candid clicks | lee heeseung

010: stumbling upon his cold rejection

YESEUL TRUDGED down the familiar hallway of the university, the weight of her camera bag pressing against her shoulder. Another day, another lecture. The upcoming exhibition loomed closer, and she couldn't shake off the regret of agreeing to go the the Freshers' Party. She hadn't wanted to say yes to Sunghoon, but something about the way he asked made it seem impossible to refuse.

With a sigh, she tightened her grip on the camera bag, her fingers drummed against the worn letter strap. She wasn't late, but she also wasn't in any rush to get to class. The lecture would be dull as usual and her thoughts were already wandering to other things- the upcoming exhibition, the photos she still needed to go through, the party.

As she passed by the music room, a flicker of movement caught her eye. She paused, her curiosity piqued. The door was slightly ajar, and through the narrow gap, she could make out the familiar silhouette of Heeseung. He was standing with his back to her, but what really drew her attention was the girl facing him.

Yeseul didn't recognize her, but there was something undeniably pretty about the girl- long hair cascading over her shoulder, eyes wide and hopeful, her curiosity got the better of her, and Yeseul leaned closer, peeking through the crack of the door.

She saw the girl take a deep breath, her hands clenching and unclenching nervously. "Heeseung, I...I really like you," she confessed, her voice trembling slightly but filled with sincerity.

Yeseul's eyes widened, she hadn't expected to stumble upon a confession. She knew Heeseung was popular, but it was different seeing it unfold right in front of her. There was a beat of silence, and then his response came, his voice cool and detached as ever.

"I'm not interested," he said flatly, not bothering to soften the blow.

The rejection was blunt, maybe even harsher than he intended. The girl's face crumpled, her eyes welling up with tears as if she'd been physically struck. She looked embarrassed and heartbroken, and for moment, Yeseul felt a pang of sympathy for her. It was clear that she hadn't expected such a cold dismissal.

Yeseul watched as the girl struggled to hold back her tears, turning away quickly to hide her face. But Heeseung remained impassive, his expression unreadable. Yeseul couldn't help but think he could have been a bit gentler with his words. He wasn't known for being particularly kind when it came to rejections.

Heeseung shifted slightly, as if sensing another presence, he glanced back. Their eyes met. Yeseul froze, her heart leaping into her throat. She hadn't meant to be caught, and now here she was, staring right at him like a deer in headlights.

"Oh, crap," Yeseul muttered under her breath. She quickly turned on her heel, attempting to slip away unnoticed.

But Heeseung was quicker. Leaving the music room behind, he moved after her, his strides long. "Hey!" he called out, his voice echoing down the corridors.

Yeseul picked up her pace, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She couldn't believe she'd been caught spying. Just as she was about to make a break for the stairs, a hand clamped around her wrist, pulling her to a sudden stop.

"What were you even doing there?" he demanded, his grip firm but not painful. His dark eyes bore into hers, a mix of curiosity and irritation flickering in them.

"I-I was just passing by," shit, why was she stammering? Get a grip on yourself, Seo Yeseul. "I wasn't even interested."

Heeseung raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying her excuse. "Really? Because it looked a lot like you were eavesdropping."

Yeseul huffed, folding her arms defensively. "Well, maybe if you didn't reject people so harshly, there wouldn't be anything to eavesdrop on."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, the intensity of his gaze not wavering. "Do you always hide behind your camera or is it just around me?"

Yeseul blinked, taken aback by the unexpected question. For a moment, she was at a loss for words, scrambling to come up with a retort. "I don't hide," she finally shot back. "I just don't waste my time on people who think they're better than everyone else."

Heeseung chuckled, the sound low and almost teasing. "And yet, you're here, getting all worked up over me rejecting someone."

Yeseul's cheeks flushed a deeper red, but she held her ground, glaring up at him defiantly. "In your dreams, Heeseung. Not everyone's falling at your feet, you know."

He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear. ''Maybe not, but you sure seem interested."

Yeseul swallowed hard, the proximity making her heart race. She could feel the tension crackling between them, the air thick with unspoken tension. She had half a mind to push him away, but something in his eyes held her in a place, a challenge, a dare.

Finally, she managed to pull herself together, taking a step back. "Keep dreaming," she muttered before turning on her heel and marching away, leaving Heeseung standing there with a satisfied grin on his face.

As Yeseul made her way to the lecture hall, she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and frustration- Heeseung was getting under her skin, and she wasn't sure how to feel about that.

🎞˙✧˖°📷 ༘ ⋆｡˚