𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄. 희승

𝘁𝘄𝗼 , guilt and regret.

★

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HEESEUNG.

heeseung couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed about seolhee. as they grudgingly tackled their group assignment in the confines of their chemistry class, he occasionally stole glances at her from the corner of his eye. a deep sense of unease gnawed at him as he observed her.

he noticed it first in her appearance. her long, lustrous dark brown hair, a defining feature, had been conspicuously trimmed to shoulder length. it was a subtle change, yet it endowed her with an air of newfound confidence that was impossible to miss. her bambi-like eyes, typically brimming with warmth and vivacity, now harbored a distant, almost cold expression. heeseung was no stranger to scrutinizing seolhee, but something about her today felt vastly different, and it intrigued him.

and then, it happened. their hands brushed against each other — an accidental collision that sent a shockwave of emotions coursing through heeseung. it was a momentary touch, fleeting and almost imperceptible, but it was enough to send his heart racing.

his thoughts drifted back to the morning, to the words he had uttered during breakfast with his friends. he knew seolhee had been within earshot as he discussed jiae, the new girl in his life. guilt gnawed at him, wondering how much those words must have stung. he had been the one to break seolhee's heart, and the guilt had weighed on him ever since. in the past, they had been the ones sharing secrets and dreams, but now they were little more than strangers.

for a moment, heeseung considered broaching the topic, asking her if everything was okay. but the words felt stuck in his throat, trapped by the ever-present apprehension and the enormity of their complicated history. he knew he had inflicted a deep wound, and he wasn't sure if he was the one who could help mend it.

the minutes ticked by, and their group assignment remained unfinished. the chemistry they had once shared, both as a couple and as friends, felt as distant as the periodic table. heeseung couldn't help but steal another glance at seolhee, his concern growing. he wondered if there was a way to bridge the gap between them, to finally address the unspoken questions that had lingered for far too long.

as the class came to an end, and they prepared to part ways once more, heeseung hesitated. he observed seolhee packing her bags in a hurry, her actions and the subtle changes in her demeanor tugging at his heartstrings. she offered a strained smile, her words carrying the weight of the unspoken. "well, we survived chemistry class together. happy valentine's day, i guess."

he wanted to say something, anything, to ease the palpable tension between them, to understand the changes he had observed. but instead, heeseung nodded, and a hint of a rueful smile played on his lips. "happy valentine's day, seolhee."

he could only hope that, someday, they would find the words to break the silence and heal the wounds of their shared past.

as heeseung watched seolhee leave, his mind wandered to a pivotal moment earlier in the day, and he couldn't help but think about what jiae had said to him.

ˋ ★ ˎ

— FLASHBACK.

heeseung stood beside his locker, his heart racing, clutching a small envelope that held his romantic aspirations. he also held a bouquet of vibrant red roses, a symbol of his affection for jiae been planning a special valentine's dinner for jiae, hoping to make the day unforgettable and, more importantly, to hope he wouldn't get rejected by her once again.

jiae, radiant and gentle as ever, approached him with a warm smile. her presence had the power to calm his racing heart, even as he stood at the precipice of vulnerability. "heeseung, what's that?" she gestured to the envelope in his hand.