On this chilly autumn day, Minjun and Bang Eun-kyung stood in the washing area, splashing cold water on their faces. Bang Eun-kyung noticed a change in Minjun's demeanor and decided to break the silence.
"I've noticed you are experiencing a lot of firsts lately," Bang Eun-kyung remarked.
"What do you mean?" Minjun replied, looking confused.
"I've never seen you this angry. You've always been chill and cool, but lately, you're losing your composure," Bang Eun-kyung explained. "Minjin is your weakness. She's unintentionally revealing your true self. Everyone sees you as perfect, but when it comes to Minjin, you're flawed. You're just like any other guy."
Minjun paused, with his towel halfway through drying his face.
"Don't feel pressured to meet everyone's expectations. You don't have to be perfect," Bang Eun-kyung advised.
Minjun's expression hardened. "Leave me alone."
Bang Eun-kyung sighed as he walked away, his footsteps echoing on the empty grounds. As he approached the building, he saw Minjin rushing toward him with a bottle of water in hand.
"Eun-kyung-ah, where is Minjun-ah?" she asked urgently.
Bang Eun-kyung hesitated before replying, "He's in the washing area." Before he could say more, she sprinted in that direction. "Don't go there! He's in a bad mood," he called after her, but she was already out of earshot.
Faced with conflicting instincts and worry for her friend, Bang Eun-kyung chose to follow Minjin.
Minjin approached the washing area cautiously, where Minjun stood lost in thought by the sink. She stood beside him and offered him a bottle of water, but he ignored her. Gently, Minjin took his hand and placed the bottle in it.
"Minjun-ah, I'm sorry—" she started, but Minjun abruptly opened the bottle and poured its contents onto the ground before tossing it aside.
"Are you really that angry with me?" Minjin asked, her voice shaking with shock.
Minjun's grin was cold. "Don't come near me again."
As he walked away, Minjin, in a burst of frustration, threw her shoes at his back. Minjun stopped and turned, his expression a mix of surprise and confusion.
"Why? Why are you so mean to me? You're kind to other girls, but to me, you act completely different!" Minjin shouted, her voice breaking.
Minjun's eyes widened. He hadn't expected her to take offense to his behavior toward her and compare it with other girls. But he also wanted to know the truth.
"Behind my back, you've been acting like you care for me. You had Sara find out my favorites; you knew I enjoyed mathematical games. But when you're with me, you act like you don't care."
Minjin was taken aback. She had shared his preferences with Mun Sara, hoping it would make him fall for Mun Sara, never expecting Minjun would misunderstand. She then struggled to find words in response because he could not tell him about Mun Sara's feelings for him.
"Do you even like me?" Minjun asked, his voice laden with confusion.
Minjin hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. She finally asked him, "What about you? Did you ever like me?"
Minjun attempted to laugh off the question, but it was a strained effort to mask his true feelings. "And you really believe that?"
His words cut through Minjin, and she felt tears welling up in her eyes. Instantly, he regretted what he had said as the pain overwhelmed him. "Minjin-ah, it wasn't—" Before he could finish, she interrupted him, "All along, you were a jerk."
As Minjin turned to leave, Minjun hurried after her, grabbing her arm. "Minjin-ah, let me explain," he pleaded. But she reacted with a sharp slap to his face, causing him to release her in shock.
Bang Eun-kyung had been watching the scene unfold from a distance. But he remained where he was. As Minjin walked past him, she struggled to hold back tears. Bang Eun-kyung then approached Minjun, who was looking down to avoid showing his own tears.
"You are the stupidest person I've ever met," Bang Eun-kyung said, shaking his head in disbelief before turning and walking away from Minjun.
###
Minjun arrived at their desks early, carefully placing Minjin's shoes to the side.
When Minjin entered, her face was filled with intense anger. She immediately moved her desk slightly away from Minjun. The remaining classes felt like torment for him. The weight of his actions, along with the regret and pain he felt, was unbearable. He wanted to reach out to Minjin but felt paralyzed, realizing that Bang Eun-kyung's words about Minjin being his weakness were true.
As soon as classes ended, Minjin quickly left the room, with Bang Eun-kyung following closely behind her. Outside, Minjin noticed his presence and confronted him.
"What do you want from me?" she demanded.
"Want some ice cream? My treat," Bang Eun-kyung offered with a friendly smile.
Minjin hesitated but eventually agreed, and they headed to a nearby convenience store. They sat outside, enjoying their ice cream as the conversation unfolded.
"Minjun-ah," Bang Eun-kyung began, but Minjin interrupted, "Stop, I don't want to talk about him."
Bang Eun-kyung grinned. "I read your confession letter to him."
Minjin's interest was piqued, and she finally turned to her. "Bo?!"
"He kept your letter. All those papers he presented to the principal's office were his collection of you," Bang Eun-kyung revealed. This made Minjin stop eating her ice cream. "I don't know what happened before, but seeing that Minjun kept those things makes me believe you are special to him."
Minjin snorted and resumed eating her ice cream. "To you, Minjun seems like a different person. That's because you've exposed his true self while he tries to help you reach your potential. Doesn't that balance things out?" Bang Eun-kyung licked his ice cream thoughtfully. "You know what kind of father Minjun has. His father's expectations are toxic. But with you, Minjun can be himself—flawed and all. I think that's good for him."
Minjin was taken aback and turned to look at him again. "Why are you telling me this?"
"I believe you and Minjun were meant to meet for this lifetime," Bang Eun-kyung said earnestly.
Minjin smirked at the idea and aggressively ate her ice cream. "I'm not saying this for you to make up with him; I just want you to know that," Bang Eun-kyung added.
Minjin continued to eat her ice cream in silence until her phone rang. She answered it with a surprised, "Oppa?"
"Go home early tonight," Tae-sung instructed.
"Waeyo?" Minjin asked, confused.
"Minjun's parents invited us for dinner," Tae-sung said.
Minjin was shocked. "Bo?!"
"Go buy a nice dress. I'll see you at home," Tae-sung said before ending the call.
When the call ended, Minjin turned to Bang Eun-kyung, clearly frustrated. "It's your fault for insisting that Minjun and I are destined to meet in this lifetime!"
Bang Eun-kyung chuckled. "Why? What's going on?"
"Minjun's parents invited us to dinner tonight," Minjin said, her annoyance evident.
This only made Bang Eun-kyung laugh even harder.
Minjin glared at him but then asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
Bang Eun-kyung tried to suppress his laughter. "Where are you going?"
"I need to buy a dress," Minjin replied, rolling her eyes.
"Whoa, you're dressing up because you're meeting your in-laws," Bang Eun-kyung teased.
"Fine! I can go alone!" Minjin said, standing up to leave.
"Ya! I'm just kidding!" Bang Eun-kyung called out, hurrying to catch up with her.
###
Minjin and Bang Eun-kyung got off the bus and walked toward the mall, where Kim Aecha was already waiting. Kim Aecha's smile faded when she noticed Bang Eun-kyung standing beside Minjin.
"Boya? Why are you with him?" Kim Aecha asked, her tone sharp.
"Do you think you're her only friend?" Bang Eun-kyung shot back defiantly.
Kim Aecha snorted in response. "Why are you even here?"
"I need to buy a dress for tonight," Minjin said, trying to steer the conversation away from the tension.
"What for?" Kim Aecha asked, looking confused.
"Minjun's parents invited them for dinner," Bang Eun-kyung explained.
Minjin shot him an exasperated look.
"Boya? Are you dating Minjun?" Kim Aecha asked, her eyes widening.
Bang Eun-kyung laughed.
"Aniya! He and my family have been friends for a long time. Let's go; I need to find something suitable," Minjin clarified, raising her voice.
As they entered the mall, Minjin led the way while Kim Aecha and Bang Eun-kyung whispered behind her. Kim Aecha nudged Bang Eun-kyung and said, "I have a feeling you know something."
Bang Eun-kyung grinned and replied, "How come you don't know? Aren't you Minjin's friend?"
Suddenly, Minjin turned around and asked, "What are you two talking about?"
"Nothing!" Kim Aecha responded quickly.
"Let's check out this boutique," Minjin suggested, pointing to a store.
"Alright!" Kim Aecha said, following her.
Inside the boutique, Minjin began browsing the dresses. "White would be a good choice," she said.
"I'll sit here while you pick," Bang Eun-kyung replied, settling down on a nearby couch.
"I'll join you," Kim Aecha added, sitting next to him.
Minjin selected a few dresses and walked back to where Bang Eun-kyung and Kim Aecha were seated. As she tried on the dresses, Kim Aecha and Bang Eun-kyung continued their whispered conversation.
"Minjin-ah has been acting strangely since she was transferred to your section. I would ask her, but she won't tell me anything," Kim Aecha said quietly.
"Minjin and Minjun used to have childish fights, but recently, their arguments have become more intense and emotionally charged," noted Bang Eun-kyung.
"Why are they so emotionally affected?" Kim Aecha asked.
"Baboya," Bang Eun-kyung replied with a smirk.
"Ya! I'm not stupid!" Kim Aecha said, getting annoyed.
"Shh!" Bang Eun-kyung silenced her. "I think Minjun and Minjin are developing feelings for each other."
Kim Aecha's eyes widened. "Really? That might explain why she avoided returning to your section and why she was upset when I asked about Minjun." A realization dawned on her. "Ah, and that's why she's been avoiding self-study class!"
Bang Eun-kyung nodded. "You got it."
"But why is she hiding this from me?" Kim Aecha asked.
"Because they're both still figuring things out. They're not fully aware of their feelings," Bang Eun-kyung explained.
"Hey, you're good at this. From now on, you need to tell me everything about them, okay?" Kim Aecha requested.
"Okay," Bang Eun-kyung replied softly.
"Ya, what are you two whispering about?" Minjin asked as she returned, holding a dress already in the paper bag.
"Nothing!" Kim Aecha stammered. "Ah, you already picked a dress?"
"Yeah, I think this one is fine," Minjin said, holding it up.
"You didn't even let us see it," Bang Eun-kyung said, pretending to be hurt.
"You don't need to see me in this dress!" Minjin said, rolling her eyes. "Let's grab some snacks."