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Arriving to their classroom just ten minutes before the bell rings Yena was baffled to see snacks left on her table.
"Someone left you some snacks." Yujin said while trying to pick some up to eat.
Yena gently tapped the younger's hand away. "It's probably misplaced."
Yujin shrugged. "But your name's written on it." seeing a sticky note pasted on one of the snacks. "I think they like you." it was a lowkey confession in form of a poem.
The older shook her head in denial. "There's a fine line between liking and admiring." she spoke.
"Tell me then Ms. Valedictorian."
"You see, when you like someone you have the intense feeling of wanting to be with them, but when you admire someone you're already okay with just what you currently have with them."
Yujin laughed, amazed by how the older explained it to her like its a serious thing. "What else can I say, you explained it so well." minding their business while waiting for the class to start they were approached by another student.
"Hi." ruffling her hair behind the ear Chaewon walked towards the two. "I heard that.." where did she even get the confidence to talk to other students outside classroom related discussions. "You're great in math. I was wondering if you can help me or sort of."
Yena was as surprised as Yujin that the class president came to ask for help, it's the first time. "Well I- of course." Yena answered without hesitation.
Yujin then nudged Yena. "We have a plan later." she uttered.
"Oh no no." Chaewon vigorously shook her head. "I can wait when you have free time."
"No no no no, it's okay, really." Yena assured, smiling warmly as she step on Yujin's foot as a cue to agree. "Anything for our class president."
Even though she can just wait Chaewon simply smiled back. "Thank you." she replied and left.
Yujin expression tells otherwise. "What?" she almost yelled. "I can't believe you're going to ditch me over a girl."
"I like the person you're talking about, not only admire but like so can you help a friend out here or what?"
"Woah, you like her?" the younger audibly gasped.
The older hummed. "I've been leaving letters on her table when no one's around." she spoke sounding proud that she hasnt been caught yet.
"I didn't know you were into writing. Look at her all smiley and jumpy." Observing how Chaewon reacts while reading. "Wow she's so into it." Yujin commented
Yena nodded agreeing to the younger's words. "I'll confess later. So would you please not sulk anymore?"
Even against her will Yujin eventually said yes. "How do you even like someone you havent talked to."
"It's the human ability to feel even without physical connection, you dont need to talk to someone everyday before you realize you like them. Sometimes it's just the feeling inside that tells you what to do."
Dismissal came and almost every student hurriedly left the classroom, some probably has after school plans. Keeping the letter inside her bag Chaewon glanced behind her to see Yena waiting for her. She took a deep breathe and clenched her bag, slowly walked towards the older and smiled. "Hi." she greeted cheerfully. "Would it be okay if we study at your place? I mean, Im the one who asked you it would be embarrassing to let you walk to my house when I'm the one who needs help."
Yena hummed. "Not a problem at all." though shes afraid she left her condo a little dirty but well theres no backing out now.
Since Yena has only been renting the place for college she rarely gets visitors, its most of Yujin and her other friends only. Living alone sometimes makes her home sick so shes really glad that she made lots of friends in the university. Fishing her keys in her bag she was a bit worried she'd welcome her guest with a messy place but thank god it wasnt that dirty. "What drink do you want?" she asked while cleaning her table.
"Anything you offer."
"You're so formal, juice is it then?" after then they started their lesson, from the topic Chaewon struggles the most to the recent discussion they just had on school. It was really difficult for Chaewon but Yena's teaching made everything easier and more understandable. There were a few breaks like a little chit chat but most of the time they were focus on learning.
"This one's hard." the younger pointed, pouting cutely.
Yena blushed lightly. "Oh that." she cleared her throat. "It's uhm." losing her cool with how adorable Chaewon is. "Can you- can you not pout?"
The younger immediately obeyed. "I'm sorry, was it distracting you?"
"No, it's just-." the older scratched her cheek. "You look cute."
They started their lecture again, pretending like nothing just happened. After few more hours they finally finished their session. Packing her things up and making sure to clean unnecessary mess she made Chaewon walked towards the door. "I'll be leaving now, thank you for helping me I really understood a lot tonight." though she was a little distracted with the older's face some of the time.
Yena quickly followed. "I'll walk you outside, it's dangerous to go out alone."
"Ah really, theres no need to bother yourself that much." Chaewon was feeling shy already she cant ask for more. "You've done me so much things tonight, thank you." now she feels like she'll ace the test tomorrow.
Yena shook her head, insisting that she go out with the younger. "Why are you so formal with me?"
"I dont think I could treat as a friend within just hours of being together." plus its the first time they spoke to each other. Leaving the house as they go on their way to the bus station the two was quiet the whole time. Suddenly its awkward and silent, all they could hear the crickets' noises. With cars passing by, Yena gently moved the younger on her left just for safety.
"Then how about treat me as an admirer?" Yena uttered, here comes the scary part she thought to herself. "Well.." fidgeting her fingers she couldnt bring herself up to look at the younger. The road was lonely, it was only the two of them waiting on the bus stop it would be an epic fail if a bus comes by. "The letters on your table." she spoke almost like a whisper. "I'm the one writing it." finally having the courage and confidence she looked at Chaewon's eyes. "I'm sorry this was sudden I knew I should've kept it a secr-."
"Did you like the snacks?"
"Snacks?" asked the baffled Yena. As far as she can remember she never told anyone about the stuff shes anonymously receiving except her friend Yujin. Could it be that..? "You-." shes starting to realizing now, the hand writing on the post it she receives has the same hand writing as Chaewon. "I-." speechless of the realization she just had. "Wait--You're the one leaving me those?!" all this time they've been secretly giving each other gifts and letters.
Chaewon slowly nodded, now feeling ashamed of her actions. "I really admire you a lot." she finally confessed. "You're so amazing when in class. Watching you hang out with your friend, seeing you laugh out loud." the older just doesnt see but she always had her eyes on Yena and everytime their eyes would meet she would quickly look away. "Plus the fact that you're so smart." shes so weak when it comes to intelligent people. "I'm sorry." thinking to herself that she said too much. But can she blame herself for all the confession she said, the person shes admiring was also the person leaving letters on her table, what a coincidence.
"Why are you sorry?"
"I'm sorry for liking you."
"Should I be sorry too?" Yena smiled shyly, she didnt expect it to go this way. She used to only admire Chaewon from a far and now their feelings has been spoken she knows things will now go from zero to one. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." she spoke while trying to hide her smile. "Chaewon."
"Me too." the younger answered, heart beating fast. "Yena." a bus then comes to stop. "Let's have lunch tomorrow."