Paperclips - YJH

Thirteen

"Are you okay?! Did that bastard touch you? Hurt you? Did he--" I shushed Jeonghan by placing a hand on his chest, feeling the rapid beating of his heart. "I'm okay, thanks to you," I said softly, grateful for his quick thinking and protective instinct. Jeonghan's eyes softened as he looked at me, a silent understanding passing between us.

He held my hands gently as he looked me in the eye. "I was scared. I'm glad you're safe. With me." He smiled softly, his thumb gently brushing against my knuckles. I felt a warmth spreading through me, knowing that I had someone like Jeonghan by my side. In that moment, I realised just how much he truly cared for me. I smiled while looking down, completely forgetting the fact that I wasn't supposed to be spending time with him like this. I didn't mind it; I wanted to stay in this moment forever, our hands intertwined and our eyes locked.

As we moved to a more secure spot, which was a slightly busy restaurant, my heart didn't stop racing. My hands still felt warm and tingly, even though our hands weren't intertwined anymore. I couldn't help but feel grateful for his presence and the way he made me feel. It was a feeling I never wanted to let go of.

"By the way, how did you know I needed help?" I ask him, clearly remembering that I never told anyone about my visit to the library.

He awkwardly smiled and scratched the back of his head. "I was going to the library when I saw you run out of it, and I thought something was wrong. It sounds creepy, but trust me, I just wanted to check on you." He admitted it, making me chuckle, "Thank you."

"Oh?" He looked at me, surprised, as I laughed. "I'm glad you smiled. I honestly thought I did something wrong, and that was why you were avoiding me recently." He looked relieved, and guilt was eating me up for putting him through unnecessary pain just because of my issues.

I looked down and mumbled a sorry, soft but loud enough for him to hear. "I just had things going on at home." I felt a wave of relief wash over me as he reached out and gently squeezed my hand. "We all have our struggles," he said reassuringly. "But next time, please let me know." I felt grateful and sorry at the same time. 
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"I'll walk you to the dorm," he insisted as we walked through the dark streets. I didn't mind; in fact, I badly wanted to spend some more time with him. However, the thought of my mom's people watching us haunted my mind. I don't want her to find out about this.

"No, I can go by myself." I smiled at him, trying to convince him to go. He didn't listen; he shook his head and insisted even more. In the end, I sighed and nodded. "You brought this upon yourself." I mumbled as we walked.

"Brought what upon myself?" He questioned me with a confused look as he halted his steps, "Do you really not want to tell me what's going on with you? You've been acting really weird."

I hated confrontations, so naturally, I hated this situation. I looked around, played with my fingers, and looked down. "I'm just going through some stuff; it's nothing you need to worry about," I replied, trying to brush off his concern.

"Are you sure there's nothing I can help with?" He pressed, his voice filled with genuine concern. I forced a smile and shook my head. "I appreciate it, but I just need some time to figure things out on my own."

"Alright." He smiled at me, a warm smile that made my worries momentarily fade away. "Just know that I'm here for you," he said before giving me a reassuring pat on the back and walking away. His kindness was a small comfort in the midst of my internal turmoil.

"Why do you care so much?" I wondered, maybe a bit too loud, because I saw him halt his steps and turn back towards me.

He gently smiled before walking closer to me, each stride putting enough pressure on the ground to produce a sound. His smile slowly faded and he I saw him bite his lip nervously. He came close to me and looked straight into my eyes, with a gaze that I could never explain in words. 

"Because... I like you," he replied softly, his eyes reflecting sincerity. The moment his words resounded in my mind, I felt my heart race. Was this real? Was he serious? My mind was racing with questions as I tried to process his unexpected confession. His honesty and vulnerability took me by surprise, leaving me feeling a mix of excitement and uncertainty. I could feel my cheeks flush as I struggled to find the right words to respond.

"Uhh..." I fumbled with my words, but before I could say anything, he reached out and took my hand in his, silencing me with a gentle squeeze. In that moment, words became unnecessary as our eyes locked in understanding.

"You don't have to reply now." He whispered softly, his thumb gently caressing the back of my hand. The unspoken connection between us spoke volumes, filling the air with a sense of mutual understanding and possibility.