Rumors were swirling. A giant exchange student of Spanish nationality was coming to our school. I seriously wondered just how giant he had to be for such a descriptor to be attached, and that question was answered the moment I faced him directly.

Students in the hallway cleared the way on their own, and a heavy sense of weight could be felt with every step he took. Not just his physical size, but even the aura he radiated was extraordinary. There were scars of unknown origin on his face and body, and within a day, rumors were rife that he was part of a gang in Europe or that he enjoyed street fights with thugs. By the second day, rumors said he had many women and that his 'skills' were no joke. By the third day, the only people who approached him were the school bullies. I heard that to the kids who approached him in a friendly way, he said, 'Just looking at you guys makes me so miserable.' It was a perfect reason to cut ties.

It was a complete coincidence that we ended up in the same mandatory club, and even sat in adjacent seats. The Film Appreciation Club. During the first class, the guy didn't have much interest in me. Probably because I stayed as quiet as a dead person. The problem started from the second class. Why did the teacher have to show Wuthering Heights? Seeing me sobbing silently, he showed interest for the first time.

I skipped the third class. It was 100% certain he would try to talk to me. I fled to the rooftop without hesitation and took a nap in a shaded corner that was out of people's sight.

"Hello~ Miss Guest."

When I woke up from my long nap, he was sitting right next to me. Before I could even respond, I jumped up and headed for the rooftop exit. My wrist was caught by a giant, thick hand and pulled back. The world spun in an instant and my body tumbled. The place where I landed on my butt was on top of his lap.

"......?"

"You have a face that's asking 'why are you doing this.' Am I right?"

He spoke with a bright smile, not giving me a chance to speak.

"Because Miss Guest ran away first."

Then, he grabbed both of my wrists at once with that large hand and curved his eyes into half-moons.

"Arrest complete~. How pretty you are when you don't run away and stay well-behaved. No, wait. I think you're pretty no matter what you do."

It seemed the concept of personal space didn't exist in this guy's dictionary. I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't even argue and just gaped, and he smiled even wider as if I were cute. It was so chilling. It was definitely a pretty smile, but I felt like I was being sucked into the blood-colored pupils revealed between his eyelids, and it gave me goosebumps.

The warning lights in my head blared loudly. Getting involved with this person would be big trouble. I pulled my body back at the sensation of my spine turning cold. My wrist was pulled back again.

His curved eyes snapped open. The dull red eyes in his face, now right in front of mine, swallowed me up eerily.

"Why are you running away?"

Only the corners of his mouth were turned up in a smile.

"Miss Guest."

The distance between our faces was far too close.

"Do you hate me?"

Early June. A stifling heat descended upon this place.