chapter twenty five

the next day at school, aeri felt lighter.

not completely healed—not even close—but like she could finally breathe again. wonwoo hadn't smiled, hadn't joked, hadn't even touched her hand, but he listened. and that meant something.

it meant maybe there was still hope.

she sat in the back of homeroom, flipping through a flyer someone had left on her desk. bold letters at the top read: "join our school book club!" underneath, it said they met every wednesday after school in the library.

she didn't even think—her first thought was wonwoo.

at lunch, she found him in his usual corner, tucked beside the windows with a book half-open in his lap. he glanced up as she approached.

she sat beside him, careful to leave space. "i found something."

he raised a brow, but didn't speak.

she held out the flyer. "there's a book club. in the library. every wednesday."

wonwoo stared at it for a moment, then looked back at her.

"we should join," she said, nudging it closer to him.

he blinked slowly. "...why?"

"because," she shrugged, "you read more than anyone i know. and i could use an excuse to be around books that isn't math homework."

he didn't smile, but his lips twitched slightly.

"and," she added softly, "because i think it'd be nice. to do something... together."

wonwoo hesitated.

then, finally, he took the flyer from her hand and folded it neatly.

"okay."

just like that.

aeri's heart fluttered.

after school, they met again outside the library doors.

the club was small—maybe seven or eight students, including them. the president was a quiet third-year girl with round glasses who seemed thrilled to have new members.

they sat in a circle and introduced themselves. when it was aeri's turn, she said her name and, with a soft laugh, added, "i'm here to learn how to enjoy reading... like some people already do."

wonwoo, when it came to him, simply said, "jeon wonwoo. i like stories that make you think."

aeri smiled to herself.

they spent the next hour reading the opening chapters of a new novel and sharing thoughts. aeri wasn't used to this kind of discussion—quiet, calm, thoughtful—but she liked it. she liked watching wonwoo speak. he wasn't loud or showy, but when he did say something, everyone listened.

and when he glanced at her between moments, it wasn't cold anymore.

it was curious. open.

like maybe he was letting her back in.

as the sun dipped lower outside the school windows, the club finally wrapped up. the students filtered out in small groups. aeri gathered her things slowly, heart already racing at the thought that maybe he'd walk away alone.

but when she turned around, he was waiting by the door.

"ready?" he asked.

she tried not to show how much that one word meant.

"yeah," she said softly, and they walked side by side down the steps.

the street was quiet as they walked, the golden light casting soft shadows along the sidewalk. aeri kept her pace slow, not wanting the moment to end too soon.

"you didn't hate it, right?" she asked.

"what?"

"the club."

wonwoo shook his head. "no. it was... nice."

she smiled. "i liked hearing your thoughts. you always sound like you're thinking about things from ten different angles."

he gave a small shrug. "books are easier than people."

she glanced at him. "i used to think that too. now i'm not so sure."

he didn't answer, but she saw the way his hands tightened around the strap of his bag.

they walked a few more steps in silence.

then, softly, she said, "thanks for walking with me."

wonwoo looked over at her. "you always thanked me before."

"yeah, but back then it didn't mean as much."

his gaze lingered on her face for a moment. then he looked ahead again. "...you're different now."

aeri looked down at the sidewalk. "i'm trying to be."

they reached her street corner, and she slowed to a stop. "this is me."

he nodded, shifting his weight.

she hesitated. "will you come next wednesday?"

he didn't look at her when he answered, but there was no doubt in his voice.

"yeah. i will."

aeri smiled, and this time—just before he turned to leave—she saw it.

a flicker of a smile on his lips, too.