Hana was just about to respond to Aerin's offer when the cafeteria door opened again, and a familiar voice was heard.
"Aerin! Are you here?"
When Hana turned her head, she noticed a few students from Hyunwoo's class entering. One of them, Junseo, walked straight to Aerin and patted her shoulder in a friendly manner.
"We got here just in time! Let's sit together." Junseo said, then nodded towards Hyunwoo in greeting.
Aerin immediately smiled in relief. "Of course!" she said cheerfully.
Hana slightly furrowed her brows. She was surprised by how quickly Aerin changed. Just moments ago, she wanted to sit with her, but now she had suddenly turned to her other friends.
Hyunwoo, however, kept his gaze on Hana and smiled. "Then let's sit together," he said.
Hana was about to say something when Aerin quickly interrupted. "But our table might get full. Maybe Hana wants to sit with her other friends?"
This time, Hyunwoo raised an eyebrow slightly. "I was going to talk to Hana anyway. We have enough space, don't we?"
Aerin's smile faltered for a brief second but quickly recovered. "Of course."
As they sat at the table, Hana found herself unexpectedly at the center of attention. She didn't usually spend time with Aerin's friend group, yet now she was sitting among them.
Hyunwoo turned directly to her. "We don't know much about you. We always talk about Aerin, but we never really mention you," he said with a slight smile.
Aerin immediately chimed in, laughing. "That's because Hana is a very quiet person. She's not as social as I am."
Hana froze for a moment at Aerin's words. She hadn't realized that Aerin thought of her this way. Hyunwoo, however, glanced at her and said calmly, "Maybe that's why she caught my attention."
Aerin's face momentarily went blank. Hana, on the other hand, looked at Hyunwoo in surprise.
This conversation was taking a very unexpected turn.
As more students gathered around the table, the other students in the cafeteria began to take notice. It wasn't every day that Hyunwoo, who usually sat with his own group, was now talking to Hana.
Especially when he said, "Maybe that's why she caught my attention." That moment made a few students whisper to each other in surprise.
"Hyunwoo… is really talking to Hana?"
"He never showed interest in girls like her before…"
"Who even is Hana?"
The hushed conversations around her made Hana feel a sudden warmth at the back of her neck. It was as if all eyes were on her.
Meanwhile, Aerin was becoming visibly uncomfortable. Her eyes darted around, noticing people's reactions, and she pressed her lips together. Normally, when Hyunwoo and the others sat with her, no one reacted this way. But now that Hana was the topic of discussion, everyone seemed shocked.
Sensing the tension, Junseo laughed and said, "Whoa, hearing something like that from Hyunwoo is pretty rare!"
Hyunwoo simply shrugged. "Why? Can't I talk to someone I'm curious about?"
His words only attracted more attention. Hana, feeling the growing weight of the stares, hesitated. She had no idea what to say.
Aerin let out a light laugh, trying to shift the focus. "Hana is just shy. She doesn't like being in the spotlight." Then, quickly changing the subject, she asked, "By the way, do we have any plans for the weekend? How about going to a café?"
But Hyunwoo's attention remained on Hana. Tilting his head slightly, he asked, "Hana, would you like to join us?"
His question practically echoed through the cafeteria. Aerin's face instantly dropped, while a few more students turned to each other in shock.
Hana, however, was at a complete loss for words.
Just as she was about to respond, two familiar figures appeared at the cafeteria entrance.
"Hanaaa~!"
Sera's cheerful voice rang out in the cafeteria. Next to her, Eunwoo stood with his gaze fixed on the table, his brows slightly furrowed.
Sera quickly approached and grabbed Hana's arm. "We've been looking for you everywhere! Come on, we need to go right now!"
Eunwoo nodded and added in a serious tone, "Yes, it's important. You need to come with us now."
Hana blinked in confusion. "What? But I—"
Sera leaned in and whispered, "It doesn't matter what it is. We're getting you out of here."
Even though Hana didn't fully understand what was happening, she realized that her friends were trying to rescue her.
Aerin forced a smile. "But Hana was sitting with us. Where exactly are you taking her?" she asked.
Sera, unbothered, replied, "She was sitting with us too, but right now, this is more important." Then, she gently tugged at Hana to get her up from the table.
Hyunwoo smirked slightly. "What's so important?" he asked with mild curiosity.
Eunwoo, without hesitation, locked eyes with Hyunwoo and firmly replied, "Something we don't need to tell you." Then, he turned back to Hana. "Let's go."
Hana noticed the slightly irritated expression on Aerin's face and decided not to waste this opportunity.
"Well, I guess I'll see you later then," she said and quickly walked out of the cafeteria with Sera and Eunwoo.
As soon as they stepped outside, Sera let out a deep breath and grinned. "Phew, we got there just in time!"
Eunwoo shook his head. "I didn't expect Hyunwoo to put you on the spot like that."
Hana sighed. "Thanks… That was such a weird situation."
Sera linked her arm with Hana's. "From now on, we're not leaving you alone. Got it?"
Hana smiled and nodded. At least for now, she had escaped… but was this really over?