𝑰𝑲𝑰𝑮𝑨𝑰 • 𝙴𝙽𝙷𝚈𝙿𝙴𝙽 •

- 06 -

TIME: 3:00 AM
PLACE: DORM

Everyone had gone to sleep by 12am except one: Heeseung. It was almost 3am when Heeseung decided to go to the kitchen and get some snacks.

Aroha woke up, thirsty. She checked the time on her phone. 3:02 am. She saw Niki watching something under the sheets. She decided to head out to the kitchen to grab some water.

Aroha was walking groggily into the kitchen and she heard,

"Aah! There is a ghost! Momma!" Hesseung screamed in fright seeing Aroha with her bed hair flowing upfront.

Aroha stifled a laugh as she saw Heeseung's wide-eyed expression and his startled exclamation. She quickly raised her hands in a calming gesture. "Whoa, whoa! No need to call for momma, it's just me, Aroha."

Heeseung blinked a few times, his heart still racing from the unexpected encounter. "Aroha? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"

Aroha chuckled softly. "Well, I woke up thirsty and thought I'd grab a drink. Sorry for scaring you."

Heeseung leaned against the kitchen counter, his initial shock turning to a more composed expression. "You should be careful, you know? Walking around in the dark can be dangerous."

Aroha nodded in agreement. "You're right. It was a bit careless of me. Thanks for the concern."

Heeseung's lips twitched into a faint smile, something Aroha hadn't seen often. "You're welcome."

They stood in silence for a moment, the soft glow of the kitchen lights creating a sense of intimacy between them. Aroha studied Heeseung's profile, his features illuminated by the gentle light. He looked ethereal. She noticed the faint scar near his eyebrow, a reminder of past stories untold.

"You know," Aroha began, breaking the silence, "I've seen you around campus quite a bit. You're always so focused, like you're on a mission."

Heeseung's eyebrows raised in surprise, and his expression shifted from guarded to contemplative. "Observant, aren't you?"

Aroha shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes. "Can't help it. I have a habit of observing people."

Heeseung's lips curved into a genuine smile, and Aroha was momentarily taken aback by the transformation. His smile was warm and inviting, a far cry from the usual stoic facade he wore. "You could say I have my reasons for being focused," Heeseung replied cryptically.

Aroha's curiosity increased. "Oh? Care to share?"

Heeseung's smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Maybe someday. Right now, it's not something I'm ready to talk about."

Aroha nodded in understanding, her curiosity tinged with respect for his boundaries. "I get it. We all have our own stories."

Heeseung's gaze met hers, and for a moment, Aroha felt a connection, a fleeting understanding that transcended words. It was as if they were sharing a secret, one that they both sensed but couldn't fully comprehend.

"Well, I'll leave you to your snack," Heeseung said, pushing away from the counter.

Aroha smiled and raised her cup of water in a mock toast, "Cheers to late-night snacks."

Heeseung chuckled softly, a sound that was surprisingly endearing. "Cheers."

As Heeseung left the kitchen, Aroha leaned against the counter, lost in thought. There was something about him, a complexity that intrigued her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she had a feeling that there was more to Heeseung than met the eye. Little did she know that her late-night encounter had left a lasting impression on Heeseung as well. As he settled back into his room, his thoughts kept returning to the unexpected conversation he had shared with Aroha. There was a warmth that drew him in despite his best efforts to remain distant.

Aroha found herself growing closer to Niki, Sunoo, Jungwon, and even Jake. The playful banter and shared moments brought a sense of camaraderie that she hadn't anticipated. One afternoon, as Aroha sat in the university courtyard, sketching in her notebook, a voice interrupted her concentration.

"Is that your secret hobby, Aroha?" Aroha looked up to find Jay standing before her, a curious smile on his lips. She closed her sketchbook and raised an eyebrow.

"Secret hobby? What do you mean?"

Jay took a seat beside her on the bench. "I noticed you're always sketching when you're alone. You never mentioned it before."

Aroha chuckled softly, a hint of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. "Well, it's not really a secret. I just enjoy drawing from time to time."

Jay's gaze softened as he studied her. "You know, you haven't changed much."

Aroha frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Jay's smile turned enigmatic, a spark of recognition in his eyes. "Nothing, sorry, I thought there was a chance that you were someone else who was once very close to me."

Aroha shook her head, dismissing the strange notion. "No, Jay. We're just strangers who happen to go to the same university."

Jay's smile faded slightly, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "You're right, Aroha. Just strangers."

As Jay's words hung in the air, a sense of unease settled in Aroha's chest. There was something about Jay's demeanor, a familiarity that she couldn't quite get. She pushed the thought aside, focusing on their conversation instead.

"Anyway, what about you? Have any secret hobbies?" Aroha asked, changing the subject.

Jay chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes. "Well, aside from being a master pianist and an accomplished painter, I dabble in surfing and enjoy collecting rare vintage books."

Aroha's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Wow, and here I thought you were just a regular guy."

Jay grinned. "Regular is overrated, don't you think?"

Aroha laughed, her laughter echoing in the courtyard. "You definitely have a point there."

Their conversation continued, a mixture of playful banter and more serious topics. Aroha found herself drawn to Jay's presence, his easy charm and genuine interest in getting to know her. Yet, beneath it all, there was a sense of mystery that both intrigued and unsettled her. As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the courtyard, Aroha couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Jay than met the eye.

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A/N
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