LOVE LIFE

。 ₊˚.༄ one.

⤵ i, love life!

"HANI!"

the voice made hani's heart propel into her stomach. first semester just ended and it's already a few days into their second, but she still hasn't adapted to the people inhabiting it. she's made friends, yes — but they're still on that awkward stage of friendship where they'd only say "hey"s in the hallway then ignore each other rest of the day.

"yes?" hani turned, and saw her only friend, jeon hyunwoo, running towards her. "hyunwoo-ah."

hani felt like crying as she exhaled a sigh of relief. she was almost shaking — she liked to tell herself that she isn't afraid of people and social interaction, but she is. hani just doesn't like admitting it to herself.

jeon hyunwoo was the only friend she made that saw her true colours, and the only one that stuck to her the most when she's in need of someone by her side. he's become a best friend, an older brother, her saviour.

"i saw your report card like you asked," hyunwoo grinned, and hani felt herself soften, "you're really good at science." hani softened again, fingers trembling. "but..."

"but what?"

"hani, i love you, but you're dead terrible at english."

hani clenched her fists a little, feeling so disappointed at herself all of a sudden. she worked hard and even used her savings to pay for tutoring lessons just so she could get a higher grade at her english class. she didn't know if their english teacher, mrs. jang, hated her so much that she wouldn't grade hani properly or if she really wasn't great at english.

"ah, i see..." hani muttered softly, tears brimming at the corners of her eyes. she inhaled heavily, and looked up, a grin on her face. "i'll work hard this semester, i promise."

"you always say that you'd work hard whenever you'd get a d on a pop quiz," hyunwoo furrowed his eyebrows, "but i'm seeing that it's not working, hani-ssi."

hani really felt like crying right now, to crumple into a ball and wreck into pieces. once she'll take her report card home and her father would see it, he wouldn't be that much impressed. he's always encouraged her to work harder at her weakest subjects for her own future, but hani feels like she's disappointing him by doing this. she's disappointing everyone.

"i'm trying, hyunwoo. i really am."

hyunwoo furrowed his eyebrows even more as he sensed hani choking up on her words. he knew she was exhausted of being pushed to do her best, he knew about her life before seoul and why she was struggling so much. and he felt so bad because of it — he wanted to hug her right away.

"hey — hani," hyunwoo reached out for her shoulder, but once his hand touched her he felt her body go rigid. "hani, i'm sorry."

"no," hani whispered, touching hyunwoo's arm, "it's okay. i'm fine."

hyunwoo knew she wasn't fine. he couldn't remember a time when she was happy and always smiling, and just the thought of it makes him sad. he wanted to make her happy, even just for a little bit, so he wouldn't see her frown and sob anymore.

an idea came to his head.

"hey, don't cry. i'll treat you to ice cream."

and hani nodded.

° ° °

THE BREEZE WAS REFRESHING

as hani and hyunwoo walked around the school grounds with their arms linked affectionately, mint chocolate chip ice cream making their hands feel numb. hyunwoo enjoyed moments with hani like this — where everything was peaceful and they both forgot about the world that was already created for them. it was rare nowadays, to be with hani and enjoy serenity.

hani was awfully quiet now, as she took small bites from her cone. she was staring at her feet as they walked, hyunwoo unable to get a word out of her. she must be mad at him right now, and hyunwoo couldn't help but feel guilty.

"hani," hyunwoo started, staring at the top of hani's head and taking notice of the small brown highlights in her hair. "my friend, mark lee, started a study group recently. i was thinking that maybe you should join."

hani looked up at the older boy carefully, and took another bite of her ice cream. "huh? what kind of study group?"

"english."

"oh."

"you could still improve, you know," hyunwoo smiled and looked at hani hopefully, "it's never too late. it's only the second semester after all."

"yeah, i know..." hani mumbled. "it's just that i'm hesitant, you know? this could be another waste of time."

"it's alright — it's free. if you're finding it too hard, then just tell mark. he'll understand."

hani was surprised at this mark. she knew hyunwoo often hung out with some of the school's delinquents (and that made some people afraid of both hani and hyunwoo), so to think that hyunwoo has a friend who's kind like mark was almost shocking.

"his form is on the bulletin board right next to my social studies classroom," hyunwoo encouraged, "i think there's only one spot left."

hani was silent for an entire minute, and thought about the possible outcome if she joined this so-called study group. she knew hyunwoo wouldn't put her in a dangerous environment, so she wasn't worried.

"OKAY, I'LL JOIN."