---
The sun filtered lazily through the classroom windows, scattering warm golden rays over Ha Joon's desk. He leaned on one hand, chin resting against his knuckles, the other hand doodling aimlessly in the margins of his notebook. Ms. Mendeleiev's voice droned faintly in the background, bouncing between scientific theories and French grammar, but none of it quite reached him.
His gaze had strayed, again, to the back of the class.
Luka.
The blue-haired boy sat by the window, earphones dangling lazily from his shirt collar, his expression relaxed, thoughtful even. He wasn't doing anything particularly special. Just existing, breathing, staring out into the sky like he was composing a melody only he could hear.
And Ha Joon hated that it pulled him in so much.
Was it really Luka he was drawn to? Or the Luka he remembered from a show he watched in another life—someone comforting, familiar, someone who felt safe when nothing else did?
A part of him wanted to go over, say something—anything. He'd rehearsed it in his head before. Something casual. A comment about the weather. A joke about how Adrien's handwriting looked like a spider had a seizure. But every time the moment came, his courage cracked like fragile glass.
So instead, he sat still.
When Luka eventually turned his head slightly—just enough that their eyes might have met—Ha Joon flinched and dropped his gaze. His ears burned, and he focused very, very hard on pretending to care about the diagram on page thirty-seven.
Chloe, sitting a row ahead, turned slightly. She'd caught the look. Not just Ha Joon's, but Luka's too. There was a flicker of something in her eyes—interest, maybe curiosity—but she said nothing.
Not yet.
---
Lunch was a blur of noise and clattering trays. Ha Joon picked at his food without eating much, dodging Nino's playful teasing and Alya's chatter. Adrien seemed more reserved than usual, clearly dealing with his own stress. It left Ha Joon plenty of time to stew in his own silence, sneaking glances at Luka across the cafeteria, where he sat with Juleka and Rose.
He almost stood up once.
Almost.
But when Luka's smile stretched as Rose whispered something in his ear, Ha Joon froze again. That smile wasn't for him. That warmth wasn't his.
Maybe it never would be.
---
Classes ended in a blur, and Ha Joon found himself lingering near the front steps longer than necessary. Chloe approached in her usual confident stride, Sabrina trailing a little behind before waving goodbye and heading off.
"You've been weird all day," Chloe said, her arms folded across her chest as she tilted her head. "Weirder than usual."
Ha Joon blinked. "Thanks. I try."
She rolled her eyes, then jerked her thumb toward the road. "Come on. We're going shopping. You look like you need a distraction."
---
The boutique Chloe dragged him into was upscale and glossy, all mirrors and sleek lighting. Ha Joon tried on two jackets he didn't need, while Chloe criticized the hang of a silk scarf with the confidence of someone who had never budgeted a day in her life.
"I'm not even sure why I let you drag me into this," Ha Joon said, inspecting a rack of designer boots.
"Because I'm wonderful company and you're emotionally constipated," Chloe replied sweetly, flipping her hair.
He gave a soft snort of laughter. "Emotionally constipated?"
"I'm not wrong."
They left with Chloe holding a single bag, claiming she "wasn't in the mood to commit today," and walked slowly through the late afternoon streets. The sun was lower now, casting golden streaks across the pavement.
"So?" she said eventually.
Ha Joon blinked at her. "So what?"
"What's been bothering you? And don't say nothing. I know you. You've been staring at Luka all day like he stole your diary and threatened to read it aloud."
That earned a real laugh from him, quiet but sincere. "I wasn't that obvious."
"You were. Now spill."
He hesitated. "...It's complicated."
Chloe waved a hand. "Life is complicated. Try me."
"I… like someone. But I'm not sure if I really like them or if it's something else. Something from… before. A version of them I knew when I was a different person." He quickly added, "Metaphorically."
She paused for a beat, then shrugged. "Still sounds like a crush to me. You're overthinking it."
"But what if I'm projecting? What if I don't actually like them, just the idea of them?"
"Well," Chloe said, "welcome to literally every high school romance ever. You won't know unless you talk to him."
He frowned at the sidewalk. "I tried. I chickened out."
"Then try again tomorrow. Or the next day. People are just people, you know. They're not puzzles you have to solve before you're allowed to talk to them."
He looked at her, eyes curious. "That's surprisingly good advice."
"I have my moments," she said smugly, before adding with a grin, "Not that I'm some love guru. I've never even had a proper boyfriend."
"You? Never?" he teased. "What, no Prince Charming?"
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Please. Most boys are either intimidated or irritating."
They both laughed, and for a moment, the world felt a little less heavy.
---
When Ha Joon returned to his penthouse later that evening, the air was still and quiet, the city lights glimmering far below. He shrugged off his coat, sank into the couch, and let his head rest against the cushions.
Chloe's words played again in his mind.
"You won't know unless you talk to him."
He sat there for a while, just breathing, letting the day settle into his bones.
Then, with a slow, deliberate breath, he whispered to himself, "Tomorrow. I'll talk to him tomorrow."
And this time, he meant it.
---
The story has more chapters on Wattpad. Since I mainly post on Wattpad. You can go check it out. Wattpad username Sl33pingotaku.