Blind Hearts Unveiled|ZB1

8: Navigating New Emotions

In the midst of the student council meeting, Taerae was engrossed in conversation with Matthew about upcoming events when Junhyeon suddenly entered the room. He cleared his throat, gaining their attention, and asked if he could speak to Taerae privately. Taerae exchanged a curious glance with Matthew before nodding and following Junhyeon out into the quieter hallway.

Once they were alone, Junhyeon took a deep breath and looked at Taerae with a mix of nervousness and determination. "Taerae, I wanted to talk to you about something important... I've been thinking, and I was wondering if you'd be interested in going out with me sometime."

Taerae regarded Junhyeon with a warm smile, genuinely touched by his sincerity. "Junhyeon, I really appreciate your courage in asking me. You're a great guy, and I'm honored that you'd consider going out with me."

Junhyeon's cheeks tinged pink as he grinned, relieved by Taerae's positive response. "Really? That's great to hear, Taerae. I've liked you for a while now, and I thought maybe we could spend some more time together outside of school."

Taerae hesitated for a moment, his smile faltering slightly. He took a deep breath before speaking softly. "Junhyeon, I want to be honest with you too. While I'm truly honored that you'd ask me out, I need to tell you that my heart is drawn to someone else."

Junhyeon's expression shifted from hopeful to understanding, though a hint of disappointment lingered. "Oh... I see. Thank you for being upfront with me, Taerae."

Taerae gently placed a hand on Junhyeon's shoulder. "I hope you understand that it's not a reflection of you at all. You're an amazing person, and I'm glad we can continue being friends."

Junhyeon nodded, his smile returning, though tinged with a bit of sadness. "Yeah, I understand. I'm glad we can still be friends too, Taerae."

As they stood there, the hallway seemed to hold an air of bittersweetness. While Junhyeon's feelings hadn't been reciprocated in the way he'd hoped, he appreciated Taerae's honesty and kindness.

After Taerae returned to the student council room, Matthew couldn't help but notice his slightly different demeanor. His curiosity got the better of him, and he leaned in, whispering, "So, what was that all about?"

Taerae let out a sigh, rolling his eyes playfully. "Just Junhyeon asking me out on a date."

Matthew's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, really? That's like straight out of a kdrama! Did you turn him down?"

Taerae smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Yes, I did. And it's not as dramatic as a show, trust me."

Matthew chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Well, just think about it – you've got admirers everywhere, Taerae. It's like you're the lead character in your own romantic comedy."

Taerae couldn't help but laugh at Matthew's comparison. "Oh, come on, don't be so cheesy."

As their conversation continued, Taerae leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing in a teasing manner. "Speaking of romance, have you noticed any changes in your behavior lately? You seem... different."

Matthew blinked in surprise, caught off guard by the question. "Different? What are you talking about?"

Taerae smirked, leaning back in his chair. "You know, I've been observing you. The way you act, the way you smile. You're not fooling anyone."

Matthew's face flushed with embarrassment, and he stammered, "What? No, there's nothing going on. I mean, nothing that's... uh, love-related."

Taerae raised an eyebrow, his playful grin turning into a knowing one. "Oh, really? So, you're saying there's something going on that's not love-related?"