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ׂ╰┈➤ Chapter 18 | The Unexpected Connection
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The school day was winding down, and the crisp autumn air was filled with the chatter of students heading home. Jiwon closed her locker with a satisfied click and headed toward the school gate. Her thoughts wandered to the upcoming weekend and the festival, a welcome distraction from the usual school routine
As she walked, she spotted Yeonjun leaning against a wall near the entrance, chatting with his friends. His laughter was infectious, and Jiwon found herself smiling despite the busy day. She pulled out her phone to check a message from her online friend, DreamWeaver
"Hey, Night Owl! How was your day?"
"Pretty good! Just wrapped up school. How about you?"
Before she could send her response, a group of students hurried past her, causing her to lose her balance. She stumbled, but just as she was about to fall, she felt a pair of strong hands catch her
“Whoa, careful there!”
Yeonjun’s voice was warm and concerned as he steadied her
Jiwon looked up, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment
“Oh, thanks, Yeonjun. I didn’t see them coming”
“No problem”
Yeonjun said with a friendly grin
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine”
Jiwon replied, still a bit flustered
“Just a bit clumsy today”
Yeonjun noticed her phone, which was still in her hand
“Who are you texting? Another fan of yours?”
Jiwon laughed softly
“No, just a friend from an online group”
Yeonjun’s curiosity was piqued
“Oh, really? Do I know them?”
Jiwon hesitated for a moment, then shrugged
“Probably not. They’re from a different school”
Jiwon took her phone out, finally texting DreamWeaver back
"I’m good!!"
Jiwon quickly typed a reply, letting DreamWeaver know she’d be available later
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Meanwhile, Yeonjun rejoined his friends, who were discussing plans for the weekend. Beomgyu and Soobin were debating the best spot to hang out, while Taehyun and Huening Kai were enthusiastically talking about their next practice session
“Hey, Yeonjun”
Beomgyu said
“we’re thinking about hitting up the arcade. You in?”
Yeonjun glanced at Jiwon, who was absorbed in her phone
“Sure, sounds fun. I’ll join you guys after I help Jiwon with something”
His friends gave him a curious look but shrugged and headed off toward the arcade
Jiwon looked up at Yeonjun, who was now standing next to her with a relaxed smile
“You don’t have to wait for me. I can head home by myself”
“No worries”
Yeonjun said casually
“It’s a nice day. I thought I’d walk with you for a bit”
As they strolled together, they chatted about their favorite spots in town. Yeonjun mentioned a hidden café he loved, piquing Jiwon's interest. In return, Hyein talked about her favorite local bookstore, and they made plans to check out each other’s recommendations
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By the time they reached her house, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Hyein felt a pleasant sense of warmth from their conversation
“Thanks for walking with me, Yeonjun”
she said as they reached her front gate
“No problem at all”
Yeonjun replied with a friendly wave
“See you at school”
As Jiwon entered her house, she felt a mix of contentment and curiosity. The day had been full of unexpected yet meaningful moments. She couldn’t help but think about how nice it was to spend time with Yeonjun and how the connection she had with him was evolving
Later that evening, she settled into her room, thinking about her online chat with DreamWeaver. Though she had not checked her messages while with Yeonjun, she was eager to see what her friend had to say. The conversations with DreamWeaver had become an exciting part of her routine, and she was looking forward to what the future held for both her online and offline relationships
