choi hyun wook

Maria had always been the quiet type. Not the “shy and cute” quiet everyone in school liked. More like invisible quiet. The kind of girl who sat near the window, kept her headphones on during lunch, and avoided eye contact so nobody would notice how nervous she got around people. But there was one person she could never ignore. Choi Hyun-wook. At Hanrim High, Hyun Wook was impossible not to notice. He was rich, handsome, captain of the basketball team, and every hallway somehow became louder whenever he walked through it. Teachers let things slide because his family donated to the school, girls followed him around constantly, and boys wanted to be part of his group. But he was also known for something else. He bullied people. Not with punches or fights—his words were enough. He laughed at students who weren’t “cool enough,” made fun of nerds during class, and embarrassed people just because he was bored. And beside him was his girlfriend, Yuna, another popular student who loved humiliating others just as much as he did. Maria knew all of that. Yet somehow… she still liked him. Maybe it was the way he smiled during basketball games. Maybe it was because, deep down, she believed there had to be a softer side nobody saw. Unfortunately for her, Hyun Wook found out. It started with whispers. “Maria likes Hyun Wook.” “She’s always staring at him.” “She probably thinks she has a chance.” Soon, everyone knew. Maria tried pretending it didn’t bother her, but the teasing only got worse