A faint smile formed on her lips.
Seojin noticed her. "Where are you going?"
"Just came from the bathroom," she replied, walking up beside him.
He reached out and lightly brushed her hair back. "Wanna go to the snack store?"
She nodded.
Seojin draped an arm over her shoulders as they walked together until they ran into Daegyu and Jisung coming out of their classroom.
"Yo, where are you guys heading?" Daegyu asked.
"Ughh, I hate Monday…" Jisung groaned.
"Snack store," Seojin replied.
Just then, Jinkyung, Mijin, and Suwon approached.
"Hey guys, hi!" Jinkyung greeted.
"Hey, hey aren't you guys hungry? Who wants to hit the snack bar?!" Mijin said energetically.
"…You're so energetic," Suwon muttered.
"We were just heading there. Let's go together," Seolhyo said.
As they walked, Suwon glanced at Seojin. "By the way, why didn't you come the other night? You didn't even answer my calls."
"Ah, sorry. Something important came up."
Seolhyo glanced at him for a second, a faint blush appearing as she smiled slightly.
"Is Park Dong not here yet?" Suwon asked.
"I saw his bag at his seat. Maybe he went to the bathroom," Seojin replied.
"Have you seen Irina, Seolhyo?" Jinkyung asked.
Seolhyo shrugged. "I haven't seen her, but her bag was in her seat too."
They soon reached the snack store and stepped inside only to find Park Dong and Irina already there, casually sucking on jelly sticks.
"What the..? You guys were already here? You both came early today?" Daegyu said.
The two froze, visibly flustered at the sight of everyone together.
"You two usually come here with everyone. Why just the two of you today?" Jinkyung asked.
"U-Uh, that's…" Park Dong stammered.
"Suuuspicious~" Mijin teased.
"What, you guys on a date or something? HAHA!"
Park Dong suddenly grabbed Irina's arm and turned their backs to the group.
"Hey… come here a sec…" he whispered, face and ears bright red. "…Should we tell them?"
"I-I dunnooo…" Irina whispered back, just as flustered.
Park Dong took a deep breath, then turned back around.
"You useless brats come out here, all of you!!"
He walked past them and out of the store.
The others exchanged confused looks but followed.
-
Behind the school building, everyone gathered, facing Park Dong and Irina.
Seojin frowned. "Why do I have to come too? I just wanted some candy."
Seolhyo elbowed him lightly. "Behave."
"…I just want candy…" Seojin muttered, burying his face into her back while hugging her.
Mijin glanced at him. "…What is he, a kid?"
Seolhyo ignored him and looked at Park Dong. "Why did you call us out?"
Daegyu crossed his arms. "Probably to shake us down or something."
Park Dong scratched his head. "Uh…"
Both he and Irina started fidgeting.
"There's something you all should know…" he said. "Something happened."
"…It happened, okay…" Irina added, covering part of her face.
Park Dong groaned, dragging a hand down his forehead. "Ugh!! How do I even say this… Don't freak out, alright?!"
Irina covered her face with both hands. "Yeah, like that's even possible…"
The rest stared at them, slowly picking up on the strange atmosphere between them.
Suwon stare dumbfounded at them.
What is this atmosphere..?
No way..? Right..?
Then, right in front of everyone
They grabbed each other's hands.
Park Dong's face turned bright red as he shouted,
"W-WE!! WE DECIDED TO DATE!!"
Irina covered her face even more. "Whaaaa…"
For a second, everyone froze, staring at them with wide eyes.
"…You're dating?" Jinkyung asked.
Park Dong nodded.
"You two?! Seriously?!" Daegyu said.
Irina nodded too.
Seeing that neither of them denied it, the shock hit all at once.
"KYAAAAAH!!"
"CRAZY INSANE!!!"
"KYAAAH!!! SINCE WHEN!!!"
Their voices were loud enough to reach the students at the snack store.
Park Dong avoided their eyes. "It just… kinda happened."
"GROSS!!" Jinkyung shouted.
Mijin leaned closer to Park Dong. "DISGUSTING!!"
"What the hell?! What do you mean disgusting?!" he snapped.
Irina, still flushed, pointed at herself and shouted, "Hey even I feel grossed out, okay?!"
Park Dong looked at her, offended. "What?!"
Seolhyo stood there, speechless.
Meanwhile, Seojin watched, unimpressed. "…They're dating. What's the big deal?"
Seolhyo elbowed his side again.
"Ugh.. why?!" he complained.
Daegyu, Jisung, and Suwon suddenly dropped to their knees, pretending to vomit dramatically.
"BLEGH!!"
Mijin pointed at them. "How could you not tell us?!"
"Did I have to tell you?!" Park Dong shot back.
"Of course!!"
"Whatever! Anyway, now you all know!"
He grabbed Irina by the shoulder and started dragging her away.
"AAAAHHH!!" Jinkyung screamed.
"L-Look! Look at that! He's holding her!!" Mijin pointed.
The two of them immediately ran after them.
"Explain yourselves!!"
"Screw off, you punks!!" Park Dong yelled.
"Stop right there!!"
Seolhyo let out a small laugh. "I knew he liked her, but I didn't think they'd actually start dating."
Seojin burst out laughing. "HAHAHA! They fit each other perfectly."
Seolhyo frowned. "What do you mean? It's gross."
Seojin grinned as he leaned against her back, both his arms hanging loosely in front of her.
"Still funny though. Come on, I seriously need candy."
She rolled her eyes. "Won't you get cavities at this rate?"
Seojin leaned in, lowering his head until his lips were close to her ear.
"I tasted the sweetest candy the other day… normal candy won't be enough anymore."
Seolhyo's face flushed instantly.
She covered her ears where his lips are. "W-What are you talking about…?"
Seojin smirked. "Hmm… what do you think?"
Her blush deepened.
He leaned in even closer, teasing her. "So… when can I taste it again?"
Seojin gently pulled her hands away and lightly brushed his lips against her ear.
Seolhyo squirmed, trying to pull away from his hold. "E-Enough… it tickles… someone might see us…"
Seojin finally pulled back, a smug grin on his face.
"You didn't answer my question."
Seolhyo looked away, still flushed. "…If you don't stop, you're never tasting it again."
Seojin chuckled, staying close behind her as he walked, lightly nudging her forward toward the snack store.
inside the snack store.
Seolhyo sighed. "I still can't believe they started dating. I mean, they've known each other for so long… won't it be awkward for them?"
Seojin shrugged. "Well, it'll work if they genuinely have feelings for each other."
"Is that so… I can't really imagine it working out well."
Seojin chuckled. "Then let's make a bet whether they'll last or not."
Seolhyo raised a brow. "What are we betting?"
Seojin gave her a sly, clearly suggestive smile.
Seolhyo snorted. "You just want to do something perverted, don't you?"
"…No way. How could you think that?" he said, trying to sound innocent.
"…Say that again after you wipe that perverted smile off your face."
-
The rest of them headed back to their own classes, deciding not to eat after what had just happened.
"I'm still freaking shocked… ugh," Jisung said.
"Still, he actually pulled it off Park Dong," Daegyu replied.
Jisung glanced at Suwon. "Did you see them hold hands? I seriously wanted to low-kick both of them."
Suwon laughed. "Lol, I almost lost it right there."
"You think they're gonna kiss next or something? Rina's got a strong stomach, man."
"Haha, ew. I don't even want to imagine that."
Just as Suwon turned the corner
THUD.
"WAH!!"
"KYA!!"
"Ow…" the girl winced.
"Sorry, sorry!!" Suwon said quickly.
The girl looked up and froze. "Huh?!"
Suwon blinked. "Oh, you're in the same club as me, right? You okay?"
She stammered, cheeks turning red. "Y-Yeah, I'm okay!"
Then she hurried off down the stairs.
Suwon watched her go, tilting his head before shrugging. "What part of Park Dong does Irina even like, I wonder? His hooked nose?"
Seojin and Seolhyo were walking behind them.
The girl glanced back briefly, then lowered her head shyly when she saw them.
Seojin noticed, then looked at Suwon with a smirk as they caught up.
"…Hmm."
Suwon frowned. "What?"
"Nothing~" Seojin replied teasingly.
Seolhyo then split off from them and headed to her own classroom.
Meanwhile, the girl with glasses who had bumped into Suwon stopped on the stairs.
She turned back, looking toward where he had disappeared.
Her face flushed as she adjusted her glasses.