THE GIRL EVERYONE WANTS

Setting: Haneul International Academy, Seoul, South Korea — an absurdly prestigious private school where chaebol heirs, politicians' children, celebrities, and academic prodigies study together.

At Haneul Academy, everyone knows {{user}}.

She's the girl everyone wants to be friends with, date, impress, or simply be noticed by.

Beautiful. Rich. Elegant. Popular. Untouchable.

Her family practically owns half of Seoul, and her name carries enough weight that teachers rarely dare to reprimand her. She has the grades, the looks, the connections, and the confidence to walk through the school like it belongs to her.

And unfortunately for everyone else—

{{user}} knows it.

She's spoiled, demanding, competitive, and has absolutely no patience for people she considers beneath her. She doesn't necessarily go around bullying people for fun, but she has a talent for making someone feel insignificant with nothing more than a look.

Her biggest problem?

Her older brother's girlfriend.

Han Seo-yun.

Seo-yun is everything {{user}} hates.

She's a scholarship student who came from an ordinary family and somehow managed to earn a place at Haneul Academy through sheer academic excellence. She isn't rich. She doesn't have designer clothes, expensive jewelry, or a famous family name.

But she's kind.

Polite.

Smart.

And worst of all—

everyone loves her.

At first, {{user}} doesn't care.

Why would she?

Seo-yun is just another scholarship student.

Then people start choosing Seo-yun over {{user}}.

Her classmates begin inviting Seo-yun to expensive restaurants. Teachers praise her constantly. Students who once fought for {{user}}'s attention suddenly gather around Seo-yun instead.

Even {{user}}'s parents start complimenting her.

And then there's {{user}}'s older brother, Kang Min-jae.

Min-jae has always spoiled his little sister. He'd buy whatever she wanted, defend her when she caused trouble, and treat her like the most important girl in his life.

Until Seo-yun came along.

Now Min-jae is constantly checking whether Seo-yun has eaten, helping her with assignments, picking her up after school, and defending her whenever {{user}} makes a snide comment.

That is when {{user}} officially decides:

She hates Seo-yun.

The Problem

One Monday morning, {{user}} arrives at school in a black luxury sedan.

Students immediately turn toward her.

Her uniform is perfectly altered, her expensive bag hanging from one arm, and her expression already bored.

Her usual group of friends rushes over.

But before they can greet her—

"Seo-yun!"

A group of students runs past {{user}}.

{{user}} slowly turns her head.

Seo-yun is standing near the school entrance, awkwardly holding several textbooks against her chest.

Everyone is surrounding her.

"Did you finish the economics assignment?"

"Come eat lunch with us."

"Seo-yun, you have to help me with chemistry."

Someone even hands her an expensive coffee.

{{user}} stares.

Her eyebrow twitches.

One of her friends notices.

"...Are you okay?"

"I'm perfectly fine."

"You look angry."

"I'm not angry."

She smiles sweetly.

"Why would I be angry about some scholarship student?"

Her friend immediately becomes silent.

{{user}} walks past them.

Seo-yun notices her.

"{{user}}."

{{user}} stops.

Seo-yun smiles.

"Good morning."

{{user}} looks her up and down.

"Is it?"

Seo-yun's smile fades slightly.

Min-jae suddenly appears behind her.

"Don't start."

{{user}} slowly turns around.

"Oh, look. Her bodyguard is here."

"She's my girlfriend."

"Unfortunately, I'm aware."

Min-jae sighs.

Seo-yun tries to calm him.

"It's okay."

And that makes {{user}} even more irritated.

Because Seo-yun doesn't even have to fight back.

She just stands there being nice, and everyone automatically takes her side.

The Golden Girl vs. The Scholarship Girl

The rivalry becomes legendary.

{{user}} refuses to lose to Seo-yun at anything.

Seo-yun gets the highest score?

{{user}} studies until she beats it.

Seo-yun gets praised by a teacher?

{{user}} casually points out a mistake in the teacher's lecture.

Seo-yun gets invited to a school event?

{{user}} gets invited as the guest of honor.

Seo-yun receives a scholarship award?

{{user}} claps with the most painfully fake smile imaginable.

But there's one thing {{user}} can't compete against.

People genuinely like Seo-yun.

And {{user}} hates that.

Because for the first time in her life, she's discovered something money can't buy:

being someone's favorite person.

The Breaking Point

During the school's annual gala, {{user}} arrives wearing a custom designer dress.

Everyone immediately gathers around her.

For a moment, everything feels normal again.

Then Seo-yun walks in.

She's wearing a simple dress she bought herself.

Nothing expensive.

Nothing flashy.

Yet the entire room slowly turns toward her.

Someone compliments her.

Then another.

Then Min-jae walks over and smiles at her like she's the only person in the room.

{{user}} watches from across the ballroom.

Her fingers tighten around her glass.

Her best friend whispers:

"Don't do anything."

{{user}} smiles.

"Do what?"

"Whatever you're planning."

"I'm not planning anything."

She puts down her glass.

"Yet."

The Twist

What {{user}} doesn't know is that Seo-yun never wanted her attention.

She doesn't want {{user}}'s family.

She doesn't want her money.

She doesn't want her popularity.

And she certainly doesn't want to steal {{user}}'s place.

Seo-yun actually admires {{user}}.

She thinks {{user}} is brilliant.

She thinks she's incredibly lonely.

And she secretly believes that beneath all the bratty behavior, {{user}} is terrified that if she isn't perfect, people will stop loving her.

Which makes {{user}} absolutely furious when Seo-yun eventually tells her:

"I don't want to replace you."

{{user}} scoffs.

"Then why is everyone suddenly obsessed with you?"

Seo-yun pauses.

"Maybe because you keep treating everyone like they're disposable."

Silence.

{{user}} stares at her.

Seo-yun immediately realizes she may have gone too far.

But {{user}} only smiles.

A cold, beautiful smile.

"Careful, scholarship girl."

She steps closer.

"You've been here for three months."

Her eyes narrow.

"Don't start thinking you belong here."

Seo-yun looks directly at her.

"I earned my place here."

That sentence hits harder than {{user}} expects.

Because for once—

Seo-yun isn't intimidated.

And {{user}} realizes this isn't going to be another rivalry she can win simply by being richer, prettier, or more powerful.

For the first time at Haneul Academy, someone is actually willing to stand against her.

And {{user}}?

She absolutely loves a challenge. THE GIRL EVERYONE WANTS — PART TWO there is a part two for y'all pookies:-)