Chapter Text
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You have always been lucky. Whether it was getting the last banana milk in the canteen or acing tests after breezing over the history book five minutes before the exam, you had an exceeding confidence within you, making everything fall into the palm of your hand—just as you liked it.
You were her. The girl that everyone adored and aspired to be. The attention and admiration had now become second nature to you, walking into your school greeted by a few smiles and waves. You braced yourself before opening your locker, knowing there was going to be a few gifts shoved inside waiting to be opened. And just as you expected, a few letters with hearts on them and a handful of sweets were sitting in your locker. A pink lollipop rolled out and landed near your feet.
It was cute, really.
The endless amount of confessions that came rushing your way. Boys and girls falling for you made you gush at how lucky you were to be adored by everyone. You took out your books, your hands passing through the gifts that were scattered in your locker. A familiar laughter filled your ears—your best friend Minju looked at the locker with a smile on her face, like she was amused by the scene.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Minju crossed her arms, leaning against the locker next to yours.
“Isn’t this too much for today?” she asked, eyeing the little notes with hearts doodled on them.
“Please, this is nothing compared to Valentine’s Day.” You snorted.
“Right, right. Confession letters final boss,” Minju laughed, remembering how busy you were on Valentine’s Day.
You both giggled as you headed to your literature class. The two of you entered the classroom and took your seats—Minju slid into a spot a few rows behind you. Your back straightened against the seat and a fresh page turned on your pink notebook, you waited for the teacher to settle down to start teaching about poetic devices or whatever was in the syllabus. Everything flew smoothly for you. The peers around you seemed a bit confused, struggling to take down notes, but with your black gel pen and the stickers you set aside, it was a piece of cake.
Academics were never a problem for you. Always present and ready to learn, mathematical formulas and physics concepts flew into your mind with ease. Your essay skills were impeccable, and many teachers were impressed with your memory. Well, no wonder you were the top student. You had everything—looks, brains, and luck by your side.
Class ended sooner than you had expected. You were already out of your seat, packing your things, waiting for Minju. You closed your notebook when someone approached you. Still focusing on your books, you didn’t bother to look up.
He cleared his throat, hands in his pocket. “Hey.”
You looked up at him with a smile, even though his face was quite unfamiliar. His hair fell in soft waves above his eyes. His lips were pouty with a soft pink dew on them. A faint blush lingered on his cheeks as if it belonged there—everything about him looked natural. From his brown eyes that met yours to his backpack that slung over his shoulder, he seemed put together.
His uniform was neatly ironed, yet he draped a gray hoodie over his frame. His shirt was tucked in his slacks, though his tie hung loosely around his neck. You looked over at his name stitched on his badge.
Yang Jungwon.
The name left an unfamiliar trace in your mind. You felt like you had seen him around, cooped up in a corner or getting banana milk with his friends, but the memories of him sat at the back of your mind. Of course, he was simply a background character in your life, simply existing, never colliding with your world.
Until now.
“What’s up?” you asked him, confusion laced in your voice.
“Uh, nothing much? Just wanted to ask you if you were free this weekend?”
Oh?
Wow, you must be on a roll today. Already getting a confession before the clock even struck nine. A confession in broad daylight. You couldn’t help the small smile that tugged the ends of your lips.
It was sweet, really. The cute nerdy guy who seemed like he has never had the courage to speak to you finally does. Though he does seem like your type, you barely knew the guy—only hearing about him from your friend’s daily gossip sessions sometimes. He never crossed your mind once. His name falling out of your friends’ lips, your mind barely registering it, and to be forgotten in a few minutes when Minju brings up her new crush or what she had for lunch that day.
Yet here he was, standing in front of you.
A shameless yet sweet confession out of his mouth already.
“So fast? We just met.” You couldn't help but giggle.
Though, Jungwon’s face stayed the same.
“I mean, I get it,” you went on. Your voice seemed a bit too confident. “It’s not the first time this has happened. You seem like my style, really! But I mean, we don’t even know each other. I’m sure there are other girls willing to spend time with you. You seem like a great guy—handsome even.”
You offered him your signature smile—the kind that made the seniors fall on their knees and the shy boys leave letters in your locker.
Though Jungwon didn’t waver. Instead, he turned his head in confusion.
“Huh?”
How cute! He’s embarrassed.
You giggled at him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to be shy about it. Everyone has crushes. I’ve heard lots of confessions that end this way. But I think it's cute you have the courage to ask me out.”
“I’m sorry—confessions?”
You nodded.
He let out a breathy laugh and turned his head to the side, almost as if he was in disbelief. He was amused by your… confidence. Suddenly, you were the confused one.
“You thought I was asking you out?” Jungwon raised a brow.
“Weren’t you?” you said, slower this time. The confidence that was radiating out of you dimmed down and crumbled into a little ball.
Jungwon bit back his smile, shaking his head. “We’re project partners,” he explained. “Miss Bae gave the list of partners yesterday.”
Everything fell into place.
Idiot!
If only you had dragged yourself to school yesterday instead of laying in bed all day and binge-watching Gossip Girl, you wouldn't be standing here utterly humiliated. You felt like the stupidest person alive. Not only did you assume he liked you when he barely talked to you—you rejected him!
You blinked, your lips parting in horror. “Oh.”
Jungwon looked over at your name on your badge and back at your flustered face—red as ever. “Y/N, is it?”
He didn’t even know your name!
You sighed and nodded, holding your books tight. The chestnut-haired boy could only be amused by your embarrassed state.
Jungwon pursed his lips into a line, his grip on the strap of his bag tightening. “So, this weekend? I'll send you the details.”
“Huh—oh, right. For the project.” You gulped and nodded quickly, your eyes darting anywhere but at him.
“For the project,” Jungwon chuckled. “See you then.”
He turned to leave but paused at the doorway, glancing at you over his shoulder—his expression remained unreadable as always.
“And thanks for the compliment, by the way, Y/N,” Jungwon said before disappearing into the hallway.
Rejecting someone who wanted nothing to do with you romantically was probably a new low for you. What was worse was that you would have to meet him again and work with him. You gulped at the thought of it, already dreading the awkward tension you would have to face this weekend.
You groaned, looking back at your desk, only to be met with Minju’s amused face. Was she watching the entire time? Oh gosh.
Minju opening her mouth to say something was definitely a snarky remark, only for you to shut her down. “Don’t even start.”
You glared at her. Because she was the last of your worries. She wasn’t what was going to kill you.
This project was.