𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄. 희승

𝗼𝗻𝗲 , happy valentine's day.

we're going out for a romantic dinner tonight. i've been planning it for weeks, and i can't wait to see the look on her face. i think she might be the one, guys. you know, the person you can't imagine your life without? yeah, that's how i feel about jiae."

each word was a cruel stab to her heart, a poignant reminder of what she had once possessed and subsequently lost.

outside the cafeteria, she leaned against the wall, struggling to restrain the tears that begged to be released. she had deceived herself into thinking she had moved past this heartache, but the sight of heeseung with another was a brutal revelation that her heart remained belonged to him, no matter how fervently she wished it otherwise.

seolhee's phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. it was a message from her best friend, minji, who had been a constant source of support throughout her heartbreak.

MINJI
heyy, seolheee, my birthday girl!!! i know today's tough, but remember, you're amazing, and you deserve all the love in the world. let's grab dinner later and celebrate together, okay? oh, and happy birthday!!! ( ps: is it okay if i bring sunghoon with me? he wants to see that you're okay :) )

seolhee brushed away a solitary tear and responded with a fragile smile.

SEOLHEE
thanks, minji. i'd love that. and yeah, you can bring sunghoon too. it'd be nice to see you both tonight

as she walked away from the cafeteria, seolhee couldn't help but wonder if heeseung ever thought about her on this day, valentine's day, her birthday. she knew one thing for sure, though — this valentine's day had only served to remind her that some heartbreaks never truly heal, and some love stories remain unfinished.

...right?

ˋ ★ ˎ

seolhee trudged through the familiar halls of her college towards her first period class – chemistry. it was a subject she'd rather not admit, even to herself, that she was terribly inept at. the thought of confronting the periodic table and chemical equations had her feeling an overwhelming sense of dread. and as if that wasn't enough, the campus was already a minefield of lovey-dovey couples, kissing and clinging to each other as if they were the only two people in the world. their public displays of love made her stomach churn with discomfort.

with a heavy heart, she entered the chemistry class, eyes scanning the room for an empty seat that would offer some respite from the relentless displays of affection. finally, she spotted an empty desk towards the back, away from the lovebirds. a sense of relief washed over her as she hurriedly made her way to this coveted sanctuary.

but just when she thought she had found a haven from her solace away from the displays of romance, her heart plummeted. heeseung, her ‘i-promise-to-be-always-by-your-side-but-left-out-of-nowhere-and-broke-her-heart’ ex, strode into the classroom with an air of nonchalance. seolhee's heart sank even further when she realized the only available seat happened to be the one beside her. it was as though fate was playing a cruel joke on her on what was already a painful day.

with an apprehensive glance, heeseung approached, his eyes meeting seolhee's for a fleeting moment. the tension was palpable. it was as if they were both acutely aware of the history and unresolved emotions between them. heeseung offered a strained half-smile, a forced greeting that barely concealed the awkwardness of the situation.

not wanting to appear impolite or overly affected by his presence, seolhee managed a courteous nod in response. she forcefully diverted her attention towards her textbook, desperately hoping that the intricacies of chemistry would serve as a more welcoming distraction than the intricate complexities of her feelings.

the class began, but the tension in the air was thick enough to be cut with a knife. as the chemistry lesson unfolded, seolhee couldn't help but notice the discrepancy between her understanding of the subject and the proficiency heeseung displayed. he answered questions with ease, his grasp of the material evident in every response.

as the teacher announced a group assignment, seolhee's heart, once again, sank even further. she dreaded the idea of partnering with heeseung as it was the last thing she desired, but it seemed inevitable. with a reluctant sigh, she turned towards him. "i guess we're stuck working together, huh?"

heeseung met her gaze, his expression a mix of resignation and something more difficult to discern. "seems that way," he replied, his voice tinged with an underlying unease.

throughout the assignment, the two of them worked in strained silence, the weight of their unresolved past hung heavy in the air, making each moment feel like an eternity. chemistry, they discovered, was not the only thing that was complicated; the chemistry between them was equally intricate. every accidental brush of their hands and every furtive stolen glance seemed to rekindle the long-buried emotions that they had both tried to forget.

when the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the class, seolhee wasted no time in packing her belongings, eager to escape the awkwardness. she turned to heeseung, offering a strained smile. "well, we survived chemistry class together. happy valentine's day, i guess."

heeseung nodded, and a hint of a rueful smile played on his lips. "happy valentine's day, seolhee."

as seolhee left the classroom, she couldn't help but wonder if her encounter with heeseung was a cruel twist of fate or an opportunity to finally confront the past. one thing was for sure; this valentine's day was shaping up to be anything but ordinary.