"Do you think he's actually poor?"
The question, spoken in a hushed but eager tone, rippled through the cssroom like a spark in dry grass. The students of J High loved a good rumor, and today, the topic of conversation was none other than Daniel.
Namsoo leaned back in his chair, barely hiding his smirk. He was loving this.
Ever since he transferred, Daniel had been that guy—the effortlessly good-looking and annoyingly strong guy that people looked up to. He was the type of guy who made everyone else feel like background characters. But now? If the rumors were true, then Namsoo had finally, finally surpassed Daniel in something.
Money.
Sure, Namsoo wasn’t rich, but at least he had some designer items. Even if they were secondhand, they were still real. Meanwhile, Daniel? If what people were people specuting, Daniel has nothing.
"I always thought he dressed too simple," someone whispered.
"Maybe that’s why he never talks about his family," another added.
"It makes sense, doesn’t it? He never brags about vacations or expensive stuff like the other rich kids."
Namsoo barely suppressed a ugh. 'Hah. Finally'. The guy who was always ahead of him in looks, strength, and status was actually behind in something. It felt like the universe was finally making things fair.
But just as the conversation was reaching its peak, the door to the cssroom opened—
And every single word died in the air.
Evelina had entered the room.
The effect was immediate. It was as if the entire cssroom had been thrown into golden sunlight.
She wasn’t just beautiful—she was unreal. Her fwless face, effortless grace, and quiet elegance made her stand out even in the wealthiest circles. But it wasn’t just her looks. Her voice was soothing, her demeanor kind, and her presence commanding without trying.
And today, she had completely outdone herself.
The hoodie she wore, seemingly casual, was anything but. It was from a luxury brand that only those with deep pockets and excellent taste could recognize. And her bag? Her wallet? Her shoes?
Solvi.
A stunned silence filled the room as students processed this. Solvi was more than just a fashion brand—it was a statement. Their clothing wasn’t just expensive; it was exclusively expensive. A single jacket could cost as much as an entire month’s sary for a well-paid worker. The craftsmanship was beyond compare, the designs timeless, and the comfort unmatched.
And Evelina? She wore it as if it was made for her.
It was perfect. She was perfect.
The boys were the first to recover, falling over themselves to compliment her.
“Evelina, you look incredible today.”
“You always do, but… damn.”
Even the girls, who were usually wary of hyping up another girl, found themselves nodding in agreement.
“She really is perfect.”
“She doesn’t even need to try…”
Evelina, oblivious to the chaos she caused, simply greeted Jay with a polite nod before making her way to her seat. She pulled out a book, flipped it open, and began reading.
Her silence only made her more untouchable. It was only when the teacher walked in that the css reluctantly returned to their seats.
=================================
When the lunch bell rang, the students expected Evelina to leave first, as usual.
Instead, she walked straight toward Daniel.
The room froze.
Every movement, every breath, every whisper came to a complete stop. The css collectively froze, watching as the elegant, untouchable Evelina approached the supposedly poor Daniel. Even Jay, who rarely reacted to anything, visibly tensed. His mouth opened slightly as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Daniel, sensing someone standing nearby, looked up.
His brown eyes met Evelina’s clear gray ones.
And then, she smiled.
“How is Mrs. Park?” she asked, her voice warm. "Oh, also I apologize for leaving early yesterday."
Daniel blinked. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness—just a genuine conversation between two people who clearly knew each other.
“She’s alright,” he replied. “And you don’t have to apologize for leaving early yesterday.”
“I still felt bad,” Evelina admitted with a small nod. “I wanted to stay longer.”
The two continued talking naturally, unaware of the absolute chaos unraveling around them.
The whispers started almost immediately.
“They… know each other?”
“Wait, no way. Does she like him?”
“Why do they look so good together?”
Jay, who had been unusually still, opened and closed his mouth again. His hands clenched slightly.
And then, the breaking point.
Evelina, after a few more words with Daniel, smiled at him again and walked back to her seat. She casually took out her lunchbox from her Solvi bag and headed outside.
Daniel stood up, asked Jiho if he wanted to go grab lunch with him. Jiho nodded, and they too, left.
Silence.
And then—
"EVELINA BELONGS TO THE BOYS! AND DANIEL BELONGS TO THE GIRLS!"
The room exploded.
It was a ridiculous thing to say, but it somehow captured what everyone was feeling. Evelina was the boys' dream girl—elegant, untouchable, and perfect. And Daniel? He was the unexpected heartthrob of the girls, the mysterious, strong, kind transfer.
They were not supposed to mix.
And yet, they had.
The boys looked absolutely devastated.
“No, no, no, this is all wrong!”
“Why is she talking to him like that?!”
“He’s not even rich!”
The girls weren’t any better.
“I thought Daniel was ours!”
“Why does he get Evelina’s attention too?”
“I don’t know whether to be jealous of Daniel or be mad at Evelina!” (AN - I know what you are.)
And then, the worst reaction of all.
Namsoo and the two rich kids in the css were seething.
“This is humiliating,” one of them hissed.
“The fact that Daniel—Daniel—has her attention is an insult.”
Namsoo, whose moment of victory had been completely erased, smmed his fist onto his desk. His face was red with anger.
"This isn’t right," he growled. "How does he get Evelina’s attention while being poor? That’s not how this is supposed to work."
The other two nodded in agreement, their hands tightening into fists.
They had to do something.
They had to humiliate Daniel.
Because there was no way a poor guy like him deserved to be anywhere near Evelina.
DaoistDumpling
