7 Minutes In Heaven (SUNGHOON)

5: The Study Session

The following Monday, I found myself in the library, surrounded by textbooks and notes. I was struggling to focus on my upcoming exams, my mind still replaying the events of the weekend. The kiss with Sunghoon, the way he had looked at me on the balcony—everything felt surreal.

As I was highlighting a passage in my biology textbook, a shadow fell across my table. I looked up to see Sunghoon standing there, his expression cool and composed as always.

"Hey, Eunju," he said, slipping into the chair opposite me. "Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "What brings you here?"

"Needed to catch up on some reading," he said, pulling out a thick textbook. "And I thought it'd be nice to have some company."

I nodded, feeling a flutter of excitement. "Sure, that sounds good."

We settled into a comfortable silence, the only sounds being the rustling of pages and the occasional whisper from other students. I could feel the warmth of his presence, the slight brush of his knee against mine under the table sending little shivers down my spine.

After a while, Sunghoon broke the silence. "How's your studying going?"

"It's going okay," I said, looking up from my notes. "Just trying to keep up with everything."

He nodded, his eyes scanning the page in front of him. "I get that. It's been pretty hectic for me too."

I glanced at him, noticing the slight furrow in his brow as he concentrated. There was something so effortlessly chic about him, even when he was focused on his studies.

"Do you want to take a break?" I suggested, feeling the need to lighten the mood. "Maybe grab a coffee?"

He looked up, a small smile playing on his lips. "That sounds good. Let's go."

We packed up our things and headed to the café on campus. The line was short, and soon we were seated at a small table with steaming cups of coffee in front of us.

"So," Sunghoon began, stirring his drink, "about what we talked about at the party..."

My heart skipped a beat. "Yeah?"

He looked at me, his expression unreadable. "I've been thinking about what you said. About having a crush."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. "Oh?"

"I just wanted to say," he continued, his tone casual, "that it's okay. Everyone has crushes."

I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and disappointment. "Yeah, I guess so."

He took a sip of his coffee, his eyes never leaving mine. "But I was also wondering... is it someone from our group?"

I hesitated, feeling the weight of his question. "Yes, it is."

There was a brief silence as he processed my answer. I could see the curiosity in his eyes, but he didn't press further. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful.

"You know, Eunju," he said after a moment, "I've always admired how honest you are. It's not easy to be open about your feelings."

I felt a warmth spread through me at his words. "Thanks, Sunghoon. That means a lot."

He nodded, his expression softening. "Anytime."

As we finished our coffee, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. We talked about our classes, shared funny stories about our friends, and laughed about the silly moments we'd experienced together. I couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment, enjoying the easy camaraderie between us.

When we finally left the café, the sun was setting, casting a warm glow over the campus. We walked together, our steps in sync, the air filled with the sounds of students heading home for the evening.

"Thanks for the break," Sunghoon said as we reached the library steps. "I needed that."

"Me too," I replied, smiling up at him. "We should do this more often."

"Definitely," he agreed, his eyes meeting mine. "See you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow," I echoed, feeling a flutter of excitement.

As I watched him walk away, I couldn't help but wonder what the future held for us. The moments we'd shared, the conversations and the unspoken feelings—they all felt like pieces of a puzzle slowly coming together.

For now, all I could do was wait and see where this newfound connection might lead, my heart filled with anticipation and a hint of nervousness.

The next day, I arrived at our usual study spot in the library, my heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. I spotted Sunghoon already there, his head bent over his notes. I made my way to the table, my mind racing with thoughts of our previous conversation.

"Hey," I said softly, sliding into the chair next to him.

He looked up, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hey, Eunju. Ready to dive back into studying?"

"Yeah," I replied, feeling a sense of comfort in his presence.

We settled into our study routine, the familiar sounds of the library creating a soothing backdrop. I could feel the occasional brush of his arm against mine, the warmth of his body close to mine. It was these small moments that made my heart race, filling me with a sense of hope and excitement.

After a while, Sunghoon stretched, leaning back in his chair. "I think I need another break."

I laughed softly. "Already?"

"Yeah, my brain's fried," he admitted, rubbing his temples. "Want to take a walk?"

"Sure," I agreed, feeling a flutter of anticipation.

We left the library and strolled through the campus, the cool breeze ruffling our hair. The conversation flowed easily, and I found myself laughing at his jokes, enjoying the ease of our interaction.

As we walked, I felt a sense of closeness with Sunghoon that I hadn't felt before. There was something about being with him that made everything else fade away, leaving just the two of us in our own little world.

When we reached the park, we found a bench and sat down, the silence between us comfortable and reassuring. I could feel the warmth of his body next to mine, the slight brush of his shoulder against mine sending shivers down my spine.

"Eunju," he said softly, breaking the silence. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you."

My heart pounded in my chest as I turned to face him. "What is it?"

He looked at me, his eyes serious and thoughtful. "I've been thinking a lot about what you said. About your crush."

I held my breath, waiting for him to continue.

"And I realized," he said, his voice steady, "that I have feelings for someone too."

I felt a mix of hope and anxiety. "You do?"

He nodded, his gaze intense. "Yeah. And I think it's time I did something about it."

Before I could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing softly against mine. The world seemed to stand still as we kissed, the warmth of his touch sending a wave of emotion through me. It was a kiss filled with unspoken feelings, with promises of something more.

When we finally pulled away, he looked at me, his expression soft and sincere. "I've liked you for a while, Eunju. I just didn't know how to tell you."

I felt a rush of joy and relief. "I've liked you too, Sunghoon. Since high school."

He smiled, his eyes shining with happiness. "I'm glad we finally figured it out."

As we sat there, holding hands and sharing our feelings, I knew that this was just the beginning of something special. The future was uncertain, but with Sunghoon by my side, I felt ready to face whatever came next.

For now, all I could do was enjoy the moment, my heart filled with hope and excitement for the journey ahead.