𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚

Chapter 3

"Honey.." You heard your mother's voice behind you. You didn't look at her because you were busy reviewing your lessons. "You didn't ate your dinner."

"Later, Mom." You answered shortly.

Your mom knows you can't be forced. You heard the door closed and you continued scheming everything in your notes, listening to your voice recordings and watching YouTube for more explanations. You massaged your neck when it started feeling numb. You rest your head on your chair's head rest. 

You sighed as you heard your stomach rumbling. You look at the time on your phone and saw that it was already 2 in the morning. You look at your table who's filled with papers. You closed your eyes and after that you stand up to get something to eat. You were looking down on the floor as you close your room's door that when you raise your head and head towards the kitchen you were shocked to see your mom cooking something. 

"Mom?" She looks back at you and smiled. "You're still awake?" You asked her and went to see what she's cooking. 

She shook her head. "I put an alarm so I can re-heat your food." Your eyes became teary when you heard her. 

The stress and pressure you were feeling just vanished because of her. You hugged her which took her by surprise but she chuckled and hugged you back gently. After your mom re-heat the food she immediately prepared it for you to eat. You silently eat the food she prepared for you. She was just watching you the whole time and when you finished your food she immediately stood up to clean your plate.

"I can wash that myself, Mom." You said. 

"No can do, honey. Go and continue your study so you can have rest after." 

You know this too well. If you're stubborn in some things, so was she. Guess it runs in the blood, huh?

Morning came and you haven't sleep a bit. 

"Why is math so hard?" You murmured to yourself, pulling your hair slightly because you were feeling frustrated. "Math's the first subject on the exam today."

You heard a knock on your door and you jumped in surprised. "Are you ready, Y/n?" Your mom said outside your room. 

You sighed. "Just a minute." You said and cleaned your desk. 

After you get ready, you went out and saw your mom waiting at the living room. "Are you going to eat here or in school?" She asks as she stand up."

You nod your head. "At school." Your mom just nod her head, although worried, she just keep her mouth shut as she drove you to school. 

"Take it easy, okay?" She said when you're already in front of the school. "I love you and I'm proud of you."

You were close to crying but you kept it together. "Thank you and I love you too." You gave her a kiss on the cheek before you went inside the building. 

You're unaware of your surroundings and the first thing who brought you back to reality is someone pulling your bag. 

"Woah.. careful there, babe." You look at who is it and saw Joonghyuk. He was wearing that smug smirk. As you scanned his face, you became irritated. 

"I fucking hate seeing your face." You said which made his smirk fade but eventually chuckled. 

"Should I cover it for you, then?" He said, clearly teasing you. He stopped for a second and let go of your bag. You fixed your bag in your shoulder and was about to leave him there when he started to talk. "You didn't did you?"

You stopped in your track. "And what if I didn't?" You said. 

"Take it easy, you shouldn't be forcing yourself to your limit." 

"You're saying that because you're just naturally good in everything."

You heard him sighed. "I told you, I'm not good at everything but that's not the point here."

You faced him, emotions flowing. "Have you experienced being stressed because you can't understand that specific lesson?"

"No." He gulped. 

"Then shut mind your own business."

"I'll say this once, Y/n. I don't like that you're competing with me, I don't like that you're risking your mental health just because you want to beat me in everything." He walks slowly towards me. "I let you at first because it seems you're enjoying everything. I like how your eyes sparks whenever you see your score and I love that frown in your face whenever I told you I got a perfect score."

"I care about you more than you think. So please, I don't want you to beat yourself up just because you want to surpass me." He held my hand. "Take it easy, please. As your friend, I'm worried about you."

"I can be your rival anytime you want but if you're having a hard time getting a lesson, I also want to be that person you can count on. Let me help you, you can count on me. Drop the rival thing for once and let's study together."

You stared at his face, unable to formulate any words. Why is he being like this?