THIS MUST BE MY DREAM โ YANG JUNGWON
โฟ ๐ SCORE SHEETS แถป ๐ ๐ฐ Jungwon was living his best life at Earl View Academy. He was scoring the highest marks, dominating every exam, and ranking the top one out of every student. See, he was living his best life at Earl View Academy before you came along, destroying his reputation because of your similar level in academics. It had to be a dream, there was no way someone could compete with him. With that said, he immediately renamed you as the new student to his one and only arch nemesis.
โฟ TOP RANKS โ๏ธ academic-rival!jungwon x fem!reader (ft. jungwon from enhypen, baekseung from epex, and minji from newjeans)
โฟ EXAM REVIEW โก insp by doctor slump, long fic, academic rivals to lovers, rivals to lovers, highschool au, nerds to lovers, fluff, crack, and angst.
โฟ ๐ STUDY NOTES เญจเง swearing, bickering, mentions of pills (painkillers), skipping meals, fainting, crying, being sick, and mental health issues, lmk if i missed anything.
โฟ NUMBER OF EXAM QUESTIONS ๐ 14980 words
โฟ FEEDBACK . . . and with that said itโs finally done!!!!! took me two months cs i took so many breaks โฆ. happy belated jungwon day? LMFAOโฆ and tysm to @soov for proofreading all the way !!! love u rei <33
โฟ STUDY PLAYLIST ๐ถ click here!
RANK ONE.
In Earl View Academy, everyone wanted to live Jungwonโs life. He was a son everyone wantedโnot his wordsโand that made him feel good about himself. Even if he was quite the goofball, he still aced all his assignments while having fun.
His life was perfect.ย
โJungwon!โ His friend, Baekseung called, gaining his attention almost immediately. The boy looked over at his brown-haired friend with a smile, pausing the movements of his pencil gliding against his notebook.ย
โHm?โ He hummed, waiting for his friend to continue talking. Baekseung took a seat on the window sill beside Jungwon as Minji walked into the classroom.ย
โDid you see the banner they hung up? It has something to do with University, I believe.โ He said as Minji walked towards them.
โHere.โ She held out her phone, showing the boys a picture of the banner. It showcased a brief description of what to expect when applying to the University of Seoul and the date of submissionโFebruary 9th of 2024.
Jungwonโs birthday.
It was perfect timing, almost as if it was destined to be. His reputation at school and his relationship with his teachers would easily help him get accepted, right?ย
โThe acceptance rate is 40%, which isnโt all bad, but many people apply, soโฆโ Minji explained, turning off her phone, and shoving it into her back pocket. Jungwon tapped his pencil against his chin to a random, yet consistent rhythm in his head.
Jungwonโs friends always enabled his confidence. He was aware of his smartness, but they made it seem bigger than it really was.ย
โAlthough a lot of people apply, Iโm sure youโll get accepted. Your application will catch their eyes immediately, trust me.โย
Jungwon bit back a smile at Baekseungโs words, sending him an amused nod instead.ย
โIโm sure it will.โ He replied, returning his focus to his notes. Before his friends appeared, he was working on a few equations, to make sure they stuck with him for their test.
It was his way of studying; learn the materials in class and study them like his life depended upon it.ย
It worked like a charm every time.
โI donโt get how you understand these things.โ Baekseung said while peeking over at his work. Jungwon smiled, letting out a chuckle.ย
He never did, it wasnโt anything new.ย
โSee, you start with your values, then you write out your formula and substitute your variables for your numbersโโ
โEnough! You lost me at the word โvalues.โโ He exclaimed, causing both Jungwon and Minji to laugh.ย
โHey, when you get accepted into the University of Seoul, donโt forget me.โ Baekseung pleaded and leaned in with his hands desperately clasped together.ย
โI wonโt, I wonโt.โย
Jungwon dropped his pencil, letting it lay flat on his notebook, and placed his hands on top of Baekseungโs.
โYou have nothing to worry about.โ He said, playing along with Baekseungโs act.ย
โI donโt get how I was pulled into this trio,โ Minji said, cringing at the sight before her.
โYeah, me neither.โ Baekseung smiled at Jungwon, then, removed his hands from underneath his, and returned to his spot on the window sill.
โOh well, here we are now. You love us, right?โ Jungwon teased, the cringing expression never leaving Minjiโs face.
The two boys stared at her in silence, waiting for her response. They wouldnโt let her off the hook if she didnโt open her mouth to say anything.
โFine. I do.โ She replied, earning bright smiles from her friends in return. She shook her head, a small smile making its way to her face.ย
It was impossible to avoid their faces. Even if they werenโt trying, they still managed to swoon her over with one look. They were unstoppable together.
Jungwon went back to studying as Minji and Baekseung playfully bickered over a past memory. It was a common occurrence, nothing new.
โI heard theyโre selling Yakult in the cafeteria today!โ A classmate said to their friend, gaining the threeโs attention immediately.
They stopped what they were doing and looked at each other. They gave each other a look that only they could understand. There were no words shared, only their eyes held their words.
Soon after, Baekseung and Jungwon got up from their spots, following behind Minji who led them out of the classroom.
Yakult was their favourite thing ever. It was something all three of them could agree onโthat they tasted delightful. Other than that, they all had different tastes in a way.
โFinally, theyโre bringing it back!โ Minji cheered, happier than ever. Baekseung, who stood in the middle, wrapped his arms around the two to pull them in closer.
โDo we have a plan?โ He asked as Minji scoffed.
โDo we even need one? Just do whatever your mind tells you to.โ She said and he nodded.ย
โSmart choice.โย
The two conversed alone just as they did back in the classroom, except Jungwon wasnโt studying. He couldโve been included in their conversation right now, they werenโt excluding him at all.
He just didnโt pay attention. He didnโt even take note that they were talking because it all sounded muffled to him.ย
All he paid attention to was his homeroom teacher who walked down the hallways, lips moving as if he was talking to someone, but Jungwon didnโt know who.
Once he walked past, it was then revealed. A girl stood fairly behind his homeroom teacher, catching Jungwonโs attention.ย
He had no clue who she was, nor had he ever seen her face before, he โdidnโtโ even care about what her name was, what time she arrived, what foods she liked, why she was wearing their schoolโs uniform, or what she had for breakfast.
All he cared about was how pretty she was, and fine, maybe what her name was too. Previously, if someone were to tell him about another being heaven-sent he wouldnโt understand them.ย
Now, he really does because she, she was heaven-sent to him at least.
โYou okay?โ Baekseung asked, looking over at Jungwonโs dazed figure. He shook Jungwon with the arm that rested over his shoulder, startling the poor boy.
โHuh? Oh, yeah. Iโm okay.โย
Well, he hoped he was.
โSweet, if Iโm not wrong, lunch starts in about 3 minutes. Therefore, I believe weโll be firstโฆโ Baekseung paused, his voice growing quieter at the sight before them.
โโฆ In line.โ His words were almost like a whisper. He was practically speechless at the line. At least 20 students were already waiting for their Yakultโs.ย
โYeah, um, maybe we do need a plan,โ Minji said, regretting her previous words. There was no way theyโd get through a line like this one.ย
โMaybe? We 100% need a plan.โ Baekseung said, his arms slipping off their shoulders.ย
โIโm sure weโll be fine if we just wait. It canโt be that badโWoah! Okay. Maybe it is bad.โ Jungwonโs reassuring words were cut off by his shocked ones.ย
The line extended even further. How was that even possible?
โHey, Min, what time is it?โ Jungwon asked Minji as she checked her phone that previously sat in her back pocket.ย
โ11:37 AM.โ She replied, still flabbergasted at the number of students waiting for their Yakultโs.ย
โDo you think that will be enough time to visit the nearest convenience store and then come back?โ Jungwon asked, desperate for an escape. He was still craving a Yakult, but they wouldnโt get one at this rate.
โItโs 27 (81 Fahrenheit) degrees Celsius outsideโฆโย Baekseung muttered, mentally sweating at the thought.ย
โWe can get ice cream as wellโฆโ Jungwon whispered, scared that the line of students would overhear his words and run after them.ย
What if they were craving ice cream too? It wasnโt just the three of them who were feeling hot.
โSmart choice. Yeah, letโs do that instead.โ Minji cautiously walked away from the entrance of the cafeteria, careful not to make a sound as the two boys did the same.
Yes, they were being very dramatic right now, but that line of students was very intimidating.
The three returned to class with leftovers of their ice creams, hoping nobody would ask them for at least one lickโit was disgusting to know that they were serious.
โOh, Jungwon,โ Minji said, remembering something from earlier. Jungwon hummed in response, his mouth full of ice cream.ย
โDid you even start your applications? Our midterms are soon, so Iโm sure our guidance counsellors are going to approach you about it.โย
โAre you worried for me? Or do you want to use my application as a template for yours?โย
โIโฆโ Minji stayed silent as Baekseung stifled a laugh. She sent him a glare, causing him to clear his throat. What was he laughing at? He was bound to do the same exact thing.ย
โFine, you caught me. But hey, I have no idea what Iโm supposed to do!โ She exclaimed as Jungwon chuckled, getting up from his seat to throw away his ice cream wrapper.ย
โIf you want, I can assist youโโ
โGuys, guys!โ A classmate shouted while running into the classroom shocked. Everyoneโs heads turned to look at the said boy, more confused than ever. What lie was he about to spurt next?
โI just saw a pretty, pretty girl in the teacherโs office. I think sheโs a new student.โ He explained, however, nobody reacted.
โAre you lying to cover up the fact you were being scolded in the office?โ Another classmate asked, causing laughs to erupt from other students in the room. Jungwon smiled to himself, that was a good one.
โIโm serious! I heard she might even be smarter than Jungwon!โ The student exclaimed, causing Jungwonโs smile to falter and his pen to stop moving.
All eyes were focused on him as he slowly looked up at the shouting boy.ย
โEh, Iโm sure thereโs no one who can compare to his level!โ Baekseung said, patting Jungwon on his shoulder and smiling.ย
Jungwon was considered very smart for someone his age. It was a common compliment he received, but he didnโt hate it. It was quite ego-boosting.
โEveryone! Have a seat please.โ Ms. Eun walked through the doors of their classroom, and another student walked in a few moments later.ย
โObviously, Iโm sure youโre aware of the new student joining our class today! Please make (Name) (Last Name)ย feel welcome in our classroom!โ She explained as Jungwonโs eyes widened.
You were the same girl he saw in the hallways earlier. For some reason, his heart skipped a beat and his ears went numb at the sight of you.
โOh, Jungwon. (Name) also got perfect on the entrance exam and was the top student at her old school. It must be great to meet someone at your level.โ Ms. Eun smiled as all the emotions Jungwon had felt earlier plummeted.
So his classmate wasnโt lying. There was really someone who matched his skill of knowledge.ย
You looked over at the boy Ms. Eun referred to, noticing the way his expressions switched. At first glance, he was calm, but his eyes said otherwise.
They held an emotion youโve never seen in anyone elseโsโa desire to win. And, of course, you wouldnโt let him achieve that goal of his.
If someone were to win and maintain that top student rank, it would be you and you only.
You two hadnโt even spoken to one another, but within those 2 minutes of staring into each otherโs eyes, it was obvious you both saw each other as a threat.
No matter what, only one of you can have that title.
RANK TWO.
โJungwon, you havenโt looked up from your notebook this whole class,โ Minji said, turning around in her seat to face him.
โLiterally! Thereโs not even a single test coming up. What is there to be reviewed at this point?โ Baekseung chimed in with a frown.
Yet, Jungwon didnโt look up, easily proving their point. It had been a week since you first arrived at Earl View Academy.ย
A week since Jungwon first felt threatened by your appearance. His life was perfect until you arrived.
His friends swore they hadnโt had one single hangout since then, but he said otherwise.
โYou do know, you reviewing your notes while Minji and I converse without you, isnโt a hangout right?โ
Jungwonโs pencil stopped moving for a brief moment, only to start up again at an even faster pace.
He couldnโt fall behind you.ย
He glanced over at your focused state, glaring in the process. You seemed to be at ease and he wasnโt.ย
That shouldโve been him.ย
What happened to the perfect life that everyone wanted to live? The one where he could be happy and carefree even while passing all his classes with 100s?ย
โDonโt tell me you feel threatenedโโ
Jungwonโs pencil-led snapping silenced Baekseungโs voice almost immediately. He looked up at his friend, eyes darker than usual. There wasnโt his signature gleam that complimented his dimpled smile. He looked like he was ready to kill someone.
โMinjiโฆโ Baekseung called, signalling for her to take over the conversation. Sadly, that failed. She was just as scared as him.
โHey, I could, uhโฆ I could sharpen this for you!โ She exclaimed, instead of continuing the same topic as before.ย
She took the pencil out of his hold, but Jungwon silently searched his pencil case for another one.
He had no time to waste. He was almost done with his notes.
Minji took her seat again, placing the boyโs broken pencil beside his notebook with a soft, yet dragged-out โokay.โ
There wouldโve been no point in going anyway.ย
โDude, why donโt you let loose a bit?โ A classmate said to their friend and began shaking their shoulders.ย
โI canโt! You know how my mom is about my grades right nowโฆโ He mumbled, embarrassed.ย
The boy from earlier grabbed his basketball that rolled under his desk and bounced it around him.
โI know you want to play basketball right now, but thatโs okay. Iโll just play with Jungwon and his friends.โ He informed his friend, turning to look at Jungwon who wasnโt paying attention.
โYo, Jungwon! Catch this!โ He shouted, alerting both of his friends, but him.
He passed the ball, expecting Jungwonโor even Baekseungโto catch the ball, however, there was nothing.
Instead, the loud thud of a ball hitting your head, echoed throughout the classroom. At least, that managed to catch Jungwonโs attention.
Your pen fell out of your hand, landing on the desk. Your ears began to ring as frustrationโand a bit of lightheadednessโtook over your system.
โOh shit, Iโm so sorry.โ The classmate said, making his way over to you with a worried look.
It was only your second day and you were making enemies.
Yet, you couldnโt bother to accept his apology. You looked at him with a facial expression that not even his mom had ever given him. He was terrified.
โDoes this classroom look like a circus to you?โ You asked as a throbbing pain slowly began to settle in your head.ย
โAre you so unskilled that you canโt even hold a basketball properly? Actually, are you so childish to the point where you arenโt aware of classroom rules?โย
The atmosphere of the classroom vastly shifted. It was quite intense and unsettling.ย
His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water stunned by your words. He was speechless, how could he respond to that?
โPlease leave me alone, youโd only be a distraction to my studies.โ With that said, you returned to your work, acting as if the boy in front of you didnโt exist.
Jungwonโs brows furrowed at the sight, you were being so mean and for what?ย
The boy shamefully walked back to his seat as all his friends held in their laughs. He was already embarrassed enough, their laughs only adding to the fire.
Forget what Jungwon said about you being heaven-sent, the Devil mustโve sent you instead. He swore if he stared even longer, horns would grow on your head at any given moment.
So, he looked away and continued taking his notes.ย
โShe seems mean,โ Baekseung whispered to the two around him. Minji nodded in agreement, mentioning how she got chills from how you stared at the boy.ย
You proceeded to rub at your temples in an attempt to force away the throbbing migraine coming your way. You couldnโt take a break from studying.
You had to finish reviewing this material before anything at allโnot even a meal break was allowed in your Book of Rules.
โWhat do you guys want to do for lunch?โ Baekseung asked, gaining Jungwon and Minjiโs attention again.ย
โI heard theyโre going to play Basketball in the gym. You two should play as well!โ Minji exclaimed, which only resulted in Jungwonโs head perking up at the sport.
โIโm down,โ Jungwon said almost immediately. Baekseung and Minhoโs eyebrows rose at his quick decision. It was almost as if he wasnโt studying his butt off while ignoring his two chattery friends a moment ago.
โAre you sure? I thought you had to revise your notes.โ Baekseung verbalised his confusion as Jungwon began packing up his belongings.
โI already understand everything. A + B = X times 6โโ
โOkay! Okay. No more Math, please.โ Baekseung was quick to halt Jungwonโs equation with his index finger. He slowed down his pace when zipping up his backpack, taking in the words Baekseung uttered before.ย
A smile made its way to the boyโs face at the realisation of his friend's confusion. Baekseung definitely had no clue what they were learning in class.
โHurry! I donโt want to be late for team decisions.โ He exclaimed, hopping off of the desk he sat on.
Jungwon waved off his friendโs pestering and walked out of the classroom, the two trailing behind him.ย
You, on the other hand, struggled to focus on your work. The whole classroom was quiet and you were the only one left. Everyone had left for lunch, but you.ย
Yes, you loved quiet, however your migraine didnโt. The accompanied silence only made your migraine throb even more, a faint mic feedback noise to back it up.
Almost like you had a fever.
You placed your pencil down beside your notebook on your desk and stood up from your seat.ย
A quick stop at the nurse's office wouldnโt hurt anyone, right? It would benefit your studying session and get rid of your pain quite easily.
That was the only exception to your Book of Rules when it came to studying. Nothing else.
Jungwon shot the ball into the hoop, his hair and necktie flowing with his every movement. His uniform sleeves were rolled up, cuffed around the skin above his forearm, helping his gameplay style quite well.
Baekseung smiled at his friend, high-fiving him in the process.ย
โNice one! They wonโt beat us at this rate.โ He said, looking at the scoreboard that read 17-9. Maybe he wasn't exaggerating it like every other time.
Jungwon grinned, his dimples showing faintly. It wasnโt an all-tooth grin, more toothless. His lips were pursed into a thin line and his cheekbones were nearing his under eyes. It was enough to show his appreciation for his friendโs compliment.
His forehead was becoming a slightly sweaty state, causing his previously parted bangs to clump together and loosely stick to the damped skin.
There were 8 more points until the match was done. They didnโt have much time to play 4 full quarters, so they made a bet; first to 25 wins.ย
Sadly, no rewards could have been won by the players, making this Basketball game more enjoyable than competitive.ย
Jungwon didnโt have enough time though, he would almost need to return to studying quite soon. Seriously, he couldnโt fall behind someone like you.
โBaek,โ Jungwon whispered, hoping it was enough to gain his friendโs attention who stood across from him on the court, but it wasnโt enough at all.ย
โBaekseung!โ Jungwon called while raising his voice a bit over his usual tone. The said boy looked over with widened eyes in shock.
โSorry, I didnโt mean to scare you,โ Jungwon said, fighting back a snicker at his friendโs startled state.
โWell, I have to go now. Tell Min I said bye too.โ He said and walked past Baekseung, patting his shoulder as a way of saying goodbye.ย
As he walked out of the gymnasium doors, he shook his head, causing his hair strands to move around, some still sticking on his forehead.
He stretched his limbs and began revising the lesson from earlier.ย
The hallways were empty, leaving him with more of a quiet atmosphere to focus on his thoughts.ย
Jungwonโs lips moved, soft whispers of equations and problems leaving them. If there were other people here, they would give him the dirtiest looks right now. He most definitely looked psychotic.ย
Luckily, there wasnโt anyone. Yet.
The sound of the door sliding shut caught his attention and he looked up to see where it came from.ย
The nurseโs office was always a popular spot in their school, so it wasn't a shock that someone was leaving the room at this exact moment.ย
Surprisingly, it was a shock to him. He never thought you were the type to leave your desk ever.
Your brows furrowed at the sight before you.ย
A sight of disgust.
Yang Jungwon was the last person you wanted to see with your throbbing migraine. He was all sweaty, his hair glistened from the sweat droplets that stuck onto the strands, his necktie was loose, his uniform was dishevelled, and his face was a light shade of red due to the hotness of the gymnasium.
He looked disgusting.
Jungwon had no clue as to why you were glaring at him. He wasnโt the reason you ended up visiting the nurseโs office, so why were you giving him such a dirty look?
He should be the annoyed one at this exact moment. After all, you were the one who moved to Earl View Academy and ruined his โperfectโ life.
He looked back at you with a confused yet irritated expression on his features as the two of you stood in silence.
Jungwonโs eyes looked over your appearance, noticing how your hand was propped against your chest and holding an item he had seen before.
Your eyes followed his gaze and then widened at realisation. Out of reflex, you hid the painkillers behind your back, not wanting to come off as weak towards him.
You couldnโt let him see you as someone who wasnโt that much of a threat to his academic success.ย
In silence, you turned around, moving the pill bottle to your chest again, and made your way back to the classroom. For some reason, your movements aggravated Jungwonโs previous calm state.
God, he hated you so much. He couldnโt believe he once thought you were prettyโit would be a lie if he said he still didnโt. That didnโt matter though, you could be pretty and still have a snotty attitude.ย
That was a perfect description for you.
Although you thought you left Jungwon behind in front of the nurseโs office, to your dismay, you didnโt.ย
There he was, standing at the doorway of your once previous quiet study roomโor in other words, your homeform classroom.
You rolled your eyes after noticing him at the doorway and looked back at your notes.ย
He ignored your response to his presence and took a seat at his desk near the window. Jungwon slipped his hand into his backpack, grabbing his pencil case and notebook in the process.
A tense silence followed the two of you as you flipped your pages in sync and continued writing down more things in sync.
You were pausing more than he was due to the pain in your head which only slowed down your movements even more. Yes, you planned on taking the painkillers, but not when he was around.
Still, you couldnโt hold back. You had to do it or else you wouldnโt be able to study one bit.ย
Although the painkillers mentioned eating a meal before intaking the pills, you refused to follow the instructions. You had no time to take a break and find something to fill your stomach, especially when you were already falling behind Jungwonโs studying pace.
You reached for your bottle of water off your desk and popped a pill in your mouth, scarfing down water right after.ย
Jungwon looked up at the sound of pills shaking in a bottle. It was obvious it came from you, you were the only other person in the classroom.
It seemed like the basketball to your head earlier really took a toll on you. He didnโt blame you though, it truly did sound like it hurt.
Except, that wasnโt the only thing he noticed. Even if he was in one place all lunch, it seemed like you didnโt leave your seat at all. It was kept the exact same like he last saw it before lunch time.
Luckily, the sound of your stomach growling was enough to answer his unsaid question as he watched your ears turn a shade of red.
As much as you tried to pretend that didnโt happen, you were tremendously embarrassed. Still, you couldnโt eat.ย
Not yet at least.
โYou didnโt hear that.โ You mumbled, hoping it was loud enough for Jungwon to catch. He hummed in response while eyeing his work, not paying much attention to your silly incident.ย
He knew how embarrassing it could have been, so it was best not to engage.ย
Thankfully, God was on your side, ringing the bell a few seconds after Jungwon had hummed.ย
Soon after, students began flooding into the classroom and heading to their seats in loud crowds.ย
Therefore, your quiet time with the last person you wanted to spend it with, had ended.ย
RANK THREE.ย
โJungwon and (Name), please come up and answer the questions on the board.โย
Great.ย
It was only 10:30 AM on a Wednesday, and yet you were already going head-to-head with your rival.
Jungwon confidently made his way to the chalkboard and picked up a piece of chalk from the ledge.ย
You, on the other hand, paused for a moment after getting up from your seat. You were suddenly feeling lightheaded, and that was never a good sign.
However, if you didnโt make it over fast enough, he would for sure beat you in a blink. And so, you did. You rushed over and picked up a chalk stick, then began writing.
It was a simple equation to you, but to everyone else who didnโt understand the lesson, it wasnโt. It was way more complex to them than how it really was.
Jungwon was already halfway through answering the question whilst you havenโt even started. You wrote the given values on the side to keep track of the numbers you would use.ย
Easy, right?
Not quite.ย
You couldnโt focus at all even if there were no distractions nor was it loud in your classroom.ย
The only thing you could hear was the harsh sounds of Jungwon pressing his chalk against the board after he reached a new step.ย
Your ears became sensitive to any sound, causing you to even take note of the rhythm his piece of chalk followed when gliding against the blackboard. It was irritating you and annoying.
As much as you wanted to stop him from writing, you couldnโt because it was impossible. Your hand wouldnโt move one bit. Your vision became blurry, eyes fluttering shut and opening in a pattern.ย
โI think Iโm going to faint.โ You whispered, your words falling deaf on all ears, aside from Jungwonโs.
He didnโt pay much attention to your sentence, brushing it off as a dumb remark about his handwriting or something.ย
Truthfully, his calligraphy wasnโt the best when it came to using chalk, so you wouldnโt be wrong if you were to say something mean about it. He would only end up agreeing in the end.
Everything stilled for a brief moment before you lost your feeling in your hands, dropping the piece of chalk you held, and falling against the hardwood floor right after.
Gasps were emitted from your classmatesโones you couldnโt even hearโas Jungwon stilled his movements at the loud thud which caused him to flinch slightly.
Jungwon looked down as he still pressed the chalk on the board, his eyes widening and blood draining from his face at the sight.
โ(Name)?โ Your teacher called, hurriedly making her way towards your unconscious figure. However, there was no response.
โHey, Jungwon, you were on the track team last year, right?โ Ms. Ling asked as he nodded, swallowing and hoping the nauseated feeling in his stomach would disappear.
Spoiler alertโit didnโt.ย
โCould you run her to the nurseโs office, please?โ She asked, leaving the boy with no other choice but to say yes. If he were to say no, he would seem like a villain, and he couldnโt let that happen.
โOkay.โ He mumbled and placed the chalk on the ledge before crouching down, slipping an arm under your legs, and wrapping one around your back for extra support.
To his surprise, you were awfully light. A little too light for an average person. It was quite concerning.
Jungwon shook his head, making all his thoughts disappear in the process. He had no time to waste, he had to get you to the nurseโs office quicklyโhis teacherโs words, not his.
He slid open the door with his foot, shocked that he even managed to succeed himself, and placed you on an unoccupied bed.
Mrs. Oh, the nurse, emerged from her office with a concerned look after noticing the rush Jungwon was in.ย
โWhatโs wrong?โ She asked before seeing you who lied unconsciously on the bed.ย
โShe fainted a few moments ago in class.โ He explained while running a hand through his hair, followed by a sigh.
โFainted?โ The nurse asked and made her way to your still figure, reaching out to touch your pulse points.
โI donโt think itโs a fatal issue. Just hang around for a bit, Iโll run some short tests then you can tell your teacher why she fainted.โ Mrs. Oh said as Jungwon nodded.ย
He could just ask for the notes from Minji after class.ย
A few moments later, Mrs. Oh returned with a clipboard in her hand and a concerned look on her face.
โIs it bad?โ Jungwon asked, slightly worried about her response.
โOh, no.โ Mrs. Oh said, reassuring the boy, then opened her mouth to say something else.
โThing is, she hasnโt eaten for the last two days.โย
What?
RANK FOUR.
Jungwon walked down the hallways of the school, heading to the vending machine nearby. Mrs. Ohโs words replayed in his head many times. It had been a day since your visit to the nurseโs office, but he was still hooked on Mrs. Ohโs discovery.
He didnโt know why he cared that you hadnโt eaten for two days. That was your problem not his.
Yet, he couldnโt help but feel quite worried about your health. How the hell were you still at his level of academic achievements even if you werenโt eating to fuel your brain?
It was crazy. Not even he could survive an hour without a small snack to keep him going. So, how did you even manage to survive?
More of Mrs. Ohโs words flooded through Jungwonโs head, mainly focusing on the fact she put him in charge of making sure you were eating.
Was it not obvious you two hated each other? Well, maybe not since you were fast asleep, but to him it was.
What the hell was he supposed to do to monitor your food intake? Buy you snacks and drinks from the vending machines at their school?ย
Actuallyโฆ that wasnโt such a bad idea. It could work for him, but would it work for you? Would you even accept his offers?
You were hard to work with in the first place. There was no way he would follow upon Mrs. Ohโs request. That was your problem and only yours. Not his.
Nevertheless, that didnโt explain the fact he was currently punching in the number two into the vending machine, expecting two granola bars to follow through the hole.
Of course, it wouldnโt be enough to fill him up this lunch, but he had no other choice. He was already exhausted enough from playing football outdoors, leaving him with no more energy to wait in line for food in the cafeteria.
He grabbed the granola bars and made his way to room 116โhis home room.ย
He was excited for the peace and quiet he was about to experience. Nobody ever came to school this early. It was 7:30 AM after all.
School started at 8:20 AM.ย
If you were to show up at the bell, he could save the granola bar until lunch and give it to you when the room was empty.
Nobody could know that he was interacting with you, especially not after you two made it clear you wanted nothing to do with each other.
โOh, hey, Jungwon! Itโs been quite a bit since I saw you first thing in the morning.โ A faculty member said, greeting the boy. He smiled at the teacher and nodded.
It wasnโt a lie. Jungwon always came early, yes, but he never went straight to class. He was either shooting hoops in the gym or doing his morning jog around the track in the field.
The September breeze blew the trees outside as Jungwon watched the leaves sway while walking to class. The windows in the hallways were wide, emitting a bright light into Earl View Academy.
It really suited the vibe he was going for.
But you didnโt.
Jungwon noticed your focused figure, his mood dropping immediately. He was glad you were okay, but not glad that you were in class.
He wanted alone time today, nothing else.
Jungwon put on a straight face, avoiding eye contact with you while walking to his seat. He swiftly placed the granola bar on your desk and moved away as if he didnโt.
You looked down at the granola bar, then to the boy who walked away in silence.
Before you could say anything, he was quick to silence your โirritatingโ voice.
โJust eat it. Mrs. Oh is making me monitor your meals even if I donโt want to.โย
He said without any other explanation. You looked back at the granola bar, hearing Jungwon sit down and begin opening his snack due to the loud rustling of the wrapper.
Instead of doing the same, you pushed the granola bar to the side and returned back to your studies. Once again, your โBook of Rulesโ said no meals until you were done reviewing.
Jungwon opened his notebook, flipping through the filled pages to find an empty one and begin his studying. He was holding the granola bar in one hand and eating at the same time.
It wasnโt hard at all, which only confused him since you werenโt doing the same.
โArenโt you going to eat it?โ He asked, but you ignored him, staring into your notebook in silence.ย
The boy scoffed, looking out the window in disbelief. He doesnโt even know why Mrs. Oh trusted him with this โtaskโ. He couldnโt say no though, he would have felt guilty to face her again.
Honestly, he was still shocked at the news from yesterday. What did she mean you didnโt eat for 2 days?ย
Was this an often routine of yours? Was that why you were so concerningly light when he carried you? You were always studying and never seemed like you took any breaks, which only left him wondering.
Seriously, did you ever eat?
โWhat?โ You asked, stiffening and turning around to look at the bow. There was a look of annoyance present on your face, only causing Jungwon to stare back in confusion.
โWhat?โ He questioned back. Why were you looking at him like that even after you blatantly ignored him a moment ago?
โWhy is it your business if I ever eat or not?โย
Hold on. Did Jungwon think aloud earlier? Was that why you were acting this way?
โIโฆโ He said, fumbling over his words. Truly, how should he respond to that? You werenโt wrong about it not being his business to careโeven if you didnโt say that.ย
He didnโt want to care if you did or not. Still, he couldnโt explain why he was so curious about it.ย
โMrs. Oh told me in the nurseโs office that you fainted because your last meal was two days agoโฆโ Jungwon began as your brows furrowed.
โSo? Why should you care if that were to happen or not?โ You asked.
Once again, you werenโt wrong.
โYouโre telling me, you wouldnโt be a little bit concerned about someone who hadnโt eaten for 2 days?โย
โIf it was part of my business, sure, but if itโs not, then no.โ
Jungwon pursed his lips, unsure of what to say next. He tried to think of it, but it ended up coming out on his own. He would definitely regret this later.
โWhy?โ He started.
โWhy do you do that?โย
You remained silent and so did he. There was an obvious tension in the air and the both of you felt it easily.
You averted your eyes away from his overpowering gaze, suddenly feeling all fragile due to his sudden question.ย
โMind your own business.โ You mumbled before turning around to face your desk again.ย
Normally, youโd return to studying immediately, but this time you were quiet as you stared at your notebook.
You always had answers for questions. Always. However, nobody had ever asked you a question like that, and for some reason, you couldnโt find an answer for it.
Jungwon sighed and shook his head. He didnโt blame you for not answering and getting all defensive instead. It was a question that could pry into anyoneโs private life, and obviously, you two were nowhere near a basis like that.
โAt least eat the granola bar. I donโt want Mrs. Oh on my ass about anything.โ He said before picking up his pencil and writing on his plain notebook.ย
At the sound of his words, your gaze shifted to the pink wrapper on the granola, noticing how it was strawberry flavoured, one of your favourites.ย
Maybe you could reconsider eating the snack he got you even if it was going against your rules. It was obvious he wouldnโt leave you alone if you didnโt.
You unwrapped the granola bar, making sure to not crush the treat inside as the bell went so suddenly.
You were both shocked at how much time went past at such a fast pace as a certain thought crossed your mind.
It was time to start another school day.
RANK FIVE.
Ever since that day, Jungwon continuously dropped you off snacks in a discreet manner.ย
Although you never wanted to eat them, he made you. Your secret rule was slowly being forgotten because of his actions.
โHey,โ he called from his window seat, causing you to remove an earbud from your ear.
โAre you allergic to anything?โย
โWhy?โย
Jungwon stared at you in silence. Were you really asking him that question?
โSo I donโt get you anything thatโll kill youโฆโ He said in a tone of disbelief, but you didnโt react.
โWhy are you still doing this? Mrs. Oh mustโve forgotten about my visit by now. You can stop.โย
You turned away and continued writing in your notebook, leaving Jungwon baffled.
He hated how you were never wrong. Mrs. Oh definitely forgot about your visit from a few weeks ago, but Jungwon couldnโt stop his habit of giving you snacks.ย
Why?
โYouโre telling me you rather faint continuously?โ Jungwon asked, halting the hand that went to put your earbud in your ear.
โThatโs not a healthy habit. Seriously, youโre going to end up visiting the ER next.โ
โAs if that hasnโt happened before.โ You mumbled and successfully put your earbud in your ear.
Jungwonโs face contorted in confusion, unsure of what you had said. It didnโt seem like the remark he expected, but he shrugged it off.ย
Whatever.
โJungwon!โ Baekseung exclaimed, running up to the boy and hugging him from behind.
Jungwon stumbled over his feet at the sudden embrace as Minji chuckled from behind the two.
โYouโre acting like you havenโt seen him in a decade.โ She said, crossing her arms once she reached them.
The hallway they stood in was emptyโaside from the 3 being there.ย
Jungwon wasnโt even aware that he was in the hallway at the moment. His mind was elsewhere when he left the classroom.
Yes, he said he didnโt care about what you said, but he secretly did.
Did he hit a nerve or did he hit one of your soft spots? For the last few weeks, it was obvious there was a lot to you that nobody knew of, yet, Jungwon was close to finding them out.
He felt bad due to your reaction from earlier and a few days ago. Maybe he should really watch what he says from now on.
โWhatโs up? Do you have your head up in the clouds or something?โ Baekseung asked, teasingly.
Jungwon shook out of his thoughts and looked at the boy.
โThat was terrible. Never say that again.โ He said, causing Baekseung to frown and Minji to laugh.
โStill, heโs right. Whatโs up with you lately?โ Minji asked.
The three walked down the hallways, passing time before their next period started.ย
โWhat do you mean whatโs up with me?โ He asked, confused at their questions.ย
โYouโre constantly spacing out today. Plus, youโre never running or playing basketball outside in the mornings either. I havenโt seen you for a bit every time I arrive at school.โ Baekseung explained.
โDude!โ He exclaimed, tapping Jungwonโs shoulder to bring him back from his trance.ย
Jungwon looked over at Baekseung, startled from the harsh tap.
โWhat was that for?!โ He exclaimed.
โYou were doing it again. Seriously, whatโs up with you?โย
The three remained silent upon Baekseungโs question; Minji and Baekseung waited for Jungwonโs response while he thought of one.
What the hell was he supposed to say?ย
โIs it her?โ Minji asked, chiming into Jungwonโs thoughts.
โYour rival.โ She added after seeing Jungwonโs confused face.
He didnโt reply to her question, instead he stayed quieter than ever. Not a peep came out of his mouth. They were almost sure he stopped breathing too.
โSo it is! I knew it. Pay up, Baekseung.โ Minji said with a bright smile on her face while holding her hand out in front of Baekseung.
Baekseung frowned, glaring at Jungwon as he reached into his pocket for the 10 dollar bill he promised Minji. She looked at the buck, facing the light in case it was fake.
โItโs not fake!โ He exclaimed as she chuckled.ย
โYou never know.โ Minji said and slipped the $10 into her pocket.
โWait, you guys placed a bet on me?โ Jungwon asked in disbelief.
โWell, yeah. I bet that you liked (Name) and Baekseung said you were just hooked on your university applications.โ Minji said, leaning closer to Jungwon.ย
โHe knows nothing about love.โย
โI do!โ Baekseung blurted, embarrassed at Minjiโs remark. She looked over at her and shushed him with a finger on his lip.
โNo, you donโt. Just accept that.โย
Jungwon shook his head, still shocked at what his friends managed to do. Why would he even be hooked on his university applications if he was 100 percent sure heโd get accepted?
Plus, liking you was definitely out of his range. Wait, liking you?
โI donโt like her! What made you ever think that?!โ He exclaimed, his hands flying up in defence.ย
โYes. Yes, you do. Donโt fear it, Jungwon.โย
Minji looked over at the boy with a teasing smile. Jungwon was a little terrified at the look Minji gave him with her finger still over Baekseungโs lips.
She truly seemed psychotic.ย
He began speed walking away from the two with hopes that he could escape the so-called assumptions. How would Minji know he liked you before he even knew himself?ย
Pfft, she was completely wrong.
Jungwon looked at the board, writing his last bits of notes with small diagrams to go along with them.ย
He was starving, but luckily, lunch was soon.ย
Speaking of lunch, he wondered what snack he should bring you today. You refused to tell him what you were allergic to, so he couldnโt just get you anything.
He looked up from his notebook, stealing a glance at your seat.
Well, he thought it was your seat, but instead, there was someone slouched over the desk instead.
He continued looking around for you, maybe you switched seats without him knowing?ย
No, that couldnโt be it. He saw you in the same seat this morning before classes. So, was it really you who was slouched over the desk?
That was surprising. You were always the one to be over the top when it came to education, yet, here you were knocked out mid-lesson.
โFor homework, please complete pages 4 and 6. Enjoy your day everyone!โ The teacher said while closing their lesson planner and leaving the classroom.
The bell sounded, signalling that lunch had begun while Baekseung and Minji took that as a chance to bother their friend, Jungwon.
โHey!โ Baekseung cheered, sitting down on the window sill like always.
Jungwon looked up at the boy with a smile as Minji turned around in her seat.ย
โSeems like you donโt have much of a competition anymore.โ She said, silently hinting at the girl who was fast asleepโyou.
Not even the bell woke you up. You mustโve had a rough night then.
Even if it had been 5 seconds since Minji spoke, Jungwonโs eyes never left you. He was genuinely concerned for your wellbeing.
โBaekseung, didnโt you say you wanted to go to the fast food restaurant nearby for lunch today?โ Minji asked, looking up at the boy who stared back in confusion.
โWhatโโย
Minji silenced him with a light slap on his leg, sending him a glare and mouthed the words โplay along.โ
โOh, yeah! Iโve been craving a burger all day.โ Baekseung blurted while nonchalantly rubbing on his leg and dragging out the word โall.โ
โJungwon, did you want anything from the fast food restaurant?โ Minji asked and looked at him.
But he was still stuck in his trance.ย
โWeโll get him fries.โ She whispered to the boy on the window sill. The two left as quietly as they could, leaving you and Jungwon alone in the classroom.
He observed your silent state, watching how your back raised softly as you breathed. The sunlight from the windows shined on your face, making your eyelashes more visible than others.
You looked so peaceful and so relaxed. It was the first time he had ever seen you this calm and not stuffing your head in your notebooks, rubbing at your temples in a stressful way, harshly sighing and placing your pencil down when you were feeling tired or didnโt understand the formula. It was a great sight.
Jungwon was so focused on you that he didn't notice the smile on his face.ย ย
He was smiling because of his arch nemesis. Well, could he even call you his arch nemesis if he cared about you so much?
Probably not.
The vending machine beeped as the four items hit the bottom of it. Jungwon reached down to grab the items and made his way back to class.
Was he out of his mind for still getting you snacks? Possibly. But he couldnโt stop himself, it became a habit of his.ย
At least you never wasted the snacks he got you. There was one point of the day where you would eat them casually, not even paying much attention to the item in your hold. It became a habit of yours too.
Eventually, the rule became forgotten, but only at school. It still affected you at home.
You woke up in a panic. The classroom you sat in was empty, just like your notebook. The one you significantly chose for the subject.
You looked around, eyes squinting at the bright light from the uncovered windows, taking in the fact nobodyโnot even Jungwonโwas with you.ย
Great. You were so behindโsomething you hated.
You panicked, looking at the board to only be met with erase marks of todayโs lesson. There was no way you could scavenge with something so little.ย
Out of habit, you looked down at your desk and rubbed at your temples with your fingers, more stressed out than ever.
You couldnโt fall behind nor could you fail. That was your worst nightmare. Did your parents care if you were to fail a class or fall behind? Not at all. They only cared about you and your health, yet you hated that.
Honestly, growing up, you tended to be naturally good at the things you did. Your parents were, of course, super proud of you, but you didnโt think it was enough.ย
You never thought anything was enough.
So, studying continuously, fainting continuously, and even starving yourself continuously became a natural routine of yours just to seek academic validation.
If you werenโt at the top of your class or your studies, you werenโt sure how your future would turn out. You would probably end up lower than ever.
No wonder you were so frustrated with yourself. How could you slack off, let alone fall asleep all class? That was so not like you.ย
You were very disappointed.
The feeling of a sudden coldness on your arm made you jolt. You looked up, wondering where it came from, only to notice the boy who stood before you, Yang Jungwon.
You both looked into each otherโs eyesโfor the first time, you werenโt glaring. Your vision was quite blurry because of the tears that threatened to fall while he could see you perfectly fine.ย
He nonchalantly placed the beverage on your desk followed by the poptart. He then made his way to his seat and sat down silently.
You stared at the two items on your desk, holding back your tears. There was nothing about the bottled coffee or the poptart that made you emotional, it was yourself and Jungwon.
You were jealous of him.
The more you attended Earl View Academy, the more you noticed how everyone adored the boy. Everyone, including staff members.
He made friends quite easily and got along with anyone possible.
However, you were the complete opposite. You had your own circle which consisted entirely of yourself and your studying materials, nothing else.
You rarely conversed with anyone, but when you did, it was always harsh. Things easily ticked you off, causing you to confront the so-called things pretty quickly.
Due to this, you were never envisioned as someone who was approachable. Even if you were on top of your studies and understood everything going on, not even many teachers took a liking to you.
It was rare to see one that did.ย
There were a few times where you tried to maintain certain friendships, but they all ended quite fast. Their reasonings were always the sameโyou never had time to hang out with them, but you always had time to study.
They eventually fell tired of you and left you behind to befriend someone else. They always regretted even trying something with you because it always turned out to be a โwaste of their time.โ
Jungwon placed his opened notebook on your desk so you could copy down the notes he took in class.
โThe homework is page 4 and 6 today. If you donโt understand anything, I could explain it to you if you want.โ He said before walking back to his seat.ย
He shouldnโt be this helpful to you. You two were โrivalsโ after allโsomething you both silently yet mutually agreed on. Nevertheless, he couldnโt help himself. Even the sight of your tear filled eyes managed to make him feel a bit hurt.
He probably wasnโt even the cause of it, yet he felt like he was.
โHow do you do it?โ You asked, catching him off guard. He looked up from his phone and at the back of your head because you refused to face him in such a vulnerable state.ย
โDo what? Oh, the work? Hold on, let meโโ
โNot that.โ You said, interrupting him as he halted in his tracks.
โโฆThen what?โ He asked hesitantly. He genuinely had no clue what you meant. Either Jungwon couldnโt read between the lines, or he was just too stupid.
โHow do I be like you?โย
RANK SIX.
Jungwon stood in silence, stunned at your sudden question. He was never asked such a thing from someone like you.ย
Children were always the one to ask him that exact question, which only left him with one possible answer every time.
โYouโre already like me. Smart and strong.โ
It was very cringey, but every child felt confident after hearing his words. Still, you were nowhere near a child, so how could he respond to your question?
โWhat do you mean?โ Was all he could think of. He didnโt want you to seem weak or anything, so he kept it simple and short.
Maybe an elaboration would help him with an answer next time.
โYouโre soโฆ perfect. All staff members and students adore you, or even look up to you. You always balance your time, making enough space to hangout with your friends and study at the same time. Youโre athletic, smart, most likely a great son, and your parents are probably so proud of you for maintaining the top student rank continuously.โ You ranted, leaving him flattered and quite flustered but confused at the same time.
โPerfect?โ He asked, genuinely curious about what made you think that.ย
โYes, youโre so perfect. Iโm jealous of you.โ You added, finishing off your sentence while turning to face him.ย
โYouโre jealous of me?โย
Truly, in Jungwonโs eyes there was nothing about him to be jealous of. He had his own ups and downs, but managed to keep his composure around his friends and many others.
โHonestly, (Name), youโre fine the way you are. Yes, you have some unhealthy habits, but that doesnโt mean they canโt change.โ Jungwon said while walking towards the seat in front of you.ย
โI wouldnโt say Iโm perfect either. Of course, Iโm going to sound a bit cringey, but all of us have things we donโt show. Like, I couldโve cried on my way to class.โย
โDid you?โ
โDid I do what?โ Jungwon asked while taking a seat.ย
โOh. No, that was just an example. I would never cry where people could see or hear.โย
His eyes slightly widened as he raised his hands up in defence.ย
โI didnโt mean you shouldnโt! Do whatever you feel comfortable with.โ He said, hoping he didnโt offend you.
You used your sleeves to wipe away the few tears that managed to fall, then looked at the boy in front of you.ย
โI donโt know why Iโm about to tell you this, but I really need to get it off my chest.โย
โGo on,โ Jungwon said in a soft voice.
Although he waited for you to speak, you hesitated. Could you even trust him? You two started off as rivals, and still were rivals, but didnโt show it as much.
Whatever, speaking your mind wouldnโt hurt.
โHonestly, itโs not that I need to be on top of my work for my parents to adore me, they do. They very much do and show it every day, but itโs me who thinks it is not enough.โ You said.
โI believe if Iโm distracted, I wonโt be able to achieve my academic goals to the fullest, you know?โย
Jungwon nodded even if he didnโt get what you meant. He understood achieving your academic goals, but not to the point where he couldnโt do so if he were distracted.
โI mean, yeah, but considering eating meals or taking breaks as a distraction isnโt good for your mental healthโor your health in general,โ Jungwon explained as your eyes narrowed.
โAre you scolding me right now?โย
โQuite literally.โย
You rolled your eyes at Jungwonโs words, waving them off as if they meant nothing.ย
โPretend this didnโt happen. Tell anyone, and Iโll make sure your life in Earl View Academy is almost unbearable.โ You threatened, sending daggers at the boy.
โHow so?โ He asked, curious as to what tricks you could pull.
โIโll beat you on every test, Iโll beat you on the final exam, and even make sure you donโt get accepted into University of Seoul.โย
โOkayโฆ However, in return, you have to at the very least tell me what youโre allergic to.โ Jungwon said with pleading eyes.
You were shocked that was all he wanted in return. He really wanted to know what you were allergic to, but why? What good would that bring him if he knew what you could and couldnโt eat?
โWhy are you so curious about that?โ
โDude, you really want me to end up killing you?โ His words sounded like he was joking, but he wasnโt.
โNoโฆ I could just eat what I know I can and what I know I canโt.โย
Jungwon continued to stare at you, waiting for you to give him the actual answer he wanted. You sighed and gave into his silent begs.
โThereโs nothing.โ
He remained quiet, his head tilting like a lost cat.
โThereโs nothing that Iโm allergic to. Iโll eat anything.โ You informed the boy as he held back a smile.
โPerfect.โ He whispered before grabbing the notebook he gave you earlier.
โWhat do you mean by perfect?โ You asked, causing Jungwon to glance at you with a slight smile on his lips.
โYouโll see.โ
RANK SEVEN.
To be honest, yesterday you went home wondering what Jungwon was hinting at.
He pretended as if he had never brought up anything and proceeded to teach you todayโs materials. It was annoying.
Yes, you wanted to know badly, but begging wouldnโt even get him to tell you anything.ย
You adjusted your name tag while looking in the mirror, wondering what else you should fix up.
There was 5 minutes before you had to leave for school. Five minutes before you would get to see Jungwon.
You had no clue why you were a bit excited to see him. Usually, you never were. It was weird.
Part of you was glad he listened to what you had to say yesterday, it felt nice to get it off your chest. However, the other part of you felt ecstatic and let your heart thump even at the thought of seeing the boy.
What happened to the part of you that deeply hated him?ย
You couldnโt start liking Jungwon. At least, not when there was a possibility that he still hated you or saw you like his competition.
Right?
Jungwon stretched his limbs before reaching down to tie his laces. It had been a while since he ran around the track in the morning. He wanted to see if he still had it in him.ย
He couldnโt let his stamina fall because of his so-called continuous studying habits. It was also a great way to get his mind off of things, for example, you.
After yesterdayโs conversation, for some reason he felt terrible about what you said. Was it his fault? No. But obviously, there was a time and place where he was in the same boat as you.
Trust him, it wasnโt the best.
This morning, he woke up extra earlier than usual because he had a lot to doโcook. He hand picked a recipe he believed you both would enjoy, and cooked all morning so it was nice and fresh by lunch.
It was way better than constantly getting snacks from the vending machine. Now, you could actually gain nutrients while eating.ย
He was very excited.
But why? Why was he excited to share a meal with you? There wasnโt anything going on between, aside from your quiet studying times halfway through lunch, the conversation from yesterday, and the times you two have been paired up or went head-to-head in class.
Other than that, what was there to really be excited about?
Jungwon slowed down his pace, then leaned over while placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
Or was he just excited to see you? What was the meaning of all this?ย
Were you the reason his heart raced as if he did his morning runs whenever he was in class? Were you the reason he was always planning what he wanted to buy the two of you on his way to school? He rarely ever did that when you didnโt attend Earl View Academy.
So, were you really the reason?
You took a seat at your desk, pulling out your studying equipmentโa normal routine of yours. You always arrived at the same time, 7:30 AM, with Jungwon arriving a little after.
Shockingly, even with 5 minutes passing, he didnโt appear. That was odd, he was always on time.
You shook your head, brushing off the fact he hadnโt arrived yet. The things he taught you yesterday were the only materials you had to review this morning.
You couldnโt fall behind so easily.ย
When you went home, you decided to take a break. A was a rare sight since you were always studying all night and all morning, nobody could stop you.
But for some reason, Jungwon was able to change part of your โunhealthyโ studying habits. At your old school, it was impossible for that to happen. Not even your short-term friendships changed anything.
It was the same old โBook of Rulesโ you followed with no updates.ย
The door slid open, showcasing an exhausted Jungwon. He walked over to the seat in front of you and placed the two snacks in an empty spot on your desk then took a seat.
It wasnโt at his actual desk, instead, it was the one in front of you.ย
โWhy do you seem so tired?โ You asked, noticing his droopy eyes.
โI ran around the track today. Itโs been a while since Iโve done it, so I guess I pushed my limits.โ He explained while yawning. He stretched his arms before examining your desk; there was a partially empty space at the edge of your desk.ย
It looked like it could fit most of his arms and head.
โCan I?โ He questioned while gesturing at the spot from earlier. You nodded, not giving him any other reaction.ย
Your heart was already racing from the โcloseโ proximity he provided. You had to keep it lowkey.
โThanks. Wake me up a few minutes before the bell.โ He said and dozed off to dreamland.
The classroom fell silent, the only thing being heard was the rustling leaves from the wind that travelled through the sky, your pencil gliding on the piece of paper you wrote on, sounding like music to Jungwonโs ears.
It was a relaxing sound. Not even close to irritating.
There were moments where you snuck in a few glances, noticing the way his face looked peaceful and less irritating than when he was wide awake. His breathing was at a usual pace as his back rose and fell at his command.
He was quite the pretty sleeper.
The formula of your work suddenly started to not make any sense. You searched the article you were looking at, realisation only hitting you a bit after.
You were working on your English, not Math. No wonder your formulas werenโt making any sense. Clearly, with how close Jungwon was to you, it was obvious you couldnโt think straight.
How often did someone mix up English work with Mathematics? It was never that often, and yet, you still managed to make the mistake.
You picked up your highlighter, forgetting about the embarrassing situation from earlier, and began highlighting simple concepts that you would need to remember when answering the questions.
Without you knowing, 30 minutes of silence passed between the two of you. You were surprised he didnโt wake up from the sound of your beating heart, because to you, it was quite loud.
You hesitated on waking up the boy in front of you. He was sound asleep. What if he woke up cranky?ย
Still, he requested for you to wake him up a few minutes before the bell. He wouldnโt be mad if you did so, right?
You softly placed your hand on his shoulder and gently shook him at a slow pace. There wasnโt much momentum, however, it was still enough to wake him up.
His eyes slowly opened, eyeing the area he sat in.
He could barely see, eyes still blurred with his sleepiness. Jungwon blinked a few times before looking in front of him, spotting your shocked figure.
โMorning.โ He mumbled, his words cutting short because of a yawn. He stretched his arms before looking over at the clock.
It was only 8:20 AM. It always shocked you how students werenโt filling up the classroom around this time. They always arrived at least 5 minutes before the bell. Even if it was shocking, it was quite satisfying how everyone was still on time.
โWhatโre you working on?โ Jungwon asked, slightly curious about the reason you held a highlighter.ย
โEnglish,โ you muttered. He hummed at your words and continued to inspect your desk.
โYou didnโt eat?โ He asked, pointing at the neatly kept snacks. It looked the same as when he first gave you them.ย
You shook your head. You completely forgot about the snacks. Instead, you were more focused on calming your racing heart, so it wouldnโt have woken him up.
โEat. At least three pieces before the lesson starts.โ He said. The snacks he brought the both of you were a small packet of animal crackers. One of Jungwonโs favourites as a child.
You paused for a moment, debating if you should follow through with his request. He was staring at you, once again, causing you to feel fragile under his gaze. There was no way he would stop if you didnโt eat.
You placed your highlighter down and grabbed one of the two packets. Hopefully, that would help his strong state.
Honestly, you couldnโt help but feel taken care of because of Jungwonโs acts. Your parents were amazing to you. There was no doubt about it. Still, with Jungwon, there was a new feeling youโve never felt with anyone else.
At your old school, you wouldnโt even have a chance at something like this. If you fainted, there was only a tiny bit of shock from others. It happened very often because of your bad habits that it became so natural to those who studied and worked there.ย
But if you were to faint around Jungwon or anyone else in this school, they would be very worried. The nurse at Earl View Academy even instructed Jungwon to watch over your eating habits.ย
At first, you didnโt like the idea of having a so-called babysitter, but eventually it felt nice to know someone possibly cared about you. He started off as your number one threat, and became the person you looked forward to seeing most.ย
To him, you started off as someone he could never trust and his one and only arch nemesis, and became the person he watched over and enjoyed being around.ย
Well, look how the tables turned.
โAlso,โ Jungwon said, chiming into your thoughts. Your attention was then focused onto the boy who stood up from his previous seat with his animal crackers in hold.
โYouโre doing great.โ He said as the bell rang as if it were completing his sentence.ย
He sat in his assigned seat at the window while students began filling up the classroom. Maybe they were a little delayed today, but your heart for sure wasnโt.
You were concerned as to why Jungwonโs words had such an effect on your wellbeing, judging from how fast your heart rate was going.
You didnโt even know it was possible to experience such a rush of adrenaline. Your face felt warm as you recalled his words.ย
Was he perhaps referring to yesterdayโs incident?ย
No matter what the reason was, youโve never been told something like that. It was always about taking a break and slowing your pace. Even mentioning how you were trying too hard and needed to pay more attention to yourself.
But the words โyouโre doing greatโ were different. It felt like they were filling a void in your life that you didnโt even know existed.ย
Whatever it was, you were thankful.ย
Thankful for Jungwon.ย
Jungwon watched as the ball ricocheted off the rim of the net, sighing in disappointment.ย
โGosh, straighten up.โ Baekseung said and tossed the ball back to his friend.
The trio stood inside the empty gymnasium, shooting hoops for fun, until it became serious. Baekseung was quite literally concerned for Jungwonโs wellbeing.
He was missing every one of his shots.ย
โYou do remember he did Track and not Basketball like you, Baek, right?โ Minji asked while flipping through the pages of her book.ย
โI mean, yeah, but heโs never this bad.โ Baekseung replied, emphasising his words.
โIโm literally right here.โย
โOh, my bad.โย
Minji chuckled at the two, looking away at her book while placing a bookmark between the two pages she stopped on.ย
โWon, whatโs on your mind?โ She asked.ย
Great, here comes round two.
โI swear we didnโt put a bet on anything this time. Feel free to tell us anything.โย
Jungwon sighed, letting himself loose. It was now or never. He needed to settle things, so he could peacefully continue along with his day.
Soโฆย
โHow would you confirm your feelings for someone?โย
RANK EIGHT.
Minji blinked her eyes in silence as Baekseung held the basketball in his hand with a dropped jaw.
Judging by their reactions, it was obvious they didnโt know what to say, leaving Jungwon feeling embarrassed.
โNevermind, forget I said that.โ
โNo, no.โ Minji said, shaking her head.
โWe were justโฆ stunned, thatโs all.โ She reassured Jungwon whoโs ears turned a light shade of red out of embarrassment.
โIs this about a particular someone?โ Minji questioned, slightly wanting it to be you.ย
She had been noticing the difference between Jungwonโs behaviour now and the first time you arrived. Nowadays, he was always looking at you with adoration in his eyes instead of an intense glare.
It was definitely different between you two.
โYou know who it is, donโt you?โ Jungwon asked, judging by her expression. It looked like she was holding off on saying something. She was terrible at hiding her expressions.
โWait, Iโm so confused,โ Baekseung chimed in, dropping the basketball and making his way closer to the two.
โItโs (Name), right? The atmosphere between you two is so much different than before.โ
Jungwon remained quiet upon Minjiโs words. She wasnโt wrong, but she was very observant. Even Jungwon hadnโt noticed the change between you and him.
โYour silence is the only answer we need.โ Baekseung said with a sly smile.ย
What? Who wouldnโt act the same way after finding out his best friend had a crush on someone?
โIt isโฆโ Jungwon mumbled.ย
โOkay. First question isโฆ how do you feel when youโre near her?โย
Oh.ย
Well, that could go a long wayโฆ There was at least a list of possible feelings, so where should he even start?
โTingly. I feel tingly.โ He said, recalling the moments he was with you.
To be honest, he was shocked you hadnโt realised how red the tip of his ears were when he fell asleep in front of you. It was almost an impossible process for him to sleep, but he managed.
โSometimes, my ears become warm and my heart flutters at the sight of her smile or if I were to make her laughโฆโ He paused, thinking of more things to say.
โAndโโ
โYeah, you definitely like her.โ Baekseung interrupted with a shock yet disgusted look on his face.ย
โI do?โ Jungwon asked, looking at the boy with wide eyes.ย
Baekseung nodded, causing him to look over at Minji who only did the same as Baekseung in return.
โAre you ever going to tell her?โ Minji asked, opening up her book once again.ย
โIโd embarrass myself terribly. Weโre still kinda rivals in some way. Wouldnโt it be weird if I were to suddenly confess my attraction to her?โย
โOkay, Shakespeare, what the hell do you mean by attraction?โ Baekseung asked as Minji chuckled.ย
โHe means feelings, Baek.โย
โOhโฆ That makes sense. I say do it, what is there to waste? You only live once.โ He explained as Jungwon rolled his eyes.
It was a corny saying he had been told all his life, but they were never wrong. Things always turned out good for him if he at least tried them. Therefore, it wouldnโt hurt to profess his love for you, right?
โJungwon, itโs 11:30, donโt you have to go now?โ Minji questioned after checking the time on her phone.
โAh, right. Thanks Min, thanks Baek.โ He said before smiling at them and leaving.ย
To be honest, Jungwon was expecting a longer explanation to his feelings, but comparing these moments to a book, it was awfully obvious that he liked you. It mustโve flown past his head the first time.ย
You stared at the clock, awaiting Jungwonโs arrival. This was the first time you had caught yourself doing something like this. Usually, your head would be stuffed in your notebook right now, but after discovering these possible feelings for the boy you spend lunch with daily, things have changed.
Your habits mustโve been one of them.
There were moments where you glanced at the door, hoping that he would appear after every glance, but he didnโt.ย
โSorry.โ A voice emitted from the doorway, heavy panting followed through. Your head whipped over, noticing the boy you were waiting for all this time. He looked up from the floor, making straight eye contact with you.
He was subtly sweaty, making it obvious that he ran here. Yes, it was a disgusting look, but to youโฆ
He looked disgustingly handsome. It was odd, very odd, that the look made your heartbeat race. You couldnโt deny it, you definitely liked Jungwon.ย
โYouโre late.โ You said in a teasing tone. You could care less if he was late or not, but it was fun to joke around with him.
โIโm aware.โ Jungwon joked back while walking towards his seat.
โAre you hungry?โ He asked while reaching into his backpack. You stayed silent, not sure how to answer that question.ย
โBe honest.โ He said in a serious tone and grabbed the meal he cooked this morning.ย
โA little bit.โ You replied as he took a seat in front of you. You eyed the containers he placed on the empty space, causing you to move your notebooks aside to create more.
He opened the containers one-by-one, leaving you stunned with every single meal. Once he was left with one container, he looked up to see your reaction, smiling at your childish look.
โDoes it look good?โย
His question brought you out of your trance, causing you to straighten up immediately.
โYes. It looks great.โ You said as Jungwon chuckled at your response. You observed the 3 containers, noticing the different aspects of each; one had greens while the others didnโt.
โOh, I wasnโt sure if you liked greens, so I separated them just in case.โ He explained while pointing at the container you stared at.
You nodded at his words and hummed in amusement. Maybe you were only a tad bit hungry before, but now, you were starving.ย
โYou donโt have to wait for me, you can eat.โ Jungwon said, gesturing at the meal in front of you two.ย
You looked at him once then down at the utensils, hesitantly reaching for a spoon. Jungwon picked up on this and grabbed your hand, flipping it over while grabbing the spoon that laid on the napkin. He then placed it into the palm of your hand and looked into your eyes.
โDonโt hesitate, itโs fine.โ Jungwon said and flashed you a smile, his dimples catching your eyes immediately.ย
Well, maybe you werenโt hesitating on eating anymore, but you were definitely still hesitant about somethingโฆ
Confessing your feelings to the boy before you.
Yeah, that could wait.
RANK NINE.
Two days ago, Jungwon had a talk with his two friends. He was reassured about his feelings for you, finalising them to a certain extent.
Today, he claimed he was ready to confess. He wouldnโt back away from doing so, and plus, there โwasnโtโ much time until graduation (it was 7 months away).
Of course, it was a lie. He had to make an excuse to be able to push himself to tell you how he really felt.
You, on the other hand, thought the same. But, you werenโt sure how you would approach him in a way where it wouldnโt be as awkward as you imagined.
Still, that would have to wait for the perfect time today. You couldnโt mess this up.
As your teacher spoke, your head became drowsy. Your notes seemed messy due to your eyesight blurring and nothing was comprehendible.
You shook your head, an attempt to regain your composure, but that didnโt work either.ย
โOkay, everyone. Iโll leave the rest of this period for individual work time.โ Your teacher said even if there was only 5 minutes before lunch.ย
โSoccer today?โ Baekseung asked Jungwon who wrote in his notebook.ย
He nodded at his friendโs request, causing the boy to smile. It had been a while since they went to play soccer and not basketball, so it would be quite fun to reminisce about the past.ย
The bell went, making 5 minutes feel like 30 seconds. To others it mustโve felt long, but to you, it felt short. You couldnโt focus on anything around you, not even the time. The throbbing headache that made its way into your system, as well as the nauseating feeling was all that occupied your mind.
Nothing else.
Not even the fact Jungwon was standing beside you right now.ย
โYou alright?โ He asked. You looked up at him, your head spinning at the movement. It was quiet in the classroom, hinting at the fact there was practically nobody left aside from the two of you.ย
โYeah, Iโm fine.โ Lies. You were far from feeling โfineโ. However, you couldnโt let him worry as much as he did about your eating habits.
You managed to flash him a convincing smile as he did the same. The gentle pat on your head before leaving felt comforting knowing it was from Jungwon and no one else.ย
โIโll be back.โ He said as he walked out the classroom, leaving you alone in silence.ย
You werenโt able to tell if the heat that crept up your neck was from his subtle action, or the developing fever that made its way towards you. Honestly, you could care less. It wouldnโt stop you from studying anyway.
And, well, maybe preparing your confession for the said boy.
The mesh of the net ricocheted as the ball glided against the barrier. The goalie was on the floor, the outcome of his failed attempt at blocking the ball.
โItโs okay! That was a good try.โ A teammate reassured while helping the male up on his feet.ย
Once the ball was thrown into play, Baekseung scanned the area, searching for an open target to send the ball to. Teamwork was all that mattered when playing sports, so, why not include everyone even if he could shoot the ball himself?
You looked out the window, noticing the view of the many boys who kicked around a soccer ball. It wasnโt the best view, but you were still able to see a few facesโJungwonโs especially.
Most of you wanted to get a closer look. It would be nice to take a short break from studying, right? It couldnโt hurt your academics that muchโฆ
You rose from your seat, head spinning once again. It was unbearable, but youโve experienced worse.ย
See, youโve definitely experienced worse. So, why were you on the verge of passing out, once again?
You stood in front of the window sill Jungwonโs friend, Baekseung, would always sit on. Your grip tightened the ledge, losing balance in your legs. Your vision became even blurry than before as your mind became foggy.
Yeah, you were definitely about to knock out cold. There was no way you would manage to stay conscious.ย
A moment after coming to terms with the fact you were about to faint, your body hit the floor, leaving the space between two desks occupied.ย
Your eyes were slowly closing as the warmth of a hand was placed on your face. Ears ringing, making anything that person said incoherent.
It was a terrible feeling. Maybe you shouldโve gone to the nurseโs office at the beginning of your fever.
Yeahโฆ Maybe.
โItโs 11:30, I have to go.โ Jungwon said after checking the time on his watch. He waved goodbye to those he played with on the field, then looked at the classroom window, a smile making its way to his face.
Now it was time for 30 minutes with you.ย
But where were you? He scanned the empty classroom, yet you were nowhere to be found. Your stuff wasn't there either.
You werenโt there.
He was confused. You never left your seat, no matter the reason. So, where could you have gone?
Jungwon had no clue where he was going, letting his feet take him wherever. Suddenly, he was in front of the nurseโs office. Not even he knew why he was here.ย
Without hesitation, he slid open the door, a wave of nostalgia hitting him. Except, you werenโt in his arms like before.
โOh, Jungwon. What brings you here?โ Mrs. Oh greets almost immediately. That was a great question.
What brought him here?ย
โIโm not sure.โ Jungwon said, not knowing what else to say. It wasnโt his fault he didnโt know.ย
โWhat do you mean?โ She questioned, confused. That was the first time she received an answer like his.ย
The boy stared at the nurse in silence. It was awkward for her, but not for him.ย
Seriously, why was he brought here?
โIsโฆ Is (Name) here?โ He asked. Part of him regretted letting his so-called question slip out while the other part hoped you were here.
Other than that, he wouldnโt have any other ideas about where you could possibly be right now.ย
โOh, yes, she is. Were you looking for her?โ Mrs. Oh questioned, a slight smile plastered on her face.
Jungwon nodded, not wanting to say anything else. He already embarrassed himself enough.
He followed the direction the nurse pointed in, heading to where you were supposedly lying down.
โApparently, she fainted in class again. One of your classmates brought her overโฆ Turns out she had a raging fever.โ
So, he wasnโt hallucinating the pained expression you gave him at the start of lunch.ย
At the sounds of his footsteps, you turned around fast, pretending to be asleep.
โI saw you.โ Jungwon said, pulling your curtains aside.
โNice try.โ He took a seat beside you as you bit your bottom lip, eyes squinting in defeat.
โAre you feeling better?โย
You turned around at his words to face him. The damped cloth that rested on your forehead slowly slipped off, causing him to catch it.
โA little bit.โ You said as he adjusted the cloth.ย
You werenโt lying about it being a little bit. At least you were now able to move.
โDid you take medication?โ
You nodded, noticing the fact he was only going to continue asking questions about your wellbeing.
โI heard you faintedโฆ Are you sure youโre okay?โ He asked, the worry finally sinking in.
โYeah, Iโm fine. I got up to look out the window, but I guess I overestimated my ability.โ You said with a light laugh.
โWhy would you get up to look out the window if you were already feeling unwell?โ He asked with furrowed brows.
It was only common sense, you shouldโve made your way to the nurse's office. Not somewhere to admire scenery.
โAre you lecturing me, again?โ You asked, referring to the conversation in the classroom from a while ago.
โYes. You need to take care of yourself more.โย
โBut if I said I was trying to watch you play soccer, then what?โย
Jungwon felt his heart skip a beat.ย
Okay. Maybe you got him there.ย
โT-That doesnโt matter. Your health comes first.โ He mentally cursed at himself for stuttering. Your words mustโve taken a toll on him.
โYouโre boring.โ You said before looking away from the boy.
To be honest, this would be the best time to confess, right?ย
Mrs. Oh had left the office a while ago, meaning it was just the two of you left alone.ย
When would Jungwon ever get another opportunity like this one?
โListen,โ he started, gaining your attention all over again. You look over at him, waiting for him to continue his sentence.
โI know grades are important, but your health is too. Please prioritise your health as well, okay?โ Jungwon paused, hesitating with his next words.
It was now or never.
โI don't want to fall in love with a corpse. Itโll be better if it were just you.โ
You stared at the boy, stunned. You couldnโt tell if your temperature was rising or you were flustered by his sudden confession.
An awkward silence followed through, as he felt his heart sink.ย
Did he just mess everything up?
โAnywaysโฆ have you drank anything yet?โ Jungwon asked, switching the topic really fast.
โNoโฆโ You whispered.ย
He nodded his head, pursing his lips and patted his thighs.
โOkay. Iโll go get you something.โ He said before rising up from his seat and leaving quite fast.
You felt bad. If it were a confession, you just left him hanging.
Jungwon pushed the buttons on the vending machine with pressure. He was embarrassed.ย
Very embarrassed.
He didnโt want to show himself in that room ever again. The atmosphere was definitely still the same as beforeโawkward and unbearable.
Maybe he shouldnโt have taken his friend's advice. He couldโve saved himself from experiencing this sort of regret.
The sound of the juice boxes falling from their designated spots caught Jungwonโs attention. He whined at the sound, not wanting to go back at all.
Still, he couldnโt keep you waiting.ย
His plan of pretending nothing happened was now set in motion. It wouldnโt be that hard to forget the previous interaction, right?
โI hope you like orange juiceโโ
โWas that a confession earlier or was I going crazy?โ
So much for pretending nothing happened.
He stumbled in his tracks, he was nowhere near your bed yet.
โWas it?โ You asked, quite literally pestering a response from him.
Jungwon mumbled something to himself. Something along the lines of hoping he doesnโt mess things up further.
โYes, it was.โ He said, a heavy sigh following through.
Although his sigh sounded stressed, yours sounded relieved.
โOh, thatโs good. I thought I was the only one.โ You said, causing Jungwon to make his way to your bed even faster.
โWhat do you mean?โ He asked, his hands carrying the juice boxes and a confused expression on his face.
โIs it not obvious?โ You asked, but he remained still.
Clearly, it wasnโt.
You sighed, disappointed that he couldnโt read between the lines with that brain of his.
โI like you too, Jungwon.โย
RANK TEN.
โIt really happened?!โ Baekseung exclaimed, shocked. Jungwon covered his mouth with a hand, not wanting the whole world to hear about yesterdayโs interaction.
โThen what?โ Minji asked.
โItโs a secret.โ Jungwon said with a teasing smile. Minji rolled her eyes at his response. It definitely wasnโt what she wanted to hear.
The classroom door slid open, gaining his attention quickly. You walked into the classroom, holding your books to your chest.
A smile of adoration made its way to Jungwonโs face as you looked over at him, smiling.ย
Minji observed the interaction with curious eyes.
โWhat the hell? Never do that again, please.โ Baekseung said, removing Jungwonโs hand from his mouth.
โWait soโฆ Are you guys, well, dating now?โ Minji asked.
โWoah, no.โ He said, raising his hands up in defence.
โSo, you guys just confessed to each other and that was all?โ She asked in a more hushed tone since you arrived.
Jungwon nodded.ย
Minji was about to say something else, but the bell rang, cutting her off before she could even start. The teacher walked in, addressing everyone to return to their seats.ย
You smiled to yourself and pulled out your phone to send the boy a text.
โNice one.โ It read with a smiley emoji.ย
Jungwonโs phone dinged, causing him to look at it. A smile made its way to his face as he read the message.ย
He was lying to his friends the whole time. Yes, that was bad to do, but it was the best way of keeping your official relationship with each other a secret.
They could know you two confessed to each other, but not that you were dating.ย
To be honest, Jungwon never saw this coming. He always thought you would be someone he hated because he never knew it was possible to meet somebody who was at his level.
He truly thought he was dreaming when he first saw you and learned about that information.
But right now, he was thankful he wasnโt and was thankful that you were someone who he fell in love with.
ฮ ยฉHAKNOM, 2024
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