Falling for Mr. Yoo

Chapter 6 : Breaking Down The Barriers

Winter didn’t want to admit it, but Jimin’s offer lingered in her mind for days. No one had ever offered to be there for her before, at least not in a way that felt genuine. She had always believed that being alone was better—safer. But Jimin had planted a seed of doubt, and it was growing despite her best efforts to ignore it.

Jimin, true to his word, didn’t push. He continued to sit with her in class, share quiet moments in the library, and walk with her after school. But he never brought up their last conversation again. He was giving her space, and that, more than anything, unnerved her.

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One Afternoon in the Library

Winter was deep into her study notes, trying to focus on the upcoming exams, when Jimin leaned over and slid a piece of paper across the table. Without looking up, she glanced at it, expecting some dumb joke or another random fact. But instead, she found a simple drawing.

It was a sketch of her—sitting at their library table, looking out the window, completely lost in thought. The lines were soft, the shading careful, and there was a strange warmth in the way Jimin had captured her expression. Winter stared at it, her heart skipping a beat.

Jimin was watching her reaction closely. “What do you think?”

Winter didn’t know how to respond. “When did you draw this?”

“Last week. You were in your own world, and I was bored,” Jimin said with a grin. “You’re a good subject, you know? Quiet, intense… a little intimidating, but in a cool way.”

Winter shook her head, unsure if she should feel flattered or embarrassed. “I’m not intimidating.”

“Oh, you definitely are,” Jimin teased, his smile softening. “But I kinda like that about you.”

Winter’s cheeks warmed. She quickly folded the paper and tucked it into her notebook, trying to hide the fact that his words had affected her. “Thanks,” she muttered, though she wasn’t sure if she was thanking him for the drawing or the compliment.

Jimin leaned back in his chair, watching her with that easygoing grin that was becoming more and more familiar. “You’re welcome.”

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After School, On the Rooftop

The next day, Winter found herself on the school rooftop during lunch, her usual escape from the noise and chaos of the cafeteria. She enjoyed the solitude, the way the cool breeze brushed against her skin, giving her a moment of peace.

But today, her peace was interrupted.

“Mind if I join you?” Jimin’s voice called out from the door.

Winter turned around, surprised. She didn’t even bother asking how he found her—Jimin seemed to have a knack for showing up in places she least expected. She sighed, gesturing to the empty space beside her. “You’re already here, so…”

Jimin smiled and sat down, pulling out a snack from his bag. For a few minutes, they sat in comfortable silence, the sounds of the city below them filling the air.

“You come up here a lot?” Jimin asked after a while, glancing around at the view.

Winter nodded. “It’s quiet. No one else really comes up here.”

Jimin took a bite of his snack, then looked at her. “You really don’t like being around people, huh?”

Winter shrugged. “People are… complicated.”

“That’s true,” Jimin said thoughtfully. “But they can also surprise you.”

Winter didn’t respond, her gaze drifting out over the skyline. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t told Jimin to leave yet. Part of her liked the fact that he didn’t fill the silence with mindless chatter. He seemed comfortable just being there, existing beside her without demanding anything.

“Why do you keep trying?” Winter asked suddenly, surprising herself with the question.

Jimin looked at her, a bit startled by the change in tone. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve pushed you away over and over,” Winter said, her voice quieter than usual. “I’ve made it clear I’m not interested in being friends, but you keep showing up. Why?”

Jimin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he thought about her question. “Because I think you’re worth knowing.”

Winter blinked, taken aback by the simplicity of his answer. She had expected him to make a joke, to brush it off like he usually did, but the sincerity in his voice caught her off guard.

“I don’t know what you’ve been through,” Jimin continued, his eyes focused on her, “but I can see that you’re trying to protect yourself. And that’s fine. But I’m not here to hurt you. I’m just… here.”

Winter felt something stir in her chest—a crack in the walls she had worked so hard to build. She didn’t want to believe him, didn’t want to let him in, but the way he looked at her made it hard to keep pushing him away.

“I don’t need anyone,” she whispered, but the words felt hollow, even to her.

Jimin smiled gently, his eyes soft. “Maybe not. But maybe you don’t have to be alone, either.”

The silence that followed was heavy, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. For the first time in a long time, Winter felt like someone was seeing her for who she was, and it scared her. But it also made her feel… less alone.

TBC.