𝐕𝐈𝐈

The classroom was quiet except for the soft scratching of pencils against paper and the steady murmur of the teacher's voice. Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, pooling over rows of desks. Minju's focus drifted, her eyes wandering up from her notebook.

'I started dating Y/N...'

A few seats ahead, Y/N was taking notes diligently, his back straight, and his hand moving smoothly over the page. His hair caught the sunlight, making it shimmer faintly. He was always so focused, so calm.

The teacher's voice rose again. "For this problem, you can use the previous formula..."

'... and we went on our first date.'

Minju's started to wander adrift, back into the eventful weekend. It had been their first date. And somehow, everything about it still lingered, as though the warmth of that evening had followed Minju here, into the cold light of Monday.

Minju caught herself staring and quickly looked back at her notebook.

'What am I doing?'

She thought, cheeks warming. She couldn't help it, though. He had a way of standing out without trying, and lately, her eyes seemed to find him no matter where he was.

She glanced up again, just for a moment. This time, their eyes met. It was fleeting—a quick exchange—but her heart skipped all the same. Y/N didn't react outwardly, just a slight shift in his expression before slowly turning into a slight smile. Her breath caught, and she dropped her eyes back to her notebook, furiously doodling in the margin. She shook her head, trying to get rid of the embarrassment, her seatmate looking at her with a puzzled expression.

The hallway felt quieter than usual, the soft hum of distant chatter swallowed by Minju's own heartbeat.

'After all of that...'

Her hand, slightly trembling, lifted as if the lingering warmth of Y/N's hand still clung to her palm.

"I couldn't get used to his sweetness..." she murmured, eyes distant as she walked, her voice trailing off into a gentle sigh.

The memory of the date replayed in her mind—the awkward silences, his shy smiles, the moment their hands intertwined. Her cheeks flushed, her gaze falling to the floor as she clenched her hand tighter, reliving that moment.

"Y/N's hand was big..." she whispered to herself, almost incredulously. It wasn't just the size—it was the warmth, the security, the way it had enveloped hers. She bit her lip, her heart pounding as her mind raced ahead, wondering what would come next.

Minju's footsteps slowed as she drifted into her thoughts, her eyes wide with worry. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.

Eventually, I'm sure... she thought, cheeks reddening, we will kiss... or even go further...!

Her face scrunched up in panic. "Oh no!" she exclaimed, eyes darting around nervously. She hugged her arms around herself as if shielding from the whirlwind of emotions.

"We just held hands, and I got that nervous..."

she muttered, voice barely above a whisper.

"I wonder if I'll be okay..."

Suddenly, A figure of Y/N appears on her mind, his expression serious yet gentle. "Minju-ssi, don't worry!" His voice was firm, a hand resting dramatically over his heart. "I won't do anything to you before we get married!"

She stared into the blank space, stunned into silence, her eyes widening further. A mix of relief and exasperation crossed her face, her mind whirling again.

...Yeah, she thought, slightly dazed, that wouldn't surprise me with Y/N...

.

Step.

.

But then, the hallway felt colder the moment she spotted him. Minju's steps faltered, her eyes narrowing as she saw Hyunjin leaning nonchalantly against the lockers, sipping from a juice box like he had all the time in the world. His presence was a sharp reminder of memories she'd rather bury deep. She clenched her fists, a knot of frustration tightening in her chest.

'Of all the places... why does it have to be here?' she thought, her shoulders stiffening.

"Ew. Hyunjin!" she muttered, half under her breath, but loud enough for him to catch it.

Hyunjin's eyes glinted, unfazed by the venom in her tone. He took a slow sip, his expression unreadable. "This sucks. Why do I have to see her here?" he mused, more to himself than to her. His gaze lingered on her for a moment too long, and then he turned, his posture as relaxed as ever.

As she walked past, his voice stopped her in her tracks.

Hyunjin's eyes flickered to her, lazy and indifferent. Then, with a cruel smirk that curled at the edges of his lips, he spoke. "You... really are dating that nerd."

His voice dripped with disdain, each word hitting her like a paper cut—small, but stinging. Her eyes darted away, refusing to let him see how much his words affected her. The hurt was there, but she buried it under layers of anger and defiance.

Minju froze, her back still to him. The words felt like they were digging into old wounds, wounds she thought had healed. She turned around slowly, her eyes sharp. "...What about it?" she shot back, her voice strained but steady.

"It has nothing to do with you," she added, her jaw tight.

Hyunjin's smirk widened, his eyes narrowing as if he was enjoying this. "That's mean. I'm just worried about you."

"Worried?" she echoed, incredulous. The word felt like a joke coming from him.

"...When you were with me..." he continued, his tone low, laced with something between nostalgia and bitterness. "You didn't show your feelings. Didn't even let me spoil you."

His eyes bore into hers, voice dropping to a murmur, each word deliberate, cutting.

"So he'll get sick of you soon."

Her breath caught in her throat. The air between them thickened, the unspoken history hanging like a heavy curtain. She stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind replaying fragments of their past—the coldness, the distance, the hurt.

Hyunjin's smirk didn't falter. He tilted his head, taking one last sip from his juice box before tossing it into the bin. "...But that's none of my concern," he said, his voice casual, almost bored. He turned on his heel, the conversation already over in his mind. "See ya."

He's so annoying! The thought screamed through her mind, her frustration bubbling to the surface. She gritted her teeth, eyes blazing. "I don't know why I dated that jerk," she muttered, the words slipping out like a confession she didn't realize she needed to say.

She watched him walk away, the sting of his words lingering in the empty hallway, echoing in the spaces he left behind.

'But...'

Her long, wavy hair fell over her face as she tilted her head down and stared at her feet.

"...Am I okay like this?" she whispered softly to herself, her voice barely audible over the chatter of incoming students. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest, her thoughts swirling. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, her fist balled up tight. Her feet shuffled slightly, betraying her urge to move, but she stayed rooted in place. She could hear the bustling sound of more students arriving, their laughter and conversations growing louder, but the inner turmoil inside her mind drowned everything around.

Another day came as the early morning chill hung in the air, the faint glow of the sun barely breaking through the thick clouds. The pale light bathed the school courtyard in a soft, almost ethereal hue. The sound of footsteps crunching on frosty pavement and faint murmurs of students chatting filled the background, blending with the occasional gust of wind. Minju stood near the school gate, her shoulders tense and her hands clutching the strap of her bag tightly.