" Are you out of your mind?"

Sunghoon shook his head,
" I'm just kidding, Song Aera."

He wiped the dust on his pants and walked towards Aera.
" Let's go to the classroom together."

Aera nodded and stood on the floor carefully.
" Can you walk? Do you want me to carry you?"

" It's okay, Sunghoon." She took a step forward and almost fell again but luckily, Sunghoon saved her by holding her hand. He pulled her closer to his embrace, looking at her eyes while biting his lips.

He badly wanted to hug that girl and also gave her a peck on the lips but he knew it was too early to do that and she also didn't know about his feeling for her. So, he shook his head to put that thought away and looked at Aera again.

" Let me carry you."

Aera shook her head, " Let me hold your arm to support my body.." She said.

Sunghoon nodded and handed his hand to her. She nervously linked her hand on his arm, walking towards the classroom carefully.

Sunghoon just looked at Aera and can't help but smile every time he saw the girl he loved being that close to her. He felt like he wanted to keep her forever-

" Aera, sit here. I need to go to the restroom. It will only take 10 minutes."

Aera nodded and sat on the bench while waiting for Sunghoon. She toyed with her fingers and looked around the place. At the same time, she saw Jay was walking through the opposite hallway while holding food and drinks. Aera smiled, called for him but he didn't hear it. She remembered that Jay told her to wait in the treatment room and he still didn't know that Sunghoon was helping her. So, she didn't want him to go to the treatment room. She stood up carefully and tried to chase for him before Sunghoon was done.

" Jay!" Aera called for him but he still didn't hear her. Aera suddenly fell on the floor and lost Jay from her vision. She stood up again, searched for him anxiously.

She went to the school garden and saw Jay was talking to someone.

Aera took a step forward and stopped when she realized it was Yebin who was talking to Jay.

" Are you okay...?" Yebin asked him and he smiled, nodded his head.

" How's Aera?"

" Aera is having a difficult time to walk but don't worry, she'll be okay."

Yebin nodded.

Jay slowly handed her the food that he bought for Aera, " Do you want this?"

Yebin was confused, " Why did you give this to me?"

Jay chuckled, " I don't know. I feel like I want to give it to you."

" I thought it's for Aera.."

Jay shook his head immediately,
" I bet she is okay now. She can buy her foods by herself."

Aera lowered her gaze as it was hurting her deeply. She wanted to talk to them but she stopped when Yebin took out her handkerchief, stood on her tiptoes, and gently wiped the sweats on his forehead. Aera was watching Yebin took a step closer to Jay, her friend placed her hand on Jay's shoulder to balance herself from falling and did that scene in front of Aera again.

Aera bit her lips and sighed, turned her body to leave the place.
As she turned her body, she realized Sunghoon was watching them too. Sunghoon clenched his fist and took a glance at Aera,

" Let's go."

Aera burst into tears as she can't hold it anymore making Sunghoon worried about her.
Sunghoon gently wrapped his arm around her shoulder, dragged her away from the place before Jay and Yebin noticed them.

-

Sunghoon gave strawberry milk to Aera while patting her shoulder to make her stop crying.

" Why are you crying, Aera?"

Aera remained silent and shut her eyes as she became emotional because of his question.

" Hey, look at me." Sunghoon cupped her face, making an eye-contact with Aera.
He smiled,
" Don't cry."

" Mind to tell me ?"

Aera took a deep breath and showed her pinky fingers to Sunghoon.
He can't help but chuckle at her cuteness.
" Promise me. Don't tell this to everyone." Sunghoon nodded and made the pinky promise with her while waiting for her to tell him.

" Actually." She paused.

" I have a feeling on your friend for a long time."

Sunghoon's smile immediately disappeared as he thought of Jay.

" Is it -"

Aera looked at him and she nodded.

" I like Jay..."

" But he likes my best friend..."

" I know about this but I still like him anyway."

Sunghoon looked away and faked a laugh.
" So that's the reason you are crying..."

" It's hurting me, Sunghoon."

" I have a romantic feeling about him. I don't find that kind of feeling on another guy."

" Oh." He shortly replied.

Aera cleared her throat, changed the topic as it became awkward.
" Why did you look really mad after watching their scene before?"

Sunghoon looked at Aera and hesitated to reply.

Aera surprised.
" Don't tell me."

Sunghoon raised his eyebrows.
" What..?"

" Don't tell me that you also like Yebin." Aera continued.

Sunghoon lowered his gaze and smiled causing Aera shocked again.

" So, both of you are liking the same person..." Aera covered her mouth as she was surprised by the fact.

Aera smiled,
" I know it."

" It always the girl with beautiful visual got a whole attention from everyone."

" It's not a surprise anymore. I mean who doesn't like the heather, right? Especially, beautiful and kind-hearted heather."

Aera chuckled to fade her sadness away and looked at Sunghoon.

" Am I right?"

Sunghoon smiled, " If she is the heather, what are you then?"

" Extra character in every movie? or the credits at the end of the movie? No one care."

Sunghoon hummed as a response to her words.
" I care. I like the extra character from now on."

Aera confused at his words,
" What does that mean?"

" I don't know." Sunghoon stood up.

" But Yebin is the heather, not the extra character." Aera stood up too and locked her arm with Sunghoon to support herself from falling.

" I didn't say I like the heather. I said I like the extra character."

" What are you saying? I don't understand you." Aera annoyed causing Sunghoon to chuckle.

" Never mind."

-

" I thought you are still in the treatment room." Jay came towards Aera and placed chocolate milk on her table. Aera realized that he can't stop himself from taking a glance at Yebin who was reading a comic silently but she just remained silent and smiled at Jay although it was hurting her.

" Sunghoon helped me. Thank you for your concern."

" I'm sorry for taking a long time to go to you. I'm busy. The teacher was calling for me." Jay lied to Aera and she just nodded with a smile.

Aera looked at Yebin,
" Where did you go before...?"

Yebin looked at Aera and realized Jay was there.

" Library.." She replied and again, Aera smiled.

" Thank you for this, Jay," Aera said to Jay and he nodded, slowly walked towards his seat while taking a glance at Yebin a few times.

Aera saw that and felt like her tears will drop soon, so she rested her head on the table.
At the same time, Sunghoon went into the classroom while holding a piece of paper in his hand.

He stood at the center, gained everyone's attention.

" This is for our new project for history education."
He spoke up.

" The teacher already arranged the groups. So I will call the members of each group. Please listen to me carefully."

He called the students one by one and suddenly stopped, looking at the paper for a long time.

" Where is my name?" Jay spoke up.

Sunghoon cleared his throat,
" Park Jongseong and Song Aera."

" Park Sunghoon and Choi Yebin."

Aera tilted her head surprisingly and made an eye-contact with Jay but he broke it off when Yebin always looked at them.

" These groups will do the same projects and will be compared strictly in front of the classroom."

Sunghoon bit his lips and walked towards Jay.

" Let's change. I want to take your place."

Jay looked at Sunghoon blankly and fixed his eyes on Aera who was looking sad.

" No."

" Jay, you get a chance if you are with Yebin. Let me be with Ae-"

" No. I want to do with Aera."

" Jay-"

" No."