Blind Hearts Unveiled|ZB1

3: Clean-Up Chronicles

Hao and Ricky entered the school council office with a mix of anticipation and nerves. The room was abuzz with activity as students huddled in groups, discussing ideas and plans for upcoming events.

Matthew, ever the friendly face, greeted them with a warm smile.
"Hey, Hao, Ricky," Matthew said cheerfully. "Glad you guys could make it. Welcome to the school council."

Hao gave a small nod, while Ricky offered a casual wave. "Thanks for having us," Ricky replied.

As they engaged in a conversation, the door opened, and Hanbin walked in with his characteristic confidence. "Hey, everyone!"

The room seemed to brighten as Hanbin's presence filled the space. He greeted Matthew with a friendly pat on the shoulder before turning his attention to Hao and Ricky. "Ah, new recruits, right?"

Hao felt his heart race as he nodded in response, his voice a bit quieter than he intended. "Yes, that's us."

Hanbin's grin was infectious. "Great to have you guys on board. I'm Hanbin, in case you didn't know."

Hao managed a small smile. "I'm Hao, and this is Ricky."

Hanbin's gaze settled on Hao with genuine curiosity. "Hao, is it? I don't think I've seen you around before."

Hao's cheeks tinged with color as he met Hanbin's friendly gaze. "I'm a transfer student. I just started here recently."

Hanbin's smile remained warm as he leaned against a nearby table. "That's cool. So, where are you from?"

Hao felt a mix of flustered nerves and intrigue as he replied, "I'm from China."

Hanbin's eyes lit up. "China? That's interesting. What brought you to Korea?"

Hao swallowed nervously, his gaze briefly dropping to his hands. "Well, my family moved here for various reasons. And, um, I play violin, so I wanted to explore opportunities here."

Hanbin's smile widened. "I'd love to hear you play sometime. Maybe you could show us during one of our events."

Hao's heart skipped a beat at the thought of performing in front of others. "Um, maybe. I'll think about it."

The school council meeting had come to an end, and Hao found himself reflecting on the conversation he had shared with Hanbin. The warmth of Hanbin's smile lingered in his mind.

As they exited the office, Hao noticed that Hanbin had a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, before you guys go, I've got an announcement. We've been asked to help clean up an abandoned classroom that's been neglected for a while. Care to join us?"

Hao exchanged a glance with Ricky. "Sure, we're up for it," Hao replied with a nod.

With Hanbin leading the way, they headed towards the abandoned classroom. Inside the classroom, they found Junhyeon, Gunwook, and Gyuvin already hard at work, cleaning and organizing the space.

Junhyeon stood near a desk, his usually bubbly demeanor replaced by a flustered mess. Hao couldn't help but notice Junhyeon's gaze flicker towards Taerae. It was a fleeting moment, but it spoke volumes. Junhyeon's cheeks were dusted with pink, and he seemed to be on the verge of dropping something or spilling whatever he was holding..

His face flushed pink, Junhyeon stammered, "Um, hi! I didn't expect... I mean, hello?"

Hao watched as Junhyeon fumbled over his words, his anxiety evident. He couldn't help but smile at the sight of Junhyeon's usually confident and goofy persona taking a brief hiatus.

Gyuvin, emerged from behind a stack of books, initially with a smile on his face. However, his expression quickly changed as he saw Ricky. "Of course. Just when I thought today couldn't get worse."