criminal love; jungwon

9

A week had passed since the first snow, and with it came a quiet transformation in Jungwon. At first, Nanhee thought she was imagining it—small changes, fleeting moments where he’d let his guard down. But now, it was unmistakable.

Jungwon was different.

Gone was the boy who walked with his head down, shoulders hunched as if carrying the weight of the world. In his place was someone lighter, someone who laughed—quietly, but genuinely. He still kept to himself, but around Nanhee, he was different. Softer.

Like a cat, Nanhee thought. Quiet, mysterious, and grumpy, but undeniably cute.

She noticed it in the little things. The way he’d glance at her when he thought she wasn’t looking, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The way he’d subtly nudge her with his elbow during class, just to see her reaction.

“Jungwon, stop it,” she whispered one day, swatting his hand away as he poked her side with the eraser of his pencil.

“I’m not doing anything,” he replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Nanhee shot him a glare, but it was half-hearted. She knew better by now. Jungwon liked to tease. He thrived on it.

During lunch, he’d steal bites from her tray without asking, smirking when she protested.

“Get your own food,” she huffed, pulling her tray closer.

“But yours tastes better,” he said, leaning back in his chair, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

Nanhee rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the smile that crept onto her face.

---

One afternoon, they were walking home together, snow crunching under their feet. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over the streets.

Nanhee shivered, pulling her scarf tighter around her neck. Jungwon noticed and, without a word, shrugged off his coat, draping it over her shoulders.

“What are you doing?” she asked, wide-eyed.

“You’re cold,” he said simply, hands now stuffed into his pockets.

“But what about you?”

“I’m fine.”

Nanhee stared at him, unsure whether to be touched or annoyed. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Jungwon smirked. “I’ve heard worse.”

They walked in silence for a moment before Nanhee spoke again. “You’re different, you know.”

Jungwon raised an eyebrow. “Different how?”

“When I first met you, you were... closed off. Quiet. Now you’re...” She paused, searching for the right words.

“Amazing? Handsome? Irresistible?” he supplied, grinning.

Nanhee snorted. “Grumpy. And playful. Like a cat.”

Jungwon blinked, then laughed—a sound Nanhee didn’t hear often but cherished when she did.

“A cat, huh?” he mused. “I can live with that.”

Nanhee smiled, tugging the coat tighter around her. “Yeah. You’re definitely a cat.”

And as they continued walking, Nanhee felt a warmth that had nothing to do with the coat draped over her shoulders.

Jungwon was different. But so was she.

And maybe, just maybe, that was a good thing.