Several days had passed. Spring had begun. You were busily talking with Hyo Won in the cafeteria during lunch hour.

“~~~~~.” Hyo Won suddenly called. “Hm?” You looked at her.

“I noticed there was something different about you.” Hyo Won furrowed her eyebrows, looking at you up and down as if she was trying to detect something inside you.

“W-what do you mean?” Instinctively, you looked down to yourself, checking your appearance. “No, not physically...” She explained.

“So?” You were eager to hear her answer since you had no idea what she was talking about. She leaned in and whispered, “But emotionally…” You were baffled by her words, “H-huh? Emotionally…?”

“Well, yeah! Didn’t you notice that?” She leaned closer to you while munching on her food. You paused and looked down. You started playing with your fingers. “Well?” Hyo Won replied, urging for you to respond.

“What?” You raised your eyebrow in puzzlement. She helplessly face-palmed. A heavy sigh escaped her lips, “~~~~~.” “Yeah?” You faced her curiously. “Don’t you notice it too?” She continued, eyes were glistened with hope.

“Notice what…?” You became lost by her words. She groaned in frustration as she added, “You changed for god sake! Ugh, ~~~~~!” Sheepishly, you scratched your head, “Sorry. But I didn’t notice it at all.”

“Well, it does make sense. You are slow.” She teased playfully while grinning. “Hyo Won!” You frowned, slightly offended by her statement. She giggled, “Okay, okay. Scratch that. You are a bit slow.”

“Hyo Won, you are not helping at all.” Your face immediately fell. She stopped laughing and straightened herself up, “Phew, okay. I’m done.”

The bell rang so suddenly.

“That’s weird. I didn’t even finish my food yet.” Hyo Won wondered as she stood up and snatched her bread that was still not eaten. You got up and wiped your mouth with a napkin, “Let’s go to class. We can’t be late.”

“Sure. Let’s go.”

The two of you left the cafeteria to attend your next class.

“As you all know, we are going to have a test starting from next week so be ready, everyone. I won’t be expecting you guys to get red marks.” Mr. Jung eyed every one of you, “But if you do get them…you’ll have to face the punishment.”

Murmurs started to break off between the students in the class. Some even groaned. Anyhow, Mr. Jung kept continuing his lecture, “Trust me. You wouldn’t want to get one of those punishments.”

That made all of them gulp in terror. You watched Mr. Jung as he continued explaining the subjects that were going to be given during the text next week. Hyo Won turned to you with a horrified look on her face. Worriedly, you patted her hand, “Something wrong?”

“No.” She shook her head nonchalantly. “Then?” You asked in concern. “What if I fail?” She lamely asked. You stared at her in bewilderment, “Fail? The test is next week and you’re expecting that you will fail?”

“Well, sort of…okay, yes. I’m not confident like you, ~~~~~.” She sighed in distress. You softened, “Then, let’s go study at the library after school.” You suggested.

“Should we?” Hyo Won nervously bit her lip, looking at you. “Sure.” You smiled encouragingly. “Okay then. Meet me up later after school.” She beamed giddily.

You shook your head as your lips turned upward, forming into a tender smile.

*You look so beautiful when you smile.* A person smiled as he watched you.

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It was already 7 at night. You were still lingering inside the school library with Hyo Won who was busy revising with all her brain could take. You worriedly glanced at the hardworking Hyo Won.

“Hyo Won-ah.”

“Hm?” She answered but her eyes were still fixed on the math textbook.

“Look at me.” You ordered. “No,~~~~~. I need to—”

“Look at me NOW.” You cut her off. Hyo Won was amazed yet at the same time surprised by your stern demand. She quickly snapped her head up to face you, “Yes?”

You came to her, “Let’s just go home, okay?” She hesitated a bit. “Come on.” You pleaded. She instantly gave in, “Okay, okay. I’ll pack up first.” “I’ll wait outside.” You grabbed your backpack and went outside.

After a while, she came out gleefully, “Alright! Let’s go home!” You astonishingly looked at her. *Does she have a bipolar mood or something?*

“~~~~~?” She called, waving her hand in front of you. You snapped out of your daze and blinked a few times before answering, “Yeah?” She folded her arms, “Aren’t we supposed to go home now?” “Yeah that’s right.” You nodded and took a step forward.

All the way back to your home, Hyo Won kept pulling out jokes. You laughed whole-heartedly with every joke she told. Hyo Won smiled, happy to be able to see your bright side again.

“~~~~~, you really have changed.” She took your hand and held it in her grasp. You stopped laughing and looked at her. She beamed at you as if something good had happened.

You couldn’t help but to let out a genuine smile. Suddenly, Hyo Won questioned, “Who changed you?” You paused for a moment and wondered how to yourself.

In fact, you didn’t even know yourself.

Sensing your tensed up look, Hyo Won tried brushing off the dreadful question, “Never mind then. Anyways, I’m glad you are back to the old you.” You just beamed as a response.

However, you couldn’t help but to wonder how on earth you could change so suddenly in your mind.

Was it because of him?

*No, possibly not.* You shook your head as you made your way back to your home with Hyo Won skipping happily by your side.

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I'm sorry for not being able to update frequently. >ㅅ<