After that, for the next several hours, my mind was stuck in an endless loop—What should I wear? How should I go? Would it be weird if I dressed up a little? I drummed my fingers on the desk, lost in thought.
"Nami, what should I wear?" I finally blurted out.
She didn't even lift her head from the table. "What do you mean, what should you wear? Just wear anything. Where are you going?"
I sighed, playing with the hem of my sleeve. "Group study..."
That got her attention. She tilted her head up slightly, giving me a flat look. "Oh man, it's just a group study, not a fashion show! Wear whatever feels comfortable."
I exhaled, pressing my lips together. "Yeah, I know, but... it's my first time going. I should at least look a little nice, right?"
Nami groaned dramatically. "Ugh, I'm so bored! I feel like getting a crush on someone." She rolled onto her side, resting her chin on her arm. "But no guy is even entering my life!"
I shot her a look. "You're worried about boys, but at least pay attention to what I'm saying!" I said, faking irritation.
"Yeah, yeah, let's just talk about you all the time," she muttered, turning her back to me and curling up on the bench like she was about to take a nap.
I sighed, accepting my defeat. "Fine."
Frustrated, I let my gaze wander around the room—until it landed on him.
Arin.
He was seated a few rows ahead, hunched slightly over his notebook, his pencil moving in smooth, deliberate strokes. His fingers twirled it between pauses, a small habit I hadn't noticed before. His brows furrowed in concentration, his lips parting ever so slightly, almost as if he were whispering the words he wrote.
For some reason, I couldn't look away.
It wasn't like he was doing anything particularly interesting, but something about the way he moved—calm, focused, unaware of the world around him—made me pause. My eyes trailed from his fingers to his lips, following the faint movements as if trying to catch the silent words escaping them.
My breath hitched.
What are you doing, Aira? I scolded myself, tearing my gaze away. Get a grip.
I forced myself to look elsewhere, but the heat on my face told me I had been staring for far too long.
By the time the clock struck 2:00, school was over, and we all headed our separate ways.
"You both, meet me near the café, okay?" Suhina called out, making sure we were on the same page.
"Okay, bye!" Nami and I replied in unison before parting ways.
As soon as I reached home, I rushed straight to the dining table, grabbing my plate like I was in some kind of speed-eating competition.
"Slow down! Why are you eating so fast?" Mom frowned, watching me practically inhale my food.
I barely looked up, my mouth still half-full. "I have to leave for group study today," I explained between hurried bites.
"When are you going?" she asked, folding some clothes nearby.
"I'll leave by 3:30," I confirmed, already calculating how much time I had left.
She simply nodded and went back to her work, while I finished my meal in record time.
After eating, I rushed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and then stood in front of my wardrobe like it was a life-altering decision. Something simple? Or should I go for a stylish look? The question lingered in my mind as I stared at my clothes.
I glanced at the clock.
Oh no—it's already 3:00! My heart dropped. Why am I like this? One moment, I'm trying to look cute, and the next, I'm starring in a real-life episode of Running Late: The Aira Edition.
I threw on a fitted white top with high-waisted jeans and slipped into my favorite sneakers. A simple pendant rested against my collarbone—subtle, but just enough to make me feel put together.
Standing in front of the mirror, I played around with my hair, finally settling on a half-up, half-down look.
Just then, my gaze landed on my younger brother, sprawled on my bed, eyes glued to his phone.
"Hey, how do I look?" I asked, tilting my head slightly, hoping for at least a meh from him.
He didn't even glance up.
I narrowed my eyes. "Do you not hear me?" I raised my voice, turning toward him.
Finally, he sighed dramatically and looked up. "What?"
"I asked how I look... never mind, I already know—I look beautiful." I smirked, flipping my hair like I was in a shampoo commercial.
His expression suddenly turned serious. "Don't go outside."
I raised a brow. "Why? Are you afraid people will be blinded by my beauty?" I teased, adjusting my hair once more in the mirror.
He snorted. "Nope. People might just drop dead after seeing a ghost." He burst into laughter and bolted out of the room.
"Oh, you little—wait till I get my hands on you!" I shrieked, dashing after him.
And just like that, the house turned into a full-blown action movie. He vaulted over the couch like some parkour expert, while I nearly tripped over my own feet trying to catch him. He was fast—too fast. But I wasn't giving up. I swerved around a chair, almost knocked over a vase, and lunged for his hoodie—almost got him! But he slipped away at the last second, laughing like some villain who had just won the final battle.
Then, we froze.
Dad's stern gaze landed on us from across the room.
Silence.
We immediately stood still, pretending nothing had happened.
I swallowed hard and slowly turned to check the clock.
3:40.
Oh no! All this mess, and now I'm late! I mentally screamed.
Without another word, I grabbed my bag and sprinted out the door, my heart pounding. Not just from running, but from the thought of seeing Arin again.
Would he even notice me?
Ugh, get a grip, Aira! It's just group study… right?
For the next several hours, my mind was stuck in an endless loop.
What should I wear? How should I go? Would it be weird if I dressed up a little?
I drummed my fingers on the desk, lost in thought.
Then, I snapped.
"Nami! Help me!" I whined, dramatically collapsing onto my desk. "What should I wear?"
Nami, who was resting her head on the table, didn't even blink. "Clothes."
I groaned. "You're the worst!"
She lazily lifted her head. "Where are you even going?"
I hesitated, fidgeting with my sleeve. "Group study…"
Her eyes narrowed. "Oh? Studying or… 'studying'?" She wiggled her eyebrows.
I threw a pen at her. "Shut up!"
She laughed, flopping back onto the table. "Aira, it's just studying. Wear whatever feels comfy."
I sighed. "Yeah, but it's my first time going. I should at least look decent, right?"
Nami groaned dramatically. "Ugh, I need a crush. Life's so boring!" She turned onto her side, resting her chin on her arm. "But nope, no hot guys entering my life anytime soon."
I shot her a glare. "Can we focus on me for a second?"
She waved me off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."
I sighed and let my gaze wander around the room—until it landed on him.
Arin.
He sat a few rows ahead, hunched slightly over his notebook, pencil moving in smooth, deliberate strokes. His fingers twirled it between pauses, a small habit I had never noticed before. His brows furrowed in concentration, his lips parted ever so slightly, as if whispering the words he wrote.
Why… why was I staring?
I quickly looked away, my heart doing something weird.
What are you doing, Aira? Get a grip!
Before I knew it, school was over.
"You both, meet me near the café, okay?" Suhina called out.
"Okay, bye!" Nami and I said in unison before parting ways.
The moment I got home, I sprinted to the dining table, practically inhaling my food.
"Slow down!" Mom frowned, folding clothes nearby. "Why are you eating like you're in a food competition?"
I barely looked up. "I have group study today," I mumbled between bites.
"When are you leaving?" she asked.
I checked the time. "3:30."
Mom just nodded while I finished eating at record speed, then bolted to my room.
Standing in front of my wardrobe, I groaned. "What do I even wear?!"
Something casual? Or maybe a stylish look? The debate raged in my head until I glanced at the clock.
3:00 PM.
Oh no!
I grabbed a fitted white top, high-waisted jeans, and threw on my favorite sneakers. A simple pendant rested against my collarbone—subtle, but just enough to make me feel put together.
Satisfied, I turned to my little brother, who was sprawled on my bed, completely glued to his phone.
"Hey, how do I look?" I asked, tilting my head, expecting at least a meh from him.
He didn't even glance up.
I narrowed my eyes. "Do you not hear me?"
Still no reaction.
I stomped closer. "Earth to idiot brother, LOOK AT ME!"
Finally, with an exaggerated sigh, he glanced up. "What?"
"How do I look?" I asked, flipping my hair.
His expression turned dead serious. "Don't go outside."
I frowned. "Why?"
He smirked. "Because people might think they're seeing a ghost."
"Oh, YOU LITTLE—!"
I lunged at him, but he bolted out of the room, laughing like a villain in a final boss battle.
"Come back here, you menace!" I shrieked, chasing after him.
The house instantly turned into an action movie. He vaulted over the couch like some parkour expert, while I nearly tripped trying to catch him.
Just when I was this close to grabbing his hoodie—
"Ahem."
We both froze.
Dad was standing across the room, arms crossed.
Uh-oh.
We straightened immediately, pretending nothing had happened.
I swallowed and slowly turned to check the time.
3:40 PM.
Oh no!
Without another word, I grabbed my bag and sprinted out the door.
My heart pounded—not just from running, but from the thought of seeing him again.
Would Arin even notice me?
Ugh, get a grip, Aira! It's just group study… right?