The Announcement
957 Words
Monday morning arrived quietly.
For the first time in several days, Han Seo-yeon entered the classroom without looking toward the window.
Without looking toward Kang Min-jun.
Without expecting anything.
She simply walked to her seat and sat down.
If he wanted to avoid her…
then she would stop thinking about it.
It was that simple.
At least, that was what she kept telling herself.
Outside, the cherry blossom trees swayed gently in the morning breeze.
Students chatted noisily as usual.
Ji-ho entered the classroom a few moments later.
“Good morning.”
Seo-yeon smiled softly.
“Good morning.”
Ji-ho looked at her for a moment.
Then he smiled.
Interesting.
She looked calmer today.
Almost too calm.
“You seem to be in a good mood.”
“Do I?”
“You do.”
Seo-yeon nodded slightly.
“I think I was overthinking before.”
“Oh?”
“Min-jun probably wasn’t avoiding me.”
Ji-ho nearly laughed.
The boy had been practically running away from her.
But he decided to keep quiet.
“I see.”
Seo-yeon smiled faintly.
“So I won’t think about it anymore.”
At the back of the classroom—
someone accidentally tightened his grip on his pen.
Ji-ho noticed immediately.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
⸻
A few minutes later, their homeroom teacher entered.
The classroom quickly became quiet.
“I have an important announcement.”
A wave of excitement immediately spread through the room.
The teacher smiled.
“As you all know, the annual Spring Festival will take place next month.”
The entire class erupted.
“The Spring Festival?!”
“Seriously?”
“I’ve been waiting for this!”
Seo-yeon blinked.
Spring Festival?
The teacher continued.
“As usual, every class will prepare activities and performances.”
Students were already discussing excitedly among themselves.
“The festival also includes group projects.”
At that—
some students groaned.
“Groups?”
“Again?”
The teacher nodded.
“Yes.”
She picked up a list.
“I will be assigning groups myself.”
The classroom immediately became nervous.
Seo-yeon simply listened quietly.
This had nothing to do with her.
Or so she thought.
“Group One…”
Names were called one after another.
Then—
“Han Seo-yeon.”
She looked up.
“You will be working with…”
The teacher looked down at the paper.
“…Kang Min-jun.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
“What?!”
“Seriously?!”
“No way!”
Seo-yeon’s eyes widened.
Across the classroom, Kang Min-jun slowly looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment—
neither of them moved.
Ji-ho looked between them.
Then slowly smiled.
This was going to be fun.
The teacher continued.
“And Lee Ji-ho.”
Another wave of whispers spread.
“What kind of group is that?”
“That’s insane.”
“Poor Na-ri.”
As if on cue—
everyone looked toward Yoo Na-ri.
Her smile had completely disappeared.
Seo-yeon immediately lowered her gaze.
This was bad.
Very bad.
She had just decided to stop bothering Min-jun.
And now—
they were in the same group.
The universe was definitely laughing at her.
⸻
After class, students quickly gathered around the notice board to check their groups.
Seo-yeon remained seated.
Maybe if she stayed long enough—
everyone would leave.
“Are you planning to sleep here?”
She looked up.
Ji-ho stood beside her.
“…No.”
“Then come on.”
Seo-yeon sighed softly.
“I think I’ll check later.”
Ji-ho smiled knowingly.
“You’re avoiding him now.”
“What?”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
“Sure.”
Seo-yeon looked away.
“…I just don’t want to make things awkward.”
Ji-ho’s expression softened slightly.
Before he could say anything—
another shadow fell over the desk.
The two of them looked up.
Kang Min-jun.
Silence.
Ji-ho suddenly felt like laughing.
The timing was unbelievable.
Min-jun looked at Seo-yeon.
She immediately looked down.
…Interesting.
For some reason—
that bothered him.
A lot.
“About the project.”
His voice was calm.
“We should discuss it.”
Seo-yeon nodded without looking at him.
“Okay.”
“…”
“…”
Why wasn’t she looking at him?
A few days ago, she would have.
Min-jun frowned slightly.
Ji-ho looked between them.
This was becoming amusing.
“We can meet in the library after school,” Ji-ho suggested.
Neither objected.
“Great.”
⸻
That afternoon—
the library was unusually quiet.
Sunlight filtered softly through the windows.
Seo-yeon sat at one side of the table, arranging some papers.
Ji-ho sat opposite her.
Min-jun arrived a few moments later.
Without a word, he sat down.
Silence immediately followed.
Ji-ho looked at the two of them.
Then sighed dramatically.
“You two are exhausting.”
Seo-yeon blinked.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Min-jun ignored him.
The project discussion finally began.
To Seo-yeon’s surprise—
they worked quite well together.
Min-jun was intelligent.
Very intelligent.
Whenever she struggled with something—
he quietly explained it.
Patiently.
Calmly.
For a moment—
it almost felt like before.
Then she remembered.
The distance.
The avoidance.
The awkwardness.
And her smile slowly faded.
She lowered her eyes.
Maybe…
it was better not to misunderstand things again.
Maybe…
keeping some distance was the right thing to do.
Across the table—
Min-jun looked at her.
Again.
That expression.
Why did she suddenly look sad?
And why—
did he suddenly want to know the reason?
Outside the library windows—
soft pink petals drifted through the air.
Unaware to both of them—
this project would become the beginning of something neither of them was prepared for.
- Writer
