Reputation

Chapter 20 - A bet

As the days passed, I tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, pushing aside thoughts of Wonwoo and focusing on preparing for our upcoming finals. It was during this time that Jeonghan approached me with that mischievous grin of his, stirring up a familiar playful banter between us.

"Hey A, wanna make a bet with me?" he proposed, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

I laughed softly, remembering our past bets. "What is it this time? If it's another one of those ridiculous challenges, count me out," I teased, raising an eyebrow.

Jeonghan shook his head, his smirk widening. "No, this time it's different. If I score higher than you in the finals, you have to come on a date with me," he declared confidently.

Surprised by his boldness, I chuckled. "Oh, confident, are we?" I replied, meeting his gaze with a playful glint in my eye.

"Just so you know, I'm not an easy catch," I teased, giving him a wink.

Jeonghan leaned in closer, his expression serious yet playful. "Oh, I know. That's why I'm betting everything I have on this," he murmured, his voice filled with determination.

Before I could respond, he straightened up with a grin. "I told you I'm willing to ruin my reputation for you," he added cryptically, then walked away, leaving me pondering his words with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.

Jeonghan and I had always been competitive academically, with our scores often neck and neck. The prospect of this bet added an extra layer of anticipation to the impending finals, not just for the challenge itself but for what it might mean between us.

As the finals drew closer, I couldn't shake off Jeonghan's bet from my mind. While I had outperformed him in the midterms, finals were an entirely different beast—more challenging, more decisive.

Studying became my priority, pouring over notes and textbooks late into the night, determined to stay ahead. Jeonghan's confident smirk haunted me, his words echoing in my thoughts. "I'm willing to ruin my reputation for you," he had said, leaving me wondering just how serious he was about this bet.

The morning of finals was a mix of jitters and bravado. Scoups and Joshua were hyping me up outside the exam hall, making bets on who would finish first.

"Ready to score A Ara?" Scoups said with a cocky grin.

"You bet," I replied, trying to match his confidence while secretly hoping my last-minute cramming paid off.

Inside, the exams were brutal, the questions tougher than expected. I scribbled furiously, my mind racing to recall every detail from my notes. Jeonghan's bet about who would score higher lingered in my thoughts, adding an extra layer of motivation.

After what felt like forever, we stumbled out of the hall, exhausted but relieved. Scoups and Joshua immediately started planning our post-exam celebrations, while I anxiously awaited the results.

Days dragged on as we impatiently waited for the scores. I distracted myself with shopping trips and late-night movie marathons, trying not to think about the impending outcome.

Finally, the moment of truth arrived. We gathered around the notice board, scanning for our names. Scoups let out a whoop when he found his rank, and Joshua followed suit with a fist pump.

"Number 1. Jeonghan," Joshua announced dramatically, pretending to be surprised. "And guess what? Number 2. Ara!" he exclaimed, a mischievous glint in his eye.

As Jeonghan walked up beside me, a grin played on his lips. "So I guess you're stuck with me then," he teased, his tone light and playful.

"Stuck? I don't think so," I replied with a wink, enjoying the banter. "You're still on trial basis."

"Fine, I'll take that as a challenge," he retorted, smirking as he fell into step beside me. "Come on, guys, let's head home and relax. You two can have your date later," Scoups chimed in, slinging his arms around us in a playful gesture.

As we walked out of school together, I couldn't help but wonder what the future had in store for us.

As Jeonghan entered my room, I couldn't resist teasing him a bit. "I guess you can't stay more than 30 minutes away from me, huh?" I teased, making space for him beside me on the bed.

He chuckled as he sat down. "I guess I can't. And soon, neither can you," he replied playfully.

Curious about his sudden visit, I asked, "So what's up? Why the intrusion?"

"I just wanted to talk about that day with you and Wonwoo," he began earnestly. "Because, Ara, I really like you. But if your heart isn't 100% with me..."

I took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his words. "Wonwoo was my middle school crush," I explained softly. "We used to hang out every day, do crazy things together. But after graduation, he moved away, and we lost touch."

"That night at the party, I admit, I thought I could move on, stop thinking about you," I confessed. "But during the date, I realized that I don't feel the same way as I used to. Someone else has taken a spot in my heart—a little demon, might I add," I said with a smile, squeezing his hand gently.

Jeonghan's expression softened, and he squeezed my hand back. "So, what does this mean?" he asked, his tone hopeful yet cautious.

"It means that I want to see where this takes us," I replied, looking into his eyes. "If you're willing to put up with my teasing and my little demons."

He grinned, relief evident in his eyes. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he said softly, leaning in to kiss my forehead.

Jeonghan and I lay sprawled on my bed, enjoying the peace and quiet while discussing our upcoming date.

"I want our date to be something fun and new," I suggested, flipping through ideas in my mind.

He grinned thoughtfully. "How about bowling? Or maybe archery?" he proposed.

"Bowling sounds like a blast! It's been ages since I've gone," I replied, excited by the idea. "And I love that you're treating me," I added teasingly, nudging him with my elbow.

He chuckled, a playful glint in his eye. "Of course, it's my treat. Consider it a thank you for choosing wisely," he teased back, his smile warm and inviting.

With our plans set and a sense of anticipation in the air, we spent the rest of the afternoon chatting and imagining the fun we would have on our date.