Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 10: Confronting shadows

The days following her coffee outing with Karina felt like an emotional rollercoaster for Juhee. The pressure of midterms loomed over her, yet the thought of Wonbin lingered in her mind like a haunting melody, one she couldn't quite shake off.

Juhee buried herself in her studies, attempting to silence the internal conflict brewing within her. Each time she sat down with her textbooks, her thoughts drifted back to that fleeting moment at the café when she had seen Wonbin walking by, his presence both unsettling and intriguing.

It was during one of those long nights in the library, surrounded by stacks of books, that she found herself staring at the pages without really seeing them. The clock ticked steadily, and the hum of students studying faded into the background. Juhee's focus was fractured, and the silence pressed heavily upon her.

Suddenly, the library door swung open, and Juhee's heart skipped as she saw Wonbin enter. He looked just as he always did—dressed in dark jeans and a fitted jacket, a faint air of detachment clinging to him. She tried to look away, but her gaze was drawn to him like a moth to a flame.

Wonbin walked past her table, oblivious to her presence, and chose a seat several tables away. Juhee felt a mix of relief and disappointment wash over her. She was grateful he hadn't noticed her, yet a part of her yearned for even a brief acknowledgment.

As she attempted to refocus on her notes, she couldn't help but glance over at him from time to time. He seemed engrossed in his work, but every now and then, she caught him staring off into the distance, lost in thought. What was going on in his mind? What secrets did he hide behind that cold exterior?

Just then, a loud crash echoed through the library, breaking Juhee from her reverie. She turned to see a fellow student had dropped a pile of books, causing several heads to turn in annoyance. Juhee looked back at Wonbin, who had visibly tensed at the noise. Their eyes locked for a brief moment, and a spark of something unnameable passed between them.

But before she could dwell on it, he returned to his work, shutting himself off once more. Frustration bubbled inside Juhee. Why was he so closed off? Why did he have to be so infuriatingly intriguing?

With the library's atmosphere thickening with tension, Juhee decided she needed a break. She gathered her things and headed to the nearest exit, hoping to clear her mind. As she stepped outside, the cool evening air hit her, a welcome relief from the stifling pressure inside.

She wandered through the campus, her thoughts swirling like leaves in the wind. Would she ever have the courage to approach him? Would he ever let her in?

Lost in her thoughts, she nearly collided with someone rounding a corner. Juhee looked up to find herself face to face with Jaehyun, her brother. His expression was one of annoyance mixed with surprise.

"Watch where you're going," he said, crossing his arms.

"Sorry, I didn't see you," Juhee replied, her tone sharper than intended.

"Busy thinking about your mysterious boy?" he asked, smirking slightly.

Juhee frowned, feeling her cheeks heat up. "It's not like that."

"Really? Because it looks like you're about to daydream your way through midterms," he retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Maybe if you weren't so caught up in your own drama, you'd understand," she snapped back.

Jaehyun's brows furrowed, and for a moment, the sibling bond felt tenuous. "I get it, Juhee. I really do. But it's not all about you. Just remember that."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Juhee to stew in her thoughts. The sharpness of his words echoed in her mind. Was she really so consumed by her own worries that she had overlooked how he felt?

The evening grew colder, and Juhee wrapped her arms around herself, the weight of expectations pressing down on her once again. As she turned to head back, she spotted Wonbin leaning against a nearby wall, seemingly waiting for something—or someone.

Before she could process it, their eyes met again. This time, Juhee felt a jolt of recognition, a sense of understanding that transcended their previous interactions. But just as quickly, Wonbin averted his gaze, leaving Juhee standing frozen in place, her heart racing with an unfamiliar mix of frustration and determination.

That brief moment sparked something within her—a resolve to confront the shadows that hung between them. Maybe it was time to take a step forward, no matter how small, no matter how daunting.

With newfound determination, Juhee turned on her heels and headed back toward the library, ready to face her studies, her brother, and perhaps, one day, the enigmatic boy who had somehow captured her attention.