why you should always love me

The gates of St. Lysander University didn’t welcome you in—they dared you to enter. Black wrought iron curved into sharp arcs, gold-accented with a family crest older than the country. A line of luxury cars idled beyond the entrance as valets opened doors for heirs and heiresses with bloodlines so thick it was practically currency. Han Eun-ha stood on the opposite sidewalk, gripping the fraying straps of her canvas backpack. Her blazer was secondhand, her shoes polished to a dull shine, and her acceptance letter folded three times in the front pocket of her jeans like a secret. This was the moment she’d dreamed of. And dreaded. St. Lysander wasn’t just a university. It was a fortress of legacy. The type of place where chaebol sons played politics over brunch and daughters of diplomats prepped for marriages like business deals. And Eun-ha? She was the girl with a perfect GPA, a scholarship born of sweat, and parents who couldn’t afford a broken washing machine. She didn’t belong. But she was here. And if she had to bleed to stay, she would. --- Her first steps onto campus felt like trespassing. The buildings were made of old stone and slick glass, like history and wealth had a love child. Students strolled in pressed uniforms, their laughter light, their eyes dismissive. Every bench looked too clean to sit on. She kept her head down, her steps even. Rule number one: act like you belong. Rule number two: never let them see you break. --- The crash came out of nowhere. One second she was turning a corner toward the admin building, and the next—her body slammed into someone else’s. Her books scattered. Her balance slipped. And her breath caught as a strong hand steadied her by the elbow. “Watch where you’re going.” The voice was deep. Smooth. Bored. She looked up—and everything stopped. Tall. Dressed like he owned the place. Hair falling in perfect waves, dark eyes that looked at her the way a wolf sizes up something new. And a jawline that was almost too sharp to be real. Seo Jae-won. The name echoed like a warning bell. He was the heir to the Dalen Group, one of Korea’s most powerful conglomerates. Rumored to have dated a drama actress. Known for crashing expensive sports cars and never apologizing. Every girl on campus either wanted him or hated the ones who had him. And now he was staring at her like she was an alien. “I—I’m sorry,” she muttered, kneeling to collect her papers. Jae-won crouched with an elegant slowness, plucking one of her textbooks from the ground. “Scholarship kid?” he asked, scanning her notes with a crooked smile. Eun-ha grabbed it back. “None of your business.” He straightened, amused. “Feisty.” She shoved her books into her bag and walked past him. Behind her, he said, “Don’t trip on your pride.” She didn’t look back. But her hands were shaking. --- Orientation was held in the Grand Hall, a building with marble columns and velvet drapes. Everything smelled like polished wood and money. Eun-ha sat in the last row. Someone slid into the seat beside her. She didn’t turn until she heard the whisper. “There she is. The charity case.” She looked up. Min So-hee. Gorgeous. Rich. Cold. The kind of girl who wore designer shoes and still looked down on people. Rumor said she was Jae-won’s childhood friend. Some said more. So-hee smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t get too comfortable. People like you don’t last here.” Eun-ha faced forward. “People like me don’t quit either.” So-hee scoffed. “We’ll see.” --- By week one, it was clear: Jae-won had taken an interest in her. He started appearing where she was. Sitting next to her in class. Holding the elevator door. Making quiet comments just loud enough for her to hear. “You always this serious?” “Do you study for fun?” “You act like you hate me, but you keep reacting.” She tried to ignore him. But it was impossible. He was magnetic, maddening, and dangerously unreadable. --- The rumors started. “She’s chasing him.” “No, he’s messing with her. Like always.” “Scholarship girls always dream too high.” Her locker was filled with sticky notes one day. Stay away. You don’t belong. You’re not even pretty. Eun-ha peeled each one off with steady hands and threw them away. Then she went to class and scored the highest mark on the exam. --- One rainy evening, she was sitting under the library eaves, hunched over her notebook, when someone dropped an umbrella in front of her. She looked up. Jae-won. “You’ll catch a cold,” he said. She stared at him. “Why do you keep bothering me?” “Because you look at me like I’m not a god.” “You’re not,” she said. A slow smile curled his lips. “Exactly.” --- That weekend, So-hee cornered her in the hallway. “Whatever game you think you’re playing,” she hissed, “stop. Jae-won’s not for you.” Eun-ha didn’t flinch. “Then why hasn’t he picked you?” So-hee slapped her. A perfect, practiced motion. Eun-ha’s cheek burned. But she only said, “Thank you. Now I know what kind of person you are.” --- Jae-won found her on Monday. “Why didn’t you tell me she hit you?” Eun-ha looked him in the eye. “Because you would’ve made it about you.” He blinked. She continued, “You want me to be different. Interesting. But I’m not here for that. I’m here to survive.” He stepped closer. “You don’t have to survive alone.” “Then stop being another thing I have to fight.” He reached for her hand. “Let me try.” And this time, she didn’t pull away. --- End of Chapter 1 [To Be Continued…]