Chapter 2-Whispers
614 Words
Alicia barely slept that night.
The dorm room was small but clean, with two beds, a desk, and a window overlooking the campus courtyard. Her roommate hadn’t arrived yet, which meant the silence felt even louder.
She stared at the ceiling, replaying what had happened earlier.
Park Min-ho.
Even thinking about his name made her uneasy.
The way he looked at her… like he already knew something about her.
And then there was Kang Jae-hyun.
His smile had been friendly, but something about him felt strange. Too confident. Too comfortable.
Alicia sighed and rolled over.
“Maybe I’m overthinking everything,” she whispered.
After all, it was only her first day.
The next morning, the campus was already alive with students rushing to classes.
Alicia walked across the courtyard holding her schedule tightly.
Introduction to International Business.
Room 304.
Simple enough.
But the moment she stepped inside the classroom, the quiet conversations stopped.
Dozens of eyes turned toward her.
Whispers followed immediately.
“That’s her.”
“The Ugandan student.”
“I heard she got a full scholarship.”
Alicia kept her head up and walked to an empty seat near the middle.
She had promised herself something before leaving home.
No matter what happens… don’t let them see you break.
Just as the professor began explaining the course, the classroom door opened.
A tall figure walked in casually like he owned the room.
Park Min-ho.
The professor didn’t even question him for being late.
“Take your seat,” he said calmly.
Min-ho’s eyes scanned the room once… then stopped.
On Alicia.
For a moment neither of them looked away.
Then, to Alicia’s shock, he walked directly toward her row and sat down in the seat beside her.
The whispers grew louder.
“Why is he sitting there?”
“They don’t even know each other.”
Alicia kept her eyes on her notebook, pretending not to notice.
But she could feel Min-ho’s presence next to her.
After a few minutes he leaned slightly closer and spoke quietly.
“You shouldn’t sit here.”
Alicia frowned and finally turned to him.
“Why?”
His expression didn’t change.
“Because people are already watching you.”
Before she could respond, another voice interrupted from behind them.
“Well, that’s because she’s the most interesting person on campus right now.”
Alicia turned.
Kang Jae-hyun leaned casually against the desk behind them, smiling like everything was a joke.
Min-ho’s jaw tightened.
“Jae-hyun,” he said coldly.
But Jae-hyun ignored the warning and looked directly at Alicia.
“Did anyone tell you the news yet?”
Alicia blinked.
“What news?”
Jae-hyun tilted his head slightly, studying her reaction.
Then he said the words that made Alicia’s stomach drop.
“Your name is already all over the university forum.”
Alicia felt a sudden chill run through her body.
“What are you talking about?”
Jae-hyun pulled out his phone and slowly placed it on her desk.
“See for yourself.”
Alicia hesitated before looking at the screen.
At the top of the post was a bold headline.
“Scholarship Student from Uganda Accused of Cheating.”
Her heart stopped.
Below the headline were photos.
Photos of her entrance exam papers.
And a message that made her blood run cold.
Proof will be released tonight.
Alicia’s hands began to shake.
“I didn’t do this,” she whispered.
But when she looked up, Min-ho was already watching her carefully.
Like he was trying to decide something.
And Jae-hyun… was still smiling.
“Welcome to Seoul International University,” he said softly.
“Things are about to get very interesting.”
- Writer
