EPISODE FOURTEEN

The last rays of the setting sun painted the library in a warm, orange glow as the study group began to pack their belongings. Textbooks were stacked, notebooks were closed, and a general air of wrapping things up filled the room. They briefly went over their plans for the next day, a mix of excitement and a touch of apprehension about their upcoming trip to Seoul hanging in the air.

"It's really important that we look like we belong when we're in Seoul," Hee Won announced, slinging her backpack over her shoulder. She was the last to do so, the others already clustered near the library doors. "We need to blend in."

Ji Woo turned to Jun, a playful but firm look on her face. "Hey, Gochujang, you especially need to put some effort into your outfit," she said, her tone carrying a hint of teasing warning.

Jun puffed out his chest slightly, a confident smirk spreading across his face. "Don't even worry about me. I'm telling you, I'll be the best–dressed one there. Just you wait and see!" he challenged, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Hae Soo, leaning against a bookshelf, gave him a skeptical once–over, her lips twitching in amusement. "Oh really?" her eyes seemed to say, her gaze lingering on his slightly mismatched attire.

"Actually, I think Hae Soo will probably be the best dressed," Hee Won chimed in, looping her arm through Hae Soo's. Ji Woo instantly agreed, nodding her head emphatically. "Definitely!"

Hae Soo shook her head, a light blush rising on her cheeks. "Oh, come on. I wouldn't go that far. But I can definitely blend in, that's for sure. It's not my first time in Seoul, you know."

"Seriously?" Jun exclaimed, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. "Oh, wait, that makes sense. You are from a pretty well–known family, right?"

"Yeah," Hae Soo confirmed with a casual shrug. "I've been there a few times for my dad's business events, and then for exhibitions where my mom's paintings were being shown. Just a handful of times, nothing too exciting."

"Hold on, your mom's a painter?" Se Hyun asked, a look of genuine surprise on his face. Hae Soo nodded in confirmation. "I had no idea!"

"Well, everyone mostly knows my dad. My mom prefers to stay out of the spotlight, you know? Behind the scenes. Unlike my father, who you can practically see on the news every single day," she explained, a hint of pride in her voice.

The others murmured in understanding, processing this new information.

For Hae Soo, it was a simple fact of her life. Her mother, Kim Yeon Hwa, was a painter through and through. From childhood, her bedroom walls had been vibrant canvases of accidental splatters and deliberate strokes. Her hands were perpetually stained with the hues of her passion, and her clothes often bore the colorful evidence of her artistic pursuits. As she grew, so did her dedication, her path as an artist clear from the very beginning.

"Wait a minute!" Hee Won exclaimed, her eyes widening in realization. "My mom is totally obsessed with art. She collects pieces from all sorts of artists, famous ones and lesser–known ones. She might even have one of your mother's paintings! What's her name again?" she asked, mentally picturing the numerous framed artworks adorning the walls of her house.

"Kim Yeon Hwa," Hae Soo stated, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

"I'm going to check as soon as I get home. I have a feeling she'll have at least one," Hee Won said with certainty.

"I wouldn't be surprised," Hae Soo admitted, a hint of pride coloring her tone. "Her paintings are always in demand. People practically fight over them." It was a rare moment for her to speak so openly about her mother's success. Growing up, she hadn't had close friends to share such things with. Now that she did, a little bit of long–suppressed pride bubbled to the surface.

A gentle evening breeze rustled the leaves as they stepped out of the school's glass doors, leaving the quiet hum of the interior behind them. They immediately launched into another lively discussion, their voices blending with the sounds of the approaching evening. But then, in her peripheral vision, a familiar figure caught Hae Soo's eye.

"Park Geon Yeop?" she called out without hesitation, instantly recognizing his broad shoulders and the way he stood, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, next to his parked motorcycle. He was facing away from her, seemingly focused on someone or something Hae Soo couldn't quite see.

His head snapped around at the sound of her voice, his movement also drawing the attention of the rest of her study group. A single eyebrow arched slightly in surprise. "Jang Hae Soo?" He wasn't particularly surprised to see her and her friends, but Hae Soo calling out to him was definitely unexpected.

Hae Soo took a few steps towards him, completely oblivious to another pair of eyes that had just landed on her, watching her every move with an intense, almost possessive gaze.

"I never see you around school," she said, a playful hint of sarcasm in her voice. "Are you always hiding somewhere or what?"

Geon Yeop chuckled softly. "Maybe your eyes are always focused on one particular person, so you don't notice me. I'm always around. I even saw you at lunch today," he said, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Really? No way. I'm pretty observant," Hae Soo protested, though a flicker of doubt crossed her face.

"Not as much as you think, I guess," Geon Yeop teased gently.

Hae Soo shrugged it off. "Anyways," she continued, her tone shifting, softening with genuine concern. "How are you feeling? Does your shin still hurt? Anything else bothering you? You didn't actually break any bones, did you?"

Geon Yeop was momentarily taken aback by her sudden shift in demeanor. Her even talking to him was surprising enough, but her expressing concern for his well–being was completely unexpected.

"I'm alright," he assured her, a touch of warmth spreading through him at her question. "It's been two weeks now, the pain's pretty much gone. And hey, I'm not that fragile, I don't break bones that easily," he added, a slight whine creeping into his voice as he suddenly felt more comfortable in her presence than he probably should.

"Yeah, sure. You did take quite a few hits that day," Hae Soo countered, a knowing look in her eyes.

Meanwhile, the rest of the study group stood a little ways back, watching the interaction with wide, surprised eyes. It was as if Hae Soo and Geon Yeop were old friends catching up, their easygoing conversation a stark contrast to the usual atmosphere around Geon Yeop. Ga Min, in particular, who had once approached him with the hopes of him joining their study group only to be met with a cold rejection, was especially taken aback by the comfortable way Geon Yeop was now conversing with Hae Soo.

Far away, near the school gates, Han Wool stood frozen, his hands clenched into tight fists inside his pockets. His eyes were fixed on the scene unfolding in the distance. His girlfriend, his Hae Soo, was talking to Park Geon Yeop. Not just a casual greeting, but a seemingly friendly conversation, smiles exchanged between them. An unsettling feeling churned in his stomach, a wave of unease quickly morphing into a burning resentment as he watched them.

He wasn't surprised that Hae Soo was smiling. She smiled at everyone. She was kind and considerate, always willing to be nice, even to people who, in his opinion, didn't deserve her warmth. He wouldn't have minded if it were anyone else—maybe—but this was Park Geon Yeop, the very person who harbor ill will towards him. And here he was, talking so casually, so comfortably with his girlfriend.

Min Hwan's words from that night echoed in his mind, sharp and unwelcome. "Hey, Park Geon Yeop was there too, you know. And you know what's even more surprising? Hae Soo fought alongside him. They fought as a team. They actually looked really cool together. I almost fell for them. I'm certain you'd fall for Hae Soo all over again if you'd seen it."

They fought as a team. The phrase repeated itself in his head, a nagging reminder of a connection he hadn't witnessed, a bond he hadn't understood.

Suddenly, Hae Soo shifted her weight, a clear indication that the conversation was drawing to a close. She offered a polite nod and a few final words to Geon Yeop, undoubtedly a goodbye, before turning to rejoin her friends. Together, they began to walk towards the school gates, the very spot where Han Wool now stood.

Han Wool, who had been observing them with a simmering intensity from afar, immediately averted his gaze as he saw them approaching. He tried to appear nonchalant, casually leaning against the cool metal of the school gates, his eyes fixed on the ground as if deeply engrossed in the pebbles and dust at his feet. He hoped he looked like he had simply been waiting there, nothing more.

Hae Soo's eyes, however, had already registered his familiar figure. An automatic, warm smile bloomed on her face the moment she spotted him. "Alright, I'll have to leave you guys here," she announced to her study group, her voice bright. "Bye everyone!" She quickly exchanged goodbyes with her friends, Hee Won squeezing her into a brief, affectionate hug before letting her go. As Hae Soo walked towards the gate, the others dispersed. Ga Min headed towards the nearby bus stop, Hee Won raised her hand to hail a passing taxi, and Ji Woo, Jun and Se Hyun started walking in the opposite direction, their voices fading as they continued their conversation.

As Hae Soo closed the remaining distance, Han Wool finally raised his gaze, his eyes meeting hers. A myriad of emotions flickered within them—a lingering unease, a hint of something akin to longing, all masked by a carefully constructed neutrality.

Hae Soo, on the other hand, felt a sudden surge of lightheartedness. A bubbly joy seemed to effervesce within her, making her steps lighter. She practically skipped the last few feet towards him, her smile widening with each stride. Reaching him, she immediately linked her arm through his, her fingers gently interlacing with the fabric of his jacket where his hand remained stubbornly tucked in his pocket. It was a familiar gesture, a silent claim.

"Hi," she greeted him, her voice bright and cheerful. Without missing a beat, she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek. This time, she made sure it wasn't just a fleeting touch. She held the contact for a few lingering seconds, her lips soft against his skin, a deliberate gesture to banish any lingering sulkiness from earlier. She hadn't forgotten the slight pout that had graced his lips at lunch time.

A wave of heat instantly crept up Han Wool's neck, a flush spreading across his cheeks. Her sudden, affectionate actions, the sheer giddiness radiating from her, took him slightly by surprise. He hadn't missed a single detail of her approach. The way she smiled so radiantly at him, her eyes sparkling with an almost starry quality as she gazed at him. He had even caught the smallest, almost imperceptible skip in her step as she had hurried towards him, a lightness in her movement that warmed something within him despite his earlier turmoil. The way she had so effortlessly linked her arm with his, a familiar comfort in the simple act—none of it escaped his notice.

"You look... extra happy today," Han Wool observed, his voice a touch softer now, a genuine curiosity replacing some of the earlier tension in his features. He finally moved alongside her, his steps slow and deliberate as they began to walk away from the school gates. "What's up? What made you so happy all of a sudden?" he asked, his gaze lingering on her radiant smile.

Hae Soo let out a light, melodious giggle, the sound like wind chimes in the evening air. "I'll tell you soon, I promise," she said, her eyes sparkling with a secret. "But wait," she suddenly paused in her steps, her grip on his arm tightening slightly, causing him to halt as well. She turned her head, her gaze sweeping across the road, searching. "Where's your car?" she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice. Usually, his sleek vehicle was parked somewhere nearby, a familiar sight after school.

"We're walking today," Han Wool stated with a casualness that bordered on nonchalance, as if he were simply commenting on the weather.

While walking home was certainly a normal occurrence for most students, for Pi Han Wool, it was anything but. He was a creature of comfort and convenience, always relying on his car to get him from point A to point B. No matter how short or long the distance, his car was his preferred mode of transportation. So, no, this sudden declaration of walking was far from ordinary.

Hae Soo blinked, once, then twice, her expression a mixture of surprise and disbelief. She half–expected him to retract his statement, to say it was a joke, or perhaps that his car was parked just a little further down the road. Maybe he'd even suggest hailing a taxi. But he didn't. He simply started walking forward again, leaving her no choice but to fall into step beside him, her mind still trying to process this unexpected turn of events.

"You? Walk?" Hae Soo repeated, her voice laced with a playful disbelief that quickly morphed into genuine concern. "Are you feeling alright, my child?" she added, the last part dripping with sarcasm, but her eyes held a worried glint. Han Wool willingly choosing to walk home was such an anomaly that it immediately triggered her protective instincts. Her free hand instinctively reached up, her palm aiming for his forehead as if to check for a fever, a common explanation for his unusual behavior in her mind.

Han Wool's head recoiled slightly, a subtle movement of refusal. His brow furrowed, his face scrunching up in mild annoyance at her words. "What did you just call me?" he questioned, a hint of playful indignation in his tone.

"You're definitely not yourself," Hae Soo declared, her self–diagnosis firm. "We should probably go to the hospital. Just to be safe."

"No, we are absolutely not going to the hospital," Han Wool stated firmly, his steps coming to a complete halt.

"Yes, we are," Hae Soo countered stubbornly, already turning as if to head in the opposite direction. "Better safe than sorry."

"Hae Soo, no," Han Wool repeated, his voice taking on a slightly more exasperated tone.

"Yes," she insisted, taking another step.

"Jang Hae Soo," he said, his voice dropping a register, a clear warning note entering his tone.

With a sudden, swift movement, he reached out and gently but firmly pulled her, turning her on her heel so that she was facing him completely. The unexpectedness of the action made her stumble slightly. Her face was now mere inches from his, their personal space dissolving in the twilight air. His hands, which had been in his pockets moments ago, now gripped her arm gently but securely, effectively halting her movement and forcing her to stay still.

Hae Soo froze, her breath catching in her throat at the suddenness of his action. The pull itself wasn't harsh, but the unexpectedness of it startled her nonetheless. Her chest brushed lightly against his, the abrupt closeness making her heart skip a beat. Her eyes widened, her gaze fixed on his face, which was now just a breath away. The air between them seemed to crackle with a sudden, unspoken tension, their breaths mingling in the cool evening air.

And then, their eyes locked. A tight, unwavering contact that seemed to shut out the rest of the world. The playful banter of moments ago vanished, replaced by a charged silence, their gazes holding a depth that neither of them could quite decipher in the fading light.

The unexpected stillness that settled between Hae Soo and Han Wool hung heavy in the twilight. The sounds of the evening—distant traffic, the chirping of unseen insects—seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the sound of their own soft breaths. Hae Soo's heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the sudden quiet. She could feel the warmth emanating from his hands on her arm, a comforting yet strangely unsettling sensation.

Han Wool's gaze was intense, searching, as if trying to read something in the depths of her eyes. The earlier unease he had felt watching her with Geon Yeop still lingered, a shadow in the back of his mind, but now it was overlaid with a different kind of awareness, a heightened sensitivity to Hae Soo's presence so close to him.

The playful argument about the hospital seemed a distant memory, swallowed by the unexpected intimacy of the moment. Hae Soo, who had been so full of lighthearted energy just moments before, now found herself caught in the magnetic pull of his gaze, her own playful defiance momentarily forgotten.

The silence stretched, becoming almost palpable. It wasn't an uncomfortable silence, not exactly, but it was charged, heavy with unspoken thoughts and feelings. Hae Soo could feel a blush creeping up her neck, mirroring the heat she had felt earlier when he had noticed her extra happiness.

Finally, Han Wool's grip on her arm softened almost imperceptibly. The intensity in his eyes didn't completely dissipate, but a flicker of something else—perhaps a hint of vulnerability—softened his features.

"I'm walking because... because I wanted to walk with you," he said, his voice a low murmur, almost hesitant. He avoided her direct gaze for a fleeting moment, his eyes flicking down to the ground before returning to meet hers. There was a sincerity in his tone that cut through any lingering teasing.

Hae Soo blinked, surprised by his simple admission. The unexpectedness of his words, coupled with the lingering closeness, made her breath catch again. The earlier playful concern about his health now seemed almost silly in the face of this quiet confession.

A soft smile touched her lips, chasing away the last vestiges of surprise. The tension in her shoulders eased, and the frantic beating of her heart began to settle into a more regular rhythm.

"Oh," she breathed out softly, the single syllable carrying a wealth of understanding. She reached up with her free hand and gently touched his cheek, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. His skin was warm beneath her touch.

"Well, in that case," she said, her voice regaining some of its earlier lightness, though it was still softened by the intimacy of the moment, "I suppose we can walk."

Han Wool's lips curved into a small, genuine smile at her words. The relief in his expression was subtle but undeniable. He turned his head slightly, pressing his cheek into her palm for a brief moment, a silent acknowledgment of her touch.

He released her arm completely, and this time, it was he who reached out, his hand finding hers and his fingers interlacing with hers. The simple act felt grounding, a return to their familiar comfort after the brief, charged interlude.

Together, hand in hand, they began to walk again, their steps now in sync. The earlier tension had dissipated, replaced by a quiet