“One day, you’ll miss the mornings you thought were ordinary.”
The first bell hadn’t rung yet.
The corridors of Hanyoung Middle School buzzed with sleepy conversations.
Someone yawned.
Someone ran because they were late.
Someone was already asking to copy homework.
Just another morning.
“…You’re late.”
Jisoo didn’t even look up from her notebook.
Jiwoo stopped in front of her desk.
“I prefer ‘fashionably delayed.'”
“You were twenty minutes fashionably delayed.”
“I know.”
“Were you asleep?”
“…Maybe.”
“You forgot to set your alarm.”
“…Maybe.”
“You stayed up watching dramas again.”
Jiwoo looked away.
“…Maybe.”
Jisoo sighed.
“I hate how easy you are to read.”
Jiwoo grinned.
“That’s because you’re my best friend.”
“I wish I weren’t.”
“You’d miss me.”
“…Probably.”
Both of them laughed.
Outside the classroom…
Heosok walked through the hallway carrying two cartons of chocolate milk.
He almost reached the door—
Someone bumped into him.
The chocolate milk slipped from his hands.
A hand caught one carton before it hit the floor.
Jisoo
She looked at it.
Then at Heosok.
“I think this belongs to gravity.”
Heosok took it back.
“I think gravity deserves better jokes.”
Jisoo placed a hand on her chest.
“That hurt.”
“It was supposed to.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“I’ve officially decided…”
“…I don’t like you.”
Heosok smiled.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Why?”
“I was planning to dislike you first.”
Jiwoo walked past them.
“…You two have known each other for less than a minute.”
Jisoo pointed at Heosok.
“He started it.”
“I literally dropped milk.”
“Exactly.”
“I don’t understand your logic.”
“You don’t have to.”
She walked away.
Heosok stared after her.
“…She’s impossible.”
Jisoo smiled without stopping.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t want to.”
“…You will.”
Near the school gate…
Yongi walked while reading another novel.
He didn’t notice the bicycle coming toward him.
Jiwoo happened to look outside.
“…Hey!”
She reached out through the open gate and grabbed the back of his school bag.
Yongi stumbled backward.
The bicycle rushed past.
Only then did he look up.
Jiwoo folded her arms.
“You know…”
“Books don’t usually run away.”
Yongi blinked.
“…Thank you.”
“I just saved your life.”
“You prevented a minor collision.”
She laughed.
“I like your confidence.”
“I like accurate wording.”
She smiled.
“…You’re weird.”
“So I’ve been told.”
For the first time…
Yongi noticed her smile.
It wasn’t loud.
It wasn’t perfect.
But somehow…
It made an ordinary morning feel brighter.
He looked back at his book.
Then quietly closed it.
“…I suppose I can read later.”
Jiwoo’s eyebrows rose.
“Wow.”
“I’ve achieved something.”
Later that afternoon…
Dong stood outside an office building.
A sign beside the entrance read:
Hanyoung Middle School Administration
He adjusted the folder in his hands.
Inside were school records.
Transfer forms.
And one application with a single name written neatly across the top.
Jeheon.
The receptionist smiled.
“How may I help you?”
Dong returned the smile.
“I’d like to discuss transferring a student.”
She nodded.
“Please come in.”
Dong stepped through the door.
He didn’t know it yet…
But this simple decision would quietly connect lives that had been separated for years.
Sometimes…
Destiny doesn’t arrive with thunder.
Sometimes…
It begins with a signature on a piece of paper.