After class ended and I was leaving the lecture hall, Wonbin walked down the hallway with his friends.
I naturally made eye contact with Wonbin.
"Noona."
"Did class end?"
"Yeah. What about you, noona?"
"Me too."
We talked like we always had, but we didn’t stick too close together.
Keeping a proper distance in front of the people from our department.
That was the way we’d agreed to keep our secret relationship.
"Then I’ll head out first."
"Mm."
Wonbin walked off first with his friends.
A little later, my phone rang.
Noona.
Hm?
You’re going to the café today, right?
That was a dumb question.
Then I’ll 연락 you when it’s over.
I let out a snort of laughter.
Acting so naturally at school.
But when it was just the two of us, he was the one who wore his feelings on his sleeve more than anyone else.
*
After all the classes were over.
I met Wonbin at a café near the school.
As soon as we sat down, Wonbin slid a drink over to me.
"This."
"Is this mine?"
"Yeah."
"How did you know?"
"You drink this all the time."
I took the cup and smiled.
"You really remember stuff like that well."
"I remember your stuff well."
My heart tingled for no reason.
A little later, Wonbin reached out his hand over the table.
I checked around, then took it.
"People are watching."
"It’s just us here."
"Still."
"Do you not like it?"
"No."
Wonbin smiled like he was satisfied.
"Then it’s fine."
*
A few days later.
A department drinking party was set up to celebrate the end of the semester.
This time, quite a lot of people showed up.
Wonbin was talking with his classmates, and I was sitting at another table with my friends too.
It didn’t look that different from before we started dating.
Just exchanging smiles whenever our eyes happened to meet.
And every time, I’d feel oddly happy.
It was when the party had gotten fairly lively.
As people naturally shifted seats, Wonbin ended up beside me.
I looked at Wonbin.
He seemed busy talking with his friends.
Seeing his glass empty, I spoke without thinking.
"Bin-ah, drink some water."
Instantly.
Wonbin looked up.
And a few people nearby turned to look at me at the same time.
"..."
Only then did I realize what I’d done wrong.
At school, I called him Wonbin.
Only when we were alone sometimes, or when I sent messages, did I call him Bin.
But of all times, I’d said it in front of everyone.
"Wait a sec."
The female classmate next to me looked at me.
"What did you just say?"
"Huh?"
"You said Bin-ah."
I forced a smile.
"Ah, we’re just..."
"But why do you call him Bin?"
"We’re just close."
I tried to brush it off, but the girl didn’t let it go easily.
"We’re close too, and nobody calls us that."
That made the people around us start paying attention one by one.
"Yeah, that’s true."
"Did Wonbin have a nickname?"
"This is the first I’m hearing about it."
"Park Wonbin, do people call you Bin too?"
Questions came pouring out all at once.
Wonbin just kept looking at me.
I fidgeted with my water glass for no reason.
Then Seongchan, who was sitting nearby, looked back and forth between me and Wonbin.
"Wait."
"Why?"
"What’s going on between you two?"
"What do you mean?"
"No, it’s weird, isn’t it?"
Seongchan pointed at Wonbin.
"He usually doesn’t really pay attention even when girls say stuff to him."
Then he looked at me.
"But he’s been talking to you easily from the start."
I couldn’t say anything.
"And it’s weird that you call him Bin too."
"I’m telling you, we’re just close."
When I hedged, Seongchan snorted.
"Close?"
Then he suddenly widened his eyes.
"No way."
"What?"
"Are you two dating?"
The area went quiet in an instant.
Really, like a lie.
Everyone who’d been talking a moment ago turned to look at us.
I couldn’t say anything and just looked at Wonbin.
Wonbin was looking at me too.
If it had been like usual, I would’ve been too nervous to say a word in this situation.
But this time was different.
After looking into my eyes for a moment, Wonbin slowly nodded.
"Yeah."
"What?"
"We’re dating."
The table exploded at once.
"Holy shit!"
"It was real?"
"Since when?"
"Hey, Park Wonbin, why didn’t you tell anyone?"
"How long have you two been dating?"
"So that’s why you were always meeting separately?"
My face burned, and I couldn’t say anything.
Especially that female classmate from earlier was staring at Wonbin with a shocked expression.
"Really...?"
"Yeah."
Wonbin answered shortly.
Then Seongchan laughed in disbelief.
"Damn, you really hid it well."
"Noona said to keep it a secret."
"Noona?"
Someone reacted right away.
"Did he just say noona?"
Wonbin shut his mouth for a moment.
In the end, I burst out laughing.
"Why are you so flustered?"
"No..."
Wonbin’s face was getting redder and redder.
Seeing that, Seongchan burst out laughing.
"Hey, Park Wonbin, this is the first time I’ve seen your face turn red."
"Please stop."
"No, seriously, it’s just so funny."
As they kept teasing him, Wonbin lowered his head and just fiddled with his drink.
Watching him like that, my heart tingled again for no reason.
Then I quietly reached my hand out under the table.
My fingertips touched the back of Wonbin’s hand.
Wonbin looked at me.
I smiled a little.
It meant it was okay.
Then Wonbin smiled back, just a little too.
And without anyone noticing, he took my hand.
This time, there was no need to hide it.
Even after the drinking party ended, people kept teasing us for a while.
"Hey, Kim Yeoju, take good care of Park Wonbin."
"What do you mean, take good care of him?"
"No, I mean, that prince guy hardly ever talked to us, but he’s totally different with his girlfriend."
Hearing that, I laughed.
Prince.
Even when I first met Wonbin, people called him that.
A handsome face and always neat clothes.
Quiet, and someone who didn’t easily mix with others.
At first, I really thought he was that kind of person.
But the Wonbin next to me now was.
"Noona."
"Hm?"
"Let’s go home together today."
"Of course."
He was holding my hand naturally.
I looked up at Wonbin and smiled.
"But your prince image is over now."
"Why?"
"I mean, just the fact that you turned red today."
"That’s because of you, noona."
"Still."
"I’m fine with it."
Wonbin squeezed my hand a little tighter.
"Because being your boyfriend makes me happier."
I smiled for no reason.
People called Park Wonbin a prince.
Cold, prickly, and someone who didn’t get along with anyone.
But the Park Wonbin I got to know was completely different.
He was someone misunderstood because he was shy around strangers,
someone clumsy in front of the person he liked more than anyone else,
and someone who was sincere to the very end once he liked someone.
And now.
"Bin-ah."
"Yes."
"Let’s go."
"Yes."
He was my boyfriend, walking along while holding my hand and smiling.
At first, I thought he was a prince.
But in the end, he turned out to be the person I liked most.
It’s finally complete!!
I was worried because this was my first time writing a long story...ㅎㅎㅎ but I’m glad it seems to have wrapped up wellㅎㅎ
Well then, I’ll see you again with another work🫶🫶
