cherish | lee heeseung

°˖➴ #𝟭𝟭

Warmth

———

STARTLED, Haneul turned to see Heeseung standing beside her, his hand already on the book. Their fingers brushed briefly as he handed it to her, and a small jolt of electricity seemed to pass between them. "Here," Heeseung said softly.

Haneul's heart skipped a beat as she took the book from him. "Thank you," she replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. "What are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to stop by and say hi." Heeseung said, a small smile spreading across his face.

"Well, I'm glad you did," Haneul said, her smile softening. "I was just about to close up."

"Oh, is there anything I could help with?" Heeseung asked, glancing around at the slowly emptying library.

Haneul pondered for a moment before replying. "Actually, there is. Would you mind helping me shut down the computers?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to." Heeseung replied.

They worked together to shut down the computers, straighten up the desks, and lock the doors. Once everything was in order, they stood outside the library, the quiet evening enveloping them.

"Thanks for your help, Hee." Haneul said sincerely, feeling a warmth in her chest.

"No problem at all," Heeseung replied, smiling warmly. "I'm glad I could lend a hand."

They chatted for a few more minutes, enjoying the peacefulness of the evening. Haneul found herself feeling more at ease with Heeseung than she had in a long time. As they prepared to part ways for the evening, Haneul turned to Heeseung with a smile.

"I'll see you around?"

Heeseung nodded, his smile bright. "Definitely," he said. "Take care, Hana."

———

"I'm home!" Haneul announced with a smile as she entered the house, greeted warmly by her parents, who were in the middle of their dinner.

"Hey, sweetheart! Welcome home," her mom said cheerfully, setting down her fork.

"How was your day?" her dad asked, looking up from his plate.

"It was good, dad," Haneul replied, taking her seat at the table. "I had a nice day at work."

Her dad looked over from his meal. "Anything exciting happen?"

"Not really. Mrs. Choi couldn't come in today, though; she's sick." Haneul said.

Her dad nodded thoughtfully. "That's a shame. I hope she gets better soon."

Her mom nodded sympathetically. "Poor Mrs. Choi. Did you manage okay without her?"

"Yeah, it was fine," Haneul assured them, picking up her fork and starting on her dinner. "Heeseung helped with closing up the library today."

Her mom smiled knowingly. "Ah, that's nice. It's been a while since I saw him. How's he doing?"

"He seemed good," Haneul said, feeling a little shy. "We caught up a bit."

"That's wonderful, sweetheart. It's nice to reconnect with old friends." Her dad said, smiling softly.

They continued chatting for a while, Haneul sharing more about her day at the library, her mom updating her on the latest neighbourhood news, and her dad teasing her about his latest crossword puzzle conquest. It felt good to be home, surrounded by their love and warmth.

———

Later that evening, Haneul found herself nestled in her room, the soft glow of her bedside lamp casting a warm light over her cozy sanctuary. The jacket Heeseung had lent her the previous night was still draped over her desk chair, a gentle reminder of their encounter. She couldn't help but smile as she thought about it.

She settled into her favourite reading nook, a plush armchair by the window, and opened the novel she had picked up at the library earlier. The book's crisp pages felt comforting under her fingers, and she quickly became engrossed in the story, losing herself in the intricate world of the novel.

The room was quiet, save for the faint rustling of pages and the distant hum of nighttime traffic outside. Haneul's mind wandered occasionally, thoughts of Heeseung surfacing between paragraphs. She wondered what the next few days would bring and if they might have a chance to catch up again.

As she read, the hours slipped away unnoticed. The novel's plot thickened, drawing her deeper into its embrace. The outside world seemed to fade, and all that mattered was the story unfolding before her eyes.

Time passed, and Haneul's eyelids grew heavy. She marked her place in the book and set it down on her nightstand, stretching and glancing at the clock. It was later than she had realised, but she felt a sense of satisfaction from the evening's quiet enjoyment.

Before climbing into bed, Haneul took one last look at the jacket, feeling a flutter of anticipation for whatever tomorrow might bring. She switched off the light and nestled under the covers, her mind filled with the warmth of the day's memories and the promise of new beginnings.

As she lay in bed, her thoughts began to wander back to Heeseung. The way he had looked at her in the park, the gentle touch of his hand when they reached for the same book — could she possibly have feelings for her childhood best friend? The idea seemed absurd, and she shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. It was ridiculous; she had a boyfriend, after all.

But based on recent events, it didn't seem like her boyfriend was really her boyfriend at all. Something felt off about him. He wasn't treating her the way he used to. Their relationship had changed; he had changed. He was distant, often critical, and the warmth that once defined their bond seemed to have faded.

Haneul sighed, turning over in bed. The complexities of her emotions swirled around her, but she pushed them aside, telling herself it was just nostalgia and nothing more. With a determined resolve, she closed her eyes, willing herself to sleep, hoping tomorrow would bring clarity.

———