The library was unusually quiet for a weekday afternoon. The usual chatter and footsteps were replaced by the soft rustle of pages turning, the faint scratch of pencils, and the occasional click of a pen. With final exams only a week away, even the most carefree students had turned into caffeine-fueled study machines, their desks buried under notes and highlighters.
Ara and Chenle had claimed their usual corner table, tucked away near the tall windows where sunlight spilled through soft green leaves. Their table was cluttered with notebooks, textbooks marked with neon tabs, and two half-empty coffee cups. The mess reflected their tired minds, heavy with formulas, essays, and endless chapters.
Ara sat with her pencil poised, leaning toward Chenle's notebook. She was patient, though they'd been on the same math problem for nearly twenty minutes. Chenle, with his cheek pressed against his hand, stared at the numbers as though they had betrayed him personally.
"Okay," Ara said softly, tapping her pencil in the margin, "think of it like climbing a ladder. Step by step. You just skipped the middle step again."
Chenle groaned loudly, his head dropping to the desk with a dramatic thud. "I'm going to fail, Ara. Then I'll live in Kun-ge's basement forever, playing sad piano songs while he brings me instant ramen."
Ara laughed, nudging his arm with her elbow. "You're not failing anything. You're just tired. And honestly, your handwriting looks like an alien language."
That got him to lift his head. His lips curved into a small, tired smile. "You always know how to make me feel better."
Her heart fluttered at the words, though she tried to keep her face calm. She smiled back, brushing her hair behind her ear as she returned to his messy notes. "I try."
The air between them shifted. Not loudly, not obviously... but enough for Ara to feel it. It wasn't the first time, either. Lately, there had been moments like this all the time. His hand brushing hers when they reached for the same pen. The way his gaze lingered longer than it should. The silences that felt full instead of empty.
Neither of them had said anything. Not until now.
Chenle sat up straighter, watching Ara explain the problem with such focus. He barely heard her words. His chest felt heavy, his thoughts buzzing louder than the numbers on the page. And before he could stop himself, the words slipped out.
"I like you, Ara."
Her pencil froze. The sentence she was about to finish disappeared from her mind. Slowly, she turned her head, her eyes locking on his. "What?"
"I like you," Chenle said again, this time quieter, but steady. "I think I've liked you for a while now."
Ara's mind went blank. She had imagined this moment before, in a dozen different ways. Under carnival fireworks, during a group outing, maybe after graduation. She never pictured it in the library, surrounded by textbooks and coffee cups. But somehow, it felt right. Perfect, even.
"You're serious?" she whispered.
Chenle's shoulders tensed. He nodded quickly. "I know the timing's insane. We're supposed to be studying, and maybe this is stupid, but I couldn't hold it in anymore. I really like you, Ara. More than a friend. More than I should, probably."
Her chest tightened, her heartbeat thudding like a drum. For a moment, she couldn't breathe. Then, slowly, a smile spread across her face, soft and genuine.
"I like you too."
Chenle's eyes widened. He blinked like he hadn't heard her right. "Wait... what?"
Ara giggled, covering her mouth. "I was scared too, you know. Scared that if we said anything, it would ruin everything. But I've liked you for a long time, Chenle."
His relief was so visible it nearly made her laugh again. His nervousness melted into something deeper... affection, joy, disbelief. Without meaning to, they leaned closer, closer, until the small space between them disappeared.
Their lips met in a kiss that was warm and shy, clumsy and full of nerves. But it was also honest. Real. Everything they had been too afraid to say, now spoken without words.
When they pulled back, both of them were breathless, smiles tugging at their lips.
"Wow," Chenle murmured.
"Yeah," Ara agreed, her fingers brushing his hand.
The world outside the library kept spinning, but for them, time seemed to pause.
They spent the next hour talking quietly, their books forgotten. Chenle admitted that Kun had teased him weeks ago, saying it was obvious how he felt. Ara confessed she almost told him during the art festival but chickened out at the last minute. They laughed about the carnival, about the late-night study sessions, about every small moment that had led them here.
By the end, they made a decision. They'd keep it quiet. For now. Just between them and Kun. Not because they were ashamed, but because it felt good to keep it theirs. Private. Safe from the chaos of school gossip.
Of course, that didn't last long.
One week later, Jisung ruined everything.
He walked into the music room at the worst possible moment, catching Ara sitting on the piano bench with her head resting on Chenle's shoulder. His gasp was so dramatic it echoed off the walls.
"You two are DATING?!"
Ara shot up, nearly knocking over her notebook. Chenle almost toppled off the bench.
"Jisung, wait... don't..." Ara started, but it was too late.
By lunch, everyone knew.
Renjun was smirking knowingly across the cafeteria. Ningning squealed so loudly people turned to stare. Giselle clapped her hands together in excitement, demanding details. Karina and Winter just exchanged looks, both amused and unsurprised.
"I KNEW IT!" Ningning shouted triumphantly, pointing at them like she'd solved a great mystery. "I knew something was going on!"
Ara buried her face in her hands. Chenle groaned. But their friends were all grinning, their teasing warm, not cruel.
Belle leaned across the table. "So... when's the double date happening?"
Giselle laughed. "Yeah, don't leave us out of the fun!"
Ara and Chenle shared a sheepish glance. Their fingers brushed under the table, hidden from view but grounding them both. The chaos was embarrassing, yes... but also comforting. Because their friends weren't angry. They weren't judgmental. They were happy. Supportive.
And even with all the teasing, Ara and Chenle didn't regret a thing.
Because for the first time, it wasn't stolen glances, or unspoken feelings, or what-ifs.
It was real.
And they were in it together.
A.N:-
- They are finally official.
- The next chapter is the last chapter of this book, am gonna cry.
