"Ava, I Like You."

The entire cafeteria went silent.

Ava blinked, her fork stopping mid-air. She had just been about to take a bite of her food when a tall, confident senior suddenly stood in front of her table—confessing.

In front of everyone.

Jin Park.

Captain of the basketball team, straight-A student, and apparently, completely insane.

Ava slowly put her fork down, raising a brow. "...Huh?"

Jin smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I like you. And I was wondering if you’d go out with me."

The cafeteria exploded.

Mina screamed. "OH MY GOD. A PUBLIC CONFESSION?!"
Liam whistled. "Damn, Ava. Pulling seniors now?"
Noah just shook his head. "This dude has no idea what he just started."

Ava ignored them, still processing.

Jin? Interested in her?
Since when?
And more importantly—

Why did she suddenly feel a storm brewing behind her?

She didn’t even need to turn around.

She could feel them.

Jae Min-Seok.
Eli Seo.

Both watching. Both tense. Both one second away from murder.

Ava exhaled, finally speaking. "Jin, are you sure you’re talking to the right person?"

Jin chuckled. "Of course. You’re Ava. Everyone knows you."

Liam snickered. "That’s true. She’s kinda famous for being a menace."

Ava kicked Liam under the table.

Jin smiled at her. "You’re fearless, funny, and honestly, really gorgeous."

Ava stared at him. Was this guy serious?

Before she could even think of a response, Jae’s voice cut through the air like a knife.

"She’s not interested."

Silence.

Ava turned her head slowly.

Jae sat there, arms crossed, jaw clenched. His usual teasing smirk? Gone.

His gaze was sharp. Cold.

Jin raised a brow. "That’s up to Ava, isn’t it?"

Eli finally spoke, leaning back lazily.

"Yeah, it is," he said. "But if you actually knew Ava, you’d know she doesn’t like public confessions. This? Rookie mistake."

Jin stiffened.

Ava sighed, standing up. "Jin, I appreciate the confidence. Really. But I don’t date guys I barely know."

Jin looked disappointed but nodded. "Fair enough."

And just like that, he walked away.

The cafeteria erupted.

Mina collapsed onto the table. "THAT WAS SO HOT. AVA, I SWEAR—"

Liam grinned. "Jae, buddy, your jealousy is showing."

Jae glared at him.

Noah shook his head. "Man. That dude has no idea how lucky he is to still be breathing."

Ava frowned. "What do you—"

Eli suddenly stood up, stretching. "Nothing. Don’t worry about it, Sunshine."

Jae smirked. "Yeah. Nothing at all."

Ava narrowed her eyes.

Why didn’t that sound convincing?