HEARTFELT YEARNING (CHA EUNWO) [UNDER EDITING]

PROLOGUE

Jiyeon walked briskly across the school grounds, her backpack slung over one shoulder, as she made her way towards the school gate.

Her class had just been dismissed, and she was eagerly waiting for the arrival of their family's trusted bodyguard, Manong Gab. He had been assigned to ensure her safety ever since she was a little girl, and she had grown fond of him over the years.

As Jiyeon reached the gate, she felt a pair of hands covering her eyes from behind. A mischievous smile played on her lips as she recognized the familiar scent of Eunwo's perfume.

Eunwo had been her best friend since childhood, and they shared an unbreakable bond. They often spent their days together, sharing secrets, laughter, and adventures.

"Guess who?" Eunwo whispered playfully into her ear.

Jiyeon chuckled softly. "Who else could it be but you, Eunwo? I would recognize that scent anywhere."

She couldn't help but notice how fresh and clean he always smelled, despite his active days as the school's basketball team captain.

It seemed that he had even taken a shower at the gym earlier. Jiyeon wondered if others had also noticed this appealing quality in him.

"What's up? Are you heading home already? Let's go together," Eunwo said with a bright smile, removing his hands from Jiyeon's eyes.

Jiyeon couldn't help but ask, "Why are you here?" raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

Eunwo laughed playfully. "Ouch! That hurts! I just wanted to walk home with you like we always do. Why are you being mean to me today?" he exclaimed, jokingly clutching his heart.

Rolling her eyes with a playful smile, Jiyeon replied, "Oh, please. You're so noisy."

They then walked side by side, ready to go home together. Their conversation flowed easily, as it always did. They discussed their day at school, the assignments they had been given, and the funny incidents that had occurred in class. Everything seemed perfect, except for one thing that lingered in the air, unspoken.

As they continued their walk, they reached the school gate, where they were supposed to meet Manong Gab. While waiting, Eunwo struck up a conversation to pass the time.

"By the way, Jiyeon, who was the guy you were with earlier?" he asked curiously.

Caught off guard, Jiyeon hesitated for a moment, not entirely sure who he was referring to. She sensed a hint of irritation in his voice, almost as if he were jealous. Or maybe she was mistaken.

"Huh? Who are you talking about?" Jiyeon replied, trying to clarify the situation. "Are you perhaps talking about Vince?" she added, trying to make sense of his line of questioning.

"How am I supposed to know? Is Vince the name of the guy you were with at the library earlier? I saw you two as I was heading to your classroom during break time, hoping to invite you to the cafeteria for lunch. We had just finished a long physics quiz, which is why I was late. But you didn't wait for me," he explained, sounding slightly sulky.

Apologizing, Jiyeon felt guilty for not waiting for him. "Oh, really? I'm sorry about that. But it's not what you think," she assured him, wanting to clear up any misunderstandings.

"It's okay. I'm just curious about what really happened. Care to explain?" Heeseung asked, his genuine interest evident.

Jiyeon nodded, willingly providing him with more details about her encounter with Vince. She felt the need to explain herself further, ensuring their friendship remained strong and misunderstandings were avoided.