Him

Not all stories begin on a good note, and especially not when it comes to you...

You are Min Y/N, a girl far from home, away from the warmth of your mother, trying to survive alone in the country’s most expensive metropolitan city. A city where people live under their own conditions, where dreams are either built or crushed. You managed to rent a small room—too costly for a student, but your persuasive skills got the landlord to lower the price just a little. Every penny mattered. You balanced your expenses by working part-time as a cashier at a restaurant, barely managing to hold everything together.

But there was one thing you were proud of—your admission into one of the city's most elite universities. Your grades were exceptional, and you had worked tirelessly for this dream. However, what you didn’t know was that with something good, often comes something bad—like a storm waiting to tear apart your peaceful life…

---A Rude Awakening---

You were fast asleep, head down on your study table—last night had been exhausting after a long shift at work. Suddenly, a loud ringing cut through the silence, pulling you out of your sleep.

Half-conscious, you fumbled around the table, searching for your phone with eyes still shut. Your fingers finally found it, and without checking the screen, you pressed ‘answer.’

Y/N: Helloo…?

???: YAHHH! Y/N!! WHERE ARE YOU?! DID YOU FORGET ABOUT THE CLASS TEST TODAY?!

Your eyes snapped open.

Heart pounding, you quickly glanced at the caller ID—it was Eunah, your best friend—and then at the time.

Y/N: Aishhh… I’m going to be late…! (you mumbled under your breath). YAH, Eunah! I’ll be there in 20 minutes! Hanging up now—bye!

You jumped up, racing toward the bathroom, the panic in your chest growing with every passing second.

---

You arrived at the university out of breath, your legs burning from the rush. Without sparing a moment to look around, you darted towards your classroom, too preoccupied to notice that someone was watching you from a distance… very closely.

But you didn’t have time to care.

Y/N: Finally! We gave that test! (you sighed, stepping out of the class with Eunah).

You turned to your best friend, but her expression was far from relieved.

Y/N: Now what happened to you?

Eunah: My test went horribly… It was too difficult! Ugh, Professor Lee shouldn't have given such a tough test at the start! I feel terrible…

You let out a soft chuckle and gently linked your arm with hers.

Y/N: Yah… It’s okay. It was just one test. Don’t let it ruin your mood! (you smiled brightly, hoping to lift her spirits).

She nodded slightly, but before she could respond—

A figure stepped in front of you.

---The Encounter with Stacey---

A group of three girls stood there, blocking your way. At the center was Stacey—the most popular girl in the university, and the Dean’s daughter. Behind her were her ‘minions’—Lia and Soohyun.

Stacey: Hey, newbies. Where do you think you’re going?

Eunah’s eyes darkened.

Eunah: What do you want, Stacey?

Lia: Yah! How dare you raise your voice at the Dean’s daughter?!

Y/N: (quickly stepping in) Okay, calm down, everyone.

Soohyun: No, Y/N. Don’t stop us! Instead, make her understand that she should watch her attitude. Or else… she might end up like Misun.

Your heart stopped for a second.

Misun…

Everyone knew what had happened to her last week. Stacey had gotten her expelled from the university for nothing. And you couldn’t afford something like that happening to you.

But that didn’t mean you liked being their servant.

Stacey: (smirking as she stepped closer to you, placing a hand on your shoulder) Aww, Y/N, don’t look so scared. I have a little favor to ask.

Your fists clenched at her touch, but you forced yourself to stay calm.

Stacey: Go bring some refreshments for us at the basketball court. We’re going to cheer for our team. Our Taehyung-oppa is finally back after two weeks! We have to look our best for him.

Lia: Ahh! He came back from vacation! I missed him so much!

Soohyun: We need to prepare our outfits!

Your stomach churned at their excitement, but you had no choice but to obey.

--The Basketball Court – A Name That Shook the University--

With trays full of refreshments, you and Eunah arrived at the crowded basketball court. Students were cheering wildly, the energy in the air almost overwhelming.

You spotted Stacey and her squad, practicing near the front. Taking a deep breath, you hesitated before calling her name.

Y/N: Stacey…

She turned around and narrowed her eyes at you.

Stacey: You’re late. Now, hand over the drinks and don’t even think about leaving until I say so.

You wanted to protest, but before you could say a word, the announcer’s voice boomed across the stadium.

Announcer: WELCOME TEAM BLUE… AND THEIR CAPTAIN, KIM TAEHYUNG, REPRESENTING THE IT DEPARTMENT!

The moment his name was spoken, the entire stadium erupted in cheers.

Students jumped to their feet, screaming his name, clapping, and shouting excitedly. The noise was deafening.

Your eyes widened.

Even Eunah looked shocked.

Eunah: Y/N… let’s go see him!

She grabbed your wrist, pulling you towards a better view. The crowd was going crazy, chanting his name over and over again.

You tried to peek through the gaps, standing on your toes—

And then you saw him.

A tall figure, broad shoulders, a confident aura that demanded attention. His sharp gaze, his movements—everything about him screamed power.

He turned around slowly, his dark eyes scanning the crowd… and in that moment, his name left your lips in a whisper.

Y/N: Kim Taehyung…

To Be Continued…