The Girl No One Really Knew

Chapter 5: Just Maybe

Seojun tilted his head slightly, eyes still on hers. “You clean up well. Didn’t know you had this side.”

Arin gave a soft laugh, even though her heartbeat hadn’t slowed. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me.”

“Clearly.” He glanced around the room. “This crowd suits you. Fancy dress, perfect hair, sparkling water in a champagne glass…”

His tone was teasing, but there was a question buried underneath it.

And Arin knew she had to steer fast—before things got dangerous.

“Well,” she said with a polite smile, “I didn’t expect you here either. Guess we both have surprises.”

“True,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “You’re full of them.”

Before she could reply, someone called Seojun’s name from across the ballroom. An older man in a tailored navy suit—probably his father.

Seojun gave her one last look, something unreadable in his eyes. “See you at school, Lee Arin.”

Then he walked away, like he hadn’t just shaken the ground beneath her.

---

“Do you want me to get rid of him?” Jaehoon said casually, reappearing at her side.

Arin snorted. “You can’t just ‘get rid’ of people, oppa.”

“You’d be surprised,” he muttered, then sipped his drink like it was nothing.

---

The next morning at school, Seojun didn’t mention anything. Not a single word about the gala. Not a smirk, not a jab, not even a hint that he’d seen her in a ballroom dress and million-won bracelet.

Which, weirdly, made it worse.

He was acting too normal. Like he was waiting.

Watching.

Planning.

And then, just when she thought maybe—maybe—she was safe…

There it was.

A note inside her locker.

Folded perfectly. No name. Just three words written in clean, black ink:

> You’re not safe.

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