You yawned as you walked into a classroom, but then you accidentally fell, tripping over your own feet. 

Your friends laughed, but still helped you up. 

"How can you trip over your own feet?" they giggled. 

You shrugged. 

"You know me. I'm clumsy," you replied. 

Your friends rolled their eyes. 

"Of course you are," one teased. 

"Jooyeon-sshi," the teacher called. 

You turned your head and saw him gesture to you. 

Walking towards him, he handed you a pile of books and you took them, confused. 

"Can you bring them to the library for me?" he asked. "And can you get some books on this?" 

He pointed to the board, and you nodded. 

"Okay," you replied, walking out. 

But by the time you turned at a corner, you accidentally bumped into someone and all the books came tumbling down. 

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, did you get hurt anywhere?" you asked, bending down to pick up the books, frantically. 

"No," It was a cute, manly voice, and you noticed that he bent down to help you. 

You snuck a peek at him. 

He had blonde hair that was raised up with gel, and a fairly attractive face. 

Way to go, Jooyeon, you thought to yourself. Embarrassing yourself in front of a cute guy. Okay. Smooth. 

You finished picking them up, and he helped you up. 

"Thanks," you gave a slight bow, making sure you wouldn't drop the books again. 

He smiled, and replied, "No problem." 

You watched as he walked away, and then you walked away yourself. 

 

The library was rather old and huge. 

It was definitely possible to get lost in here. 

Books were placed neatly in shelves, globes on reference tables, computers sitting orderly. 

You walked in, and put the stacked books on a desk, taking one and pushing it into a slot. 

Once you were finished, you walked around the library, taking your time. 

It wasn't for a while until the bell rang, so you didn't have to rush. 

Scanning the book titles, you looked for the books your teacher wanted. 

And eventually, when you did find it, you discovered a ton of books about it. 

"Dang it," you muttered under your breath, starting to pull them off of the shelves and put them on your arm. 

When you were done, you had a stack of books the same height as the old stack in your grasp. 

You sighed, and looked at a nearby clock. 

There was still some more time before the bell rang anyways. 

While walking around, you didn't pay attention and you bumped into someone again. 

"Aish, I'm so sorry," you said, immediately bending down to pick up the books. "Are you okay?" 

You looked up to see the person's face, and you gasped. 

It was that guy from earlier, the one you bumped into, and when he looked down at you, he gasped too. 

"It's you!" he said, quietly, to make sure he wasn't disturbing anyone. 

"Aigo, I'm sorry for bumping into you again," you said sheepishly, and continued to pick up books. 

He laughed and squatted down, helping you out. 

"You're so clumsy." he smiled. 

"It's normal for me," you replied, laughing a bit. 

He looked at you, surprised. 

"Anyways, I'm Seo Jooyeon. Who are you?" you asked, smiling as you picked up all the books, and set them on a nearby lamp table, sitting down on a comforting couch. 

"The man of your dreams," he teased, sitting in the couch next to yours. "No, just kidding. I'm Kang Dongho, but people call me Baekho. You can also call me Mr. Bear, if you'd like. Lots of people call me that too." 

You glanced at him surprised. 

"What?" 

He chuckled a bit. 

"They call me that because I look like a bear, sort of...," he looked at himself. "And I tend to have traits of a mother bear." 

"What traits?" you asked, stifling a laugh. 

Baekho's eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched you. 

"I'm overprotective." he said. "Excessively protective." 

"Over everyone?" you asked. 

"Not just anyone," he answered, laughing a bit. 

"Then who?" Curiosity beamed in your eyes. 

He looked at you, bemused. 

"A girl that I really really like," he said, looking up, relaxed. 

"Who's that?" you asked, feeling a small pang in your heart. 

Wait, what? 

No, it's not right, you're not supposed to have that pang for him. 

He's cool and nice, you're just clumsy Jooyeon. 

"It's. A. Secret," he teased, sticking his tongue out. 

"St-stupid," you pouted, and grabbed the stack of books you left sitting on the lamp desk next to you. "I'm leaving." 

He laughed a bit. 

"Wait up, Jooyeon-ah," he said, catching up to you because of his long legs. 

You gulped, and felt your heart beat faster after he said you name, walking side by side with him. 

"Oi," you said, hoarsely. After a moment of cursing yourself, you continued. "Who's the girl you like?" 

Approaching the checkout station, he gave you a simple smirk. 

"Didn't I already say it's a secret?" he teased, tapping the tip of your nose with his forefinger. 

"Pabo..." you mumbled under your breath, as you handed the librarian the books. 

"You're the pabo," he joked, grinning, and you were astounded at how adorable he looked when he smiled. 

"Hey... You're not so bad looking," you commented, letting it accidentally slip out of your mouth. 

"R-really?" he blushed wildly, but you didn't notice because you avoided his gaze. 

You faced forward, and he was facing towards his left. 

"Yeah..." you trailed off, speaking rather quietly. 

"Well I think you look-" He was interrupted by the librarian. 

"Due in two weeks." she said curtly, handing you the books. 

"Ah, kamsahamnida." you nodded in acknowledgement, and held them, walking away with Baekho. 

"Anyways, continuing on with what you said?" you said, looking at him. 

"What?" 

"You know, you were going to say something, but the librarian interrupted you."

"O-oh, never mind." 

"You sure?" you asked, raising an eyebrow. 

He nodded firmly. 

"Okay," you smiled, turning your head to face forward.

The hallways were slightly empty, and you felt free in them, looking around as if they were new to you, although you had scanned these hallways millions of times. 

Baekho laughed as he observed you. 

"You're so funny," he said with a bright smile. 

You blushed. 

"Thanks." you answered. 

"Hm," he hummed in reply. 

Then, without any notice, you accidentally kicked a bump on the floor as you were walking, and you fell. 

You were expecting that familiar touch of pain as your collided with the floor. 

Squeezing your eyes shut, you waited for that moment...but it never came. 

Blinking your eyes open, you realized that there was pair of arms around your waist, holding you firmly, but gently. 

You looked up, and saw Baekho breathing heavily, panic and alarm in his eyes. 

"Thank you..." you said, trying to get out of his grip, but failing. "Baekho?" 

His grasp on you got tighter. 

"Don't... scare me like that, pabo," he panted, pulling you closer to him. 

"B-Baekho..." you trailed off. 

"What would I do if you got hurt?" he whispered. 

You didn't say anything for a moment. 

"Jooyeon..." he turned you around, and looked you seriously in the eyes. 

"Yes?" you asked, surprised. 

"If you don't mind..." he paused before continuing. "I would like to protect you." 

"What?" Your eyes bulged open. 

"I want to be your boyfriend." he said firmly. 

"B-but I'm really clumsy," you stuttered. 

He gave a laugh. 

"Don't you think I know that already?" he chuckled. 

You blushed. 

"Do you even like me? Don't you have that other girl you like?" you asked, avoiding his gaze. 

"That's the girl," he smiled. "You're the girl, Seo Jooyeon." 

You looked up at him, his eyes locking with yours. 

"Baekho..." 

He looked at you with hope in his eyes. 

You took a deep breath. 

"To be honest, Baekho... I might be a real challenge for you." you said queasily. 

"If I get to be with you, any challenge is okay." 

You blushed even harder. 

Then, you looked up at him. 

"I love you, Mr. Bear." you said shyly, your face red, and your heart pounding in your chest. 

He beamed and pulled you into his chest. 

You breathed in his cologne, and smiled. 

"Seo Jooyeon," he whispered to you, kissing the top of your head. 

"Yes?" you asked, looking up at him. 

"I will protect you for forever...I love you." 

"I love you too," you replied, snuggling into his chest. 

He gave a laugh, and kissed your forehead, pushing the depths of his love into that kiss. 

"You really are like a mother bear," you joked. 

"And I really love like a mother bear too," he smiled. 

"No," you said. "You love like you." 

You stood on your tippy toes and he bent down to help you, and you kissed him passionately, and when he finally pulled away and regained his breath, he whispered to you: 

"Seo Jooyeon, I promise... I will protect you forever." 

You smiled and he curled his pinky over yours, initiating his promise of a lifetime.