The weeks blurred together, one sunset school day after another. And without even realizing it, Jiwon had started measuring time in smiles.
In how often Jungwon waited for her by the gates after club.
In how easily their jokes filled the empty corners of the hallway.
In how her heart raced-every single time his shoulder brushed against hers, so casually, like it wasn't rewriting her whole day.
-
The art club had left the classroom a mess again-scraps of paper littered across the tables, faint splashes of watercolor on the floor.
"I swear, they paint with their eyes closed," Jiwon muttered as she crouched down to collect scattered brushes.
A quiet chuckle followed behind her. "Want help?"
She looked up. Jungwon stood at the door, already rolling up his sleeves.
"You don't have to," she said, smiling.
"I want to."
They worked side by side in silence, their movements in sync. At one point, their hands reached for the same brush. Their fingers touched.
Neither moved for a moment.
Then Jiwon looked up. Jungwon didn't look away.
Something passed between them-something unspoken, but heavy. Real.
-
Jiwon:
I touched his hand today. It was accidental. Kind of. Maybe. I don't know anymore.
Unknown Number:
Did it mean something to you?
Jiwon:
More than it should. Which is crazy, right? It was just his hand.
Unknown Number:
It's never "just" when it's with the right person.
Jiwon bit her lip, heart skipping.
Jiwon:
I think I'm starting to feel more for him than I should. But I don't even know if he sees me like that.
Unknown Number:
He sees you more clearly than you think.
-
The sky turned gray before the final bell even rang. By the time she packed up her things, the rain was falling in sheets, drumming loudly on the rooftop.
"Forgot my umbrella," Jiwon sighed.
"Here." Jungwon held out his. "I brought mine. You take it."
"What about you?"
"I don't mind getting wet," he shrugged.
She frowned. "We can share."
He blinked.
Jiwon stepped closer, raising the umbrella over both of them. Their shoulders pressed together, his warmth bleeding into hers in the cold drizzle.
It was quiet. Just the sound of the rain and two racing hearts.
"Thank you," she whispered.
Jungwon only nodded, but his gaze lingered on her a little longer than it needed to.
-
Jiwon:
We shared an umbrella today. He didn't even flinch when I stood close. Like he was used to it. Like... maybe he liked it too.
Unknown Number:
Sounds like something out of a movie.
Jiwon:
Yeah, but movies have happy endings. Real life is trickier.
Unknown Number:
Maybe you're living the beginning of yours right now.
-
"I still don't get how you're good at both science and literature," Jiwon complained, flipping her notebook closed.
"Balance," Jungwon said, taking a sip of his iced americano.
Jiwon narrowed her eyes. "Or you're secretly a genius and this is your villain origin story."
He smiled, chin resting in his palm as he watched her rant about homework and caffeine and the lack of justice in the academic system.
"You always talk like the world's ending," he said.
"Because it is," she replied. "At least until midterms are over."
"I hope it never ends," he murmured, almost too softly.
Jiwon looked up. "What?"
Jungwon shook his head. "Nothing."
-
Jiwon:
I think I'm falling for him.
Unknown Number:
You sound scared.
Jiwon:
I am. Because the closer I get, the more I realize how much I don't know.
Unknown Number:
But you trust him, don't you?
She stared at the screen.
Then typed slowly:
Jiwon:
Yeah. I really do.
-
And somewhere, not far away, Jungwon was smiling at his screen too-relieved and terrified all at once.
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✓ 𝗜'𝗠 𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗥. yang jungwon
Fanfiction( 𝗜'𝗠 𝗖𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗥 ) "One dare, one text, and a whole lot of feelings." --- It all began with a simple dare-one that led to an unexpected connection. Jiwon Park, a quiet transfer student, received a random text that read, "I'm cute." Thinking it was...
