Our Secret Spring

The Spring Festival

The rain had stopped by morning, leaving the campus fresh and sparkling beneath the warm spring sun.

Colorful banners fluttered across Haneul High School as students hurried to decorate booths for the annual Spring Festival.

Laughter echoed through every corner of the campus.

For one day, there were no exams.

No homework.

Only fun.

Ji-ah stood beside her class's food stall, carefully arranging trays of homemade rice cakes.

"They look amazing!" Ha-neul said, stealing one before Ji-ah could stop her.

"Ha-neul!"

"What?" she mumbled with a full mouth. "I'm just making sure they're safe to eat."

Ji-ah laughed.

"You've already eaten three."

"And I'll eat three more."

The girls burst into laughter.

Meanwhile...

Inside the gymnasium...

Cheers erupted as the basketball team finished their exhibition match.

"Han Seo-jun!"

"Captain!"

"We love you!"

Seo-jun waved politely before making his way outside.

Instead of joining the crowd surrounding him, his eyes searched the festival grounds.

Until...

He spotted Ji-ah.

She was helping an elderly visitor carry a heavy box.

Without hesitation, he walked over.

"Need some help?"

Ji-ah smiled.

"I've got it."

"I'm sure you do."

Before she could protest, he lifted the box effortlessly.

The elderly woman smiled warmly.

"What a handsome young man."

Seo-jun bowed respectfully.

"I'm just helping."

She looked between the two students.

"You make a lovely couple."

Ji-ah nearly dropped the tray she was holding.

"W-We aren't—"

"We're classmates," Seo-jun finished with a polite smile.

The elderly woman chuckled.

"That's how every beautiful love story begins."

Ji-ah felt her face grow hot.

Across the festival grounds...

Choi Min-seo watched everything.

She had spent the entire morning trying to get Seo-jun's attention.

He hadn't looked at her once.

But for Ji-ah...

He smiled.

He helped her.

He even skipped interviews with the student newspaper to stay by her side.

Min-seo's jealousy burned hotter with every passing minute.

"This ends today," she whispered.

She quietly walked toward the food stall.

When no one was looking...

She picked up a small bottle from her handbag.

Cooking oil.

She poured a thin layer onto the wooden steps behind the booth.

Then she walked away as if nothing had happened.

A few minutes later...

Mrs. Kim called from across the courtyard.

"Ji-ah, could you bring these drinks to the music club?"

"Of course!"

Ji-ah picked up a tray filled with cups and hurried toward the stairs behind the booth.

She wasn't watching the ground.

Her foot landed on the spilled oil.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh!"

She slipped.

The tray flew into the air.

Students screamed.

Before Ji-ah hit the ground...

Someone grabbed her wrist.

A strong arm wrapped around her waist.

The drinks crashed onto the pavement.

For a moment...

Time seemed to stop.

Ji-ah slowly opened her eyes.

Seo-jun was holding her securely.

His heart pounded against his chest.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Ji-ah nodded, still stunned.

"I... I think so."

Their faces were only inches apart.

Around them, students had already begun whispering.

Someone pulled out a phone.

Another took pictures.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Seo-jun gently helped Ji-ah stand.

His expression changed the moment he noticed the oily steps.

He frowned.

"This wasn't an accident."

Ji-ah looked down.

The oil glistened in the sunlight.

Someone had put it there on purpose.

From a distance, hidden behind a row of festival tents, Min-seo watched with narrowed eyes.

She had wanted Ji-ah to fall.

She hadn't expected Seo-jun to save her.

Her plan had failed.

But instead of anger...

A cold smile spread across her lips.

"If a little accident doesn't work..." she whispered, "...I'll think of something much worse."

Unaware of the danger growing around them, Ji-ah thanked Seo-jun once again.

As he picked a tiny cherry blossom petal from her hair, neither of them noticed the mysterious man standing near the school gate.

He lowered his camera after taking several photographs.

Then he made a phone call.

"The boy is getting too close to the girl."

A deep voice answered from the other end.

"Then make sure they never get close again."

The call ended.

The man slipped the phone into his pocket and disappeared into the crowd.

The festival continued with music and laughter.

But hidden among the cheerful smiles...

Someone had just declared war.