𝕯𝖊𝖑𝖎𝖈𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝕯𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊 | True Beauty

Beneath the Mask

Y/N's heart raced as she walked into the school's bustling cafeteria, clutching her tray of lunch tightly. She had hoped to find a quiet corner where she could enjoy her meal in solitude, but as luck would have it, the only available spot was next to a group of popular students, including Han Seojun.

She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to turn around and search for another spot or to just tough it out. With a deep breath, she made her way to the empty seat and took a hesitant sip of her drink, trying to look inconspicuous. She stole a glance at the group beside her, and her eyes involuntarily locked onto Seojun's profile.

Seojun, surrounded by his charismatic friends, was engaged in a conversation that seemed to revolve around his latest exploits. Y/N couldn't help but admire his confidence, even if his words occasionally dripped with arrogance. She shook her head, reminding herself that she wasn't here to admire him – she was here to eat her lunch in peace.

Just as she was about to turn her attention away, she noticed Seojun's gaze flicker in her direction. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Y/N quickly averted her gaze, feeling a flush creep up her cheeks. She busied herself with her food, pretending to be engrossed in her meal, though her heart raced at the thought of Seojun's piercing gaze.

As the minutes ticked by, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She dared another glance in Seojun's direction and found him looking right at her. This time, he didn't look away, and Y/N's heart thudded loudly in her chest. Why was he staring at her? Did he find her presence strange?

Just as she was about to retreat back into her shell, Seojun's friend, Suho, leaned over and said something to him. Y/N strained her ears, trying to catch their conversation, but the cafeteria's noise drowned out their words. Seojun's expression changed – the usual cocky grin replaced by a more neutral one. He turned his attention back to his friends, seemingly disinterested in the conversation.

Y/N's curiosity got the better of her. What had Suho said to him? And why had it affected him like that? She sighed softly, realizing that she was being far too nosy for her own good. Just as she was about to give up on deciphering the situation, Suho rose from his seat and left the cafeteria.Seojun's gaze lingered on the spot where Suho had been sitting, and Y/N felt a pang of sympathy for him. There was more to Seojun than met the eye – a complexity that intrigued her despite her best efforts to remain indifferent.

Feeling a mixture of guilt and compassion, Y/N mustered the courage to initiate a conversation. She cleared her throat softly, her voice barely audible over the cafeteria's noise. "Um, hey. Is everything okay?"

Seojun turned his gaze toward her, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as if he was surprised by her question. "Yeah, everything's fine. Why do you ask?"Y/N shrugged, stirring her food absently. "Just seemed like something was bothering you."Seojun's lips twitched into a faint smile, a genuine expression that took Y/N by surprise. "You're pretty observant, huh?"

She felt her cheeks warm up at his compliment. "I guess so."He leaned back in his chair, regarding her with a thoughtful look. "Well, you're not wrong. Suho and I had a bit of a disagreement earlier. It's nothing major, just typical friend stuff."Y/N nodded, relieved to have some insight into the situation. "Oh, I see. Friends fight sometimes."

Seojun chuckled softly. "Yeah, they do. But they also make up eventually."Their conversation flowed more smoothly than Y/N had anticipated. Seojun's guarded demeanor seemed to have softened, and they exchanged stories about school, hobbies, and even a few laughs. She was surprised by his wit and the way he could effortlessly draw her into his world.

As the bell signaling the end of lunch rang out, Y/N couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment that their conversation was coming to an end. Seojun stood up, his tray in hand, and turned to her with a half-smile."Well, I should get going. Thanks for keeping me company."Y/N blinked, a bit taken aback by his gratitude. "Oh, no problem. It was nice talking to you."He nodded and started to walk away before pausing and turning back to her. "Hey, if you're not too busy, maybe we can do this again sometime?"Y/N's heart skipped a beat at his suggestion. "Yeah, sure. I'd like that."Seojun grinned, and for a moment, Y/N caught a glimpse of the person he was beneath the tough exterior. With a wave, he headed off to his next class, leaving Y/N in a daze.As she gathered her belongings to head to her own class, Y/N couldn't help but smile to herself. Beneath Seojun's mask of confidence and aloofness was a person worth getting to know. She was beginning to realize that there was much more to Han Seojun than met the eye, and she was eager to uncover every layer of his intricate personality.