Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chae Songhwa bursts through the front door, a piece of toast hanging in between her lips as she scrambles to slip on her shoes. Her school bag nearly slips down from her shoulder when she bends down to retrieve her other pair, but Songhwa remains unfazed, muffled yelling of eomma! I’m heading to school! ringing in the air as she slams the door shut behind her.

“Chae Songhwa!”

She is halfway out of the gate when she hears her name, and Songhwa turns instantly to the direction of the voice. A bicycle comes to an abrupt stop right beside her; the rider thrusts a pale pink helmet into her hands without hesitation. “Hurry up, you slowpoke!” 

“Hehe,” Her face scrunches into an apologetic look as she fastens the helmet securely on her head before nearly throwing herself onto the mount behind. 

“Hold on tight!” He announces energetically, and takes off at the fastest speed he could manage. 

“Yah, Lee Ikjun!” Songhwa wraps her arms around his waist in reflex, “Can you go any faster?”

“Yah!” Ikjun shoots back promptly. “If I go any faster, you’ll fall!”

“But we’re going to be late!”

“And whose fault is that?”

“I did tell you not to wait for me anymore…”

“As if,” He states firmly, “We’ve been going to school together for nearly a decade, it’ll feel weird now if I don’t!”

Songhwa grins into his back, “Just admit that you’re way too accustomed to my presence.”

“Am not!”

“You totally are!”

“I’ll stop cycling if you keep insisting!”

“Ah, whatever! It’s fine even if I’m late for one day.”

“Aish, this girl.” Ikjun huffs, pedalling with all his might. “You’re head librarian! You’re supposed to be setting examples!”

“There’s no rule saying the head librarian shouldn’t be late!” Songhwa retorts into the wind. 

“Sometimes, I really wonder how you’re our school’s model student when you can’t even wake up on time!”

In a flash, Songhwa hits the back of his head. “Ow!” Ikjun yells out, ducking his head further from her reach — not as if it would have changed much. 

“The reason why I can’t wake up on time—” 

Ikjun interrupts her mindlessly. “—is because you stay up all night to study, yeah, I know, I know.”

“If you know then why did you even say that, you babo!” 

“It was a rhetorical question, you babo!” 

“Stop imitating me!”

“Stop irritating me!”

“You’re the one who is irritating!”

“No, you’re the one who is irritating!”

“Ugh, Lee Ikjun! Stop cycling and put me down!”

When Songhwa uttered that sentence, she did not expect Ikjun to suddenly brake. She nearly stumbles down from the bicycle, almost losing her balance had she not been holding his waist tightly. “Yah! What did you do that for!”

“You asked me to put you down!” Ikjun retorts, looking behind his shoulder with mirth in his eyes. “Aren’t you getting down?”

She stares at him in mock horror, jaw hanging in shock. But Songhwa regains her composure in a split second, huffing as she gets down from the bicycle. It is really more of her pride talking, but she begins to stalk off into the direction of their school. 

Ikjun rides past her in a flash, and she is left reeling with a string of curses in her mind. “Yah! Lee Ikjun!” She shouts, but all she hears is his laughter in the air as he disappears into the corner. 

She glances at her wristwatch then, and realises she only has 5 minutes before the school bell starts to ring. “Aish!” Songhwa groans, before taking off in her sneakers — she isn’t the best runner, nor does she have the best stamina, but Songhwa reckons she should be able to make it right on time.

I’m, so — her mind is stuttering as she runs — going, to, kill, Lee, Ik, Jun.

“Here,” 

Songhwa glances up from her book as Ikjun places a bottle of strawberry milk on her desk. He doesn’t wait for her reaction, already heading for his seat at the back. She doesn’t give that much of a reaction either, already used to him doing this for her, and Songhwa pokes the straw into the seal and brings it to her lips happily.

Jeongwon slides into the empty seat beside her. “Hey, hey, guess what?”

“What?” She asks in reflex as she continues reading her history textbook.

“I was at the teachers’ office to submit our math assignments,”

“Uh huh,” Songhwa nods, unfazed — Jeongwon, who is their class monitor, does that almost every morning before coming into class anyway. 

“And I overheard some of the teachers talking, and guess what!”

She repeats. “What?”

“The school festival!” His eyes gleam as the tone of his voice becomes a pitch more excited. “The principal just gave the greenlight to do it during spring!”

“Really?” Songhwa brightens up instantly, feeling the excitement bubbling within her as well. “That’s wonderful!”

“Yes,” Jeongwon bobs his head up and down before lowering his voice, “it’ll be a week before Ikjun’s huge football match.”

“Say, what do you think our class should do this year?” 

Jeongwon grins. “I was thinking we could set up some game stalls. Or maybe we could sell drinks. Or pastries. Oh! We could—”

“Yah,” Junwan turns in his seat, reaching out to tap his pen on Jeongwon’s forehead. “Why are we already discussing this four months in advance?”

“It’s never too early to plan.” Jeongwon retorts with a huff, rubbing his forehead. “Right, Songhwa-ya?”

“Yeah,” She agrees, throwing a smile into Junwan’s direction. “he’s right.”

“Aish, both of you.” Junwan grumbles, already turning back to face the front. “Whatever makes you happy, I guess.”

“We should do a band performance.” A new voice joins them; Yang Seokhyung, their other best friend says from behind Songhwa. She turns, together with Jeongwon, both of them flashing the widest grins. “I can play the piano, Junwan can play the guitar, Jeongwon can play the drums, Ikjun can sing—”

“No, I want to sing!” Songhwa protests, and a chorus of yeah we love you but no that’s not going to happen, Songhwa-ya, from her three best friends fill the air quickly. She grumbles, her voice drowned in their sea of protests. Ikjun snickers from his seat a few desks away, shaking his head.

“Ikjun didn’t spend five summers teaching you the bass for you not to show off your skills now, Songhwa-ya.” Junwan says lightly.

“Yes, imagine playing Met You By Chance for the audience? Yah,” Jeongwon’s eyes sparkle as he daydreams. “everyone will fall in love with you in an instant, Songhwa-ya.”

“Sheesh,” Songhwa shoves his shoulder to snap him out of his daydream. “thanks but no thanks.”

Before they could resume their conversation, their bell rings, and Jeongwon scrambles back into his seat. A minute after, their homeroom teacher walks in with a boy following behind her. Everyone’s attention perks up at once, and Miss Choi introduces the new transfer student — Koo Seunghyo, from Busan.

Songhwa rests her face in her hand, mildly disinterested as she twirls the pen in between her fingers. Still, she hears it; the suppressed squealing and murmurs of her female classmates, all of them seemingly smittened by the new transfer student.

“Songhwa haksaeng,” 

“Yes, Miss?” Songhwa sits up straighter at once, pushing her glasses up with her index finger. 

“Seunghyo haksaeng will be sitting beside you from today onwards.” Miss Choi tells her, waving for the new transfer student to settle himself at the empty desk beside Songhwa. “Trust that you will help him adapt to the new environment.”

“Oh.” Songhwa meets Seunghyo’s eyes, and he politely tips his head slightly at her. “Sure, Miss.”

Few tables away, Ikjun observes the exchange he’d witnessed as Seunghyo takes his seat beside Songhwa. She gives the new student a polite smile, and they exchange a handshake with each other. Ikjun shifts in his seat, but brushes aside the discomfort the second Miss Choi starts their lesson for the day.

An hour later though, as the class prepares to head for the biology lab, Ikjun is sure to insert himself between Songhwa and Seunghyo, introducing himself to him jovially before walking to the lab together. 

Songhwa continues eating her lunch quietly as everyone else around her seems completely enamoured by her best friend who is animatedly telling them a gossip. 

She shakes her head at Ikjun’s antics, and the few boys and girls around him. Songhwa can’t say she’s surprised anyway, given how she is used to Ikjun being the center of attention, being the inssa he is. He is a natural social butterfly, catching everyone’s attention near effortlessly and charming his way into the hearts of many poor female students who, much to her knowledge, never caught his attention anyway. 

“Wait, so you’re saying that if someone were to go to the Science Building at midnight on a Wednesday, they’ll be able to hear a woman crying?” One of the female students asks with a tilt of her head, and Songhwa glances from her tray to realise that it is Yook Hyejung from Class 3-B, one of the popular female students in Yulje High. 

“Exactly.” Ikjun snaps his fingers, throwing her a grin. “Do you know our senior who graduated last year? Heo Seyoon? He did just that in his last few days before graduation, and told me everything.”

Hyejung gasps. “He really saw the ghost?”

“Well, he only told me he heard a woman crying…”

“So he didn’t actually see the ghost, then.”

“Hyejung-sshi, if you heard a woman crying in the dark hour of midnight all alone in a building that is near a hundred year old, would you want to stay to find out the source of the sound?”

Hyejung laughs brightly, and Songhwa suddenly finds herself struggling to swallow the spoonful of rice in her mouth. 

“What are they talking about?” Junwan slides into the empty seat beside her, nudging his head into Ikjun’s direction.

“Ghosts.” Songhwa answers nonchalantly. “Where’s Seokhyung and Jeongwon?”

Junwan begins to eat, answering his best friend with his mouth full. “Still struggling with their experiment.”

“Eoteokke,” She shakes her head. “At this rate they’ll miss lunch.”

“Seokhyung doesn’t usually eat lunch these days, anyway. Says he’s on a diet.” 

“Oh?” She frowns. “Why the sudden decision?”

“Apparently, trying to impress the girl he likes.”

“He has someone he likes??”

“Eo,” Junwan stares straight at her. “You.”

Songhwa blushes furiously, recalling Seokhyung’s confession two years back which had ended with her rejecting him. “Y-yah, that’s old news...”

“I’m just kidding.” Junwan snickers, drinking water from his cup. “You know Jeongwon’s girlfriend, Gyeoul?”

“Uh huh.”

“It’s her best friend, Chu Minha from Class 1-A.” 

“What, really?”

“Yeah.” Junwan nods. “Minha confessed to Seokhyung a couple of weeks back, but he hasn’t accepted her confession...yet.”

“Why not?” Songhwa raises an eyebrow.

Junwan swallows his food before answering. “Says he’s not good enough for her.”

“That’s nonsense,” She shakes her head quickly. “Minha already confessed, so…”

“Ah, you know him.” Junwan replies. “I think he’s still trying to get over Shinhye. Like properly, so that Minha isn’t some rebound.”

“That makes sense…” 

“Anyway,” Junwan switches the topic. “where did the new kid go? I thought you were supposed to take care of him.”

“Ah, you mean Seunghyo? He told me he wanted to explore the school so he decided to skip recess today.”

“Alone?” He raises an eyebrow. “Weird guy.”

Songhwa frowns. “He’s actually quite alright.”

“Sure, whatever.” Junwan waves his hand dismissively. “Everyone’s alright to you.”

“That’s not true…”

“Name one person that’s weird to you.”

She opens her mouth to answer, but finds no name in her mind nor her tongue. She closes her mouth, cheeks burning. 

“See?” Junwan promptly says before diverting his attention back at their inssa best friend. “Does he ever get tired of talking, by the way?”

“Trust me,” Songhwa chuckles with another shake of her head. “I’ve been asking myself the same question for the last decade.”

Songhwa exits the library to find that it is pouring, and immediately, her face breaks into a smile. She stands at the edge of the entrance, closing her eyes to inhale the scent of rain — a sense of calmness and serenity building within her heart. When she peels her eyes open, it is to observe the crowd of students rushing past the building with their umbrellas, their sneakers splashing against muddied water on the ground. 

The smile does not go away, not until she spots a familiar figure exiting the building next door — it is Ikjun (she could recognise that backpack anywhere, to be honest) and he isn’t alone. Huddled underneath the same umbrella as him is a female student, and as Songhwa squints her eyes for a better look, realises that it is Yook Hyejung.

“Mwoya,” She mutters to herself, “does Ikjun like her or something?”

Come to think about it, she has been seeing Hyejung more frequently than ever lately. During recess, during their shared music lessons. Almost as if she is glued to Ikjun at every chance she could get, given how they are from different classes. It is an observation that has left a foreign feeling within Songhwa, one she does not know what to make of. 

She shakes the thoughts away, tearing her gaze elsewhere instead. So what if Ikjun has a crush? She should be happy for him, given how he’d never even had a girlfriend before. If he has finally found someone he likes, shouldn’t she be happy for him as his best friend?

Songhwa swallows that question bitterly, deciding not to dwell on something she has no clear answer to. Instead, she continues to observe the pitter-patter of the rain for a few more minutes before flinging her backpack to the front. She starts to rummage for her yellow pocket umbrella...

...that is clearly not in her bag.

Her forehead creases in mild annoyance as Songhwa continues to dig, pushing books and her pencil case away. It is an almost silly quest, knowing that there really is no umbrella in her bag. Did she forget to keep it back after she’d used it the other day?

Songhwa sighs in resolution, zipping her bag shut again. She turns around, hoping to find someone she could share an umbrella with, but sees that she is the only one left in this building — maybe she should just head back into the library and read her novel or something while waiting for the rain to subside.

She is about to do just that, when she hears someone calling her name loudly.

“Songhwa-ya!” 

She whirls back to the front, and her eyes widen in surprise as Ikjun rushes into the building, shutting his umbrella with a quick snap. He flashes her an almost teasing grin, “Let me guess, you forgot your umbrella... again .”

Songhwa flushes, crossing her arms haughtily. She doesn’t answer his question, though. “What are you still doing here? I thought you left with Hyejung?”

Immediately, Ikjun’s looks away sheepishly, suddenly flustered. “Uh, right. I met her as I was exiting our building and she said she didn’t have an umbrella, so I walked her to the nearby bus stop.”

Oh. So that was what happened. “But why did you come back, then? You could have just gone home.”

“Are you crazy?” Ikjun retorts with a raised eyebrow. “And leave you behind knowing you have forgotten your umbrella? What friend am I if I do that?”

They’re thoughtful words, but Songhwa narrows her eyes anyway, suspicious of his behaviour. “Stop lying.”

“Okay fine you caught me.” Ikjun wheezes, handing her his umbrella as he unzips his bag. “I just remembered I am two days overdue in returning this book to the library.”

“Aish, Lee Ikjun!” Songhwa grumbles at once, cheeks hot with embarrassment; as if Ikjun would really come back for her. “Can you be more responsible?”

“Sorry, ma’am head librarian.” He bows his head once. “Please forgive me. Will you help me process this book please? I don’t want Madam Jung to give me that judgemental look for returning another book late...”

Songhwa sighs, taking the book from his hand. “You’re hopeless. And give me 2,000 won for the late penalty.” 

Ikjun searches his pocket at that, pulling out two crumpled 1,000 won bills. “Hey, you’re head librarian, can’t you just help me alter the system or something so that I don’t have — ow! Arraseo, arraseo! Stop hitting me!”

Songhwa retracts the book from his arm, snatching the bills from his hand. She is already making her way back into the library, ignoring Ikjun’s I’ll wait for you here, thanks a bunch Songhwa-ya!!! 

Ikjun watches her leave, a small smile spreading across his face.

It’s Valentine’s Day and the school has never been so buzzed with excitement.

Female students rush here and there to deliver their chocolates to male students. Male students accept them with cool or shy thank yous, while some unlucky girls are met with rejection as their chocolates are returned to them.

Songhwa eyes the boxes of chocolates on Ikjun’s desk, mentally shaking her head. It’s a sight she is used to seeing, to be honest; Ikjun has always been one of the popular guys since junior high, after all. 

She shoves her carefully wrapped box of chocolate further into her bag, and feigns ignorance when Ikjun enters the classroom. 

Again, he stops by her desk first, dropping a sandwich onto her opened textbook wordlessly. This time though, he lingers for a few seconds longer, as if waiting for her to say something to him. Songhwa glances up with an arched eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” Ikjun’s reply comes quickly, and he starts to move away. 

“Thanks for the sandwich,” Songhwa exclaims over her shoulder, already unwrapping the plastic happily. 

Ikjun doesn’t respond to that, sinking into his seat without so much as to glance at the boxes of chocolates on his desk. Sighing, he swipes all of them into his bag without much thought, clearing his desk before slumping his head down to take a quick nap. 

Seunghyo arrives shortly after, and Songhwa is unsurprised to see him with three boxes of chocolates in his hands. Well, he is quite good looking, after all. 

What surprised her is Seunghyo asking her, “do you want these? I don’t eat chocolates, actually.”

Songhwa nearly chokes on her sandwich, erupting into a coughing fit as she gulps down water from her bottle. 

“Sorry,” Seunghyo looks startled, but says nothing else. 

“Seunghyo-sshi, thanks, but,” When she’d finally calmed down, Songhwa leans in to whisper, “you can’t just go around giving another girl chocolates given to you from other girls. What would people think?”

“Right.” Seunghyo chuckles. “You’re right.”

“Did you not receive chocolates back in Busan?” She inquires with curiosity.

“Not really.” He frowns. “I was surprised to receive three this morning, to be honest.”

“Seoul girls are viscous.” Songhwa says in another low whisper. “But don’t tell them I said that.”

Seunghyo grins, and places his chocolates underneath his desk. “How about you? Given any chocolates to anyone yet?”

She shrugs. “I usually make a few for my best friends.”

“Those do not count.” 

“Why not?”

“Because they’re for your best friends, not for the intended cause of this day.”

“Not if I don’t have anyone I like.”

“Really?”

Songhwa nods nonchalantly. “I’ve got no time for silly, immature boys.”

Seunghyo seems to be amused at that, for he laughs and earns himself half a glare from Songhwa. “I think you just haven’t found someone yet. Because once you like someone...you’ll give all the time in the world to them.”

“Spoken from experience, I assume?”

He smiles. “Maybe.”

Before Songhwa could interrogate further, the bell rings.

Their last lesson for the day is music class with 3-B. Which to Songhwa’s opinion, is just another hour for female students to ogle at her best friend’s musical prowess with the acoustic guitar. Most of the students who are enamoured by him are students from Class 3-B, which isn’t a surprise given how girls in 3-A are already well aware of Ikjun’s guitar playing abilities. 

She just wonders why he’d decided to show off in his vocal skill set that day as well. Junwan rolls his eyes and turns away the second Ikjun starts singing, while Seokhyung continues playing the keyboard in the corner of the classroom, quietly and unnoticed by anyone. Most of the attention is on Ikjun in the center, anyway. 

For you, only for you,

I might not be able to give you the whole world but I will promise only to you,

I will be a person who is only for you —  

Songhwa pauses in her attempt to answer the question in her theory textbook, partially also enamoured at Ikjun, though she would never admit that aloud. His ability to play the guitar and his singing voice have always been fascinating for her, something she’d silently marveled to herself in recent years whenever Ikjun played and sang for her and the rest of the boys in Seokhyung’s basement. 

Is only for you, just wanna be for you,

You just need to stay by my side just as you are right now —  

Songhwa questions the choice of his song, half snickering at the way most of the female students are looking at Ikjun — as if they had fallen in love with him. She shakes her head, making a mental note to tease him later. A love song, seriously? 

Still. She darts another secret glance into his direction. It is one of her favourite songs. 

Songhwa refuses to let her thoughts go astray, especially to uncharted territory of what Ikjun could imply by singing her favourite song. She turns back to her book the second he finishes strumming the guitar, and hears the claps resounding in the room. 

Songhwa maintains eye contact on her music textbook, missing the way Ikjun had glanced at her in hope to see her reaction.

But Ikjun doesn’t even get the chance to wallow in his disappointment of Songhwa not even looking at his direction, for he is interrupted by Hyejung as she requests for him to play another song.

Luckily for him, their music teacher arrives a few seconds after, and everyone disperse to their respective seats, with Hyejung taking the empty seat beside Ikjun. He doesn’t mind, but his eyes linger towards Songhwa a few seats away, wondering what she is thinking, wondering if she’d even paid any attention to him earlier. 

The walk home an hour later is quiet.

Songhwa seems to be deep in her thoughts, and Ikjun holds no reason to interrupt her in whatever she is thinking. They walk side by side in silence, and at one point, Ikjun places his hands on her shoulders just to move her into the inner part of the road, not offering much explanation to his gesture.

“So how many chocolates did you receive this year?” Songhwa breaks the silence in the air casually, hands clutching the straps of her backpack. 

Ikjun frowns. “I don’t know, I didn’t count.”

“A lot, then.” She says with a chuckle. “As expected from the ever so popular football captain.”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you were teasing me.” Ikjun raises an eyebrow.

“Hey, I have a famous friend.” She shrugs. “I’m proud, if anything.”

Ikjun says. “The chocolates don’t really matter to me, though.” 

“Why not?” Songhwa seems aghast to hear that. “I thought you like them.”

“Cavities.” Ikjun grimaces, and Songhwa laughs.

“You sound like an adult.” She tells him. 

“It’s never too early to start taking care of your teeth.”

“Says the boy who used to eat three lollipops a day.”

“Yah, like every other kid would when they are seven.”

“I beg to differ.”

“That’s because your parents are strict!”

“Whatever, Lee Ikjun.”

Ikjun casts a sideway glance at his best friend, sees the smile on her face. A sight he would never be tired of seeing. It leaves him with a smile on his own too, and Ikjun relishes in the fact that he still gets to witness this from her every afternoon as they cycle or walk back home from school.

“Do you remember when we were in elementary school?” Songhwa suddenly asks.

“Hmm? Is there any specific memory you are thinking about?”

“This one,” She says, and points at the stream below them. Her eyes seem to sparkle in clear recollection of a faraway memory, and Ikjun understands it at once. 

“The one where you jumped into and tried to get me to jump as well.” He states as a matter-of-fact, and Songhwa nods. 

“You were such a scaredy cat back then!” She giggles. “The water had been shallow but you refused to even step in.”

“Until you pushed me into it.” It is Ikjun’s turn to narrow his eyes. “My mum scolded me for coming home all wet—”

“Let’s do it again.” 

“What?”

But Songhwa is no longer listening, running ahead to cross the bridge before making a sharp turn down the stone steps leading to the stream of the river. Ikjun runs after her, watching how she’d dumped her bag to the side, removing her socks and shoes. “Are you crazy?! It’s still winter!”

“Has that ever stopped me?” Songhwa remarks with a gleam in her eyes, “Come on, we’re practically adults now. The water would only go up to our knees at this point.”

Ikjun relents in defeat; he could never win over her anyway. He follows suit, placing his bag down. Songhwa has already dipped her feet into the freezing water, letting out a yelp and the loudest laughter ever. “Hurry!”

He sucks in a deep breath and dips one foot into the water as well, nearly retracting it the second it comes into contact with the water. “You’re crazy, Chae Songhwa.”

Songhwa turns abruptly — and maybe she shouldn’t have done that, because her foot slips underneath the water, and she starts to lose her balance. 

Ikjun’s fast reflex catches her hand before she could tumble into the water, pulling her close into his chest. Another arm winds around her waist, keeping her steady as they pause in that position for a few solid seconds. He wonders if she could hear the roar of his heartbeat.

Flustered, Songhwa clears her throat, and Ikjun releases the grip on her wrist at once. She steps out of the water after that, only just realising that it truly is freezing cold and that she is already shivering from that few second of contact with the water.  

“Let’s come back during summer.” She jokes, and Ikjun indulges in her with a simple smile. Songhwa pretends as though her heart isn’t still beating vigorously from the sudden close contact with Ikjun seconds ago.

When they reach home ten minutes after, Songhwa pauses at her gate to rummage through her bag. “Wait,” 

Ikjun turns around, waiting for her with a raised eyebrow until she speaks again.

“You’re probably tired of receiving chocolates, cavities and whatnot but here,” Songhwa thrusts the box of chocolate into his chest coolly, an array of words following that action. She seems to be blushing when she continues, “Don’t misunderstand, I made chocolates for the rest of the boys too.”

“Eo, thanks.” Ikjun grips the box, examining it closely to see the pretty pink ribbon wrapped around the white box. If his memory is right, he’d seen the chocolates Songhwa did for their three other best friends; theirs were kept in a white box too, but there weren’t any ribbons wrapped around them. Ikjun doesn’t point that out though, secretly pleased at his preferential treatment from the rest of the boys.

Songhwa disappears into her home after that without saying anything else.

Ikjun merely grins, holding the box of chocolate close to his chest.

“Ikjun-sshi!” 

He turned, and saw Hyejung rushing towards his direction, leaving two other male students holding their umbrellas forlornly. “Do you have an umbrella?” She asked, and without waiting for Ikjun to answer, continued, “Can I share with you if you do?”

“Uh,” Ikjun hesitated, subconsciously hugging his bag tighter against his chest. “I do but I…”

“Great!” Hyejung said brightly, taking a step closer into his proximity. “I forgot my umbrella today, can you imagine walking under the rain? It’d be awful!”

Ikjun didn’t say anything, merely unzipping his bag to retrieve his pocket umbrella. A mind lingered in his thought though, of wanting to tell Hyejung that he wasn’t actually planning on leaving just yet. 

And that he was actually waiting for someone to walk home with. 

But Hyejung didn’t seem to notice his hesitation, already pushing him gently towards the building entrance. “Luckily I bumped into you! You’re such a life saviour, Ikjun-sshi.”

“This is...nothing.” Ikjun said rather flatly, but offered her a polite smile anyway. He opened his umbrella, and in an instant, Hyejung huddled closer into his side. He didn’t react, not really knowing how. Instead, he began to walk.

That thought still lingered in his mind though. 

“Ikjun-sshi?” 

“Huh?” 

“Did you hear what I said?”

“Uhm,” He flushed in embarrassment — what was Hyejung even talking to him just now? He felt a little guilty, since he wasn’t even paying attention to her.

“I said, aren’t you having football practice today?” 

“Oh.” Ikjun relaxed. “It was cancelled. Our coach has some family matters to attend.”

“That’s a shame.” Hyejung pouted. “I wanted to see you practice.”

“It’s...boring, though.” He said. “And hot…”

Hyejung giggled. “Well, if it’s you playing on the field, I would hardly call it boring.”

Ikjun didn’t know what to make of that — it was a flattering compliment, but a rather unsettling one, so he kept quiet instead. 

After a short stretch of silence, Ikjun cleared his throat. “Hey, Hyejung-sshi. Is it alright if I drop you off at that bus stop?”

Hyejung was taken aback, but recomposed herself quickly. “Uh, sure. Do you need to go somewhere?”

“I just realised I left something in school. So I’m going to head back.” Ikjun said quickly, and after making sure that Hyejung was safely shielded under the bus stop, took a step back. “Sorry, I’ll catch you some other time?”

“Alright.” She couldn’t hide the disappointment on her face, but Hyejung didn’t think Ikjun even noticed it, considering how he was already jogging back into the school gate.

He was dashing across the school compound, hand gripping around the handle tightly. Ikjun muttered a quick prayer of wishful thinking, of hoping that he would still be able to catch her. He turned into the corner of the building, heading straight for the library —

His smile widened.

“Songhwa-ya!”

Chapter Text

Songhwa peers at one particular book at the top most shelf for three solid seconds, hands cocked on her hips. She looks around her, trying to find the usual stool librarians would use when arranging books at the top shelves, but found none near her vicinity. 

She heaves a soft sigh eventually, edging nearer to the shelf and then tiptoeing before stretching her hand upwards. Her fingertips barely grace the spine of the textbook, and she groans before attempting to stretch her hand further — as if there would be any difference. 

But Songhwa is surprised when someone reaches towards the same book from behind her easily, grabbing it and pulling it out from the shelf. She whirls around, and comes face to face with Ikjun. 

For a second, she forgets how to breathe.

Then, he smirks. “You know, sometimes I wonder how a shortie like you could end up being head librarian.”

Songhwa narrows her eyes at him instantly, jabbing a finger into his chest before snatching the book from his hands. “You’re not any taller, just so you know.”

“Ouch, that kinda hurts.” He chuckles, and follows her out from the aisle quietly.

Songhwa feels the heat on her cheeks nonetheless, and as she goes behind the counter to key in the data for that book, she grumbles to herself, “It’s only romantic in dramas,”

Ikjun props his elbow against the counter, edging closer to whisper, “What is?”

“Nothing.” Songhwa says hurriedly. “Go away, you’re disturbing me. Don’t you have anything better to do?”

He pretends to sulk at her sudden cold treatment. “Of course I do!” Ikjun huffs haughtily. “I came here to study, you know?”

Songhwa simply reacts by waving one hand into his direction, as if dismissing his excuse and presence. Ikjun edges away then, heading for the rows of tables by the windows. There are many seats that are vacant, but Ikjun chooses one that has a specific, clear view of the counter by the entrance. As he settles himself into the seat and takes out his textbooks, Ikjun glances up and smiles -- this is his favourite seat in the library for a reason, so that whenever studying gets too tiring or boring for him, he could just look up and focus his attention elsewhere; or rather, someone that is far more interesting than the block of text in his book. 

It’s honestly just a feeling of comfort and familiarity, of being around Songhwa’s presence. But Ikjun finds that he studies better that way; maybe it is because he’d grown up having study sessions with her at their respective homes, the feeling too accustomed for him to ever forget. 

Ikjun manages to read two chapters of his chemistry textbook before he falls into eventual dreamland, laying his face in between pages of the book. Songhwa comes over a moment after, having just finished her shift, and decides to sit opposite him. She is unsurprised he’d fallen asleep, and she resorts to just staring at his sleeping feature with a small smile gracing her face. 

It takes her a few more seconds to notice the sunlight streaming in from the window and hitting his face. The scrunch of his eyebrows as he buries his face further into his arms is enough indication that Ikjun is slightly bothered by the sunlight.

Without a word, Songhwa gets up and takes a few steps towards the window, lightly pulling the curtain to the center and effectively shielding Ikjun from the stream of sunlight. 

Then, she decides to study opposite him quietly.

“Gwanghyeon, pass the ball to Ikjun!”

Ikjun receives the ball from his teammate, drabbling it with ease before shooting the ball straight into the goal. Their coach blows the whistle and rounds the players for a review of their football training before calling it a day. 

As some players exchange high fives and reach for their towels strewn on the benches, Gwanghyeon taps Ikjun’s shoulder, a wide grin on his face. “Good job today, Ikjun-ah.”

“You too,” Ikjun returns the compliment just as his teammate gestures over his shoulder with his thumb. 

“Songhwa’s here, did you realise?” 

Ikjun looks behind Gwanghyeon in an instant, and even with the distance, he could tell at once that the girl sitting alone on the bleacher is Songhwa. There are a group of other female students nearby too, a few of them waving at his direction, hoping to catch his attention ㅡ but Ikjun's eyes are trained only on one person. A grin makes its way across Ikjun’s face, but it falters just a little at the way Gwanghyeon is looking at him. “What?”

He wolf-whistles, nudging Ikjun’s ribs playfully. “Songhwa always waits for you, doesn’t she?”

Ikjun raises an eyebrow just as Gwanghyeon continues. “Why would she do that if she doesn’t like you?”

“Yah,” Ikjun sputters, heat rising in his cheeks. “she’s just my best friend. We don’t have that sort of relationship together.”

“Suuure,” Gwanghyeon says in a sing-song voice before walking away. Ikjun doesn’t even bother trying to convince his teammate; it’s a rumor he is used to hearing after all. And honestly, Ikjun thinks to himself as his eyes found Songhwa across the field again, who would blame them for thinking of such a rumor between them? It is common knowledge among the team that his best friend would always show up in almost all of his football practices and tournaments. Always cheering him, always giving him support from the bleachers. She’d supported him since the first day he made the team, never questioning his abilities, always believing he would one day become the captain of the football team of Yulje High.

Ikjun wonders if she still remembers. He wonders if Songhwa realises that the reason why he’d even started playing football in the first place was due to that simple remark she’d made in passing. Ikjun shakes his memory away, and jogs towards the locker room.

In the locker room, as he is changing out of his jersey, he overhears two of his teammates talking about Songhwa, their backs against him.

“She’s here again, did you realise?” One of them says. “Chae Songhwa.”

“She’s best friends with Ikjun, right?”

“Yeah, they’re childhood friends or something.”

“That explains as much.” Ikjun recognises the voice as belonging to their goalkeeper, Song Minjun.

“What do you mean?”

“She clings onto him like a puppy.” 

Ikjun’s heart starts to thunder beneath him, but he stays put.

“Like what is up with her studying on the bleacher while waiting for him?” Minjun teases. “She’s such a nerd.”

His hands grip into tight fists. 

“But I guess I have to admit that she’s kinda cute.”

“Heol, is she your type?” 

“Yeah, the type who's innocent and gullible.”

Ignore them, Lee Ikjun, ignore them—

His friend replies with a snicker. “You should ask her out or something. I think she’ll fall for you on a whim.”

“Right? She does seem to be someone like that. Generally submissive and would listen to everything I say. It’d be fun to—”

Minjun never finished his sentence, because Ikjun delivers a punch straight into his face, blood boiling in his ears. Minjun crashes into the locker behind him, and all hell breaks fury as he leaps up to lunge at Ikjun. “You crazy bastard!” 

Ikjun receives a blow in his left cheek too, but stands firmly on the ground as he shakes the pain away. He steels his gaze on Minjun, with his friend holding him back. “Take back what you said about Songhwa.”

“Or what?” The player wipes the blood on his lips away with the back of his hand, sneering at Ikjun. “You’ll tell the coach?”

Ikjun grabs Minjun’s collar, feeling his other teammates trying to restrain him. “I’m warning you, if I catch you saying such things about Songhwa again...”

“You’re crazy.” Minjun sneers, taunting him further. “She isn’t even your girlfriend, why do you care so much? Seolma… ”

The grip on his collar tightens, as if daring him to continue. Minjun smirks, clearly unfazed by his strength. “Are you sleeping with her?”

The next few seconds went by in utter chaos and frenzy as Ikjun sees nothing but red. He shoves Minjun harshly into the lockers behind him, his fist colliding with his stomach before Minjun retaliates by tackling him onto the ground. They wrestle for a couple more seconds, with the other players frantically trying to pull them apart.

The shrill sound of a whistle pierces the air after that, followed by an angry shout from the coach. “Yah! Yah! What is going on? Stop right now!”

Reluctantly, Ikjun draws his hands back, and the other players drag him to his feet and away from Minjun, who’d cursed into the air loudly.

“Lee Ikjun, Song Minjun! In my office, NOW.”

Songhwa frowns, glancing at her wristwatch for the umpteenth time before looking at the entrance to the locker room. It has been twenty minutes since Ikjun is supposed to leave, and she wonders if something had happened to him; if it isn’t because the locker room isn’t proper for a female student to visit, she would have gone in to check if everything is alright.

“Oh?” She exclaims to herself the second she sees the familiar figure exiting the room, head hung low. Songhwa nearly leaps up from the bleacher, taking hurried steps down and rushing across the field to meet him halfway. “Ikjun! What took you so long?”

Her frown deepens as Ikjun somehow refuses to look at her, his eyes trained on the ground. She bends her head down to get a proper look, trying to meet his eyes - and that is when she lets out the loudest gasp. “Yah! What happened to your face?”

Ikjun sighs, relenting by finally looking at his best friend. Songhwa takes in the sight in front of her, worry filling her heart as she takes a step closer to examine his slightly swollen cheeks, cut lips - Songhwa is sure there’s going to be bruising the next day and she quickly takes his hand in hers. “Your mom will freak out if she sees you like this.” She chides him gently. “Let’s go home to my place first, and I’ll treat your wounds.”

Ikjun doesn’t protest, allowing her to drag him as Songhwa continues to mumble mostly to herself; boys will be boys. Out of respect for him though, she doesn’t inquire further into the details of the fight that transpired, knowing that when Ikjun is ready to tell her, he would.

Half an hour later, Ikjun finds himself perched on her bed as Songhwa calmly tends to his wound. He closes his eyes, jaw clenching tightly when he so much as remembers what Minjun had said about his best friend. 

“Are you okay?” Songhwa asks, retracting the cotton swab on her hand as she waits for Ikjun to open his eyes. He’d been quiet throughout their journey home, and Songhwa would be lying if she said she wasn’t worried over him.

He finally opens his eyes, meeting hers easily. “I’m fine.”

She turns his head to the side, fingertips on his skin lightly. “This is going to bruise tomorrow…” 

Ikjun could feel his heart skip a beat at the extremely close proximity between them, and he casts his gaze elsewhere, swallowing the lump in his throat. “Ikjun-ah, you’re not normally one to resort to violence…”

She bit her lower lip, waiting for him to reply. He does, several seconds after. “It was necessary.”

Songhwa gives him a mildly disapproving look, but still doesn’t prod further. She trusts him, trusts that he fought for a reason. “Okay.” is all she simply says in the end, and returns to her first aid kit to search for a band aid.

Ikjun doesn’t even realise he is holding his breath when Songhwa applies the band aid carefully on the cut at his cheek. When she draws her hands back, that is when she realises how close they are, so close that if she just leans in, their lips would touch.

Songhwa blinks at that sudden incomprehensible thought that flitted across her mind. She leans back, shifting in her position to create more distance between them. Silence filled the room after that as Songhwa quietly packs her first aid kit, until Ikjun breaks it with a quiet admittance. 

“I got into a fight with Song Minjun.” 

She acknowledges that with a hum, her expression non-judgemental. 

“He said some disrespectful things and I...I couldn’t let it slide.”

“What sort of disrespectful things?”

Ikjun shakes his head, gritting his teeth. “Just, some things.”

Despite the curiosity, Songhwa merely nods. 

“I did it to protect someone precious to me.” He whispers, eyes meeting hers again. 

Songhwa doesn’t ask who. 

“I would never resort to violence unless it is necessary.” Ikjun clarifies firmly.

“Okay, Ikjun-ah. I believe you.” She gives him a small smile. Whatever that transpired must have irked her best friend so much, because she could still see the lingering frustration in his eyes. She gets up from her bed to put away her first aid kit, saying nothing else. “You’re staying for dinner, right? My mum is already cooking your portion.”

“Eo.”

Ikjun continues to watch her back as she tidies her room a little bit more, the ache in his heart seems to grow at each passing second. If only he could just tell her how he truly feels for her.

“Songhwa-ya,”

“Hmm?” She glances behind her shoulder to look at him. 

“We’ve been best friends for a decade, right?”

Songhwa does a mental calculation and nods. “Eo, time flies, doesn’t it?” She grins. “Why, are you tired of me already?”

“Pfft,” Ikjun shakes his head. “As if that will ever happen.”

“Really?” She turns her entire body towards him. “Don’t say this and then regret it twenty years down the road…”

“You think we’d still be best friends twenty years later?” He teases, to which Songhwa huffs, cocking her hands on her hips. “What are you talking about? We will be best friends forever, Ikjun-ah.”

Ikjun pauses, his smile faltering slightly. “Best friends, huh?”

“Yup,” Songhwa says brightly, bobbing her head up and down enthusiastically. “Always.”

He swallows his secret, and continues to seal it away in the deepest part of his heart.

Songhwa stood near the fence separating her and the field, completely transfixed at the football match ongoing in front of her eyes. There were lots of cheering and shouting coming from the bleachers filled with high school students, and Songhwa found herself mesmerised by the sight in front of her.

Ikjun found it difficult to understand at first; since when was Songhwa even interested in sports, let alone a football match between two high schools?

It took him a few more seconds to realise that it wasn’t the game in particular that she was interested in, but rather, the players on the field - mostly boys from senior high. Of course, if Ikjun didn’t know Songhwa any better, he would have teased her endlessly for crushing on high school football players. Instead, he held back to ask her a harmless question.

“Heol, don’t tell me you’re attracted to athletes, too.”

Songhwa didn’t bother even glancing at Ikjun when she replied, “Hey, I’m just like every other girl you know. Of course I’m attracted.” She was partially swooning, much to Ikjun’s amusement. “They’re all good looking and they play so well.”

“Tsk.” Ikjun scoffed, crossing his arms together. 

“Look, look!” Songhwa continued, excitedly slapping his arm to get his attention. “That’s the star player Kim Seunghoon! Did you see that? Did you see how he kicked the ball right into the goal?”

Ikjun casted his gaze in between the field and the bubbly girl beside him, jumping excitedly and clapping her hands together. “He’s so cool!!!”

“You really like football players that much?”

“What’s not there to like?” Songhwa squealed. “They look really handsome in their uniforms, don’t you think so?”

It was probably the innocence of a middle school student, the slight envy building within him as Ikjun committed into memory, the look of admiration on Songhwa’s face. But from that day onwards, a calm resolution made its way to Ikjun’s mind. Suddenly determined, Ikjun decided he would start to play football too.

Chapter Text

Songhwa blinks, and it is suddenly White Day. Oh, how time flies. 

She still remembers how the school had been during Valentine’s Day; the rush of female students in corridors and hallways, passing chocolates shyly to their crushes. Today, the tides have turned and it is the other way round - the boys are supposed to be the one to return the favour, and give chocolates to the girls who had given them chocolates during Valentine’s.

Junwan drops two bars of kit-kat on Songhwa’s desk right then, and she lifts them up with a look of disbelief. “Kit-kat? You can’t be serious.”

“Have a break, have a kit-kat.” Her best friend jokes, and Songhwa almost reaches out to smack him in his head. “I spent hours making chocolates for all of you from scratch and this is how you repay me?”

“But I never asked you to make chocolates for me,” Junwan retorts.

“Fine,” She snipes back, “no more chocolates for you from now on, then.”

His face falls. “But Songhwa-ya--”

She ignores him, and it is easy for her to do that because Jeongwon enters the classroom with the brightest smile on his face as he makes a beeline straight for Songhwa’s desk. “Good morning my favourite female best friend!”

“You only have one female best friend.” Songhwa deadpans, but Jeongwon ignores her as he retrieves a carefully, neatly wrapped chocolate bar from his backpack. He sticks two hands out, bending his knees and head dramatically just as Songhwa giggles over his childish antics. “Thank you, Jeongwon-ah.”

“You’re always welcome,” He says proudly before straightening his back. His eyes land on the two bars of forgotten kit-kat on Songhwa’s desk, immediately scrunching his face into a judging look. “Please do not tell me those are from Mr. Grumpy here.”

“Yah,” Junwan turns in his seat. “What’s wrong with kit-kats?”

“Nothing’s wrong with kit-kats.” Jeongwon crosses his arms. “It’s your lack of effort that is wrong.”

“Ugh, fine.”

Grumbling, Junwan stretches his arm towards Songhwa’s desk, snatching back one of his kit-kats in a flash. “Yah!” Songhwa immediately lurches towards him, wanting to take back her chocolate - but he’d wiggled out of her reach. “You can’t do that!”

Ignoring her, Junwan tears the wrapper apart in vengeance, finishing the chocolate in two bites. Songhwa could only roll her eyes at him.

“It’s okay, Songhwa-ya. You still have mine. And Seokhyung’s. Probably Ikjun’s, too.” Jeongwon says quickly to cheer his best friend up, nudging his chocolate towards her. “I actually made this using a recipe I found in a magazine. Gyeoul said it’s pretty good, so give it a try later and tell me if you like it!”

“Aw,” Songhwa couldn’t help but grin automatically, catching only one small part of his sentence. “You gave Gyeoul chocolates already? Did she like them? I’m sure she did, right?”

Jeongwon gives her a bashful smile, rubbing the nape of his neck sheepishly. It widens her grin even further, knowing the length of his feelings for their junior; before Gyeoul, Jeongwon had never once considered even dating anyone. No one seemed to ever catch his attention, not until Gyeoul came along like a welcomed autumn breeze and Jeongwon ended up tutoring her two years ago.  

“She did.” is all Jeongwon divulges just as Seokhyung stops beside him. 

“Songhwa-ya, Happy White Day.” He says with a small smile, and politely passes a small box of chocolates to her.

“Eo, thank you, Seokhyung-ah.” Songhwa accepts it gratuitously with a smile, and Seokhyung returns to his seat quietly. She couldn’t help but to wonder if her friend gave any chocolates to Chu Minha, the girl who’d given Seokhyung chocolates during Valentine’s.

Songhwa doesn’t dwell in that thought for long, because Seunghyo arrives and slides into his seat quietly. She is about to ask him if he’d given chocolates to anyone when Seunghyo places a box of chocolates on her desk. Her jaw drops slightly when he tells her cooly, “for you.”

“W-what?” She sputters in utter disbelief. “But...I didn’t even give you any for Valentine’s.”

“That shouldn’t be the reason for someone to give chocolates to another person,” He smirks, “I just wanted to thank you for being a welcoming good friend to me so far.”

“Oh.” Songhwa’s lips form a small ‘o’ as she picks up the black box wrapped in red ribbon. She doesn’t know if what he’d said was truly his sole intention, but it was an unexpected gesture that left her feeling a little bit warm with shyness. “Thank you, then.” 

“My pleasure.” Seunghyo says with a grin.

A few seats away, Ikjun sees everything that had happened in front of his eyes. It leaves his eyebrows knitting together, a frown making its way to his lips because no way...does Koo Seunghyo like Songhwa? 

His heart thumps, remembering the only box of chocolates in his bag - the one he’d intended to give to her, but only after school like what she did with his. He bit his lower lip though, at how Seunghyo had beaten him into giving her chocolates first (well, Junwan, Jeongwon and Seokhyung do not count anyway). 

It truly is an unsettling feeling, and Ikjun has no choice but to swallow the mild annoyance surging across his mind as their homeroom teacher enters their classroom.

After school, Ikjun and Songhwa decide to make a pitstop on the way home - the quaint record store in their neighbourhood run by the ever friendly harabeoji, who beams warmly at the two teenagers.

“Harabeoji,” They greet him politely while bowing their heads, before scurrying into their favourite aisle by the window. Songhwa is quick to flip through vinyl after vinyl, in search for a particular record from her favourite singer. Ikjun heads straight for the player, sliding onto the empty stool overlooking the view outside as he reaches out for the headphone connected to the player. 

Songhwa takes the stool beside him and pops in the sample record, a smile gracing her face naturally when Ikjun places the headphone between both their ears - so they could listen to the record together. 

“Isn’t this an old song?” Ikjun inquires, and Songhwa nods before huddling closer into Ikjun without realising. 

Where will you go if you leave? I don’t know.

Stay with me, don’t leave me, I still love you - 

“1985, yeah,” Songhwa tells him, pressing her ear as close as possible to one side of the headphone. She lets out a low hum of appreciation as music starts to fill her ear, mesmerised at Lee Moon-sae’s voice. “But it’s such a classic, isn’t it?”

When the dark night comes, I walk alone and I cry as I think of you,

The white petals that you gave me will wither away in my tears -

Ikjun keeps his eyes on the view outside the window, the tone of his voice gentle when he says, “You’re always listening to love ballads.”

He hears her chuckling. “What can I say? I’m a hopeless romantic.”

Songhwa continues to hum to the song, a few lines stumbling softly from her lips as Ikjun reaches his free hand gingerly into his bag. “Happy White Day,” He mumbles, and passes the box of chocolates to his best friend. 

“Finally!” Songhwa lets out half a squeal in delight, pulling her head back in reflex. “I was wondering if you were going to give any to me!”

Ikjun blinks; finally? “Were you waiting for me to...”

She seems to have realised what she’d blurted out without much thought, and Songhwa blushes before stammering a string of words out, “I-I mean, of course! I did give you chocolates during Valentine’s…”

“Right.” Ikjun clears his throat, swallowing his own nerves as he steals a glance at the young lady beside him; Songhwa is wearing a rather soft smile on her face as she beams at the box of chocolates, fingers tweaking the red ribbon he’d so carefully tied. “Thanks, Ikjun-ah.”

“Just...repaying a favour.” He coughs, and places the headphone down as the song comes to a stop. Ikjun starts down his stool, “Let’s listen to another song…”

“Wait, before that!” Songhwa exclaims suddenly, fumbling for her backpack. 

Ikjun watches Songhwa unzipping her bag before rummaging through the contents. Wondering what she is searching for, he raises an eyebrow when she eventually fishes out something from the front compartment of her bag. “Here!”

She waves a cassette tape in front of Ikjun, face splitting into the widest grin. “I did something over the weekend.”

“Oh?” Ikjun takes the tape to study it; he sees her handwriting on the cover, neat and lovely as she listed down 10 songs in the tape. Songhwa does this from time to time, putting together songs into mixtapes and then sharing them with him - it is something he cherishes, knowing that it is his privilege to be able to listen to her favourite songs. “Is this for me?”

“You can listen to it if you want,” Songhwa nods happily, “but you might find them boring since they’re all ballads.”

“I’d be happy to hear them.” Ikjun replies with a grin. “You know I like listening to your mixtapes.”

Songhwa beams at him with rosy cheeks. They fall into a silence after that, just looking at each other for a few more seconds. 

Harabeoji interrupts them after that to say that he is closing the shop early today; Ikjun and Songhwa laugh as they leave the shop in a rush, waving him a hearty goodbye.

That same night, Lee Iksun lets herself into her brother’s room without so much as a knock - force of habit. 

“Oppa, can I borrow your MyMy Player?”

Ikjun gives her a glare from his bed, one hand clutching against his player protectively in reflex. “I’m using it.”

His sister’s face falls in a split second. “You promised me yesterday that I could borrow it today.”

“That was before...um, I have a new tape to listen to.”

“Oppa! ” Iksun whines. “But you promised! I need it for school tomorrow!”

Ikjun raises his voice slightly. “Whatever for? You shouldn’t even be listening to music during school!”

“I can use it before and after!”

“You’re going to show off to your friends again, let me guess.”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is since this MyMy is mine.”

“Fine! Yes! I want to show it off to my friends. Happy?” Iksun grumbles. “So can I borrow it or not?”

Ikjun sighs, fingers twiddling with his headphone wires. He meets his sister’s eyes, and seeing the pitiful, pleading look she is giving him, Ikjun has no choice but to relent in defeat. “Alright, alright. You can borrow it.”

Iksun’s face brightens up almost at once, hands clasping together just as Ikjun points a finger at her direction. “But, I’ll leave it on the dining table tomorrow morning before I go to school. And you better don’t lose or break it…”

“I won’t!” Iksun assures quickly, a huge grin on her face as she suddenly throws herself onto the space beside her brother. Ikjun arches an eyebrow, as if asking her why she’d invaded his personal space, when Iksun reaches towards his player, and in a swift movement, unplugs the wire.

Immediately, music starts to fill his room.

“Yah, Lee Iksun!” Ikjun’s face heats up at once, already lunging towards his sister to grab the other end of the wire. But his sister is faster; she drops the wire and snatches his MyMy player with a loud giggle, edging away before Ikjun could even stop her. “Stop listening!”

Iksun flashes him half a smirk, and he already knows what she is going to say. “This is a new mixtape, isn’t it?” 

He ignores her statement; this is what happens when you allow your sister to listen to all of the cassette tapes in your possession. 

“And it’s a ballad song playing. Not just any ballad, but a love ballad by Cho Yong-pil. A girl’s taste.” Iksun snickers, and Ikjun clears his throat before looking elsewhere. “Oppa... did Songhwa unnie make another mixtape for you?”

“You know, it’s way past your bedtime--”

“Gosh, I’m 16, not 6!” Iksun retorts in a flash before letting her brother snatch back his player to press the Stop button. “And stop trying to change topics! Songhwa unnie made this for you, didn’t she? That’s why you’re listening to it over and over again! That’s why you’re not letting me borrow the player for the rest of tonight!”

“Why do you care if it’s Songhwa that did this mixtape for me or not?” Ikjun quips back. “Mind your own business!”

But Iksun decides that she wouldn’t, and continues to prod her brother in an almost teasing manner. “Why are you blushing, oppa? All I asked was a simple question. But look at you, you’re as red as eomma ’s red cardigan!”

“Who says I’m blushing? It’s just hot here, alright?”

“Liar, liar, pants on fire!”

“Go to sleep, Lee Iksun! It’s late!”

“Stop trying to pull the age card on me when you’re only two years older! Just admit that I’m right and I will go to sleep!”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Aish, seriously. Eomma! ” Iksun suddenly starts to raise her voice, scrambling from her spot on the floor before Ikjun could even stop her. “Eomma! Ikjun oppa likes Songhwa unnie! ”

“YAH! ” Ikjun hisses, scrambling after his sister before she could make it out of his door. 

“Eomma-”

“Shut up or I won’t lend you the player!” 

She stops. Iksun’s eyes sparkle, knowing she has clear leverage over this. “Tonight. I want it tonight.”

“Lee Iksun!”

“Come on, oppa. I’m sure you’ve listened to that mixtape since this afternoon or something. Aren’t you bored? What will Songhwa unnie think if I tell her that you’ve been listening to her mixtape for hours --”

“OKAY, OKAY, FINE!” Ikjun says exasperatedly as he throws his hands in the air. “You can have the player tonight, just don’t tell eomma or Songhwa anything!”

Iksun giggles in triumph, and juts one palm out in glee.

“So, has Ikjun given you chocolates yet?”

Songhwa perked up the second she heard her best friend’s name, her hand pausing on the spine of the book she was about to remove from the shelf. Peering through the books on the shelf, Songhwa stepped closer, trying to see who it was on the other side of the shelf.

It was Hyejung.

And she was sighing. “Not yet.”

“Man, what’s taking him so long?” Her friend grumbled, and Songhwa felt a little bit guilty for eavesdropping - she knew she shouldn’t do this, but she just couldn’t help but to. “Maybe he’s playing hard to get, you know?”

“Or maybe he just doesn’t like me.” Hyejung sighed again, and her friend lets out the loudest gasp, as if scandalised. 

“No way! He would have to be blind if he doesn’t. Come on, Hyejung-ah, you’re the prettiest girl in our year.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Hyejung waved a hand to dismiss her friend’s statement. “What’s the use of that if he isn’t interested in me?”

“I don’t believe for one bit that he isn’t interested in you, Yook Hyejung. If he isn’t interested in you, then who would he even be interested in?”

“I don’t know.” Hyejung grumbled. 

“It can’t be Chae Songhwa, right?”

The second she heard her name, Songhwa ducked, closing a hand over her mouth. 

“Songhwa?”

“Yeah,” Hyejung’s friend said. “She’s his best friend, isn’t it? You saw her at his football practice the other day…”

Hyejung laughed. “You said it yourself. She’s his best friend.”

“So? They spend a lot of time together you know…”

“Yah, I thought you’re supposed to be comforting me.”

“I mean...I’m just saying.” Her friend snickered. “But that’s highly unlikely. How can Chae Songhwa be compared to you?”

Songhwa could feel her heart beating wildly beneath her chest at that remark, a lump lodged against her throat.

Hyejung elbowed her friend instantly. “Don’t say that! She’s a sweet girl.”

“Hyejung-ah, she might just be your rival, you know. Why are you so nice to her?”

“Uh, maybe because she’s nice? And I have absolutely no reason to dislike her?”

Songhwa honestly couldn’t believe what she was hearing. If her life was a movie, she would have expected Hyejung to be hurling insults at her appearance and personality. It made her smile knowing that Hyejung was nothing like those mean girls portrayed in movies and books.

“Alright, whatever.” Hyejung’s friend switched topics back to their initial one, “I really hope Ikjun gives you chocolates though…”

Believing she has heard enough, Songhwa snuck out of the aisle stealthily and disappeared behind the counter in a flash. She pretended not to realise the look of curiosity that Madam Jung was giving her, wondering why she was here despite it not being her duty. Songhwa smoothed her expression, straightened her back and feigned ignorance, glancing at the logbook instead. 

She didn’t register any of the words on the logbook though. All she could think about was that Ikjun had not given Hyejung chocolates yet. 

But then again...he had not given her any, either.

This time, it was her turn to sigh.

Wait, Songhwa frowned, why was she even acting like this? It’s just chocolates.

“Ah, whatever!” She grumbled, and shut the logbook with a loud thud - earning her a look of disapproval from Madam Jung. “Sorry,” Songhwa whispered sheepishly before rushing out of the library.

Chapter Text

Songhwa stares at the mirror for the umpteenth time, heaving a sigh as she glances at the tiny object on the tip of her index finger. 

Contact lenses. 

She sucks in a long breath, a little nervous. In fact, she’s been trying to wear them since half an hour ago, but she’d gotten nowhere and it’s getting late. Songhwa sighs; maybe she should just give up and try wearing lenses another day. 

But she nibbles her lower lip, shaking her head in disagreement. She is supposed to be meeting Gyeoul and Jeongwon that afternoon for lunch — the famous Gyeoul she has only heard by name and saw in passing. As Jeongwon’s self-proclaimed best friend, Songhwa is determined to make a good impression.

“Calm down, Chae Songhwa, it’s just lenses,” She tells herself repeatedly, “It won’t hurt, and you’ll get used to it eventually.”

It takes her about another five minutes to finally wear one side - and Songhwa squeals in delight at her partial success. Now, there’s only one left -

Ten minutes later, Songhwa breathes a sigh of relief, blinking rapidly to ensure her lenses are properly adjusted in the right places. Then, she beams at her reflection, a little giddy with excitement; at the age of 18, she has finally worn lenses! 

There’s a knock on her door that interrupts her thoughts, and Songhwa whirls around at the same time her door is opened, revealing Ikjun on the other side. 

“Songhwa-ya, I’ve been waiting for you for—” 

Ikjun feels all of his words leaving him the second his eyes laid upon his best friend in a pretty sundress. He notices at once that she is not wearing glasses, and it leaves him dazed and maybe a little breathless. 

“How do I look?” Songhwa asks, not realising that Ikjun never finished his sentence. She looks a bit worried when she continues, “Do I look weird without glasses? I wore lenses for the first time today!”

“Uh,” Ikjun clears his throat, snapping out of his reverie. “You don’t look weird.” 

Songhwa frowns. “Then why do you look so surprised?”

He quickly shakes his hands rapidly. “You just look different, that’s all. And I meant it in a...in a good way.”

Pleased to hear that, Songhwa turns back to the mirror, smoothing her dress and tucking strands of her hair behind her ear. “Okay, I’m ready!”

“Finally.” Ikjun teases, returning to his usual self as Songhwa darts him a glare. He raises both arms in surrender, laughing as Songhwa reaches for her bag and starts to push him out of her room.

The moment is long gone, but Ikjun wishes he had the chance to tell her that not only does Songhwa not look weird; she looks beautiful. His heart could probably vouch for that, seeing as to how it has not stopped beating a mile since he’d opened her door.

Songhwa has seen Jang Gyeoul a few times from a distance, never once this close as she observes the younger girl sitting in front of her. Since she is in junior high, they hardly get to meet during school, as they’re located in different buildings. Songhwa had been nervous initially, finally having the chance to meet her best friend’s girlfriend — she wondered for hours on what they could possibly talk about, worrying unnecessarily right until the moment they politely exchanged their greetings.

Luckily for Songhwa though, Ikjun is great at making conversations and making people feel comfortable around him. No sooner had they slid into their seats that Ikjun had broken the ice between them as they waited for Jeongwon to return from the counter. 

“You must be the famous Jang Gyeoul!”

“Ah, yes. Hello, sunbaenim.”

“Aish! ” Ikjun waves one hand in the air quickly. “Don’t call me that, you’re practically our friend already. Just call me Ikjun!”

Gyeoul hides her smile shyly, and Songhwa takes that opportunity to introduce herself, too. “I’m Songhwa. You can call me unnie if you want to!”

“Ah, ne, Songhwa unnie .” Gyeoul seems to be much more relaxed after that, with Ikjun launching into a series of stories that she found amusing and interesting to listen to. When Jeongwon comes back with the tray of drinks, he is relieved to find his girlfriend laughing at whatever it is Ikjun is telling her. 

“What are you talking about?” Jeongwon asks as he settles down into his seat.

Ikjun announces dramatically, “Your embarrassing childhood stories.”

“Yah! ” Jeongwon flushes in an instant, darting a look between his best friends and his girlfriend. “Gyeoul-ah, don’t listen to them—”

“Why not? It’s cute.” Gyeoul giggles. “You had an interesting childhood.”

“I was just telling Gyeoul about your treehouse adventures during middle school.” Ikjun fills Jeongwon in even before he could ask, “Remember how you hid there for the entire day and your mother thought you ran away from home?”

“Aish, why are you telling Gyeoul about that…” Jeongwon scratches his head in embarrassment.

“Gyeoul-ah,” Songhwa interjects, “do you know why he hid in the treehouse?”

Gyeoul seems interested, even though Jeongwon had raised his voice, telling Songhwa not to say anything. She ignores him, “He went to church camp for two weeks during summer and came back with a renewed vision to be a priest.”

Gyeoul darts a look immediately at her boyfriend, surprised to hear that as Jeongwon covers his face with one hand. 

“Aunty Ahn told him she wasn’t going to let him attend anymore church camps, and he got upset at her.” Songhwa chuckles in fond remembrance of that memory, especially given how much things have changed since then. 

“I had no idea,” Gyeoul says in utter amusement. 

“Do you know what this means?” Ikjun asks loudly, but before waiting for an answer, continues, “You’re his first girlfriend, Gyeoul-ah. You managed to thaw his ice cold heart—”

Gyeoul blushes shyly, unsure of what to say just as Jeongwon reaches out to smack his best friend on his head. “Stop acting like you’ve dated a bunch of girls when you haven’t even dated anyone before.”

“Really?” Gyeoul seems surprised to hear that. “Ikjun sunbae hasn’t dated anyone before?”

“He hasn’t.” Songhwa quips, reaching out for her juice.

“That’s surprising.” Gyeoul says innocently. “I heard from Iksun that you are one of the popular boys in senior high.”

“Oh, so you know my sister?” Ikjun is quick to change the topic, doing it naturally so that they don’t realise that this isn’t a topic he wants to diverge too much in. 

“Yes, our classes have labs and P.E together.” Gyeoul nods. “Iksun is great, I like her. She’s really funny.”

“Of course she is!” Ikjun grins proudly. “She learns from the best, after all. Have you seen her dove trick? I taught her that!”

“I have,” Gyeoul laughs comfortably. “She showed it to us a couple of times. Minha and I were fascinated, to say the least. But you know, Iksun is pretty popular too, so I’m not surprised her brother is as well.”

“Yah, both of them are athletes.” Jeongwon says in a matter-of-fact tone. “Of course they’re popular. If you’ve seen Iksun on the tracks, you’d know what I mean.”

“Heol,” Ikjun says at once. “What are you trying to imply? Stay away from my sister, Ahn Jeongwon,”

Jeongwon just laughs, shaking his head. “You don’t have to worry about me,” He slings an arm casually around Gyeoul’s shoulder. “I already found the girl of my dreams.”

Even though Gyeoul is now blushing mad, both Ikjun and Songhwa erupt into a chorus of oh my god that was so cheesy, I can feel my toes curling, ah jinjja —

“Wait till both of you are in relationships of your own!” Jeongwon retorts in defense, “You’ll understand what I mean then.”

Ignoring him, Songhwa stirs her drink before taking sips.

And then, Jeongwon continues jokingly, “But, you know what, this kinda feels like a double date. Gyeoul actually thought that you two are a couple .”

Upon hearing that, Songhwa swallows her juice too quickly, choking on the liquid as she erupts into a sudden coughing fit. She covers a hand over her mouth in an instant, her eyes stinging as Ikjun quickly passes her a napkin. 

Startled at her reaction, Jeongwon also hands Songhwa another napkin.

“Oppa,” Gyeoul sighs in disapproval. “Why did you tell them that?”

“Sorry, sorry.” Jeongwon apologises profusely. “I didn’t know you would have such a huge reaction. It just seemed funny to me—”

“It’s fine ,” Songhwa squeaks, eyes watering as she composes herself, pressing the napkin against her nose. “I’m fine,”

“Are you sure?” Ikjun asks worriedly, patting her back repeatedly.

“Hmm, don’t worry.” She flashes him a quick, assuring smile.

Gyeoul stares at the scene happening in front of her, blinking slowly. It isn’t a scene that is out of the ordinary or anything, but this is exactly why she had misunderstood in the first place; from all of her encounters with Jeongwon’s friends, she’d always thought that there is something different between Ikjun and Songhwa that they do not share with the rest of their peers. The way they act around each other, their body language, the hints of blush on their faces...

To say the least, Gyeoul had been surprised when Jeongwon laughed and said that there was nothing going on between the both of them; that they’re just really close childhood best friends. 

Honestly, she hadn’t been this intrigued before she actually met them, but now, Gyeoul makes a mental note to ask Iksun about this the next time. 

“You can’t be serious,”

“I am dead serious.”

Ikjun’s first reaction is to stare at his best friend for three solid seconds, a look of disbelief crossing his face. 

His second reaction is to proceed to promptly close his front door, muttering a quick, “Bye, Songhwa, have fun,”

Only that he never got to close his door, because Songhwa is quick to stick her foot out, preventing him from doing that. She pouts, hands clasping together as she tries once again, to convince her best friend to watch a movie with her in the cinema. “Please? Ikjun-ah, please please pretty please?”

Ikjun deadpans. “It’s a melo-romance movie, Songhwa-ya.”

“And what’s wrong with that?!”  She narrows her eyes. “Why are you so judgemental?”

It’s not so much of being judgemental, Ikjun thinks, but that he is at the age where he wouldn’t want to be caught dead in a cinema watching a sappy melo-romance movie - what would other boys think if they found out?

He whines. “If Junwan finds out I watched that movie he’ll tease me till no end-”

“Why should you care what other people think?” Songhwa retorts. “It’s a good movie with great reviews and I want to watch it!”

“Is Jihye not available?” Ikjun tries one last time, and Songhwa throws her hands in the air exasperatedly. “If she’s available would I even ask you, babo ?”

Ikjun sighs in defeat. There is no way he would be able to refuse his best friend, not when she is looking at him like that . “Okay, fine. Let me grab my jacket and we can go.” 

Songhwa brightens up instantly, bobbing her head up and down in excitement. When he turns around to scurry up the stairs, Ikjun finds himself smiling from one end to another -- well, spending more time with his best friend alone is always a plus for him, even if he thinks he wouldn’t be able to stand watching a melo-romance movie. 

An hour later, as they queue up to get popcorn, Ikjun pretends not to realise that most of the viewers for this particular movie are couples on a movie date night. It is apparent, given their body language, and Ikjun finds himself flushing. Songhwa though, remains oblivious of her surroundings; she is just happy that she is able to finally watch this movie.

“One large popcorn to share please,” Ikjun orders, and Songhwa starts to dig into her bag for her purse when he passes the notes to the cashier. “No, wait!” She exclaims, “let me pay…”

“No, it’s on me.” Ikjun retorts immediately, dismissing her with a wave of his hand before regarding the cashier again. “Oh wait, can I add on an ice lemon tea, but less ice please.”

Songhwa raises an eyebrow. “Ice lemon tea? But you don’t even like it.”

Ikjun returns her look with one of his own. “But you do.”

For some reason, that makes her speechless. Ikjun takes his orders in his hands after that, and briskly walks towards the entrance without another word. Songhwa tails after him, nervously biting her lower lip as her heart skips a beat without even realising. 

“Why won’t you let me pay?” She asks him while waiting to go in. 

Ikjun shrugs. 

“At least let me pay for the drink?” 

Ikjun shakes his head.

“Ikjun-ah,” Songhwa half whines. “You’re not going to use this against me in the future, are you?”

He grins. “Now that you’ve given me an idea…”

“Yah…” Songhwa is ready to maybe hit her best friend, but she pauses when he turns sideway to face her fully. With a small smile on his face, he continues, “I don’t mind paying because it’s a treat for me.”

She tilts her head, not quite understanding him.

He shakes his head once, then continues softly. “Spending time with you is a treat I give myself.”

Songhwa blinks. The words do not really register in her mind instantly, until Ikjun turns away when the attendant calls out their hall number, and what he said practically crashes into her all at once. Flustered, Songhwa doesn’t know how to react. And Ikjun too, doesn’t seem to dwell in his words as he is already making his way towards the entrance; it is as though what he’d just uttered was something out of the ordinary, not words that made her heart stutter. 

She follows him quietly, his words lingering in her mind.

As it turns out, the movie was better than what Ikjun would have expected. So much so that at the ending credits, he sniffles, quickly brushing away tears that had pricked on his eyelids. 

Bad move, because Songhwa turns to look at him, flashing him an incredulous and amused look. “Oh my god...Lee Ikjun, are you crying?”

He could feel heat on his cheeks, and he scrambles in search of words. “W-who wouldn’t after that ending?!”

Songhwa’s eyebrows are knitted together. “I didn’t…”

“That’s because you’re heartless,” Ikjun jabs, clearing his throat and golfing down the remaining fistful of popcorn (which he barely ate honestly) to stop himself from actually breaking down into ugly sobs in front of his best friend. 

But Songhwa isn’t judging him. Instead, she chuckles lightly, her tone teasing as she says, “You’re such a softie, it’s like you never change.”

Ikjun pretends he didn’t hear that, already preparing to exit the cinema. Songhwa continues to smile; watching him act all nonchalant is never not amusing for her. She’d grown up with him. Of course she knows what a huge softie he is beneath all that layer of toughness he has to portray given his role as football captain in school. 

The rest of the evening goes by mostly in quiet silence as they walk home slowly, just basking in the cold March air. 

“So, how did you find the movie?” Ikjun asks midway from the cinema.

“I liked it.” Songhwa says easily. “The ending was predictable though.”

Ikjun shakes his head. “It was, but I still think it was a great way to end the movie. I really thought they wouldn’t end up together.”

She laughs. “Ikjun-ah, they’re the main leads...of course they’re going to end up together.”

“But the way those scenes were...gosh, I really thought she didn’t like him the same way. It turns out that she’d always loved him since the first day they met…” Ikjun sighs. “That’s really great storytelling, when everything was revealed in the end.”

“Gosh, Lee Ikjun,” Songhwa starts to tease him again, “I’m starting to think you enjoyed the movie more than I did, Mr-I-Wouldn’t-Be-Caught-Dead-Watching-That-Movie.”

“Well, as long as the boys don’t find out…” 

A short silence stretches between them. 

“Hey,” Songhwa starts again. “Do you think a love like theirs exists, though?”

“Hmm, why not?” Ikjun shrugs. 

“I don’t know,” She says. “It seems too good to be true. To be able to love each other unconditionally in that way for so many years, to finally realising that they’re each other’s soulmate. Do you even believe in soulmates?”

“I guess I do, in a way.” Ikjun nods, then returns her question. “Do you?”

“I’d like to.” Songhwa answers truthfully. “But... how does one even identify their soulmate?”

“I suppose,” He smiles. “When it is the right time, you just know.” 

“Hmm,” She pretends to think hard, even though her mind is drawing a blank. Songhwa doesn’t say anything after that, not knowing what she should say. Silence lapses between them until they reach the gates of their houses, stopping right in the middle.

“Well,” Songhwa smiles, “thanks for accompanying me to the movies today.”

“You literally dragged me out but okay…” Ikjun teases, mirth in his eyes as Songhwa elbows his ribs in retaliation. He laughs, edging away. “Hajima!”

Even after the pause that ensues, for some reason, they stayed put. Neither wanted to leave yet, for some reason. 

“I think,” Ikjun speaks, and Songhwa meets his gaze. “you’ll just know when someone is your soulmate.”

It takes her a few seconds to realise that Ikjun is talking about their previous conversation borne out of Songhwa’s question. He continues softly, “I think a soulmate is someone you don’t ever want to part from. That, until the end of time, you’ll still want to be with them.”

Something stirs within Songhwa. Something she couldn’t quite place a finger on, but it makes her heart beat faster than usual — perhaps it’s the way Ikjun is staring at her, his gaze filled with warm adoration; perhaps it is the way he’d uttered that sentence, slow and firm, as if he’d gotten everything figured out, as if he knew the very notion of what it feels like having a soulmate. 

It almost makes her want to ask who Ikjun thinks his soulmate is.

But their moment is abruptly interrupted when Iksun bursts through the front door, her voice filling the air, “Oppa ! That’s you, right? Eomma needs your help with the kitchen sink! Oh,” Iksun comes to an effective halt right at their gate. “hi Songhwa unnie ! Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”  

“Hey, Iksunnie.” Songhwa waves back with a bright smile. “No worries, I was about to wish your brother a good night.

Iksun takes three quick steps backwards, avoiding her brother’s gaze. “Uh, not to worry! Take your time! I’ll tell eomma you’re with Songhwa unnie .”

“No need, I’m coming.” Ikjun says, already taking a step towards his gate. He turns at the last second, his expression unreadable. “Goodnight, Songhwa-ya. Have a good dream.”

Songhwa nods. “Goodnight.”

It has been ten minutes since the movie ended in his living room, but Ikjun was still crying his heart out.

Songhwa stared at him, half amused and half wanting to laugh at his antics. She sat in silence beside him, not knowing what to do except to pass him tissues from the box beside her. 

“I-I can’t believe,” Ikjun started to hiccup, his nose runny as he dabbed the tissues against his eyes. “S-she died! With...without even telling him,”

“There, there,” Songhwa patted his back gently, fighting the urge to tease him. Sure, the movie they’d just seen did indeed have a rather tragic ending, maybe too depressing to be seen by two middle school students, but Songhwa really didn’t expect her best friend to still be crying after the movie had ended. She’d shed two tears, but they’d evaporated a few seconds after the ending credits had rolled. 

“Gosh, you’re such a crybaby…” She sighed, promptly using the tissue in her hand to wipe the tears on his face roughly. “Stop crying, your mom’s going to ban me from coming here if you keep crying like this. Aigoo.”

“She left him a letter!” Ikjun screeched, clutching his chest. “She left him a letter saying she will always love him--”

“I know,” Songhwa said patiently, “I watched the movie with you,”

Ikjun wiped his eyes with his sleeves, finally calming down as he reached for his bottle of water. His nose was still red, eyes swollen from all the crying - Songhwa stifled a giggle as she shook her head in disbelief. A few minutes went by in silence before she spoke again. “It’s just a movie, Ikjun-ah.”

“You never know, it might happen in real life too.” Ikjun retorted defensively.

“Okay, okay.” Songhwa raised her hands in surrender. “Are you feeling better now? Do you need more tissues or water?”

“I’m good.” Ikjun said calmly, a stark contrast to his breakdown just minutes ago. He then glanced at Songhwa, looking at her dead in the eyes. “Please don’t tell the other boys that I cried watching this movie.”

She smirked. “Well…”

Ikjun immediately kneeled, facing her. “Songhwa-ya, please, if Junwan finds out…”

“Arraseo, arraseo!” Songhwa relented with a giggle. “I guess I learned something new about you today.”

“Hmm?”

She leaned in to whisper, “You cry watching melo-romance movies.”

“Who wouldn’t cry with an ending like that?!” Ikjun huffed, his face turning a bright red once again. “Didn’t you find it sad? Her last words for him were written in a letter, how tragic is that?”

“I never said it wasn’t sad.” Songhwa crossed her arms, though still smiling. “I wonder…”

“What do you wonder?”

“Five years from now, will you still be crying over a melo-romance movie?”

Ikjun did a quick mental calculation, his frown deepening. “Five years from now would make us eighteen...no way!”

“Really?” Songhwa raised an eyebrow in doubt. “I think you’ll still be crying, though.”

“I will not!” Ikjun stated firmly. 

“You will.”

“Not!”

“Will!”

“Ugh, whatever!” Ikjun gave in, turning his head away. 

Songhwa could only smile in fondness.

Chapter Text

“Songhwa-sshi!”

Songhwa turns at her name being called, surprised to find Yuk Hyejung jogging towards her with a smile on her face. “Hyejung-sshi,” She replies out of courtesy, wondering why she’d called after her. 

“Sorry to bother you,” Hyejung apologises sheepishly. “But I wanted to ask you something, if you don’t mind.”

“Oh, what is it?”

“You’re Ikjun’s best friend, aren’t you?”

“Mmhmm,”

“So I figured you’d be the perfect person to ask this question.” Hyejung’s eyes are gleaming with shyness. “I was thinking of making him a lunch set, to cheer him up for his upcoming match.”

Songhwa doesn’t know what to say, or how to react to that statement, so she waits. 

“And well, I don’t really know his preferences.” Hyejung scratches her head with a grin, “And I don’t want to cook something he wouldn’t like so…”

Her sentence trails off, and Songhwa forces herself to smile. “Ah, you want to know his likes and dislikes!” She says cheerfully, masking the slight edge in her heart - for whatever reason. Hyejung nods in excitement, already taking out a notebook and a pen.

Songhwa pauses, watching the other female student. Somehow, seeing her effort makes Songhwa feel bad for her initial reaction of not wanting to divulge what she knows to her. She mentally sighs. 

“Ikjun generally isn’t a picky-eater,” Songhwa starts eventually, “what do you have in mind?”

“I was thinking of kimchi fried rice with a sunny side egg,” Hyejung says, “and maybe some sausages, pork belly, fruits…”

“Wow,” Songhwa chuckles. “That sounds a lot.”

“Do you think so?” Hyejung is worried. “I don’t want to overdo it, but I also want him to understand my sincerity.”

“I’m sure he’ll appreciate it, Hyejung-sshi.” Songhwa assures her. “But, don’t cook him something that is too spicy - his stomach can’t seem to handle spicy food lately. Oh, if you want to get him fruits, he likes apples best. Make sure you slice them in bite sizes, he likes it that way, says it’s easier to eat. I swear, he’s like a girl sometimes.”

Hyejung jolts down everything she is saying, letting out a giggle at Songhwa’s last comment. 

“You should fry two eggs for him, one is never enough. He likes his yoke to be runny, and he’ll mix it with his rice,” Songhwa continues. “and he likes his pork belly a little bit burnt,”

“Songhwa-sshi,” Hyejung interjects with another chuckle, “you really know him well, huh?”

“Ah,” Her face is burning for some reason, “I’ve been friends with him for a decade…”

Hyejung beams. “How was Ikjun like when he was young? Has he always been this athletic?” 

Songhwa grins, shaking her head. “No, honestly, he was rather timid when we were in elementary school. He only started playing football during the last year of middle school.”

“Really?” Hyejung raises an eyebrow. “I honestly thought he started playing from a young age, given how good he is!”

Songhwa leans in to whisper, “Honestly, he was hardly athletic growing up. Would you believe me if I told you that he was really reserved in elementary?”

“Ikjun? Reserved ?” Hyejung giggles. “I find that really hard to believe!”

“Right?” Songhwa laughs as well. “He really did change a lot, for the better definitely.”

Once their laughter dies down, Hyejung continues to beam at her, waving her notebook in the air. “Songhwa-sshi, thank you. I really appreciate your tips.”

“You’re welcome,” Songhwa replies with a smile, and after Hyejung tells her she will talk to her again soon, the other female student takes her leave, dashing down the corridor.

Songhwa stares at her back for a few more seconds, before walking back to her classroom. Her smile remains even after Hyejung rounds the corner. 

Heol , Songhwa thinks to herself, Ikjun got himself a real catch this time.

An hour before P.E, Songhwa could already feel the discomfort and pain piercing across her stomach. She could barely concentrate on what her History teacher is dictating from the textbook, one hand pressed firmly against her lower abdomen as she bites down a heavy sigh rising within her throat - it’s her time of the month, and Songhwa isn’t lucky to be absolved from the cramps that came along with it.  

It almost makes her want to bury her face in her arms and scream the pain into oblivion. But she doesn’t, of course. She’s in the middle of class, after all. 

When the bell rings an hour later, and everyone else scurries out of their seats to change into their P.E uniforms, Songhwa stays put in her seat, reluctance spreading across every fibre of her being. 

“Songhwa-ya,” Her best female friend, Jihye, nudges her by her shoulder gently. “What are you doing? Let’s go change.”

All Songhwa had to do is to grimace, eyes barely meeting her best friend’s as Jihye understands immediately what is going on. “Oh no,” She exclaims softly, sliding into Seunghyo’s empty seat. “do you want me to inform Mr. Kim that you’re not feeling well?”

“But we’re having those tests today,” Songhwa shakes her head. “He’ll disapprove if I don’t show up.”

“ Yah ,” Jihye sighs. “there’s no point in going for the tests if you could hardly even stand up.”

But Songhwa, quite renowned for her stubbornness, starts to stand with another firm shake of her head. She levels herself by exhaling slowly, ignoring the ache in her abdomen and her back. “I’ll be fine.”

“If you say so…” Jihye mumbles, knowing her best friend’s reluctance in skipping classes. They head for the female changing room afterwards, with Jihye keeping a watchful gaze from the corner of her eyes -- she doesn’t tell her how terrible Songhwa looks at the moment, pale-faced, beads of sweat on her temples. Anyone with a pair of eyes could tell that she isn’t feeling well that morning.

Songhwa makes it to the gym anyway, albeit slowly as she takes her place quietly at the back of the class. Their P.E teacher explains the few physical tests they had to do today to record in their student health logbooks, and Songhwa mentally curses her ill-timed call from nature. Her class disperses according to gender, and Songhwa heads for the first course she is supposed to complete with the rest of her female classmates. She grits her teeth and starts to do warm-ups, completely oblivious to the fact that right across the gym, a pair of eyes is watching her with worry.

Ikjun knows something is up with Songhwa during History itself. From his seat at the back, he could see her seat clearly, and Ikjun had seen the way her body is angled towards her desk, one hand repeatedly pressing on her stomach. He’d seen how pale she was when she walked into the gym, the slight wobble in her delayed steps compared to the rest of the class. 

It must be her time of the month, Ikjun deduces with a slight frown, not focusing entirely on his own set of warm-ups. Will she be okay? 

Ikjun receives his answer ten minutes after, when he hears Jihye’s shriek of panic echoing around the gym. He snaps his head up from the mat almost at once, watching the commotion unfolding right before his eyes. Without thinking, Ikjun is already on his feet, dashing across the gym and pushing his way through the crowd of female students. 

“Songhwa!” He breathes out shakily the second he sees her slumped against Jihye on the floor. Ikjun moves on autopilot, rushing straight towards his barely conscious best friend before sliding his arm beneath her knees. Whispers start to ripple in the air, but Ikjun could care less - he is already dashing out of the gym with Songhwa in his arms as Mr. Kim runs after Ikjun. 

They arrive at the school nurse’s office within minutes as Ikjun reports, almost breathlessly, “I think it’s her time of the month,”

The nurse nods calmly, giving Ikjun a warm smile as he settles Songhwa on the vacant bed. “Do you need me to get her anything? A hot compress? Warm water?”

“Ikjun haksaeng ,” Mr. Kim is a little puzzled. “Nurse Song will take care of her, let’s get back to class.”

“But,” Ikjun starts to protest, meeting Nurse Song’s eyes briefly. They seem to sparkle before he turns his attention back towards his P.E teacher. “what if Songhwa wakes up and needs something?”

“Then Nurse Song will tend to her,” Mr. Kim says rather bluntly, already gesturing for Ikjun to leave the nurse’s office. “Come on, let’s go.”

Defeated, Ikjun heaves a sigh before turning back at Nurse Song. “I’ll come later to visit. Please take care of her, Nurse Song.”

“I will, don’t worry.” Nurse Song smiles, watching him leave in utter reluctance. 

Songhwa wakes up in utter confusion, not recognising her surroundings. 

It is only when she hears someone calling out her name gently that she attempts to sit up. Songhwa meets the gentle gaze of Nurse Song Soobin, who is already handing her a glass of water. “Are you feeling better?”

Songhwa’s face scrunches in a frown. “Yeah, but I don’t understand…”

“You fainted during P.E,” Nurse Song explains, then glances at the clock on the wall. “You’ve been resting for nearly three hours.”

“ Three ?!” Songhwa shrieks, already scrambling to swing her legs down from the bed if not because Nurse Song stops her with an adamant gaze of disapproval. “You should just rest for the day, Songhwa haksaeng.”

“B-but,” She sputters, “I’ve missed almost three classes--”

“You’ll be fine.” Nurse Song dismisses her concern with a wave of her hand. “Besides, there’s only thirty minutes left before school is over for the day. Just rest .”

Songhwa doesn’t argue, even though the crease on her forehead deepens. “How did I even get here, Nurse Song?”

“Ah,” She beams. “Another student carried you all the way here. Fine young man, I’d say.”

Songhwa frowns. “Another student…?”

“Eo,” Nurse Song nods, casually typing her report on the computer without sparing Songhwa a glance. “I think his name is Ikjun.”

“Oh.” Songhwa states, trying to rack her brain for any form of recollection -- and it seems to work, because she could remember bits and pieces of what had happened after she succumbed to the pain and collapsed onto the ground. 

Ikjun had carried her -- she remembers her face pressed against his chest, and heat starts to rise in her cheeks. 

“He said he’ll visit you later,” Nurse Song continues. “You’ve gotten yourself a good boyfriend , Songhwa haksaeng .”

“W-what?” Songhwa stammers. “You’ve misunderstood, Nurse Song. He isn’t my boyfriend, he’s my best friend!”

But Nurse Song just chuckles, as if accepting none of her explanations. She doesn’t say anything else, even though words at the tip of her tongue nearly slip out of her; I can tell that look on his face, and it isn’t one a friend would give to another.

It isn’t her place to stick her nose in anyway - young and budding romance isn’t her forte, so Nurse Song merely shrugs as a response. 

Thirty minutes later, right after the bell rings, Ikjun shows up in the nurse office, with the rest of the boys and Jihye in tow behind him. Jihye and Junwan are bickering as per the usual, and Songhwa brightens up the second she hears them stumbling into the nurse office. 

“Songhwa-ya,” Jeongwon is the first to call her name, “how are you feeling?”

“Better.” Songhwa replies just as Ikjun quietly places her bag on the bed. “What did I miss for Physics and English?”

Junwan groans, directing his attention from Jihye to Songhwa in a flash. “Can you give studying a break? You’re sick for goodness sake.”

She rolls her eyes at him just as Seokhyung takes it upon himself to reply. “We revised Chapter Five for Physics, and did vocabulary for English.”

Before Songhwa could ask a follow up question, Ikjun thrusts two different notebooks into her hands. “Here,” He announces softly. “You can refer to my notes.”

Songhwa beams at him - if there is one person she could count on for notes, it would be Ikjun. Despite his usual nonchalant, playful self when it comes to studying, his grades have always been one of the highest in her batch, losing only to her , most of the time. 

“Thanks,” is all she tells him. 

“Lee Ikjun!” 

A thirteen year old Songhwa bursted into his room excitedly, arms clutching a few notebooks as she threw her bag on the floor. Ikjun sat up from his bed at once, a little groggy but managing to flash his best friend a disapproving look. “I’m back from school!”

“What are you doing here?” Ikjun asked, jutting a hand out as if to stop her from coming any closer to him. “I’m sick, stay away.”

Songhwa rolled her eyes, completely unfazed by that statement. “I’m Chae Songhwa, you know?” She told him haughtily. “I don’t fall sick that easily.”

“But the flu could be contagious,” Ikjun mumbled in weak protest. In all truth and honesty, he was glad to see his best friend that afternoon - after sleeping almost the entire day, he was honestly bored to death.

“Whatever,” She dismissed his concern easily and waved her bright-coloured notebooks in the air. “I even brought you notes from today’s classes, so you don’t miss out! We covered quite a lot of topics today.”

Ikjun groaned. “Just one day of missing school will not kill my grades, Songhwa-ya.”

But Songhwa was having none of it, already dumping her notebooks on his desk. “When you feel better, revise the pages I’ve tabbed. You do know that I don’t simply loan my notes to just anybody, right?”

He managed a small smile, nodding. “Eo, I know. I’m extremely honored .”

Songhwa could sense his playful sarcasm , but she chose not to react to that. She was about to sit on the edge of his bed when Ikjun let out another whine of protest. “Songhwa! Stay at least ten steps away from me!”

She sighed in exasperation, but obliged, finally settling herself on the floor near his door. Then, Songhwa launched into a series of gossip and events from school that day, updating her best friend about everything he’d missed. Like how the cafeteria ahjumma served extra helpings of pork and sausages today, how the prettiest girl of their class received a confession from the boy in the next class. How there were rumors going around that their homeroom teacher is dating their Arts teacher, or how Junhui’s parents had given him a new tamagochi for his birthday. 

Songhwa told Ikjun all that she could remember, and by the time she was done, she had quite nearly run out of breath.

And Ikjun? He could only smile, feeling all of his fatigue disappearing at the mere energy his best friend was unintentionally radiating.

Chapter Text

Songhwa has always known of Ikjun’s popularity among girls, but truth be told, she could never quite get used to it. She darts a look at the group of screaming female students from Kangwoon High School, and part of her is extremely amused that Ikjun’s reputation precedes even the honor of their own high school. 

She takes a glance at him at the football field, where a friendly match is ongoing between Yulje High and Kangwoon High, and Songhwa wonders if Ikjun is really all that great. She wouldn’t deny that her best friend could be pretty charming if he wants to, and that he does have a fairly decent face, but Songhwa couldn’t seem to wrap her head around the fact that there is an entire string of admirers from even a rival school just lining up and wanting his attention. It makes her profusely confused. 

“Gosh,” Junwan grimaces from beside her in utter repulse at the female students who are chanting Ikjun’s name repeatedly, “are there no other better looking guys in the team?”

Songhwa snickers. “You sound like you’re jealous.”

“No way,” Junwan deadpans, crossing his arms hotly against his chest. “I’m not jealous, I’m just trying to figure out what’s so great about Ikjun that he has so many supporters. He isn’t even that good looking!”

“You’re definitely jealous.” Jeongwon cuts in from Junwan’s other side, and while Songhwa is giggling, Junwan elbows Jeongwon in the stomach roughly. “Shut up!”

Songhwa turns to their quiet friend beside her. “What do you think, Seokhyung-ah?”

“Hmm?” Seokhyung raises an eyebrow, his eyes still trained on the football field.

“Why do you think Ikjun is so popular?” She asks, just for fun.

Seokhyung ponders her question for a few long seconds before replying plainly, “It’s Ikjun. He’s an inssa . Everyone likes him.”

“Well, that’s not entirely wrong…” Songhwa shrugs, then faces the field again. At that moment, Ikjun takes a strike and kicks the ball towards the goalpost. She holds her breath, and watches the ball sailing past a few players and the goalkeeper right into the goalpost. Everyone leaps up from the bleachers at once, clapping their hands and screaming in excitement.

The whistle blows, signifying the end of the match, and the four of them rush down their bleachers to gather at the edge of the field. A few minutes after, all the football players disperse, and they jog towards their audience, either to greet their parents or their friends. 

Ikjun scans the crowd and spots his group of friends almost at once; they are waving at him excitedly, and he waves back too. Halfway across the field, it is when he notices the group of female students holding up placards of his name, and out of polite and maybe even embarrassment, Ikjun waves at them to thank them for their support. 

He pretends not to hear their screaming becoming louder after that.

Before Ikjun could reach his friends though, someone else intercepts him from the crowd. “Ikjun-sshi!”

“Oh,” He comes to an abrupt stop, tipping his head slightly. “Hyejung-sshi, you came?”

Yuk Hyejung beams at him brightly, taking steps towards him. “Of course I’d come, I said I’d watch all your football matches, didn’t I?”

Ikjun just smiles, unsure of how to respond to that statement. In his silence, Hyejung continues. “You were great today, as you always are!”

“Thanks,” He nods, rubbing his neck sheepishly as he prepares to edge away. 

Hyejung quickly thrusts a neatly wrapped lunch box into his arms, and before Ikjun could react, explains, “I made this for you to give you more energy to play football! I included food that you like, so I h-hope you will enjoy it.”

Ikjun blushes, glancing at the lunch box. This is his first time ever receiving a homemade meal from a girl that isn’t his mother or Songhwa, and Ikjun frankly doesn’t know how to react. “T-thanks!” He stammers, still taken aback by Hyejung’s gesture. 

Hyejung wants to say something more, but Ikjun is already taking a side step, his attention now fixed on his group of friends still waiting for him. He turns to Hyejung, gestures at her lunch box, “I’ll eat this well! Thank you once again!”

And off he goes without looking back. 

Hyejung is filled with another wave of disappointment, frowning slightly as she continues to look at Ikjun — he is jogging towards his best friends, face practically beaming with happiness. When he nears them, Ikjun gives Songhwa a side hug, and Hyejung feels herself frowning just a little bit.

“ Yah ,” Her friend, Haeyoung, nudges her out of her reverie. “What did he say after you gave him the lunch box?”

Hyejung flushes, tearing her eyes away from Ikjun. “Uh, he thanked me for it and said he’ll eat it well.”

Haeyoung frowns. “That’s it?”

Hyejung doesn’t answer her best friend. Which in turn, makes her friend heave a sigh of exasperation. “I swear, this Lee Ikjun is impossible!”

Hyejung pouts. “I think he really just isn’t interested in me, Haeyoung-ah.”

“So, you’re going to give up?” Haeyoung cocks her hands on her hips. “Is that it?”

“I don’t know…” It is Hyejung’s turn to sigh. 

“Maybe you should just confess to him.” Haeyoung suggests, watching her friend’s eyes widen in surprise. “That’s the fastest way to know if a guy is interested in you or not. If he isn’t, then you can move on. You know, guys can be really dense! It’s only after you confess that he might realise that he actually does like you.”

“Really?” Hyejung asks skeptically.

“If you don’t try, you wouldn’t know.” Haeyoung says pointedly.

Hyejung could only frown.

As their mock exams are around the corner, Songhwa finds herself naturally drowned in textbooks and practice questions in the public library after school. Most of her free time is spent studying until the library closes at ten, which she then walks home after. 

Most of the time, she is accompanied by her friends. Lately though, as Ikjun’s important match is also around the corner, he is suddenly swamped with football practices which would drag on until late at night, leaving him without much time to spend with his best friend. 

On an evening in particular, Songhwa ends up studying alone in the library; Jihye had plans, Jeongwon was out on a date with Gyeoul, Seokhyung was celebrating his mother’s birthday while Junwan was out doing god knows what. Ikjun, of course, was stuck in football practice. Before his match though, he had sent Songhwa a quick text through his phone, telling her not to stay up too late in the library.

To her surprise, someone slides into the empty seat opposite her, and when she glances up, Songhwa is met with a familiar smile belonging to Koo Seunghyo. “Hey,” He greets her, already taking out his note. “This seat is unoccupied, right?”

“Eo,” She smiles. “What are you doing here?”

Seunghyo arches an eyebrow before gesturing at his textbook, “Studying,” He states the obvious, and Songhwa giggles in amusement. 

“I’ve never seen you here before.” She shoots back after that. 

“I don’t usually sit here.” Seunghyo counters, “I study on the second floor.”

Songhwa shrugs, accepting his explanation. He continues, though. “Why are you alone? Don’t you usually study with your friends?”

“They’re all busy tonight.” She states, already returning to her notes. “It’s fine, I can study alone just fine anyway.”

Seunghyo merely smiles, saying nothing else as he too, starts to study. They take occasional breaks every now and then, exchanging a small conversation with each other. 

“So if you’re always ranked the first in our batch, who is the second?” Seunghyo asks out of the blue, to which Songhwa finds herself turning a tad bit shy that her deskmate had found out that she’s their entire year’s top student. 

“It’s always between Ikjun and Junwan.” Songhwa replies fondly.

Seunghyo does a double take. “Ikjun? As in your best friend, that Ikjun? The football captain?”

She nods proudly. “You wouldn’t have expected it, right? Given how he’s rarely studying and always so busy with his football practices.”

“Yeah,” Seunghyo nods sheepishly. “I honestly wouldn’t pen him as someone with good results, no offence.”

“None taken.” Songhwa grins. “It’s something Ikjun knows as well, and we envy him for it. He’s the type who doesn’t require much studying but still aces all of his exams.”

Seunghyo looks impressed, to say the least. “But he’s going to get into college with a football scholarship, right?”

Songhwa nods. “That’s his plan, yup. He wants to get into SNU’s college team.”

“SNU?” Seunghyo tilts his head. “That’s an odd choice for university football.”

She smiles. “It’s because of a pact we made when we were kids. That we would get into SNU together.” Songhwa stares wistfully at nothing in particular, reminiscing their childhood days. “Before Ikjun fell in love with football, both of us decided in middle school that we would apply for SNU’s med school.”

“Ikjun too?” Seunghyo almost couldn’t believe his ears. Ikjun wanting to be a doctor isn’t something he would have expected to learn.

“Yup.” Songhwa announces. “Imagine my slight disappointment when he decided med school isn’t for him after all.” She chuckles. “But it’s okay, Ikjun promised he’ll apply for SNU, regardless of his major.”

Seunghyo pauses, leaning into his seat. Then, he makes a small remark. “You and Ikjun are really close, huh?”

Unfazed, she nods. “We’ve been best friends since we were children…”

“I know.” The boy smiles, “It’s just fascinating to me.”

“Fascinating?” Songhwa raises an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

But Seunghyo doesn’t reply, he leans into his textbook again and resumes studying. 

And Songhwa decides not to pry as she too, returns to reading her textbook.

The library closes at nine, and Seunghyo walks Songhwa to the entrance before raising an eyebrow in her direction. “How are you going home? Are you going to walk? Alone ?”

Songhwa shakes her head. “I’ll wait for Ikjun, we usually walk back together since our houses are right beside each other. Don’t wait, you can leave first.”

“Are you sure?” Seunghyo prods with a frown, turning his head left and right at the relatively empty street, apart from the few students who are exiting the library as well. “What time is Ikjun coming?”

She glances at her wrist watch. “Anytime now. His football practice usually ends around this time, too.”

Seunghyo hesitates. “He’s coming, right?”

Songhwa nods, making a show by pushing him away towards the direction of the bus stop. “Yes, don’t worry. Hurry now, isn’t that your bus?”

Seunghyo turns to the direction of the approaching bus and it indeed is the one he would usually take home. He starts to walk towards that direction, waving one hand at Songhwa. “I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”

“Eo,” She nods. “Goodnight!”

Seunghyo makes a dash for the bus after that, and Songhwa stares at his retreating back before tearing her eyes away. She cranes her neck to see if she could spot her best friend approaching from afar, but to no avail. Songhwa takes out her phone to check if there’s any new message from him, but there are none, either. 

“Hmm,” She pockets her phone and digs the sole of her shoes into the dirt. “His practice must have gone later than usual today.” 

Songhwa pouts, rewrapping her scarf before shoving her gloved hands into her jacket pockets. Usually, she wouldn’t mind waiting for Ikjun, but because the winter air is still rather prominent even if it’s already March, Songhwa decides she’d just walk home alone today. 

Just in case though, she takes out her phone and sends a short message to Ikjun. At least, when he receives it, he wouldn’t be worried about her still waiting for him outside the public library. Pulling her jacket closer to her body, Songhwa starts the walk home, humming some random tunes to keep herself entertained. 

It’s not until ten minutes after that Songhwa slows down her steps, the hair behind her neck standing on pure instinct. Something is not right, and Songhwa comes to an abrupt stop before turning her body sideways. 

Her blood runs cold when she realises that she isn’t alone in that pathway home. It is the usual route she takes home every day from school, one she knows every turn and corner — and it is precisely that that her eyes spot almost at once, the shadow lurking behind a tree. 

Songhwa could feel the racing of her heartbeat as she turns slowly to the front again. For a moment, stricken by fear and anxiety, Songhwa freezes in her spot, not knowing what to do. It takes her every strength within her to continue taking steps forward as she mutters silent prayers that everything is just in her head, and that nothing bad would happen to her .

Songhwa hears the movement behind her, and it mirrors the pace she is walking. She takes out her phone with trembling hands, and types a message to the first person she could think of.

I’m scared. Someone is following me. 

When she stops, the person following her stops too. It is quite literally Songhwa’s worst fear, and tears start to prick her eyelids. She peers at her phone, willing for a reply from Ikjun — but her screen remains blank. Hastily, Songhwa sends another text to him.

Where are you?  

Knowing that there is a convenience store just down the corner of the block, Songhwa quickens her pace in that direction, but not enough which would trigger the person into going after her. From a distance, a group of male students walk past her, laughing and shoving each other playfully. Songhwa stops, having half the mind to call out to them, but her mind blanks out, throat constricting. She wraps her arms closer around her body, blinking back tears. 

How could she call them when they’re a group of boys and are total strangers? 

Biting her lower lip, Songhwa hastily wipes the tears clouding her vision as she continues to walk, praying that by sheer luck there would be an adult she could seek help from. In that desolated alley unfortunately, there was not a single soul in sight. Songhwa peers at her phone again, angry at herself for deciding to walk home alone. She starts to dial for his number, but no one picks up. Suddenly she is angry at Ikjun for not responding to her messages, for not picking up her calls. 

Where are you, Lee Ikjun? Where are —

The quiet night is shattered by a voice ringing in the air loudly. 

“Yah!”

The second she hears his voice, Songhwa whirls around immediately — automatic relief stretched across her face; Ikjun is running towards her, his face marked with extreme worry. If he had noticed the person who’d been following Songhwa quickly disappearing into another alley, he didn’t show it. What is most important is for Ikjun to reach his best friend first, and when he does, he pulls her into a frantic hug, nearly crashing himself against her petite frame.

That is when Songhwa starts to sob, burying her face in his chest. Her whole facade of being brave crumbles in an instant. Her entire frame is shaking as she soaks his football jersey with her tears.

“I-I ran as soon as I saw your message.” Ikjun holds her tight, still gasping for air; he’d been scared out of his wits from reading her message alone, what more Songhwa who had actually experienced it. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I’m so sorry — ”

Songhwa tightens her arms around him, breaking down into violent sobs as Ikjun repeats his apology over and over again. 

It is only after she stops crying that Songhwa sees that Ikjun is still wearing his football shoes instead of the sneakers he would change into after his practices. 

They were maybe eleven, or twelve, when they decided that enrolling in Seoul National University would be the dream they would share together.

It probably started from their parents planting that idea in their heads -- about how SNU is the best public university in their country, and getting in would be akin to their families striking a lottery. 

The young Chae Songhwa was simple minded. She wanted to make her parents proud. She wanted to make a difference in their family, so she had said out loud; “I will get into SNU one day, then!”

Her parents simply laughed, not taking much heed in her words. They weren’t the type to impose strict expectations on their children, anyway. “Eo,” Her mother had patted her head affectionately. “You do that if you want to, woori ddal.”

“I will get into SNU too, then!” Chimed another voice -- Ikjun’s. Knee to knee, shoulder to shoulder, Young Ikjun glanced at Young Songhwa with bright and hopeful eyes. “If Songhwa is going to SNU, then I’m going too!”

It was his mother’s turn to chuckle, amusement in her expression at the loyal antics of her son. “Really? Just because Songhwa is going to SNU, you want to go too?”

“Of course, eomma,” Ikjun replied without missing a beat, frowning just a little at his mother’s question -- as though secretly judging her for even asking such a silly question. It was a no brainer to Ikjun. If his best friend had decided to enrol into SNU, then there was absolutely no doubt that he would, too. It was such a simple equation to him.

“What do you want to study there though?” His mother asked a follow up question, and a short pause filled the room.

At such a tender age, there was only that much of professions the two kids knew. So Ikjun answered confidently, “Medicine! I want to become a doctor!”

Songhwa’s eyes shone as she transfixed her gaze on him. She cried out two seconds after, “Nado! I want to go to med school!”

“Yah, yah,” Their mothers shook their heads. “Be careful what you say…”

“Why?” Ikjun frowned again. “Being a doctor is good, isn’t it?”

“It is,” His mother agreed. “But why do you want to be a doctor, Ikjun-ah?”

“Doctors are good people. They save and heal sick people.” He replied innocently. “I want to do that too.”

“Me too, me too!” Songhwa chimed in once again with a giggle. “If eomma becomes sick, then I can ease her pain away!”

“Aigoo,” Songhwa’s mother smiled, reaching over to ruffle her daughter’s hair. “I have such a caring daughter. Arraseo, whatever is it that you two want to do, we wouldn’t stop you. 

Ikjun’s mother nodded in agreement. “As long as you are happy, alright?”

“Eung!” Ikjun and Songhwa yelled, before facing each other again.

Songhwa was the first to raise her pinky towards him. “Promise you will attend SNU with me when we are older?”

Ikjun grinned, and laced his pinky around hers. “Of course! Promise!”

Chapter Text

Ikjun could hardly concentrate on his notes, the only source of light illuminating the room comes from Songhwa’s bedside lamp. 

He is seated on the floor beside Songhwa’s bed, one hand flipping the pages of his Chemistry textbook, while his other hand remains tightly grasped by his best friend who had fallen asleep just a moment ago. 

Ikjun gives up on studying, closing the textbook to prop his chin on top of the hard cover. His eyes remain trained on Songhwa’s sleeping figure, her expression serene and finally at ease.

It has taken her some time to calm down. Even when they’d arrived in the safety confines of her home an hour ago, Songhwa was visibly still shaken. Not wanting to worry her family though, she had whispered for Ikjun not to say anything when her parents asked them how their day was earlier. 

He had lingered in the living room while Songhwa had showered, making small conversations with her father as they watched a football match together. It was only when Songhwa returned as she wiped her hair dry, that Ikjun followed her into her bedroom so they could talk.

“How are you feeling?” He’d asked her quietly, sitting beside her on her bed. The worry he initially had, returned to his eyes as they were alone again.

Songhwa had managed a small smile of assurance. “Better. I..I guess I’m okay now.”

“Good,” Ikjun replied with a sigh of relief, “don’t do that again, okay? Walk home alone at night, I mean. No matter how late my football practices can get, I’ll be there to walk you home, always.”

Songhwa sniffled, trying to ease back the tears that were about to spring on her eyelids again. Amidst everything, she was grateful that Ikjun had rushed to her side, that nothing bad had happened. What if she wasn’t so lucky next time? No, she shook her head quickly, there wouldn’t be a next time.

“Ikjun-ah,” She whispered, meeting his careful gaze. “can you stay until I’ve fallen asleep?”

It was a request that was met with immediate acceptance. Ikjun shifted from his position then, heading towards his bag. “I’ll catch up on some studying while you sleep.”

He’d settled into her chair by her study desk when Songhwa spoke again. “Not there…”

He glanced at her, his expression puzzled. 

Songhwa nibbled her lower lip, unable to look at him suddenly. She patted the space beside her slowly, as if embarrassed to be requesting this from him. “I...I’m sorry if this is too much...but...can I hold your hand?”

She didn’t explain to him the amount of security she could feel just by intertwining their hands together - his presence, alone, was comforting to her. If it wasn’t because Songhwa was still reeling from the event that had just occurred to her, she would have realised just how hard she was blushing when Ikjun quietly made his way towards the side of her bed, and slipped his hand into hers without any qualms.

“Now go to sleep.” He told her softly as she laid back underneath her covers. Ikjun didn’t watch her, pretending to be reading his textbook -- but from his peripheral vision, he could tell that she was looking at him.

His cheeks were heated, but he ignored it. Subconsciously, the pad of his thumb caressed her skin gently, as if to comfort her further that he was here for her. Always.

And that was how Ikjun finds himself in this current position where he is able to stare at Songhwa’s sleeping figure. He reaches out on instinct to brush strands of wayward hair away from her face, tucking them behind her ears. 

He makes a promise that he would always protect her. 

As Songhwa drifts off to sleep, her grip around his hand loosens eventually. Ikjun removes his hand slowly, pulling her duvet closer to her chin. He gives one last glance towards his best friend before switching off her bedside lamp.

He heads into the living room, announcing to her parents that Songhwa had fallen asleep and he’ll make his move now. He bows to them politely, and leaves after that.

“Have a good rest, Ikjun-ah.”

“You too, eomeonim ,”

After Ikjun leaves, Mrs. Chae turns to her husband. “Do you think he knows?”

“Knows what?”

Songhwa’s mother rolls her eyes before stating the obvious, “That he has feelings for our daughter.”

“He does?” Her father frowns, remaining uninterested. 

“Uh, didn’t you hear him earlier? He just finished football practice but still accompanied Songhwa until she fell asleep. He looked so tired earlier!”

Mr. Chae shrugs. “But it’s Ikjun, though. He is always caring towards Songhwa.”

“Precisely.” Her mother states, “It’s Ikjun, and I know the boy as though he is my own son. And I can tell you for sure, that he likes Songhwa.”

“Oh.”

“ Oh ? Is that honestly the only response you can give now?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“Maybe how you feel about this?”

“It’s Ikjun. Of course I’m more than okay if what you say turns out to be true.” He chuckles lightly. “I don’t trust any boys for our daughter, except him.”

Songhwa’s mother smiles before leaning back against the couch. “That would be nice, wouldn’t it? Ikjun and Songhwa. If they got together.”

“It definitely would,” Her father agrees. “I wonder if our daughter likes him too.”

“Songhwa?” Her mother smirks. “Oh, she definitely does. I’m just not sure if she has acknowledged it yet.”

“Really?”

“Her eyes sparkle whenever she talks about him to us! Can you pay more attention to your daughter, seriously? 

“Well...I wouldn’t know what you women think anyway…”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.”

“It better be nothing.”

Mrs. Chae returns to her room after that, heart filled with giddy excitement at the prospect of her daughter dating her best friend’s son. If it does happen one day, it would be like a dream come true. 

She makes a mental note to ask Mrs. Lee about this the next time they meet.

The classroom is empty save for Songhwa and Seunghyo, who were placed on duty to clean their classroom that day. It is mostly a quiet affair except for a few short conversations they had exchanged about the upcoming school festival, mostly musings as to what their class would be doing this year. 

“We’d likely be operating a game stall,” Songhwa says, remembering words from Jeongwon about his idea for the festival this year. “Although Seokhyung thinks we should perform. Did you know the boys and I have our own band?” 

“The boys meaning...Ikjun, Junwan, Seokhyung and Jeongwon?” Seunghyo quirks an eyebrow.

Songhwa nods with gleaming eyes. “We usually just meet up some weekends to jam and have fun but we’re not that bad, honestly.”

“That’d be fun to watch if you all decide to do that,” Seunghyo agrees, sweeping rubbish into the dustpan before tossing it over the dustbin. “Wait, what instrument do you play? Or...are you the vocals?”

She giggles bashfully. “I want to be the vocals, but the boys won’t allow me. I play the bass.”

Seunghyo’s jaw drops in awe. “The bass? That is so cool. I’ve hardly ever seen girls playing the bass before. You must be really good at it.”

Songhwa blushes. “Nah, Ikjun taught me for five years. I’m mediocre at best,”

“Pfftt,” Seunghyo shakes his head while tying the rubbish bag, “I’ll leave my judgement to the actual performance, if you guys decide to.” 

“Don’t think Junwan wants to. He’s adamant on refusing to take part in this crazy idea of ours.” She laughs, and reaches for the rubbish bag, “Here, let me throw the rubbish while you rearrange the desks?”

“Sure,” Seunghyo agrees.

Songhwa makes her way towards the back of the building, half whistling a random tune. She is in a rather jovial mood as she throws the rubbish bag, making her way around the building. 

She stops in her tracks the seconds she sees two individuals just ahead of her. 

Ikjun and Hyejung.

Her first instinct is to hide behind a tree, peeking half her head out so she could eavesdrop on the conversation. Even though Songhwa knows that this isn’t proper, she couldn’t help but to train her eyes on the way Hyejung is looking at the ground, her hands clasped together behind her back. She looks like she is about to say something, while Ikjun stares in slight confusion.

“What is it that you wanted to say?” Songhwa could hear Ikjun asking.

“Uh,” Hyejung shifts her feet nervously, “I...there’s something I want you to know,”

Songhwa is holding her breath, wondering what Hyejung is about to say. For some reason, she feels uneasy, her heart pounding beneath her. 

“Ikjun-sshi,” Hyejung finally looks at him, determination strewn across her expression. “I like you. Please go out with me.”

The second she hears that, Songhwa’s eyes widen. The sudden silence in the air is almost deafening, and all she could hear is the race of her heartbeat in her ears.

And then, Songhwa takes a few cautious steps back, throat constricting. 

She decides she doesn’t want to hear Ikjun’s response, and Songhwa rushes back into the school building, one hand covering her mouth in shock.

Still reeling in the bit of information she’d discovered, Songhwa is uncharacteristically silent throughout her walk home. 

Ikjun catches on that something is bothering her, but knowing that his best friend isn’t the type to divulge in her problems when she doesn’t feel like it, he doesn’t prod. After a few attempts to keep a conversation in the air which are met with curt answers or simple head gestures, they fall into complete silence.

Ikjun wonders if something had happened — because he could tell from Songhwa’s expression that she is visibly upset. Did something happen while she had been on duty cleaning up their classroom?

“Are you okay?” He finally braves himself to ask, purely out of concern. Their houses aren’t that far away, and he knows that time is slipping away if he doesn’t ask now. “Something seems to be bothering you.”

Songhwa doesn’t look at him. Her eyes are trained on the ground as she clutches the strap of her bag tightly. 

I’m not okay. I don’t know how to feel. Did you say yes to Hyejung’s confession? Why does it even bother me that much? I’m not okay. I’m confused.

“I’m okay,” She replies softly. The clench in her heart is apparent at the way she’d lied.

Ikjun frowns, catching onto her lie at once. But he doesn’t call her out for it, doesn’t even show any indication that he knows she had lied. “Okay.” is all Ikjun says as another pause stretches between them. “If you ever want to talk, you know I’m here for you.”

“Really?” Songhwa mutters beneath her breath, and that question comes out more bitter than anything. 

“Really.” Ikjun insists, a bit surprised at her tone. He nudges her side playfully. “Yah, what’s gotten into you? Did I do something wrong? Did I anger you without realising?”

Songhwa heaves a sigh, and finally stops to look at him. When their eyes meet, she ignores the way her heart is pounding yet once again. “You didn’t,” She tells him honestly, “I just...I don’t know how to deal with these feelings, honestly.”

“Feelings?” 

“Feelings.” Songhwa nods. “They can be confusing.”

“Anything I can do to help?”

She stares at him, her response to his question flitting into her mind easily; not when you are actually the cause of it,

Songhwa shakes her head gently. “I’ll figure this out myself.” She starts to walk ahead, leaving a much confused Ikjun behind. 

Feelings.

The first time Ikjun realised he had feelings for his best friend was when they were in junior high, and a senior had taken a liking towards Songhwa.

It was obvious that the senior liked her, and was trying his best to catch her attention.

And Ikjun, at just the age of fifteen, felt a rush of emotions he had never felt before, a certain green-eyed monster rising in his throat every time he watched that senior approach Songhwa.

It was a well kept secret for a few years now, one he did not dare to divulge with anyone else. Not even their other close friends. Afraid it may complicate the dynamics of their group, and the special bond he was already sharing with Songhwa, Ikjun chose to remain quiet.

One day though, Songhwa had asked him a question that had startled him.

“Do you think I should just say yes to sunbae?”

She had not been looking at him when she asked him that.

“Mwo?” Ikjun had whirled towards her on instinct, eyes widening with trepidation he hoped she could not see. There was a lump suddenly lodged in his throat as his heart started to race. His knees felt weak and his hands were turning clammy—

“He asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend.” 

Ikjun had to force the lump down his throat. “Do you…want to?”

He saw how Songhwa shrugged, with an unreadable expression on her face. “I don’t know, honestly. Sunbaenim is nice and really sweet but…I don’t know if I feel that way towards him.”

At Ikjun’s silence, Songhwa finally turned to look at him. They had both stopped walking by then. “Ikjun-ah,”

She paused, as if studying his expression. 

“Should I say yes?”

Ikjun could barely hear his own thoughts from the way his heart was ringing in his ears. Was Songhwa giving him the ultimatum to decide her relationship? Would it even be fair for him to dictate an answer?

“Don’t.”

Ikjun saw the surprise in her eyes when he said that firmly. He shifted in his position and his gaze faltered to his feet. 

“If you’re hesitating, that means you don’t like him that much to say yes to being his girlfriend.” He reasoned while clearing his throat.

“Ah.” Songhwa nodded. “Okay.”

It was at that moment, with Songhwa seriously considering the sunbae’s proposal, that realisation struck Ikjun in three quick seconds. 

He was uncomfortable at the thought of Songhwa becoming someone else’s girlfriend because he liked her. Not as close friends. But as a man would to a woman.

Chapter Text

As the school festival draws nearer, their class agrees on setting up a game stall and, much to Junwan’s chagrin, that Ikjun’s band performs for the night too.

Junwan's vehement protests are immediately drowned by Ikjun's enthusiastic call! We will definitely do it if you guys have the confidence in us!

"Yah! Songhwa-ya," Junwan seeks out their bass guitarist with a hiss, "Say something! You wouldn't want to perform in front of a crowd, right?"

But Songhwa merely shrugs, her mood clearly off that day as she finds herself not exactly focusing on the issue in front of her. Her mind is occupied by some other things which she could not divulge to anyone. Seeing how distracted she was makes Junwan huff in defeat, turning back to his seat with a loud groan of disgust.

Then Jeongwon goes on and on enthusiastically about the school festival and all the planning they had to do to get ready for it. All of which Songhwa does not bother listening to.

She isn’t even sure what to say, what to make of her incoherent mind at the moment, too. Frankly, the school festival is the last thing on her mind right now.

Her lack of response is enough for Ikjun to cast a worried gaze at her. She had been so quiet since yesterday night, and even their bicycle ride to school this morning was quiet. It seems as though she is ridden with such heavy thoughts that Ikjun could not seem to penetrate her mind to make a decent conversation with her. It worries him, but he also knows to respect her space until she is ready to tell him what is going on.

However, after two days of silent treatment, Ikjun finally loses his patience. 

“Why aren’t you telling me anything?” He nearly begs on their way back after school. “Something is clearly bothering you but you refuse to even talk to me!”

Songhwa sighs, refusing to look at him. “I don’t have anything to say to you.”

Ikjun shakes his head. “Liar , Chae Songhwa. You’re a liar, and clearly you don’t have any respect for our friendship if you think I wouldn’t see past your facade.”

His statement is strong. So strong that Songhwa halts dead in her tracks to glare at him.

“Stop acting like a know-it-all,” She hisses, “stop acting like you know me so well!”

“I actually do until I don’t,” Ikjun retorts back, “Because you won’t tell me what’s wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong!”

“God! You’re so freaking stubborn!”

“Stop poking your nose into other people’s business!”

“You’re not just ‘other people’ to me!” Ikjun snaps, then draws away with a dark cloud hanging above his head. “Look, I don’t know what the heck is going on with you lately but you know what? I’m just going to go. Tell me when you finally get your shit together.”

In all the years they had been friends, that was the first time Ikjun ever snapped at Songhwa like that. She reels back in shock and surprise, unable to reconcile her feelings as she watches Ikjun’s retreating back with her feet frozen to the ground. His words ring in her ears over and over again, his expression of disappointment and frustration looming in her mind. 

Her first argument with her best friend left a bitter aftertaste in her mouth. Songhwa cries herself to sleep that night, wondering if Ikjun hated her now, wondering if things had changed between them as they grow older day by day. 

She couldn’t bring herself to ask Ikjun, so she wallows in the hurt alone.

“Are you okay?”

“Hmm? Yeah. I am.”

Songhwa is studying in the library again with Seunghyo when the latter decided to ask her that question out of concern. Seunghyo shifts in his seat and gingerly points at the math problems in her workbook. “You got three of five questions wrong.”

“What?” She panics, darting quick glances at her workbook. The mistakes are glaring, and Songhwa heaves a sigh of frustration as she reaches for her eraser. “I’m fine, these are just careless mistakes.”

“Coming from someone who gets full marks for algebra?” Seunghyo raises an eyebrow. 

Songhwa is speechless, looking back at her answer sheet and realising that she doesn’t even remember answering these questions. If she had actually concentrated, she definitely wouldn’t have made such rookie mistakes.

“I’m an outsider in this, but I’m also your friend.” Seunghyo continues firmly. “And a friend knows when his friend is clearly bothered by something. What happened?”

Silence. For a brief second, Songhwa wonders if she could just tell Seunghyo. Words she could not say to anyone else, because everyone around her is close to Ikjun, too. That is part of the reason why she couldn’t say anything to Jihye, her best girl friend, knowing she would have been able to pin two to two in an instant. 

Songhwa doesn’t know if she’s ready for her closest friends to know what has been troubling her mind for days now.

But with the new exchange student who doesn’t know much about the very subject matter of her worries, Songhwa thinks that perhaps Seunghyo could be objective if she shares the truth with him. She nibbles her lower lip and finally tells him;

“Yuk Hyejung confessed to Ikjun that she likes him.”

Seunghyo promptly arches his eyebrow again. Perhaps he had not expected to hear such a sentence coming out from Songhwa’s mouth, yet he is polite enough not to show his confusion through his expression. “Go on,”

“And then I got into an argument with Ikjun.” Songhwa places her pen down in defeat. “I don’t know why it bothers me so much and that is why I’m so frustrated and distracted—”

“What do you mean?” Seunghyo frowns, interjecting her. His confusion seems to grow larger at each passing sentence. “Isn’t it obvious?”

Songhwa blinks.

Seunghyo sighs, scratching his head with his pen — how could the top student be so dense when it comes to her own feelings? “You like Ikjun.”

Her eyes bulge open in shock. “W-what?” Songhwa sputters.

“You like Ikjun,” Seunghyo repeats firmly. “It’s pretty obvious to me.”

“Of course I like Ikjun, he’s my best—”

“I don’t mean that sort of ‘like’.” Seunghyo gestures in the air. “You ‘like’ like him! With romantic feelings.”

Romantic feelings? Songhwa is nearly horrified to hear that.

“I do not! ” She protests vehemently with firm shakes of her head. “That’s impossible…that can’t be true—”

Seunghyo remains calm as he states firmly, “I have three reasons why I said that,” 

Songhwa squares her shoulders. Her face is a beetroot red when she tells him, “Prove it.”

“One, you can’t look at him for three seconds without blushing.” Seunghyo folds his ring finger. “You perk up every time someone so much as mentions his name,” Songhwa feels a blush creeping onto her face. “And,” Seunghyo folds his remaining finger. “Girl, it’s kinda written all over your face.”

Songhwa wallows in his words in shock, until she shakes her head and says something else instead. Some sort of distracting mechanism from having to acknowledge Seunghyo’s words properly.

“He has a girlfriend now, anyway.”

It is Seunghyo’s turn to become frustrated. “Did Ikjun tell you that himself?”

“What?”

“That he has a girlfriend.”

Songhwa says softly, “He doesn’t need to for me to know.”

“Then you’re just assuming.”

She opens and closes her mouth, unable to find the words. 

Seunghyo sighs. “You shouldn’t assume, Songhwa-sshi. It could be dangerous to assume.” 

“But I saw him a few times with Hyejung. They’re…spending time together.” 

“You know, I think he only spends time with Hyejung these days because you’re too busy avoiding him.”

“I’m not—”

But Seunghyo gives her a pointed look and Songhwa shuts up immediately. Her cheeks are heated up, her heart racing a mile at the mere thought of the truth in Seunghyo’s statement.  She almost couldn’t dare to think further, worried about what she might find lying in the deepest recesses of her heart if she does.

He continues, “I have to say that I’m flattered you included me as part of your avoiding Lee Ikjun agenda…”

“What?” Songhwa is mortified to hear that. “Seunghyo-sshi, that’s not what—”

But Seunghyo laughs it off easily. “That’s fine, whatever the reason was. I like spending time with you anyway.”

She shakes her head in confusion. “But why? I’m boring.”

“You’re not.”

“I’m Head Librarian, you know — which is another word for nerd.” Songhwa jokes. “I don’t stand out at parties, I’m a wallflower. I’m not popular, not pretty—”

“Well,” Seunghyo shrugs nonchalantly. “I think you’re pretty. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks that way.”

She stares at him in confusion until Seunghyo sighs and states pointblank; "Your best friend Lee Ikjun. I'm sure he finds you pretty, too."

Songhwa blushes again, not knowing how to react to that. Seunghyo plays it cool and continues. “So, for using me, you have to do me a favour.”

“Seunghyo-sshi…” She tries to argue, but the boy ignores her.

“Talk to Ikjun. And I mean properly.” He states adamantly. “Because as long as there is a rift between the both of you, you’re not going to be able to concentrate on your schoolwork. And hey, we can’t have that happen to the model student of our year, right? The school’s hope for SNU Med School.”

“Stop it,” She says goodnaturedly with a smile.

“I’m serious, though.” Seunghyo says sternly, “Songhwa-sshi, the sooner you acknowledge your feelings, the faster you are able to work your way into finding a solution. And I’m sure Ikjun is too precious a friend for you to lose, right?”

Songhwa nods — that bit she could agree on, for sure.

Their eyes meet, and she could tell the sincerity in Seunghyo’s eyes. 

Songhwa smiles, and tells him the only word she could think of at the moment, “Thank you.”

Before Songhwa could find the courage to speak to Ikjun, he beats her to it.

She’d been writing in her diary when she was interrupted by small stones hitting her window pane. Songhwa gets up and opens her window, finding Ikjun standing in the streets. Her heart nearly melts at the sight of him, and Songhwa has to control herself from blushing hard when she waves at him. After all, it has been days since they last interacted or spoke to each other. 

“What are you doing?” She asks in a controlled voice, not wanting to disturb her sleeping parents. 

“I just want to talk.” Ikjun replies, shoving his hands into his pocket. “But you’re not responding to my text.”

Songhwa looks away sheepishly, guilty for doing that. Truth be told she is still trying to grapple with what she had recently learned from a third party. But she finally expels a sigh and turns back to look at him. “I’ll come down.” 

She slips on a thin cardigan and sneaks out of the house quietly, meeting Ikjun outside of her house. They couldn’t look at each other for some reason, resorting to casting their gazes at their shoes instead. 

“Do you want to go to the park?” She murmurs while shuffling her feet into the ground.

“Eo. Let’s.” Ikjun says a second after.

Their short walk to the park nearby is met with mostly silence. And the silence is deafening. For two people who have spent most of their lives always around each other, always talking to each other, the awkward tension that lingers in the air now is just a little too jarring to bear. 

They settle themselves on the swings for maybe a quiet few minutes until Ikjun finally speaks up again. “I’m sorry.”

Songhwa whips her head towards him immediately, pushing up her glasses. “W-what?”

Those words should have come out from her first. After all, she was the one who started this entire argument. 

“For what I said the other day.” Ikjun apologises softly. “I shouldn’t have said those harsh words. Are you...are you still mad at me?”

“I wasn’t mad at you.” She whispers with a shake of her head. There’s a pause; another long stretched silence as Songhwa attempts on finding the right words to say. “If anyone should say sorry, it’s me, Ikjun-ah. You weren’t being harsh. You were…right.”

Ikjun meets her gaze and she sees the way his expression softens.

“There’s actually a reason why I’ve been avoiding you.” Songhwa admits, still holding onto his gaze..

He stays silent, waiting for her to continue.

“I had some things to figure out and it’s just...I didn’t think it would be that appropriate if we kept hanging out together.”

“What?” Ikjun looks positively aghast at that. “Why?”

Songhwa gives him an exasperated look, wishing he would just understand her without her having to say those awful words out loud. She then stands abruptly, taking a few steps away from the swings, her back against him. 

“Because...because…Hyejung wouldn’t like it.”

“Hyejung?” Ikjun's forehead creases together in confusion. “What does Hyejung got to do with this?”

She fiddles her fingers nervously, biting her lower lip. “I...I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I heard her confession to you.”

It takes him about three seconds for realisation to hit him. Ikjun immediately gets down from the swing, making his way towards her briskly, afraid of letting this misunderstanding grow any further. “Did you...hear my reply to her though?”

Songhwa stays quiet, because she didn’t. 

“Songhwa-ya,” Ikjun sighs, before explaining. “I didn’t accept her confession.”

Her eyes widen immediately. “You...didn’t?”

“Yeah!” He states sharply, “Why did you even think I did?”

Seunghyo was right, Songhwa thinks to herself. She feels immediate shame for assuming.

“I just...I thought you were quite close to her lately.”

“Well, I don’t ...like her that way.” Ikjun shrugs lightly, “She needed some help with physics so I was really just tutoring her, in some ways. And Hyejung understands that I'll never see her in that light, too."

Songhwa blinks, slightly taken aback at how firm he had sounded. “Oh.”

Ikjun is frustrated as he runs a hand through his hair, “Wait, is that why you couldn’t tell me what was wrong? Because of Hyejung?”

She looks away with a shameful nod.

“Songhwa-ya…” He sighs, “Why did you assume things without talking to me?”

Seunghyo's words flit into her mind just then; it's dangerous to assume.

“I…I don’t know,” Songhwa admits — because honestly, that is the truth. She really doesn’t know why. “All I know is that I was confused and I didn’t know what to do.”

“Why were you confused?”

“I…umm…” Songhwa could feel herself blushing. She shakes her head in the end, not wanting to tell Ikjun yet about the truth that she is only slowly beginning to accept. “I told you. It’s complicated.”

“What is?”

“Feelings.”

“Feelings? Like the other day?”

She nods, but doesn’t elaborate. The silence that breaches over them is enough for something to go off in Ikjun’s mind as he continues to observe Songhwa’s expression. His eyes widen just a little as he wonders if what he is suspecting is right. It’s mere speculation, after all. But…what if he’s right? 

Ikjun opens his mouth to ask Songhwa, “Hoksshi…”

Songhwa is quick to interject him with a question that has been occupying her mind for seconds now; "Why did you reject Hyejung, though? She's pretty and is one of the most popular girls in our school…"

Ikjun shrugs nonchalantly. "I don't see her that way. She's not my type."

His tone is firm. Songhwa realises that.

Wrapping her arms around her body, Songhwa looks away. She doesn't know why she is suddenly flustered. “It’s cold.” She says briskly, trying to change topics.

Without saying a word, Ikjun removes and drapes his letterman jacket around her shoulders before pulling the sides closer around her body. “You should take better care of yourself, Songhwa-ya.”

“Ah,” She could feel heat on her cheeks at his close proximity. Ikjun takes a small step back, and she tilts her head to look at him. “Thanks. Aren’t you cold though?”

“Nah,” Ikjun grins. “I’m good.”

Songhwa faces him properly. They remain in that position, neither saying anything until she smiles. “I used to be taller than you.” She says. “Now you tower over me. Since when did you grow that much?”

Ikjun’s only response is to chuckle softly while shaking his head.

Songhwa’s expression softens  the longer she holds onto his gaze. She never quite realised it; the color of Ikjun’s eyes, so warm and kind. She’d never really seen nor focused on his features this up close, and Songhwa feels her heart thundering against her ribcage as her eyes fix themselves on his pink lips. 

It takes her everything to clear her throat and turn away, taking a few steps backward while pulling Ikjun’s jacket closer. It’s huge on her, and she relishes in the warmth of it and his lingering scent. “It’s getting late. We should go back.”

“Eo. You’re right.” Ikjun agrees, regaining his bearings as well and tailing after her. His heart wouldn’t stop beating this quickly, though. And he notices something. “Songhwa-ya, wait,”

She turns, and is surprised when Ikjun bends down onto one knee, eyes on the floor. “Hmm?” It took Songhwa two seconds to realise her shoelace had come undone, and Ikjun is currently tying it for her. “Aigoo,” He chides gently, “you could trip and fall if you’re not careful, you know.”

Songhwa stares at his back, before Ikjun raises his head and meets her eyes. For a few seconds, neither speak — for some reason, her mouth turns dry. 

Her heart is beating so fast. 

Why is it beating so fast? As though she’d never seen Ikjun in this way before, as though he hadn't tied her shoelace before. The look of him diligently tying her shoelaces ever so carefully, ever so adoringly if she dares say, before glancing up at her with his usual goofy-like grin after pushing up his glasses with his index figure — Songhwa feels her heart lurching to her throat. 

“There, all good now.” Ikjun announces proudly, still glancing at her from below. Songhwa clears her throat and forces herself to look away, fighting the obvious blush of embarrassment (maybe even shyness) on her cheeks. 

“Thanks.” She mutters as he finally gets up, brushing dirt from his jeans.

They're standing so close to each other that when they both look up at the same time, their faces are just inches apart from each other. Breaths mingling as they both find themselves freezing, unable to move for some reason.

Songhwa's heartbeat is erratic now. She feels a lump growing in her throat as she is unable to tear her eyes away from Ikjun's face, the bridge of his nose, his lush pink lips again…

Subconsciously, they lean closer, with Ikjun lowering his head and Songhwa doing nothing to pull away. She could feel him getting closer and closer now, tension rising in the air as her eyes flutter shut slowly, holding her breath in anticipation —

A dog barks somewhere down the alley, surprising them out of their reverie as they spring apart immediately, putting a respectful distance between them.

Their cheeks are heated, neither could look at each other because what on earth was that? 

Ikjun clears his throat loudly, cheeks hot and bothered. "W-we should go home. It's getting too cold and it's really late."

Songhwa could only nod in agreement, unable to find her voice. Her heart is still pounding, her mind going into overdrive for that short moment — but it was a moment — earlier. 

A moment that clearly meant something.

They walk home in silence, but they could hear their hearts beating in their ears loudly.

Ikjun and Songhwa say goodnight to each other and disappear into their respective houses quickly.

It is only as Songhwa gets ready for bed an hour later that she realises she is wide awake . She could still remember the tension in the air, how close he had stood in front of her. She could still remember that she had held her breath, waiting earnestly for his next action. And Ikjun…she knows for certain that he had wanted to kiss her.

Songhwa couldn't sleep that night. All that is in her mind is one question she knows she has to clarify with her best friend soon—

What on earth was that earlier, Lee Ikjun?

"I'm really sorry," 

Hyejung's face fell ever so slightly.

Ikjun was looking at her with a sheepish smile on his face. This wasn't his first time rejecting a girl's confession, but it didn't make it any easier either.

"I'm flattered you like me, but I can't accept your confession, Hyejung-sshi."

Hyejung forced herself to continue smiling, her cheeks red with embarrassment. "Ah, I see." There was an awkward pause until she decided to ask something that has been nagging her mind for weeks, "Do you like someone else?"

Ikjun looked startled at first, but eventually, he nodded.

He knew what his heart felt. Who his heart was beating for.

Hyejung nodded in acceptance and then continued softly, "It’s her isn’t it? Your best friend, Chae Songhwa."

Surprisingly, Ikjun didn't look surprised to hear her name from Hyejung's mouth. He rubbed the nape of his neck and looked away shyly.

"Ah, is it that obvious?"

Hyejung chuckled — so her intuition was right, after all. She never did stand a chance against his best friend. Confirming this was liberating to her in some ways, and she didn't feel the least upset about it, surprisingly. 

"I think it's obvious to outsiders but not to her, Ikjun-sshi."

Ikjun shrugged, scratching his chin before looking at Hyejung again. "I'm really sorry, once again. Are you…okay?"

Hyejung waved a hand to dismiss him. "Silly question to ask, Lee Ikjun. A girl just confessed to you and got rejected so how could she be okay?" 

His face was red again."S-sorry—"

"But I don't think this is something you should apologise for," Hyejung's expression softened. "We can't control feelings, anyway. I'm embarrassed, honestly, but I will be fine."

She took a step back. "You'll still tutor me for Physics, right? I promise I won't make things awkward between us."

Ikjun nodded quickly. "Of course,"

Hyejung paused and then continued, "Yah, chin up, Lee Ikjun. Face your feelings bravely! You shouldn't shy away from this! And don't you worry about me. I'm not the type of girl who gets upset if one guy out of so many doesn't like her, you know?"

Ikjun was amused, but returned her smile earnestly. "Err, thank you, Hyejung-sshi."

"I'll see you around." She was walking away now, keeping her brave front. 

After she left, Ikjun let her words sink in.

He knew she was right, that he shouldn't shy away from his feelings for Songhwa. 

But still, he worries for her reaction if he were to be honest with her. And there was always the possibility that she may not like him the same way he does — and what if his confession would make things awkward between them? That was the reason why he had not said anything in these few years that had gone by.

Ikjun was mortified at the thought alone, of not being able to talk to or spend time with his best friend. He would rather die than to allow that to happen.

He decided as he started to walk away, that he would wait. Let nature take its course.

He will confess to her one day.

Just not today.

Chapter Text

Despite the moment that had occurred some nights ago, Ikjun and Songhwa find themselves immersed in their studies as their exam season is around the corner. Putting their feelings for each other aside, they decide separately to focus on their studies, first. 

After all, these mock exams will greatly determine their future. Songhwa’s burning determination to get into medical school slowly replaces the awkwardness she had initially felt when she had to spend time alone with Ikjun after that evening by the swings. Now, all she could see — at least for the time being — is her best and most compatible study partner since they were in elementary school.

Snacks are laid out on their desk, with sticky notes to mark each milestone to achieve in their revisions before they are allowed to eat those snacks and sweets. Songhwa has exactly 3 pages to go in her Biology chapter before she reaches the colorful gummy bears that had been staring at her for the past half an hour — a great motivation for her to push herself into reaching the end of the chapter.

“Quiz time!” 

The sudden proclamation from Ikjun makes her groan, but she lifts her head nevertheless to look at him. He has a stack of flashcards in his palm as he clears his throat to test her memory prowess. 

“This question is on meiosis,” 

Meiosis. It was in one of the chapters she’d studied yesterday. Songhwa’s mind is already churning out the bits of information in her head.

“What happens during anaphase II?”

Songhwa holds a finger out, as if telling Ikjun to wait as she starts to recall what she had memorised the day before. “Homologous chromosomes form tetrads along the center of the cell during prophase I,” She mumbles with hand gestures, “Full chromosomes are pulled to each pole during anaphase I, resulting in two haploid cells at the end of meiosis I.”

Ikjun nods with a small smile, “And then…?”

“And then, sister chromatids align at the center of the cell in singular chromosome structures during prophase II!” Songhwa finishes excitedly, “Then they separate during anaphase II, which then results to four haploid cells—”

“Ding dong deng!” Ikjun snaps his fingers and holds out a gummy bear for Songhwa. “Here’s your reward for such a perfect, complete answer!”

“Yeyii!” Songhwa giggles and nearly snatches the gummy bear from his hand. 

They both continue to smile as they munch on the gummy bears, taking a short break while looking at each other. Perhaps it is the way Ikjun holds her gaze, but the almost forgotten feeling of flusteredness starts to rise within Songhwa again as her cheeks heat up in sudden shyness. 

Ikjun must have realised the change in her expression, for he clears his throat and taps his own textbook. “I’m almost done with this chapter. Let’s call it a day after that?”

“Eo,” She quietly agrees, since they had been studying for the past three hours with intermittent breaks in between. “I’m a little hungry, honestly.”

“Do you want to get dinner together after this?” Ikjun invites naturally, not thinking too much about his words.

Songhwa could feel the blush in her cheeks seemingly becoming brighter. “Dinner? Ah…okay.” She nods shyly, looking down at her textbook. “S-sure.”

Ikjun grins, clearly happy to hear her response. He straightens his back and rubs his hands together, now motivated to finish studying for the day. 

As he dives right into his notes, Songhwa finds herself glancing up every few seconds, wanting to see his expression of full concentration. She’d always liked seeing Ikjun in his studious element, with his eyebrows furrowed as he mumbles to himself the words from his textbook to memorise. Even though she knows that Ikjun could easily get into college with a sports scholarship, Songhwa is filled with admiration that he is still trying his hardest to score well in his exams, too. 

Seeing the way he works so hard is enough to send her heart skipping a beat. 

She hides the smile gracing her face by looking down at her notes again. 

Fifteen minutes later, both of them let out sighs of relief as they close their textbooks and begin to stretch. 

“Argh, that was great,” Songhwa mutters as she stands to stretch her arms into the ceiling. 

Ikjun merely smiles, packing up and clearing their snacks away when he casually says, “Say, you’ll come to my next match after our exams and the school festival right?”

“Of course!” Songhwa turns around to face him, flashing him the widest grin. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

“Cool,” Ikjun grins before continuing, “and you have to stay until the very end, okay?”

She arches an eyebrow, curiosity on her face. “ Wae ?”

Ikjun purses his lips into a smile, the pause between them stretching for seconds longer than necessary. Songhwa kneels to sit beside him, nudging her elbow into his ribs, adamant on getting whatever it is in his mind out. “What is it?”

He squirms out of her reach in reflex, but she is persistent, edging closer and closer into him in an attempt to wring the words out of his mouth. “Tell me! Lee Ikjun, tell me!”

“ Arraseo, arraseo! ” Ikjun waves his hands in the air, surrendering to her insistence with a loud chuckle. “Gosh, Chae Songhwa, you’re relentless.” 

“Is this the first day you’ve known me?” She smirks, crossing her arms. “I’m Chae Songhwa for a reason.”

There’s another short pause, but this time Ikjun starts slowly. “I...made a promise to myself.” 

“Oh?” 

“It will be a big day for me, won't it?”

“Mmhmm,”

“I told myself that if I score the winning goal,” He exhales slowly “I’ll be brave.”

Confusion streaks across her face — Songhwa doesn’t understand his words. “What do you mean?”

Ikjun looks at Songhwa straight in the eyes, holding onto her gaze warmly, almost carefully — in an instant, she feels her heart racing a mile again, heat rising within her cheeks.

“You’ll know eventually.”

And then she knits her eyebrows together in mild confusion. “But what does that have to do with me staying until the end of your match?”

“ Yah ,” Ikjun sighs exasperatedly, “obviously so that you can help me score that winning goal! You’re my lucky charm, you know? I’ve never lost a match before when you are in the crowd.”

A streak of pink crosses her face at that, and the tip of her mouth curls up ever so slightly.

“Okay.” She relents, eyes turning into half moons. “I’ll be there.”

In the week leading to their exams, Ikjun finds Songhwa fast asleep on her desk, one side of her cheek squished against the pages of her open textbook.

He couldn’t help the small smile that crosses his expression as he quietly puts down his bag on the empty chair beside her. It is only ten in the morning on a Saturday, and from the looks of Songhwa being fast asleep, Ikjun deduces that she’d pulled another all nighter before dozing off in the middle of the night. 

He worries for her neck, which must be straining from such an uncomfortable position for possibly hours — but he doesn't wake her up for the time being. Ikjun pulls the curtain slowly across her window to block the sunlight which is streaming in and hitting her face, making the softest sound as he completely stops any light from waking her up. 

Then, he slides into the chair, wanting to study beside her. Before he does that though, Ikjun glances at her direction again, and leans his head down to face her. Resting his cheek on his arm, Ikjun observes Songhwa's sleeping features with a smile, noting her puffy cheek and slightly red nose. He thinks she looks absolutely adorable, even if she is sleeping in such an unflattering manner.

If anyone looks at Ikjun now, they would see how stupidly in love he already is towards his best friend. The way his eyes sparkle at her mere sight, even if she is fast asleep and drooling a little. In Ikjun’s eyes, he could almost see a montage of Chae Songhwa in different ages, from when they were both just mere children to slowly growing into the young adults that they already are. How much of a journey they had experienced together, how much more he hopes to experience with her still . Ikjun cannot imagine — he doesn’t want to imagine — a day without his best friend by his side, no matter what.

The longer Ikjun stares at her, the more he is ridden with conviction of what he had decided to do during his next match after their mock exams.

He has decided that he would confess to her. He would be truthful and bear his entire soul to her — of how much she means to him as a friend, and the attraction between a boy and a girl that he has felt towards her for the longest of time now.

Ikjun holds his breath at the mere thought; he really wants to tell Songhwa the truth soon. He wants her to be more than just his best friend, if she would allow him.

He thinks if he doesn’t say anything to her soon, his heart would explode with eventual regret. 

How long would Songhwa stay by his side without dating anyone? Ikjun isn’t delusional. He shouldn’t expect a forever with his best friend if he isn’t brave enough to do anything about it.

Ikjun can only hope that she will accept his heart. There is a tiny hope brewing in him ever since the night at the playground that Songhwa perhaps, maybe, hopefully, does harbour the same feelings towards him. He could still remember the way she had stood so close to him, the way her eyes had fluttered close as if in anticipation when he had leaned down towards her.

He really could have kissed her there and then, if not because Ikjun was hit with a last minute reminder that he shouldn't do that to his best friend. At least, not until he makes his feelings known to her, and after he is sure of her feelings for him, too.

Of course, that moment still lingers at the back of his mind. Ikjun couldn’t sleep that night, his mind had replayed the moment over and over again with his heart racing beneath him. His emotions that night had been a mixture of giddiness, nervousness, excitement, and a whole lot of suppressed hope in the event he had read her signs wrongly.

Ikjun may have prided himself of knowing Songhwa the best, but lately, she had started keeping things from him. He couldn’t be sure anymore, now that they are approaching the end of their teenage years.

They're at the prime age too, having to deal with first loves and feelings.

Ikjun doesn't dare place all his bets on one card. 

As he exhales a soft sigh while still looking at Songhwa, he tells himself calmly that eventually, he will know. 

Midway through their exam season, Ikjun finds a teary eyed Songhwa outside his door one evening. 

" Wae ?" He immediately asks in concern, seeing the way her head hangs low and her cheeks are red. Ikjun probably shouldn't have asked that question though, for Songhwa suddenly bursts into tears without warning.

Ikjun quickly pulls her into his room and closes the door behind them. Before he could say anything though, Songhwa had buried her face into his chest, staining his shirt with her tears.

He realises, even without words, that her strong reaction is due most likely to their Physics paper earlier in the afternoon; Songhwa must have just checked her answers and found the mistakes she had made. 

Of course, making mistakes during the exams is absolutely normal. But to Songhwa, who is an overachiever aiming to get into their country's best medical school, such mistakes could have had a detrimental effect.

Ikjun pats the back of her head soothingly, without saying anything that could make her feel worse. He is used to this behaviour from his best friend, and he knows that after crying her heart out to him, she would automatically be fine the next morning.

"There, there," Ikjun mumbles over and over again, until Songhwa's cries wane eventually and she finally disentangles herself from his embrace. 

Wiping the remnants of her tears away, Songhwa's entire face is a cherry red tomato. She settles herself on the floor by his bed, and Ikjun joins her beside quietly.

"What did you get wrong this time?" He finally asks.

"Section D," Songhwa whispers forlornly.

"Question 1?" Ikjun guesses.

She shakes her head and heaves a loud sigh. "Question 4…"

Ikjun immediately frowns, knowing exactly what Question that is. And most importantly the marks that are allocated for that question — a whooping ten marks short essay question. "Oh… damn ,"

Songhwa finally looks at him. "I'm so stupid !"

"That’s not true," Ikjun immediately says. 

"Ikjun-ah, what if that carelessness has cost me my A for Physics?" Songhwa's voice is strained with stress, "It’s not like I might get everything else correct because Physics is my weakest subject!"

“But you’ll do well in your other subjects!” He quickly assures her, “You’re good in everything else! It’s just one subject—”

“ Just one subject might cost me SNU’s med school!” She whines, covering her face with her hands. 

Ikjun doesn’t falter, “We both know that’s not going to be true,”

Songhwa pouts. He continues. “Come on, Chae Songhwa. If you’re not going to get into SNU med, who will? You’re the smartest and brightest person I know.”  

“You really think so?” She asks softly,

Ikjun nods firmly. “I know so.”

The worry etched on Songhwa’s face eventually fades away, little by little. It is instead replaced with an expression of gratitude, one that Ikjun immediately smiles upon seeing. “See, that’s better.” He nudges her shoulder gently with a chuckle. “You worry too much, Songhwa-ya. You should have a little more faith in yourself because you’re amazing .”

The pink on her cheeks do not go unnoticed. Songhwa’s heart skips a beat at their proximity as she suddenly realises how close they’re standing together, how she’d quite practically jumped into his embrace earlier with her nonsensical fit of worry.

At her silence, Ikjun continues nonchalantly as an attempt at a joke, “Even if you don’t believe in yourself, you should believe in me and I believe absolutely, one hundred percent, in your capabilities! I am never wrong, you know!”

She giggles, shoving a hand into his chest before taking a step back — Songhwa blushes even harder. She clears her throat and decides to change the topic, “Do you want to get ice-cream?”

“That depends, are you treating?”

Songhwa narrows her eyes, about to raise her hand again when Ikjun flits away with a roar of laughter. He grabs his wallet on his desk and casually grabs her hand, holding it loosely as he starts to pull her towards the door. “Come on, I know just the best ice-cream parlour we can go to, to cheer you up!”

Songhwa keeps mum, her eyes glued around their intertwined hands. 

But she doesn’t say anything. Instead, she tightens her hold around his fingers.

Chapter Text

The end of their mock exams also marks the start of preparation for the anticipated school festival. All the classes are busy finalising their booths, waiting eagerly and anxiously for D-Day to arrive.

Now that the exam fever is over and Songhwa has mostly come to terms with her newly discovered feelings, she is starting to regret never openly protesting to her best friends’ idea of performing as a band in front of the large crowd of their school.

The only good thing about this turn of event is that at least Songhwa is able to secretly admire Ikjun’s guitar skills and singing prowess all over again. They honestly hadn’t gathered to play in their band in a significant long time due to their college admission commitments, and Songhwa has seriously missed witnessing the way Ikjun naturally commands the stage as though he was born to perform.

She can’t say the same about herself, not when she relies purely on practice and memory. Songhwa is frustrated that she’d still make mistakes here and there despite all the practice, and her anxiety is now shooting through the roof at the thought of making a mistake on stage live in front of their entire school.

The school festival day finally arrives, and that means the day they perform in front of a crowd for the first time arrives, too.

Junwan could only scowl as he straps on his electric guitar during rehearsal on stage, muttering a mantra repeatedly that it’s all going to be okay, you won’t embarrass yourself in front of everyone, you will be okay, Kim Junwan—

Songhwa's knees are turning weak, and this is without an audience, just one final rehearsal. She feels lightheaded all of a sudden, a shiver of fear shooting down her spine as Songhwa wishes she could just run—

“Hey,”

She whips her head to the side, eyes meeting the warm, solid gaze of her best friend. Ikjun gives her an assuring smile, then a nod of confidence before telling her,

“You've got this. I believe in you.”

The lump returns to her throat as Songhwa manages to nod in return. She doesn't reply him, not when her tongue is completely tied up. But she does accord him a smile of gratitude. 

Ikjun turns to regard the rest of his best friends, giving them wide grins of encouragement. “Guys! Don't be nervous, it's just a festival performance, not the Grammys or whatever. Even if we make mistakes, let's just laugh them off and enjoy ourselves, okay?”

Jeongwon raises a thumbs up while Seokhyung answers loudly with a Ne!

Junwan's scowl only deepens, but Songhwa could see it is only an act of pretense. She could see his relaxed posture and the way his eyebrows are no longer knitted together in stress.

“Hwaiting!!!” She suddenly yells out with newfound enthusiasm that the boys could not help but chuckle. 

“Hwaiting!” They chorus together with laughter in the air.

Fast forward to a few hours later, when the sky is illuminated with majestic orange hues of the sunset, the group of friends step up on stage to greet the thunderous roar of support from the audience before them. Enthusiastic high school students and even teachers are screaming their lungs out to cheer for them, some even waving handmade banners with their names printed on them.

Songhwa pretends she doesn’t feel a slight tinge of annoyance as she sees most of the placards had Ikjun’s name on them. She shakes that feeling off and closes her eyes to breathe. 

It’s going to be okay. They will be fine. 

Even if there will be mistakes, they just need to mask them behind smiles and laughter and no one would remember them. 

Songhwa opens her eyes when she feels Ikjun patting her shoulder in assurance before he takes the center stage. The group exchanges one final look of support among themselves before facing the crowd as Ikjun steps up to speak into the microphone.

“GOOD EVENING YULJE HIGH!!!”

The cheers instantly become even louder as Ikjun beams into the crowd before his band. 

“Now, I’m very sure you are excited to hear us perform for the first time in our school festival,” Ikjun grins, “we have prepared three songs today! And, as we are not professionals there is a risk that we just might make a blunder later on stage so if we do , please pretend you didn’t see anything, arrachi?”

The crowd choruses a loud Ne!!!, and Songhwa heaves a sigh of relief. She starts to flex her fingers, wringling them as if to let her muscles run loose before grabbing onto her guitar again.

“Our opening song for the night is…can you guys guess it?”

A few song names echo in the air, and Ikjun’s grin only turns wider as he hears the correct title from the crowd, “Yes!!! You got it!!! It is LONELY NIGHT!!!”

Songhwa takes one last deep breath and at the first note of Jeongwon’s drums, Gongryong Ridge finally makes their official debut at Yulje High.

They were a crowd favourite.

They could hardly hear their concluding remarks, with Ikjun’s voice being drowned by the loudest cheers they could have expected. Songhwa has the largest grin on her face when they waved at the audience and took a bow. When they finally got off stage, and in a clear celebratory mood, Songhwa unexpectedly throws herself into Ikjun’s arm, hugging him tightly while laughing.

“We did it, we did it!!!” She yells over the music blaring from the speakers.

Ikjun hugs her in return, twirling her around one time with a boisterous laugh of satisfaction before carefully putting her back down on her feet. When they break their hug, both of them wear a somewhat soft expression on their faces — one that, before they could linger and attempt to decipher what it could mean, is broken by the rest of the three boys encircling around the two individuals to give them a group hug as well.

“That was INSANE!” Jeongwon hollers, “Guys, that was amazing!”

“We were amazing.” Junwan adds pointedly, squaring his shoulders in pride.

“It was,” Seokhyung agrees, then adds quietly, “but one time in front of the audience is enough, I think…”

The group of friends break into another round of laughter before Songhwa insists on taking some pictures with her film camera to commemorate their “debut”. After that, they start to walk out from the backstage area. There’s still some hours before the festival comes to an end, and there’s still plenty of stalls to explore. 

To their surprise, Junwan excuses himself from the group first, saying briskly that he has a blind date with a female student from another class. 

“Ah, I have to go too. I promised Gyeoul I would meet her after our performance.” Jeongwon adds after peering at his handphone. “Enjoy the rest of the festival, guys!”

Ikjun and Songhwa exchange a look between each other. The former opens his mouth with a suggestion, “Seokhyung-ah, do you want to —”

“No thanks,” Seokhyung interrupts Ikjun midway, already backing off from the two of them, “It’s been a long day and I’m tired. I think I’ll head home now. I’ll see you guys tomorrow!”

And just like that, the two best friends are left alone in a mere minute, and for some reason, there is an awkward silence in the air. Not that being alone with Ikjun is unwelcomed, Songhwa thinks, in fact, with the way her heart had picked up speed at the prospects of being able to spend time alone with him, that could be furthest from the truth.

“So…” Ikjun clears his throat to break the silence. He is looking ahead, towards the stalls as he gestures at one in particular. “...do you want to get tanghulu?”

Songhwa beams at the mention of food, and nods her head immediately.

After grabbing quick bites at several stalls in the school festival, Ikjun and Songhwa end up at the Haunted House after the former loses a bet.

“You’re such a scaredy cat!” Songhwa teases him as she practically drags him into the line to queue. “We already know that all the ghosts inside are our school students, it won’t be scary, Ikjun-ah.”

Ikjun snorts, trying to mask how his face reddens at the way Songhwa is clinging onto him, arm to arm. “Who says I’m scared? I’m not scared.”

“Says the person who once peed in his pants in the carnival’s Haunted House…”

“Hey! I was nine!”

“Excuses, excuses! I was nine too but did I pee my pants?”

“Shh! Don’t say that out loud!”

“Why, afraid that our schoolmates will find out that their football captain is a scaredy cat?”

“Ugh, you’re such a meanie, Chae Songhwa. Why do I even put up with you?”

“That’s easy,” Songhwa says without missing a beat, “you can’t live without me.”

She doesn’t think much of her statement, only realising the exact weightage of her words after Ikjun had gone silent and did not respond to that. Songhwa feels a brush creep up onto her cheeks then, and she looks away while clearing her throat.

Right before they enter the Haunted House though, she hears Ikjun muttering his belated reply beneath his breath. “You’re right, I can’t.”

Before she can react, the two students who are guarding the entrance motions for them to go towards them. The students are dressed in nurse outfits, with clipboards in their hands. One of them starts to explain the storyline to them,

“Both of you are patients in a hospital when a virus outbreak happens, and suddenly, you see deaths and the undead more than you see the ones alive. Will you be able to escape the hospital and see your family again? All the best.”

The other student gestures for them to enter before they could even digest the words properly. Once they do, they are immediately surrounded by complete darkness, with an eerie music playing in the background. Chills run down Songhwa’s spine immediately as she takes note of the setting around her; the props are so well made that she lets out a gasp at what looks like a dead patient on the gurney, with blood gushing down his amputated leg. 

“Oh damn,” She whispers, suddenly feeling a lump in her throat. Songhwa did not expect everything to look this realistic, and the hospital setting for this Haunted House gives her the absolute creep. 

“Wow, they really outdid themselves this time.” Ikjun says as they slowly walk forward. “The storyline seems to be—”

Before he could finish his sentence, a “nurse” rushes out from nowhere, screaming her head off as she falls in front of them. Songhwa screams immediately after when she sees the nurse’s bloodied face (that’s one heck of a makeup!) and the specks of red on her white uniform makes her forget momentarily that this is all fake and pretence. 

“RUN!” The nurse lets out another piercing scream of agony. “YOU MUST RUN! THEY ARE COMING! THEY ARE HERE AND THEY WILL CATCH YOU TOO, THEY—”

“Jesus,” Ikjun immediately grabs Songhwa’s hand and starts to pull her forward and around the nurse who had seemingly “died”, falling face first onto the ground and no longer moving. Her acting is so real that Songhwa finds her knees turning into gelatine.

Maybe because Songhwa is already taken aback by Ikjun’s words earlier, maybe because she did not fully prepare herself mentally to face the “zombies”, but she ends up screaming the most at almost every jumpscares they encounter along the maze-like hospital setting. Songhwa tightens her grasp around Ikjun as she sticks to his side, suddenly afraid to open her eyes fully after being scared three times by a zombie. Ikjun shields her as much as he could, putting himself in front of her as he asks her to hold onto his shirt tightly. If Songhwa isn’t feeling completely terrified by her surroundings, she would have noticed the way her heart seems to pound faster against her chest at his chivalrous act. 

It takes them almost fifteen minutes to exit the Haunted House, and by then, Songhwa has never been glad to see the open space and crowd around her. 

“Oh my god,” She exhales a breath in shudders, “that was creepy as heck!”

“Tell me about it,” Ikjun agrees, even though he is more composed than the young woman beside him. He glances at her shaking figure, clearly concerned, “Are you okay?”

Songhwa nods, the aftermath of her reactions in the Haunted House crashing onto her harshly as she feels a rise of embarrassment within her. Gosh, after all the teasings she had done towards her best friend…

She masks her embarrassment with a playful punch and another teasing,

“Yah, you’ve really grown up, you know that?”

He raises an eyebrow, prompting her to elaborate. Songhwa smiles softly, “I used to protect you when we were kids, now you’re the one protecting me.”

Ikjun doesn’t respond immediately. He seems to be in deep thoughts, until Songhwa shrugs nonchalantly and starts to edge away. Before she could take another step further, Ikjun slides his hand down her arm before intertwining their fingers together. 

He declares boldly, “I’ll always protect you, Chae Songhwa.”

Songhwa’s heart thunders beneath her, and her mouth turns dry. She recalls the words Ikjun had muttered before they had entered the haunted house, and her heart starts to swell with…what is it, she wonders. 

Hope? Anticipation?

Songhwa glances down at their intertwined hands, but doesn’t let go. She tells him after a long pause,

"Okay. You promised.” She states firmly, “Don't you ever let go,"

Ikjun registers her words slowly in his head. Then, he nods firmly.

The school festival has one last event for the night, and that is the highly anticipated fireworks session as the closing ceremony.

Most of the students are now gathered at the school field, chatting and laughing while waiting for the fireworks to start. Ikjun and Songhwa found a comfortable spot at the back, not wanting to blend in with the crowd in front. After all, they are confident that they are still able to witness the fireworks from wherever they chose to stand in the field. 

Neither are talking much to each other, but the back of their hands are brushing against each other's. Songhwa’s heart is beating steadily now, no longer feeling like it is about to leap out of her chest at every touch she feels from her best friend. She’s getting comfortable with this new found skinship, and she doesn’t quite know what to make of it yet. 

But she welcomes that feeling. 

“The fireworks should be starting soon,” Ikjun says, breaking the silence.

“Ah, yes,” Songhwa glances at her wrist watch. “In a matter of seconds, anytime now.”

Sure enough, the fireworks show begins, and the field erupts into cheers of awe as phones are whipped out to capture the beautiful scene in the night sky.

Ikjun and Songhwa glance at the fireworks quietly, until their gaze finds each other instead. If she is surprised to see that Ikjun is also looking at her, Songhwa doesn’t show it. She doesn’t look away, either, holding onto his gaze and feeling another blush creeping onto her cheeks.

“Why aren’t you looking at the fireworks?” Songhwa asks, giving him a small smile.

“I’m not very interested in the fireworks,” Ikjun replies with a shrug. He smiles, too. 

“Really?” She tilts her head to the side, “There’s something else that interests you more than fireworks?” 

“I’m afraid so.” He replies without missing a beat. 

Songhwa doesn’t know how to continue their conversation from that, but again, she doesn’t pull her gaze away. She is suddenly enamoured by his eyes, and every time a firework bursts into the night sky above them, she could see the light reflected in his gentle brown orbs. It stirs something in her heart again as she feels butterflies scurrying into her stomach, slowly but surely. It’s the way Ikjun is looking at her that makes her feel nervous all of a sudden. She does pride herself into knowing him the most, and if she interprets his expression correctly, then surely…

“Songhwa-ya,”

Her thoughts are interrupted as he calls out her name. She raises an eyebrow, prompting him to continue,

“There’s something I have to tell you.” Ikjun confesses, “I thought I could wait for the winning goal next weekend but I don’t think I can keep it a secret anymore.”

Her heart starts to pick up speed again. The lump returns in her throat as she barely hums in reply, “Hmm?”

“There’s a girl that I really like. I think she's my first love.”

Songhwa’s jaw drops open slightly. For a moment there, her mind is hit by two questions; one, Ikjun has someone he likes that she doesn’t know about? Two, Ikjun...has someone he likes ...that she doesn’t know about.

It feels as though someone had just reached into her heart and given it a tight squeeze. Songhwa’s eyes falter, her hands unknowingly holding onto her skirt tightly. “Oh.” is all she ends up saying, all she could say. 

“This girl is...practically perfect in every way.”

“Wow,” Songhwa exclaims, trying to hide her sadness even though she feels like her world had just crashed. “You sound really into her. Do you like her that much?”

“Eo,” He nods. “I do.”

“Tsk, what is it about her that you like that much? I’m guessing...she must be pretty.”

“Eo,” Ikjun repeats. “She is. But that isn’t why I like her.”

“Really?”

“I just...like everything about her.” Ikjun says. “Her personality. Her smile. Her kindness and warmth. She’s beautiful inside out.”

“Sounds like a perfect girl.” Songhwa mumbles with a shake of her head. “Are you sure such a person exists?”

“She does.” He nods again, then looks at her straight in her eyes. Ikjun inhales, then exhales slowly. It’s now or never.

“I’m looking at her right now.”

Songhwa blinks. 

Ikjun continues to stare at her, afraid to say anything else as he waits for his words to sink in.

And then, she bursts into laughter, shoving a hand into his arm. “ Yah! Stop joking around! You nearly got me for one second there!”

He remains calm and impassive. Ikjun states firmly. “I am not joking.”

The laughter fades away, the smile on Songhwa’s face turning into a quick frown as she stares, eyes-wide without blinking at Ikjun — as if trying to fathom what he’d just said, as if trying to decide if he is messing with her or not.

“What?” She finally says shakily, heart catching speed as his words really sink in. Suddenly, everything seems to make perfect sense. The way Ikjun treats her, the way he cares for her, the way he had protected her in the Haunted House earlier. 

That sort of feeling she saw in him that she could not quite grasp earlier. The expression he wears on his face that Songhwa had interpreted as him perhaps liking her more than just friends—

“Chae Songhwa,” Ikjun ignores the way his heart is frantically beating against his chest, braving himself to say those words he’d kept within him for some time now. “I like you. Not just as a friend, but as a woman. If you feel the same towards me…please go out with me."

In that spring, Songhwa receives a heart fluttering confession. 

“Ikjun-ah, I…”

As she tries her best to gather her thoughts properly, realisation begins to sink into her mind.

Songhwa doesn’t exactly know when or how it happened, only that one minute she had been looking at her best friends talking, and the next minute her heart started to hammer against her chest when Ikjun laid a hand casually on her shoulder. One minute, she had looked at him and saw only the boy she grew up next door to, the one who would cry when he scraped his knee or when a dog chased after him. And the next minute, she was looking at a boy now towering over her, with the most dazzling smile and handsome eyes.

In the spring of her senior year, Songhwa reaches a conclusion, a secret that has taken her far too long to realise, to understand, to admit out loud. Somewhere between her years of friendship with him, somewhere between studying in her room, watching movies and simply spending time together, in the least most unexpected moment — Chae Songhwa has fallen in love with her best friend.

“I’ll answer you right now,”

And she finally decides not to let her mind win over her heart. No more overthinking, no more worrying about the future. So she takes a step closer, draws a deep breath, goes on tiptoes and —

In that spring, Chae Songhwa kisses Lee Ikjun.

Chapter Text

Chae Songhwa couldn’t believe it. 

At the age of eighteen, she has finally gotten herself a boyfriend.

That she is holding hands with her boyfriend throughout their walk back from school after the festival, that she had just had her first kiss moments ago, one that had nearly melted her heart in an instant.

Songhwa doesn’t know how to describe everything that had just happened, but she does know that she regrets none of it. The shy glances they would give each other, the smiles that wouldn’t go away speak volumes of what is going through their minds that moment.

It has been approximately thirty minutes since Chae Songhwa mustered the courage to kiss Lee Ikjun. 

It has been approximately twenty seven minutes since Lee Ikjun had pulled her in for another kiss as the third set of fireworks burst into the night sky above them.

It has been twenty five minutes since Songhwa finally gave Ikjun an express answer and agreed to be his girlfriend. 

They have been a couple for exactly twenty five minutes now, and the feeling of giddiness in both their stomachs is threatening to overwhelm them. 

He is the first to speak, breaking the silence in the air.

“I want you to know that I meant every word I said earlier.”

Songhwa meets his warm gaze, and feels herself instantly blushing again. Of course she knows what Ikjun is talking about; all the words he had used to describe her. She almost couldn’t believe those words to be true, considering herself as average at best. 

But here is Lee Ikjun, her best friend, now boyfriend, who seems to think she is practically perfect in every way. Songhwa nods slowly, “I know you do. I just don’t know if I believe those words to be applicable to myself.”

Ikjun stops walking abruptly, and his movement pulls her to a stop too. “You need to give yourself a lot more credit, Songhwa-ya. You’re smart and beautiful and kind. I wish you could see who I see in front of my eyes.”

There’s warmth gushing across her heart, an inexplicable feeling of glee building within her. Is this how it’s going to be from now on, Songhwa thinks, is this how it feels like being the receiving end of endless praise and admiration from someone she clearly looks up upon as well?

“You always have a way with words.” She settles for that response in the end, nudging his side gently with her elbow. “How lucky am I to have you as both a best friend and a boyfriend?”

“Obviously, extremely .” Ikjun gives her a toothy grin, and Songhwa rolls her eyes playfully. “Songhwa-ya, I can say the same about you too, you know that right?”

She doesn’t doubt his words at all. Again, she nods. “I know. You always wear your heart on your sleeve, Ikjun-ah.”

“Hmm.” He turns to face her fully, reaching out to hold her other hand. “There’s something else we should make clear, Songhwa-ya.”

She raises an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Us being together,” Ikjun inhales, then exhales slowly. “Is it for me.”

Songhwa doesn’t understand him immediately, not until he continues, “It’s the endgame for me.”

The weight of his words, the firmness and conviction of his tone makes her eyes widen in pure surprise. “ Ne ?”

Ikjun holds her gaze gently, and Songhwa could only see sincerity in his eyes. “I know we just got together, and I know we don’t know what is in store for us in the future, but…I really don’t think I can love anyone else in this lifetime.”

Songhwa gasps. Ikjun continues. “I’m not saying this to pressure you, of course, because I understand you may not think the same way as I do, but…I want us to last, Songhwa-ya. For a lifetime. This lifetime. You’re far too important for me to lose if ever anything goes south in our relationship in the future.”

“Ikjun-ah…”

“Again, I know there can be so many challenges for us to face in the future as we grow older, as we start college and subsequently our careers. But I’ve thought about the older me, and I’ve always…I’ve always imagined you to be there beside me in every milestone of my life.” Ikjun sighs softly, “I just can’t bear the thought of not having you beside me, Songhwa-ya. The life I’ve known so far always includes you in the picture, and I don’t want this to change as we grow older.”

Her heart pounds, her eyes start to water. Such a mature declaration, such a firm conviction — it blows Songhwa’s mind away. She hasn’t even thought that far, but clearly Ikjun has, and she soon begins to realise that her heart echoes his words too.

“If there’s one thing I’m sure of in the future,” Songhwa starts slowly, “is that our bond and love for each other will persevere through any challenges we might face. Ikjun-ah, I don’t ever want to lose you either. I can’t .”

Ikjun’s cheeks turn red, a shy smile suddenly gracing his lips. 

“Do you remember the question I asked you some time ago? About soulmates?” Songhwa continues, seemingly knowing just what to say as confidence starts to build up within her. Ikjun nods, recalling the movie they had seen and the answer he had given about soulmates.

“Well, I didn’t know then but…now, I think I do.” She states, “Ikjun-ah, you’re my soulmate. I don’t think it will be easy to get rid of me even if you tried to.”

He laughs. “I’d never.”

“You never know, dating me might not be a breeze as you think it is…”

“Songhwa-ya, we’ve known each other since we were in diapers. You’re not that difficult to figure out.”

“Hmm, we’ll see, I guess. Yah , you better not break your promise and everything you just told me, Lee Ikjun. Otherwise I’ll catch you in our next lives—”

Ikjun’s laughter grows as he takes a step forward to embrace his childhood friend. “Never. I’d never. That’s for sure. I’ve thought of this a million times before deciding that I must confess to you. Even if you may not feel the same way, I don’t want to regret not telling you how I feel.”

She thumps his chest once, “Silly, luckily I feel the exact same way, huh?” 

“I’m honestly not surprised,” Ikjun teases with mischief, “I’ve been told that I can be quite charming, you know.”

Songhwa laughs, accepting his words with a playful eyeroll. Silence engulfs them for several seconds before she decides to step closer, making the first move to wind her arms around his lower back while sighing into his embrace. She could feel her heart beating wildly against her chest at this newfound skinship, one that she evidently welcomes.

So this is what love feels like. 

Songhwa feels Ikjun hugging her back, and it gives her the push to continue, “No matter how tough reality is going to get as we grow older…promise me you won’t leave me, hmm? Promise me you will never give up on us..”

“I promise.” His reply is instant. “You can trust me, Songhwa-ya.”

She glances up to look at him, eyes sparkling in both gratitude and relief. Holding each other’s gaze, Songhwa could see the shift in his eyes when he leans down, knowing that he is going to kiss her again. She closes her eyes in reflex, embracing the light touch of his lips on hers when suddenly —

“OPPA???!?!?!”

The shriek that they hear coming from a few feet behind them is enough for Songhwa to regain her senses and push Ikjun away in a swift, strong movement. Ikjun stumbles back, nearly falling onto his back if not because of his fast reflex to regain his balance. They know the voice all too well, and immediately, their cheeks flush a crimson red as they turn to look at the shocked young woman standing behind them.

Lee Iksun lets out another loud gasp when she sees the ‘mysterious girl’ she had caught kissing her brother. “SONGHWA UNNIE ????” 

Busted.

They’d forgotten that Iksun would have attended the school festival as well, and is clearly, like them, on her way back home. Knowing there is nothing else they could say that wouldn’t come off as a lie, Songhwa manages a light wave towards the younger woman, and lets out a low chuckle of embarrassment. 

“Hi, Iksunnie.”

After a round of explanation and a bribery of a future meal and many counts of borrowing Ikjun’s MyMy Player, Iksun promises to keep their relationship a secret — even though she had insisted that her parents would be more than happy to know that their son is finally dating their neighbour’s daughter.

The specific use of certain words do not go unnoticed to both Ikjun and Songhwa, but they pretend not to realise it, nor do they even acknowledge how seemingly excited Iksun is towards their newfound status. It had only just dawned upon them that there are actually people — family — who had been rooting for them to be together. 

Were they always that obvious?

“I knew it would happen one day.” Iksun says, practically bouncing on two feet, “It just has to, you know? Like, it wouldn’t make sense if it didn’t happen. My god, eomma would be over the moon when she finds out about this, oppa !”

“Shh, not a word about this to eomma! ” Ikjun quickly says with the tips of his ears turning pink in an instant. They’ve barely just gotten into a defining relationship, it would be too fast for them to reveal this to the rest of their family members.

Iksun snorts loudly. “Do you really think eomma wouldn’t know or guess? I bet it will only take her one good look at you tomorrow for her to know something is amiss. You’re very obvious, you know. You turn a lovesick puppy every time Songhwa unnie is around.”

Her brother turns a scarlet red. “ Yah , Iksun! Who says so?”

“It’s kinda written all over your face. Ask unnie , I’m sure she notices how you behave around her.” 

Songhwa hides her giggles behind a cough, clearly enjoying the Lee siblings’ banter. “I think I have an idea.”

Ikjun pouts, “Songhwa-ya, you’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I side with the facts.” She shrugs, “and this time, Iksun is right. You really need to do better in hiding your expression, Ikjun-ah.”

“But why would I want to do that when I’m so happy right now?” He argues, “My best friend is finally also my girlfriend. I can’t hide my feelings all the time.”

“Oh no, he’s going to be absolutely insufferable now, won’t he?” Iksun cringes, then turns to regard Songhwa, “Unnie, he’s yours to handle now. I hereby relieve myself from this duty of keeping him in check.”

Iksun starts to speed walk on purpose, leaving the couple behind. Their houses are approaching, so she announces behind her shoulder, “And because I’m the best sister in the whole wide world, I shall leave you two alone to say goodnight. Don’t stay outside too long doing…whatever it is you were both doing earlier!”

“Can you believe her?” Ikjun huffs as he watches his sister’s retreating back. “If anyone’s going to be insufferable, it will be her . Gosh, why did she have to see us earlier?”

“She would have caught on eventually, anyway.” Songhwa grins, feeling oddly at ease even though they had exposed their relationship so quickly in front of Ikjun’s sister, of all people. “But do you think she is right? Do you think your parents would be able to tell?”

Ikjun shrugs, “I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother would. She has such scary motherly instincts sometimes…”

“Mine, too.” Songhwa says, recalling a distant memory of Mrs. Chae asking if she likes Ikjun romantically, a passing moment she had vehemently denied while her cheeks burned in surprise. “Won’t be surprised if our mothers had secretly been rooting for us to get together, like what Iksunnie just said.”

“They’d be delighted then.” Ikjun winks, squeezing Songhwa’s hand. “Should we just tell them?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Songhwa smiles, “Let’s see how long it would take for them to realise. I want to test Iksun’s theory out…”

“Alright then. Until then…” Ikjun pauses to look around, scanning their surroundings before coming to a conclusion that it is safe for him to quickly press his lips against hers. Songhwa blushes immediately, quite taken aback by his bold action when they are so near their houses. “...let’s just enjoy this secret relationship thingy.”

Songhwa nods, and seeing that it is completely quiet around them, tiptoes to give Ikjun a proper, goodnight kiss.

It isn’t all that difficult, the whole “keeping their relationship a secret”. Primarily because after the school festival, Songhwa barely even saw Ikjun. Her boyfriend is preparing for that important football match which could make or break his future.

She completely understands it, and tries her hardest not to mind their lack of time together. 

But that doesn't mean she doesn't miss him. 

Songhwa sighs for the umpteenth time, glancing at her phone before flipping it open to check if there's any new text messages for her. It's almost ten at night, and she's starting to wonder if the school's football coach has gone a bit bonkers with the practices that week.

Other than this morning when they went to school together, and during lunch, Songhwa has not seen Ikjun for the rest of the day. Before she can sulk further, she reminds herself that she is acting unreasonable. It's not like Ikjun chose to not talk to her deliberately!

“You've gone bonkers yourself, Chae Songhwa.” She chides in a low whisper, “Get a grip! Why are you acting so clingy ?”

Saying that word out loud is enough to make her cringe. She shudders in disgust and shakes her head vehemently, nearly tossing her phone to the side. 

“You are not that sort of girlfriend, do you hear me?” Songhwa tells herself. “Don’t be that sort of psychotic girlfriend who can't stand being apart for a few hours, Chae Songhwa.”

Frustrated at herself, Songhwa decides to call it a night and slide under her duvet for bed. If she couldn't hear from Ikjun tonight, then she would have no choice but to just wait until tomorrow. It's not that difficult! It shouldn't be!

Before Songhwa could force herself to get some shut eye, however, her phone rings.

Almost at once, she flies out from her bed again, reaching for her phone quickly to flip it and see Ikjun's name flashing on her screen.

Songhwa's face breaks into a grin immediately. Clearing her throat to suppress the obvious excitement in her tone, she waits for two more seconds before answering her phone as casually as possible.

“Hello?”

“Songhwa-ya! You haven't fallen asleep, have you? I hope I didn't wake you.”

Hearing his voice is enough to wipe away all forms of exhaustion in her mind. “No! I'm wide awake, don’t worry about disturbing me because you're not.”

“Whew! I just finished practice and I'm on my way back. Thought to just call you because…”

The pause that ensues is enough for Songhwa to quirk an eyebrow. “Because…?”

She hears Ikjun feigning a cough from the other line. Then, she hears his sheepish little tone;

“I miss you.”

Her cheeks flare up at once, and before she could even pretend to act cool and nonchalant about this entire situation, Songhwa finds herself blurting out, “I miss you too!”

Realising that she’d sound overly eager, Songhwa knocks a fist against her forehead in mild annoyance. Way to keep your cool, Chae Songhwa!

“I mean…” She adds nonchalantly, “we haven't been able to see each other much aside from classes lately…”

Ikjun chuckles. “Just a few more days, Songhwa-ya. Then it will all be over and we can spend as much time as we want together.”

“I guess so.” Songhwa agrees softly. “Luckily you live beside me, so we can still see each other in the morning.”

“It’s definitely a blessing.” Ikjun smiles. “If you aren't sleepy, I should be home in fifteen. I can swing by.”

“And raise suspicions among my brothers and mother?” Songhwa squeaks, well aware of how late it already is. 

“I don't mean in your house.” Ikjun elaborates. “All you need to do is look out of the window! At least you can see my handsome face before going to bed tonight.”

Oh, that goofball. Songhwa shakes her head. “Pfft, who are you calling handsome ?”

“You know it's the truth, Chae Songhwa. You might even get a good dream tonight if I'm the last person you see before falling asleep.”

“ Or a nightmare , for all you know.”

“Ouch! You hurt me, Songhwa-ya.”

“And you're just being annoying, Ikjun-ah.”

“Hmm, maybe you don't deserve to see my handsome face before sleeping after all.”

“Hmm, maybe you only want me to look out of the window so that you can see my beautiful face.”

Laughter is heard from the other line due to their pointless bickering. Hearing him laugh is enough for Songhwa to laugh as well. Naturally, she edges towards her windows, peering outside at the empty, quiet little road leading to their houses. She knows that Ikjun is still on his way, but she couldn't help but to already be waiting for him.

“Okay, okay.” Ikjun surrenders. “Maybe you caught me.”

She nibbles her lower lip to prevent the grin from breaking across her face again. “See? I knew it. You're the one who is obsessed with me.”

He corrects her, “I am obsessed with a healthy dose, Songhwa-ya. Promise I'm not a stalker.”

“I should be scared if my own boyfriend is a stalker.”

“Your boyfriend can't help it, you know? All he could think about throughout practice is seeing you again.”

“Oh come on,” Songhwa pretends to be annoyed at his cheesy words, although deep down she is secretly enjoying this flirtatious side of her best friend that she had not seen before. “always so dramatic, you.”

“Only for you, cheonsa-nim ~”

“If you keep this up, I’m heading straight to bed and you won’t get to catch a glimpse of me.”

“ Ne, arraseo , I’ll keep quiet now.”

Songhwa chuckles with another shake of her head. She’s not going to tell him that she’d only been joking — he probably already knows, anyway. 

A few minutes later, they decide to hang up and Songhwa continues to wait for him by her window. She sees his approaching figure from afar some moments after, and the natural instinct to stick her head out and wave at him washes over her before she could even stop to compose herself.

Ikjun waves back from afar, and starts to jog towards her house. Within seconds, his face comes to a clearer view under the streetlights, and he stops at his usual spot which could give both of them a direct view of each other.

Even if Songhwa could see the clear exhaustion in his expression, Ikjun is still bearing the widest smile as he gives her a somewhat flirtatious wink.

She laughs as quietly as she can, and says in a hushed tone, “You should rest now! It’s been a long day for you.”

“I will, in a bit.” He replies in the same, hushed tone. He then raises his arms into the sky, and makes a frame using his fingers. The frame of his fingers is, of course, directed towards Songhwa. “Just let me capture you in my heart…” 

Songhwa is speechless at that, and by the time she finds it in her to react, Ikjun had shoved his hands back into his letterman jacket. “There you go.” He announces proudly, “Now I can sleep in peace. Goodnight, Songhwa-ya!”

As if he is embarrassed by his own action, Ikjun scurries into his house without waiting for her response. 

“Goofball.” Songhwa mutters beneath her breath, but doesn’t fight the smile forming on her face.

She sleeps really well that night.

Chapter Text

It’s D-Day.

After months of training and matches, the final interstate football match finally arrives — the field is packed with spectators, supporters from both schools including a handful of scouters from several university football teams.

Ikjun feels the butterflies flying amok in his stomach, threatening to make him heave out the last meal he had eaten a couple of hours ago. Being nervous is an understatement, knowing how his performance that day would make or break his entire future. He is adamant that he has to perform his best during the match, knowing that among the scouters observing from the bleachers, there is one that he has to impress no matter what.

Mr. Hyun, the coach for Seoul National University’s football team.

Ikjun sucks in his breath and calms his mind. He needs to stay focused! There has to be absolutely no distraction that evening if he aims to capture the attention of Mr. Hyun and earn his one way ticket into the prestigious university that Songhwa is bound to get into eventually.

He needs to keep his promise to her that they would be attending the same university together. Especially now that their relationship has blossomed into something special, something more than just mere best friends talking about their dreams. Songhwa may not know exactly how significant it would be to score the winning goal, but Ikjun is determined to show her.

He will not fail today.

The tension is high as the timer hits the last five minutes of the game, with Yulje High being tied with their opposing team at a score of 3-3. 

Songhwa is clasping her hands so tightly together that her knuckles are turning white. But she pays no heed to it, continuously muttering her prayers beneath her breath that lady luck would be by their side and someone from Yulje would be able to break through the final defence of Gowon High and score the winning goal. Her eyes are of course set only on one player in the field, her heart nearly breaking at how hard Ikjun is playing since the beginning of the match.

He had scored the first goal, and moments after, had been tackled onto the ground by another player. She had screamed foul, together with the rest of the boys, and the player was given a yellow card. Songhwa had been filled with intense worry as she saw how a few other players had huddled around Ikjun to check his condition — luckily, the captain was up and jogging around a few seconds after, seemingly alright. 

Songhwa had breathed a sigh of relief then; her heart was about to fly out of her chest!

Honestly, the score doesn’t quite matter to her at that moment. As she continues to pray for Ikjun’s safety so that he won’t get into another potential injury, Songhwa is almost too afraid to watch the field. There’s only less than three minutes now, and her heart nearly lurches out of her throat when she sees Ikjun successfully stealing the ball from the opposing team before making a run towards the goalpost. The roar from the crowd thunders through the entire field at once, with everyone leaping up from their seats instantaneously.

“LEE IKJUN!!!!!” Junwan is screaming at the top of his lungs, “GO FUCKING GO!!!!!!!!!”

“YOU GOT THIS IKJUN-AH!!!!” Jeongwon yells as well, together with quite practically the entire Yulje High watching from the bleachers.

A screech from Iksun behind them, “OPPA IF YOU DON’T SCORE DON’T COME HOME TONIGHT!”

“Please, please,” Songhwa continues to mutter as she brings her clasped hands to her lips, “please don’t get injured, please don’t get injured—”

Beside her, the quiet Seokhyung is also watching without blinking, his hands gripping against the railing with all his might. “Come on, Ikjun-ah. Come on, just a bit more, you’re almost there—”

With just 50 seconds to go, Player Lee Ikjun scans his surroundings for an opening, dribbling past a few other players skillfully. He knows that somewhere in the crowd, his best friends are watching him. Songhwa, too.

In a split second, he sees it. The one small opening. A chance. An opportunity for him to seize.

Ikjun mutters a quick plea and prayer, kicks the ball with all his might, sending it sailing across the air—

Songhwa beams at the sight before her; her best friends enveloping Ikjun in a loud, boisterous hug as they jump around in circles. Ikjun’s parents and Iksun stand close to Ikjun as they wait patiently for their turn to embrace their son, who is clearly the star of the match today. 

His gold medal glistens and shines under the sun as his laughter continues to fill the air. Even though the match ended nearly an hour ago, they remain in high spirits as the crowd slowly begins to disperse. 

“Why aren’t you there with the rest of them?”

A voice greets Songhwa suddenly, and she whirls around to see the proud goalkeeper of Yulje High’s football team — Bong Gwanghyeon with his own medal hung around his neck as he cocks his hands to his hips. “I’m sure your heart must be bursting with excitement, wanting to congratulate him like the rest.”

Songhwa chuckles with a shake of her head. “I know almost nothing about football. The boys are way more excited than me, so it’s only right that they get to congratulate Ikjun first.”

“Nonsense,” Gwanghyeon chimes in, “you’ve been to almost every match, even practice of Ikjun’s. Even if you don’t know much about football, you were there for him. I’m sure you’re more than eligible to celebrate alongside everyone else. Plus…”

The pause is enough for Songhwa to glance at his way again.

“...I’d say being the captain’s girlfriend gives you way more privilege than his other best friends.”

Songhwa blushes at once, surprise overtaking her before she could even school her expression. “What? How do you—”

“It’s as obvious as the sun, Chae Songhwa.” Gwanghyeon winks. “I’m not at all surprised because this is long overdue.”

She asks, “What do you mean?”

“Well, an outsider can see everything. Can see how Ikjun has been practically head over heels for you since forever.”

Songhwa blushes harder at that revelation, her jaw dropping slightly.

Gwanghyeon chuckles seeing her expression of shock, and continues briskly, “You don’t even know, do you?”

“Know what?”

He leans in to whisper, as if telling her a secret, “Ikjun and Minjun got into a fight because of you.”

Songhwa’s eyes widens. “What?? When??”

Gwanghyeon straightens his back and shrugs. “I wasn’t there to witness it myself but it was some months ago. I heard from Taehyun that Minjun said some really harsh things about you, and Ikjun got angry. He punched Minjun and Minjun hit him back.”

Songhwa’s mind goes into immediate overdrive as she recounts all that had happened in the past several months, until it suddenly hits her. A distant yet firm memory of Ikjun’s swollen cheek and cut lips — one that she had tended to his wound as soon as they got home after school and she had prodded him into telling her what happened. 

I was protecting someone precious to me.

Songhwa’s heart thunders beneath her, of vague recollection of the words Ikjun had uttered. Someone precious to him. Her.

Even if Songhwa already knows how he feels for her, the extent never fails to make her in awe of Ikjun’s sincerity towards her. Just how long has it been since he caught feelings for her? 

Just then, Ikjun glances into her direction, catching her eyes. He gives her the brightest smile and a wink solely reserved for her. She flushes beneath his gaze and looks away in embarrassment. 

Gwanghyeon pats Songhwa’s shoulder and tells her, “Please invite me to your wedding one day, alright?”

Before she could reply, Gwanghyeon starts to step aside, making way for the subject matter at hand. Songhwa shifts her attention from him to Ikjun almost instantly, cheeks rosy and eyes wide. “Congr—”

She couldn’t finish her sentence, for Ikjun had swooped in for a hug, burying his face into her shoulder. Songhwa’s expression softens, her hands finding their way around his back as she pats him gently, encouragingly. 

Proudly.

Songhwa knows that the other boys may or may not be questioning this rather warm and long hug — but it doesn’t quite matter. They bask in the moment of gratitude, of love, and forget the world around them.

Songhwa is convinced she has a new hobby now. Or rather, a new addiction.

Honestly. 

She would never have penned herself as that sort of starstruck, clingy girlfriend, but here she is, on the floor by her bed, snogging her boyfriend instead of doing her revisions.

Yes. Her new hobby is proven to be a clear predicament now, a distraction, a hindrance to her original goal of scoring perfect CSAT scores. 

But she couldn’t help it. How can she, when kissing Lee Ikjun makes her feel all sorts of feelings she had never felt before? For her heart to swell and threaten to burst in the seams, for the butterflies to scurry into her stomach amok, for the absolute appreciation and gratitude that she finally has a boyfriend?

Not just anyone. But her childhood best friend, Lee Ikjun.

She had initially thought that she had known all that was to know about him. That she could read him perfectly like the back of her hand — but Chae Songhwa is wrong. She has had no idea how much of a loving, caring and gentle boyfriend he could be. 

And boy is Lee Ikjun a good kisser.

In their eighteen years of living, this is the first time Songhwa is able to fully witness Ikjun as not just her best friend, but as a boyfriend, a lover. Hers.

She could feel the heat from his palm resting against the nape of her neck, cradling her head carefully as he continues to interlock their lips together, exploring her mouth like it is a mystery he wants to solve. Songhwa could think of nothing except for the way his lips glide against hers, soft and plump and — she groans — so perfect on hers. She edges closer into him, winding her arm around his torso to deepen their kiss, and soon, their make out session gets a little heated, a little overwhelming.

They only pull apart in shock when Ikjun subconsciously slips a hand underneath her blouse, and the tips of his fingers graze the underside of her breast. In an instant, Songhwa had recoiled without realising, and Ikjun had sprang backward in utter surprise, his face turning red at what he had done.

“Fuck, I’m sorry!” He apologises instantly, eyes wide and immediately finding hers in panic, “I didn’t mean to do that, Songhwa-ya. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have…I don’t know why I did that—”

After overcoming her initial shock though, Songhwa is calm. She reaches forward to grab his hand, rubbing it assuringly as she tells him,  "Ikjun-ah, calm down. I'm alright, really. You didn’t even do anything, it was just an accident!” 

Ikjun is clearly still distraught, his entire face burning red that he couldn’t bring himself to look at her. “That shouldn’t be an excuse! I shouldn’t have touched—”

“Yah!” Songhwa raises her voice, hoping to get him to look at her. The trick works, for Ikjun immediately whips his head up in shock at the edge in her tone. “You call that a touch? That could barely even count as one!”

Even though the blush is apparent on her face, even if her heart is still racing at that tiny innocent accidental touch earlier, Songhwa wills herself to not let her expression betray her. She tries to shrug it off, playing it coolly as she continues, “Besides, that is human nature isn't it? Eventually we will get to that point right? When that time comes, you shouldn't feel shy over it!"

Ikjun’s jaw drops open at the bold statement from her. He sputters out in disbelief, “Yah, Chae Songhwa, what are you…are you saying that…? Huh? ”

Seeing how the tips of his ears are still burning red, Songhwa thinks he couldn’t be more endearing than he currently is at the moment. She almost couldn’t believe his reaction; surely boys would be more perceptive over this matter of… desire …than girls?

Her expression softens, and she finally pulls away to put a slight gap in between them — let’s not trigger Ikjun further, is what she thinks as she starts again, “You’ve never thought about that before?”

She could see Ikjun gulping, “That?”

Songhwa fights the urge to roll her eyes. She looks at him straight in the eyes and tells him point blank, “Sex.”

The look that etches across Ikjun’s face is one that should have been documented. The poor boy seems tortured, his face now turning a bright shade of red that almost has Songhwa breaking into fits of laughter. 

“We’re eighteen!” Songhwa prods further in mock surprise, “Surely this can’t be that much of a surprise to you? Someone from our school had even gotten pregnant—”

“I’m just…” Ikjun lowers his gaze in defeat. “...taken aback, that is all.”

“Your reaction had been far more than just being taken aback, though.” Songhwa leans closer into his face, “Why, you didn’t think we would get that far into our relationship?“

Ikjun whines, “I didn’t dare to even think about—”

Songhwa raises an eyebrow at his answer, almost wanting to challenge him. “You don’t want to do it with me?”

“ What ?” His eyes meet hers again, his expression almost appalled at her question. “I must be stupid to not want to have sex with you! Like you said, we are eighteen, of course I’ve had that sort of desire and thoughts before! Especially during sex ed classes, all I could think of was us .”

That honest declaration sets something off within Songhwa’s stomach — this time, she is the one with a burning face of shyness as she leans backward into the side of her bed frame. 

The two youngsters seem to have realised the awkwardness rising in the air as they both turn away sheepishly, trying to gather their composure again.

It is Ikjun who continues quietly, hoping to clear any misunderstanding in the air, “I just didn’t want to assume, Songhwa-ya. It’s still so early and we’re…well, we’re still navigating a fresh relationship as lovers…I just thought it would be best to go with the flow, rather than expect that to happen next.”

“You’re right,” She clears her throat lightly in agreement. “I…I didn’t mean we must… you know,”

He nods, understanding what she is trying to say.

“I just thought you were alarmingly endearing earlier.” Songhwa admits with a smile, “You should have seen the panic in your expression…”

Ikjun groans. “Did I make a fool out of myself? I just didn’t want you to misunderstand. I know you must have heard a lot from the other boys in our school but…I’m not like them. I just want nature to take its course, that’s all.”

“Mmhmm,” Songhwa reaches forward to hold his hand, tugging it until he is looking at her again. “I know. Always so selfless and kind. You’re unreal, sometimes, you know that?”

“Oh, I know that for sure.” Ikjun smirks, causing Songhwa to laugh. “Anyway, I do have something to ask you.”

“What is it?”

He holds her gaze for a few long seconds, smiling. Her blush seems to darken under his soft gaze.

“Will you go to prom with me?”

Her heart skips a beat. Songhwa’s smile grows at that question; of course it is one that she has been anticipating for some weeks now. “You don’t even have to ask, Ikjun-ah. Of course I’ll go with you.”

“Wonderful.” He starts to lean in, sliding his hand to the nape of her neck. “That’s all I want to hear, for now.” 

“Hmm, as if I’ll have another answer.” Songhwa hums, and closes her eyes when she feels Ikjun’s lips on hers again.

Their revisions lay forgotten that afternoon.

Chapter Text

They are well aware of their initial decision of keeping their relationship a secret for the timebeing, but the opportunity to be honest arises when the rest of the boys bring up senior prom over recess. 

“So who are you guys going to ask to senior prom? I’m of course bringing Gyeoul, so that’s a no brainer for me.” 

It is a no brainer for Jeongwon, and that is the exact reason why he is the one to bring that topic up. He receives an almost immediate answer from Junwan in the form of a sigh, followed by a nonchalant shrug as the latter replies, “No idea. Do I have to go?”

“Of course you have to go!” Jeongwon states firmly, “It’s our last prom together, and it’s literally the highlight of our entire high school life!”

“Ugh,” Junwan groans, “well, I don’t have anyone to ask.”

Ikjun raises an eyebrow. “Am I hearing this right? Kim Junwan, the guy with the most girlfriends among us, does not know who to ask to prom?”

Songhwa laughs lightly with a shake of her head as she continues to sip her strawberry milk. She starts to wonder if this would be the right time to break the news to the rest of her best friends, glancing over at Ikjun and letting her gaze linger a few seconds longer. 

“Hey, that’s not fair! I haven’t dated anyone in months.” Junwan gives his best friend half a glare before leaning back against the bench. “Besides, would it be that bad if I attended prom by myself ?”

“While I think that’s just sad, ” Jeongwon immediately says, “you probably won’t be the only attendee who would go alone. Maybe Seokhyung can be your plus one instead.”

Junwan grimaces at that idea, but before he could say anything, the usually-quiet Seokhyung starts to say, “I’m afraid not, I’ve asked someone to prom actually.”

“Mwo???” Everyone’s reaction is instant as all four of them lean forward immediately, towards Seokhyung who seems nonchalant about what he had just revealed. “But who???”

“Someone.”

“Someone who ?”

“Well…a girl.”

“Of course it’s a girl, genius.”

“Is it someone we know?”

“Someone in our class?”

“I didn’t even know you liked anyone.”

The exchange between the boys is enough to make Songhwa smile — because she has an instinct she knows who it is that Seokhyung had asked out for prom. He may be quiet and he may not be outrightly showing off to the entire world that he has a crush on someone, but Songhwa knows better.

“It’s Chu Minha, isn’t it?” She asks with a mischievous glint in her eye, and the three boys let out another gasp of surprise.

“ChuChu?? Wait a minute,” Ikjun holds a hand up, “Didn’t you reject her confession back then?”

At the same time Jeongwon asks, “Gyeoul’s best friend, Chu Minha??”

“I didn’t reject her,” Seokhyung explains, “I only told her to give me some time to consider.”

“I thought you said you weren’t interested!” Junwan supplies in an accusatory tone, “That one time I teased you to say you were on a diet because you wanted to impress her, and you vehemently denied it!”

“Well, things happened.”

“What things???”

“Just… things.”

“Oh god, I swear, it’s infuriating talking to him.”

“I’m happy for you, Seokhyung-ah.” Songhwa says genuinely with a smile, patting his arm once. “She’s a really sweet girl from what I can tell.”

“Thanks,” Seokhyung grins back, then immediately turns the question around, “what about you, Chae Songhwa? Any guys asked you to prom yet?”

Ikjun shifts in his seat, anticipating Songhwa’s reply. He’d caught on to her look earlier, and he had a feeling she might be honest and tell the boys the truth.

“Yes,” Songhwa nods easily, “I’m going to prom with—”

“It’s Seunghyo isn’t it?” Junwan interrupts cheerfully, “It has to be Seunghyo. You chummed up to him so quickly since he came.”

Ikjun narrows his eyes towards Junwan, “Yah, that’s not—”

“I think you two make a fine couple.” Jeongwon gives his input, jutting a hand out for his best female friend to high five, “Congratulations, Songhwa-ya!”

“Er, umm,” Songhwa accepts the high five hesitantly, her cheeks are turning red. “Actually it isn’t—”

But the boys’ attention spans are clearly short, and they’ve moved on to their next target instead. Ikjun. “And you? Have you asked Hyejung to prom yet?”

Ikjun is more terrified than he is offended. “Hyejung ??? What?? No!”

Songhwa gives an inward sigh but remains expressionless.

“Whaaat? Are you chickening out or something?”

“Maybe he is scared of being rejected.”

“Maybe Hyejung has moved on to another guy instead, since Ikjun is always playing hard to get.”

“Excuse me!” Ikjun raises his voice, sputtering, “there has never been anything going on between Hyejung and I!” He glances at Songhwa who has covered a hand over her mouth, probably either in disbelief or that she is fighting hard to push back down the amused laughter that is coming out from her throat. 

Ikjun couldn’t take it anymore. He nearly bellows out, “I’m attending prom with Songhwa!”

The silence that ensues is something that only lasted for a few seconds, for the boys immediately chorused into a round of “ahh, right. That makes sense.” and “I’m not surprised.”

“What?” Ikjun continues exasperatedly, “What do you mean you’re not surprised? I’m going with Songhwa! We’re dati—!”

“Best friends forever, yeah yeah we get it.”

“It’s probably one of their weird friendship pacts again.”

“I guess they promised each other they would attend senior prom together if they’re not dating anyone by then.”

“But I’m dating her !” Ikjun puts his hand around Songhwa’s shoulder. “Songhwa is my girlfriend!”

Songhwa nods as soon as she sees the look of disbelief crossing her friends’ expressions. “It’s true. We’re dating.”

“Please!” Junwan scoffs, “if you’re dating then the earth is flat!”

“What???” Ikjun sputters again, “Is it that hard to believe?”

“You two have been diaper besties since forever.” Jeongwon laughs, “You can’t be dating now. That doesn’t make any sense.”

Ikjun huffs, “I can assure you that it makes total sense!”

Songhwa would have tried as hard as Ikjun to convince the boys that they’re dating, if not because she is having the time of her life seeing Ikjun’s reaction to the boys not believing that they’re dating. She suppresses another laugh before patting his thigh, as if wanting to comfort him. 

And then the recess bell goes off, signifying the end of their break. Before Ikjun could continue insisting that he had been telling the truth, the other boys are already standing while picking up their trays. 

He glances sideways to meet Songhwa’s amused gaze. “That…went well.”

She laughs, squeezing his hand gently. “It’s alright. They will believe it someday.”

“Maybe we should just kiss in front of them.”

“And traumatise our best friends forever?”

“They need to see to believe it, Songhwa-ya.”

She chuckles again and nods. “Alright, next time. We can do that next time.”

Ikjun grins, and squeezes her hand back in return. “I can’t wait to see Junwan scream in disgust.”

Songhwa rolls her eyes, and starts to stand.

“You wanted to see me, coach?” 

Ikjun announces his arrival as soon as he has knocked on his coach’s door. Coach Kim immediately gestures for him to take the empty chair in front of his desk. 

“Ikjun-ah, please have a seat.”

Once the boy is settled into the seat, Coach Kim continues, “I have really good news to share with you.”

That catches his attention, and Ikjun immediately sits up straighter in anticipation. Could it be that his coach has heard back from the scouters who had attended his most recent match? Could it be that he is about to be given offers from the scouters? Most importantly…would SNU’s Coach had given him one?

“I have been in touch with a few scouters and coaches from various universities, and they’re all really impressed by your gameplay, Ikjun-ah.” Coach Kim is beaming with sheer pride, “But that’s not all.”

The pause his Coach is giving is enough for Ikjun to jump on the opportunity to ask him, “Sorry to interrupt, Coach, but please, was Coach Hyun one of those scouters you are talking about?”

Coach Kim frowns slightly, “Coach Hyun? From SNU? Yes, yes, he is one of those but—”

Before Ikjun could even wait for his coach to finish his sentence, he had pumped his fists in the air, clearly elated by what he had learned. “Yes! Yes yes yes!”

“Er, Ikjun…” Coach Kim is startled by his sudden display of enthusiasm, “before you celebrate so early over SNU’s offer, would you let me finish?”

“Oh, right.” Ikjun blushes, “I’m so sorry, Coach. Please continue.”

Coach Kim clears his throat, and the smile he had worn before finds its way back onto his face. “This might be shocking to you but…among those university coaches, there was…a special scouter among the crowd.”

Ikjun waits, even though he is already uninterested to hear the rest.

“It’s the scouter for the National Team, Ikjun-ah.”

He blinks in confusion.

“And he wants you in the National Team.”

“What?”

“Of course, granted, you still need to undergo a lot of training before you can even be drafted officially but this is huge, Ikjun-ah! Super huge! He made only one offer that evening, and it was to you!”

Ikjun does not share the same level of enthusiasm with his coach. “But…I don’t want to be in the National team, Coach…”

Coach Kim’s eyes bulge open in surprise. “Are you alright, son? Do you even hear yourself? This isn’t just another football team out there, this is the National Team for our country! Yah , imagine the pride and joy your family would feel knowing their son is in the National Team!” 

“I know…but…why me?”

“Because you have the talent to be part of the National Team! This is for your future, Ikjun-ah. Please, consider this opportunity properly.” 

Ikjun is rendered speechless, countless thoughts swimming into his mind in an instant. This isn’t part of his original plan. This isn’t supposed to even happen. He has made up his mind for years, has carved out a plan he knows to be his only plan for years.

“Look, Ikjun-ah.” Coach Kim says gently, kindly, “I may not know why you only want to get into SNU through a sports scholarship when SNU doesn’t even have the best university football team and you know it. But an offer from the National Team scouter? You don’t even need a university degree at this point, Ikjun-ah! If you do really well in the training, and eventually play on the field for our country…it’s going to change your life forever.”

Ikjun knows his coach is right. He is stumped. 

But does he really want his life to change forever?

“Here,”

Seunghyo looks up in surprise, the sight of banana milk in Songhwa’s hand as she dangles it in front of his eyes. Seunghyo smiles, accepting it with gratitude before asking, “And what did I do to deserve banana milk today?”

“Geu-nyang,” Songhwa shrugs, sitting down beside him. “I just wanted to thank you.”

“For?”

“Your advice.”

Seunghyo shifts in his seat so that he could look at Songhwa directly. “Ohh. You mean…the one I gave you in the library?”

Songhwa nods, and Seunghyo immediately sees the glow in her cheeks, and the radiant smile she is having on her face. He knows.

“Congratulations.” He tells her with a grin. “About time, honestly.”

“I know, I know.” Songhwa laughs. “Are you going to rub it in my face that you were right?”

“Nah,” He pokes the straw into his drink and says brightly, “I already have this as a reward. It’s satisfying enough.”

Songhwa doesn’t say anything as she opens her textbook and begins to read. 

“What, is that it?” 

“Is that it what?”

“You’re not going to tell me everything that has happened?” Seunghyo asks with a raised eyebrow, “All the hows ?”

Songhwa puts down her pen and looks at her friend. “Do you really want me to bore you with all the details of how we got together?”

“Of course!” Seunghyo says immediately. “Bore me with everything!”

So she tells him. From her own realisation to Ikjun’s confession, to their first kiss and even the promise they had made to each other. She tells him that she is glad to have realised her feelings, tells him that she can’t imagine just being friends alone with Ikjun. 

Seunghyo is grinning from one ear to another by the time Songhwa is done. “Thank the heavens for this realisation!”

Songhwa grins too, but says nothing. Then, she decides to switch topics, “By the way, are you going to senior prom?”

“Oh,” Seunghyo shakes his head, “I’m not, actually. In fact, I’m going back to Busan to attend senior prom in my previous high school.”

Songhwa is surprised. “What? What do you mean—”

It is the first time Songhwa sees Seunghyo blushing, “I made a promise to someone I would attend prom with her so…”

She gasps in excitement, clapping her hands together. “There’s a girl back in Busan that you like???”

Seunghyo simply nods, and then he tells her—

“My best friend.”

And immediately, everything clicks into the picture. Songhwa’s grin doesn’t falter. Instead, it grows even larger. It all makes sense now, all his words to her.

“Seunghyo-ya,” She says, “I’m really happy for you.”

He chuckles, “And I, to you.”