Hymn Of The Sea

"Summer break is over, and we're finally back," Anna said, taking a deep, satisfying breath as she walked through the large iron gate of Riverfalls College.

"Yes! And finally, Anna Kim will be out of her tiny little room," Serena teased, grinning at her sister.

"But she's still going to be a bookworm," Kevin chimed in, rolling his eyes playfully.

Anna chuckled softly, pushing her glasses back and sighing. "Well, at least one of us should be smart," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

Serena gasped dramatically, opening her mouth wide. "Did you just call us fools?"

Anna nodded without hesitation, a small smirk on her face.

"Well, I don't know about Kevin," Serena said, tossing her hair over her shoulder, "but I think I'm the smartest one here."

Kevin raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, really? The same Serena who thought 'photosynthesis' was a type of camera filter?"

Anna burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. "Oh no, he didn't!"

Serena's jaw dropped. "That was one time! And I was tired, okay?"

Kevin smirked, leaning casually against the gate. "Sure, Serena. And the time you tried to microwave metal because you thought it would 'charge your phone faster'? Genius move."

Anna was now doubled over, tears forming in her eyes from laughing so hard. "Stop! I can't breathe!"

Serena pointed a finger at Kevin, her face turning red. "You're never letting that go, are you?"

Kevin shrugged, his smirk widening. "Nope. It's my duty as your older brother to remind you of your brilliant moments."

Anna finally caught her breath, wiping her eyes. "Okay, okay, let's not start the semester with a sibling war. We've got classes to get to."

Serena huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But just so you know, I'm still the smartest."

Kevin patted her on the head like she was a little kid. "Sure you are, Serena. Sure you are."

Anna shook her head, still grinning. "Come on, you two. Let's go before we're late. And Kevin, try not to embarrass her too much today."

Kevin held up his hands innocently. "No promises."

As they walked toward the main building, Serena muttered under her breath, "I hate both of you."

Anna and Kevin exchanged a look and burst out laughing again.

"Alright, see you later," Kevin said, heading to the group of his friends.

"See you later," Anna replied. She sighed heavily as she stood by herself, looking around.

Every other student seemed busy chatting with friends, saying hello, and sharing stories about their summer breaks. But Anna had nothing to tell and nobody to talk to. Among clusters of pretty-looking girls who always maintained themselves according to the trends and attracted the attention of boys, Anna looked like an ordinary girl—unnoticeable and a loner.

"I'm okay," Anna told herself as she retreated to the building.

Suddenly, a car horn echoed from behind, startling Anna. She froze in her tracks and turned around to see a sleek black Porsche 911 Carrera speeding through the gate and pulling into the parking lot.

Anna grew curious as the driver's door opened, and Jimin stepped out elegantly, effortlessly commanding all the attention around him. He grabbed his bag from the passenger seat and swung it over his shoulder, then strolled toward the main building. His silver, glossy hair glinted with a subtle shade of turquoise, flowing over his forehead like gentle sea waves.

His pearly white skin seemed to glow under the morning sunlight, radiating an almost ethereal aura. His sharp yet delicate features were marked by a faint blush on his cheeks, giving him a youthful and approachable charm.

His eyes, a mesmerizing blend of warmth and depth, sparkled with a hint of mischief, as if he held a secret only he knew. His lips, naturally tinted a soft rose pink, curved into a faint, knowing smile, as though he was aware of the effect he had on everyone around him.

Jimin walked gracefully, as if he owned the entire place. Pearl earrings dangled from his ears, and he pulled on his see-through glasses, covering his eyes. In a white chiffon shirt and black trouser pants paired with sports shoes, Jimin seemed like a guy who had stepped out of a fantasy book.

Anna couldn't take her eyes off him. Her heart raced, and her breath caught in her chest. She had only read about such mesmerizing men in books or seen them in her dreams, but encountering a guy with ethereal beauty, who seemed to have stepped out of a fantasy tale, felt unreal.

Jimin's eyes met hers from behind his glasses. Among the groups of pretty girls, she stood out in her simplicity, wearing a plain white top under a plaid check shirt, paired with jeans and simple shoes. Despite her ordinary appearance, there was something about her that caught his attention.

Anna perhaps had nothing special. She didn't wear anything revealing that could attract any boys, but for Jimin, she was the reason he joined the college, the reason he came to the human world.

Jimin adjusted his glasses and walked confidently toward Anna. His presence seemed to draw the attention of everyone around, but his focus was solely on her. Anna felt her heart skip a beat as he approached, her hands nervously clutching the strap of her bag.

"Hi," Jimin said, his voice smooth and calm. "I'm new here. Could you tell me where the principal's office is?"

Anna blinked, momentarily stunned. She quickly composed herself, pushing her glasses up her nose. "Oh, um, sure. It's just inside the main building. Take the stairs to the second floor, and it's the first door on the right," she said, catching a whiff of his fragrance—a mix of sea lily and water jasmine.

Jimin smiled, his lips curving into that faint, knowing smile that left a strong impact on her. "Thanks. I appreciate it." He paused, studying her for a moment. "I'm Jimin, by the way," he said, slipping his hand into his pocket.

"Anna," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. She felt a strange mix of excitement and nervousness, unsure why someone like him was even talking to her.

Jimin nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a second longer than necessary. "Nice to meet you, Anna. I'll see you in class."

With that, Jimin turned and walked toward the main building, his steps as graceful as before. Anna watched him go, her mind racing. She couldn't believe someone like Jimin had just spoken to her. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and reminded herself to focus on the day ahead.

Suddenly, Anna's mind jolted awake. "How did he know we're going to share the same class?" she thought.