True beauty

chapter one:Unintended Consequences

Chapter one-my first love

Now playing magnetic by Ilit

My dear Suho,
I hope one day I have the courage to talk to you. I hope to see your smile up close and be there when you need a hug.

"Are you really staring at Suho again?" Hari asked as she entered the classroom, noticing Seoojin gazing at Suho as he walked with Soo Hyang. With his effortless charm and striking looks, he reminded everyone of a character straight out of True Beauty.

"You know, starting the day seeing him makes my day wonderful," Seoojin replied, her voice soft and dreamy as she smiled. She helped Hari erase the chalkboard while opening the windows to let the sun in, sunlight streaming across the room and illuminating her thoughts.

"I still don't get why you don't just talk to him," Hari said, turning to face her friend. Seoojin offered a weak smile, her mind racing with the thought of Suho's playful grin and warm eyes.

"Where are those two little brats?" the teacher called out as students stood outside, waiting for their speeches. Seojun continued texting Seoojin, sending laughing emojis.

Seojun
"You're so dead, Seoojin! 😂✌️"
Seoojin
"What are you talking about?"

"Is Seojun still messing with you?" Hari asked, snatching Seoojin's phone. Her face went pale as she read the text.
"Your speech 🎤, dummy."

"Seoojin, please say you didn't forget! You're giving your speech today!" Hari's eyes widened in alarm as Seoojin's face turned crimson.

The last few months of high school were a whirlwind of emotions. Excitement, nerves, and a hint of grief mixed together, leaving everyone a bit disoriented. Nobody wanted to say it, but we all felt it—this was the end. After thirteen years of shared laughter and struggles, we were about to part ways, and it was terrifying.

"Why is this idiot representing us?" Seojun grumbled, watching Baek and the others as Suho began his speech to the upcoming seniors.

It was all we knew. Now we were expected to create a whole new life for ourselves. Exciting yet daunting. Clinging to the laughter of old friends, late-night talks, and the familiar routines that had shaped us. In just three months, we would look back and realize this was the past—the past.

"Hold on to every last second of senior year. Do the things that scare you. Make mistakes. Be crazy and reckless. Live. This is your last chance to be a teenager."

"Thank you so much, Suho! Let's give a round of applause for Suho!" the dean announced, while the teacher searched for Seoojin, who was frantically running through the hall.

"Now, for our upcoming seniors, Miss Seoojin will be giving her speech for the upcoming juniors," the dean said, looking around for her, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Let's give Suho another round of applause, everyone!" the teacher interjected, while the students cheered for Suho, who stood in front of them, looking composed and confident.

"I AM HERE!" Seoojin shouted, breathless and flustered, as she rushed onto the stage. Suho looked at her, a mix of annoyance and amusement on his face. He handed her the microphone, his expression softening.

"Next time, try being here an hour early," he said, smirking as she gulped nervously, her cheeks burning.

"Let's continue enjoying life to its fullest," Seoojin started, her eyes darting around the audience, but her gaze landed on Suho. Suddenly, the words on the paper blurred, and her stutter began to creep in.

"It's b-b-best if we d-don't stress too much about the future..." she stumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Let's give Seoojin a round of applause for her speech!" the dean quickly interrupted, sensing her struggle. The applause rang out, but disappointment settled in Seoojin's chest as she walked off the stage.

She had imagined this moment countless times, standing confidently in front of her peers, but nerves had taken over, turning her words into a jumbled mess.

"Why did I even agree to this?" she muttered to herself, pushing through the crowd.

"Hey!" Hari called, catching up with her. "You did great! Seriously!"

"Yeah, right. I could barely get through it." Seoojin leaned against the wall, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

"But you faced your fear!" Hari beamed. "And Suho was watching the whole time."

That thought sent a wave of embarrassment through Seoojin. She had wanted to impress him, and instead, she had tripped over her own words. As she glanced back toward the stage, she caught Suho's eye. He was smiling, but there was also a flicker of concern.

"Maybe next time," Seoojin whispered, clutching her journal tightly. "Next time, I'll talk to him for real."