Quantum Entanglement Love (Series 1)

Minjin walked down the hallway with her new homeroom teacher, Mr. Yu. She looked up to see that she was placed in Section 7 in the rankings of all grade 11 classes.

Following Mr. Yu into the classroom, she was greeted by the lively buzz of students chatting and moving about, which temporarily drowned out the anxious atmosphere of the new school day. Upon entering the room, Minjin observed various reactions—some students barely glanced her way, while others turned to study the newcomer.

Mr. Yu raised his voice, asserting his presence. "Everyone, return to your seats! We have a new student joining us today."

A hush fell over the room, interrupted only by shuffling chairs and hushed whispers. Minjin inhaled deeply as the students continued to steal glances at her from their seats, their expressions a mix of curiosity and indifference.

Minjin wasn't tall, and her boyish black haircut gave her a unique appearance. She was acutely aware of how her look set her apart from the other students, yet she held her shoulders back and maintained an air of composure.

Mr. Yu looked at Minjin and motioned for her to introduce herself. "We have a new student from America. Please introduce yourself, Minjin-ah."

Minjin stepped forward, feeling the pressure of everyone's gaze. She offered a slight bow, attempting to appear confident despite her anxiety.

"Annyeong haseyo, I am Park Minjin. It's nice to meet you all." Her voice was firm as she spoke in Korean. She scanned the room, noticing students whispering to their classmates, clearly curious about her.

Following Minjin's introduction, the sliding door at the back of the classroom creaked open. Everyone turned toward Heo Yeong-hwan as he entered.

A distinct hush fell over the room at his late arrival, and Mr. Yu frowned deeper while looking at the newcomer. "You're late again, Yeong-hwan-ah," Mr. Yu remarked, his voice reflecting annoyance and resignation.

Heo Yeong-hwan was momentarily startled by Minjin's presence but quickly concealed his surprise with a casual smirk.

He shrugged and said, "Coach told me something." His tone remained indifferent as he headed to his seat in the back left corner of the room.

Minjin observed him as he took his place. Although she had seen him again, she kept her face neutral, revealing no reaction to his arrival.

Mr. Yu shifted his focus back to Minjin. "Minjin-ah, please take your seat there."

Minjin nodded and walked to the right corner of the room, sliding into the chair by the glass window. The view outside provided a welcomed distraction. She felt Heo Yeong-hwan's gaze on her as he glanced from his corner. His smirk was subtle yet unmistakable, indicating he recognized her and possibly found her presence interesting.

As Minjin settled into her chair, she disregarded the lingering feeling of Heo Yeong-hwan's stare and concentrated on organizing her books and supplies.

###

As the lunch bell rang, marking a welcome break, the bustling hallway of Section 1 Grade 11 buzzed with the chatter of students moving between classes. Mun Sara, Bang Eun-Kyung, and Kang Minjun stepped out of their classroom, sharing their thoughts on the first day.

"I'm so hungry," Bang Eun-Kyung remarked.

"It's only the first day of school, and I'm already worn out," Mun Sara commented.

"It's going to be a long year ahead," Minjun said as they headed toward the cafeteria.

The trio got in line, surrounded by the enticing aroma of various dishes. As they waited, they chatted about their classes and upcoming plans for the year. Meanwhile, Minjin reached the front and picked up her meal; then, she searched for a spot to sit among the students

A girl from Minjin's class, Kim Aecha, noticed her and called, "Ya, Minjin-ah! Over here!"

Minjin turned and spotted Kim Aecha waving her to a table with a few other girls. The girls scooted over to make space for Minjin. "Thank you," Minjin said as she sat.

"There's no need to be formal," Kim Aecha said with a friendly smile.

"We're classmates now! I'm Kim Aecha."

"I'm Bang Chae-young," another girl introduced herself.

"And I'm Choi Eun-Hwa," the last girl chimed in with a nod

Meanwhile, Minjun and his friends balanced their trays full of food as they wove through the crowded cafeteria before finally choosing a table on the far side. On the opposite side, Minjin sat quietly enjoying her lunch until Heo Yeong-hwan and two of his friends approached her table.

With a smirk, Heo Yeong-hwan intentionally brushed his hand across Minjin's tray, spilling her food and staining her white uniform.

"Oops, that was a mistake," Heo Yeong-hwan remarked, his innocent facade failing to conceal his mischievous grin.

Kim Aecha gasped, infuriated. "Ya! Heo Yeong-hwan-ah!" she shouted, capturing the attention of nearby students.

The chatter in the cafeteria quieted as many turned to witness the scene.

Minjun glanced over, curious about the disturbance.

"Yeong-hwan is picking on another student. Tsk," Bang Eun-kyung remarked, shaking his head in disapproval.

Mun Sara sighed, her expression sympathetic. "That poor girl."

Minjin, looking both surprised and determined, stood to fix the mess on her uniform.

Kim Aecha, worried, asked, "Are you alright, Minjin-ah?"

Minjin turned toward Heo Yeong-hwan, her grin growing as she said, "Aecha-ah, I'm sorry, but I'm taking your food."

She swiped the spicy dish from Kim Aecha's tray and walked to Heo Yeong-hwan. She quickly smeared the food across his face, causing the cafeteria to erupt in gasps and whispers as students stared in disbelief.

Bang Eun-kyung struggled to hold back his laughter while Mun Sara, eyes wide in surprise, covered her mouth.

Heo Yeong-hwan's face turned red with anger and embarrassment as he prepared to retaliate. However, a teacher arrived just in time, imposing order with a stern look.

"Ya! You two!" the teacher commanded. "Follow me!" The authoritative tone instantly silenced the room, leading Minjin and Heo Yeong-hwan out of the cafeteria.

The other students watched silently, their lunchtime disturbed by the unexpected events.