dandelions｜kim dohoon

chapter two - the past returns 🌿

yewon was walking through the school courtyard, the usual hum of student chatter around her, when she saw him. it wasn't the first time she'd noticed someone walk by, but it was the first time her heart skipped a beat in months.

choi youngjae. her ex-boyfriend. standing at the entrance of the student council building, with that smile that used to make her feel like she could conquer the world. a smile that, in some strange way, still made her feel the same way even now.

her steps faltered, and for a moment, she wasn't sure whether to keep walking or to turn around and run. it had been months since they'd broken up, months since things had ended so abruptly. she had tried to move on, tried to forget what they once had.

but seeing him now, standing there like nothing had changed, made the weight of the past come rushing back. the soft ache in her chest that she'd worked so hard to bury stirred again, and she swallowed hard.

youngjae, noticing her hesitation, grinned and waved. "hey, yewon! long time no see."

she forced herself to smile, though it felt tight and unnatural. "youngjae." her voice came out quieter than she intended, but he didn't seem to notice. he took a few steps toward her, and she felt herself take a step back, as if instinctively trying to protect herself from the emotions swirling inside her.

"wow, it's been forever, huh?" he said, looking her over with a casual glance. "how have you been?"

yewon hesitated. "good. i've been good." it was a half-truth. on the outside, she was fine, but on the inside, the cracks were beginning to show.

"good to hear." youngjae's eyes softened for a moment, and it was enough to make yewon's heart skip again. it was still strange, how easily his presence could pull her in. "listen, i know things didn't end the best way between us, but i'd really like for us to be friends again. you know, like before."

yewon nodded slowly, the words catching in her throat. she wasn't sure what to say. their breakup hadn't been a dramatic one-no shouting matches or tear-filled confrontations. it had been more of a quiet drifting apart.

youngjae had been distant, distracted by his own future, and she had been too wrapped up in her own insecurities to realize what was happening. by the time she understood, it was already too late. but the truth was, yewon had never really gotten over him. she hadn't wanted things to end.

she exhaled quietly, trying to gather her thoughts. "i think... i think we could try being friends," she said, though there was a knot in her stomach.

she had to admit, the idea of having youngjae back in her life, even in a small way, was both comforting and painful at the same time. but she wasn't sure if she was ready to confront the feelings that were slowly reawakening.

"great! i'm really glad to hear that," youngjae said, his grin widening. he stepped closer, his eyes scanning her face as if trying to read her. "so, how's everything else? still hanging out with naomi?"

yewon smiled a little, relieved to talk about something normal. "yeah, she's still as crazy as ever. keeps dragging me to study sessions and social events."

youngjae chuckled. "sounds about right." then his expression softened again. "and, uh... what about dohoon?" he asked, his voice casual but the slight edge in his tone wasn't lost on her.

yewon's heart jolted, and she quickly turned her gaze away, pretending to be distracted by the passing students. her palms suddenly felt clammy, and she cursed herself for letting her thoughts drift to dohoon so easily. "he's... fine. still doing his thing as president of the student council."

youngjae raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk on his lips. "yeah, i bet. dohoon always does his thing." there was something in his voice now, something that made yewon pause. he was watching her closely, his gaze narrowing just a bit. "so, uh... you still look at him the same way, don't you?"