MS. BAD TEMPER

𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲

aera's heart beat in sync with the low hum of excitement and trepidation as she stared into sunghoon's amused eyes. there was something in the way he chuckled—too sure, too enticing—that sent a thrill down her spine, stirring a mixture of regret and intrigue. the thought of sneaking out, of crossing lines she'd never dared to before, twisted a knot in her stomach. yet, when he laughed, that cocky grin painting his features, she knew she couldn't back down. she'd already signed herself up for whatever chaos awaited.

"you haven't done this before, have you?" he asked, smirking knowingly.

"i haven't," she admitted, feeling a slight flush color her cheeks, though she attempted to mask it with nonchalance. "it's not like i ever thought about it."

"well, today's our lucky day," he declared with a glint of mischief. "first, we're gonna sneak into the principal's office, delete the footage of us, and then we'll shut down the cameras."

aera's mouth went dry. her mind raced, dancing between the thrill and the consequences that loomed over them. "sunghoon, that is not a good idea. maybe we should just wait for the next class..."

he raised a brow, smirking. "are you seriously backing out? didn't know you were a chicken, aera."

the taunt was enough to ignite a spark within her, an instinctive defiance that squashed her hesitation. she clenched her fists, fueled by the challenge in his eyes. "fine, let's just get this over with."

a satisfied grin curved his lips, the kind that hinted he'd anticipated her reaction. "alright. you stay outside; knock twice if someone comes." his voice dropped to a conspiratorial murmur, and despite herself, aera couldn't help but feel a rush of anticipation at the plan laid before her.

as he slipped into the office, the corridor stretched in eerie silence, the ticking of a distant clock amplifying the pounding of her heartbeat. her senses felt sharp, hyper-attuned to every shadow, every faint creak. it was a foreign sensation, this brush with rebellion, a venture beyond her usual lines of propriety. her thoughts drifted to sunghoon, an enigma of contradiction, someone she couldn't quite place, yet who managed to tug her out of herself in ways she never expected.

moments later, he emerged with a grin—smug, secretive. she raised a brow, trying to tamp down the smile tugging at her lips. "you're suspicious, i swear. if we were in a game, i'd be voting you out."

"and why's that?" he laughed, his eyes glinting in the dim light.

"because you look like you're up to no good." she laughed despite herself, shaking her head at the absurdity of it all.

he only shrugged, feigning innocence. "alright. since the gates are locked, we'll have to climb over. it's the only way out."

aera's eyes widened. "climb? sunghoon, i'm wearing a skirt!"

he snorted. "don't you have shorts under there?"

right. she glanced away, embarrassed. "you're not wrong."

before she could protest further, he took her hand and pulled her along, leading her outside. as they reached the gate, he scaled it with practiced ease, landing on the other side with a grace that left her momentarily breathless. he turned, holding his hand out with that same maddening grin.

"come on, aera, you can do it. i'm right here to catch you."

aera hesitated, eyeing the height. "are you out of your mind?" she muttered, feeling the nerves bubble up.

"trust me." his voice softened, a hint of sincerity slipping through his usual bravado. "just jump."

closing her eyes, she let go, surrendering to the fall. the air rushed past her, and in a heartbeat, she landed—not on the ground, but in his arms. she opened her eyes, staring up at him, her breath catching as his laughter resonated against her.

"you're really light," he chuckled, holding her as if she weighed nothing. "i've been working out, you know."

a reluctant smile curved her lips. despite herself, she couldn't deny the strange warmth that flooded her chest. "thank you. you can put me down now."

they began to walk away from the school, slipping into the relative freedom of the open streets. when he mentioned he'd pay, her brows shot up. "you're actually carrying your credit card in the back of your phone? what if you lose it, coconut head?"

he laughed, rubbing the spot on his forehead where she'd playfully flicked him. "you sound a lot like my mom, you know."

they bantered back and forth, his carefree charm infectious, melting her initial reservations. she let herself relax, caught up in the ease of his presence, the playfulness he coaxed out of her, as if he could sense the part of her yearning to break free from expectations.

"where are we going?" she asked eventually, eyeing him with a curious glint.

he grinned, leading her onward. "there's this new café. they have the best cheesecake, and i know you'd sell your soul for a slice."

she blinked, surprised he remembered. for all his rough edges, there were glimpses of a sweetness that softened his mystery, layers she hadn't noticed until now.

at the café, she took a tentative bite of the cheesecake, savoring the flavor as it melted on her tongue. her face lit up, the sheer delight unmistakable. "this is amazing," she whispered, her eyes meeting his as a genuine smile tugged at her lips.

sunghoon watched her, a small, unreadable smile playing on his own lips as she devoured each bite with unabashed joy. in that moment, amid the soft lighting and muted hum of café chatter, aera realized something she hadn't before: maybe, just maybe, sunghoon wasn't as bad as she'd assumed.