As he turned and saw them, his eyes widened in genuine shock. "Wait—you guys go to school here? That's surprising. Small world, right?" he said, still trying to process the ce.

  Na-Yeon and Ha-Seong exged gnces before Ha-Seong smirked. "Yeah, it really is. But why are you here? I thought you weren't looking to get into college anytime soon."

  Travis scratched the back of his head, a zy grin f. "That's a tricky question, but I'll make sure to answer after css. For now, why don't I sit with you guys? I don't have any friends yet."

  Before he could say anything else, So-Yeon cleared her throat from behind him.

  "Besides Noona here," he quickly added, gng at her with a sheepish smile.

  So-Yeon simply rolled her eyes, but a small smirk tugged at her lips.

  Once css began, Travis made no effort to pay attention. Instead, he leaned in close to Na-Yeon and Ha-Seong, whispering jokes that had both of them struggling to hold back ughter. Na-Yeon clutched her stomach at one particurly bad pun, while Ha-Seong nearly fell out of his seat trying to suppress his snickers.

  So-Yeon shot them a sharp gnce from the front of the room, her expression unamused.

  "Sorry," Travis mouthed, but his grin didn't fade.

  By the time css ended, So-Yeon was already approag him. She crossed her arms and looked up at him with a knowing expression. "I'd like to see you after css," she said, her tone leaving no room fument.

  Travis barely hesitated before shrugging. "Sure. Sounds fun."

  Once everyone had left and the was empty, So-Yeon shut the door and leaned against her desk. Her dark eyes locked onto him, unimpressed.

  "I'm really disappointed in you," she said, shaking her head. "It's your first day, and you're already misbehaving. Lucky for you, I'm a good teacher, so instead of actual punishment, you'll just be doing some manual bor for me."

  Travis let out a dramatic sigh, ag like it was the worst thing in the world. "Manual bor? Noona, have mercy."

  But inside, he was smirking. His pn was w perfectly.

  So-Yeon handed him a stack of thick folders, eae packed with papers, but Travis carried them with ease as they walked down the hallway toward her office. His arms barely strained uhe weight, making it clear that this so-called "punishment" was hardly a challenge for him.

  "Not bad," she muttered, gng at him from the er of her eye. "Most students would be struggling by now."

  Travis smirked. "What I say? I'm built different."

  She rolled her eyes but didn't ent.

  As they made their ast groups of students lingering in the halls, Travis leaned in slightly. "So, I heard some of your students got caught... you know... doing things they shouldn't be doing today."

  So-Yeon sighed, clearly unimpressed. "Oh, that? Please, that kind of thing happens all the time here."

  Travis raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?"

  She nodded, her voice dropping to a more casual tone. "Yeah, there's actually a rumoing around about a 'Sextudy Group'—basically a bunch of students who mix studying with... other activities." She shrugged. "Then there's supposedly an exhibitionist roaming the school, someone who gets off on being seen. And don't eve me started on the drama students. Apparently, they stripped some pirl naked during a py for 'artistic reasons.'"

  Travis let out a low whistle. "Damn. This school's got more a than I expected."

  So-Yeon smirked. "It's like a pce filled with young minds overflowing with all kinds of desires and ambitions. Some academie... not so much."

  Travis pursed his lips in amusement. "I mean... it kinda is, isn't it?"

  "Exactly," she said with a shrug. "That's why I don't bother paying much attention to all that nonsense. But my colleagues?" She let out an exaggerated groan. "They're always talking about it, obsessing over every little sdal like they're running some kind of gossip n."

  She shot him a look before smirking. "Especially this one nympho bitch I work with. I swear, she's slept with half the school. You'd probably like her."

  Travis chuckled, shaking his head. 'Oh, I kly who she's talking about. She's a hoe, and I'm definitely not simp enough to wife her up. But as a side piece? Maybe. Who knows—could have a ge of heart.'

  As they walked, So-Yeon's eyes flickered toward Travis, finally notig just how effortlessly he carried the heavy stack of files. His arms remaieady, his expression unbothered, not even the slightest sign of struggle.

  "Wow," she mused, tilting her head. "You must be really strong. Haven't heard a single peep from you pining."

  Travis smirked, shifting the weight of the folders slightly. "I mean, I work out for situations like this—where I get to help a hot woman with her stuff."

  So-Yeo out a soft giggle, her lips curling into a smirk. "You really think I'm hot?" She g him, eyes pyful yet teasing. "Wait till you see me naked. I'm sure you'll be disgusted."

  Travis opened his mouth to fire back, but before he could, the sudden chime of her phoerrupted them. So-Yeon sighed and pulled it from her pocket, gng at the s before answering.

  "Yes?" she said, her tone shifting into something more formal.

  Travis watched as she listened, her expression ging almost instantly. The lighthearted amusement vanished, repced by something unreadable. Her lips pressed into a thin line, her fiightening around the phone.

  A minute passed, then another. When the call finally ended, she lowered the phone slowly a out a long, exhausted sigh.

  Travis frowned. "What's wrong?"

  She turo him, her shoulders sinking slightly. "Well… I just got fired."

  Travis bliaken aback. "What? Are you serious?"

  She nodded, letting out a breathy ugh, but there was no real humor in it. "Yeah. I'll stop teag by semester."

  His brows furrowed, creeping into his voice. "I'm so sorry. Did they even give you a reason?"

  "hat I know of," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck. "But I did hear someone bought the college retly. Guess that might have something to do with it."

  Travis stayed silent for a moment, watg her carefully. There was something about the way she spoke—like she was trying to vince herself it didn't matter, but deep down, it did.

  Then, without warning, So-Yeon took the files from his hands and—

  Scattered them across the floor.

  Travis raised an eyebrow, watg as papers fluttered in all dires, creating a mess in the middle of the hallway.

  She exhaled, stretg her arms above her head with a slow, zy grin. "You know what? It doesn't matter. In fact…" Her eyes gleamed with something wild and reckless. "I'm free. Well, until semester, but that just means I don't have to give a damn about what this school says or does. Because either way, I'm out."

  A mischievous smirk tugged at her lips as she turo face him. "So, let's go party. My treat."

  For a brief sed, Travis just stared at her. Then, slowly, his own grin spread across his face.

  "Yeah," he said, his voice ced with amusement. "That sounds great."

  As she ughed and started walking ahead, Travis shoved his hands into his pockets, his smirk deepening.

  'It's all going acc to pn,' he thought.

  TO BE TINUED