Hearts in Opposition | Park Jongseong

Chapter 13

Author's POV

After Chaehyun's mom dropped the three of them to school, Jieun, Chaehyun and Gaeul immediately went inside the classroom and sat on their designated chairs.

"Do you have our project printed already?", Jay asked Jieun when she took a seat on her chair.
"Yup! I have it with me!", Jieun said.
"Nice! So.. are we still friends after this?", he asked her.
"What?! Of course we are, Jay! What makes you think that we'll no longer be friends after this project?", Jieun said.
"Thank goodness! I mean.. I just want to use this chance as well to be a good person to you!", he said.
"Well.. you already are!", she told him with reassurance.

A few minutes later, the professor immediately came inside as they all sat down and took out their assignments. Jieun immediately took out the printed assignment from her clipbt as she handed it to their professor, and she I immediately went back to her seat when Jay suddenly gave her a high five.

"Nice! We did it!", he said as she sat on her chair.
"Of course! Thanks for your contribution and interesting ideas!", Jieun told him.
"No need to thank me! Way back in high school, I would sometimes be assigned as your partner and then, I would always end up not having any contribution, so I needed to use this opportunity to redeem myself to you..", he said.
"Really?", she asked.
"Mhm! Wanna grab something for lunch later? My treat!", he said with a smile.
"Well.. I just want my favorite drink..", she said.
"Alright! Caramel Macchiato it is!", he said.
"Do you really need to do this?", Jieun asked him with a slight chuckle.
"Why not? I would always give trouble to you as a partner back in high school, but now I just want to prove it to you that I'm no longer the partner that gives zero contribution and effort in a project and that.. I'm no longer the person that continuously bullies you..", he said.
"Alright then! Thanks for the Caramel Macchiato drink, Jay!", she said.
"You're welcome!", he said.

I love how you're continuously showing your kinder and softer side! Jieun thought to herself with a smile as she turned her attention to the professor.

"Ok everybody, since you're all done with the project, we, the faculty decided if we could give all of you a healing break by going on a trip this coming Thursday to Monday at Jeju Island..", their professor said as everyone squealed in excitement.
"Oh nice! It's been a while since I've been to the beach!", Gaeul said.
"And regarding who would be your roommates, your roommates will also be your seatmates..", the professor said.
"Ok?", Jieun said, not knowing how to react to their professor's announcement since she's going to be roommates with Jay.
"It's ok! Like what I always say, I will always respect your rights and boundaries as a person!", Jay told her with reassurance.
"I know, Jay! It's just that—", she said, only for him to cut her off.
"It's weird for you to have a guy as your roommate? It's ok! I'll make sure it won't be uncomfortable for you..", he said.
"Thanks Jay!", she said when the bell suddenly rang, indicating that it's already lunch break.
"Ok everybody, you may now have your lunchbreak! Please be back before 1pm!", their professor said.

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Jieun's POV

After buying our food from the counter, we immediately went to a table as we started eating lunch together.

"Thank goodness they gave us a 4-day break! It's a must need for all of us, since accomplishing the project was so tiring!", Gaeul said.
"Yeah! I also need a therapeutic trip like this!", I said as we started eating our lunch.
"So.. what will you do, now that Jay's your roommate?", Chaehyun asked me.
"Well.. it won't be uncomfortable, I guess? I mean.. when I stayed over at his place, he made sure that I'll be safe and that I won't be uncomfortable around him..", I said.
"Aww! How sweet of him! And I like how he would always make sure you're safe!", Gaeul said.
"And that's something a certain someone never did to me..", I said, rolling my eyes.
"Don't mind about that guy! He doesn't deserve somebody as kind and caring as you are, and I'm glad you chose not to get back in a relationship with him, because he'll just continue to take advantage of your kindness!", Chaehyun said.
"Yeah! And plus—", I said, only to be cut off when someone placed a cold Caramel Macchiato drink in front of me on our table.
"Enjoy your drink!", Jay told me with a wink as he walked away, leaving me speechless.
"Girl, what the hell was that?", Gaeul asked as I took a sip of the drink.
"Well.. he told me earlier that he'll treat me something for lunch, you know.. since we successfully accomplished our project together!", I said.
"I see! How sweet of him!", Chaehyun said.
"Now I'm starting to like Jay as your future partner..", Gaeul said.
"I haven't even said yes to him..", I said.
"But.. will you give him a chance?", she asked me.
"Ummm... yeah but... I'll say yes to him in the right moment!", I said.