The morning sun cast a warm glow over the college campus as Seo-Won walked through the courtyard, his hands tucked into his pockets. Despite the crisp morning air, he felt strangely warm—too warm. His mind was still clouded from the remnants of his dream, an image of Ha-Joon's soft gaze lingering like a ghost.
Even after waking up… that dream wouldn't leave his mind.
He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as if that would somehow erase the memory. But it was useless. Ha-Joon's bright green eyes, his orange hair illuminated by golden light, the way he leaned in—so close, so warm…
Seo-Won's steps faltered for half a second, his eyes widening slightly.
Too real.
"Seo-Won!"
The sudden call made him flinch slightly. He turned his head just in time to see Ha-Joon standing in the courtyard, waving at him with a bright smile. The sunlight made his eyes sparkle, his expression open and cheerful—completely oblivious to the chaos inside Seo-Won's head.
For a moment, Seo-Won couldn't breathe.
His heart lurched against his ribs.
BADUMP. BADUMP.
Why is my heart—?!
Before he could fully process the thought, Ha-Joon jogged up to him, slightly out of breath. "I was just looking for you! Are you okay? You look kind of… red."
Seo-Won stiffened. His face was hot, and he hated that Ha-Joon had noticed. He quickly averted his gaze. "It's nothing," he muttered, his voice lower than usual.
Ha-Joon tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his green eyes. The innocent expression only made things worse. Seo-Won clenched his jaw, gripping the strap of his bag tighter. I need to act normal… It was just a dream.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and started walking ahead, his posture stiff.
"Wait up!" Ha-Joon huffed, jogging to catch up. "Why are you walking so fast?"
Seo-Won's fingers curled into his palm. Stop thinking about it. Stop thinking about him.
When Ha-Joon finally caught up, he puffed his cheeks in frustration. "Are you sure you're okay? You're acting kinda weird."
Seo-Won stole a quick glance at him. The sunlight caught in Ha-Joon's orange hair, making it glow softly. His lips were slightly parted from running, his breathing light and uneven.
BADUMP.
Seo-Won swallowed hard and snapped his head away, gripping his bag tighter. "Stop overthinking. I'm fine."
Ha-Joon blinked but didn't press further. He simply watched as Seo-Won walked ahead, his lips curling into a small, amused smile.
He's definitely acting weird…
But it's kinda cute.