Morning.
Silence.
—
Gu Gun was sleeping.
Slow breathing.
Deep.
As if the world outside did not exist.
—
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
A metallic sound exploded through the hallway.
— WAKE UP, YOU BUNCH OF LAZY BRATS!
His aunt's voice echoed through the house.
A frying pan banging without mercy.
—
— IT'S SEVEN ALREADY!
— SCHOOL WON'T WAIT FOR ANYONE!
—
Doors opened.
Fast footsteps.
—
Ji-hoon was already coming out of the bathroom, hair still wet, expression calm.
— I'm already awake, Mom.
—
Seo-yeon opened her door slowly, clearly annoyed.
— Do you not know how to wake people up like a normal person?
—
— No, I don't. — his aunt replied simply.
—
Lia appeared next, messy hair, sleepy face.
— How do you have this much energy in the morning...?
—
— Coffee.
—
Upstairs—
—
Gu Gun opened his eyes.
Slowly.
—
Silence for one second.
—
CLANG!
—
He closed them again.
— ...What a racket.
Low. Hoarse.
—
He rubbed his face.
Got up.
—
No rush.
No expression.
—
Cut.
—
Car.
Bright morning.
Seoul alive.
Traffic moving.
—
His aunt was driving.
Far too cheerful for that hour.
—
Lia in the front seat, scrolling through her phone while humming.
Ji-hoon beside her, reviewing something on his tablet.
Seo-yeon checking her reflection through her phone camera.
—
In the back seat—
Gu Gun.
Looking out the window.
—
Buildings.
People.
Another world.
—
— Today is an important day, — his aunt said excitedly.
— Gu's first day at school!
—
— Hm. — Ji-hoon replied without looking up.
—
— This should be interesting. — Lia smiled. — I want to see how he does.
—
Seo-yeon laughed lightly.
— If he doesn't scare everyone first.
—
Silence.
—
His aunt looked in the rearview mirror.
— Gu.
—
Nothing.
—
— Are you nervous?
—
Silence.
—
She frowned.
— I'm talking to you.
—
Nothing.
—
— GU GUN!
—
He did not even turn.
—
— When someone talks to you, you answer.
—
A few seconds passed.
—
— ...
—
— No.
Simple.
Direct.
—
His aunt sighed.
Less irritated.
More... tired.
—
— I know that... you used to be different.
—
Silence filled the car.
—
— You were a good boy.
— Smart.
— The best student in your school.
—
Lia turned in surprise.
— Him?
—
— He looks like a brick wall. — she whispered.
—
Seo-yeon smirked.
— A brick wall with issues.
—
— Don't talk like that. — said their mother.
—
She looked in the mirror again.
— It's a shame things happened the way they did...
A pause.
—
— But we don't live in the past.
— Let's focus on now.
—
Silence.
—
— Okay?
—
Gu Gun looked away from the window.
For one second.
—
— ...
—
— Fine.
—
She smiled faintly.
—
— I'll study.
—
— That's all.
—
— No more comments.
—
Silence.
—
She nodded.
— Fine.
—
The car slowed down.
—
Huge gates.
Imposing.
Security at the entrance.
—
Perfect uniforms.
Well-dressed students.
Luxury cars entering and leaving.
—
At the top—
An elegant sign:
DEVON ELITE PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL
—
Gu Gun looked at it.
No expression.
—
But observing everything.
—
— Welcome, — his aunt said.
—
— To the best school in Seoul.
—
Silence.
—
The car door opened.
—
And the game began.
—
Classroom.
Noise.
Loose conversations.
Phones.
Laughter.
—
The door opened.
—
The teacher entered.
— Sit down.
His voice was firm.
The room slowly settled.
— Today, we have a new student.
Some students looked curious.
Others did not care.
—
— He came from overseas.
A low murmur spread.
—
— Come in.
—
Silence.
—
Footsteps.
—
Gu Gun entered.
—
Tall.
Straight posture.
Broad shoulders.
Black hair falling over his eyes.
Prescription glasses.
Cold expression.
—
Presence.
—
The classroom felt it.
—
— Damn...
— He's handsome...
— Really handsome...
— He looks dangerous...
— I like him.
—
Whispers spread.
Girls leaned forward curiously.
—
— I want to talk to him.
— He looks like a drama lead.
— No... more like...
— Dangerous.
—
In the back—
A girl.
Glasses.
Natural red hair.
Delicate face.
No makeup.
But impossible to ignore.
—
Letícia.
—
She looked.
—
And froze.
—
— ...
—
"It's him."
—
The same one.
—
The guy from last night.
—
Her heart beat faster.
—
The teacher continued:
— Introduce yourself.
—
Silence.
—
Everyone watched.
—
Waiting.
—
Gu Gun looked around the room.
—
No interest.
No hurry.
No emotion.
—
— ...
—
He said nothing.
—
Walked forward.
Passed through the room.
Ignored every gaze.
And sat in the back.
—
Silence.
—
Then—
An explosion of whispers.
—
— He didn't say anything?!
— So arrogant...
— I love it.
— He's exactly my type.
—
— This guy thinks he's all that...
— Psycho...
— Arrogant foreigner...
—
The mood split.
—
Letícia glanced at him discreetly.
Trying to understand him.
—
Gu Gun slightly turned his head.
Looked directly at her.
For one second.
Cold.
—
She quickly turned away.
—
He ignored it.
As if nothing mattered.
—
But others were watching too.
—
A blond boy.
Aggressive eyes.
Strong build.
—
— Tch...
— I don't like that guy.
—
Another boy.
A light smile.
But dangerous eyes.
Like a snake.
—
— Interesting...
—
In the corner—
A third student.
Head resting on the desk.
Sleeping.
—
As if nothing mattered.
—
Time passed.
Class continued.
—
But no one was paying attention.
—
Because his presence...
weighed on the room.
—
The bell rang.
Break time.
—
Chairs scraping.
Students leaving.
Noise.
—
Gu Gun stood up.
Left.
—
Hallway.
Movement.
—
Then—
Raised voices.
—
— I already told you!
—
Gu Gun looked.
—
A boy cornered.
Holding his backpack.
—
In front of him—
A well-dressed student.
Expensive watch.
Arrogant eyes.
—
Name: Kang Dae-hyun
—
— You think you can talk to me like that?
—
The cornered boy trembled.
—
— My father matters here.
— Far more than yours.
—
A friend of the victim stepped in.
— That's enough, Dae-hyun!
—
— You can't do this!
—
Dae-hyun laughed.
—
— Yes, I can.
—
He stepped closer.
—
— Or did you forget...?
A pause.
—
— I have permission.
—
Silence around them.
—
Whispers began.
—
— Is he serious...?
— No way...
—
Dae-hyun continued:
— Jack allowed it.
—
Heavy silence.
—
— Jack...?
— You mean the...
— Leader of Ghost?
—
— That guy's insane...
— So that's why he controls this place...
—
— This gang era...
— It's getting worse...
—
Gu Gun watched.
Silent.
Expressionless.
—
Then—
A hand grabbed his shoulder.
—
— Hey.
—
Gu Gun looked.
—
Ji-hoon.
Serious.
—
— Don't interfere.
Low.
Direct.
—
He walked to the conflict.
—
— It's over.
—
Firm voice.
Authority.
—
— No bullying here.
—
Dae-hyun rolled his eyes.
—
— Ah... the president showed up.
—
Mocking smile.
—
— Relax.
He raised his hands.
—
— We'll talk later.
—
He leaned toward the victim's ear.
— This isn't over.
—
Then left.
—
The others dispersed.
—
Silence.
—
Ji-hoon sighed.
—
— What a headache...
—
He turned.
Saw Gu Gun.
Standing there.
Watching.
Cold.
—
They stared at each other for a second.
—
Silence.
—
Ji-hoon looked away.
And walked off.
—
Gu Gun stayed behind.
Thinking.
—
"Jack..."
—
A small spark of interest appeared.
Barely noticeable.
—
And for the first time...
—
School...
seemed slightly interesting.
—
Break time.
Movement.
Noise.
—
Gu Gun walked alone.
No rush.
—
He wasn't hungry.
—
Empty gaze.
Lost in the environment.
—
Then—
A sound.
—
Impact.
—
He looked.
—
Further below.
A more isolated part of the courtyard.
—
Kang Dae-hyun.
Again.
—
Park Jun-seo was on the ground.
—
Blood at the corner of his mouth.
Struggling to breathe.
—
Dae-hyun grabbed his collar.
Pulled him up.
—
— You embarrassed me.
Low voice.
Dangerous.
—
— In front of everyone.
—
A punch.
—
THUD.
—
— Today you'll puke from how badly I beat you.
—
Another one.
—
CRACK.
—
Jun-seo fell.
—
Around them—
Three boys.
Laughing.
Watching.
—
— Finish him already.
— Trash like him deserves it.
—
Jun-seo tried to stand.
Failed.
Shaking.
Spitting blood.
—
Gu Gun watched.
Silent.
—
He looked away.
Searched for something.
—
Further ahead—
Ji-hoon.
Talking.
Surrounded by students.
Praise.
Smiles.
Normality.
—
Gu Gun looked back.
—
Jun-seo on the ground.
Being kicked.
—
Silence.
—
Footsteps.
Calm.
—
He walked down.
One.
Two.
Three.
—
Stopped behind them.
—
Taller.
Heavier.
Presence.
—
One of them noticed.
Turned.
—
— Hm?
—
The others looked too.
—
Dae-hyun turned last.
Stared at him.
—
— Who are you?
—
Silence.
—
— What do you want?
—
Gu Gun did not answer.
Eyes half closed.
Cold.
—
Dae-hyun frowned.
—
— Are you deaf?
—
— Get lost.
—
— Can't you see we're busy?
—
Jun-seo coughed on the ground.
Blood.
—
Silence.
—
Gu Gun stepped forward.
Stopped.
Looked at all of them.
Then—
Spoke.
Low.
Without emotion:
—
— You got a cigarette?