Chapter 8

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Timeskip
(A few days later)

Sohyun's pov

My leg had healed recently, so I was able to walk normally by now. I grabbed my book from the locker and started to walk with Jiyoon to our bio class together.

“Any updates on you and Jungwon?”
Jiyoon asked me as we walked to our bio class.

“We've been fine, nothing special”
I said honestly.

“Really? Shouldn't you try and confess? How else is something going to spark between you both?”
She did jazz hands.

“I mean we had something at the amusement park back then…but ever since that day, I think we just resumed our lives normally”
I explained to her.

“That's what I've been trying to say. If you confess, wouldn't he start to take interest in you and turn into something more?”
Jiyoon’s tone went up.

“I don't know, Naeun has been clinging onto him for a while. He looks pretty happy with her”
I said, now doubting myself.

“Who cares about her? Jungwon shouldn't be that dumb to like her”
She tried to reason with me.

“Then what should I do?”
I asked her.

“Maybe ask him to go out with you? You should know what to do”
She said and we entered the classroom.

The lesson soon started, and Heeseung beside me was laying his head on the table. Mr Kim was too busy attending to other students who needed help with their homework questions to notice.

I wasn't completely fine with him yet, recalling the new group chat photo being me cuddling next to him. He was one to blame because if he had just woken me up in time, I wouldn't have my picture taken.

I had my third tuition lesson with him just yesterday, and I can't deny that it has helped me understand the things I'm learning in class. He turned out to be less arrogant about it than I thought.

I put the thought aside, and decided to ask Jungwon to go on a walk near the Han River with me today. It's been nearly a year since I started liking him, and I feel like it's about time I act on my feelings. I called out his name softly and he turned around to look at me.

“Hey um, do you wanna go for a walk later near the Han River? Just us”
I asked in high hopes of him agreeing.

“Yeah of course, I'm not that busy today”
He gave me a smile which made me reassured.

“Cool, I'll meet up with you after last period so we can walk together”
I told him.

“Perfect”
He replied shortly before focusing on his assignment again.

I raised my fist into the air in accomplishment. However, the guy who was asleep a few seconds ago was now staring at me weirdly. I put my hand back down, and tried to act busy.

“What exactly are you planning with Jungwon?”
Heeseung asked and continued to eye me.

“Just going for a walk”
I answered casually.

“Alone. Together. Do you think I'm stupid enough to believe that?”
He raised his brows.

“No, Heeseung. But I believe you're smart enough not to force an answer out of me”
I replied, meeting his gaze again.

“If it's just a walk, you shouldn't be afraid to tell me”
He tapped his foot against the ground.

“I'm not afraid, I just genuinely want to have a one to one conversation with Jungwon. Is that such an issue to you?”
I asked, frustrated with him.

Heeseung didn't speak after that, making me feel some form of relief. He was suddenly so nosy about me, so nosy about my life.

“I don't care how much you'll hate me for saying this, but any plans you have to make a move on Jungwon will not work out. He already likes Naeun”
Heeseung whispered.

“What's your problem with me, Heeseung? Seriously, every time I hang out with Jungwon, you always get so pissed off. I don't understand”
I snapped, still careful about my volume so Jungwon doesn't hear.

“Trust me, you'd feel worse if I chose not to tell you”
He said, his eyes turning cold.

“Oh really? We'll see about that”
I whispered the last few words to myself.

Timeskip
(3.30pm)

Jungwon and I were now walking along the pavement, the Han River on my right. The weather was cool today which was good for a stroll.

“How's school going?”
Jungwon started the conversation.

“Okay so far. All my classes have been going just fine. How about you? I'm sure you're doing better me”
I said.

“As always, Hyunnie. If I'm not playing with Hee and Jay, I'd be studying”
He said with a smile on his face.

“Right, you're also quite the nerd”
I replied.

“You'll be just as good as me if you rot in your books”
He ruffled my hair, making me giggle.

I felt happy at the moment but, I didn't get that strange feeling in my stomach. I won't lie and say I wasn't anticipating it, but it baffled me to know that only Heeseung has had that effect on me.

We talked for some time, and I came to a realisation that I wasn't even being myself around him. I was giving a false impression of myself to Jungwon, well aware that it was hard to click with him comfortably.

Being around Jungwon has always made me excited, but when it comes to the actual conversations, I don't feel like I can talk about the things I have in my mind openly. I was always self-conscious about every word that left my mouth in his presence.

Regardless of the various thoughts that clouded my mind, I still wanted to give it a shot. Who knows? There's always a possibility that we could turn into something more.

20 minutes later

“Jungwon, could I tell you something real quick?”
I asked him, mentally preparing myself.

“Of course”
He replied, stopping in his tracks to look at me now.

“Keeping this from you has been hard, but I felt like today was a good time. And I want you to promise me something, could you not pity me after I tell you this?”
I asked in a nervous tone.

He nodded once, waiting for what I was about to say next. However, Jungwon was  suddenly startled when his phone rang. When he took it out, I saw the display name for a brief moment. It was Naeun calling him and I had caught the heart emoji that he saved next to her name.

He cleared his throat and answered the phone. His eyes lit up instantly compared to just seconds ago. It confused me how Naeun could win over Jungwon's heart in less than a month when I had been liking him since last year. Love works in the weirdest ways.

He then waved to me, gesturing that he had to leave, leaving me stranded on the pavement. I just continued to follow the path in front of me, trying to let my thoughts dissolve away and calm down.

That wasn't what I was picturing for a confession. I barely got started. He was so quick to leave to attend to whatever Naeun was telling him over the phone.

It only meant one thing, and it was that Heeseung's words were true. It aggravated me way too much, that I didn't even want to accept the truth. I wanted to be stubborn for once and deny whatever had just happened. Jungwon can't possibly like Naeun. There's just no way.

But if Im being honest, I just wished that Heeseung wasn't right.

I wished that he didn't know me so well.

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