BLOSSOMS IN THE SPOLIGHT | HEESEUNG

19: Falling for Jia

Heeseung hadn’t planned on falling for Jia. If anyone had asked him months ago, he would’ve laughed at the idea, brushing it off as impossible. Jia was part of their close-knit circle, someone who had effortlessly blended into the group with her warmth and kindness. To him, she was a friend, someone he could joke around with, share inside jokes, and enjoy simple moments with.

But somewhere along the way, things began to change. He wasn’t sure exactly when it started—maybe it was the way her laughter filled the room, bright and infectious, making everything feel lighter. Or perhaps it was the quiet moments, the times when she wasn’t even aware of how deeply she affected him, like when she absentmindedly twirled her hair or bit her lip in concentration while focused on something. He found himself drawn to those small details, watching her when she wasn’t looking, his heart doing things it had never done before.

At first, Heeseung tried to brush it off. He told himself it was just a phase, a fleeting attraction that would pass as quickly as it came. But the more time he spent with Jia, the harder it became to ignore the way his heart sped up when she was near, or the way his thoughts always seemed to drift back to her when he was alone.

He knew it wasn’t just physical attraction—though Jia was beautiful, there was no denying that. It was something deeper, something he hadn’t expected. There was a warmth about her that made him feel at ease, a kindness that radiated from her even in the smallest gestures. She had this way of making everyone around her feel special, seen, and appreciated. And Heeseung couldn’t help but admire that about her.

One afternoon, as the group hung out at a café, Heeseung found himself watching her again. She was sitting across the table, laughing at something Sunoo had said, her eyes crinkling at the corners. He couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at his lips. Every time she laughed, it was like the world around him brightened, and he found himself wanting to be the reason for that smile.

Sunghoon nudged him lightly, breaking Heeseung out of his thoughts. “You’ve been staring for a while,” Sunghoon said quietly, his voice teasing but not unkind. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Heeseung blinked, feeling his cheeks heat up. “What? No, I wasn’t staring,” he mumbled, taking a sip of his drink to hide his embarrassment. Sunghoon, however, wasn’t fooled.

“You sure about that?” Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. “It’s not the first time I’ve caught you looking.”

Heeseung groaned, running a hand through his hair. He wasn’t used to feeling so exposed, and Sunghoon’s keen observation wasn’t making it any easier. “Okay, fine,” he admitted reluctantly. “Maybe I’ve been… thinking about her. A lot.”

Sunghoon’s expression softened, his teasing smile fading into something more serious. “You like her, don’t you?”

Heeseung sighed, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling as if the answer to his problem could be found up there. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “I think I do.”

Sunghoon didn’t say anything for a moment, just nodded thoughtfully. Then he clapped a hand on Heeseung’s shoulder. “Well, it’s about time you admitted it. I’ve seen the way you look at her. Everyone has, honestly.”

Heeseung’s eyes widened in surprise. “Everyone?”

Sunghoon chuckled. “Don’t worry, it’s not that obvious. But yeah, we’ve noticed. You’ve been different around her lately.”

Heeseung wasn’t sure whether to feel relieved or embarrassed. On one hand, it was nice to know he wasn’t completely alone in his feelings. On the other, the thought of the rest of the group noticing his inner turmoil made him cringe.

“But what am I supposed to do about it?” Heeseung asked, feeling a sense of helplessness settle over him. “I mean, Jia… she’s great, but what if she doesn’t feel the same? I don’t want to mess things up.”

Sunghoon tilted his head, considering Heeseung’s words. “You won’t know unless you try. But hey, if you really like her, you’ve got to be honest with yourself first. Then, you can figure out if it’s worth the risk.”

The risk. That was what had been holding Heeseung back all this time. He valued his friendship with Jia, and the last thing he wanted was to ruin that with his feelings. But lately, the idea of not saying anything—of pretending he didn’t care as much as he did—felt worse than the risk itself.

As the days passed, Heeseung found himself becoming more aware of the little things he did to be near Jia. When they were hanging out as a group, he always made sure to sit close to her. He’d offer to help her with small tasks, like carrying her things or grabbing her a drink. And every time she smiled at him, that warm, genuine smile, his heart raced just a little faster.

There was one particular moment that stood out to him, one that made him realize just how deeply his feelings had grown.

It was a quiet evening, and the group had gathered at the dorm to watch a movie. They were all piled on the couch, a mess of limbs and blankets. Jia was sitting next to him, her legs tucked under her, and at some point during the movie, she had leaned her head on his shoulder. It was such a simple gesture, something she probably didn’t even think twice about, but for Heeseung, it was everything.

The warmth of her body against his, the soft scent of her shampoo, the way she fit so perfectly beside him—it made his heart ache in the best possible way. He wanted more moments like this. He wanted to be the person she leaned on, not just physically, but emotionally too. He wanted to be the one she turned to when things got tough, the one who made her laugh when she was down, the one who understood her in a way no one else could.

Heeseung realized then that this wasn’t just a passing crush. He was falling for her, deeply and irrevocably.

But with that realization came fear. What if she didn’t feel the same? What if she saw him only as a friend, someone she could joke around with and trust, but nothing more? The thought of her rejecting him, of losing the easy friendship they shared, terrified him.

Yet, even as the fear gnawed at him, there was a part of Heeseung that knew he couldn’t stay silent forever. He couldn’t keep pretending that his feelings didn’t exist. Every time she looked at him, every time they shared a moment of laughter or quiet conversation, he felt his heart pulling him closer to her.

One evening, after a particularly long day of practice, Heeseung found himself standing outside Jia’s flower shop. It had become a habit of his to visit her there, under the pretense of checking out her latest arrangements or just keeping her company. But tonight, he wasn’t sure what had brought him here—only that he needed to see her.

When he walked in, Jia was behind the counter, humming softly to herself as she arranged a bouquet of roses. She looked up when she heard the door, her face lighting up when she saw him.

“Heeseung! What are you doing here so late?”

He smiled, trying to ignore the way his heart flipped at the sight of her. “Just thought I’d drop by. You know, see how things are going.”

She laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re always checking in on me. Not that I mind, of course.”

Heeseung moved closer, leaning against the counter as he watched her work. The scent of the flowers filled the air, sweet and delicate, just like her.

“Jia,” he said quietly, his voice barely above a whisper. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you.”

Jia looked up, her expression curious. “What is it?”

Heeseung took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. This was it—the moment he had been dreading and longing for all at once.