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It all started a few months before Sol A passed out during the exam. On this day, everything changed.
Joon Hwi didn't think that he would fall in love with Kang Sol A so quickly that he couldn't help but smile when she was around. All his attention will be focused only on her. The restlessness that had become alien to him would wake up, and he would keep a close eye on Sol A, coming to her aid at any time, always.
Whatever it was, Joon Hwi disappeared in Sol A, while she herself did not notice anything, perceiving him as a friend. And Joon Hwi was fine with it, so far.
Until there was a reason.
.
The fact that Sol A was sociable was no secret to anyone. And Joon Hwi always followed her when she went out with the study group to have lunch, to spend extra-curricular time outside of the classrooms.
"Joon Hwi-a, I'll see you tomorrow" Sol A smiled, slapping him lightly on the shoulder as she stopped in front of an intersection, but definitely not in front of the dorm.
"So I also need to go to the dorm" Joon Hwi chuckled softly, ignoring Seung Jae until Sol herself did it.
"I begged Seung Jae to help me with the tasks he did best, so we'll come back later" Sol explained easily, seeing nothing wrong with that, not being able to read something in Joon Hwi's eyes that she had never seen before.
"The ones he did the best" Joon Hwi replayed her words in his head, burning with frustration that it wasn't him.
Looking at Sol A's back, Joon Hwi headed in the opposite direction, feeling that he was missing something.
The next time, Joon Hwi was smarter, being the first to ask Sol to work out with her, relieved when she agreed without hiding her joy.
"I thought you were busy and I'd be in the way".
Her words smoothed things over with Seung Jae, and Joon Hwi relaxed, but not for long.
.
"Dinner?" Joon Hwi offered with a smile as he caught up with Sol A after class. He didn't have to ask, because their meals together had become something of a habit.
"I'm sorry, Joon Hwi-a, but Seung Jae asked me to meet him, let's go next time, I'll treat you" Sol-a said hesitantly, catching the guy's piercing gaze again.
"Well, of course it's all right" Joon Hwi nodded automatically, refraining from making a sarcastic comment, replaying it in his head: "Doesn't he have other things to do?". He was jealous, and it was so obvious that he had to hurry away, feeling that the Sol was looking at his back. He wasn't missing something important, but someone. Kang Sol A.
After spending half the night without sleep, Joon Hwi never came to anything, trying to get rid of his jealousy. The only excuse was that Seung Jae was married, and that was it. Too weak to turn a blind eye.
"What the hell is wrong with me?" Joon Hwi raged as he slammed the wall.
"Han Joon Hwi, three o'clock in the morning, really, what's wrong with you?" his roommate grumbled sleepily.
"Don't you think Seung Jae is interested in Kang Sol A?" Joon Hwi blurted out, only then thinking that he had revealed himself.
"Who?" Seung Jae? You're delusional, you better go to sleep" Ji Ho waved off with a demonstrative yawn.
After exhaling, Joon Hwi actually obeyed him, deciding to leave things as they were.
Only Joon Hwi began to notice more and more how Sol A had become very close to Seung Jae, inviting him over for dinner several times, as if the three of them were enjoying themselves. Back then, Joon Hwi barely ate, not even his favorite ramen.
"Joon Hwi-a, is everything okay?" Sol caught him in the hallway when he stopped waiting for her.
"Sure, what's wrong?" he asked indifferently, but in fact, he was burning with resentment that Seung Jae had come between them. Only there was no "them". Joon Hwi never confessed to Sol A.
"Never mind" she muttered quickly, waving at someone behind him. "Then... Bye".
Turning around, Joon Hwi wasn't surprised to see Seung Jae leaving with Sol. And it seemed that he had missed her so much that he would not catch up.
.
On the day that Sol A gave so much in the exam that she passed out, Joon Hwi hurried to her medical unit, pausing only to hand in her paper. He knew how important it was to her. However, as well as for him. Whether she would stay for the second year or continue her studies depended on this exam. Joon Hwi was very worried.
Running into the room, he froze when he saw that Seung Jae was sitting next to Sol's bed. He carefully adjusted the IV on her arm and smiled when she opened her eyes.
"Oh, my head" she moaned wearily, shifting her gaze to see a guy standing off to the side. "Joon Hwi-a".
"Seung Jae, could you leave us?" Joon Hwi asked calmly, even though it sounded like an order.
"You can always rely on me, at any time, just don't push yourself like you did today" Joon Hwi said softly when they were alone, timidly coming closer, sitting down next to each other, looking at his hands.
"Where's your smile?" Sol A asked sadly, as if that was all that mattered.
"Mm?" he didn't expect it, looking confused.
"I like your smile" Sol added a little more softly, sitting up, leaning back against the pillow, feeling herself blush.
"I like you" Joon Hwi immediately admitted, looking at her with a sinking heart. He said it, so quickly, so unexpectedly. "I had to say it... even if you like Seung Jae".
"What?" Sol choked, almost jumping out of bed, only swinging her legs down, her knees touching Joon Hwi's knees.
"I saw you..." he murmured, not quite so surely, breaking eye contact. He was so confident in his assumptions that he took them for the truth.
"You said you liked me?" Sol's breath caught in her throat, and her reaction was completely different, as if she hadn't heard the guy's last words.
"Yes" Joon Hwi said hoarsely, nervous, and not expecting Sol to jerk towards him, wrapping her arms around him as if he was the only salvation she needed.
"For so long" Sol complained, resting her head on Joon Hwi's shoulder as he picked her up."I didn't believe you liked me until the very end, until today, and then I didn't believe your words, but your eyes..."
"Wait, did you know?" Joon Hwi couldn't hide her surprise.
"Mm, yeah. Ye Seul kept saying it, but it was so unbelievable" the girl muttered, looking so cute.
"Sol, you're unbelievable" Joon Hwi chuckled, more from relief than from the girl's obvious lack of appreciation.
"But your smiles… They meant so much to me" Sol A said shyly, closing her eyes. Her fatigue faded into the background as she felt the warmth radiating from Joon Hwi, his care, his strong hands.
It was her confession. And Joon Hwi gently kissed her hair, smiling the way she loved, and only because it was her.
"Sol, what about Seung Jae?" Joon Hwi didn't know why he cared so much. Maybe it was because of him that he decided to confess, afraid of losing his bright sun.
"Oh, it doesn't really matter" Sol A mumbled indistinctly, moving from the guy's lap to the bed. "I don't think I've had enough rest".
There was a hint of deception in her words, and Joon Hwi had no trouble understanding it. He crossed his arms over his chest, squinting:
"Kang Sol, I would like to know why Seung Jae followed you?"
"Ye Seul asked him, she read some articles, that there is a small possibility that through jealousy you can see indifference or vice versa from the person you want to test" Sol rattled, blushing to the point of blushing.
"Really? And so I got caught?" Joon Hwi pressed a hand to his face, feeling like he was being led.
"Yeah" Sol laughed, seeing the smile on his face as she pulled the hospital blanket over her face. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand, squeezing "I'm in love with you, Han Joon Hwi.
Only his Sol A could admit her feelings while hiding under the covers. Its incredible Sol A.