In the Time between

Ch 1. Where you are is where I want to be

Jo Hyera still remembered the first time she met Lee Jun. He wasn't her tutor, but her younger brother's. A high school senior at the time, Jun was bright, kind, and endlessly patient. Hyera was just a quiet middle schooler then, peeking shyly into her brother's room, pretending she wasn't interested.

But she was.

From that day on, Jun never left her heart.

Three years wasn't much, but it was enough to make him feel distant-already heading toward his own future while she was still stuck in her textbooks. By the time she entered fourth year high school, Jun was packing his bags for college. Hyera could only watch him leave, carrying her feelings in silence.

That was when she made her decision.

If she couldn't close the age gap, she would close the distance. She studied harder than ever, late nights blending into early mornings, all for one goal: to pass the entrance exam of the university Jun had chosen.

And when she finally received her acceptance letter, she clutched it to her chest with trembling hands.

She was going to see him again.

——
Hyera's mom fussed over her one last time before she left.
"Are you sure you have everything packed?" her mother asked, her voice laced with worry.

"Mhm. You don't have to worry about me anymore, Mom," Hyera replied with a reassuring smile, though she, too, felt a knot of nerves in her chest.

"Okay then... take care, dear!" Her mother waved as Hyera boarded the bus, the distance between them slowly widening.

⸻

When Hyera arrived at the campus terminal, her eyes immediately caught sight of a familiar figure waving energetically from afar.

"Jo Hyera! Over here!"

Her heart skipped. Jun. The very reason she had chosen this school. She dragged her luggage towards him, trying to hide her excitement.

"Oppa! Thanks for picking me up!" she said, handing him most of her bags without hesitation.

He chuckled and ruffled her hair. "You're like a little sister to me. Of course I'd come get you on your first day of college."

Little sister... The words stung. Hyera forced a smile, though inside her thoughts whispered bitterly: I worked so hard just to get here—to be close to you—and that's all I'll ever be in your eyes?

"Jo Hyera!" Jun's voice snapped her out of her daze.

"Oh—sorry. Yeah, first day of college..." She forced a laugh.

"You nervous? What's your course anyway? I'll walk you to your campus," he asked as they headed toward the entrance.

"Civil Engineering!" Hyera answered brightly. The truth was, she had no real passion for it. Her dream had always been chemical engineering. But for him, she'd bent her path.

Jun raised his brows. "Really? Then we're in the same campus, just different buildings, I think. Do you know where your dorm is?"

She checked her phone. "Yeah, it says here... room 104."

"Perfect. I'm in 110. We'll be close neighbors. If you ever need help, just knock." He smiled warmly, and she nodded, hiding how fast her heart was racing.

After a moment of silence, Jun asked, "Wait, didn't you always want to be a Chemical Engineer? What made you switch?"

Hyera froze. How could she tell him the truth? That she'd chosen this just to stay near him? She forced a casual shrug. "Uhh... I don't know either. I just kinda felt like it, I guess."