❝Bloom And Chase❞

∞

7:12 am 

"I'm off to school!" 

Jinsoo exclaimed, as soon as his steps halted after ascending the stairs from his room by the entrance door while putting his shoes on in a haste since he didn't want to get late for school; his always record of reaching on time was something he didn't want to break, yet it seemed like it was going to as he still had to pick up his best friend, who has kept her record of never being on the time. 

But it felt like it was going to change; he was going to change it. 

"At least, have some breakfast!" 

His mom yelled from the kitchen as he shot a quick glance at the dining room to find his grandfather and his big brother already on the task of it along with his mother but he shook his head, shooting a smile. "I can't get late, mom. Have to pick up Inha too!" 

He immediately adjusted his long thick brown coat over his shoulders to exit his home while shoving his cold hands into the coat's pocket to warm them up with a quick huff the moment he felt a wave of coldness touching his face, a wave of white fog leaving his lips; indicating the arrival of the winters with the new month of November. 

He was quick to do a little jog towards Inha's home; right across from his home and he was glad that the front door was open knowing that Inha's mother would be leaving for her work too, as the next minute, he stood by the entrance area as taking off his shoes seemed like a hassle at the moment while his eyes looked around the living room to find Ji-Hye rummaging through her purse to hear some sounds from the kitchen. 

"Good morning, busy people." 

He greeted, with his ever different greeting in the morning but the people were used to it to even get surprised as Ji-Hye was quick to forward her smile toward him. "Why are you standing there though?" 

"Can't break the record of getting late, doctor." He let out a chuckle. "Please, call Inha." 

"I'm here!"

Both of them turned to find Inha coming down through the stairs, her cream colored coat almost slipping off her shoulders where her open hair were resting smoothly with her backpack in her hand as her feet hidden under the black legging socks could be felt cold by the wooden steps but still her smile was beaming warmly as she reached out to Jinsoo. 

"Let's go!" 

"Wait, bubble, have some breakfast first." 

Daewon walked out, holding a plate in his hand which was filled with some Kimbap while his other hand was tucked under the shopper glove with an apron still around him as he stopped in front of the two kids who were in a hurry but couldn't let them go without having their stomachs filled with some food. 

"Uncle," Jinsoo pouted, but in an admiring manner towards Daewon. "You know I love your handmade Kimbap so that's why you made it, right?" 

Daewon couldn't help but chuckle. "Yes, now have some," He trailed off, grabbing a piece of sliced one to forward towards Jinsoo's mouth while the latter was quick to open his mouth wide to feel his favorite taste in his mouth as he munched, to show him a thumbs up. "Wow, always the best!" 

Inha gave him a look. "Aren't you getting late now?" 

"Oh, yeah, all because of you!" 

He was quick to walk out with a quick goodbye to the elders before Inha could have cursed him out, was filled with a Kimbap by her father who giggled at his daughter's fumed yet adorable expression. "Have a good day, my bubble, and keep yourself warm!" 

"Yes, I'm off to school!" 

Inha was out leaving her parents behind with a smile after she found her dad feeding her mother affectionately to run toward Jinsoo who was quick to wrap his arm around her neck as they walked ahead together but their steps seemed to be halting at the moment as they crossed Yoojung's home. 

The house it was now. 

Because the people living in it had left it empty, one left it because of the unexpected incident and the other left it because it was the only choice to be left. 

And now, it was empty and it seemed like an always thing. 

But it wouldn't be left empty for long and they didn't need to know it yet. 

Jinsoo and Inha had exchanged an understanding yet saddened smile to each other before continuing their steps toward the bus stop as the last seat of it was going to be occupied by them again. 

Something which was unchangeable but a change always arrives; unexpectedly and in a way which is beyond any imagination. 

The November month had arrived, and the winters had followed behind it; as if it was a tag of the season to its month which had to reach like a destination with it; no changes, no delays, just a firm and unchanging thing to be and to stay however the season wants to stay in its respective destination. 

Just like theirs. 

The bus had halted on the second stop, and entered a pair talking throughout the whole neighborhood of theirs to finally halt their conversation as they found the other familiar and their certain people settled at the back seat of the bus waiting for them as Yoojung and Sehun were quick to take their place. 

Yoojung had taken the window seat with Inha beside her who had linked her arm around hers while Sehun had settled himself beside Inha since Jinsoo was being a brat for not giving up his window seat which had him punch his arm, earning a groan from him. 

The girls just shook their heads. 

Boys being boys. 

Yoojung had shifted with her parents to an apartment, something difficult to do as leaving her only place where her childhood has been spent, and her friends with so many memories of her life, and the only memory of her grandmother was indeed something difficult to do but it had to be done, where it came a surprise to her to find Sehun living in the same building as her which was a relief to her along with her friends too. 

"Are you adjusting well? What about uncle and Aunty? Are you comfortable with them now?" 

Inha bombarded Yoojung with her worrisome questions leaving the two boys stare at her with a done look; as if she hasn't been asking her every day yet Yoojung had a smile on her face as she nodded. "Yeah, it's comfortable enough but of course, I still miss our neighborhood and grandma but I'm getting used to it plus Sehun is helping me out in adjusting well with the neighborhood around." 

"Good," Inha nodded, before turning to Sehun who, noticing her movement, turned back to her as he met her eyes with a confused look. "Now what?" 

"You better not back out telling me that you didn't sign up for this." 

Sehun made a face. "Unlike Ms. handful self," He trailed off, tilting his head to look at Yoojung for a moment to meet her squinted eyes again. "I don't back out and Yoojung knows what to do." 

The moment he said his words, a punch right on his shoulder was hit hard as he groaned, rubbing the place overtaken by the thick black coat of his to narrow his eyes to Inha. "It hurts, you little bubble." 

"Don't call me that." Inha frowned, "And it's supposed to hurt." 

"She and her punches." Jinsoo shook his head with a clicking sound of his tongue and Sehun turned to him with a look of agreement. "Damn right." 

Inha rolled her eyes while Yoojung giggled as their best friend kind of affectionate conversation began, leaving Sehun and Jinsoo to sigh; the familiar sight of the two girls who had fought like they would never talk to each other but did, and now, were being too affectionate as if the fight was never broke out between them. 

Yet the boys were happy, because the bond had deepened more. 

Soon enough, the squad of four had walked through the entrance gate of the school, the chatter of the students kept getting louder as they walked in, since the class time had almost started to which half of the students were jogging inside including the four of them with Jinsoo's whines towards Inha of almost breaking his record but earned a hard slap from her in return leaving Sehun and Yoojung to shake their heads at them. 

The moment they entered the hallway, Jinsoo was quick to slide the door of the classroom as he let Yoojung walk in first where Inha was about to follow but was held back by a familiar voice calling out her name. 

"Inha!" 

Inha turned to find Soo-min coming towards her with a smile, and it widened as she looked over Inha's shoulder to Sehun behind her yet the boy didn't reciprocate it as he shared a look with Jinsoo who had a confused look. 

Soo-min took a hold of Inha's wrist to drag her a bit away from them. "Come with me." 

"Where?" 

Inha felt another tug around her hand to find Yoojung with a serious expression toward Soo-min while Inha, noticing Yoojung's adorable jealousy, couldn't help but smile as she chuckled. "Join us." 

Soo-min nodded, smiling as the three girls stayed further away from the two confused boys behind as she spoke. "Did you talk to Sehun about me?" 

Inha blinked a couple of times where Yoojung stared at her surprised and the latter bit her lip with a nervous smile. "I did actually but he says he's not interested." 

Soo-min's smile dropped. "Oh, really?" 

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Yoojung suggested, turning to Sehun as she gestured him to come forward with a nod leaving the boy with a confused frown yet followed as he stood by them with a creased forehead look. "What is it?" 

He met Inha's eyes who shrugged, suddenly feeling unpleasant about the situation at the moment again; it was familiar but not the pleasant one as she let out a sigh. "Soo-min wants to ask you something." 

Sehun immediately turned to the girl who let out a nervous smile. "Hey, Sehun." 

He nodded. "Do you have something to say?" 

"Oh, nothing huge," She rambled, nervously. "I was just asking Inha to ask you if you're interested in hanging out sometime." 

Yoojung tilted her head, her eyes staring at Inha with an observant gaze, and found a different glint in her eyes; a disturbance it was as she noticed how her bestie was looking at the scene happening in front of her until Sehun had washed it away by his reply. 

"Sorry, but I'm not really comfortable with it." 

He gave her a apologetic nod, and Soo-min nodded, blinking a couple of times but still impressed by the way he politely declined her offer unlike she had heard about him being a distant person and hard to approach but the talks were all opposite of what she was witnessing and it surely was a pity but she couldn't do anything about it but to respect the choice of his as giving them a last nod, she entered her own classroom. 

"Did you just get asked out by a girl and reject her in an instant?" 

Jinsoo gasped, wrapping his arm around Sehun's shoulder with a gaped look as he turned to him. "How cold." 

"I'll give you more than a cold, come here you punk!" 

Sehun attempted to headlock him but Jinsoo was quick to jog inside with a laugh as Sehun followed him inside leaving the girls outside as Yoojung tapped Inha's back. "You okay there?" 

Inha turned to her after snapping out of her trance to nod. "Yeah, yes, of course." 

"Okay, then come inside." 

Both of the girls entered the classroom where Yoojung was becoming more observant about Inha's sudden change of behavior while the latter was still in a trance of her confusion; but a wave of relaxation was there. 

"Where are you lost?" 

Inha flinched, her head whipped toward her side where the familiar voice went through her ear to find Sehun staring at her with a baffled look as his forehead creased. "Baek Inha?" 

She hummed, "What?" 

"Take your seat." 

"Are you starting your nag now?" 

"You need it." 

"And you need to shut up." 

"For that you need to sit down before the teacher kicks us out again." 

He chuckled, pulling her chair back for her as he was quick to sit down on his respective one while Inha was standing still, the gesture of Sehun which he had done mindlessly but had left a different sensation in her heart; a different one but so unfamiliarly likable. 

Immediately shrugging off her mindfulness, she had settled herself on her seat as the class had begun with the usual lecture; the usual Sehun beside her flipping his pen with uninterested posture and mood along with Jinsoo since it was the history class while Yoojung was taking it seriously like Inha.

Inha couldn't help but shake her head at these two boys before scribbling on her notebook to pass it to Sehun who was quick to glance at it with a confusion yet found himself interestingly looking through it and reading the letters had his lips curved in a subtle smile. 

'Pay attention before you get kicked out, big brain' 

He shot a glance at Inha who had her palm resting on her chin while her eyes looked ahead at the board with much concentration and somehow, the sight didn't make him look away as without his awareness, his stare held him captive on her. 

Until he met her eyes; flinching as she raised her eyebrows at him to which he shook his head feeling strange as he looked away leaving the girl confused. 

"Okay, let's end the class here and you might already know that next week is sports day so, let's try to catch up with the last chapters quickly till the CSAT approaches, okay?" 

"Yes!" 

And with that, the teacher left the class after the usual greeting from the class president; where the students began to chatter again as the excitement ran through them about the upcoming sports day event; a much anticipated event like the last festival which had become more successful, especially after the outfits for this class by Jinsoo which led them to get more customers by the appearance which took attention of most of the people in the school as well as the social media which was half of the people praising Jinsoo for the choice of his outfits. 

And that also led them being the number one class who had earned more than others. 

Jinsoo couldn't be more happier than he was after executing his goal of making the perfect outfits perfectly followed by the praises of people around him and the world, a much prideful feeling in his heart and a moment to chase his dream in his heart beamed yet again. 

A chasing dream which was yet to be fulfilled. 

______________________________

12:26 pm 

"Pass the ball, Jinsoo!" 

Sehun shouted, taking a few steps backwards while giving a quick brush to his damp hair before the ball was thrown toward him to which he was fast enough to catch to bounce it a couple of times on the ground and almost forwarded ahead to throw it in the hoop until a figure had stopped in front of him. 

His eyes shot up to find Inha blocking him with her ever sharp gaze, her forehead damp behind her few strands of hair by her temple tucking out of her ponytail, yet her mind was focused on the game they were playing right now. 

Basketball. 

She was blocking him to get the ball from him as she wanted to win but he wasn't less than her as his eyes bored into hers with intensity to pass through her but he also knew how good of a player she was and it proved to him when in a swift, the ball was snatched away from him and the next moment he found the ball dropping off from the hoop. 

She made the goal. 

Inha exclaimed loudly enough to jog towards Yoojung who was doing the same to highfive together as they began to do their own victory dance moves together leaving Sehun to roll his eyes as his hands rested either side of his hips; his breath heavy as he exchanged a look with Jinsoo who pushed back his damp hair with a scoff. 

"Don't be so happy, the game is still on." 

He remarked, and the girls turned to them while halting their dance as Yoojung shrugged, flipping back her ponytail. "We're going to win anyway." 

"Overconfidence isn't a good virtue." 

"And no one asked your opinion." 

Both of them scoffed, and Inha chuckled, looking at Sehun who made a face at her in return to which her eyes widened at his action but did the same thing to him. 

The squad of four was present in the outdoor field; having a quick basketball game as a practice for Jinsoo who was going to participate in the sports day but the practice was turning into a much intense game of the day as of this moment; the girls were leading from the boys by two points. 

"Who's going to throw it now?" 

Yoojung questioned, and the moment the ball was thrown to her as she was fast enough to catch it perfectly to frown at Sehun who tilted his head. "You do it." 

She rolled her eyes but nodded. "Then, get your money ready for the treat!" 

The next moment, the game continued with the four of them having a fervent game as the squad was too engrossed in their moment to pay attention to the students around them, who were watching the sight like an interesting show on the television since it seemed much better than the dodgeball game of theirs. 

The sight was something no one saw coming; the squad which was a group of trio before but now, the new person had joined them; a person who seemed to be hard to approach but right now, he seemed to be the most happiest of all, but there was something else too, the girls were cheering loudly for the boys, not just Jinsoo but Sehun as well. 

The boy had gathered some attention from the past few weeks after the festival; the attire of his had gotten him much attention; something he was slowly getting aware of but wasn't really fond of. 

"Oh yeah!" 

Jinsoo exclaimed, after making a goal as both Sehun and him did a highfive together with a smile; the score was equal now as both of the team needed one more point to win against the other as Inha had began to bounce the ball while marching towards as Yoojung was blocking Jinsoo but another tall figure had hovered over Inha as her eyes looked up to meet Sehun's intense ones. 

Her eyes bored into hers intently; watching his moves and somehow she was impressed by it, the way he was giving his all in the game had left a intrigue in her but she had to win, anyhow. 

Her lips curled in a slight smirk to immediately jump high as she threw the ball in the hoop but instead, it hit the pole above which bounced back towards Inha who wasn't much quick to react at the moment to dodge it as it almost hit her head but it was blocked and thrown away by Sehun in a swift. 

However, the next thing she found him grabbing the ball with a few bounces to throw it in the hoop. 

And he won; they won. 

"We freaking won!" 

Jinsoo was quick to exclaim as he ran to Sehun with a huge smile while jumping on him leaving the latter to groan yet his laugh was screaming at how happy he was as he turned to Inha, who had her hands either side of her waist with a fuming expression on her face. 

Oh, she was going to explode. 

Yoojung had patted her back. "It's okay-" 

But all in vain, when Inha had grabbed the lying ball on the floor with Sehun, who almost laughed out loud at her expression, his eyes widened as he took a step back. "What are you doing?" 

"This." 

Inha said, and threw the ball right toward Sehun which hit right on his arm as yelped. "Why are you hitting me?!" 

"You cheated, you cheapster jerk!" 

"How did I cheat?! I saved you!" 

"I don't care!" 

Another hit again and he was now running around the whole field with his soft laughter emerging with Inha's yells behind while continuously throwing the ball at him where he kept dodging it perfectly yet the actions of her didn't seem to annoy him but much the opposite to it. 

And the sight was witnessed by every student there; including their friends who just shook their heads with Jinsoo being a quick one to record it in his phone with a fit of laughter but the other students seemed to be thinking otherwise yet the ones who were having it seemed to be unaware of it. 

To be aware of it. 

"Oh Sehun, Minho sir is calling you!" 

A student yelled from the stairs where the latter nodded to grab the thrown ball at him as he stopped to make his breath steady before turning back to Inha who seemed to be doing the same as he smiled, standing in front of her to meet her squinting eyes enough to make him chuckle, the fuming sight of hers never looked this fascinating to not to tease. 

He reached out, bumping the ball on her head with a slight bump earning a yelp from her but she held the ball to glare at his laughing face until a groan left his lips by her kicking his shin lightly as she turned around, walking away. 

"Yah, Baek Inha!" 

And a smile graced her lips yet unaware of his lightened up eyes. 

Both of them were unaware of it but everyone was aware of it.

Somewhere in the hearts, something profound was blooming. 

_______________________________

It was 3 in the noon; the outdoor field was still chaotic by the students even in the hardest cold, yet the hovering sun over them had given a snippet of warmth, the warmth which made it easier for them to enjoy the moment happening at the moment, like the squad had earlier and somewhere inside the building of school, a silent library was beaming its silence like usual where the window by the corner of the room had seeped its warm sunlight through it. 

In fact, giving the welcoming warmth to the figure sitting by the corner of it. 

Baek Inha had her back against the white corner wall of the library; the bookshelf placed a bit far beside her but enough space to adjust one more person next to her yet at the moment, she was sitting alone, her eyes focused on her notes which she was scribbling through right now on her bent knees toward herself over the wrapped coat of hers around it. 

December was just a few weeks away and CSAT would approach in a blink of an eye to which Inha didn't want to fall behind in the preparation for it as it had been an hour since she's been studying alone while still waiting for her friends to join her who seemed to be taking their time in their practices. 

The weather was cold and Inha didn't like being cold; in fact the winters didn't sit well with her. 

She liked the winter festivals but the cold breeze almost freezing her was never the love of her life like how she didn't like summer but appreciated the summer rain and its smell afterwards. 

"Found you." 

A soft yet familiar manly voice erupted, flinching Inha as her eyes widened with a tilted up face to find Sehun standing by the bookshelf; his hand in his pocket while his head tilted with a frown. "You literally ran away without even telling me, Ms. manager." 

And there he was at it again. 

The different nicknames for her and by this time, Inha had gotten used to it; as if him using different types of nicknames for her didn't annoy her anymore, somehow she couldn't be. 

Inha rolled her eyes, "I didn't run away," She trailed off, as her focus went back on her previous task. "I just didn't have any work left to do so I walked out since you were still busy," She paused, as she felt a shadow over her blocking the sunlight to look up confusingly only to meet Sehun's eyes staring back at her intently. 

Her brows knitted. "You're blocking the sunlight." 

He rolled his eyes, and the next minute, she found him sitting beside her; the vacant place beside the bookshelf but that didn't matter at the moment, what matter was the way his shoulder had brushed hers in a soft brush; his bicep leaned against her upper arm and it was just a soft graze but it was enough to leave a sudden unfamiliar warmth through Inha's chest. 

Her eyes blinked a couple of times at the strange sensation with the sudden words from the night of festival of Yoojung's had beamed in her mind like a jolt. 

Is something going on between you and Sehun? 

A jolt in her heart and Inha's eyes widened with a gasp. "Seriously?" 

"What?" 

Her head instantly whipped toward Sehun who had a perplexed expression on his face by her sudden gasp while her eyes seemed like it would pop out anytime yet he couldn't find anything hideous about it, in fact, it looked much more adorable to him. 

The moment he realized his thoughts, his eyes rounded. "Really?" 

Inha frowned. "Really, what?" 

"You made that first." 

"What face?" 

"Idiotic face." 

"How dare you-" Inha elbowed him causing him to yelp with a choke of coughs bringing a smug grin on her lips as she looked away with a sigh while shaking her head as Yoojung's words almost got her in an odd way. "Damn you, Yoojung." 

"Anyway, how's your studying going?" He questioned, while his hand rummaged through his pocket and heard her humming. "Good, but I still have to study more." 

He hummed, plugging the earphones, "Don't use too much of your small brain, topper." 

Inha shot a glare at him. "You give your big brain a little bit of will to make you shut your mouth." 

He made a face and Inha did it back to turn back to her previous task until she felt an earplug being plugged in her ear to which she flinched as her rounded eyes glanced at his immersed self of scrolling his phone with a focused attention on the screen while the other side of the earphone plugged in his ear. 

It hadn't been a while since they had become listening to the music buddies. 

It came like an unexpected thing but now it was becoming their thing. 

A smile graced her lips as the soft melody went through her ear like a sooth to focus back on her task; Sehun leaned back against the wall along with his head with his leg bent over to himself which unconsciously was leaned right by Inha's coated leg yet it wasn't noticeable to him as his eyes still stayed on her; he found her scribbling with the sunlight beaming on the page of it along with her hand and that's when he noticed how slender her fingers were; something he didn't take a notice of before but now his eyes seemed to be taking the little ones of it now. 

Something that seemed to be happening mindlessly but still willingly. 

"What took you long though?" 

Inha questioned, her eyes still on her notebook, snapping Sehun out of his trance of his stare; something unintended as he cleared his throat, realizing an odd feeling in him. "Minho hyung wanted me to participate in the swimming competition on sports day." 

Inha's movement stopped with an amused look toward him. "And?" 

Sehun met her curious yet amused gaze with a shrug. "I'm not sure, should I?" 

Inha let out a hum; looking away with a pondering expression. "Probably? I mean it might come up with a good opportunity for you, who knows?" 

"Then, I should do this." 

Inha turned to him, surprised. "Really?" 

He nodded. "You told me that it might be a good opportunity, so why not?" 

A smug grin curled her lips as she nudged him by her shoulder. "Oh Sehun, you're getting good at listening to people now, huh?" 

But it was only her. 

He couldn't help but smile; a soft one as he nudged her back. "And, you still don't." 

"Jerk." 

"Small brain." 

"And you're a big brain."

"At least, I have a big one to use." 

A hit on his knees by her notebook and a loud groan of his in return. 

"They sure are loud even in the library." 

Both of them turned to the voice to find Jinsoo with a done look as he shook his head at the sight while Yoojung was behind him who had walked past him further before settling herself against the wall nearby Inha with Jinsoo taking a place against the bookshelf nearby Sehun. 

Basically, making a square squad of theirs. 

"What took you both so long?" 

Inha asked, taking off the earplug feeling the same movement from Sehun as she closed off her notebooks; placing it on the floor beside her where Yoojung huffed, reaching out to slap Jinsoo's knee where the latter was looking through Sehun's phone who was scrolling through showing him his music playlist with Yoojung's hit on his knee didn't make any difference to him. 

The next second he made a face at her to focus back on his task. "I like this song too, send it to me later." 

"Yah!" 

"Shush, we're in the library, Yoojung." He grinned at her and Yoojung let out another huff. "I can't with this boy seriously." 

Sehun chuckled. "Wondering how you have been handling him all this while." 

The words earned him a headlock by the only person he was teasing to as he yelped but giggled a bit leaving Inha to stare at him for a moment; lost in a trance for a second but immediately turned to Yoojung to find her already looking at her with an observing expression. 

Inha blinked. "What happened?" 

"Something that you can't see." She uttered, her eyes averting to Sehun for a second to look back at her and the way it did, Inha understood where she was pointing at, as the next minute she let out a huff, her eyebrows knitting as earlier she