Seolli's a quiet classmate Kim Taehyung always noticed but never had the courage to approach. Fate leads them to the same college and Taehyung tells himself things will be different. He'll take the steps to reach her heart. All she has to do is stay...
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August 28 Monday Year 1
Walking across campus feels less intimidating than it did months ago.
Is it because campus has grown too familiar? Because I've spent more time here than my home? Or because now I have friends who pass by me with a smile on their face?
Today, I've bumped into everyone so far.
Well everyone, except...
A hand wraps around my wrist and pulls me in a new direction. Turning with surprise, I see Taehyung leaning out of a booth. His eyebrows raise as he's eager for me to recognize him.
"Hi, Seolli."
"Hi, Taehyung." I beam, happy that I've finally run into him.
He scoots over, sliding his things over with him. I take a seat next to him, not missing the book open in front of him covered in notations.
"You already have an assignment?"
My classes have only gone over the syllabus.
Taehyung gently lifts the corner of the page. "Mm-mm, though I could write an essay about this poem alone."
That's right, Taehyung loves poetry. I remember how Jiyoo borrowed a poetry book from him earlier in the year.
Tilting my head, I see it's a poem titled "I sing the body electric!" by Walt Whitman. Taehyung's already highlighted various lines and scribbled notes that run down the margins. I'm careful not to invade his personal space as I try to read what he's written.
"What's it about?" I whisper, my voice as gentle as he's holding the page.
What can I learn about you from hearing you talk about something you love?
His eyes shine as he leans in closer. "How perfect our bodies are together."
My breathing stutters.
"Our body and our soul are one and equal. Without our body, how do we interact with the world and how does the world view us?"
Lifting his hand up, he nods with encouragement for me to do the same. As I nervously extend my hand, he gently meets me with his warm one.
The buzz between our hands makes me want to pull back. Why? Especially when Taehyung's hand feels so warm and gentle?
His gaze drifts to our hands, a smile tugging on the corner of his lips. "Our bodies are walking art. And the things we can do together... it's beautiful."
I blush without reason. Even though he was probably describing innocent things, my mind couldn't help but travel elsewhere.
"It's beautiful," he says, tilting his head with a kind of quiet reverence as he laces our fingers together. "... and it's just because we're here, alive."
The weight of that last word hangs in the air, and suddenly I don't want to pull away from his hand. Instead, I want to hold them tighter.
A shadow crosses his eyes.
I bite my lip, concern aching in my chest. Taehyung's always been so emotionally aware. It's what drew him to notice me. It's why poetry and words resonate with him so deeply. He feels everything, maybe a little too much.
A flicker of light returns to his gaze, and he breaks the connection, eyes cast down as our hands separate.
"Is everything okay?" I ask before an apology can slip past his lips. I bow my head to catch a glimpse of his face.
He's silent for a moment, the room filled with passing voices and gentle clatter of laptop keys.
He clears his throat gently before lifting his gaze to me.
