(Alaina's POV)

I woke up screaming.

Quickly, I jammed my mouth with a pillow so I wouldn't startle any neighbors. Sweat clung to my skin and my sleepwear. I was panting, thinking my air supply was cut off.

In my dream - no, nightmare, I had been running desperately through a dark forest, creepers grabbing at me as I tried to run away from monsters that hunted after me relentlessly. I had been choking for air, my throat burning, my legs aching. I finally woke up when I had run into a dead end by a set of dangerous cliffs. I'm glad I didn't see the dreary ending.

But none of it wasn't real. I only prayed it wasn't a premonition dream.

I checked the time on my alarm clock and saw I still had an hour remaining before school started.

School, I thought bitterly. Yay for me.

Springing from bed, I hurried and got ready for my day. Hopefully it would pass by quickly.

...

I hated school uniforms. This one especially. In Japan, my sailor uniform was plain and modest. Here, in Seoul, from a fancy high-standard school, the uniform was more...stylish.

The pleated skirt was a tad bit short, fluttering above my bare knees. I had shiny new shoes and calf-high socks. The stiff blazer had designs here and there, and was made of expensive material. The button-down blouse was fitting at my waist and shoulders. Girls had to wear ties.

Bleck.

My breakfast was just a bowl of cereal. I checked the contents in my schoolbag and grabbed my map and rushed out of my apartment to catch the bus.

...

(Taemin's POV)

Key-umma woke him up impatiently that morning.

"Wam mmm," he mumbled in his pillow as Key viciously shook his shoulder.

"Wake up, Taeminnie!" Key demanded. "TAEMIN!"

Key jumped into Taemin's bed, squishing the younger boy with his slender body.

"GAH!" coughed Taemin, pushing Key off to sit up and enable him to breath. Taemin's mop of blond hair was disheveled and crumbled. Yawning, he rubbed at his eyes.

"Key-umma, why are you in my room?" grumbled the younger boy.

Irritated, Key put his hands on his hips. "Because we have school again. It's only Wednesday, Taemin. Now if you weren't wandering the streets late at night, maybe you would have enough sleep to remember."

Still tired, Taemin ran his slender fingers through his hair. "Whatever. I did tell you I ran into some demons along the way." Key tugged him out of his cozy bed. "Key-umma," he whined, "remind we why we have to go to school? Wouldn't it be more better if we used the time we spent in school searching for the Peacemaker?" Taemin dragged his feet as Key pushed him towards the bathroom.

"Because that way we can interact with girls to see if there really is a Peacemaker!" grunted Key, finally achieving in getting Taemin in the bathroom. He waged a finger at the bleary-eyed boy. "Now hurry up and get ready because school starts in thirty minutes!"

"Ne," muttered Taemin, blinking at his perfect, yet tousled reflection in the mirror.

...

(Alaina's POV)

A good thing that started my day was that I boarded the correct bus and was dropped off on the stop with other kids dressed similarly as me. I followed the crowd to where the school was located.

My eyes widened at the magnificent building before me. This was a school?! It looked like a resort or mansion!

Around me, students socialized and chatted familiarly. I ducked my head and stroded forward, willing myself to be invisible. I managed to enter the main building before bumping into someone as I opened the door into the front office.

"Mianhae!" said the guy reflexively. He was tall and handsome with double-lidded eyes. Blushing, I shouldered my bag and brushed past him without speaking.

The guy looked puzzled and dazed at me but shrugged cluelessly. After a moment, the strange tingles he felt coursing through him ceased. He walked out.

"Are you new here?" asked the lady at the counter. I nodded.

"I'm the exchange student from Japan," I told her in my soft voice.

She brightened. "Oh, welcome! Let me get your timetable and a map. Your name is Akiyama Alaina, correct?"

I nodded again quietly. She only smiled at me and gathered the papers. She handed me everything cheerfully in contrast to my somber mood.

"I'll have someone help you to your first period, araso?" chirped the lady.

I bit my bottom lip. It was better to have a guide than get lost in this enormous school. I let her ring someone.

About ten minutes later, a beautiful young man with slightly dyed blond hair and dark, feline eyes walked in leisurely. He smiled radiantly. "Did you ring for a beautiful ?" he inquired with a playful wink.

My heart fluttered. Was every student here so good-looking?

"Ah, Kibum-shi," said the lady and gestured at me. "Can you show this young lady to her first period class? I don't want to get lost."

He nodded affably. "Sure." He inclined his head to follow; I did.

"Can I see your schedule?" he asked me as we left the front office.

I handed it to him, our fingers brushing and we both flinched as if we felt a shock brim through us. I gulped and took a cautious step back. At least I didn't receive any weird feelings. People shrugged around us in the hallway, casting curious glances once in a while.

"Er," he coughed awkwardly, trying to be casual. He glanced at my schedule and his pretty eyes widened interestedly. "You have homeroom with me. Cool! Easy enough." He smiled sunnily at me again then held out a hand. "My name is Kim Kibum by the way. People just call me Key though."

Did he forget what happened when he touched me? Not wanting to be rude, I loosely shook his smooth hand. Warmth surged through us.

Key fanned his face. "Is it hot in here or it's just me?"

People were eying us intently and I shifted from foot to foot skittishly. I cleared my throat. "My name is Akiyama Alaina. I just came from Japan a few days ago," I informed Key in a small voice. "Can we go now?"

He nodded. "This way."

...

(Key's POV)

This girl is really...odd, he mused to himself. He walked with his chin up in the hallways in contrast as the girl - Alaina - kept her head down, trailing behind him like a lost puppy. Girls gawked at him. Boys looked at him with admiration and envy. Alaina was barely noticed like she was a ghost.

Pretending not to seem bothered, Key clenched and unclenched his hand. His skin still tingled from contact with Alaina. What did that mean? Was it just him?

I wonder who this girl really is, Key thought, more alert. Is she a demon in disguise? I'm going need to keep an eye on her just in case.

...

(Taemin's POV)

Minho-hyung and him were already sitting in homeroom, peered and gossiped by their beloved fans. But no one dared to invade their private bubble unless invited. (That would risk some serious, explosive nagging by Almighty Key.)

Minho poked Taemin's head since he kept bobbing his head like he was about to fall asleep.

"Yah, Taem, are you gonna pass out? It's only first hour," said Minho, slightly teasing.

Taemin exhaled and slumped on his desk. ("So cute!" fangirls would be saying in the background.) "I'm fine," Taemin mumbled tiredly. "Key-umma couldn't have let me skip school today..?"

Minho chuckled. "Then don't wander at night."

"I keep telling everyone! I had a D-E-M-O-N problem to take care of. And I saved a girl from being dinner!" hissed Taemin, childishly whining. He pouted his lips. "I wonder what happened to that girl..." Somehow I can't forget her.

...

(Key's POV)

"Um...wait here, I'll inform the teacher about you," Key said to Alaina. "He'll probably call you in when the bell rings." They hadn't really spoke since leaving the front office. Key's usual preppy attitude was more aware and observing. They were outside their homeroom class.

Alaina swallowed so she could speak in her soft, unsure voice, "Araso."

Key nodded and slipped inside the class coolly, inclining his head at people who called (or shrieked) his one-of-the-kind name. He approached the teacher's desk and spoke to the man about Alaina. Out in the corner of his vision, he saw his Taeminnie and Minho, sitting in their reserved spot in the back, raise a brow at his actions.

"Alright then," allowed the teacher lowly. "I'll call her in later."

Key bowed his head respectfully and sat at his desk, immediately pounced on by his friends.

"Where were you?" asked Minho. "You're usually here first."

Key shrugged. "I helped out a classmate."

Taemin frowned at his aloof attitude. "But you usual don't help out people randomly. We've been to countless schools and seen thousands of people and you haven't interacted with them since."

Minho muttered something along the lines of, "Jonghyun-hyung will go berserk if he touched a girl like last time."

Key fixed his hair carelessly. "Don't worry about me." But under his gorgeous appearance, his eyes sharpened in alert. "But do keep an eye out. I sense something strange going on."

Taemin perked his head up. "You too?"

Left out in the silent communication, Minho was about to ask what they were talking about until the bell rang shrilly and the teacher cleared his throat.

"Attention everyone!" he demanded, gathering undivided attention by his students. "We have a new student today! Many of you know the exchange student program we're currently having and seen some classmates of yours transfer. We finally have ours transferred to us." He glanced at the closed door. "Come in now!"

The door slide opened and light footsteps echoed in the air as the new classmate treaded in a subdued manner.

Narrowing his eyes, Key watched her every movement. On the contrary, Taemin looked bored and Minho passive, leaning back into his seat.

"Please introduce yourself," asked the teacher in his stern voice.

Alaina inhaled a deep breath and said in her musical voice, "Annyeonghaseyo, everyone. I am Akiyama Alaina. I came from Tokyo, Japan." She bowed her head formally.

"I can barely hear her," muttered someone.

"She's kinda cute," commented another person.

"From Japan? Cool," whispered someone else.

To Key, Taemin, and Minho, Alaina's barely heard voice reached their ears clearly, and sent some kind of cool, sensational current through them, alerting their senses. Taemin didn't feel so sleepy anymore. He stared at the new girl in wonder.

The teacher scanned his classroom. "Hmm...Alaina-shi...you will sit...by the empty seat next to Lee Taemin."

Many incredulous gasps rang throughout the room. True, there was no choice to sit within the reserved area by one of the most admired students of the school because the remaining unoccupied seats were located around them like an invisible barrier. Taemin widened his eyes in surprise, his jaw dropping.

"That's not fair!" complained a fangirl.

"Quiet!" scolded the teacher. He motioned a hand. "Lee Taemin, raise your hand."

Taemin obeyed and Alaina widened her eyes in - fear? - at him.

"Go on, Alaina-shi," urged the teacher firmly. "I have to start class."

Fretfully, Alaina gulped and flitted to her seat, ignoring the stares her way, feeling them prick into her skin. She didn't cast a glance at Taemin or even at Key (he sat in front of Taemin, diagonally on her right). She kept her head ducked and stayed discreet and quiet.

...

(Alaina's POV)

Apparently I was sitting next to an innocent looking demon slayer. I could recognize him anywhere because the images of that wretched night would be forever engraved in my head.

How did this happen?!

...

(Taemin's POV)

He had a strange feeling urging him. He should - he did - know this girl. As the teacher lectured the class with nonsense, he darted suspicious glances at her. The way her shoulders were rigid and how her hair fell over her face - she was hiding herself. He wanted to hear her alluring voice again...

Taemin blinked. Why was he suddenly thinking like that? He didn't even meet the girl yet! Too bad he didn't have telepathy powers so he could speak to Key-umma and Minho-hyung about her. He grew more impatient as school dragged on.

...

(Alaina's POV)

I was prepared for the onslaught when homeroom ended.

Students began to clamor before my desk but somehow edged away from the demon killer next to me and his...friends? Please tell me they weren't so-called guardians. Meeting one was enough. I better avoid them later.

"Why do you have a weird name?"

"Is Tokyo a cool place to be at?"

"How are you fluent in Korean?"

"Are you single?"

I coughed. "Um...I don't know why I was named like this, and yes, I love Tokyo but going to different places is...fun. I studied Korean for three years." After gathering my stuff, and outright ignoring the last question, I stood up. "Can I please get through? Thanks."

Students peeled away to reveal a path for me to slip through. I breathed a relieved breath when I escaped those...people's clutches.

I was scared to be surrounded by them. The feeling of being smothered with all eyes locked on you...ugh.

...

(Key's POV)

The second she fled, more gossip filled the room.

"She's like a rat, scampering off like that."

"I think she's stuck-up," snorted a girl.

And like you aren't? questioned Key skeptically in his head.

"I wonder if she's a nerd," scoffed someone. "She was actually listening during class."

A hand shook Key's shoulder. "Are you coming, Kibum?" Minho asked.

Key nodded, but his mind still lingering about Alaina. "Ne."

Key, Taemin, and Minho exited the classroom, leaving their fans and admirers to cry after them stupidly. No one approached them in the hallway but were always gawked at. Being popular had its quirks and disadvantages.

"Key hyung," spoke up Taemin, "did you...speak to that girl?"

"Alaina? Ne, she was kinda...odd." Key scratched his head as he thought back.

"I think I bumped into her when I was at the front office," admitted Minho, his forehead creasing as he recalled. "She didn't even say anything."

"Do you feel like you know her?" asked Taemin abruptly in one breath.

Key and Minho looked at the younger boy like he was crazy then deliberated.

"Ne," they both chorused then blinked at each other in surprise.

"I need to investigate her more..." rambled Taemin, head ducked in thought.

Key whacked the boy's blond head. "Yah, don't stalk her, babo! Just leave her alone! It's not like we'll be friends with her."

Taemin was young and wild, meaning he wouldn't listen to his 'umma' either way.

...