Almost, maybe

The next morning, the school felt… different.

Lighter.

Or maybe it was just Jini.

She walked to class early, sipping her usual matcha—which she still hated, but ordered anyway.

It tasted bitter today. Or maybe her heart wasn't in it.

She stopped by the door.

Jack was already inside, sitting by the window. Sketching.

Jini: "You always this early?"

Jack: without looking up "You always this quiet?"

She sat beside him.

Jini: "You draw?"

Jack: "Only when I can't say what I feel."

She looked at the paper—

A half-drawn face. Eyes first. Her eyes.

She blinked.

Jini: "Is that me?"

Jack: still drawing "Almost."

Jini: smiling softly "Maybe."

They both paused.

Jack: "You said something yesterday."

Jini: "What?"

Jack: "You said love is scary."

She nodded, not meeting his eyes.

Jack: "So don't fall."

Jini: confused "What?"

Jack: "Don't fall… unless you want to be caught."

She laughed—softly, like a breath she'd been holding for too long.

Jini: "I hate matcha."

He looked at her.

Jack: "Then why do you keep drinking it?"

Jini: "Because sometimes… you get used to things that aren't good for you."

Jack slowly took the cup from her hand, stood, and walked out.

She followed him.

He returned with a mocha in his hand.

Jack: "Try something sweeter."

She took a sip. Her eyes widened. It felt warm.

It felt like him.

Jini: "You remembered?"

Jack: "You forgot what you like."

They sat on the stairs outside the building.

She leaned her head on his shoulder—just for a second.

Jini: "Almost…"

Jack: quietly "Maybe."

Neither of them said the rest.

But their hearts heard it loud and clear.

He looked at her.

The field was quiet.

No crowds. No pressure.

Just sky. Grass. And the two of them lying side by side.

Jini closed her eyes, listening to the wind.

Jini: "Do you ever think… life feels fake sometimes?"

Jack: "All the time."

Jini: "Like everyone's wearing masks."

Jack: "Then I'm glad you're not."

She opened one eye.

Jini: "How do you know I'm not?"

He turned to her.

Jack: "Because your eyes don't lie. Your smile does. But your eyes don't."

She didn't expect that.

She didn't expect him.

They both sat up slowly. Jini hugged her knees.

Jini: "I don't get it."

Jack: "Get what?"

Jini: "You. You're rich. You're perfect. You could have anyone."

He didn't smile.

Jack: "That's the problem. Everyone wants the version of me they can brag about. Not the one that wakes up crying at 3 a.m."

She looked at him differently now.

Jini: "And me?"

Jack: softly "You don't ask for anything. But you make me want to give everything."

Her heart ached.

She reached out, touched his hand lightly.

He didn't flinch.

Jini: "What if we fall?"

Jack: "Then we fall together."

And just like that—

he leaned in slowly, not rushing, waiting for her to pull away.

She didn't.

Their lips finally met.

Soft. Slow. Not perfect. But real.

When they pulled back, Jini whispered—

Jini: "Almost doesn't scare me anymore."

Jack smiled.

Jack: "Good. Because this is not 'almost' anymore."

For a moment, it felt like the world paused for them.

But far away, someone was watching them from a window.

Someone with a camera.

Someone who would ruin everything—

but not yet.

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