Chapter 7: Yoon Sera

The night was restless, no matter how much I willed myself to sleep. Even after Dohyun and Taesan helped me arrange and decorate my new place, my mind wouldn't settle. They had left hours ago. Dohyun lived with his parents on the second floor of the building, while my new home was on the third. The ground floor served as a garage. His parents had been incredibly warm and welcoming, and I couldn't help but feel grateful for their kindness. It had been a long day, physically draining, yet here I was, wide awake with thoughts buzzing like restless insects in my mind.

I sat by the window, the night outside was quiet, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the silence. I glanced at my phone screen again. No messages from Dad. Where could he be? But in a strange way, the silence from him brought a wave of relief. Maybe it was better this way, no words exchanged, no tension to ruin the fragile calm I was trying to hold on to.

As I stared out of the window, my gaze drifted to the neighboring balcony—Taesan's. A faint glow spilled from his room into the darkness; he hadn't gone to bed yet either. He was like an enigma, a shadow that walked beside me, just out of reach. Then, suddenly, I heard a faint cracking noise from his balcony, like the soft creak of wood underfoot. My instincts kicked in, and I quickly hid behind the curtain, peeking out just enough to see what was happening.

There he was, standing on his balcony, a book in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He looked relaxed, almost as if the night itself was his companion. But then, I realized something—his eyes were fixed directly toward my window. My heart skipped a beat. He knew I was watching him, and he wasn't shy about letting me know.

Feeling caught, I decided to step out from behind the curtain and face him.

"Are you not sleeping?" I asked, trying to sound casual despite the embarrassment creeping up my cheeks.

He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "That's the same thing I was going to ask you."

I felt a small smile forming despite myself. "I'll sleep in a minute," I replied, brushing a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

He took a slow sip of his coffee, still holding that teasing smirk. "Okay, minute starts now. Go to sleep, or you'll end up waking the whole neighborhood."

I couldn't help but be a little taken aback by his boldness. There was something intriguing about the way he spoke—confident, playful, and unapologetically direct. It was... refreshing. And I found myself strangely drawn to it. Without thinking, I bowed slightly, a gesture of playful surrender.

Then, with a little laugh under my breath, I turned off my room's light, plunging my space into darkness. When I stole one last glance through the window, he had disappeared from his balcony.

The night felt different after that exchange—quieter, yet warmer, as if a small connection had sparked between us in the stillness of the night. And maybe, just maybe, sleep would come a little easier now.

The next morning, the sun was barely peeking over the horizon when I found myself waiting at the bus stop. The air was cool, a gentle breeze brushing against my skin as I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. The day felt like it carried the promise of something new—an unspoken anticipation that I couldn't quite place.

As I stood there, lost in thought, I heard footsteps approaching and turned to see Dohyun coming towards me. He stopped right beside me, crossing his arms with an exaggerated pout on his face.

"I knocked on your door," he began, his tone half-mocking, half-sincere, "Then I realized you had already left. We could go together to uni, right? I mean, we're neighbors now and already friends."

I couldn't help but smile at his playful attitude, feeling a small twinge of guilt. "Sorry. Next time, I'll remember to wait for you."

But even as I spoke, my gaze drifted down the road, scanning the distance for someone else. My mind wasn't fully present in the conversation; it was occupied with thoughts of another. Dohyun noticed immediately, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

"Are you looking for Taesan?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of teasing.

I felt my cheeks warm a little under his scrutiny. "I thought you guys might come together."

He let out a small chuckle and shook his head. "He's running a bit late, as usual. But don't worry... he's on the way." Dohyun paused, then turned slightly and nodded down the street. "Oh... there he is."

I followed Dohyun's gaze, and my breath caught for a moment as I spotted him. Taesan was walking towards us, effortlessly exuding a quiet charisma that seemed to make time slow down. He wore a half-sleeve blue shirt that highlighted his broad shoulders and paired it with black pants that fit him perfectly. His glasses framed his face, adding an air of studious charm that somehow made him even more attractive.

Dohyun leaned closer, dropping his voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "This guy looks like he just stepped out of a drama. I swear, he's got a knack for blowing girls' minds."

I tried to keep my face neutral, but Dohyun's words made my heart flutter. "Does... does he have bad eyesight?" I asked, trying to change the subject, even though my curiosity got the better of me.

Dohyun's smirk softened into a more genuine smile. "Yeah. He's practically blind without those glasses. But sometimes, he wears lenses. I think he likes the look of being mysterious."

As Taesan approached us, his presence seemed to fill the space between us. He glanced from Dohyun to me with a curious look, noticing the conversation he wasn't a part of. Then, his gaze settled on me, and for a brief second, it felt like he was looking right through me, seeing past the surface.

"Were you guys waiting for me?" he asked, the corner of his lips quirking into a half-smile.

"Yes," Dohyun replied quickly, clapping him on the back. "Now, let's wait for the bus."

But Taesan's expression shifted as he glanced down the road, watching the packed buses speeding by. He turned back towards us, his brow furrowed slightly in thought. "Buses are full today. It's better if we take a taxi—it'll only take five minutes, but I'd rather not walk." His eyes lingered on me for a moment, and I realized he had noticed the bruises I was trying to hide. It wasn't lost on me that his suggestion was more for my comfort than his own. He didn't say it directly, but I could feel his unspoken concern.

I nodded quietly, and before I knew it, we were sitting in a taxi, with Dohyun in the front and me in the backseat next to Taesan. The ride was filled with a silence that wasn't uncomfortable, but rather charged with something unspoken, a tension that hummed in the air between us.

As the taxi bounced gently along the road, Taesan reached into his bag and pulled out a small packet. He handed it to me without much explanation.

I looked down at it, then back at him, puzzled. "What is it?" I asked softly.

His gaze softened as he spoke, the usual edge in his voice giving way to something more gentle. "Medicine. Unpack it later. It's something you might need."

I took the packet from his hand, feeling the warmth of his fingers linger against mine for a moment longer than necessary. His gesture, though simple, carried a weight that made my chest tighten. He had noticed my discomfort, the bruises, the fatigue—things I thought I had hidden well. And without a word, he had reached out, offering me something more than just medicine. He offered a small piece of understanding, of care, wrapped up in that simple gesture.

As the taxi rolled on, I found myself glancing sideways at him, wondering just how much of my struggles he could see—and why, despite knowing so little about him, I felt a sense of comfort just being near him.

As soon as we reached the university, the taxi pulled up smoothly at the entrance, and we stepped out into the bustling campus. The cool morning air brushed against my face, and I took a moment to soak in the familiar sight of students hurrying around, clutching books and laughing with friends. Just then, I caught sight of Jiwon and Yujin standing together nearby. They spotted us too, waving enthusiastically.

Dohyun and I made our way toward them, exchanging greetings, but Taesan walked right past us, his focus elsewhere. He headed straight for the cafeteria, his expression unreadable. Dohyun noticed and scrunched up his nose playfully, his lips curling into a smirk.

"Looks like he skipped his morning coffee today," Dohyun remarked with a chuckle, his voice tinged with a knowing tone.

Jiwon's eyes followed Taesan as he disappeared into the distance, a wistful look on her face. "He looks so handsome..." she murmured softly, as if the thought slipped out accidentally.

Dohyun's eyebrow arched as he turned to her with a teasing grin. "Are you falling for this tough guy, Jiwon?"

Jiwon's cheeks flushed pink, and she waved her hands defensively. "No... no, of course not!"

Yujin, noticing the playful banter, joined in with a laugh. "Both of you—Dohyun and Taesan—you guys look like you stepped straight out of a drama. How did you end up with these ridiculously good looks?"

Dohyun let out a hearty laugh, shrugging casually. "All thanks to our parents, I guess." He shot me a knowing look, as if to say he was used to hearing such comments.

"Seriously, you two are perfect together. Best friends till the end," Yujin continued with a warm smile, her admiration for their friendship clear. Dohyun just smiled back, the kind of smile that hinted at an unspoken bond between them.

We headed to our classroom, and Dohyun took a seat in the second row, patting the spot next to him. "Here, sit beside me," he said, his tone playful yet warm. I took the seat, but just as I settled in, Taesan walked in, holding a cup of coffee. He glanced around before sitting on the other side of me. Now I found myself sandwiched between two of the most handsome guys on campus, and I could feel the curious stares of our classmates burning into my back. But those stares weren't directed at me—they were fixed on the two guys sitting beside me.

Trying to ignore the whispers and glances, I focused on the lecture, but suddenly, a guy sitting in front of me in the first row turned around, his gaze piercing straight into mine as if we'd met before. He smiled warmly and said, "Nihao," his voice carrying a gentle accent.

I froze, caught off guard and unsure whether to respond in Korean or Chinese. Taesan and Dohyun both turned towards me, their expressions puzzled. Before I could decide what to say, the guy continued, now in fluent Korean.

"I'm Liang Zixuan, from China. Nice to meet you. You're Yoon Sera, right?" His smile widened, revealing a dimple.

"Yes... but how do you know my name?" I asked, my voice wavering slightly.

"I overheard your introduction to Jiwon and Yejoon yesterday," he explained casually.

"Oh, I see..." I replied, feeling a bit relieved but still uncertain about this unexpected encounter.

Zixuan turned his attention to Taesan and Dohyun, offering a polite nod. "Hello, Taesan and Dohyun!"

Taesan and Dohyun exchanged a brief smile with him, and Dohyun asked, "Your Korean is really fluent."

Zixuan chuckled, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "I've been living Korea for 8 years."

Dohyun's expression softened, genuine curiosity lighting up his eyes. "Wow! For any particular purpose?"

Zixuan's smile grew, his eyes shining with pride. "Yes, it was. But things changes, right? Then I changed my dream and wanted to study at SNU. I finally achieved it, thanks to my mom. She loves Korea."

Dohyun nodded, understanding flashing across his face. "I can see that passion in your eyes too."

And just like that, the conversation flowed smoothly, the initial awkwardness melting away.

Later, during lunch, I excused myself and hurried to the restroom, clutching my stomach. A wave of pain hit me, and I realized with a sinking heart that my period had started. Panic set in when I looked down at my light blue skirt—there was a visible stain. I fumbled for my phone but realized I hadn't saved Jiwon's number, nor Taesan's or Dohyun's. Desperate, I peeked out into the hallway, searching for anyone I could ask for help.

To my surprise, I spotted Zixuan lingering nearby, finishing a phone call. Our eyes met, and he immediately ended his conversation and walked over, his expression shifting to one of concern. But he kept a respectful distance, aware of where I was standing. Without asking a single question, he slipped off his jacket and handed it to me, his eyes filled with a quiet understanding.

"Here," he said gently, his voice barely above a whisper. Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving me with the jacket in my hands. It was an unspoken kindness, a gesture that meant more than he could probably imagine.

I wrapped the jacket around my waist, grateful for his discretion, then cleaned up as best as I could before heading back to the cafeteria. There, I found the others gathered around a table, with one empty seat beside Yujin. I slipped into the seat, trying to keep my head down, hoping they wouldn't notice the jacket. But as I glanced up, I found Taesan's eyes on me, studying me intently, a faint frown creasing his forehead. It was as if he had sensed something was off, even without me saying a word.

Zixuan, eager to change the mood, asked brightly, "Anyone want hot coffee or tea? I'm getting mine, so I can bring some for you too."

Jiwon chimed in first, "Hot chocolate for me!"

Yejoon followed, "Same here, please."

Dohyun asked for tea, while Taesan hesitated before saying, "I'll just take two hot waters."

I blinked in surprise, wondering what he meant by that. But then Taesan turned to me, his gaze softening as he asked, "You need hot water, right?"

His words hit me like a gentle wave, and I realized he had guessed what I was going through. He was willing to drink hot water too, just to make me feel less awkward. I nodded, my cheeks burning with embarrassment and a hint of something else—gratitude, maybe.

Taesan and Zixuan returned with the drinks, their hands full. Taesan placed one of the cups in front of me and muttered quietly, "You can drink mine too, if you need."

Warmth spread through my chest at his considerate gesture, and I ducked my head, hoping to hide the blush that crept up my face.

As we settled back into our seats, Yujin suddenly exclaimed, "Hey, we should make a group chat, guys! Let's exchange numbers."

We spent a few minutes trading numbers, creating a new group chat full of inside jokes and friendly teasing. Jiwon scrolled through her Instagram feed and turned to Yujin with a curious look. "Who is Shin Yejoon, Yujin? He keeps popping up on my timeline—is he your brother?"

Yujin smiled warmly. "Yeah, that's my older brother."

It was the first time I saw a spark of interest in Taesan's eyes as he asked, "Your brother?"

Yujin nodded, her expression turning thoughtful. "He's Eight years older than me. I should give him a call before class starts—he's been distracted since last night, and I need to check on him."

Taesan's gaze lingered on Yujin, a shadow of curiosity crossing his face, as if something about her brother intrigued him. Dohyun, noticing the tension, glanced between us and suddenly spoke up.

"Taesan, come over to my place tonight," he said, his voice carrying a note of urgency that hinted at something unspoken. The look in his eyes suggested that he had something he needed to ask—something serious.

Taesan met his gaze and nodded silently, understanding passing between them without another word. And as I watched them, I couldn't help but wonder what secrets they might be keeping from the rest of us.