It's so high school at Hanil Foreign Language High School with a new addition in the middle of the semester. Baek Hyun Woo, a Year 3 transfer student in his final year of high school meets Hong Hae-in, a Year 2 student who is the future heiress of Q...
"Okay, so here," Hyun Woo said, pointing at a physics formula in Hae-in's notebook. "Force isn't just about mass and acceleration, it's also about the direction. See? This vector diagram shows how-"
As usual, the high-school couple were studying together at their bench. The lazy afternoon sun bathed the bench where they sat with their textbooks and notes sprawled between them. Streams of golden light filtered through the canopy of leaves above, dappling their time with shifting patterns.
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As Hyun Woo continued to explain the concept to Hae-in, a gust of wind swept through the trees, causing a cascade of leaves to fall. One leaf floated down lazily, landing squarely in Hae-in's hair. She didn't seem to notice, for she was too focused on trying to understand the concepts.
But Hyun Woo did.
After all, he always noticed everything about Hong Hae-in. Right now, he couldn't seem to look away as he paused mid-explanation.
Without a word, he leaned closer, intending to pluck the leaf gently from her hair. Just as his fingers brushed near her temple, Hae-in turned her head, confused by his sudden silence.
Their lips met.
It wasn't deliberate, just a brief brush where Hae-in's soft lips grazed the corner of Hyun Woo's. But the contact, however fleeting, sent shockwaves through both teenagers.
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Hyun Woo froze, his eyes as wide as saucers. Similarly, Hae-in stiffened at the contact, her heart rate shooting up as she felt the breath leave her lungs.
"Oh!" Hyun Woo jolted back abruptly, his hand flying to the back of his neck as if to rub away the tension building there. Endearingly, the tips of his ears turned crimson as he stammered shyly. "Uh...the, uh, leaf...it's gone."
For a moment, Hae-in stared at him, her lips still tingling from the accidental contact. She could feel her cheeks heating up as she quickly turned back to her textbooks, her hands trembling slightly as she smoothed out an already flat page. "Oh, gomawo," she murmured, her voice quieter than usual.
Then, they lapsed into silence, each pretending to study but neither truly absorbing a single word. Hyun Woo fiddled with his pen, sneaking the occasional glance at Hae-in, while she kept her eyes glued to her notes, her cheeks flushed a deep, rosy pink.
Their lingering embarrassment punctuated the air between them, but beneath the awkwardness was something softer – an undeniable sweetness that made their study session one neither would forget anytime soon.
"School break's coming up," Hyun Woo commented out of the blue, breaking the silence of their study session.
Instantly, Hae-in's face clouded with visible stress. "Don't even remind me," she groused darkly, her pencil tapping against the edge of her notebook.
"Wae? Aren't you looking forward to taking a break from all this?" Hyun Woo gestured dramatically to the stacks of books and notes scattered between them.
"Ani," Hae-in sighed. "We get one week off, then we're back, and before you know it, it's finals. How are you not stressed? You're taking the suneung this year."
Hyun Woo shrugged nonchalantly. "It'll come when it comes."
"Jinjja? You're not even a little stressed?" Hae-in raised a sceptical eyebrow.
"Who isn't a little stressed about the exam of their lifetime?" Hyun Woo replied with an easy smile. "But for now, I just want to enjoy my break to the fullest. It's my last one as a high school student."
Fair enough.
"What are your plans for the week then?" Hae-in asked, her curiosity piqued.
Hyun Woo's face lit up with a wide grin. "I have so many things I want to do! I want to read that book I've been putting off, maybe squeeze in a few boxing sessions with my Hyung, and soak up some Yongdu-ri sunlight. Oh, and I'll probably help my Eomma in the fields too. The persimmons we're planning to harvest in September are looking amazing. I can't wait for you to try them! They're super sweet!"
His animated rambling made Hae-in smile sweetly at him, for his excitement was surely infectious.
But then, Hyun Woo's face fell slightly, his grin fading as a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"What's with the long face, Baek Hyun Woo?" Hae-in asked with a hint of concern, tilting her head to one side. "Are you feeling sick?"
"Ani," Hyun Woo spoke with a sigh. "I just realised... I won't be seeing you for a whole week."
The forlorn look the star athlete wore, complete with a wounded puppy-like pout, was almost comical.
"Don't be dramatic, Baek Hyun Woo," Hae-in said, stifling a laugh as her lips curved upward in exasperated amusement. "It's only for seven days. Not seven years."
From a logical standpoint, it was only seven days. But as Hyun Woo's eyes lingered on the girl who held his heart, seven days felt like an eternity to his love-struck mind.
"I know, but..." he trailed off, pouting harder. "I'll miss...I'll miss having you around."
"Aigoo," Hae-in teased, nudging him gently. "Is someone being clingy? How much are you going to miss me?"
"This much," Hyun Woo replied, spreading his arms as wide as he could in an exaggerated gesture, his expression as earnest as it was adorable.
That adorable expression on Hyun Woo's face was a weapon Hae-in secretly hoped he never learned to wield fully. If he did, she might just end up agreeing to everything he said.
Unable to resist, she leaned in and hugged him, surprising even herself. The gesture was uncharacteristic, but the warmth she felt made it impossible to pull away. Though caught off guard, Hyun Woo recovered quickly, his arms coming around Hae-in naturally as a foolishly happy grin spread across his face.
"I'll miss you too, Baek Hyun Woo," Hae-in whispered, her voice muffled by his chest.
"Then let's meet," Hyun Woo said, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. "I could come to Seoul, or you could visit Yongdu-ri again. My mother can't stop asking about you."
"That sounds like a plan," Hae-in agreed; a rare, genuine smile lighting up her face.
Hyun Woo's gaze softened as he tucked her hair behind her ear. "Hae-in ah, promise me you'll eat well, sleep well, and take good care of yourself."
Hae-in nodded, her heart squeezing at the earnestness in his tone.
The school bell rang then, signalling the end of the semester and the official start of the week-long school break. As the other students poured out of the gates, chattering excitedly about their plans, Hyun Woo and Hae-in lingered for a moment longer, savouring the last bit of quiet before they had to part ways.
What might this school break have in store for them?
‧₊˚ ⋅ 𓐐𓎩 ‧₊˚ ⋅
A/N
As I've said a billion times, these two darlings are going to be the death of me ><
Also, how am I updating almost every day? I have no idea but I hope I can keep doing so this week haha!
