THE HIGH SCHOOL

THE FESTIVAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL

writed by Omahcbeauty

THE FESTIVAL CHAPTER!!

FLOUR FIGHT + HAND HOLD IN THE RAIN COMING!!

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CHAPTER 3: THE FESTIVAL

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Part 1: FESTIVAL PREP

2 weeks later. Home Ec Room. After school.

Flour everywhere.

Ji-woo was covered in it.

Tae-oh was too.

On his perfect hair.

On his uniform.

"Ya! Kang Tae-oh!" Ji-woo yelled.

"You started it!" Tae-oh said. Also yelling.

But he was smiling.

Actually smiling.

They were supposed to be prepping for the food booth.

Kimchi stew.

But Tae-oh "accidentally" threw flour at her.

So Ji-woo threw it back.

Now they were both a mess.

Laughing.

"Stop," Tae-oh said, out of breath.

"You stop," Ji-woo said.

Tae-oh looked at her.

Flour on her nose.

Hair a mess.

Eyes bright.

He reached out.

Wiped flour off her nose with his thumb.

Slow.

Ji-woo froze.

Tae-oh froze.

"Um," Ji-woo said.

"The stew," Tae-oh said quickly. "It’s burning."

They both jumped away.

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Part 2: YUNA'S SABOTAGE

Festival Day. 10:00 AM.

Their booth was the most popular.

"Scholarship Girl & Crown Prince Kimchi Stew!"

Line was 30 people long.

Ji-woo was cooking.

Tae-oh was taking money.

Looking like a model in his apron.

Then Yuna came.

With her friends.

"Oh no," Yuna said sweetly. "Is this stew safe?

I heard scholarship students use cheap ingredients."

She "tripped".

And spilled a whole pot of water.

Right into their stew pot.

Ruined.

The line went "awww".

Ji-woo’s eyes filled with tears.

All that work.

Tae-oh’s face went blank.

Then he stepped in front of Ji-woo.

"What did you just do?" he asked Yuna. Quiet.

"It was an accident, President-nim—"

"It wasn’t," Tae-oh said. Loud. So everyone heard.

"Cameras caught it. Want to see?"

He pointed to the CCTV.

Yuna went pale.

Tae-oh turned to the crowd.

"This stew was made by Park Ji-woo.

She woke up at 5 AM to cook it.

And anyone who disrespects her, disrespects me.

Understood?"

Everyone nodded. Fast.

Then Tae-oh looked at Ji-woo.

Softened.

"We’ll make more," he whispered. "Okay?"

Ji-woo nodded. Crying and smiling.

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Part 3: MAKING STEW TOGETHER

11:00 AM. Behind the booth.

They made a new pot.

Together.

No one else allowed.

Tae-oh chopped onions.

Cried.

"Why are you crying?" Ji-woo laughed.

"Onions," Tae-oh muttered. "Stupid onions."

Ji-woo handed him a tissue.

Their fingers touched.

Both went red.

"Here," Ji-woo said. "Taste this."

She held a spoon to his mouth.

Tae-oh ate it.

Paused.

"...It’s good."

"Really?"

"Yeah. The best."

Ji-woo beamed.

They sold out in 1 hour.

Everyone said it was the best stew at the festival.

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Part 4: RAIN + FIRST HAND HOLD

6:00 PM. Festival ending.

It started raining.

Hard.

Everyone ran.

Ji-woo didn’t have an umbrella.

"Ji-woo!"

Tae-oh appeared.

With one umbrella.

Big enough for two.

"Come on," he said.

They walked.

Shoulder to shoulder.

Under one umbrella.

The street was empty.

Only rain.

Ji-woo slipped on a puddle.

"Ah!"

Tae-oh caught her wrist.

Then didn’t let go.

He just... held her hand.

Ji-woo looked at him.

Tae-oh looked ahead.

Ears red.

Neither said anything.

They walked like that.

All the way to her apartment.

At her door, Tae-oh finally let go.

"Good night," he mumbled.

"Good night, Tae-oh," Ji-woo whispered.

He ran back into the rain.

Without the umbrella.

Ji-woo watched him go.

Holding her hand that he held.

Like it was treasure.

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Part 5: THE NEXT DAY

School announcement.

"Festival Best Booth Award goes to...

Kang Tae-oh and Park Ji-woo!"

Everyone clapped.

Even the teachers.

Tae-oh went on stage.

Took the trophy.

And said into the mic:

"This was all Park Ji-woo.

She’s the best partner I’ve ever had."

Then he looked right at Ji-woo in the crowd.

And winked.

Ji-woo’s face went nuclear red.

Yuna looked like she was going to explode.

After school, Tae-oh waited at her desk.

"Let’s walk home," he said.

"Together?"

"Yeah. Together."

And they did.

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END OF CHAPTER 3

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writed by Omahcbeauty

THE FLOUR ON THE NOSE!! THE "DISRESPECTS ME"!!

THE HAND HOLD IN THE RAIN!! THE WINK!!

Chapter 3 recap:

FLOUR FIGHT - domestic and cute

YUNA SABOTAGE - Tae-oh defends her publicly

MAKING STEW TOGETHER - spoon feeding

FIRST HAND HOLD in the rain

WON BEST BOOTH + "BEST PARTNER" SPEECH

For CHAPTER 4: I’m thinking:

Parent trouble - Tae-oh’s dad finds out about Ji-woo

Winter date - library + hot chocolate

First "I like you" from Tae-oh

Yuna’s last desperate move