THE HIRED BOYFRIEND

21

Hyeyoon's POV

After Sokcho, the days dragged on. The public holiday meant I didn't get to see Jisung, and no matter how hard I tried to distract myself, I kept glancing at my phone, waiting for some sort of sign from him. Should I text him first? Would that seem too eager? My thumb would hover over the screen, hesitating, before I'd finally give in.

I started sending him little texts, snippets of my day, comments about the weather, or photos of whatever I was doing. At first, it felt like I was trying too hard, but Jisung... he responded. And not just with the usual short, curt replies. His messages were longer now, filled with thoughtful words, sometimes even teasing. There was a warmth in them that hadn't been there before.

Each time his name popped up on my screen, I felt that familiar flutter in my chest, a mix of excitement and anticipation. I'd sit there, staring at his words, rereading them, smiling to myself as I tried to decipher any hidden meaning.

A week passed like this—an odd back-and-forth of messages that felt both new and natural. Then, one evening, as I was lounging on my bed, phone in hand, his message came through.

Hey, Mr. Jonho is having an exhibition this weekend. Do you want to come with me?

I stared at the text, feeling my heart race a little faster. Jisung hadn't asked me to go anywhere since Sokcho. My mind spun with memories of that trip—his quiet smiles, the way we seemed to understand each other without needing to talk about what had shifted between us. Now, here he was, inviting me to something outside of our usual school-related routine.

A soft sigh escaped my lips as I lay back on my pillow, staring at the ceiling. I could feel the tension building inside me. Should I go? What if things got weird between us? Especially, with Jonho there. But at the same time, how could I say no?

I sat up, my fingers hovering over the screen. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself before typing back.

Sure, I'd love to.

The weekend arrived faster than I expected, and with it, a whirlwind of nerves. Standing in front of my mirror, I found myself obsessing over every detail of my outfit, much more than usual. I tried on a few combinations before finally settling on a simple, flowing dress. It was light, the fabric soft against my skin, and it had a certain effortless elegance. Perfect for an art exhibition.

I checked my reflection one last time. My hair fell in loose waves over my shoulders, and I dabbed on a bit of perfume before slipping into a pair of flats. The outfit felt just right—comfortable, yet fitting for the occasion. Still, I couldn't shake the anxiety bubbling up inside me as I left my apartment.

The walk to the gallery felt longer than it actually was, my heart thudding in rhythm with each step. The exhibition was in a small, intimate gallery downtown, tucked away between a row of boutique stores and cafés. The closer I got, the more my palms began to sweat, and I wiped them discreetly against my dress.

As I rounded the corner, I spotted Jisung standing just outside the gallery's entrance. He was leaning against the wall, his hands tucked into his pockets, and when he looked up and caught sight of me, my breath caught in my throat.

He looked... different. Gone was the casual, laid-back Jisung I was used to seeing. Instead, he wore a fitted blazer over a crisp white shirt, his hair neatly styled as if he'd put extra effort into his appearance. There was a subtle sharpness to him that took me by surprise. For a moment, I couldn't help but stare, my heart skipping a beat.

Jisung pushed himself off the wall, standing straighter as I approached. "You look amazing," he said, his voice sounds soft. His gaze held mine for a second longer than I expected, a flicker of something warm and unsure passing between us.