Reputation

Chapter 18 - Middle school crush or not?

Wonwoo and I lingered on the balcony, the party's noise fading into the background. His eyes never left mine, and I could feel the warmth of his breath mixing with the cool night air.

"You know," he began, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on my arm, "I always wondered what it would be like to kiss you."

"Really?" I teased, raising an eyebrow. "And how does it compare to your imagination?"

He chuckled, leaning in closer. "Even better. But now I'm curious about something else."

"Oh? And what's that?" I asked, my heartbeat quickening.

"If you're still as amazing at sneaking out of boring study sessions as you were in middle school," he whispered playfully.

I laughed, the sound mingling with the distant music. "I might be a bit rusty, but I think I can manage."

"Good," he said, taking my hand again. "Because I have a spot in mind that's perfect for catching up."

We slipped back through the party, sneaking glances and laughing softly. As we exited through the back door, the night felt electric with possibility.

"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to keep up with his pace.

"You'll see," he said with a mischievous smile.

We walked until we reached a secluded part of the beach, the moonlight casting a silver sheen over the waves. He stopped and turned to face me, his eyes gleaming with that same old charm.

"So, Ara," he said, wrapping his arms around my waist, "do you still remember how to read constellations?"

I laughed again, feeling the warmth of his embrace. "Of course. Show me what you've got, Mr. Jeon."

We lay down on the sand, pointing out stars and reminiscing about old times. His hand found mine, and our fingers intertwined as we talked. The conversation flowed effortlessly, like we were picking up right where we left off.

"Do you think things would have been different if you hadn't moved away?" I asked softly, turning to look at him.

"Maybe," he replied, his gaze intense. "But we're here now, and that's what matters."

He leaned in, and our lips met once more, the kiss deeper and more passionate than before. When we finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine.

"I'm really glad I ran into you tonight, Ara," he murmured.

"Me too, Wonwoo," I whispered back. "Me too."

After the little beach catch-up, Wonwoo walked me home. The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache and reached for my phone. I saw a text from Wonwoo:

"Morning, beautiful. I'll be there in 2 hours. Looking forward to our date!"

I groaned, both at the headache and the realization that I had to get ready quickly. Throwing off the covers, I made my way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face in an attempt to wake up.

As I started getting dressed, I couldn't help but think about the kiss last night. It was unexpected and impulsive, and now I had to see him again so soon. I decided to keep it casual, opting for a comfortable yet cute outfit.

Just as I was finishing up, there was a knock on my door. "Ara, you up?" It was Scoups.

"Yeah, come in," I called out.

He opened the door and walked in, eyeing me curiously. "You look like you had a rough night."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," I said dryly. "Just a little too much fun, I guess."