𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗟𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗦 | ˢⁱᵐ ʲᵃᵉʸᵘⁿ

eight

008 : shy no more

JAKE, still sitting close to me, shifted slightly in his seat, his demeanor a mix of shyness and excitement. He looked at me from the corner of his eye, a small smile tugging at his lips as if he was both proud and a bit bashful to be sitting next to me. I could see the faintest hint of pink in his cheeks, and it made me smile wider.

"So, Eun-bi," he started, his voice soft but earnest, "what's your favorite subject so far?" His question seemed genuine enough, and I could sense that he was trying to engage me in conversation, a small step for him but a significant one for me.

I thought for a moment, glancing around at the lively cafeteria, the sounds of laughter and chatter surrounding us like a comforting hum. "I think I really like English class," I replied, feeling a bit more confident. "Our teacher makes it really interesting, and I love reading. I'm still waiting for gym class though. What about you?"

Jake seemed to perk up at the question, his shyness momentarily forgotten. "Oh, definitely gym class," he replied, his excitement bubbling over again. "I mean, who wouldn't love running around and playing sports? Plus, we get to show off our skills, right?" He chuckled, and I couldn't help but laugh along with him, his enthusiasm infectious.

Jay chimed in, "Yeah, and watch him do his little victory dance every time he scores a point. It's the funniest thing ever." He laughed, shaking his head in exaggerated disbelief.

Jake buried his face in his hands, his shyness returning in full force as he groaned, "Come on, man, not this again. I do it unintentionally..."

The playful banter continued, and I felt a sense of belonging wash over me. The way they interacted with each other, teasing and laughing, made the cafeteria feel more like a home than just a place to eat. It was clear that this was a tight-knit group, and I was grateful to be a part of it, even if just for this moment.

As I took another bite of the sandwich, Hanni leaned over and whispered, "You know, Jake is actually really sweet when he's not trying to act tough." She winked at me, and I felt a flutter in my stomach, realizing that she was right. Beneath his playful bravado, there was a gentleness to him that made him all the more endearing.

Just then, I noticed Heeseung and Sunghoon sharing a quiet laugh across the table, their eyes sparkling with mischief. "You should show her your secret move next gym class, Jake," Heeseung teased, nudging him playfully. Jake's eyes widened in horror, and he quickly shook his head, his face turning a deeper shade of crimson.

"Absolutely not. I have a reputation to uphold bro," he exclaimed dramatically, but I could see the corners of his mouth twitching upward, betraying his amusement.

"Your reputation as the guy with the best victory dance or as the popular guy with no game?" Jay chimed in, and the group erupted in laughter, the easy playfulness wrapping around us like a cozy blanket.

Feeling a bit emboldened, I decided to join in on the teasing. "Oh, come on, Jake. I'm sure your dance moves are great. I'd love to see them!" I shot him a shy smile, and he looked at me, clearly a mix of flattered and embarrassed.

"You'll have to wait until our next gym class," Jake said, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably as his own smile broke through. "Just don't expect too much. It's more of a 'don't laugh at me' situation."

The laughter continued, and I felt a warm sense of connection growing among us. The lunch period seemed to fly by, filled with light-hearted jokes, shared stories, and the unmistakable joy of newfound friendships. As the bell rang to signal the end of lunch, I couldn't help but feel a little sad that our time together was ending.

Jake stood up, brushing off his pants and glancing over at me. "We should sit together again," he said, his shyness creeping back in but his sincerity shining through. "I mean, if you want to."

I nodded enthusiastically, my heart racing a bit faster. "I'd love that," I replied, feeling a bright smile spread across my face.

"Great! It's a plan then!" he said, his face lighting up, his earlier shyness momentarily forgotten as he turned to grab his backpack.

As we made our way out of the cafeteria, I felt a sense of happiness bubbling up inside me. The day had turned out to be so much better than I had anticipated. Surrounded by friends, laughter, and the promise of more fun to come, I knew this was just the beginning of something special.

~

A\N

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Question of the chapter:
What's your fav song from the Romance Untold album?
Me: Brought the heat back, Your eyes only, and royalty!

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