❝ garnet ❞
heeseung holds a secret over jieun's head, and to keep his silence, she agrees to help him win over his long-time crush
〔 lee heeseung 〕
〔 fake dating 〕
〔 ongoing 〕
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LEE HEESEUNG was in love.
Growing up, he was certain that he'd never experience a kaleidoscope of butterflies beating against his stomach or an inescapable force of his lips turning upward at the sight of that one special person, but here he was.
Kim Dahee had caused the fluttering in his chest and that embarrassing grin. Everything from her long spring dresses to her lengthy black hair had Heeseung absolutely smitten.
The way she covered her mouth when she laughed, the way her long, silky locks were always swooped up in a high ponytail, the way she walked her friends to their lectures every day with a loving smile on her face— Heeseung adored all of it.
Of course, Dahee didn't know that.
Dahee didn't know how much Heeseung's heart stuttered at the sight of her stepping into class, she didn't sense all of the subtle glances he stole in her direction in the courtyard as she laughed with her friends, she didn't notice the way he struggled to speak when she was around or the way he grew smaller when the two were put in a group together. Dahee wasn't aware of a single droplet of the buckets filled with affection threatening to tip over her head.
His inability to even remotely try to get close to her could have stemmed from her solid-standing confidence or intimidating stare, or possibly, it was her fancy way of saying things or her ability to make everyone in the room boil with envy and admiration, maybe even how effortlessly she carried herself. Or maybe, it was because of how drop-dead gorgeous she looked at every hour of every day.
Kim Dahee was extremely pretty: that's what Heeseung would tell you. Actually, he would say something more along the lines of: "She's the most beautiful person I've ever seen, you can see distant galaxies in her eyes and every time she speaks it's as if angels are singing. God has to be real because science can't explain something as perfect as Dahee. She's something Heaven sent."
Most people would just call her hot.
Either way, it made Heeseung's knees tremble beneath him.
Every time he was in her vicinity, everything Heeseung thought he knew about himself was flipped on its head. A relatively private, secluded guy? Nope! If she was there, suddenly he's spewing out every single interesting fact about himself like he was writing a college application letter.
When she would walk into the room, he would take the first chance to throw himself into view. He would deliberately say seemingly intelligent facts that he had stolen from his friend followed by nonchalant mannerisms to mask the trembling of his hand and the redness threatening to decorate his cheeks.
When Heeseung wanted to be the main act, he could, it just so happened that he never wanted to play that role unless a certain person was in the audience.
But his performance never seemed to receive a praise-worthy score. So, he kept his heart locked up and his lips sealed.
Heeseung was in love and no one knew.
‿‿‿‿
Kwon Jieun was in love. She'd learned what love was at 11 years old, when knee pads and a synthetic ball had been thrusted into her hands. The second the ball was in the air, Jieun was sure she had discovered the one thing that everyone else took decades to find.
Jieun knew, within barely a fraction of her life, that everything anyone had ever told her about love was a complete lie. Love was not something she'd find in someone else, it wasn't holding hands or kissing or notes filled with sweet words. Love was a concept, not some magical promise.
Love to Jieun was laminated, wooden floors, black streaks staining the ground, patches of red on her forearm, squeaking shoes, and the word "mine" being screamed every two seconds: that was love.
Jieun was loyal and dedicated. She put her all into the relationship and never strayed from what she belonged to. She proclaimed her love from the mountain tops and wore a sash of pride across her chest. She needed everyone to know about the rivers of love flowing around her.
