Falling for Mr. Yoo

Chapter 5 : A Challenge Accepted

Monday morning arrived, and Winter had steeled herself for another week of dodging Jimin’s relentless charm. But as she walked into class, she was met with an unexpected sight. Jimin wasn’t in his usual seat next to her.

In fact, he wasn’t there at all.

Winter blinked in surprise. He was never late. Was something wrong?

Throughout the day, Jimin’s absence weighed on her more than she cared to admit. She had grown so used to his presence that not having him around felt... odd. It annoyed her how much it bothered her.

By the time the final bell rang, Winter had convinced herself that it didn’t matter. Jimin was probably fine. Maybe he was sick. It was none of her business, anyway.

But as she walked toward the school gate, her feet seemed to have a mind of their own, leading her toward the direction of his classroom. She stopped herself just short of peeking inside, mentally berating herself for caring.

Why does it matter if he’s not here? she thought. It’s not like we’re friends.

Still, the emptiness lingered.

---

The Next Day

Jimin was back, lounging in his usual seat as if nothing had happened. Winter hesitated for a moment when she saw him, unsure of why she felt a sudden rush of relief.

When their eyes met, Jimin grinned at her like he always did. “Miss me?”

Winter rolled her eyes, sliding into her seat. “You wish.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Jimin said, his tone light, but something about the way he looked at her was different today.

Winter stared at him for a second before looking away. “Where were you yesterday?”

“Oh, so you did notice I was gone,” Jimin teased.

Winter bit her lip, trying to mask her curiosity with indifference. “It was quieter without you.”

Jimin laughed, but there was something softer in his gaze. “I had to take care of some stuff. Family things.”

Winter glanced at him, sensing there was more to the story, but she didn’t ask. She wasn’t sure she was ready to know more about him.

Jimin, however, wasn’t about to let the moment slip by. “You know, if you ever want to talk about stuff… I’m here.”

Winter blinked, taken aback. “Why would I want to do that?”

Jimin shrugged, his smile still in place but his voice quieter. “Because sometimes, it’s easier to let someone in than to keep them out.”

Winter’s chest tightened. For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. Part of her wanted to scoff at him, to brush him off like she always did. But another part of her—the part she had been trying to bury for so long—felt like he might actually understand.

She quickly shook the thought away, unwilling to let her guard down. “I’m fine on my own,” she said, her voice a bit sharper than she intended.

Jimin’s smile didn’t falter. “If you say so. But the offer’s always there.”

Winter didn’t reply. Instead, she turned her attention back to her notebook, trying to focus on anything but the strange warmth spreading through her chest.

For the first time in a long time, Winter felt like someone was genuinely trying to reach her. And no matter how much she tried to fight it, Yoo Jimin was slowly but surely chipping away at the walls she had built around herself.

TBC.