My Persistent Love

A Yes I'll Keep Waiting For

The whole school knew.

Every lunch break, every dismissal, every random free period—there was always one constant scene somewhere in the campus:

"Minariiii!"

A third-year student with short blonde hair came running down the hallway, her bag bouncing against her side, her grin bright and unstoppable.

Son Chaeyoung.

And at the end of that chaos—standing perfectly composed, adjusting her books with quiet elegance—was Myoi Mina.

"...Not again," Mina sighed under her breath, already knowing what was coming.

Chaeyoung skidded to a stop in front of her, slightly out of breath but smiling like she had just won something.

"Do you have time later?"

"No."

"After class?"

"No."

"Tomorrow?"

"No."

"Next week?"

"Chaeyoung."

Chaeyoung laughed, completely unfazed. "Okay, okay. Let me rephrase." She leaned a little closer, lowering her voice like she was about to say something serious.

"Will you go out with me?"

A beat of silence.

Mina didn't even hesitate. "No."

From a few lockers away, two girls were already trying not to laugh.

"Again," Sana whispered, nudging Momo.

"I told you, she's never gonna stop," Momo giggled, watching the daily ritual like it was her favorite show.

They had been watching this for years.

It started when Chaeyoung was just a second-year—awkward, smaller, but already bold enough to confess to Mina out of nowhere.

And she never stopped since.

Back then, everyone thought it was just a phase.

It wasn't.

Chaeyoung scratched the back of her neck, pretending to think deeply. "Hmm... okay. I'll ask again tomorrow."

"You don't have to," Mina said flatly, already walking past her.

"I want to."

Mina stopped for just a second.

That answer—simple, stubborn, and sincere—always made something in her chest feel... complicated.

She turned her head slightly, just enough to glance at Chaeyoung.

"You're wasting your time."

Chaeyoung smiled.

"I don't think so."

And just like that, Mina walked away again.

—

"Do you think Mina will ever say yes?" Sana asked later that afternoon as the four of them walked home together.

They lived in the same neighborhood, just like when they were kids—playing in the same streets, sharing snacks, growing up side by side.

Nothing really changed.

Except Chaeyoung started confessing.

Every. Single. Day.

Momo swung her bag playfully. "Honestly? I think she already likes Chaeyoung."

Mina immediately stopped walking. "I don't."

Chaeyoung leaned in from behind her, whispering, "Not yet."

"Chaeyoung," Mina warned.

"What? I said not yet. There's still time."

Sana burst into laughter. "See? That confidence! I love it."

Mina sighed, rubbing her temple. "You guys are encouraging her."

"Because it's cute!" Momo said. "You've been rejecting her for, what, two years now?"

"One year and eight months," Chaeyoung corrected proudly.

"...You're counting?" Mina looked at her, slightly alarmed.

"Of course. It's important data."

Sana laughed so hard she had to hold onto Momo's shoulder.

Mina tried to stay annoyed—but there was something about Chaeyoung's ridiculous sincerity that made it hard.

Still, she shook her head.

"We are both girls," Mina said quietly, more serious this time. "People will talk."

Chaeyoung didn't even flinch.

"Let them."

"It's not that simple."

"It is for me."

Mina looked at her again.

Chaeyoung wasn't joking. She never was when it came to this.

"I like you," Chaeyoung continued, softer now. "I've liked you for a long time. That's not going to change just because it's 'complicated.'"

The air shifted.

Even Sana and Momo went quiet for a moment.

Mina looked away first.

"You'll get tired eventually."

Chaeyoung smiled again—but this time, it was calmer. Certain.

"No."

Mina clenched her fingers slightly.

"...Why?"

"Because it's you."

That answer hit differently.

Too simple. Too honest.

Mina started walking again, faster this time.

"Ask me again tomorrow," she said, her voice steady—but softer than usual.

Chaeyoung blinked.

Then she grinned.

"Okay."

Sana leaned toward Momo, whispering loudly, "Did you hear that? That's progress."

Momo nodded seriously. "Huge progress."

Mina pretended not to hear them.

But as they walked under the orange glow of the setting sun, something unfamiliar settled quietly in her chest.

And behind her—

Chaeyoung was already thinking of what to say next.

Because tomorrow...

She would ask again.