chapter eighteen

monday afternoon found them right where they'd started—tucked into the farthest corner of the school library.

the same spot. the same silence.

but somehow, everything felt different.

aeri sat beside wonwoo again, the book between them open to the same page, but her eyes kept flicking to him instead of the words. his hoodie sleeves were pulled over his hands, his head tilted just enough for a soft strand of hair to fall over his forehead.

he hadn't said much since she joined him, but he never pulled away when she leaned closer.

"you're not reading," he murmured.

"neither are you," she shot back.

his lips twitched into the faintest smile. "true."

aeri's heart beat louder in her chest.

there was something quiet sitting between them, something unsaid. the air was heavier than usual, their shoulders nearly touching. her knee bumped against his once—he didn't move away.

she felt his warmth even though he wasn't touching her.

the page of the book hadn't turned in over ten minutes.

"wonwoo," she said quietly.

he looked at her, eyes meeting hers without hesitation this time.

"thank you for... saturday," she continued. "for telling me about your mom. that couldn't have been easy."

he nodded once. "i trust you."

those three words almost knocked the air out of her.

aeri swallowed, voice barely a whisper now. "why me?"

he didn't look away. "because you stayed. even when you didn't have to."

she wasn't sure who moved first—but suddenly they were closer. his hand shifted slightly toward hers on the table. her breath caught. their faces were just inches apart now.

she could see the way his lashes fluttered when he blinked. she could smell the faint scent of fabric softener from his hoodie.

"aeri..." he said, so softly it barely reached her ears.

"yeah?"

"can i—"

the words died on his lips as the library door banged open.

a loud group of students stumbled in, laughing, one of them dragging a chair noisily across the floor.

aeri flinched, jerking back just enough to break the moment.

wonwoo looked away, clearing his throat, suddenly very interested in the open book in front of them.

her pulse was still racing.

"right," she mumbled, sitting straighter. "we should... probably get back to reading."

he nodded. "yeah."

but neither of them turned the page.

the quiet that followed wasn't the usual peaceful kind—it was filled with everything that had almost happened. everything that still hung in the air between them.

aeri didn't know if she felt disappointed... or relieved.

all she knew was that if that moment hadn't been interrupted—

she might've kissed him.

and she wasn't sure if it was because of the dare anymore.

or something else entirely.