Chapter 8
The school courtyard buzzed with noise the next morning, sunlight bright and warm. Students stood in clusters, chatting before first period.
Ji-eun walked through the gate, holding her notebook close, her mind replaying yesterday's moment under the cherry tree —
Min-jun's fingers brushing her hair…
The way he looked at her…
The promise in his voice.
Her cheeks warmed just remembering it.
"Ji-eun!"
She turned.
It was Hae-seong, a friendly boy from her class. Bright smile, loud voice, always cheerful — the complete opposite of Min-jun.
"Good morning! You dropped this yesterday."
He held out a mechanical pencil.
"Oh— thank you! I didn't even notice."
"Yeah, I figured. You were kinda… distracted."
He grinned playfully. "Thinking about someone?"
Ji-eun's face turned red immediately.
Before she could respond, Hae-seong leaned a little closer.
"You know… if you ever need help with math or anything, I can—"
"Ji-eun."
A quiet voice cut in.
Hae-seong froze.
Ji-eun turned—
Min-jun was standing behind her.
Expression calm.
Eyes not calm.
Not even a little.
---
Cold Jealousy
Min-jun stepped closer, placing himself slightly between Ji-eun and Hae-seong.
Not aggressively.
Not rudely.
Just enough to make a statement.
Hae-seong blinked. "Oh— sunbae! I was just—"
"I heard," Min-jun said softly. Too softly.
Ji-eun felt her chest tighten.
He wasn't yelling.
He wasn't angry.
This Min-jun was worse.
Cold.
Quiet.
Jealous.
Hae-seong scratched his head nervously. "I was just giving her something she dropped."
Min-jun's eyes lowered to the pencil in Ji-eun's hand… then back to the boy.
"She has me," Min-jun said simply.
Ji-eun's heart slammed against her ribs.
Hae-seong coughed awkwardly. "R-right. Sorry, I didn't mean—"
"It's fine."
But the tone made it very clear: Be careful.
Hae-seong quickly excused himself and walked away.
---
The Moment After
Silence.
Ji-eun stared at Min-jun, cheeks warm, heart pounding.
"Sunbae… you didn't have to say that," she whispered.
He finally looked at her.
His eyes were troubled — not angry now, but embarrassed, like he realized he'd shown too much.
"He was too close to you," Min-jun said quietly.
Ji-eun blinked. "He was just talking—"
"I know."
A small pause.
"I still didn't like it."
Her breath caught.
"…Were you jealous?"
He looked away immediately.
"…No."
She stepped a little closer.
"So you weren't jealous when he leaned close?"
He stayed silent.
"And you weren't jealous when he asked if I was thinking about someone?"
Still silence.
"And you weren't jealous when he—"
"Okay," Min-jun said suddenly, voice low, ears red. "Maybe I was a little."
"A little?"
He let out a slow breath, finally facing her fully.
"Fine," he whispered. "A lot."
Ji-eun's heart melted.
---
A Confession That Isn't a Confession
Min-jun stepped closer, his voice soft but intense.
"I don't like seeing other guys around you."
His eyes searched hers.
"I don't like it when they make you laugh."
Another step.
"I don't like it when they try to get close."
He swallowed hard.
"I don't like it when they look at you the way I do."
Ji-eun's breath trembled.
"But… why?" she whispered.
His voice dropped to a whisper too.
"You know why."
Her cheeks heated instantly.
"But you haven't said—"
"If I say it," he murmured, "I won't be able to take it back."
The wind blew gently between them.
Petals moved.
Students passed by.
But in that moment, it felt like only the two of them existed.
Ji-eun's voice was soft, trembling.
"Maybe… I don't want you to take it back."
Min-jun froze.
Completely.
His lips parted slightly, breath unsteady, eyes warming with something deep — something he was fighting hard not to show too soon.
"…Ji-eun."
Just her name — but it sounded like more.
Much more.
---
The First Bold Touch
Without thinking, Min-jun reached out—
and gently took her wrist.
Not pulling.
Not grabbing.
Just holding it softly with his fingers.
A small, bold, trembling touch.
Her heart raced.
"After school," he said quietly. "Wait for me. Don't go home alone today."
Ji-eun nodded, breathless. "Okay."
"I'll find you."
He let go slowly, carefully, like her wrist was something fragile.
And then he walked away before he said too much.
Leaving Ji-eun standing there—
blushing, shaking, smiling…
knowing exactly what he couldn't say yet.