CHAPTER 12
The next day, Ji-eun kept replaying Min-jun's words in her mind.
"I was thinking about you."
No matter how much she tried to focus in class, her heart kept beating too fast.
Every time Min-jun looked at her, even slightly, she felt it again.
By the time school ended, the tension was so strong she could barely breathe.
She was walking out of the gate when she saw him waiting — leaning against the fence, headphones around his neck, eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on her.
Her heart jumped.
"Ji-eun," he said, pushing off the fence.
"Walk with me?"
She nodded.
They walked in silence for a few minutes, the sunset painting the sky soft orange.
Min-jun was quieter than usual.
Not cold.
Not distant.
Just… thinking.
Finally, he stopped walking.
Ji-eun turned to him, confused.
"Min-jun?"
He looked nervous — actually nervous — for the first time since she met him.
His fingers tightened around the strap of his bag.
"I need to ask you something," he said quietly.
Her breath caught.
"What is it?"
He stepped closer — not touching, but close enough that she felt his warmth.
His voice was low, shaking slightly.
"Yesterday… when I said I was thinking about you…"
He paused, meeting her eyes directly.
"Did that make you uncomfortable?"
Ji-eun blinked, taken off-guard.
"No," she whispered immediately.
"It didn't."
His chest rose, like he'd been holding his breath.
"Then…" he said, taking another tiny step.
"Then why did you avoid me today?"
Her eyes widened.
"I didn't avoid you—"
"You did."
His voice wasn't angry.
Just honest.
"Every time I tried to talk to you, you walked away."
Her lips parted, but no words came.
Min-jun exhaled shakily and looked down.
"I just… needed to know," he murmured.
"Did I do something wrong? Did I make you uncomfortable by liking—"
He stopped himself, eyes widening.
Ji-eun's heart slammed in her chest.
Liking?
He turned away, embarrassed.
"Forget it. I didn't mean—"
Ji-eun grabbed his sleeve.
He froze.
She looked up at him with trembling eyes.
"Finish what you were going to say."
He swallowed hard.
Slowly, so slowly, he turned toward her again.
Their faces were close.
Too close.
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…I didn't want to make you uncomfortable by liking you."
Time stopped.
Ji-eun's fingers tightened slightly on his sleeve.
Her voice was soft, scared, honest.
"You don't make me uncomfortable."
He blinked.
Min-jun's breath hitched.
He leaned in — just a little — like he was being pulled without meaning to.
"Ji-eun," he murmured, the name sounding like a confession.
Her heart pounded.
If she moved just an inch, their foreheads would touch.
But just then—
"MIN-JUN! Your ride is here!"
A voice shouted from across the street.
Min-jun flinched back, frustrated.
Ji-eun stepped away quickly, cheeks burning.
He looked torn — like he wanted to stay, wanted to say more, wanted to finish the moment they lost.
But he had no choice.
"I'll… talk to you tomorrow," he said, voice still soft, still warm.
Ji-eun nodded, unable to speak.
As he walked away, he glanced back at her one last time — eyes full of something that was no longer hidden.
Something real.
Something close to love.