It was the first day of the new session of second-year high school.
Park Haneul, the only son of a wealthy businessman in Busan, stepped out of a luxurious black car. Beside him was his childhood friend, Choi Hajoon.
As they walked toward the school gate, Hajoon said, "I heard from my father that Jisoo is returning to Busan."
Haneul replied with a frown, "I told you not to talk about her in front of me. I still get goosebumps whenever I think about the day I got rejected."
Hajoon smirked. "Don't tell me you're still feeling the same way. That's why I warned you in advance—so your heart doesn't freak out suddenly after seeing her. It's been three years. She might've grown even prettier, so be careful."
"Stop teasing me already. I'm not that Haneul anymore," he muttered, avoiding Hajoon's eyes.
Hajoon grinned. "I have a great idea. Why don't you date someone pretty?"
As he said that, a girl suddenly ran out from the school bus and crashed right into Haneul. His phone slipped from his hand and hit the ground.
She quickly picked it up and said breathlessly, "I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to drop your phone. I'm just in a hurry right now."
Without waiting for a response, she rushed into the school building, but then came running back. "Sorry. My name is Kim Hyeri, and I'm a transfer student in second year. Please come find me later—I'll give you the money to fix your phone."
Just as she disappeared, Haneul turned to Hajoon.
"Uh... What? That was new. She even knew how expensive my phone was."
Hajoon laughed. "Chill, bro. She said she'll pay for it. By the way, didn't you think she was cute? I mean, you should at least give it a thought."
"What do you mean 'give it a thought'?"
"I meant, think about the idea I gave you—about dating. Hyeri's pretty enough. If you don't ask her for money, ask her to dinner. It'll bring you two closer."
"Do you think I'd go after a girl like that? That's not my style. Even though she does looks pretty but don't forget girls go after me, I don't go after them".
"Then you're missing a chance to show off in front of Jisoo. Show her that you can get someone even prettier than her."
Haneul sighed, and asked, "When is Jisoo coming back?"
"Maybe in two weeks," Hajoon replied.
Haneul was still unsure but he wanted to break free from his unrequited love that haunted him every night.
With a little courage in his eyes he replied,
"Okay then, two weeks . That's all it gonna take for me to finally break free "
Will Haneul be able to get Hyeri in just two weeks?
Will he be able to move on from Jisoo—with Hyeri's help?
Or will it all only lead him deeper into his own desires?
-Chapter Ends -