Ji-eun's life felt like it was shifting. The fan meet with BTS had been a surreal experience, but the emotions it stirred lingered far longer than she had expected. She found herself listening to their songs with renewed intensity, each lyric feeling more meaningful than before. But it wasn't just BTS's words that echoed in her mind—it was also Ji-hoon's.
The next week, Ji-eun was surprised when she noticed Ji-hoon watching her more closely than usual. They'd always been classmates, but lately, their interactions had felt... different. He had been casually leaning in during conversations, making comments that felt oddly insightful, and asking her more personal questions. It was as if he was trying to understand her, in a way that felt both comforting and unnerving.
It was Friday, and the school was buzzing with excitement for the upcoming weekend. As Ji-eun sat in the cafeteria, her tray of food untouched, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She glanced around, and her eyes met Ji-hoon's across the room. This time, instead of looking away, he smiled softly at her.
Confused but intrigued, Ji-eun returned the smile and quickly averted her gaze, trying to push away the nervous flutter in her stomach. But something inside her felt like it was about to change.
---
Later that day, Ji-eun was headed to the school library to get some work done, her mind racing as she thought about Ji-hoon. Just as she turned the corner, she nearly bumped into someone.
"Oh! I'm sorry!" she quickly apologized.
Looking up, she froze. Standing in front of her was Lee Ji-hoon—but something about him seemed different today. Maybe it was the way his eyes were focused on her, the way his lips curved into a small, knowing smile. Or maybe it was just the way her heart skipped a beat at the sight of him.
"Hey, Ji-eun," he said, his voice casual but with an underlying warmth. "You're heading to the library too?"
"Yeah, I... I was just about to," Ji-eun replied, feeling her cheeks warm.
"Mind if I walk with you?" he asked, his tone light but with a hint of something more serious.
Ji-eun nodded, unsure of what to say next. As they walked side by side toward the library, the silence between them felt comfortable—yet there was an unspoken tension in the air that made Ji-eun's thoughts race.
---
As they entered the library, Ji-hoon led the way to a quiet corner. The two of them set their bags down, and Ji-eun tried to focus on the textbooks in front of her. But all she could think about was how close Ji-hoon was, the way he'd been looking at her lately, and the soft laughter they shared whenever their eyes met.
Finally, Ji-hoon broke the silence. "You know, I've been meaning to ask you something."
Ji-eun looked up, her heart suddenly pounding. "What's that?"
"How are you really doing? I mean... with everything. School, your family, the pressure to be... well, Irene."
Ji-eun was taken aback. No one had ever asked her that—not really. It wasn't that she didn't want to open up, but she wasn't sure how. How could she explain the fear of being found out, the constant pressure to wear a mask and be perfect?
"I'm doing okay," she said, her voice soft. "It's just... sometimes it feels like I'm not enough. I'm always trying to be this perfect version of myself, but it's exhausting."
Ji-hoon's gaze softened, and he leaned in a little closer. "You don't have to be perfect, Ji-eun. I like you for who you are, not for the person everyone thinks you are."
Ji-eun's breath caught in her throat. His words resonated with her in a way that nothing had before. It was as if the weight she'd been carrying for so long had been lifted, just by hearing him say that one simple truth.
"But... I'm not perfect," Ji-eun whispered, the vulnerability creeping into her voice. "I've always been afraid that if people really saw me, they wouldn't like who I am."
Ji-hoon smiled gently, his expression kind and understanding. "Well, I can tell you one thing. You don't have to worry about that with me. I'm not going anywhere."
For the first time in a long while, Ji-eun felt a sense of peace. Maybe, just maybe, she could start being herself—starting with Ji-hoon