WWBU - 18

“What’s with that look?”

“Is it because Yoo Hyun-jung told you not to accept chocolates and gifts from other girls? So you dumped all this stuff on me instead?”

“You’ve got quite the imagination. Open your book.”

“Am I right?”

“Did you finish the problems I assigned?”

Slightly warm, Guk loosened the neck of his turtleneck before settling into the small chair. Hyun-soo, already seated at the desk, was busy rummaging through the paper bags and boxes he had brought in.

“Holy... there’s some expensive stuff here too. Isn’t that a necklace? And there’s even a letter! You could at least read it. All of this is effort and thought put into it.”

“Are we studying or not?”

“Fine, whatever. Take them back.”

Hyun-soo pushed the pile of gifts back toward Guk. He tilted his head slightly and asked:

“You’re sure you won’t regret this?”

“Come on. It’s not like these are chocolates meant for me anyway.”

The previous Valentine’s Day, she’d managed to snag one or two of his gifts—knowing full well they were pitiful offerings. Skipping Valentine’s without even tasting chocolate felt too harsh, after all. But this year was different.

“I got some too!”

Hyun-soo grinned brightly, holding up a box. Guk, who had been resting his chin on his hand while watching her, subtly stiffened.

“Where did you get that?”

“Someone left it in my locker.”

“Who? Young-mi? Juyeon?”

How dare he assume it was one of her close friends. Irritated, Hyun-soo raised her voice.

“Why would my friends give me something like this? Don’t you know what Valentine’s Day means? It’s a gift from someone who likes me!”

Guk glanced at the box briefly before returning his gaze to Hyun-soo.

“What’s with that sudden intense stare?”

“You’re saying someone secretly left this for you because they like you?”

Embarrassed by his directness, Hyun-soo averted her eyes, a faint smile playing on her lips as she nodded.

“To be honest, I was so nervous I didn’t even open it. I waited for you to come so we could open it together.”

Guk’s brow furrowed momentarily before smoothing out again. His expressionless face alternated between watching Hyun-soo and observing her trembling hands as she opened the box.

Inside the pale pink box was translucent, puffy tissue paper decoration. On top of it lay a golden heart-shaped chocolate. But what excited Hyun-soo the most was the letter stickered to the inside of the lid. A love letter.

“Wah! There’s a letter too! What do I do?!”

With trembling hands, Hyun-soo carefully began to open the envelope. Before she could finish, Guk snatched it away with his large hand.

“What are you doing? Give it back!”

She lunged for it, but he effortlessly blocked her with one arm and quickly unfolded the letter.

Hello, Kim Hyun-soo. My name is Han Tae-min from Class 6. You probably don’t remember me, but we took a literature class together. After hearing the poem you wrote back then, I developed feelings for you, and here I am confessing.

Do you remember the title of your poem? It was Chocolate. The sweet and tender lines still echo in my ears...

If you’re okay with it, I’d love to meet up, watch a movie, and grab a drink. How about it? If you agree, let’s meet at Metro Plaza this Saturday at 6 PM. I really hope you’ll come.

Sincerely, 

Tae-min, who has been waiting for this day

“This is supposed to be a letter?”

After skimming it, Guk tossed the letter onto the floor.

“Hey! What are you doing?!”

Shocked, Hyun-soo quickly bent down to pick it up, but Guk pulled her back up before she could touch it.

“You’re impossible…!”

With an impassive face, Guk handed her the pile of chocolates and gifts he had brought.

“This weekend’s tutoring session is on Saturday at 6 PM. Keep that in mind.”

“What? I thought we agreed on Sunday! Why the sudden change…?”

“You must’ve misheard. It was always Saturday.”

This was absurd. Did he think she was stupid? Despite her reproachful glare, Guk calmly flipped his hair back and continued reading his book as if nothing was wrong. Hyun-soo glared at his irritatingly handsome profile, trying to figure out why he was acting like this. Then, suddenly realizing something, her eyes widened like a rabbit’s.

“Yoon Guk, you…”

“...”

“Don’t tell me you’re deliberately interfering?”

At her question, Guk turned to look at her. His eyes were unreadable—as always, despite the months they’d spent together.

“And if I am?”

“What? Why?”

“I think I’m the one who should be asking. Why should I let you meet up with some random guy?”

“Huh?”

Hyun-soo couldn’t comprehend what he was saying. She was too baffled to form coherent words.

“Seriously, you’re ridiculous. You go around dating girls, hugging them, kissing them whenever you feel like it! You act like you’ve kissed countless people, yet you won’t even let me watch a movie or have a drink with someone who likes me?”

“Who said I’ve done any of that?”

“What?”

“Who says I’ve been kissing random girls?”

“That’s…! That’s…!”

“I haven’t had my first kiss yet.”

“What? Why?”

Guk answered her genuinely puzzled expression with a shrug.

“Why? Should I have just gone around kissing anyone and everyone earlier?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. You’ve dated plenty of girls before. I just assumed you’d already…”

For some inexplicable reason, Guk’s long fingers caught her attention. They twirled a mechanical pencil absently, drawing her gaze upward to his piercing eyes.

Feeling awkward under his stare, Hyun-soo shifted her gaze downward—and found herself staring at his plump, red lips. Lips. Lips. Lips.

This wasn’t good. Every time she looked at them, strange thoughts crept into her mind.

“It’s because of you.”

“Huh?”

“With you around, why would I bother with anyone else?”

Her heart plummeted sickeningly.

“...What do you mean by that?”

“Want to kiss?”

“What?”

“If it’s our first time for both of us, wouldn’t it be better to share it with someone you’ll see for a long time rather than someone who’ll just pass by?”

Her heart sank so deeply she wasn’t sure she could ever retrieve it.

“Wait, you’re joking, right?”

She tried to make light of the situation, but Guk simply shrugged, offering no further explanation. Without a follow-up, his words hung heavy in the air, turning the moment serious.

“Are you serious?”

The incessantly spinning pencil finally stopped with a click as Guk placed it on the desk. Then, he leaned closer, closing the gap between them. For a fleeting moment, she thought how unfairly beautiful he looked in that black turtleneck. If she had to have her first kiss with anyone, it might as well be with someone as handsome and striking as him. No harm in that, right?

But we’re friends. What happens afterward? Won’t things get awkward? What then?