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Chaewon would often notice different people sneaking into the storage room almost every day after school. Even sometimes during lunch break. Based on her observation, some of them will come out holding hands but most of the time, however, they will come out separately. After seeing a few schoolmates coming in and out for almost a month since the new term started, Chaewon concluded the storage room is the ultimate spot for students to confess their feelings to their special person.
“Class has been dismissed.”
It wasn’t supposed to be a daily routine; but Chaewon would somehow stay a little longer in class just so she could see how the outcome unfolds every day. Sitting near the windows had never been this entertaining for her honestly.
“So what’s your take for today’s confession?”
“Hmm... Usually I’d say it will fail…”
“…But not today?”
“But not today. I feel like things will go well.”
“Really? Thanks! I needed that!”
Chaewon didn’t even get to glance at her seatmate since the person had sprinted out of the classroom almost immediately. Soon she could see her friend continuing running on the field to the storage room, not forgetting to wave at Chaewon from afar before entering the small building.
“I see…” Chaewon heaved a smile. “Go get them, Hyunjin.”
Minutes passed after Hyunjin entered, another girl was seen to be walking towards the storage room. Chaewon immediately recognizes them as Son Hyejoo, the school’s beloved soccer captain. Based on her memory, Hyejoo visited the storage room countless times but always being the first one to walk out of there, meaning to say she rejects everyone who had ever confessed to her so far.
“Hyunjin... I wonder if I’m wrong…” Chaewon said under her breath as she waited for the girls to come out.
It certainly took them a while to come out but much to Chaewon’s surprise – and relief, both girls walked out from the storage room together with their hands glued. She exhaled the breath she didn’t realize she was holding and waved in return when Hyunjin was once again waving at her in excitement.
Ah. Chaewon was happy for her friend.
--
The next day came quickly for Chaewon. She decided to sleep earlier than her usual time the previous day. When she arrived at school, she noticed students in every classroom were looking out of the windows; the field was also scattered with a few people around. When she reached her classroom, she noticed Hyunjin was the only one who wasn't bothered with the commotion.
“What’s happening?” She asked her seatmate.
“I’ll get back to you once I’m done with Ms. Irene’s worksheet.” Said Hyunjin, Chaewon smiled in amusement. Of course, of course; Ms. Irene’s work will always be above everything else.
“It’s Shin Ryujin. I think she’s about to confess to someone out in the field.” One of their classmates filled them in with the situation. “Look at those chocolates and roses in her hands! Is it Valentine’s Day today?”
“It’s March.” Chaewon deadpanned.
“It’s Thursday.” Added Hyunjin.
“Wait, her?” Chaewon finally gets a visual of Ryujin at the centre of the field. She noticed Ryujin was facing the direction of her class. “She was just in the storage room last week though.”
“Really? She got confessed by someone?”
“No... She was confessing to–”
“Jeon Heejin!”
Ryujin had a big smile on her face once she spotted the girl she had been waiting for. When the said girl approached the window to check her out, she extended the gifts in her hands at the girl’s direction. “I believe I didn’t make myself clear before… Jeon Heejin! I really like you a lot, please go out with–”
“I’m sorry.” Heejin cut them off with a frown on her face. “Ryujin, I’ve told you before and I’ll say it again for one last time. I’m not interested in you.”
“But–”
“Give it up already. She said no.”
Everyone watches as Heejin’s senior friends come to confront Ryujin at the field. Soon the poor girl accepted her fate of being rejected and went to class with her head hung low. Everybody else dismissed themselves right away as classes were about to start for the day – it was as if everyone had gotten used to witnessing things like these now.
“Is Ryu done clowning herself in front of everyone?” Hyunjin asked when she realized everyone was no longer looking out the windows.
“Yeah. Your sister stole her chocolates and gave it to Jinsoul.” Chaewon did some stretches in her seat.
“Of course Sooyoung would do that.” Hyunjin laughed.
--
After giving a quick thank you text to her friends in the group chat, Heejin put her phone down and glanced behind to check on something… or someone to be more specific; – her heart rate fastened upon landing her eyes on a certain person at the further back seat.
Oh how she wished they were more than just classmates.
…They weren’t even friends to begin with.
Heejin herself finds it amusing how she is friends with Jinsoul but not their beloved sister. For unknown reasons; even when they are in the same class, hanging out with almost the same friends, they just never really... talk.
Maybe it’s time that Heejin should do something about it.
“Heejin?”
The bubble thoughts disappeared as soon as Heejin turns to Yeji, her seatmate who was looking at her with a worried expression.
“Are you okay? Do you want me to fight Ryujin after class for being stubborn?”
Heejin laughed. She knows Ryujin and Yeji are in the same group circle; that was probably how Ryujin got to know about her as Yeji sometimes bring Heejin to hang out with them. However Yeji never leave Heejin’s side whenever Ryujin was around. The girl was too smitten with Heejin that sometimes they would go overboard on trying to show their love for her.
“Maybe just give her an ear pull?”
“Got it. She will lose an ear by the end of the day.”
“No, that’s not what I–”
--
“Chae! Meet my girlfriend!” Hyunjin had returned to the classroom after leaving for a few minutes during recess time. With her was the girl from yesterday; Son Hyejoo. Their hands were entwined and Chaewon realized Hyejoo was feeling shy when Hyunjin mentioned the word ‘girlfriend’. The younger girl felt herself flushed even more when Hyunjin proceeded to give the back of her hand a little peck.
“Hi. I’m Hyejoo.”
“Hi Hyejoo. I’m–”
“Chaewon!” A fourth party interrupted the girls. It was revealed to be Yeji, someone they never actually talk to besides a group discussion during class. “Can I have a word with you? Just a little while!”
“Oh, uh, okay.” Chaewon excused herself from the new couple and followed Yeji out of their classroom. When they stepped outside at the corridor, Yeji immediately leaned closer to Chaewon who didn’t have time to react to their action.
“Heejin is a coward to do this by herself so she asked me to tell you to meet up with her at the back of the storage room right now.” Whispered Yeji.
“At the back?” Yeji nodded. “Not inside?” Yeji shook her head.
Chaewon was so confused by that. “Why?”
“You’ll know if you go there now.” Yeji laughed. “Lunch break is about to end so go now! Don’t make my best friend wait!”
“Okay–”
--
Heejin was facing the tree when Chaewon arrived at the back of the storage room. Chaewon could hear the girl was muttering something but she couldn’t make out the words. She noticed Heejin didn't realize her presence so she walked up to them, gave them a small tap on the shoulder and beamed an amused smile when Heejin turned around in shock.
“Hi?”
“Hi! You look so pretty today!” Heejin blurted out of nowhere. Chaewon was taken aback by that but she managed to control her expression while Heejin was silently cussing herself. “I mean, hah, Hi Chaewon.”
“Hi Heejin. What’s up?” Chaewon smiled. “And uh, why are we talking here instead of the classroom?”
“Because I don’t want anyone to listen to our conversation.” Heejin said, fidgeting with her fingers nervously. “Hey… Listen, um, I know we don’t talk much but I have been feeling this way for quite a while now and–”
“Wait.” Chaewon’s eyes widened just as she pressed Heejin’s lips with her finger. “Are you… confessing?” Heejin was dumbfounded but she nodded in response. “Oh my God. Okay…” Chaewon retrieved her hand. “Right. Continue.”
“Okay. Um…” Heejin’s cheeks were terribly flushed in red now. “I… I wanted to tell you while I still have the guts to do so right now so! Ahem. So… P–Park Chaewon, I… I like you! Would you… Would you go out with me?”
Wow. Chaewon thought she would never get a confession out of anyone in this school. Although it was not inside the storage room, this was still something Chaewon find it hard to believe that she would experience this herself. And to make it more eventful, she had just received a confession from ‘the’ Jeon Heejin! One of the most admirable student in their school. Chaewon would be lying to herself if she doesn’t feel proud because of that.
“I’m, uh, honoured? To be liked by the Jeon Heejin…” Chaewon blushed.
“Wha–Why would you say my name like that?” Heejin nervously laughed.
“Because you’re pretty and waaay out of my league? Yup. That’s the reason.” Chaewon replied but she quickly flashed a smile when Heejin looked at her with their brows raised. “But um, yeah... I’ll go out with you.”
Heejin’s eyes widened. “R–Really?!”
“Yeah? Yeah.” Chaewon chortled. “But good luck trying to make me your girlfriend though.”
“Well… You have already agreed to go out with me so technically…” Heejin had a huge smile on her face when Chaewon broke into laughter. That was the cutest laugh she had ever heard from anyone. “You are already my girlfriend... right?”
They heard the school bell rang just as Chaewon offered a hand for Heejin. “Right.” When Heejin took her hand and led the way back to their classroom, Chaewon couldn’t help but to wonder something. “Why didn’t you ask me to meet you inside the storage room like others?”
“Because,” Heejin paused to entwine their fingers, maybe Chaewon’s heart flutter a little by the action. “I wanted my confession to be a little different? Yeah that’s it. Like the storage room isn’t the only place we could express ourselves you know… Also that room reeks of sweats.”
Chaewon laughed at the final reason. “Points were made.”
Heejin never thought it would be this easy to express her feelings. However she knows she would have to work extra hard to show them if she wants Chaewon to feel the same for her… Maybe she should start right away!
“Hey… Can I take you out on an ice cream date after school?”
“Oh? That would be nice.”
Assa! Confessed to her crush? Check! Make said crush as her official girlfriend? Well… That’s pending for now.