Chapter 14 — The Things He Didn’t Notice
793 Words
By the middle of the semester, Alicia had become a familiar presence around campus.
Students knew her as the scholarship student from Uganda.
The girl who had survived the scandal.
The girl who was always studying.
And lately… the girl with the beautiful natural curls.
Alicia herself didn’t think much about it.
She simply woke up every morning, moisturized her hair the way her aunt had taught her, and tied it loosely when she went to class.
But there was one person who noticed every detail.
Park Min-ho.
At first, he thought it was just coincidence that he kept sitting beside her.
Then he started arriving earlier to class.
Just in case the seat next to her was still empty.
What confused him most wasn’t her hair.
It was the scent.
Every time he sat next to her, that soft warm smell drifted toward him.
Sweet.
Natural.
Comforting.
It was the same scent that lingered whenever she walked past.
At first he ignored it.
But after a few days, he began noticing it immediately the moment she entered a room.
And somehow…
It made it easier to stay near her.
One afternoon, Alicia was studying alone in the campus café.
Books covered the table in front of her.
Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed as she read.
Min-ji had gone to attend a club meeting, leaving Alicia buried in notes.
She didn’t notice someone approaching.
A cold drink suddenly appeared beside her notebook.
Alicia looked up.
Min-ho stood there calmly.
“For you,” he said.
She blinked.
“A strawberry smoothie?”
“You like strawberry drinks.”
Alicia tilted her head.
“How do you know that?”
Min-ho paused for a second.
“I’ve seen you order it before.”
Which was true.
But not the full truth.
He had noticed the first time she bought one.
Then the second.
Then every time after that.
Alicia smiled warmly.
“Thank you.”
Min-ho nodded once and sat down across from her.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The soft scent of her hair drifted toward him again.
He found himself wondering what oil she used.
Then he immediately stopped the thought.
Why am I thinking about that?
Alicia continued studying peacefully, unaware of the quiet war happening inside his head.
Later that week, Alicia, Min-ji, Jae-hyun, and Min-ho were walking across campus after class.
The courtyard was crowded with students.
As they passed a group near the fountain, two girls whispered loudly enough to be heard.
“Her hair looks messy.”
“I know. Why doesn’t she just straighten it?”
Alicia froze for a second.
Her hand instinctively touched her curls.
Min-ji’s expression darkened.
Before she could say anything, someone spoke first.
“That’s because not everyone wants to look like you.”
The voice was calm.
Sharp.
Everyone turned.
Min-ho stood there.
The two girls looked startled.
“What?” one of them said defensively.
Min-ho’s gaze didn’t waver.
“Her hair looks fine.”
The courtyard had grown quiet.
Even Alicia looked surprised.
Min-ho rarely spoke during situations like this.
The girls quickly looked away, embarrassed.
“Whatever,” one muttered before they walked off.
The moment passed.
Students resumed their conversations.
But Alicia still stood there quietly.
She looked at Min-ho.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
Min-ho shrugged lightly.
“They were being rude.”
Min-ji grinned proudly.
“That was amazing.”
Jae-hyun, however, was watching very carefully.
He leaned closer to Min-ho.
“Well,” he said softly, “that was heroic.”
Min-ho ignored him.
But Jae-hyun saw it.
The way Min-ho had reacted instantly.
The way his attention kept drifting back to Alicia.
The way he was standing slightly closer to her now.
And most interesting of all…
The way Min-ho seemed completely unaware of how much he was starting to care.
Jae-hyun crossed his arms thoughtfully.
This is getting dangerous.
Not for Alicia.
For Min-ho.
That evening in the library, Alicia sat studying again.
A strawberry drink appeared beside her notebook.
She didn’t even need to look up this time.
“Thank you, Min-ho.”
He sat beside her quietly.
“How did you know it was me?” he asked.
Alicia smiled.
“You’re the only one who brings me strawberry drinks.”
Min-ho didn’t respond.
But for the first time in a long while, something warm settled in his chest.
Across the room, Jae-hyun watched the two of them from another table.
He leaned back in his chair slowly.
Then he smiled to himself.
So Min-ho had fallen.
Whether he realized it or not.
And that made Jae-hyun curious.
Very curious.
Because now he wanted to see just how far Min-ho would go for her.
- Writer
