When We're Together [양정완]

37.

"Me?" Aera had been zoning out for so long that she had practically forgotten where she was. She glanced at Yoona who raised an eyebrow and nodded before repeating her question.

"Truth or dare?"

Aera pursed her lips. She knew there was no escaping it. If it was Yoona, she knew exactly what her truth or dare would be about. "Truth."

The collective cackle that came from her friends made the female wish she hadn't come here for a second time, but now she was too far in to back out.

"Alright, Aera. Be 100% honest okay?"

Aera nodded and gulped. Her eyes scanned the room for some sort of escape from her inevitable fate, but instead her eyes locked with Yang Jungwon' boba eyes.

"You okay?" the male mouthed to her, sensing her discomfort. She flashed a nervous smile and gave him a discreet "okay" with her hand.

Yoona started again, "So, do you like anybody?"

Even though she had known what was coming, Aera still felt her heart beating faster once the words were actually spoken.

To be honest, she didn't know. Chae Aera had never been the lovey-dovey, romantic type. Even though she had liked a couple people before, ever since she had been rejected by Min Yuhan, she hadn't really thought about romance very much.

But still, the only thing that came to mind when she thought of romance was a broad-shouldered, cat-eyed, dimpled boy, named Yang Jungwon.

"So?" Yoona's voice halted Aera's thoughts and she was suddenly brought back to reality.

"Oh.. uhm... no?" The female's answer sounded more like a question that she had intended, making her friends raise their eyebrows suspiciously.

"You sure?" Baram chimed in as she smirked at Aera playfully.

In that moment, all Yang Jungwon wanted to do was get them to stop nagging Aera, but as much as he wanted to, he knew that would start rumors that she certainly didn't want circulating the school.

"It's complicated." Aera finally sighed as her friends began to back off, sensing her genuine confusion in her own feelings.

Now, it was her turn to ask somebody. She was about to choose Eseo, but Yoona whispered into her ear. "Choose a guy."

The female paused for a second to take her friend's words into consideration, before speaking again, "Baek Junhyun, truth or dare?"

Yang Jungwon felt his heart skip a beat hearing the other boy's name. Did Aera really not know about Junhyun's feelings for her? Or did she know, and she was just ignoring them?

A million questions buzzed through the male's head as he tried his best not to look anxious as his eyes darted between Aera and Junhyun.

After a painfully long time of consideration, finally replied, "Truth."

Aera grinned. She knew Baram obviously liked the boy, so she quickly came up with a plan. "Okay," she narrowed her eyes at the male with a smirk. "Do you like somebody in the circle?"

Jungwon choked on his own breath hearing her truth. What kind of truth was that?

Meanwhile, Baram held her breath. She knew his answer and knew who he was going to talk about, but she still, a fragment of her heart wished it was her. She suddenly shook her head and pinched the back of her hand to bring herself back to reality.

Junhyun ran a hand through his hair as he peered around the circle, his eyes lingering for the slightest moment longer on Aera. He nodded, "I do."

~~~

Finally, that night Chae Aera got a good night of sleep. She had slept in the orange sweatshirt she had borrowed from Yang Jungwon since she hadn't brought any warm sleep clothes, and she wondered if maybe that was why she had sleep so well.

She quickly got ready for her last day on the winter retreat and stepped outside of the room, forgetting she was still wearing the orange hoodie.

The weather was much colder now than it had been when they first arrived, and snow was beginning to build on the ground outside.