Prologue
Part 1
“Oh my god. Sean Frost is back.”
The words thrown by the male student in the varsity jacket as he entered the cafeteria caught everyone’s attention.
“Who?”
“Don’t you remember? He transferred here in 4th grade.”
Sena was sitting alone at a single-person table. She was quietly taking bites of her ham and cheese sandwich, held in both hands. No one was interested in Sena, hidden in the shadow of the corner wall.
A female student exclaimed loudly.
“Ah, that Prince from New York?!”
Since most students in the cafeteria had attended the same school from kindergarten through high school, they still remembered the ‘Prince’ who had transferred in during 4th grade.
A transfer student from New York, all the way on the east coast, to California on the west coast, was bound to be a topic of conversation. Even though he hadn’t stayed long before returning to New York.
Someone else quickly added.
“Now I remember. The heir to Arta, right?”
Arta, an electric car company that represented California seven years ago, was now led by a tech billionaire ranked among the top in the entire American business world.
“But I didn’t recognize him at first. He’s a different person now.”
“What do you mean?”
Georgina, sitting at the most central table, furrowed her brow. Sean Frost held the record of being the first to inflict the humiliation of rejection upon her, the cheer captain and queen of the high school.
“His appearance is different, but also… he arrived in an El Primavera.”
The reactions split into two distinct camps.
“The supercar El Primavera?”
And the other reaction was-
“Sean Frost with a supercar?!”
In 4th grade, Sean Frost was a prince, an icon of sincerity and abstinence.
That Sean Frost with a supercar?
The murmuring grew louder.
Sena lowered her gaze and took another bite of her sandwich. She just wanted to finish eating and leave.
But at the sound of someone’s loud, high-pitched voice, all eyes in the cafeteria swiveled towards the entrance.
“Wow, look who it is!”
Sena’s gaze snapped up. The cafeteria entrance, where everyone was looking, was behind her. All of Sena’s nerves focused on her back.
“James. Long time no see.”
The moment Sena realized it was Sean’s voice, she closed her mouth. A stirring atmosphere swept through the cafeteria.
“We were just talking about you coming back. They said you changed, and it’s true?”
James was smiling, but his eyes were already scanning Sean up and down.
“What you see isn’t everything. Wait a bit more.”
When Sean smiled with an air of nonchalance, the atmosphere instantly turned peculiar. Even though still in 11th grade, he was clearly tall, over six feet, with broad shoulders not hidden by his shirt, and his silhouette, due to his chest, was like a massive door.
While his darkened hair color had indeed flipped his aura to the opposite, some things seemed unchanged. Sean’s smile effortlessly shook the hearts of the female students gathered in the cafeteria.
James forced a smile and continued the conversation.
“I thought you went back to New York for good. Didn’t think you’d ever come back.”
Sena hurriedly swallowed the last large piece of her sandwich. She just wanted to go on her way. But for some reason, she felt footsteps approaching.
Before Sena could even move away, an arm draped around her shoulder, almost hugging her.
“My Sena Cruz is here.”
Too shocked, Sena froze solid.
“What?”
Sena found herself under everyone’s gaze. She brought a fist to her mouth, pressing on her lips in a fluster.
“Hic, gulp.“
She needed to swallow the sandwich in her mouth to say anything, but she started hiccuping suddenly.
Sena first gripped the arm around her neck with all her might. It was meant to signal ‘let go,’ but instead the arm tightened more firmly around her shoulder.
Her body was pulled back, and the back of her head touched something hard.
When she realized it was Sean’s torso, Sena’s ears turned hopelessly red.
“Ah… so, you two are like that?”
“Yeah.”
Sena tried to shake her head vigorously, but Sean’s other hand cupped her chin, holding it in place.
“She’s my girlfriend. Sorry to bring this up right after meeting again-“
Sena choked and coughed. Sean released the hand cupping her chin, grabbed the soda on the table, and handed it to Sena.
“If anyone bothers or touches her, I won’t let it slide. No joke.”
Subtle looks were exchanged among the students gathered in the cafeteria.
“Haha, um- well. That won’t happen…”
The fact that Sena was the only one sitting alone at a single-person table in the cafeteria, while others sat in groups of three or four, proved a great deal.
Everyone’s eyes scanned Sena. She seemed pretty back in lower school, maybe.
But that was ancient history now. The lively, brightly smiling Sena Lee Cruz remained in everyone’s minds only as an old memory.
The bespectacled girl Sean Frost was holding from behind now was just…
A nerd with small eyes. That one phrase summed it up.
One main characteristic of nerds: Nerds were vulnerable to stares. As if proving this fact, Sena bowed her head deeply and hurriedly tried to get up from her seat.
But her attempt to hastily leave backfired perfectly as her feet got tangled. With a clattering noise, Sena fell forward.
“Oof.”
That’s gotta hurt. Someone muttered softly, but no one stepped forward.
The moment Sena pressed her palms down, trying to get up while suppressing something welling up in her heart, Sean grabbed both her wrists and pulled her up in one swift motion.
“Gasp.”
Then, bending his torso, he hoisted her over one shoulder.
Sena, suddenly finding herself breathing the air near the ceiling, was horrified.
“What are you doing?! Put me down!”
“Looks like you’re hurt. Let’s go to the infirmary.”
Sena had to endure the collective gaze of the students watching her. Some watched with interest, some sneered.
Finally, John, holding his stomach as if dying of laughter, caught the edge of Sena’s vision.
Sean set Sena down when they reached a deserted corner of the hallway. It was only because Sena had been pounding his back and shoulders that he stopped.
“What was that?!”
Sena needed an explanation. Was it some nasty prank, or was he putting on a one-man show? What on earth was he thinking, saying ‘she’s my girlfriend’ in front of everyone?
But despite his actions, there wasn’t a hint of apology on Sean Frost’s face, his hand resting on his hip.
Sena was drawn in by his direct gaze. His blue-green eyes quietly scanned her face.
Slowly, Sean’s mouth opened.
“From now on, you’ll be my girlfriend.”
Sena was so flustered she became dazed.
“Wh-what?! Why me!”
“You like me anyway.”
Sena’s heart plummeted.
Literally, it felt like it crashed all the way down.
‘Me, I…’
Similarly, Sena’s gaze, which had been looking at Sean, fell steeply.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. It’s not because I like you and want to date.”
The space where her heart had been felt hollow, now shriveled.
I like Sean Frost? And Sean knows that?
So…
“What… are you talking about?”
“I don’t need your feelings. Just pretend to date me.”
So, because I’m easy to use, you’re using me?
“I don’t understand… You said you don’t like me. Then why ask me out?”
“I know you’re having problems with school life right now.”
The heart Sena thought had already crashed and ceased functioning fell once more to a depth she hadn’t known existed. Her fists, which she didn’t realize were clenched, trembled slowly.
“I’ll keep an eye on whether you keep my secret, and you can end your lonely life. You’re not at a loss either, right?”
“I… I don’t need it…”
“Don’t be proud. And you did this too, Sena Lee Cruz. It’s your fault.”
Drawn by the cold voice, Sena inadvertently lifted her gaze. The moment she did, her eyes met Sean’s directly.
His head slowly drew closer. Even taking one step back, the back of Sena’s head met the wall.
“I said no back then. I told you every time not to come. But you were the one who came to me on your own, right? In 4th grade-“
In 4th grade, Sena had kept approaching Sean. It was a story from a full seven years ago.
And…
“Last summer too. You finally did.”
“……”
Last summer, Sena saw an angel who had fallen into the abyss. The angel she thought had flown away freely to New York was-
“Don’t look at me with that expression. Even without your pity-”
“……”
“I’m miserable enough and want to die.”
Sean’s hand pressed against the wall. Sena was easily trapped within the distance Sean had set. Like prey.
“And then you ended up uncovering my secret too.”
“I didn’t mean to-”
“Doesn’t matter. Just know that you have no right to feel wronged.”
So why did you approach me, Sena Cruz.
“You should just think about how you can use me too. I’ll do anything for you.”
Give up. I’m never letting you go. The corner of Sean’s mouth lifted coolly.
Under his unwavering gaze, Sena’s heart beat violently.
She should push him away. She should tell him not to force this.
Why—
Why was she trembling enough to feel suffocated?
Sena bit her lip. A tingling pain spread inside her mouth.
Prologue
Part 2.
Inside the deserted restroom. Sena braced herself against the sink with both hands.
The pale face reflected in the mirror ahead caught her eye. It had been ages since she’d looked at her own face in a school restroom, though she might at home.
“If anyone bothers or touches her, I won’t let it slide. No joke.”
“Haha, um- well. That won’t happen…”
Sean Frost’s actions in front of everyone, and his outrageous statements.
But even more than that.
Sena found herself more bothered by the other male student’s reply.
That won’t happen.
No guy would ever be interested in Sena Cruz.
It was a natural and familiar story for the bespectacled loner in the mirror. So why…
‘It’s embarrassing…’
For some reason, she felt like crying a little. Had she thought she was used to it, but really wasn’t?
Or perhaps.
‘Was it that I didn’t want Sean to see me like this?’
The lenses in the dark brown frames, with their minus prescription, excellently hid Sena’s gloomy expression. Even the emotions welling up in her eyes.
“I know you’re having problems with school life right now.”
To monitor if she keeps his secret.
Because he pities her for having no friends.
The reasons Sean listed for the fake relationship were like daggers to Sena. They precisely targeted her shame and weaknesses.
‘…Sean will find out soon enough anyway.’
That she had no one to tell his secret to…
Remembering the stares from the cafeteria, Sena bowed her head.
‘If I stay quiet, everything will calm down again.’
Sena repeated the only solution she knew in her heart. She prayed it would work this time too.
Fortunately, she didn’t share any classes with Sean. Although sidelong glances followed her from the classrooms to the hallways all afternoon, no one actually spoke to her.
But on the way home. Sena had to wheel her bike through the crowd.
‘…It’s all because Sean said those strange things in the cafeteria…’
As if the stares were sticky mud, her bike felt unusually heavy.
“Whoa, a Primavera. It’s real.”
“Hey, Sean. Let me drive it just once. Just once, huh?”
Unconsciously, Sena turned her head towards the source of the commotion. A group of guys was gathered around a blue, classic supercar.
Among them, Sean stood with his arms crossed, leaning against the car. Even though they were all students from the same school, Sean, with his jet-black hair and tall stature, stood out with a completely different aura.
The moment their eyes met, Sena hurriedly averted her gaze and pushed her bike, but her feet were rooted by a loud voice echoing through the parking lot.
“Baby–“
Startled, Sena turned her head to Sean. Having drawn everyone’s attention, Sean himself wore a nonchalant face.
“You bike home? From now on, I’ll give you a ride.”
I don’t need it!
The shout echoed only in her heart. She didn’t have the courage to actually yell it out.
“I-It’s fine. I’ll manage.”
“Then just for today. You know the rule, right? No one else rides before my girlfriend does.”
It was a story Sena couldn’t fathom. Probably some unspoken rule among the guys.
“Spring, please get in! Sean Frost says we can’t even sit in it until you do–“
A male student begged, using Sena’s nickname.
Just how amazing was this car that he was even clasping his hands together as if in prayer?
The number of stares increased in proportion to the time Sena remained silent.
She needed to tell Sean to stop doing this. But simultaneously, Sena realized something absurd.
She didn’t have Sean’s contact information.
If she just slipped away now, she’d have no way to tell him to stop until he pulled her aside tomorrow.
While Sena hesitated, a male student, his impatience reaching its peak, strode over and grabbed the handlebars of Sena’s bike.
“Hey, Sean! I’ll take this bike back to the rack, so let me drive first.”
This won’t do.
Sean, with a relaxed face, held up a hand signal, index finger and thumb touching. The bike was easily taken from Sena’s grasp.
What was happening overnight? Watching the retreating back of the guy who had taken her bike under his arm, Sena slowly approached Sean.
“Didn’t know you rode a bike around.”
Sean slowly straightened up from the passenger door he was leaning against and moved aside. Sena felt literally, truly, like she might throw up. The stares clinging to her from all sides were overwhelming.
“Ah, so that’s why you specifically drive a Primavera?”
At the sudden interjection, Sean’s gaze shifted. He looked puzzled.
“Primavera means ‘Spring’ in Italian, you know.”
Was the reason he drove this specific famous car, of all others, because of his girlfriend’s nickname?
They were joking, teasing remarks. But instinctively turning to Sean, Sena saw his blue-green eyes go blank.
The sudden embarrassment and her helplessly racing heart became entirely Sena’s burden. Her heart pounded thump-thump enough to disrupt her breathing.
‘Wh-what kind of sudden…’
Sean’s reply came back slowly.
“Ah… is that so?”
“Hahaha, what kind of answer is that?”
“I’m a bit shocked too.”
Sean raised a hand and touched the corner of his mouth. The surrounding guys, grasping the context, were startled.
“Ugh, a couple trap. What did I just hear?”
Sean let out a soundless, incredulous laugh. One hand swept slowly through his black hair.
“Wow… the subconscious is scary. Sena Cruz must really have me under her thumb.”
Sena stood there, one hand covering her face, almost hiding behind Sean. The conversation between Sean and the other guys continued.
“Bleh… How long have you been dating? It’s not since 4th grade, is it? No way?”
It was more of a fact-check than genuine curiosity about a love story.
“4th grade……”
That was a full seven years ago, ancient history. Sean’s words trailed off uncharacteristically.
Sean, who seemed about to say something, turned his head back when he felt a tug on his shirt sleeve. It was Sena’s way of expressing her desire to finally, please, leave.
But Sean, once again, dropped a bomb as if it were nothing. Just like in the cafeteria.
“You all liked Sena Cruz back in 4th grade, right? I know all about it.”
Sena’s eyes widened. The surroundings fell dead silent in an instant.
‘Wh-what kind of crazy thing are you saying, Sean Frost-?!’
That’s impossible, stop talking nonsense, please-
The moment Sena opened her mouth, unable to bear it, Sean’s flat voice continued.
“Thinking back, 4th grade was really funny. This guy and that guy, there wasn’t a single guy who didn’t like Sena Cruz. But Sena Cruz herself didn’t even know it.”
Sean scanned the guys who had fallen silent and averted their eyes, then let out a scoff.
“Sorry, kept you waiting too long.”
Sean opened the passenger door. Sena slowly got into the car. Bowing her head, her hair fell like a curtain, hiding her face. She wanted to escape the stares, even if just like that.
“Are you crazy…? Why are you doing this?”
“What did I do.”
Sean’s jet-black hair, with his black sunglasses on, fluttered in the wind. The convertible, with its top down, attracted all the surrounding attention on top of the wind itself.
The car slid down the road after passing through the gate. Sean held the steering wheel with one hand, his head facing forward.
“What on earth are you thinking?!”
“Right now? About Sena Lee Cruz in 4th grade.”
The lower school area came into view on the side. All of Sena and Sean’s past was there.
Sean’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the quad inside the gate. As if picturing something.
“Is this school really a prestigious one? Looking closely, they’re all airheads.”
“Using that word from a New Yorker towards California kids is a real insult, you know…?”
“Common sense says a kid that pretty back then couldn’t possibly become ugly just by wearing glasses. Just how stupid are they all?”
Sena found herself speechless again. Her fingertips unconsciously scratched the bag on her lap.
From the cafeteria to the incident in the parking lot just now, there was nothing Sena could understand. She had too many things she wanted to say.
While she was choosing her words, Sean spoke first.
“I’m curious, Sena Cruz. Answer me.”
Sena didn’t respond, but Sean continued.
“Do you still believe in Santa Claus?”
Sean turned his head, and their gazes locked unavoidably. A smile played on Sean’s lips.
The ripple effect of Sean’s single remark was huge. The ridiculously foolish times from seven years ago surged into Sena’s mind like a tidal wave.
“The Sena Cruz who said she wanted to ask Santa to make it snow in May in California, so your plane couldn’t take off…”
As Sena averted her gaze, Sean also turned his head forward again.
“Was adorable.”
His voice was laced with laughter.
“Regardless of whether Santa is real or not, it seems your wish came true, huh?”
“……”
“See, I’m here after all.”
Sena found it hard to even breathe properly. The afterimage of the past shook her heart helplessly.
“You didn’t want me to go? Why?”
In the blackness of her tightly closed eyes, one image formed.
The one Sena had fallen head over heels for seven years ago-
“You really are a fool.”
Even after seven years, the moment they first met was as vivid as yesterday. Sena remembered Sean in 4th grade, the complete opposite of now.
