We are getting married

The cheers that erupted when the bride arrived would be etched in his memory for years to come.

His one true love, Jennie, was finally marrying him in this moment.

As he stood there, a wave of memories rushed over him—specifically, their first encounter.

FLASHBACK

The school bell rang for what felt like the fourth time, and the students of this elite Korean school finally trudged through the grueling physical education day filled with drama.

Leo was athletic, well-built, the kind of guy every girl wanted. But not Jennie. From day one, she had fiercely disliked him. He saw through her princess facade and was the first to call her out on her snarky comments, pointing out that her father's privilege didn't mean she deserved to be there.

Her heart ached at his words, but there was a sting of truth to them. She fought every day to uphold her legacy and wasn't about to let some jock ruin it just because he felt like it. Thus, they quickly became known as enemies, exchanging hateful remarks in class and the hallways, but they never clashed during gym—until the day they were paired for volleyball.

Jennie's team was moderately athletic, while Leo's was just as mediocre. It felt like the universe was conspiring to bring them together once more. When the coach whistled, the fire ignited in their eyes. The first few matches focused on teamwork, but everything changed when Leo accidentally sent the ball crashing into Jennie's legs.

Fuming, she shot daggers at her teammates, demanding retaliation. They gave her the chance, and she sent the ball flying back at him—this time, hitting him square in the head. For five minutes, their battle continued, escalating until teammates were groaning about the drama.

Eventually, a fight broke out between them, prompting the coach to suggest a one-on-one match in basketball to settle their aggression. It was a good idea—until an unexpected accident occurred. Leo fell into Jennie, pinning her down as they both winced in pain.

In that moment, they locked eyes for the first time, really seeing each other. A spark ignited, a fire that neither had anticipated.

The bell rang, serving as background music as they remained locked in a gaze. After a moment, they exchanged a few more snide remarks and parted ways, both struggling to catch their breath.

It had been four days since their explosive confrontation in the volleyball gym. Now, physical education was back on the schedule, but this time the boys and girls were separated. An accident occurred, and Jennie winced loudly enough for Leo to realize that his so-called enemy was hurt. Almost instinctively, he moved toward the sound, only to find Jennie in serious pain.

Shock washed over him; he didn't feel satisfaction—he felt fear. The coach quickly instructed someone to take her to the school's hospital section. Without a second thought, Leo scooped her up. Surprisingly, she didn't throw any jabs at him; she was too consumed by pain, her eyes closed. As he walked, he whispered reassurances, telling her everything would be okay and that there was no need to be afraid. How soft he had become, he thought, surprised by his own tenderness.

Once they arrived, the school doctor assessed her condition.

"Jennie, I know you're in pain. It looks like your shoulder is dislocated. We need to reset it now," he said.

"Please, get this in your mouth," the doctor instructed, handing her a chew toy. "Bite down when you feel pain. Unfortunately, we can't use any needles to numb it."

Leo shifted uncomfortably at the sight, feeling the urge to leave.

"Leo, stay. I'm scared. I need someone here," Jennie said, her voice trembling.

That was all he needed to hear. He stayed close, reassuring her that she was strong and that she could get through this. All the things he wasn't supposed to say somehow gave her the courage she needed. Jennie nodded to the doctor, ready for the procedure.

Two days later, after her shoulder was reset, Jennie couldn't shake the feeling that her heart was still out of place. It seemed unfair to see Leo's softer side in her pain; it made her like him, and that terrified her. When Leo sent her a bouquet of "get well soon" flowers, she first checked for poison, only to feel a strange ache in her heart as he approached. She shook her head, reminding herself that anyone would send flowers to someone who had just been injured.

During math class, while chatting with her friends, she caught sight of Leo being playfully hit by one of his buddies. What was going on? Curious, she discreetly glanced at his phone, hoping for some inside scoop. When Leo snatched his phone back from his friend, she glimpsed a photo of herself with her girlfriends.

"Okay, whatever," she thought. "It doesn't mean anything."

The next day, as she spoke with her friends, Leo's best friend Jack approached her.

"Hey, Jennie, how are you?" he asked.

"I'm good, Jack. What's up?"

"Just checking in on you," he said with a smile.

"What's with you guys lately? You all seem to be smiling and giggling at me," she teased.

Jack chuckled. "I know we're acting weird; it's my fault."

"Why's that?" she asked, intrigued.

"I'll tell you as a gift, but you can't tell anyone."

"What is it, Jack?"

"Leo wrote a love poem about you."

Jennie was stunned. The thought was almost laughable; there was no way he could write a poem. "Yeah, right."

"Yes, we found it! We couldn't believe it either," Jack insisted.

"When I had you in my arms, I felt a sense of wanting to protect you, to love you for the first time."

Jennie's face turned crimson, her cheeks burning like a tomato.