You Belong With Me | Jeongcheol Fanfic

Chapter 42

The next day, Mingyu woke up with a lighter heart. He couldn't help but smile as he replayed the conversation with Wonwoo in his mind. Though they had agreed to take things slow, it felt like a fresh start—a chance to build something real. He headed to school, hoping things would feel less awkward between them.

As he entered the hallway, he spotted Wonwoo by his locker. For a moment, their eyes met. Mingyu's heart skipped a beat, but instead of looking away, Wonwoo smiled—a small, but genuine smile. It was a silent acknowledgment of the conversation they had shared the day before.

"Morning," Wonwoo said when Mingyu approached, his tone soft but warm.

"Morning," Mingyu replied, the nervous energy from yesterday still buzzing but now accompanied by a sense of calm.

They exchanged a few more words, casual but comfortable, and the day seemed to fall into an easy rhythm. Mingyu couldn't help but feel relieved. There was no tension, no awkwardness—just the two of them figuring things out, step by step.

Later, at lunch, the friend group gathered as usual, with Jeonghan, Seungcheol, Seungkwan, Hansol, Jihoon, and the others. Mingyu found himself seated next to Wonwoo, their conversation flowing naturally as if nothing had changed—except, now there was a shared understanding between them.

Seungkwan teased the group about their love lives, making everyone laugh. "Looks like everyone's paired up these days, huh?" he said, glancing between the couples and even giving Mingyu and Wonwoo a mischievous look.

Mingyu just rolled his eyes playfully. "Not everything is about romance, Seungkwan."

"Speak for yourself," Seungkwan replied with a wink, pulling Hansol closer.

As they all chatted and ate, the air was light, and for the first time in a while, Mingyu felt like things were falling into place. The secret admirer charade was over, and though the future between him and Wonwoo was uncertain, they had taken a step toward something real.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, but one thing stuck with Mingyu: Wonwoo's smile when he said goodbye after school. It wasn't forced or awkward, just a simple gesture that made Mingyu's heart flutter.

Maybe this was just the beginning of something new.

~

In class, Seungkwan and Hansol couldn't seem to focus on the lesson. Instead, they were passing little love notes back and forth, trying to be discreet but barely containing their smiles. Seungkwan, sitting one row ahead of Hansol, subtly slipped a folded piece of paper onto Hansol's desk during the teacher's lecture.

Hansol opened it carefully, making sure no one was watching. Inside was a small doodle of a heart with Seungkwan's messy handwriting beneath it: "I'm bored. Miss you. :( "

Hansol chuckled quietly and scribbled a reply: "I'm right behind you, idiot." He added a winking face and passed it back when Seungkwan pretended to stretch.

Seungkwan opened the note and stifled a laugh, glancing back to meet Hansol's eyes, his expression playful. He quickly jotted down another message: "Still miss you though! Can't wait for lunch. Let's sneak out."

Hansol read it, biting back a smile, and nodded, giving Seungkwan a thumbs up behind his desk. The little game continued for the rest of the period, their connection growing with every playful exchange. Even though they were just a few feet apart, each note made their bond feel a little bit closer.

Seungkwan, ever the romantic, couldn't help but add a personal touch to his notes. As he wrote, he replaced the dots over the "i"s with tiny hearts, a playful but telling habit that made Hansol smile every time he saw it.