Cingulomania || Nerd X Popular || Jimin FF

Chapter 11: Lingering Glances🪴

Jimin's POV

I tried to focus on the lecture, but my mind kept drifting. My eyes kept straying to Y/N and Clara chatting a few seats away. Y/N looked completely absorbed in their conversation, her face lit up with that warm, genuine smile she had. I couldn't help but notice how her expressions shifted, how her laughter was contagious, and how her eyes sparkled when she talked.

I found myself observing every detail—her lips curving into a smile, her cheeks flushing slightly, the way her eyes twinkled. It was almost as if I was sketching her in my mind. I felt an overwhelming urge to capture her essence on paper, to immortalize those little details that made her uniquely her.

Before I could delve deeper into my thoughts, I caught Y/N's gaze. My heart skipped a beat as she looked right at me. I quickly turned my head, pretending to be engrossed in the lecture notes.

My cheeks felt warm, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of being caught in a moment I wasn't ready to acknowledge.

Y/N's POV

As the class came to an end, I packed my things with a sigh of relief. The lecture had dragged on, and I was eager to get to my next class. Clara, in her usual playful manner, nudged me slightly, causing me to lose my balance. My books tumbled to the floor, scattering across the classroom.

I shot Clara an exasperated look, ready to give her a playful reprimand. Just as I was about to bend down to pick up the books, Jimin was suddenly beside me, his hand reaching out to help gather the scattered pages.

"Need a hand?" Jimin asked, his voice gentle but with an undertone of amusement.

"Thanks," I replied, trying to hide the flush on my cheeks from the unexpected help.

Clara, still smirking, watched us with interest. "Looks like Jimin's got your back," she teased, her tone light.

Jimin glanced up at me, a soft smile playing on his lips. "You should really be more careful," he said, handing me the last of my books.

I nodded, taking the books from him with a grateful smile. "I guess I should. Thanks, Jimin."

As I finished packing my bag, I couldn't help but notice the way Jimin's eyes lingered on me, his expression thoughtful. It was the same look he'd had during class, and it made my heart flutter a little. I couldn't deny that I enjoyed the attention, even if I was still trying to figure out what it meant.

As Jimin walked away to his locker, Clara leaned in, smirking. "You two were practically glued together."

I shot her a side-eye while picking up my books. "Oh, stop it. We're just friends. He was helping me out, that's all."

Clara raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. "Just friends, huh? You sure looked pretty cozy there. And don't think I missed the blush."

I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks. "Clara, seriously. It's not like that. He's just being nice."

Clara laughed, nudging me playfully. "Uh-huh. And I suppose the way he kept glancing over at you is just part of his 'nice' routine?"

I scoffed, trying to stay nonchalant. "Yeah, well, maybe he's just... I dunno, looking at me because I'm sitting right there."

Clara smirked, clearly enjoying this. "Oh, come on. You can't be that clueless. I saw how his eyes lit up when he looked at you. It's kinda obvious."

I shook my head, giving her a mock serious look. "Clara, stop making things up. We're just friends, and that's all there is to it."

Clara shrugged, still grinning. "Sure, whatever you say. But don't come crying to me if he turns out to be more than just a 'nice guy.'"

As we headed to our next class, I couldn't help but think about Clara's words.

I headed to my locker, glancing over at Jimin, who was standing by his own. As I opened my locker and started pulling out my books for the next class, I noticed him flipping through the letter I'd slipped into his locker earlier.

I tried to sneak a peek while pretending to search for my textbook, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw him smile at the quote. That smile... it was like sunshine breaking through clouds, warm and genuine. I found myself staring, caught up in how his eyes crinkled at the corners and the way his whole face lit up.

Darn it, friends don't look at each other like that. I mentally scolded myself, trying to shake off the fluttery feeling in my chest. I hurriedly grabbed my books, trying to focus on the next class.

As I closed my locker, I glanced back at Jimin. He was still smiling, clearly touched by the note. My heart did a little dance, and I had to admit—seeing him like that made me feel a little giddy.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts as I walked to class. Just friends, right? But somehow, the line between friendship and something more seemed to be blurring, and it was starting to get harder to ignore.

/././././././././././././

Class had started, but my mind was elsewhere, still buzzing from Jimin's reaction to the letter. Clara, who had been sitting next to me, leaned over with a grin.

"Hey, Y/N," Clara whispered, her tone friendly and curious. "You've been in your own world today. What's going on?"

I blinked, coming back to reality. "Oh, sorry. Just got a bit distracted."

Clara tilted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Distracted, huh? You should come hang out with me and a couple of friends after school. I know I'm new here, but it would be great to get to know you better."

I hesitated, thinking about my to-do list and how much I needed to catch up on. "I don't know, Clara. I've got a ton of stuff to do, and I haven't posted anything on my social media in ages."

Clara rolled her eyes, clearly not buying my excuse. "Oh, come on! You can't let your feed run your life. Besides, it'll be fun. We're just going to the new café downtown. They have the best pastries. You can catch up with us, and you'll have something cool to post anyway."

I chuckled, amused by her enthusiasm. "You really are determined, aren't you? Okay, fine. I'll come. But only because I could use a break."

Clara's eyes lit up with excitement. "Awesome! You won't regret it. We're meeting at three. It's just a casual hangout, and it's a great chance for us to bond. Plus, we'll take tons of selfies!"

I laughed, feeling my earlier worries melt away. "Alright, I'm in."

Clara waved her hand dismissively. "Great! I'll text u later."

I grinned, feeling a bit more enthusiastic about the plan. "Thanks, Clara. I'll see you at the café then."

"Perfect!" Clara said, her smile brightening. "See you after class."

As Clara turned her attention back to the lecture, I felt a flicker of excitement at the thought of hanging out with her and her friends. It'd be nice to take a break and enjoy some downtime.

....

I decided to leave class a bit early. I hurriedly grabbed my books from my locker, then slipped another letter into Jimin's locker. I didn't want him to find out it was me writing the notes, so I kept it simple and encouraging. I glanced around to make sure no one saw me, then dashed off to my dorm.

Back in my room, I quickly changed into something a bit more casual but still cute—sweater and jeans, perfect for the chilly January weather. I ran my fingers through my hair, giving it a quick style, and then grabbed my bag.

I glanced at the clock and saw I still had a bit of time before meeting Clara and her friends. I headed out to the café, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. It had been a while since I'd hung out with new people, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was looking forward to it.