tags strangers to friends to lovers, forced proximity, hurt and comfort, angst, slow burn, pining, open or ambigious ending.

 

fall there had been a new face summer didn't recognize at one world; a bright woman but with reserved steps whom had ordered a fruit tea and a small breakfast. he gave her his business smile when she left, please come again soon. it hadn't been a request nor something he held to customers—just something the staff said to them—but the next day, summer saw her again. she ordered the same fruit tea but a different breakfast snack with a smile upon her features (she hadn't smiled yesterday, too busy as she stared at the floor with a tint to her cheeks). he would realize the next morning she had been a classmate; a classmate who would not stop the several glances toward him.

 

summer lee's first impression of wonhui yeong hadn't been the most ideal.

 

winter as a required project for class, summer and wonhui were assigned together. they had only known each other as classmates who see each other every so often outside school, so to say it had been awkward for them was a severe understatement. her reservedness and his past had made things have more tension than necessary, but summer knew he'd need to go through with this eventually. they spent time together, whether at the library after school hours or on summer's break in the mornings. the awkwardness of it all faded, but it hadn't disappeared, and summer guessed that had to have been a good sign. maybe, she can be a friend; maybe, he can finally make a friend.

 

maybe, summer can make it through his past.

 

spring he wasn't oblivious; if anything, he was too observant. he noticed the small things first—the flinches to reach out toward him, the darker than usual blush against her cheeks, the hesitance in her eyes before she averted her gaze. summer wasn't oblivious, and he knew something had changed in their friendship. wonhui never acted upon her feelings, however, whether on her own or his accord. summer appreciated that part of her decision, for he knew at that time he was not ready, hadn't let go of his past truly and completely yet.

 

summer loved, but he knew the love would only tear apart when he wasn't at all ready.

 

summer the season was near its end, and with that freshmen year. he would come to terms with the feelings inside his heart—a love that grew throughout the seasons.

 

he may not be ready, but summer was willing to finally accept these things he once had.

🌻 wonhui often visits summer on his work breaks, just to catch up on assignments and/or small talk.

🌻 she invites him to art museums to get inspiration for her career.

🌻 + more.

🌻 toward the end of the year, perhaps summer being able to initiate touch.

 

tl;dr overall, they get together? probably the slowest burn in hell, but they'll get there. trust the process. i don't think they'd get together in freshmen year however; starting off as strangers and ending as friends with an implication of romantic feelings bc gyuha's trying his best but can't be romanced right away. feelings take time and gyuha's on his way, however slow it may be.