A SEOUL MATE- A REINCARNATION ROMANCE (Book 1)

Flashback-

Sweat-drenched, the ball in his hands, William stood on the basketball court. The crowd went into a frenzy as he made that impossible shot from half the court. His teammates ran to him, rejoicing in the victory, but William remained still, his piercing eyes scanning the crowd as if the cheers were for some other man.

Another memory played, and this time he was at the pool, diving with excellent form. He was also managing to cut the water so fast that, comparatively, those competing against him lagged way behind him. Coming out, sprinkling his hair with droplets, applause rattled his ears.

Back to Present Time-

Somy sighed, dragging me back to reality. "William's complicated, but that's what makes him. well, William."

I furrowed my brow. "What about the guy who slapped Frank?"

Somy stiffened; her face clouded. "That's Min Ho; he is William's most trusted friend, and also the most rigid of them all. He does not tolerate a single thing that he deems as disrespect. But that might be misleading, his words, and actions cut much harder than a whip."

I had my blood boiling while he was mentioning Min Ho, fisting my hands tightly under the table, reining in the anger.

Somy, who seemed unaware of the melodrama going on inside my skull, went on. "You will also notice that all of them belong to a group, which makes them even more untouchable: Kevin and William are from the swimming team, Jin Woo's in the basketball team, and Min Ho. he's in Intelli Club A."

She leaned in closer, whispering again. "Intelli Club A is like the Ivy League of this school: only for the brightest and most influential kids, and Min Ho, due to his intelligence, really leads them, even when he's not officially president." "Mean Girls," Somy said, nodding toward three girls sashaying in like they were on a runway.

The leader, Beauty Z, was perfect in hair and designer clothes. She directly approached Williams, who had just entered with his companions.

"They are not just pretty," Somy whispered, "they are dangerous, especially Beauty Z, since she is William's girlfriend, and she has her claws in every major event in this school."

Beauty Z flung her arm over Williams' shoulder and whispered something in his ear. He nodded, impassive, as she laughed and her perfectly manicured hand touched his arm.

"Hmmm," I grumbled into my chest.

"What?" Frank asked.

"Nothing," I lied.

Somy wasn't done. "Oh, and there's the Intelli Club A."

Another group entered, quieter but no less commanding.

"That's Modo, their leader," Somy explained. "Brains and charm. The rest are Jong, Kin, Sin, and Joke. They're like the school's geniuses. And they always stick together."

Joke, true to his name, cracked a joke loud enough for the surrounding tables to hear, earning laughs.

"Even they avoid the bullies," Somy added.

Next came the Senior School Mentors for Juniors, or SSMJ.

Oliver, Claire, Ryan, and Emily," Somy listed off. "They're supposed to guide us, but really, they only cause chaos themselves."

Oliver-the president-nodded to several students as he moved through, his expression unbending a fraction when he spotted an apparent friend.

"And last, but certainly not least," Somy concluded, "The Student Congress Members."

Henry, Sophia, and Nathan strode in, a touch different from everyone else, due to their uniforms and poise.

"This feels like a parade," I said, under my breath, which promptly made Frank chuckle.

"It's always like this," Somy said. "Welcome to hierarchy high."

Just then, Den and his entourage came up to the table that the Intelli Club used. In silence, the Einsteins stood up, bowed their heads, and gave them their table.

"You have got to be kidding me," I whispered.

"That's the pecking order here," Somy replied. "Get used to it."

The bullies no sooner sat than Mrs. Ann, the cafeteria cook, bustled over with trays of food.

"Here you go, boys," she said warmly. "Now, no causing trouble today, alright?"

Den winked at her. "Wouldn't dream of it, Mrs. Ann."

"Sure you wouldn't," she muttered under her breath, earning a snicker from the mean girls.

Meanwhile, Beauty Z leaned in close to Williams, her voice all lovey-dovey.

"So, are we still on tonight?" she asked, twisting a thread of her hair.

Williams did nothing but scan the place around till he finally set his gaze on me and Frank.

"What are you looking at?" Beauty Z asked as her gaze followed his direction.

"Nothing," he muttered dismissively and turned away.

I elbowed Frank. "Did you see that?"

"See what?"

"Williams. He was staring at us."

"Maybe he is simply wondering why you keep glaring at him," Frank chuffed, getting a withering look from me in reply.

The groups settled, but whispered conversations continued in the cafeteria. "Why do they let this go on?" I asked Somy. "Because nobody ever stands up to them," she said. A tray hitting the floor hushed all chatter. A freshman, with a heavy load, collided with Beauty Z. "Idiot!" she shrieked, leaping from her seat, staring at that poor kid. "Sorry, I didn't mean-

But before he could get the words out, Beauty Z raised her hand, but Williams caught her wrist.

"Enough," he said, his voice cold.

Beauty Z looked like she was in shock, but then recovered herself with a hair flip. "Fine. But only because you said so."

The poor freshman scrambled away, his face pale.

Frank leaned into me. "I think we're going to need a survival guide for this school."

I laughed despite myself. "You're not wrong."

But as the tension in the room began to dissipate, I couldn't shake that we had only just witnessed the tip of the iceberg. There was something in the carriage of Williams and his companions that screamed danger-and intrigue.

And I wasn't so sure we were going to come out unscathed.

As my gaze swung back to Frank, who was still nursing his slapped cheek, the shadow of a figure draped over our table. I looked up to see Min Ho standing there, cold eyes fastened on me.

Frank must have noticed, because he reached across the table and laid a reassuring hand on mine. "Don't," he whispered. "It's just not worth it."

Just about to respond, l noticed that his mouth wants to open, so l slow my word in order to hear him.

"You must be the new kid," he said, in his icy measured tone. "I suggest you learn how things work around here before you make a mistake you'll regret."

Frank tensed beside me, his hand clenching the edge of the table. My heart quickened, but rather than retreat, I squared my shoulders and met Min Ho's glare.

"Thanks for the advice," I said, my voice straight despite the simmering anger. "But I don't take lessons from bullies."

Silence enveloped the cafeteria, everyone's eyes falling on us.

"Buchi," Frank said, quite suddenly, his voice very low.

"What?

"Don't look now, but Williams is walking this way."

My heart skipped a beat as I turned, locking eyes with the most dangerous senior in school.