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The Unexpected Pause • JWY

Male Reader X Jang Won Young (EX-IZ*ONE / IVE)

Genre: High school AU

Words: 4672

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It was the last semester at Daehan International High School, nestled in a quiet district of Seoul. Two prominent figures, Jang Wonyoung and Baek Y/n, stood side by side, watching the hallway bustle with chatter about upcoming graduation plans. Wonyoung, the Student Council President, possessed a poised stance and immaculate uniform—her hair pinned back with a neat, pastel ribbon. Baek Y/n, the Vice President, kept his tie a little loose and his collar unbuttoned at the top, giving him a laid-back aura that contrasted sharply with Wonyoung's polished demeanor.

Their partnership had always been a balancing act. Where Wonyoung was preppy, detail-oriented, and borderline controlling, Y/n took a more relaxed, "figure-it-out-later" approach. Despite the friction, they had somehow managed to guide their school's council effectively—until now.

They were standing near the student council bulletin board, reviewing the seniors' suggestions for how the graduation ceremony should be conducted. Wonyoung tapped her nails lightly against a clipboard, frustration hinting in her eyes.

Wonyoung (sighing): "Y/n, have you seen these proposals? We've gotten so many random ideas—an outdoor ceremony, a carnival theme, even a formal banquet at a hotel downtown. We can't just let chaos reign. We need a cohesive vision."

Y/n (scratching the back of his neck): "Relax. We have time to sift through them. We'll pick something that resonates with everyone, and then piece it all together."

Wonyoung (scowling): "Time? Graduation is in two months! If we don't lock in a plan now, we'll never get everything booked in time—venues, decorations, catering, photographers..."

Y/n (shrugging with a small grin): "We always pull it off somehow, don't we?"

That grin was infuriating. Wonyoung had known Y/n for three years, ever since they entered high school. He was always so annoyingly calm in the face of looming deadlines. She prided herself on being prepared—being perfect. The anxiety she felt for the sake of their entire senior class was something she didn't see mirrored in him.

Wonyoung (voice rising slightly): "Maybe you're okay with leaving everything until the last second, but I'm not. We have a meeting in an hour with the rest of the council, and we need to present a direction. Please take this seriously."

Y/n (hands raised in surrender): "I am serious. But that doesn't mean we have to panic. Let's go through the big ideas now—maybe narrow it down to three possibilities. Then we can let the council vote. Democracy, right?"

Wonyoung: "We don't have time for a drawn-out vote. I want to push for the formal banquet. It's elegant, it's traditional, and it gives everyone a chance to dress up. That's what I'm going to propose."

Her words were clipped; she was clearly no longer inviting input. Y/n hesitated, tension crossing his features.

Y/n: "A formal banquet? That might be too expensive for some classmates. And it's... not exactly inclusive if we're thinking about families. Plus, some students suggested an outdoor event, and it sounded more fun to them."

Wonyoung: "Fun? We're celebrating our graduation, not hosting a music festival."

They locked eyes for a moment, the unspoken rivalry simmering. Each turned away with the same intention—to finalize their own stance before the meeting.

When the council convened that afternoon in the student council room—a medium-sized space with bright overhead lighting and large windows overlooking the school courtyard—Wonyoung brought up the formal banquet idea immediately. About a dozen students were seated around the long, rectangular table. Y/n sat diagonally across from Wonyoung.