Seoul. Wednesday.
Classes finally end and the hallway feels heavy with leftover noise from teachers, assignments and mid week exhaustion. Jiwoo steps out of the school building, backpack hanging off one shoulder, hair slightly messy from the long day. She looks over at Du without saying anything at first, just gives a small, tired nod toward the direction of the park. Signal that both of you understand automatically after years of friendship.
By the time both of you reach the front steps of the school, the plan is already set. You start walking together toward the park, shoulders brushing every once in a while as the afternoon sun drops lower.
“You have no idea how tired I am…” Jiwoo starts complaining, letting out a long sigh before suddenly walking ahead of you. She turns around and continues walking backwards, facing you while talking. “Maybe we should stop by a café on the way? Get coffee or something, just to have that vibe, you kn—”
*BOOOOONK.*
She walks straight into a metal pillar with back of her head. You didn’t warn her and she definitely felt it.
Jiwoo instantly grabs her head, crouching down with a small groan before lifting her eyes toward you with a half annoyed and half embarrassed stare.
“…I should think less about coffee” she mumbles while rubbing the spot she hit, then stands up again, pretending nothing happened even though her ears are slightly pink from embarrassment.
10 MINUTES LATER
PARK
The park is crowded with kids running everywhere, parents carrying bags, vendors selling cotton candy and hot dogs and the general noise of people trying to enjoy their break. The idea of getting coffee is long gone, it disappeared the moment she hit the pillar
You both find an empty patch of grass, nothing fancy,, just the open ground. You drop down first, and she follows, lying beside you without hesitation. The sky is clear, blue that looks clean after a windy morning.
Jiwoo lets out another tired sigh.
“You know…studying is exhausting. All this material, constant tests, pressure and then exams on top of everything.” There’s a small sadness in her voice, just the honest heaviness of someone who’s been pushing herself for too long.
“But still, we don’t really have a choice…and the sky looks so good today. It’s clean, bright, no sign of bad weather at all.” A short pause. She turns her head a little toward you.
“And I really like you…” Silence. Her smile fades immediately and the tips of her ears turn red. She realizes what she just said and freezes, eyes locked on the sky like she’s hoping it will cover for her.
