The school days seemed to blur into one another as Seojoon continued his routine. His reputation as the kid who'd stood up to the bullies had only grown, and while some students gave him a wide berth, others looked at him with newfound respect. But it was the moments with Azalea that seemed to occupy his thoughts the most.
He couldn't stop thinking about her—her smile, the way her eyes softened when they spoke. And yet, there was always a lingering feeling in the back of his mind, something he couldn't quite shake. The weight of his past, his lingering feelings for Hana, and the complex relationship with the girl who had helped him—Azalea.
That morning, as he walked into class, his eyes automatically searched for her. He found her at her usual seat, looking as calm and composed as ever. But something was different today. Her eyes met his for a brief moment, and he saw a flicker of something—was it tension? Something that made his heart race, even though he didn't quite understand why.
Minjun was already sitting at his desk, waving him over as he entered the room. Seojoon nodded and walked over, noticing that Hana wasn't there yet. It was a strange sort of calmness that settled between him and Minjun, as if their earlier conversation had cleared some of the air.
"Ready for today?" Minjun asked with a grin.
Seojoon shrugged, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. "I guess. Just another day."
But deep down, he knew it wasn't just another day. It was the day things would shift, whether he was ready for it or not.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class, and Seojoon settled into his seat. He glanced around, his mind unable to focus on the lesson. He found himself again searching for Azalea. She hadn't come in yet.
Minutes passed, and then, just as the teacher started speaking, the door swung open. Azalea stepped inside, her eyes quickly scanning the room before landing on Seojoon. She smiled faintly before walking to her seat.
But as she passed by him, Seojoon caught the soft scent of her perfume and the way she seemed to hesitate for a second. Something was off.
The rest of the class passed in a haze. Seojoon couldn't stop thinking about that brief interaction, the feeling that something was shifting between him and Azalea. And when the final bell rang, he was eager to leave, hoping to talk to her before she disappeared into the crowd.
But when he stepped into the hallway, he saw her walking away with someone. It was a guy, tall, with a confident stride, and Seojoon recognized him instantly.
It was Taehwan.
The same guy who had caused all the trouble with the bullies.
Seojoon's heart sank as he watched them talk, Azalea laughing at something Taehwan had said. Seojoon couldn't make out their conversation, but the sight of them together made his chest tighten. His first instinct was to walk over, to step in and find out what was going on, but something held him back.
He turned and walked the other way, trying to shake off the jealousy that had suddenly crept up on him.