The school festival had arrived—banners flapping above the gates, the air alive with music and laughter and the smell of tteokbokki and grilled squid. Jiwon had never been a fan of noisy crowds, but something about today felt different.
Maybe it was the fact that Jungwon had texted her early that morning:
Jungwon:
You’re coming to the festival, right?
Jiwon:
Depends. Are you performing or something?
Jungwon:
No. But I want to see you there.
She had stared at the message for a good ten minutes before smiling like an idiot.
-
She wandered from booth to booth, occasionally bumping into classmates and buying random snacks she didn’t really want to eat. But she kept scanning the crowd for him—without even realizing how badly she wanted to see him.
And then, near the lantern-making booth, she heard his voice.
“Looks like you went all-out,” Jungwon said, appearing beside her with two canned sodas. “You’ve got cotton candy and a corndog?”
“Don’t judge me,” she laughed. “Festival food doesn’t count toward real calories.”
He offered her a soda. “I’m not judging. I’m impressed.”
They ended up sitting beneath one of the trees in the courtyard, tucked away from the buzz of the crowd. The warm golden hour light fell across Jungwon’s face, and Jiwon couldn’t help but stare for a moment too long.
“What is it?” he asked softly.
“Nothing,” she replied, quickly looking away. “Just... thinking.”
“About what?”
She hesitated. “About how being around you makes things feel calm.”
Jungwon blinked, taken aback for a second. Then, a smile slowly bloomed on his lips.
“I like being around you too.”
-
As the sun dipped behind the school building, students gathered to release handmade lanterns into the sky. Jiwon held hers close, her thumb brushing the side where she’d written a single word: hope.
She felt someone step beside her.
“What did you write on yours?” Jungwon asked, holding his own.
“I’ll tell you if you tell me.”
“Mine says patience.”
She glanced at him, surprised.
“That’s a beautiful word,” she said.
“Yours?”
“Hope.”
They stood there for a moment, shoulder to shoulder, lanterns flickering between their hands.
Jiwon whispered, “Let’s let go at the same time.”
Jungwon nodded.
They lifted their hands, and two tiny lights drifted into the evening sky together.
-
Jiwon:
He came to the festival just to see me. We sat under a tree and talked for a while… it felt like something out of a drama.
Unknown Number:
Sounds like your heart’s already decided.
Jiwon:
Maybe it has. But his hasn’t. I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
Unknown Number:
Don’t worry. He’s just slower at showing what he feels.
Jiwon:
You sound so sure.
Unknown Number:
That’s because I know he looks at you like the whole world softens when you smile.
Her breath caught.
Jiwon:
If only I knew who you were. You always say the right things.
Unknown Number:
Maybe someday I’ll tell you.
She stared at the message, heart full, yet aching in the best way.
Jiwon:
I think I’d like that. But for now… thanks for always listening.
Unknown Number:
Always.
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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...
