Daylight to her Midnight | YJH | Seventeen Fanfic

Chapter: 12

'Life is but a dream,
We got history'

The weekend had flown by, and Miyeon now found herself buried in her studies, seated in the quiet corner of the campus library.

The assignment she’d been avoiding all weekend stared back at her from the glowing screen, a constant reminder of her procrastination. She groaned inwardly, regretting her decision to leave it until the last minute. If it weren't for her professor’s pointed remarks, she might have brushed it off altogether.

"Ms. Kim, I've reviewed your admission letter and resume. Impressive work. I have high expectations for you in this course."

Those words echoed in her mind as she dropped her forehead onto the desk with a soft thud. Why did he have to say that? Now the pressure to meet those 'high expectations' weighed on her like a boulder.

She'd heard about Professor Shin's infamous reputation—he was kind to students as long as they met his standards, but one slip-up, and you'd be on his radar for the rest of the semester.

Miyeon sighed, rubbing her temples. She was about to dive back into her work when a familiar voice cut through her thoughts.

"Miyeon?"

She turned in her seat, slightly startled, and found Joshua standing behind her. He was dressed in his usual laid-back style—fitted blue t-shirt, dark trousers, and a backpack slung over one shoulder, his other arm full of books and a laptop.

"Hey, Joshua!" Miyeon greeted him, her tired smile brightening in surprise.

"Mind if I sit here?" He gestured to the seat across from her. "The library’s packed, and I’ve got an assignment to finish."

"Sure, go ahead." She nodded, watching as he slid into the seat, dumping his books on the table while settling his bag onto the chair beside him.

For a few minutes, they worked in silence, Miyeon focusing on her laptop, occasionally stealing glances at Joshua. He seemed tense, his brow furrowed in concentration as he typed. She noticed his leg bouncing rhythmically under the table, and his lower lip was caught between his teeth—a clear sign of frustration.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, finally breaking the silence.

Joshua blinked, caught off guard by her question. He looked up from his screen, his expression a mixture of surprise and embarrassment. "Oh, uh... yeah, kind of. This assignment's giving me a hard time."

"You want some help?" Miyeon offered, her tone genuine.

Joshua hesitated. "Aren't you busy with your own work?"

"I'm just about finished," Miyeon lied, not wanting him to feel like he was interrupting her. "Besides, I don’t mind. I’ve got time."

"Really? That’d be awesome. Thanks!" His face lit up with a grateful smile, and he slid his laptop toward her.

She moved to the chair beside him, settling in to take a look at what he’d written. "What’s the problem?"

"I’ve got everything done except the conclusion. I just can’t seem to wrap it up without making it sound biased," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.

Miyeon skimmed through his assignment, nodding thoughtfully. “I see what you mean. It’s a strong argument, but the ending could use a bit more balance. Let me tweak it a little.”

As she typed, Joshua watched her in quiet admiration. She was quick but thorough, adjusting his phrasing without changing the essence of what he wanted to say. A few minutes later, she slid the laptop back to him.

"There. That should do it."

Joshua scanned over her edits, his expression shifting from concentration to relief. "Wow, this is exactly what I was trying to say but couldn’t put into words. Thank you so much, Miyeon. You saved me from a sleepless night!"

She grinned. "It’s no problem. Glad I could help."

He chuckled, closing his laptop and leaning back in his chair. “I’ve been wrestling with that conclusion since yesterday. Now I don’t have to worry about Professor Shin breathing down my neck.”

Miyeon laughed softly, gathering her own things as they both prepared to leave. “If you ever need help again, feel free to ask. I don’t mind.”

“I’ll definitely take you up on that,” Joshua replied, slinging his backpack over his shoulder as they headed out of the library together.

As they walked through the bustling campus, their conversation flowed effortlessly. Joshua, typically reserved in large groups, seemed more open in this quieter setting. They swapped stories about classes, professors, and the challenges of university life.

“When’s your next class?” Miyeon asked, glancing at her phone to check the time.

“In about ten minutes,” Joshua replied after a quick look at his watch. “You?”

“Same. Is it Professor Kim’s lecture?”

“Yeah, it is. Want to walk over together?”

Miyeon nodded, and they fell into step, chatting easily as they crossed the quad. At some point, they exchanged phone numbers, and Miyeon found herself thinking that Joshua was much more than the superficial labels people had slapped on him.

He wasn’t just the “handsome but unremarkable” guy people made him out to be. Behind his good looks, there was intelligence, thoughtfulness, and a quiet determination she hadn’t seen before. He cared about his studies, about the people around him, and despite the aloof exterior he sometimes wore, he was surprisingly warm and genuine.

Meanwhile, Joshua was realizing something similar about Miyeon. She wasn’t just the polished, well-connected girl everyone assumed her to be. She was hardworking, down-to-earth, and willing to help others without expecting anything in return. She wasn’t handed everything on a silver platter—she earned it.

Neither of them could have predicted that a simple encounter in the library would leave such a lasting impression. What started as a small favor was now the beginning of something bigger—something that would shape their paths in ways neither of them could have imagined.

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