Epex Oneshots (short stories) /imagines

KEUM- Can you help me?

Y/N adjusted her glasses as she stared at the test paper in front of her. Another perfect score, as expected. Being at the top of her class had become second nature, something she took pride in but never flaunted. She liked to blend in, to go unnoticed, slipping quietly through the day. But recently, she'd felt a change, an odd sense of someone watching her, like a shadow she couldn't shake. It was unnerving, a little like having an unexpected page dog-eared in a book you thought was yours alone.

She didn't have to wonder long. By now, most students had heard of Keum, the school's resident "ice prince." Keum was the kind of person who walked through hallways like he was wading through cold water, barely looking at anyone. He was tall, his dark hair falling just over his eyes in a way that made him look as though he didn't care — and he probably didn't. He was smart, but not interested in competing for grades; talented, but never showing it off. While most people whispered about him from a distance, Y/N had occasionally caught glimpses of him, wondering why someone so unapproachable held such a fascination for everyone.

She couldn't have known that he'd developed a fascination of his own.

It started during the annual quiz bowl. Y/N had been too focused on the questions, her answers rolling off one after another, each answer faster than the last. She didn't notice Keum watching from the back row, arms crossed, his usual disinterest replaced by an unusual spark in his eyes. The rest of the students had cheered when her team won, but Keum remained silent, his gaze fixed on her in a way that felt almost like a challenge.

From that day on, he'd seemed to find excuses to be near her — though he never spoke directly to her. She'd walk into the library, and he'd be there, perched in a corner with his usual expression of disinterest. She'd enter the chemistry lab, and there he'd be, silently working with a partner who looked grateful for his rare participation. He never approached her, never offered even the smallest of nods in recognition. But his presence became constant, like a storm cloud hanging just at the edge of her awareness.

It unnerved her, though she'd never admit it.

One afternoon, as Y/N made her way to her usual study corner in the library, she found him there, leaning casually against the desk she always used. He wasn't looking at her directly, but there was no mistaking that he was waiting for her.

"Keum?" she asked, unable to hide her surprise.

He looked up, and for the first time, his gaze met hers directly. His eyes were darker than she'd realized, a deep brown that held something she couldn't quite place. "Y/N, right?" he asked, as though he didn't already know.

She nodded, her fingers tightening around the strap of her backpack. "Can I... help you with something?"

Keum paused, his gaze flickering over her face as though he were studying her. "I wanted to ask if you'd mind... tutoring me."

Of all the things she'd expected him to say, this wasn't one of them. She blinked, caught off guard. "You... want my help?"

He nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. "I heard you're good at math." His voice was flat, as if asking for help was as routine as borrowing a pencil, though his tightly crossed arms suggested otherwise.

Y/N hesitated, glancing at the empty desks around them. She couldn't help but wonder if this was some kind of joke — after all, Keum was more than capable in his classes. But he looked serious, and something about the request made her curiosity flare up. "Alright," she said finally, setting her bag down on the desk. "I can help."

They met up in the library for the next few weeks, each session marked by long silences and brief, focused exchanges. Y/N found herself surprised by how quickly Keum picked up on things, even topics he claimed he needed help with. There were moments when she'd look up to explain a problem, only to find him already staring at her, a strange glint in his eyes. It was disconcerting, and yet... thrilling, in a way she couldn't quite put into words.

One afternoon, as they were going through yet another set of equations, Keum leaned back in his chair, watching her with a faint smirk. "You really love this, don't you?"

She looked up, taken aback by the sudden question. "What do you mean?"

He gestured to her notebook, where she'd written out a complicated equation. "This. You're passionate about it, the way you break everything down, like it's a puzzle. You're always so... focused."

Y/N felt her cheeks warm under his intense gaze. No one had ever noticed that before. "Well... I guess I do. There's something satisfying about it, you know? Finding answers."

Keum's smirk softened, his gaze turning thoughtful. "Yeah. I get that."

There was a beat of silence, something soft and unspoken hanging between them. Y/N glanced down, suddenly aware of how close he was sitting. She could feel the warmth of his presence, his gaze still lingering on her, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Keum broke the silence first. "Why are you always so... careful?" he asked, his voice lower, almost curious. "Like you're afraid someone's going to judge you."

Y/N blinked, her chest tightening. "I... I'm not afraid," she murmured, though she knew it was only half-true. "It's just... easier to be myself when people aren't looking."

He was quiet, his gaze softening as though he understood. "You're braver than you think," he said quietly.

In that moment, something shifted between them. It wasn't something she could explain — a weight, an understanding. Keum, who everyone thought of as cold and unfeeling, was looking at her with something like warmth, as if he'd found something in her that he recognized in himself.

From Keum's perspective, things felt oddly... exposed. Y/N had been an unexpected presence in his life, a brightness that he'd tried to ignore, even dismiss. But the way she focused on everything she did, her quiet strength, the kindness in her gaze when she thought no one was watching — it all had a way of making him feel raw, as if she saw through all the walls he'd built up around himself.

For the first time, he found himself seeking someone out, watching her from across the library or pausing in the hallway just to catch a glimpse of her. He knew people thought he was distant, unapproachable, maybe even arrogant. But with Y/N, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time — a warmth, a sense of belonging.

Keum was used to keeping his distance, keeping everything and everyone at arm's length. But Y/N had a way of slipping through his defenses without even trying. He found himself watching her more than he cared to admit, her quiet, determined focus drawing him in like a magnet. It was as if he'd found something he hadn't realized he'd been missing.

From Y/N's side, everything seemed to shift, becoming softer and more confusing. One afternoon, she found herself waiting for Keum in the library, a flutter of anticipation in her chest that she couldn't quite ignore. When he finally appeared, his usual cool expression softened slightly as he approached her, and she couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face.

Their tutoring sessions turned into quiet conversations about everything and nothing — their favorite books, the things they'd never told anyone. With each passing day, Y/N felt herself opening up, sharing parts of herself she'd kept hidden. And in return, Keum showed her glimpses of a boy who was far more than the cold, distant reputation that preceded him.

One evening, as they packed up their books, Keum hesitated, his gaze lingering on her. "Y/N," he said softly, his voice a rare vulnerability. "You're... different from everyone else."

Her heart raced, and she glanced down, feeling the warmth of his gaze like sunlight on her skin. "So are you," she whispered, barely audible.

Keum reached out, his fingers grazing hers. For a moment, they stood there, caught between words and something deeper. And in that shared silence, Y/N realized that she wasn't just the school's top student, and he wasn't just the cold, untouchable boy everyone thought he was. They were two people, discovering something fragile and beautiful in each other's company.

Slowly, he let his hand slip fully into hers, and in that simple touch, she felt the promise of something more. For the first time, she realized that the warmth in her chest wasn't fear or nerves — it was something she'd only read about in stories.

Keum smiled, a soft, rare smile just for her. "Let's take this one step at a time," he murmured.

And with that, Y/N felt her heart answer his in the simplest way — a small squeeze of his hand, a silent agreement. Together, they'd find their way forward, one quiet, hesitant step at a time.