Kwon Jiyong // Between the Folded Pages

CODE 143: Love Department (Open for request!)

Reader x Kwon Jiyong
requested by - _aris_


It was 11AM and your morning class just ended. It wouldn’t be another 3 hours until your next class. One thing about college that you dislike was to have classes on the evening. You so much preferred to have all of your classes in the morning but you weren’t the one who got to arrange the schedule so you just had to bear with it.

Instead of heading back to your dorm with your friends, you headed for the library, which is in a different building than your department. It was located in the main building, where you had to walk through the garden and underneath the beautiful cherry blossom trees that were lining up perfectly at the sides of the wooden bridge that you have to go through from your department building. You have always enjoyed walking to the main building, in a way; it felt really romantic to you even if you were walking alone.

The library was only place on the campus that could give you some peace and quiet. The library was large enough to fit in about 200 hundred people and they had a reading corner for each sections. There was a glass room as well for students who want to do their research or have discussions and meeting there. It was soundproof so it wouldn’t bother the others who wanted to study in peace. The floor was carpeted so it wouldn’t make any sound. The wooden shelves were all lined up neatly on the sides. There were sofas and tables for the students to relax and just read. The library was bright enough thanks to the mixture of natural light that came through the big windows and the fluorescent lights. The freshly printed books smelled like paper and ink but the older ones, the ones that you adored so much and the ones that brought you to your fate have that sweet musky scent to it.

But that wasn’t the only reason why you loved the library. With a wide stride, you headed straight to your favorite section, where all the novels were. You scanned the bookshelves looking for a book that was out of place. This was what you had to go through every single day, the hassle of finding a book that you weren’t even sure of but it was worth it. Then you saw it, a mystery book between the two romance books. That was certainly out of place and you were sure that this was the book you should be looking for.

Without any hesitation, you picked the book up and made your way to your usual reading spot, by the window. Thankfully, no one was sitting in your spot. Well, not many would want to sit there by the window. They claimed that it sometimes it was too blinding for them that they had to move to other places. But not to you. You felt like the spot was perfect. You can observe the people outside of the window and just watch the leaves falling from the nearby cherry blossoms. There were times when you would just bask in the warm sunlight that shove through the window.

You flipped through the pages of the book after you sat down. Then it slipped down. A folded piece of paper fell down onto your lap.

There you are…” You thought nervously.

When you unfolded the paper, there was a neat handwriting that said.

How was your day? Mine was okay. Remember that quiz I’ve told you about? The one that I fell asleep on? Surprisingly enough, I passed. Well, barely though. 
I also found out from one of my classmates that there is a new book café nearby. She said that it’s really cozy and it smells of coffee and old books. I’m sure you’ll like that. I would love to go there with you. - Ji”

This was the main reason why you loved going to the library. You’ve been exchanging notes with someone. Though the two of you never met, but you felt a deep connection with the person. All you knew about the other person was that he was a male and he was majoring in music. He wanted to meet up with you but you refused because you didn’t want the excitement to be gone. What if you met him and you felt disappointed or vice versa? To you, it was better not to meet up. At the very least, you could preserve the image you’ve created of him.

You imagined him to be a very gentle person, someone sophisticated and smart. He would probably wear a knitted sweater and have a pair of glasses on and he’ll have a book with him no matter where he goes. That was the kind of person you think he would be.

Really? That’s great then! Must be your luck.
About the café, the smell of coffee and old books? Count me in!
But I don’t think going together would be such a good idea. You know I don’t want to meet up. I just want things to stay the same. I want to keep this sweet memory of having a mysterious friend. - Y/A”

You pondered at your note for a while, wondering if it was okay for you to say that. Ji had wanted to meet you ever since you two corresponded and you kept on refusing. Sometimes you wondered if he was somewhere in the library, knowing perfectly how you looked like. But so far, no one came up to you and says that he was Ji.

 

With a sigh, you tucked your note inside the book and placed it back where you’ve found it and headed out of the library. With a sigh and your head full of the notes you’ve exchanged with Ji, you looked up to the sky. You remembered his sweet comforting words when you told him of your worries, you remember his silly jokes and straightforward riddles and laughed. With all these wonderful thoughts of him, the sky was clear, decorated with fluffy clouds and a flock of birds flying across it. You felt the gentle breeze grazing against your skin and that sweet scent of earth filled your nostrils, oh how you love it. Finally you approached the wooden bridge. The petals were falling, as if they were painting the bridge pink. It was beautiful. You turned, walking backwards, with your eyes glued to the cherry blossoms above. No matter how hard you try, you couldn’t take your eyes of them. It was really beautiful and somewhat… romantic.

Just as you were about to turn around again to walk properly, you slammed into someone. You lost your footing and was about to fall when the other person grabbed you by the wrist, saving you.
“Are you alright?” A gentle voice asked.

In front of you, stood a young man, no younger than you were, searching your eyes for answers. He had a guitar bag slung over his shoulders and music notes in his hands. You noticed that some of his papers fell on the ground. The young man was wearing a grey turtleneck with a pair of denim jeans. It was just simple clothing but he made it look so fashionable. His eyes looked soulful and gentle that you couldn’t help but to get lost in them for a brief while.
“Are you okay?” He asked again.
Snapping out of your daze, you nodded awkwardly at him and straightened yourself up. Your cheeks turned roses out of the embarrassment for losing yourself for a moment in front of this young man with red hair.
“I-I’m fine. Thanks.” You weren’t able to look at him.
He just flashed you a gentle smile and let go of your wrist. “Thank goodness.” Seeing how his notes were scattering on the floor, he bent down to pick it up.
You didn’t need to be asked to help him out. When you two were done, you handed him his notes and he thanked you. “Be careful, next time.” He just said.
Out of consciousness, you ruffled your hair. “I know, it’s just that… this is just very beautiful…” You motioned to the petal-carpeted bridge. “I just find it very…”
“Romantic?”
“Yes.” You breathed.
“Girls like these sort of things.” He laughed.
Oh how attractive he sounded when he laughed. He looked very pleased as well.
“I can’t deny that.”
“I guess it is romantic,” He nodded as he looked around, shoving his hands into his pockets. “I got to go. Keep your eyes ahead, okay?” With a wink, he left, leaving you blushing alone.

When nighttime came, you couldn’t stop thinking about the encounter you had with the red haired boy earlier. He had the most contagious laugh, the gentlest eyes and the warmest smile. You wondered if you could see him again. Remembering that he had a guitar bag with him, you couldn’t help but to guess that he was from the music department.
It was already past midnight and you still couldn’t sleep.
“That’s it.” You got up from your bed and sat at your desk instead. With a paper readied in front of you, you picked up your pen and started to write down something on it.
In it, you poured out everything on your mind. Your thoughts, your emotions, your opinions and your heart. It had been a while since you wrote everything down but you were being honest.

 

Dear Ji,
Yesterday, on my way back from the library, I met the most beautiful young man I have ever seen. I didn’t get his name though but I wish to meet him again. I even wrote him a letter.”

“You want to meet someone who probably doesn’t even know you but you don’t want to meet me? Ouch-
and a letter? Is it a love letter?“

“Please, you know perfectly why I don’t want to meet you. Do you have any idea who he is? He play a guitar I think?
No, it’s not a love letter- well, I don’t know. All I know is that I just poured everything out.”

“Nope, none and how do you know he play the guitar? For all you know, he’s just carrying it?
Any chance I will get to read this letter?”

“Hm, you’re right. So are you telling me that he could be from other departments besides the music?
Maybe one day. But not now. I’m too shy?”

“Could be. Take me for example. I am not from the art department, but I can draw.
And I’ll wait for that day then! I hope it’s not too cheesy or anything.”

“You can only draw a potato. Stop calling yourself Picasso okay.
Plus, it’s not even for you so it doesn’t matter if it’s too cheesy or not.”

Ji stared at the pink note in his hand. He looked at your handwriting and sighed. It was so feminine and he liked it. The pink paper you used too, really helped him visualized how you were. It had been a few weeks since he and you corresponded. There were times when he didn’t get to go to the library to pick up your note because he was too busy himself and there were times when he checked the book, only to find his own note in there. You haven’t been going to the library as much with the end of semester approaching.
“She must really like cute things.” He smiled to himself.
But that smile faded when he read, “it’s not even for you”.
As usual, the library was quiet but there weren’t a lot of people like always. There were only a couple of boys and a girl, sitting together at a desk, probably studying for an upcoming quiz or doing their research. Ji didn’t really care. The library was empty except for them. He was sitting at his usual place, near the aisle where he and you would exchange letters by the window. He liked looking outside, just to observe people and get some inspirations for his songs.
He took small note out and started to write his reply.
How I wish it was for me…” but thought better of it. He crumpled it and took out another note, thinking hard on what to reply.

He was feeling frustrated. He wished the letter was for him, he wished to meet you, he wished that he could go on and have lunch with you like normal people do and he knew the reason why he was feeling irritated was because you liked someone else and not him while he was madly in love with you. It was crazy, to fall in love with someone who he’d never met in real life but having to contact you, even through notes like these made his heart skip a beat. He was happy. He didn’t care how you looked like, he was pretty sure you were beautiful on the outside just as how you were on the inside. To him, if your inside were beautiful, your outside would be just as radiant. He didn’t even know how or when it happened. It just happened. Probably because he felt comfortable, or maybe he felt like he could be himself with you, or is it because of the manners of your letters, and how they keep him comforted on the cold nights. Even though they were just simple letters with simple contents, they were all meaningful to him. He had them kept under his bed in a shoebox.
Just when he was about to start again, a girl walked pass him and into the romance section. He stopped writing and stared at the girl.
She took out a mystery novel from the shelves and Ji’s eyes widened. He didn’t know if he should look and approach her or if he should turn a blind eye to it.
“She did mention she didn’t want to meet me…” He thought sadly. “At least… At least now I know how her hair looks like…”
“This book is misplaced!” The girl raised her voice slightly.
Oh.
A friend of hers came up to her and took the book from her hand. He flipped through the pages and shook his head in an annoyed manner. “It clearly says romance here, can’t these people read?” He rolled his eyes and took the book back to the mystery section, where it really belonged with the girl tagging behind him.
It wasn’t her then.

For a brief moment, he was relieved. Maybe he wasn’t ready to see you yet just as how you weren’t ready to see him. Perhaps now he knew how you were feeling. Unable to write anything, Ji just stared at the blank piece of note in his hand.
He stashed his things into his bag and got up, ready to leave when he head someone yelped, followed by a loud thud.
Quickly, he turned around only to see the girl he’d slammed into on the floor, groaning and grunting in pain. Without any second thoughts, he walked up to her and offered her his hand.
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful?” He raised a brow when you looked up to him.
“I’m just clumsy.” You blurt out.
“You sure are.” He chuckled.
He eyed you from top to bottom as he helped you up and when you locked eyes with him like you did before, his heart skipped a beat. He felt his temperature raising and blood rushed through his vein.
“Uhm, are you alright?” Now it was your turn to ask him.
“Y-yeah.” He cleared his throat. “So, what are you doing here?”
“This is… the library… I think anyone can come here?” You laughed but were immediately hushed by the librarian.
The laughter was replaced by a whisper like giggle. You were feeling giddy, happy to see and even talk to your crush. Maybe you would even mention about this to your mysterious library friend.
“It’s nice seeing you again.” Ji said as he beginning to walk away.
“Oh yes, nice seeing you again…”

When he left, you turned to the romance section, looking for the mystery book that you’d placed there purposely. When it was no longer there, you frowned. The librarian must have found it and placed it back at its original section. Now you got to find another book to use. While approaching a different section, you remembered something.
The letter!
You’ve met your crush again today but you didn’t give him the letter. The letter you’ve been carrying around for a few weeks and you weren’t sure if you were able to meet him again, now that the semester was ending. Without any moment to lose, you ran out of the library and down the stairs to the corridor. You had no idea where he was heading but you prayed that you were heading where he was. Your guts told you to exit the building and there he was, walking towards that wooden bridge when you first met him.
“Wait!” You yelled.
He stopped on his tracks and turned, facing you. There was a quizzical look on his face, his finger pointing to himself, as if asking you if you calling him.
Instead of answering him, you nodded and marched towards him.
Ji just looked at you, slightly confused. His red hair were a mess due to the gushing wind and the petals were falling, just like the first time you met him.
“I have something, for you.” You forced those words out of your mouth. With a deep breath, you took out the letter from your pocket. It was crumpled but the envelope was the same shade of pink you always use for your note and Ji noticed this.
“What is this?”
“A letter.”
He had to confirm it. “A love letter?”
Your face was violent red as you nodded. “Read it when you’re at home.”
He quickly grabbed your wrist when you were about to leave. “Wait.” He still hasn’t asked the real question. “What were you doing in the library?”
“It’s a library, I told you. Anyone can-“
“Tell me the truth.”
You didn’t understand he was so nosy about why you were in the library. It was none of his business.
“I was… I was looking for a book.”
“Go on.”
“That’s it.”
“I think there’s more. I think you were looking for a mystery book.”
Time stopped.
No.
It couldn’t be.
“I think you were looking for a mystery book, to look for a reply from your mysterious friend at the library.” He continued.
No… how did he know? No one knew about this. You’ve never told anyone about your secret correspondent with Ji. Unless…
“Ji?”
“Hello there, _____”
You were flustered. This person in front of you couldn’t be Ji. He wasn’t not how you imagined him to be. You imagined Ji to be sophisticated but this person in front of you was very different but oddly, you didn’t feel disappointed. You felt relieved, you felt happy and excited to be more precise.
When you didn’t respond to him, Ji pulled his hand away and took a step back. He looked unsure. “Are you… disappointed?”
“What? No!” You shook your head and looked down to your shoes. “Are you disappointed?”
“Not at all.” His smile appeared. “I’m very pleased.” He lifted up the love letter. “And I am very pleased to know that you have a crush on me in real life too.”
“Okay, give me back my letter.” Even though you rolled your eyes, your lips couldn’t stop smiling.
“No way, you said I could read it one day. Looks like that one day, is today.”

He held the letter above his head, made it impossible for you to reach. When you tiptoed, he pulled you into a tight embrace and held you close. “I’m very happy… you had no idea how frustrated I was when you said you had a crush on this person…” He sighed.
“Why are you frustrated? You don’t even like me.”
“Really? Why do you think I asked to meet you so many times? I’ve been dying to meet you because… I really want to see this beautiful person who have been replying to my notes.”
You buried your face in his shirt and shook your head slightly. “That’s stupid… You didn’t even know how I looked like.”
“But I know how beautiful you are on the inside back then. You’re just as beautiful on the outside…also, my name is Kwon Jiyong, not just Ji.”

 


 

Hello there! 
I am so sorry for the super duper late update.
I've been busy juggling between moving and finals. 
I am so so so sorry. But your chapter is here now.
Please leave a comment or a feedback <3 

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peachandlily
#1
teen top changjo
college

tyyy
_aris_
#2
I'd like to make a request, please?? ^^

G-Dragon - Bigbang
Takes place in college, mostly in the library maybe? hehe

Thank you><