Taeyeon looked around his new class with a timid expression, unable to fake a smile even. He was an introvert and he got uncomfortable around new people rather quickly; it was natural for him to retreat and lock himself in a little bubble. It didn't help that he was the only child in his family as compared to his cousins who had multiple siblings in their families. 

“Everyone, please pair up and we’ll start discussing a couple of questions!”

It terrified him. 

It terrified Taeyeon to think that he would be the only one left without a partner and he hated being alone. Taeyeon detested the silence that engulfed him every time when he was alone. 

“Excuse me? Taeyeon?”

Looking up albeit reluctantly, Taeyeon saw one of the prettiest girls standing in front of his table with her books held to her chest; her name was Sunmi if he's not wrong. “Sunmi, right?” Taeyeon didn’t know if his sentence came out a bit too cold because he could swear he saw her smile falter for a second or too. Sunmi gestured to the chair beside him and sat down comfortably once Taeyeon smiled, “Yes, that’s me.” 

“Okay! If everyone has gotten a partner, please discuss the reasons why this country’s economic growth is going down!”

Sunmi couldn't help but to steal glances at Taeyeon, wondering why he was so quiet around her. Almost all the guys she had talked to were either comfortable or perfectly fine around her but Taeyeon was an exception and Sunmi didn't know what to make of this situation. 

Taeyeon thought he was being discreet.

Sunmi thought she was being secretive. 

“Taeyeon?” Sunmi whispered, “are you okay? You seem so… tense around me.” Taeyeon turned to Sunmi with a somewhat forced smile, he didn’t know how to react because no one had paid so much attention to him before.

In the past when he had to partner with someone, he would simply offer to do the entire project on his own so he didn’t have to say a single word to his partner. Taeyeon thought this project would be exactly the same; he had never expected Sunmi to be so direct in asking him such a question. Now that Sunmi was finally starting to interact with him more than anyone else had, Taeyeon didn’t know how to behave or act around her.

A frown fell upon Sunmi’s pretty face, it was so obvious that Taeyeon was forcing himself to smile. “Is it very difficult to work with me? I can re--- NO! It’s not you…” Taeyeon cut her off urgently, he didn’t want her to think that it was her fault because he wasn’t talking. Taeyeon rubbed the back of his neck, “I’m just a little… awkward, I guess.”

How could someone be this cute?

Sunmi beamed the most beautiful smile Taeyeon had ever seen in his life and he was instantly awe-struck, his jaw falling slack at the sight in front of him. “I can tell.” Sunmi giggled, covering to keep in her laughter so she wouldn’t embarrass Taeyeon. She kept an eye on Taeyeon rather often and she suspected that Taeyeon either had an anxiety disorder or he was very introverted.

It turned out to be the latter, thank goodness. 

And that was how Taeyeon and Sunmi became friends from project partners, their constant interaction everyday was enough to allow the other to enquire more about their partner bit by bit. For example, Taeyeon found out that Sunmi’s stepfather was as close to her as a biological father. On the other hand, Sunmi found out that Taeyeon was actually supposed to have an elder brother but unfortunately, Mrs Kim had a miscarriage and hence, Taeyeon was the only child.

---

As time passed by, Sunmi and Taeyeon became best friends, hanging out together and having deep conversations into the night whenever they could. Sunmi made it a point to meet Taeyeon at least once every day even after they had changed classes and had their own friends now. Taeyeon also headed over to Sunmi’s class at random just to catch a glimpse of his best friend.

Now they were best friends… but both had plans to be more than that.

And they knew it.

“Seriously, Sunmi,” Sohee mumbled, “if you’re so in love with him then confess! You already know how he feels about you.”

Sunmi had found out about Taeyeon’s feelings towards her because he accidentally left his journal at her house after going over to study with her. It just so happened that the book was left open after a strong gust of wind blew by her window. To say that Sunmi wasn’t surprised would be an understatement; after all, Taeyeon wasn’t one to express his feelings so openly.

“What if… what if he’s just confused, Sohee?” Sunmi groaned, covering her face, “he doesn’t have that many female friends and I’m his closest friend for now. What if he’s just getting his feelings for me as a best friend mixed up?”

“I’m not.”

Both ladies turned around and found Taeyeon standing behind Sunmi with the most confident smile Sunmi had ever seen out of him. Taeyeon never gave off such an aura before, it was completely mesmerizing. He had let his normally gelled hair loose, his fringe covering his forehead; he got rid of his nerdy spectacles and was probably wearing contacts right now. 

This was... amazing.

Taeyeon couldn't help but let his chest swell with pride when he saw Sunmi's inability to react at his new appearance. Likewise, he knew he had shocked almost everyone else when he first stepped into the school gates. He didn't know where he found enough confidence to have such a drastic change but he had his female cousins and his mother to thank for this. 

“Yoohoo! Sunmi? Gosh, you’re hopeless!” Sohee