Smoke- lee heeseung

XIII

"I wish I could throw off the thoughts which poison my happiness, but I take a kind of pleasure in indulging them."
—Frédéric Chopin

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The morning sun poured through Yuwon's window, casting a warm golden hue across her room. For the first time in two months, she had managed to eat a proper breakfast. The simple meal—toast with butter and a soft-boiled egg—felt like a small victory. As she savored the taste, she couldn't shake the lingering shadows of fatigue still clinging to her.

However, the clarity of the day outside drew her attention. The sky was a brilliant blue, unmarred by clouds, and the crisp winter air hinted at the season's change. Despite her slight optimism, a dull throb began to pulse in her temples, the remnants of sleepless nights and emotional exhaustion creeping back in. She knew she shouldn't be walking to school today, but the thought of being confined indoors felt suffocating.

As she stepped outside, the fresh air hit her, and for a brief moment, it felt invigorating. Yuwon adjusted her glasses, tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and began her trek to school. Each step felt heavy, her mind swirling with thoughts of the day ahead—her classes, her peers, and the looming presence of Heeseung.

Her pace slowed as she approached the school gates, and the familiar rush of anxiety mixed with determination surged within her. The pounding in her head intensified, a reminder of how fragile she still felt beneath the surface. She paused for a moment, resting against a nearby wall, willing the headache to subside.

She straightened her posture, took a deep breath, and pushed herself to move forward.

As she entered the school grounds, the buzz of chatter filled her ears, students milling about, laughter and shouts intertwining with the faint smell of freshly cut grass. It felt normal, almost comforting, and yet it was also overwhelming. The crowds parted as she navigated through, some glancing her way, curiosity and concern flickering in their eyes. She kept her head down, willing herself to ignore the stares.

Yuwon headed towards her locker, each step feeling heavier than the last. She entered her classroom, finding her seat.

"Look who decided to show up."

Yuwon didn't need to turn around to know it was him. His tone was casual, but there was an underlying tension in his voice.

"Great to see you too," she replied, trying to sound unfazed- although she couldn't muster the courage to look him in the eye, she felt him stand beside her desk, staring down at her. The headache throbbed louder, but she pressed on, unwilling to let him see how much he affected her.

He stood therewith an air of nonchalance, but she caught the slight furrow in his brow. "You look like hell, Angel. I thought the nurse was supposed to keep an eye on you."

"That is exactly how you walk to a woman and charm her but I'll let you know that I'm fine," she insisted, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Just a little headache."

Heeseung narrowed his eyes, clearly not buying it. "A headache? That's all? Last I checked, you clearly passed out the other day."

"Thanks for the reminder," she shot back, trying to keep the bite in her words, but his concern—however grudgingly masked— irked her. "Why do you care, anyway? You don't exactly have a reputation for being a nice guy."

His gaze hardened for a moment, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. "I don't want you to collapse in the middle of class. It'll just be more drama and a nuisance for everyone."