Nami, who had been calmly finishing the last bite of her lunch, looked up at me with mild concern. "Forgot what?" she asked, her brows furrowing.
I couldn't help but chuckle as I stood up. "The water cooler."
Her eyes followed my movements, and then, as if the realization struck her too, she hurriedly packed her lunchbox and stood up as well. "Ahh, right! Let's go before it gets too crowded again"
As we stepped away from our bench, Nami gave me a teasing shove. "Hurry up, or you won't get any water this time either."
I shot her a glare, steadying myself. "Hey! Don't push me!" I huffed in annoyance.
She smirked, mischief dancing in her eyes. "I was just thinking… what if you trip and fall right into the arms of some handsome guy?" Her voice was dripping with amusement, barely holding back her laughter.
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Forget the guy, I'd rather not embarrass myself in front of the entire school."
"Well," Nami drawled, tilting her head slightly. "If it were someone like Arin, would that really be so bad?"
My breath hitched for a fraction of a second, but I quickly masked it with a scoff. "What's that supposed to mean?"
She gave me a knowing look, her smirk widening. "I don't know… I just feel like you've been showing a little interest in him lately."
I frowned, crossing my arms. "You're imagining things."
"Am I?" she teased. "Because, you know, he's right behind us."
My body stiffened. Slowly, almost cautiously, I turned my head just enough to catch a glimpse—sure enough, Arin was a few steps behind, casually walking with his hands tucked into his pockets.
Our eyes met. It was brief, but something about it made my stomach twist. He didn't smirk—he just looked at me, like he was trying to figure something out.
Then, after a second too long, he cleared his throat, his voice slightly unsteady. "I—I was just here to get water."
I blinked, thrown off by the way he stumbled over his words.
Nami, of course, didn't miss a beat. She nudged me with her elbow, grinning. "Oh, what a coincidence. She was just about to get water too."
Arin glanced at me again, then rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh… guess we're heading the same way, then."
But just as he took a step forward, something shifted in his expression—like he suddenly remembered something. His eyes flickered with hesitation before he blurted out, "Wait—I think I forgot something."
Before either of us could say a word, he turned on his heel and practically bolted toward the corridor.
I stood there, watching his retreating figure, completely bewildered.
Nami whistled under her breath. "Well, that wasn't suspicious at all."
I rolled my eyes, trying to ignore the way my heartbeat had picked up. "Shut up."
I didn't trust my voice, so I just nodded, turning quickly before Nami could see the way my face burned.
It was nothing. Just a coincidence.
Right?
With a small sigh, I made my way toward the water cooler. The corridor was still somewhat crowded, but I managed to weave my way through. As I reached the water cooler, I noticed someone already standing there—Mir.
Mir was considered one of the prettiest girls in our class. Her perfectly styled hair, effortless elegance, and naturally confident presence made her stand out wherever she went. She was talking to her best friend, and since I was standing close, I couldn't help but overhear their conversation.
"You know, I've noticed Arin always looking at me," Mir said, a smug smile on her lips.
Her best friend raised a brow. "Really? That's interesting. He's not the type to talk much to girls."
Mir nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Exactly. Even in his own group, Aira is friendly with all the guys, but Arin barely talks to her."
Her best friend chuckled. "Well, he is good-looking."
Mir's gaze suddenly shifted, and she nudged her friend. "Look, there he is."
At her words, I instinctively followed her gaze. Arin was walking down the corridor with his friends, his usual calm and unreadable expression in place.
But then—almost as if sensing the weight of our attention—he glanced back.
His eyes landed on Mir first. A faint smirk tugged at his lips, effortless and confident, like an unspoken acknowledgment.
Then, his gaze shifted—to me.
The change was subtle but unmistakable. His expression faltered for a fraction of a second, his smirk fading as something unreadable flickered across his face. It wasn't the same ease he had shown Mir. There was something different about it—hesitation? Caught off guard?
His fingers twitched slightly at his side, and for a brief, almost imperceptible moment, I thought I saw his breath hitch.
And then—just as quickly as he had looked—he turned away, his posture stiffening as his pace quickened.
Did he just… get flustered?
I blinked, my mind scrambling to process what I had just seen.
Mir was still grinning, completely oblivious to the shift in the air.
I wasn't even sure what to make of it myself.
I stood near the water cooler my gaze
Follow arin walking away, his strides relaxed yet purposeful.
For a moment, I simply watched him, taking in the way his dark hair fell just above his eyes, the way his uniform fit him effortlessly, as if he was made to carry himself with quiet confidence. "Arin is good-looking... I wonder if he has a girlfriend?" The thought slipped into my mind uninvited, making me blink in surprise at myself. I quickly shook my head, pushing the idea away. Why am I even thinking about that?
Before I could dwell on it any longer, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Come on, the bell just rang! We better get inside before the history teacher arrives," Nami said, her tone urgent but playful.
I turned to see her standing a few steps away, waving me over with a grin.
"Or else she'll turn us into a part of history too," I added with a smirk.
Nami burst into laughter, and I couldn't help but join her. The lightheartedness of the moment chased away the lingering thoughts in my mind. Still giggling, we linked arms and hurried toward the classroom, blending into the bustling crowd of students rushing to take their seats