Monday morning came with sunlight streaming through the windows of Class 2-3, dappling the wooden desks with warm light. Mr. Seo stood at the front, adjusting his checkered tie as he scanned the class with a half-smile.
"Everyone," he said, clapping his hands once. "Your group projects are due next Monday, so use your time wisely. That gives you seven days - don't wait until Sunday night to panic."
Groans and nervous chuckles spread through the room. Kang Daewon sat straighter in his chair, glancing to his side where Yoo Aera was already jotting down something in her notebook. Her handwriting was neat and small, like the soft hum of her presence - quiet, but impossible to ignore.
The last three days had passed like a gentle blur.
They had spent most of their after-school hours together in the library, surrounded by shelves and the faint scent of paper. Aera brought a flask of barley tea one evening, and Daewon shared a half-crushed chocolate bar from his bag. They worked steadily, each adding something to their story project - a quiet little tale about rain, longing, and unexpected shelter.
One night, Aera leaned over Daewon's shoulder as he sketched a scene for their report: a girl standing beneath a blue umbrella, her face tilted to the sky.
"I like that," she had whispered, almost too quietly. "It feels... honest."
Daewon had frozen with his pencil mid-air. It was a drawing he'd started even before the project, when the image of her walking in the rain had stayed in his head long after the real moment passed.
Back in class now, Aera passed him a small checklist.
"We should finalize the outline today," she said. "Maybe check the grammar again."
He nodded, smiling without realizing. "And maybe print the title page with your handwriting. Mine looks like it was attacked by a chicken."
Aera chuckled softly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I've seen worse."
They bent over their notebooks together, shoulders nearly touching. Occasionally, their fingers brushed as they shared pens or pointed at the same paragraph. Each small touch sent something flickering through Daewon's chest, like a skipped beat he couldn't quite explain.
At lunch, Minjae - Daewon's desk mate - leaned over with a sly grin.
"You two make this project look like a drama," he teased. "What's next, a confession scene in the rain?"
Daewon's face turned bright red. Aera just blinked, then returned to eating her rice triangles as if she hadn't heard.
"She's scary," Minjae whispered. "Or maybe just cool."
Daewon kicked him under the desk.
Later, as the day drew to a close, the classroom dimmed in the amber glow of afternoon. Aera packed up her notes carefully, and Daewon hesitated before asking, "Wanna review the final layout tonight on Line?"
She looked up, brushing her bangs back. "Okay. After dinner?"
"Yeah. I'll send the file."
As they parted ways at the school gates, a breeze stirred the cherry blossoms that were still clinging to the trees. Aera turned back for a second, her voice quiet.
"Thanks for working hard, Daewon."
His name in her voice made something ache sweetly in his chest.
Later that night, under the covers, Daewon stared at his screen. Their chat was open.
> Daewon: Here's the new version!
Aera: Looks good.
Daewon: You always say that.
Aera: Because it's true. You draw feelings, not just pictures.
His fingers paused over the keyboard.
> Daewon: You're kind, Aera.
Aera: You're... not so bad yourself.
He stared at her message for a long moment before smiling, warmth blooming quietly in his chest.
> Daewon: Let's make this story the best one.
Aera: We already are.
And somehow, under the soft blue glow of his screen, it felt true.
The weekend came with gentle skies and a breeze soft enough to carry flower petals down the streets of Haneul-dong. On Saturday morning, Daewon's mom nudged him awake with a smile.
"Take Yerim to the park," she said, handing him a packed snack box. "You've been buried in notebooks and pencils all week."
His little sister, Kang Yerim, was already tying her sneakers at the door, a bright yellow hoodie bunched over her small frame.
"Hurry up, slowpoke!" she chirped. "You promised!"
The neighborhood park near Haneul Elementary was still cool from the morning dew. Yerim darted off toward the swings, hair flying behind her, while Daewon found a bench and settled in with his sketchbook. Birds chirped nearby, and the faint sound of children laughing filled the air. He let his pencil move lazily across the page - drawing blossoms, clouds, a blue umbrella.
Then, a familiar voice called out gently.
"Yerim?"
Daewon looked up, startled.
Yoo Aera stood a few feet away, wearing a simple white hoodie over a navy skirt, holding two cups of warm barley tea. Beside her was a tall boy in his twenties, who looked just like her - her older brother.
Yerim ran up to them without hesitation. "Oppa! This is Daewon's friend, right?"
Aera blinked. "You're... Daewon's sister?"
Yerim grinned proudly. "Yup! I'm Yerim, and my brother is a grumpy artist who doesn't know how to play tag!"
Daewon groaned from the bench. "Yerim..."
Aera's lips twitched into a small laugh, then she turned to her brother. "This is Kang Daewon. We're doing the school project together."
Her brother gave a polite nod. "Ah, I've heard a bit. Thanks for working with Aera. She doesn't usually talk much about classmates."
Daewon rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to respond.
Yerim tugged on Aera's sleeve. "You're really pretty. Do you like my brother?"
Daewon choked on air.
"YERIM!"
Aera turned bright pink, eyes widening. Her brother laughed awkwardly and turned around to pretend he didn't hear.
"Yerim," Daewon hissed, scooping her up like a sack of rice. "We're going home."
"But I wanna stay longer!"
"We're done."
Still holding his sketchbook under one arm and his giggling sister under the other, Daewon glanced back.
Aera gave him the smallest wave.
He waved back, his face flushed - but his heart... felt oddly light.
Back at home, the scent of soybean stew filled the air as Daewon helped set the table. Yerim was still buzzing from the park visit, swinging her legs back and forth at the dinner table.
"I met your girlfriend, hyung," she teased, chin resting on her palms.
"She's not my girlfriend," Daewon grumbled, placing a bowl of rice in front of her.
"Yerim," their mom said gently, smiling. "Let your brother eat in peace."
Yerim just giggled and took a big bite of tofu.
As the family sat around the table, the conversation moved to the usual weekend topics - homework, errands, and Daewon's upcoming art contest. But at one point, their mom looked up at Daewon with a warm expression.
"You seem a bit different these days," she said softly. "Lighter."
"I'm just...busy with the project," he mumbled.
Yerim smirked. "Busy thinking about someone, huh?"
Daewon flicked a grain of rice at her.
After dinner, he helped with the dishes while Yerim sang made-up songs about umbrellas and blushes. The night settled slowly over their small apartment, the air tinged with the sound of passing cars and quiet humming from the living room TV.
Later in bed, Daewon lay beneath his thin blanket, phone glowing in his hand.
He scrolled through their Line chat - just yesterday's messages. Aera had sent a photo of the sketchbook cover they designed together. She'd drawn tiny raindrops around the title, just like the ones in his drawings.
> Aera: Do you think it's okay for the final?
Daewon: It's more than okay. It's perfect.
Aera: Hmm... okay, then I'll stop tweaking it.
(But I still like yours better.)
He stared at that last line, the corner of his mouth twitching into the tiniest smile.
> Daewon: Thanks. Let's both do our best Monday.
There was no reply right away. He locked his phone, heart suddenly a little louder in his chest.
Then a notification lit up the screen.
> Aera: Goodnight, Daewon.
I think I like working with you.
Daewon pressed his palm against his chest.
It was too quiet. And too warm.