Now, it was the weekend. No classes. No discussions about law, no silent evaluations hanging over our heads, and more importantly, no one to bother me.
A rare kind of freedom.
I leaned back into my chair, the late morning sun spilling lazily across my bedroom floor. For once, the heavy world of Seonghwa could wait. Today, I decided, was going to be different.
I pulled out my phone, scrolling briefly through the untouched emails and club notifications before opening our chat.
I didn't bother asking.
I simply typed:
'I'm coming over. Get dressed. We're going out.'
Less than a minute later, her response buzzed onto my screen.
'I didn't agree to anything.'
I smirked, thumbing a quick reply back.
'But you'll get dressed anyway. See you in ten.'
No negotiations. No explanations.
Because Hyerin, stubborn as she was, always ended up following when I decided to pull her somewhere. It wasn't about persuasion. It was about certainty.
And I was certain she would come.
I pocketed my phone, grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair, and tossed my keys into my palm. The engine of my bike purred to life beneath me, low and steady, as I pulled out of the driveway and sped toward the dormitories.
The world outside Seonghwa's polished walls felt different today.
Lighter.
As if—for the first time in what felt like forever—I wasn't dragging the weight of expectations behind me.
I was just a girl on her way to see another girl.
Simple.
Human.
Real.
And maybe, just for today, that was enough.
When I arrived, Hyerin was already waiting outside the entrance, arms folded across her chest, her hair tied loosely at the nape of her neck. She wore a soft gray hoodie that looked one size too big, black fitted jeans, and her worn-in sneakers.
Casual.
Unpretentious.
I almost laughed at how perfectly she contrasted the polished uniformed world we usually lived in.
"You're late," she said flatly, though her lips twitched upward at the corners.
I swung my leg off the bike and walked toward her, deliberately slow.
"I said ten minutes," I said. "It's been eight."
She rolled her eyes, exhaling through her nose. "You really don't take no for an answer."
"Not when it comes to you."
She opened her mouth to retort, but whatever words she had disappeared when I casually reached out and adjusted the strap of her bag, my fingers grazing her shoulder just briefly—just enough.
"Come on," I murmured. "I'm kidnapping you today."
"For what?"
"For being yourself. For not running away when you had every reason to."
She blinked at me, startled by the sincerity she hadn't been expecting, and I took the opportunity to grab her wrist and tug her lightly toward the bike.
"Wait—are we really—?"
"Of course," I said, handing her the extra helmet.
"You didn't even tell me where we're going."
"Trust me."
She hesitated.
But only for a second.
Then she sighed, pulling the helmet over her head, muttering something about "crazy rich girls with too much free time."
I just smiled.
The best parts of life were the ones you didn't plan.
And right now, I wasn't planning anything except her.
I pulled into the parking spot for the arcade.
I pulled smoothly into a parking spot near the side entrance of a bright, buzzing building, its neon signs flickering against the pale morning sky.
An arcade.
Hyerin looked around, visibly confused, the helmet still snug against her head. Her fingers tightened around the strap like she wasn't sure whether to take it off or bolt for the nearest exit.
"Why are we at an arcade?" she asked cautiously, peering up at the colorful, oversized characters plastered on the walls.
I swung my leg off the bike, walking over to her, and without asking, I gently unfastened the helmet strap beneath her chin, lifting the helmet off her head and tossing it onto the bike. Her hair, slightly mussed, caught the light.
I took a step back and smiled, letting my gaze linger.
"Because," I said simply, "in life, there have to be some fun moments."
She frowned, skeptical, the way she always did when I did something unpredictable. Her arms crossed automatically, and that tiny crease formed between her brows—the one she didn't even realize she made when she was annoyed or confused.
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough so she would have no choice but to hear it, to feel it.
"Now stop asking questions," I murmured, reaching out to brush a stray piece of hair from her forehead. "Your pretty face will get ruined if you keep furrowing your eyebrows like that."
Her breath caught for a fraction of a second.
And then—like she was trying to shield herself—she scoffed under her breath and turned toward the entrance.
"If you're trying to flatter me into wasting my weekend with you," she said, "it's kind of working."
I laughed quietly, following her toward the entrance.
"I don't have to flatter you, Hyerin," I said, catching up and matching her stride easily. "You already chose to spend it with me the second you answered my text."
She muttered something under her breath—something about being 'dragged into madness'—but she didn't pull away.
If anything, she walked a little closer.
Inside, the arcade was a sensory overload: flashing lights, the clang of coins, pop music thumping from the ceiling speakers. Rows of racing games, claw machines, dance stages, and shooter cabinets stretched as far as the eye could see.
The smell of buttered popcorn and cheap carpet hit us immediately.
It was chaotic.
It was ridiculous.
It was perfect.
Hyerin stared, wide-eyed, looking completely overwhelmed.
"Are you serious right now?" she asked.
"Dead serious," I said, handing her a preloaded arcade card that I'd picked up from the booth without her even noticing. "We're playing everything."
She stared at the card in her hand, then at me.
"You're unbelievable," she said.
I grinned. "And yet, here you are."
This time, she didn't even bother responding. She just sighed, resigned, and let me lead her toward the nearest claw machine.
I tapped the glass.
"First challenge," I said. "Win me something cute."
She gave me a flat look. "Why don't you win something for me instead?"
"Where's the fun in that?" I teased. "Come on, Hyerin. Impress me."
She rolled her eyes but swiped her card anyway, gripping the joystick with comical seriousness.
I watched her, amused beyond belief.
Maybe it was the way she bit her lower lip in concentration.
Maybe it was the way she muttered under her breath when the claw swayed a little too much.
Maybe it was the way she looked so real here—stripped of the burden of grades and rankings and silent expectations.
Whatever it was, I couldn't look away.
Not even when she failed spectacularly, the claw missing the stuffed animal by a solid three inches.
She turned toward me, cheeks slightly pink.
"Not a word," she warned.
I just laughed and clapped mockingly slow. "You're adorable."
Her blush deepened. "You're annoying."
I leaned in close, my voice low and playful. "You can call me whatever you want, as long as you keep smiling like that."
For a moment, she was too stunned to reply.
And I felt it—that shift between us again.
Closer.
Sharper.
More dangerous in the best way.
"Now come on," I said, tapping the joystick with a grin, "let's win this stuffed animal together. It's kind of cute—and it looks like you. Maybe I'll keep it by my bedside, so I can see you every time I sleep and wake up."
Hyerin immediately stiffened, her ears turning the faintest shade of red.
"Shut up," she muttered under her breath, but she didn't move away.
I laughed, a soft low sound, as I slid the card again and grabbed the joystick. But this time, I didn't stand beside her.
I stood behind her.
Close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating off her.
I reached out, guiding her hand with mine, one arm resting lightly around her waist, not tight—but firm enough that she couldn't easily slip away if she wanted to. She didn't even try. Her entire body tensed under my touch, but she didn't take a step back.
I leaned in slightly, my chin almost brushing the side of her head. The scent of her shampoo—something soft, clean, and faintly sweet—caught me off guard. It wasn't overpowering. It was the kind of scent that made you want to lean closer without realizing it.
"Saehwa?" she said, her voice small, uncertain.
I blinked, catching myself before instinct made me move closer than I should have.
God, even her scent was intoxicating.
I straightened slightly, my hand still guiding hers on the joystick, pretending nothing had happened.
"You smell nice," I mumbled under my breath before adding quickly, "Now focus. Let's start."
Her grip tightened reflexively on the joystick, and I caught the quick flicker of panic across her face before she buried it behind a stubborn glare.
"You're the worst," she whispered, cheeks burning, eyes refusing to meet mine.
"Am I?" I said, smiling against the crown of her head. "Yet you're still letting me teach you how to steal a stuffed animal."
"You're unbelievable."
"And yet…" I murmured again, letting the sentence drift off like it didn't need to be finished.
Slowly, we moved the claw together, my fingers steady atop hers, our bodies close enough that I could feel her heartbeat if I focused hard enough.
"Lower it," I whispered. "Now. Gently."
The claw descended.
Grabbed.
Lifted.
The small, round, bunny-shaped plush wobbled dangerously in the air.
I held my breath—not because I cared about the prize, but because Hyerin was biting her lip again in concentration, and if I stared any longer, I might really lose control.
The bunny fell into the prize chute with a soft thud.
She gasped quietly, pulling away from me instinctively to grab it.
I stayed where I was, watching her.
She held up the plush, triumphant, a rare bright smile lighting her face in a way no courtroom victory ever could have managed.
"See?" I said, finally stepping forward. "Told you we could do it."
She turned toward me, still holding the bunny awkwardly against her chest.
"Now what?" she asked.
"Now," I said, reaching out to pluck it gently from her arms, "this belongs to me. As promised. Right next to my bed."
She opened her mouth to argue—and then closed it.
Because deep down, she knew the truth.
She had already given it to me the moment she smiled like that.
I tucked the bunny under my arm and grabbed her free hand casually with my other, tugging her toward the racing games without giving her time to protest.
"Next," I said, flashing her a grin over my shoulder, "you're going to lose to me in racing."
"In your dreams."
"Trust me, Hyerin," I said, tightening my grip on her hand just slightly. "You're already part of every single one."