Episode -4 " That Short Walk"

Haejin stepped out from Yumin’s small room, now wearing her father’s old, faded shirt and loose sweatpants.

Somehow, even in clothes two sizes too big, his broad shoulders and tall frame made them look… stylish.

Yumin frowned unconsciously. Why does he even look good in my dad’s old clothes?

“Stop staring,” Haejin teased with a smirk, pushing his damp hair back.

“I-I wasn’t,” Yumin lied, quickly turning away. “Do you want noodles or not?”

“Sure,” he replied with that calm, deep voice that somehow always felt like a challenge.

She went into the kitchen, still annoyed at how unfairly handsome he looked. A few minutes later, she returned with two steaming bowls of noodles. They sat at the small dining table, slurping quietly—until a loud knock came at the door.

Yumin froze. Please, not now…

She opened the door slowly. There stood her mother, holding a shopping bag and looking curious.

Before Yumin could explain, her mom’s gaze locked on Haejin—sitting there casually, chopsticks in hand, wearing her late husband’s clothes like they belonged to him.

“Ohhh…” her mother’s expression shifted instantly into a bright smile. “And who is this handsome young man?”

“Mom! He’s just—”

“A guest?” her mother interrupted, stepping inside and walking straight to the table. “Why didn’t you introduce him earlier? Such polite eyes… and he eats noodles too? A boy after my own heart.”

Yumin’s brain screamed, I’m dead. She’s going to tease me for months.

Her mother sat next to Haejin, leaning slightly closer. “So, Haejin, how long have you known my daughter? Why haven’t I met you before? You know, I always wanted her to bring home a nice boy…”

Haejin chuckled softly, clearly amused at Yumin’s growing embarrassment. “Maybe she didn’t think I was… nice enough.”

Yumin nearly choked on her noodles. “Stop talking nonsense!”

Her mom only laughed, patting Haejin’s arm like they were already family.

And Yumin? She could feel her cheeks burning—though she wasn’t sure if it was from the hot noodles or the boy sitting across from her.

Haejin stretched his arms as he stood up from the couch, the faint sound of Yumin’s mom fussing in the kitchen behind them.

“Thanks for the food, Mrs. Seo ,” he called politely.

Her mom came out, smiling like she’d just won a lottery. “You’re welcome, dear. Oh, and Yumin—” she turned to her daughter with that too sweet smile Yumin knew meant trouble. “Why don’t you walk Haejin partway home?”

Yumin’s eyes widened. “What? Why me?!”

“Because he is our guest,” her mom said, already grabbing her cardigan and shoving it into her arms. “And besides, fresh air is good for you.”

“Mom—”

“No arguing. Go.”

Yumin stood there, frozen, while Haejin bit back a smile. He clearly found her misery amusing.

Out on the street, Yumin let out an exasperated sigh. “I can’t believe I’m wasting my evening on this.”

Haejin glanced sideways at her. “You make it sound like I’m a burden.”

“You are,” she said without hesitation. “If you hadn’t been so fake-charming with my mom, she wouldn’t have roped me into this.”

“Fake-charming?” His lips curved into a slow grin. “So you think I’m charming?”

Yumin’s step faltered. “That’s not—ugh, you’re impossible!”

They walked in silence for a moment, the soft glow of streetlights spilling across the quiet road. Yumin was determined not to look at him… until he suddenly leaned slightly toward her.

“By the way,” he said, voice low, “I didn’t mind being forced to walk with you.”

Her cheeks warmed, and she quickly looked away. “Well, I do mind.”

Haejin just chuckled, and the sound somehow made her heartbeat quicken.

They reached the bus stand at the . Haejin slowed his pace, then stopped.

“This is fine,” he said simply. “Thanks for walking with me.”

Yumin shrugged. “It’s not like I had a choice.”

He smiled faintly. “Still… bye.”

 The bus arrived and he went and yumin started to walk to her home .

The night air felt cooler now, but her mind was strangely warm.

What was that? she thought, her steps were slowing. Haejin never talks to anyone in class. He’s always cold, like he’s allergic to people… so why was he so talkative with me?

She shook her head. He even teased me… like we were friends or something. But we’re not. Definitely not.

Her heart gave a little jump, and she frowned at herself.

Why am I even thinking about this? About him?

The image of his grin flashed in her mind. Her cheeks heated instantly.

“Oh my god, stop,” she muttered under her breath, covering her face for a second. “Get out of my head, Haejin.”

She tried to think about homework, about tomorrow’s class… anything else. But somehow, his voice, his smile, the way he looked at her kept sneaking back into her thoughts.

By the time she reached home, Yumin took a deep breath and decided firmly:

Nope. Not going there. Not thinking about him anymore.

…But she was still smiling faintly without realizing it.

Next Morning

Yumin dragged herself into class, her eyes still heavy from barely sleeping the night before. Every time she closed her eyes, his voice and smile replayed like an unskippable drama scene. She slumped into her seat, resting her chin on her palm, trying to shake off the warmth in her chest.

The lecture began, but her mind refused to follow the textbook. Without realizing it, her gaze drifted toward Haejin. He was scribbling notes, the sunlight falling across his face, making him look almost unreal.

And then—he looked up.

Their eyes met.

Yumin’s heart dropped. She froze, wide-eyed, then whipped her head toward the window so fast her hair almost smacked the girl behind her. Her ears burned. Oh no… he caught me staring. I’m done for.

Lunch Break

Nothing dramatic happened for the rest of class, but her mind stayed unsettled. Every time she thought about eye contact, her stomach flipped. It’s fine. He probably didn’t notice… right?

Sports Period

The sun was bright, and the PE teacher paired students for a relay game. To Yumin’s misfortune (or fate’s plan), she was paired with none other than Haejin.

“You ready?” he asked casually, handing her the baton.

Her fingers brushed against his. It was barely a second, but her pulse spiked like she’d run ten laps.

The game began, and at one point they had to stand close—too close—while waiting for their turn. Yumin could feel his breath near her ear, and she accidentally stepped back, bumping into him.

“Careful,” he murmured, steadying her with a hand on her shoulder.

She swallowed hard. Why is my heart running faster than the actual race?

The whistle blew, signaling their turn. Yumin ran forward to pass the baton, but in her hurry, her foot caught on a small bump in the ground.

She stumbled—

And before she could hit the ground, Haejin’s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her upright.

For a split second, they were close enough for Yumin to see the faint curve of his smile.

“You really can’t stay on your feet, can you?” he teased, his voice low so only she could hear.

“I—I can!” she stammered, stepping back quickly, her face heating. “That was just—”

“A bump in the ground?” he finished for her, one brow raised, clearly amused.

The rest of the game went on, but every time Yumin ran, she could feel his eyes on her. And for some reason, instead of feeling nervous… she didn’t mind.

...****************...

To Be Continued.....

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***