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Chapter 2: Should I Confess My Feelings?
Sam-mi glanced at the wall clock, her eyebrows furrowing in growing irritation.
She turned to the girl seated to her left, who was murmuring under her breath about how hungry she was.
With an annoyed huff, Sam-mi pushed her brown hair backward, revealing the full beauty of her face. Her delicate nose and piercing blue eyes blended perfectly with her features, making her stand out without effort. She raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow—an action that only made her look more stunning, not less.
"Where's Dumpling? Is she making the dumplings herself?" Sam-mi said, frustration lacing her voice.
The girl beside her peeked out the window, scanning the campus grounds below. Her eyes widened slightly as she spotted someone. She turned back to Sam-mi with urgency.
"There! Look down there!" she exclaimed, pointing toward the window.
Sam-mi stood and walked over, followed by the rest of their group. Peering down, they all focused on the sight below.
"Who is she with?" one of the girls asked.
"Isn't that the guy who always flirts with you at the cafeteria?" one of the boys added, glancing sideways at Sam-mi.
"Maybe they have something in common," Sam-mi commented coolly, flashing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
They continued to watch Ju-kyoung and the somewhat awkward guy dance clumsily together without music. The sight was both confusing and oddly amusing.
Meanwhile, the cafeteria buzzed with life. Students were chatting, eating, and forming long lines for food. The air was filled with the scent of freshly cooked meals, and the lively hum of voices added to the vibrant atmosphere.
Ju-kyoung stood in line, watching the boy she had spoken to earlier—Hyun-bin—happily serving food to students. Each time he smiled, the girls receiving their food would blush and walk away giggling.
The line crawled forward slowly. Ju-kyoung leaned toward the girl next to her, who had red spots on her face similar to hers.
"Isn't Hyun-bin dreamy?" Ju-kyoung said with a shy smile.
The girl looked at Hyun-bin, then quickly looked away.
"I don't know," she replied softly as the line moved forward again.
Ju-kyoung's smile widened. "He said we had the same taste in music earlier."
Hyun-bin handed a plate to a student, offering a gentle smile.
Ju-kyoung blushed instantly. "See! He just smiled at me! Don't you think he likes me… even just a little?"
The girl glanced at Hyun-bin again, but said nothing.
"Not sure," she murmured.
Ju-kyoung paused in the line, lost in thought, while the girl moved forward.
"I'm going to tell him how I feel," Ju-kyoung said, her voice filled with sudden determination. She adjusted her glasses and smiled.
A few students around her turned to look, surprised by her bold statement. Even the girl with red spots stopped to glance back. "Not sure," she whispered again.
Two guys ahead of them chuckled. One turned to the other and said, "Hey, look at Ju-kyoung—black tights with white socks."
"Would you date her for a million?" the other one joked.
The first guy made a face. "Not even for one million," he replied with exaggerated disgust.
They laughed cruelly and moved on.
The girl with red spots turned to Ju-kyoung. "I'll have my lunch later," she said quietly before walking out of the cafeteria.
Ju-kyoung looked after her, slightly stunned, before the students behind her nudged her to move forward.
She smiled nervously and stepped closer to Hyun-bin, adjusting her glasses again.
When she finally stood in front of him, he didn't meet her eyes. He simply placed food on her tray and said politely, "Enjoy your meal."
Still hopeful, Ju-kyoung mustered her courage. "Hey… Hyun-bin, can we… can we meet up tomorrow at lunch?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
Hyun-bin glanced at her briefly. "Tomorrow?" he repeated, then gave a small nod.
Ju-kyoung's heart swelled as she walked away smiling, clutching her tray.
Across the cafeteria, Sam-mi and her group were enjoying their meal when one of the girls spotted Ju-kyoung.
She nudged the rest of the group, and they all turned to watch.
Sam-mi smiled, clearly amused. "She's really making a move," she said, genuinely surprised.
Later that night, the campus was quiet. The sky sparkled with stars, and most students were already asleep. But Ju-kyoung was wide awake, busy baking in the kitchen.
Her face lit up as she carefully scooped heart-shaped cupcakes into pastel wrappers. She sprinkled them with colorful decorations and smiled proudly.
When the oven timer dinged, she pulled them out and blew on the hot tray gently. The sweet aroma filled the room. She packed the cupcakes neatly into a box, her heart fluttering with nervous excitement.
Meanwhile, in another part of town…
"Do it harder!" a woman snapped at the man massaging her shoulders. She sat cross-legged on the floor, clearly irritated.
A teenage boy emerged from a room, passing by. The woman's tone immediately shifted to something more composed.
"What brought you out, son?" she asked.
The boy—around sixteen—was tall and lean. His black hair was styled to the side, highlighting his expressive brown eyes. He gave a small smile.
"Nothing," he said simply.
Her eyebrows furrowed. "Are you hungry? Want some fruit?"
"No," he replied calmly before walking off.
Back at Ju-kyoung's house, she stepped out of her room holding the box of cookies. Her mother spotted her immediately.
"Lim Ju-kyoung, what are you doing instead of studying?" her mother demanded.
Ju-kyoung quickly hid the box behind her back and smiled awkwardly. "I just worked on something…"
Her mother looked suspicious. "You should work on your grades," she snapped.
Ju-kyoung gave her an innocent look.
The man massaging her mother's shoulders chuckled softly.
Her mother narrowed her eyes. "Your scores dropped again."
Ju-kyoung glanced at her father, hoping for some backup. "Daddy…" she said softly.
That silenced her mother.
Her father said nothing and continued massaging.
Ju-kyoung sighed. "Fine, I'll work on it," she muttered and began walking away.
Her mother shouted after her. "Lim Ju-kyoung! Where are you going? I'm still talking to you!"
But Ju-kyoung kept walking, ignoring the voice behind her.
Her mother started to get up, but her husband gently held her back down, placing a kiss on her forehead.
"She said she got it. Let her go—just this once. Now, let me get your neck."
"I don't know who she takes after," her mother said, shaking her head.
Ju-kyoung's father chuckled. "Come on. Let me finish this side."
Just then, his phone buzzed. Quietly, he picked it up and read the message:
"I can't wait any longer. Can you return my investment?"
His face grew still as he slipped the phone back into his pocket silently.
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