opposites attract. | myung jaehyun

TWELVE

The door to the student council office swung open, and Nakyung walked in, her expression a mix of determination and exhaustion. She was carrying a large, heavy box, her arms straining under the weight. Her hair, typically neat, was pulled back into a ponytail, but the heat had caused stray strands of her bangs to stick to her forehead, damp with sweat.

Hanbin, who had been organizing a stack of papers on the desk, looked up at the commotion. Seeing Nakyung's struggle, he immediately set aside his work and walked over to her. He reached out and took the box from her hands.

"Let me help you with that," Hanbin said, his voice steady and reassuring. "You're clearly struggling."

Nakyung let out a sigh of relief as Hanbin lifted the box with little effort, the weight seeming almost insignificant to him. She looked up at him with a grateful smile, her face flushed from the heat. "Thank you, Hanbin," she said, her voice a mix of relief and exhaustion. "This thing is so heavy, and it's scorching hot outside."

Hanbin chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he set the box down on the table. The box was filled to the brim with various decorations and strings of lights for the upcoming sports week, its contents spilling out slightly. "Where's Nabi, by the way?" Hanbin asked, glancing around the office. "You're usually with her."

Nakyung settled into a nearby chair, her shoulders slumping in relief as she finally took a moment to catch her breath. "Nabi's at the faculty room with Mr. Kim," she explained, her voice slightly breathless. "They're probably discussing details for the Mathematical Olympiad."

Hanbin nodded in understanding, his gaze shifting back to Nakyung with a look of concern. "You look like you could use a glass of water. It's been sweltering out there."

"Oh, yes please!" Nakyung responded eagerly, her voice tinged with urgency. "I fucking need it, like, so bad."

Hanbin's laughter was light and easy as he made his way to a small fridge in the corner of the office. He retrieved a bottle of water, twisting off the cap and handing it to her with a friendly grin. "Here you go."

Nakyung accepted the bottle gratefully, her fingers brushing against his as she took it from him. Without hesitation, she tipped the bottle to her lips and began to drink, her eyes closing in sheer relief as the cool water quenched her thirst. The water felt like a small blessing in the midst of her exhaustion.

"Thank you so much, Sung Hanbin," she said, her voice muffled by the bottle as she continued to drink.

"No problem," Hanbin replied, leaning against the desk and watching her with a smile. "It's the least I can do."

Nakyung finally set the empty bottle down on the table, feeling significantly better. She stretched her arms above her head, trying to loosen the muscles that had tensed from carrying the heavy load. "I swear, the weather today is unbearable," she said, shaking her head. "But at least we got these decorations in. It's one less thing to worry about."

Hanbin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and we still have plenty of time to get everything set up. It'll all come together."

Nakyung glanced around the office, taking in the scattered papers and half-organized supplies. "I'm sure it will," she said, a determined note in her voice.

The room soon fell into a brief silence as Hanbin gathered his thoughts. His gaze was steady as he looked at Nakyung, who had just finished taking a sip of her water. The words he had been building up to seemed to hang in the air, unspoken.

"Lee Nakyung," Hanbin began, his voice serious but soft. Nakyung looked up, her eyes meeting his with curiosity. She gave a slight hum in response, encouraging him to continue.