𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐄; boysnextdoor

Chasing Stars; taesan

𓍯𓂃

Y/N sat at her usual spot in the school cafeteria, a half-eaten sandwich in front of her and her gaze fixed on the far end of the room. There he was-Taesan. He was everything she admired: tall, athletic, with a smile that could light up the darkest corners of the school. He laughed with his friends, effortlessly charming everyone around him. Y/N sighed, feeling a familiar pang of longing mixed with self-doubt.

She had always thought Taesan was out of her league. He was the star of the soccer team, the guy every girl dreamed about, while she was just... Y/N. The quiet girl who preferred books over parties, who blended into the background more than she'd like to admit.

<3>

As she absentmindedly doodled in her notebook, she imagined what it would be like to talk to him. Would he smile at her? Would they laugh together? The thought sent butterflies fluttering in her stomach. But reality crashed back in; she was just Y/N, and he was Taesan. They existed in entirely different worlds.

Her best friend, Mia, plopped down across from her, breaking her reverie. "You're staring again," she teased, following Y/N's gaze. "If you keep this up, you're going to burn a hole in his back."

Y/N rolled her eyes, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I can't help it! He's just... perfect."

"Perfectly oblivious," Mia shot back, smirking. "You should talk to him. What's the worst that could happen?"

"Um, he could laugh at me?" Y/N replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Or worse, he could ignore me completely."

Mia leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Or he could actually like you back. You won't know unless you try."

<3>

Y/N bit her lip, contemplating Mia's words. Maybe it was time to step out of her comfort zone. After all, she couldn't keep dreaming about Taesan without taking a chance. With newfound determination, she decided to approach him after school.

As the final bell rang, Y/N's heart raced. She gathered her things, glancing at Taesan, who was still surrounded by his friends. "Okay, I can do this," she muttered to herself, taking a deep breath.

"Just be yourself," Mia whispered as they walked toward the exit. "You got this!"

<3>

Y/N stood by the school entrance, her palms sweaty and her heart pounding. She watched as Taesan laughed with his friends, the sun casting a golden glow around him. She took a step forward, then another, until she was just a few feet away.

"Hey, Taesan!" she called out, her voice wavering slightly.

He turned, surprise flickering across his face. "Oh, hey! Y/N, right?"

Her heart soared at the sound of her name on his lips. "Yeah, um, I just wanted to say... I really liked your goal in the game last week. It was amazing!"

He smiled, his eyes lighting up. "Thanks! That means a lot coming from you. I saw you in the stands cheering. You were awesome too!"

Y/N blinked, momentarily stunned. "Me? Awesome?"

"Of course! You're always so supportive," he said, his tone genuine. "We need more fans like you."

<3>

Their conversation flowed surprisingly easily, and Y/N found herself laughing at his jokes, her nervousness fading with each passing moment. They talked about school, soccer, and their favorite movies. It felt surreal, like a scene from a movie where the girl gets her dream guy.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask," Taesan said, tilting his head slightly. "What do you do for fun? You seem like someone with a lot of hidden talents."

Y/N hesitated, her insecurities creeping back in. "Oh, I mostly just read and hang out with friends. Nothing special, really."

"Reading is cool! What do you like to read?" He leaned in, genuinely interested.

"Mostly fantasy," she admitted, her confidence building. "I love getting lost in different worlds."

"Same! I'm a huge fan of that genre. We should swap book recommendations sometime," he suggested, a playful grin on his face.

<3>

As they chatted, Y/N realized that maybe Taesan wasn't as out of reach as she had thought. He was kind, funny, and genuinely interested in what she had to say. The more they talked, the more she felt a connection forming between them.

But as their conversation continued, Y/N noticed the way his friends kept glancing over, laughing and calling him back to their group. She felt a twinge of reality settling in. Taesan was still Taesan-the popular guy, the athlete, the one everyone wanted to be around.

"Listen, I have to run to practice," Taesan said, glancing at his watch. "But I'd love to continue this conversation. How about we meet up after school tomorrow? Maybe grab a coffee?"

Y/N's heart raced, but she couldn't shake the feeling of inevitability. "I'd like that," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Great! It's a date then," he replied, flashing her that dazzling smile that made her heart skip a beat.

<3>

T

he next day, they met up, and the conversation flowed just as easily. They shared laughs and stories, and for a moment, Y/N felt like she was in a dream. But as the weeks went by, it became clear that while they enjoyed each other's company, Taesan was still very much in his world, surrounded by friends and admirers.

Eventually, Y/N realized that their connection was more friendship than anything else. They would hang out, share laughs, but that spark she had hoped for never ignited into something more.

One afternoon, as they sat in a cozy café, Y/N took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "Taesan, I really enjoy spending time with you. But I think it's important to be honest. I know we're just friends, and I'm okay with that." Taesan looked at her, his expression warm and understanding.

"I feel the same way, Y/N. You're amazing, and I love hanging out with you. I just don't want to complicate things."

Y/N nodded, feeling a mix of relief and acceptance. "Yeah, me too. I guess I just thought..."

"I get it," he interrupted gently. "But I'm glad we're friends. You're one of the few people who really gets me."

<3>

As they walked out of the café, Y/N felt lighter. She may not have captured Taesan's heart, but she had gained a true friend. And in that moment, she realized that sometimes, the best relationships are the ones rooted in friendship.With a smile, she looked at Taesan. "So, what's the next book we're swapping?"

He grinned back, and as they walked side by side, Y/N knew she had found something special after all-someone who appreciated her for who she was, even if it wasn't the fairy tale she had initially dreamed of.

<3>

giving myself a short happy ending here :')