When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

Chapter 45

The school corridors were as chaotic as ever—students rushing to class, gossip flowing in waves. Jiwoo walked with her usual energy, arms folded as she ranted about something, while Hui-Won sipped on a small juice. Beak Cheonga walked beside them, half-listening. 

“I swear, our math teacher looked at me today like I was a lost cause,” Jiwoo complained. “Before the test even started, he went, ‘Jiwoo, are you sure you’re okay?’ That’s how bad I must’ve looked. Like, sir, just say I’m doomed and move on.” 

“You did look half-dead,” Hui-Won pointed out, swirling the straw in her juice. “I was worried too.” 

“I was fine!” Jiwoo groaned. “Well…except for question four. That was some ancient riddle nonsense. I think I stared at it for so long I entered another dimension.” 

“I skipped it,” Hui-Won said casually. 

Jiwoo gasped. “You skipped it?! I wasted fifteen minutes trying to summon the spirit of math itself, and you just—moved on?” 

“I value my peace,” Hui-Won shrugged. 

Jiwoo looked at Cheonga for support. “You, at least, struggled, right?” 

Cheonga smirked. “I just wrote whatever looked right.” 

Jiwoo groaned dramatically. “That's what people with big brain say.” 

Cheonga shrugged.

As they continued walking, the hallway grew less crowded. That’s when Cheonga saw them. 

Han-Wool and Minhwan. 

Han-Wool walked with his usual composed, unreadable expression.
And then— 

His eyes met hers. 

It was brief, fleeting. But there was something about the way he looked at her. It wasn’t just a glance. It was something else. 

When he passed, Jiwoo immediately turned to Cheonga, eyes wide. 

“What the hell was that?” 

Cheonga blinked. “What was what?” 

“Don’t play dumb.” Jiwoo narrowed her eyes. “He was looking at you.” 

“So?” 

“So?! Han-Wool doesn’t just look at people like that,” Jiwoo said, scrunching her nose. “Ugh, I don’t like this.” 

Hui-Won, who had been quietly watching, nodded. “Yeah, I kind of noticed it too.” 

Cheonga sighed. “You two are imagining things.” 

“No, we’re not,” Jiwoo insisted. “That was weird.” She made a face. “I mean, it’s Han-Wool. He barely looks at anyone, and when he does, it’s usually because he’s about to say something rude.” 

Hui-Won giggled. “True.” 

Jiwoo crossed her arms. “Cheonga, if you ever start liking him, I will personally drag you to therapy.” 

Cheonga rolled her eyes. “That’s dramatic.” 

Jiwoo huffed. “I just don’t trust him. He’s too… I don’t know. Cold? Arrogant? Feels like he thinks he’s better than everyone.” 

“I agree” Hui-Won nodded. 

“Aah, that shit head, how dare he look at her,” Jiwoo muttered. 

Cheonga took the chance to change the subject. “Anyway, shouldn’t we be talking about something more important?” 

“Like what?” Jiwoo asked, still eyeing her suspiciously.