bo-ram explained.
"No one can beat my one true crush, Mr. Hae-in," Soo-ji said in her head while smiling before looking back at Bo-ram.
"I don't know, but I guess from first impressions, I really like Nari. I love her aesthetic," she replied.
"No way! That means you'll really like Jae-hyuk," Bo-ram said teasingly, nudging her arm.
"No way!" Joon-seok said, holding his hand over his mouth, his expression obviously terrified.
"What?" Bo-ram questioned curiously.
"I got so caught up in final-year planning that I forgot we have our first test tomorrow," he said, clearly horrified.
"Test?" Soo-ji screamed in awe and terror.