Ava should have known that her first prank on Jae Min-Seok wouldn’t go unanswered.

If anything, she expected retaliation.

She just didn’t expect it this soon.

The moment she walked into class the next morning, every single chair in the room had mysteriously vanished. Every. Single. One. Except for one at the very back.

And sitting on her desk, arms crossed with an infuriatingly smug look, was Jae.

Ava stopped in the doorway, cocking her head. "So you’re doubling down on the pettiness. Good to know."

Jae smirked. "Just thought you’d enjoy standing for the day. Maybe it’ll keep that sharp mouth of yours busy."

The class erupted in laughter. Ava simply rolled her eyes, unbothered. "Cute. But I don’t need a chair."

Then, before anyone could react, she walked right up to Jae, placed a hand on his chest, and pushed him off her desk.

Jae stumbled back slightly but caught himself, laughing under his breath as Ava hopped onto the desk, crossing her legs as if it were a throne.

"Problem solved," she said with a smirk.

Jae’s gaze darkened—not in anger, but something far more dangerous.

Before Ava could react, Jae stepped forward, placing both hands on the desk, trapping her between his arms.

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Personal space, Jae. Ever heard of it?"

Jae leaned in slightly, his voice smooth and teasing. "You weren’t complaining about personal space when you put your hands on me just now."

Ava blinked.

The class went dead silent.

Then, a voice rang out.

"Damn, Jae. At least buy her dinner first."

The laughter that followed was instant and deafening.

Ava turned to see the source of the voice—Liam, the school’s self-proclaimed comic relief. He was the kind of guy who never took anything seriously, always stirring up chaos just to watch it unfold.

Beside him, Mina, the class gossip, was already furiously typing on her phone. Probably spreading the moment across the school before Ava could even process it.

Next to her, Noah, Jae’s best friend and the class’s silent observer, chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. "You two should just date already and save us the headache."

Ava scoffed. "I’d rather eat glass."

Jae smirked, pulling back. "Sounds like a fun date to me."

And just like that, the war officially began.

Preview of Chapter Three: Unspoken Claims

Ava didn’t expect to start a territorial war with Jae Min-Seok.

And yet, here she was.

Watching—no, glaring—as some girl practically threw herself at Jae, laughing too loudly, touching his arm too often.

It didn’t bother her.
Not even a little.
Not. At. All.

At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.

Until she "accidentally" knocked an entire bowl of spaghetti onto the girl’s lap.

The cafeteria erupted.

Mina screamed in delight. Liam choked on his juice. Jae?

Jae was just smirking.

Later, as they crossed paths in the hallway, he leaned in and murmured, "You’re cute when you’re jealous."

Ava?

She elbowed him so hard he almost doubled over.

And just like that, the entire school had one question on their minds:

Were they at war?
Or falling in love?