Chapter: 13

'Sometimes it's better to let someone go'

As Miyeon and Joshua strolled toward the classroom, her mind was already wandering back to the assignment she had hastily finished. Just then, she stopped in her tracks, her heart sinking as a realization hit her.

“Crap!” she muttered under her breath.

Joshua turned to her, eyebrows raised in confusion. “What happened?”

“I left one of my books in the library,” she explained, frustration clear in her voice. “I'll run back and grab it. You should go ahead to class. I'll be quick.”

Joshua frowned, his lips pressing together as if weighing his options. “You sure? I can wait for you—”

“No, no. Don’t bother! You’ll be late. Just go, okay? And do me a favor—tell Nari I'll be there in a few minutes.”

Still uncertain, Joshua hesitated before nodding. “Alright, but be quick. You know how Mr. Kang is.”

Miyeon flashed him a quick smile before turning and sprinting back to the library, leaving Joshua standing there, slightly dumbfounded. He watched her go, shrugged, and then made his way to class.

Miyeon waved him off with a tight smile, and without wasting another second, turned and bolted back to the library. The sound of her hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway as Joshua stood there for a moment, watching her retreating figure before he sighed and made his way to the classroom.

Once inside the library, Miyeon beelined to the secluded corner where she and Joshua had been sitting earlier. Her eyes scanned the area, searching for her misplaced book. She spotted it lying haphazardly on the floor a few feet away from where they had been working.

'That’s strange,' she thought. 'I’m sure I left it on the chair.'

With furrowed brows, she approached the book and bent down to pick it up. As she did, a small folded piece of paper slipped out from between the pages and fluttered to the floor. Startled, Miyeon quickly picked up the note. Confusion crept in as she unfolded the paper, her eyes skimming the brief, hastily scribbled message:

____________

"Time is ticking by."

____________

Miyeon blinked, staring at the words as they settled in. Her gaze instinctively darted around the room, her pulse quickening slightly.

The library was filled with students hunched over textbooks and laptops, each absorbed in their own world. None of them appeared suspicious or even remotely aware of her presence. But the note made her feel oddly exposed, like someone had been watching her.

"Who even…?" Miyeon whispered under her breath, her mind racing. It was only her second week at university. How could she already have an admirer? Or was it some kind of joke?

Her thoughts drifted back to the other note she’d found on her first day, the one that said, 'Stay away from them.'

That cryptic message had unnerved her, but this one—this was different. This felt more... unsettling, like someone was watching her. She folded the note and slipped it into her pocket, pushing the troubling thoughts aside for now.

Realizing she was already running late, she hurried out of the library and back toward her class, her steps quickening with each glance at her watch. As she neared the classroom door, she cursed under her breath. She was five minutes late.

Great.

She cursed under her breath as she reached the door to her classroom. Peering through the small window, she saw Professor Kang— famously strict about punctuality— writing on the board, his back to the class.

She spotted Nari sitting toward the back, giving her an incredulous look that screamed: 'Where the fuck have you been?'

Miyeon grimaced forgetting completely about the note she just received. Sitting directly behind Nari were Seungcheol, Jeonghan, and Joshua, all of whom noticed her standing outside.

Joshua had already taken his seat, along with Seungcheol and Jeonghan. Joshua glanced at her through the window, his expression softening with concern. Seungcheol and Jeonghan wore amused smirks, clearly interested in the spectacle about to unfold.

Miyeon took a deep breath, hoping to slip in quietly without drawing too much attention. As she tiptoed into the room, several students glanced up, giving her sympathetic or curious looks but refraining from saying anything. She silently thanked them for not ratting her out.

Bless them.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she made her way toward her seat beside Nari. She was nearly there when—

“Ms. Kim, what’s the matter with you?”

The professor’s voice rang out sharply, freezing her in place. Every eye in the room turned toward her, and Miyeon closed her eyes briefly, inwardly cursing her bad luck.

“Why are you wandering around my classroom while I’m teaching?” Professor Kang asked, turning to face her, his stern expression radiating disapproval. His gaze locked on her, unwavering and cold.

She turned around slowly, plastering on the sweetest smile she could muster, even as her insides churned.

“Nothing, Professor Kang,” she replied, keeping her voice steady.

Miyeon felt the weight of everyone’s eyes on her, the room thick with anticipation. She could practically hear the smirks from Seungcheol and Jeonghan in the back. Joshua’s concerned eyes were locked on her, and Nari’s face twisted in worry. No one missed a word when Professor Kang spoke.

Thinking quickly, Miyeon forced a sweet smile onto her face and walked toward the front of the room, all eyes following her every move.

'If I’m going down, I might as well make it interesting,' she thought, suppressing a grin. She had a card to play— a trick she only used in such situations.

Nari and Joshua watched in horror, while Seungcheol and Jeonghan looked intrigued. The rest of the class held its breath, waiting to see what would happen.

She reached the front of the room and leaned in close to Professor Kang, speaking in a low, barely audible voice.

The room collectively held its breath, watching as the professor’s stern expression faltered, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. His face flushed, and he cleared his throat awkwardly before quickly turning back to the board.

“Very well, Ms. Kim,” he muttered, trying to maintain his composure. “Next time, be on time. Go take your seat.”

Miyeon nodded sweetly. “Yes, Professor.”

The entire class gawked as Miyeon walked back to her seat, her expression a mixture of satisfaction and mischief. Nari looked at her like she had just witnessed a black magic.

“You used it, didn’t you?” Nari hissed in disbelief.

Miyeon shrugged, feigning innocence. “Used what?”

Nari shot her a knowing look, rolling her eyes. “The emergency trick. I knew it!”

Miyeon’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, please,” Nari scoffed, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. “What did you say to him?”

Miyeon grinned but didn’t answer. Instead, she turned her attention to the board, leaving Nari to shake her head in disbelief.

Behind them, Seungcheol and Jeonghan exchanged glances, very much entertained by the scene that had just played out. Even Joshua, though still concerned, couldn’t help but look a little impressed by Miyeon’s audacity.

As the class settled back into its usual rhythm, Miyeon allowed herself a small smile of victory. For now, she had survived the wrath of Professor Kang. But in the back of her mind, the mystery of the note lingered, like a quiet whisper waiting to be heard again.

____________

Happy Reading!📚🤍