Common first love

5)

My aversion to Taesan didn't last long. To be precise, I couldn't ignore him. My heart was already so full of Taesan that even the slightest distance made his presence felt overwhelming. I pretended to be cold, but in truth, I was suffering more. One day, after school, I was alone in the evening study room, struggling with my math workbook. For days, I had avoided Taesan, unable to even ask him questions, and I was falling behind. It was then that I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"I came here because the solution to this problem seemed a bit complicated."

Startled, I turned around and saw Taesan standing there. My face flushed like before, and I averted my gaze. "...Taesan, how's it going here?" He pulled up a chair next to me, seemingly unfazed by my awkward question. He then opened my workbook. "That's the question you wanted to ask me about before. I remembered it." My heart sank at his words. He remembered that I was struggling alone. I spoke in a needless snarky tone. "It would have been faster to tell Yejin. She's smart."

As soon as Yejin's name came out of my mouth, Taesan's expression changed strangely. "Yejin? Oh, you mean the friend who helped me organize the data?" he asked. Organizing the data? I looked at Taesan, bewildered. "You...were together, right?" Only then did Taesan let out a short sigh and say, "We were working on a presentation for the science club. Yejin is good at PowerPoint, so I asked her to help. She seems smarter than you, though. Did Jia say anything to you by any chance?"

I couldn't say anything. I was the only one who misunderstood the situation surrounding Yejin and Taesan, and was blinded by jealousy, so I had distanced myself for no reason. My face flushed with embarrassment. "No... It's just... You guys seemed close..." Taesan let out a faint laugh at my hesitant words. "Because you seemed close? Then you should be closer. I don't do this to other people." I raised my head at his words. "Huh...?" At that moment, Taesan's eyes wavered. His gaze pierced into mine. It was only a fleeting moment, but those eyes seemed to contain the feelings I desperately wanted.

"You know I rarely smile except when I'm teaching you math problems?" He chuckled softly and tapped my shoulder. "And I don't give sandwiches to anyone else. I only do that to my desk mate." My cheeks flushed red at his words. His words, clearing away all my misunderstandings, sounded so sweet. Taesan had been able to sense my feelings, which I'd been trying so hard to hide, through such trivial remarks.

He slowly turned toward me. It was late at night, and it was just the two of us in the study room. Outside the window, the already pitch-black night sky stretched out. His gaze seemed to melt away all my anxiety and worry. "Jia, I…" he began, then paused. Then he took my hand. His warm, large hand encircled mine, sending a tingling shiver through my body. "I only saw you. No one else, just you from the beginning." His heartfelt confession left me breathless. Who knew all these misunderstandings would ultimately become an opportunity to confirm your sincerity? My first love signal began to glow even more passionately in his touch.

His voice was still gentle as he spoke, but now it was clearer and sweeter in my ears.
The textbook pages he touched became my own treasure.
Looking at his profile was the happiest moment of my day.

Taesan still didn't speak much. But I could now see that his every glance and action was filled with affection for me. I would unconsciously sigh during class.
He turned his head and looked at me.
Without saying a word, just with a look of concern. And during break time, texts and messages came flying in.
'What was difficult for you today?'
I smiled and replied, 'It's nothing,'
His small but delicate attention always made my heart flutter.
These small interests accumulated and our love grew stronger and deeper.

On weekends, we'd enjoy simple dates at small parks or neighborhood cafes. We'd walk side by side, each holding a drink in one hand. Whenever he'd suddenly turn his head toward me, I'd pretend not to notice. Taesan would chuckle and gently stroke my hair. Every time his large hand reached out to touch mine, I'd find myself smiling shyly. Just looking at each other in silence was a wonderful time. Sometimes, we'd go to the library, sit side by side, each doing our own thing. When we got tired, we'd quietly lean on each other's shoulders and doze off. His shoulder was always warm and reassuring.

"Sleepy?" One day, while reading a book in a cafe, I must have dozed off when I heard Taesan's low voice. When I opened my eyes, Taesan's forearm was gently resting beneath my head. I tried to shift slightly, worried that it might be uncomfortable, but Taesan pressed his shoulder again. "Just sleep. It's okay." On his warm arm, I spent a peaceful time, free from any worries or anxieties. His warm breath on my arm, the soft cafe music in my ears, and Taesan beside me. All of this was perfect bliss.

From our innocent and thrilling first meeting, to the thrilling ocean school trip, the brief misunderstandings and confirmation of our feelings, and his confession that washed over us like a wave. As we confirmed that Taesan was my first love, and that your first love was me, we became each other's most precious beings. Knowing that our stories still had endless possibilities, I wanted to stay with you forever. With him, I feared no future. Taesan and Jia, who had become each other's perfect first love signals, our story was only just beginning.