Hannah's eyes were filled with concern as she gazed up at Harin, her heart heavy. He winced, still feeling the sting of the hot food, and lowered his hand from her face. His movement was slow and cautious, as though even the air around them had suddenly gone still, holding its breath.
"H-Harin…" Junia's voice, soft and tinged with worry, cut through the silence.
A weight settled in Hannah's chest, and without a word, she stood. Her gaze, unreadable yet resolute, flicked to the student who had tripped. Without hesitation, she walked toward the girl, her movements deliberate, her posture calm but with an undeniable command.
Naomi watched, rising from her seat. Tension radiated from her, uncertainty hanging thick in the air as she wondered what Hannah would do next. Even Harin, nursing his burned hand, stayed still, his eyes following Hannah with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
As Hannah neared, she raised her hand, preparing to address the girl.
The student flinched, but Hannah paused, exhaling a soft sigh. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded handkerchief, offering it with quiet grace.
"Clean your uniform," she instructed, her voice steady and calm, like the cool breeze of early morning.
The others around the table let out quiet breaths they hadn't realized they'd been holding. They had expected a reprimand, sharp words, perhaps even a harsh glare—but instead, Hannah's compassion manifested in simple, yet profound care.
Harin allowed a small smile to tug at the corner of his lips. But that smile faltered when Hannah's gaze shifted to him.
She was glaring.
The intensity of her stare made him flinch, an involuntary reaction that sent a ripple of unease through his chest. His eyes darted to his friends for help, silently pleading, but it was too late. Hannah was already walking toward him, her steps firm and purposeful.
He followed, heart pounding in his chest, dread pooling in his stomach. His gaze flicked back to Naomi, Levi, and Junia, who had clasped their hands in mock solemnity, their expressions a blend of amusement and pity.
They waved at him, as though bidding farewell to a condemned man.
---
[Harin's POV]
He had braced himself for a scolding. With that glare and her harsh tone, Harin had prepared to be chewed out, perhaps even banished from the cafeteria for all eternity.
But instead…
They were in the comfort room. And Hannah hadn't said a word.
The silence between them wasn't oppressive, but it was unmistakable. It was her silence that filled the room, loud and heavy in its own way.
Hannah stood beside the sink, arms crossed, watching him with quiet intensity. Harin let the cool water run over his hand, the burn tingling under the stream, a sharp contrast to the calm around them.
"…Is it done?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, breaking the quiet.
"Not yet," came her curt reply.
"But it's been a couple of minutes—"
"No," she cut him off, her voice more firm this time, sharper.
He flinched at her tone but obeyed, keeping his hand under the stream.
A few moments passed before she moved toward him. She turned off the faucet, and with deliberate care, wrapped a towel around his hand, pressing it gently.
"You're really an idiot," she muttered under her breath, her gaze lifting to meet his, frustration and something softer flickering in her eyes.
She hesitated for a moment, then asked, quieter now, "Why did you do that?"
"…Do what?" Harin replied, playing dumb, though he knew exactly what she meant.
"You know what I'm talking about," she said, her voice softer but tinged with an edge of exasperation. "And now look at you. You're hurt. Again."
Harin watched as she applied ointment to his hand with careful fingers, her touch gentle, almost tender despite the sharpness in her words.
"Then… would you rather I let you get burned on the face?" he asked, his voice steady but unwavering.
Her hands froze, her attention snapping to him.
Her eyes, already irritated, softened—just a little. There was something else there, beneath the irritation. Worry, faint but undeniable.
She turned away, the faintest hint of hurt flashing across her face, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by that familiar guarded expression.
The silence stretched on, the sound of the faucet's drip punctuating the stillness.
A strand of her hair fell forward, brushing against her cheek. Harin, without thinking, reached up and tucked it behind her ear.
Again, her hands froze. The air thick with surprise. Her eyes widened as she looked at him, startled by the sudden intimacy of the gesture.
He smiled softly, a reassuring, almost apologetic smile.
"Don't feel guilty," he said, his voice low but steady. "I did it because I wanted to."
Her gaze shifted, something unreadable in her eyes. For a moment, it seemed like she might protest, but instead, she simply looked away, her fingers resuming their task of wrapping his hand.
"Don't you think it's better to get burned on the hand than on the face?" Harin added with a small grin, trying to break the lingering tension.
Hannah exhaled through her nose, a dry little chuckle escaping despite herself. "This is not the time to joke," she muttered, though her lips betrayed her annoyance with the faintest smile.
"I know," he said, voice warm, "I just… wanted to make you smile."
"…And why?" she asked.
"Because you kept making that face."
"What face?"
"Like you're hurting."
She scoffed, looking away again, her expression closing off.
"I'm not," she murmured, her voice soft but stubborn. "Why would I make that kind of face?"
"You are though," he insisted, his tone gentle but persistent.
"I said I'm not."
"You are," he said again, softer this time, his words reaching out like a whisper as he took a small step closer. "Even if you won't admit it."
She sighed, clearly flustered by his relentless attention. "You... keep getting yourself hurt because of me," she said, her voice quiet but thick with frustration. "And it bothers me. A lot."
She paused, then added, in a tone that was both warning and resigned, "If you do something like that again… I will kick your ass."
Harin burst out laughing, the sound full of warmth and carefree amusement.
And even though he knew she meant it, deep down, he knew he'd do it all over again, without hesitation.
"I'm not kidding," she said, glaring at him.
"I know," he said, raising his free hand in mock surrender. "I'll keep that in mind."
Finally, she released his hand and turned toward the door. Without another word, she stepped out, and Harin followed, a warmth spreading in his chest that had nothing to do with the burn on his hand.
"…By the way," he called out casually, "did you see it?"
"See what?" she asked, not looking back.
"In your sketchpad."
"…What about it?"
He glanced at her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "…Never mind." He walked ahead, hands in his pockets, his casual demeanor betraying the slight grin still playing at his lips.
"Eh? What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"It's nothing~"
"Ugh. You're so annoying," she muttered, trailing behind him.
---
[Hannah's POV]
When they returned to the canteen, the atmosphere around Hannah and Harin felt almost... off. It was as if they were carrying the weight of their quiet exchange, both of them tried to pretend nothing had happened. They resumed eating their food, the silence between them heavy but not oppressive.
Hannah tried to focus on her meal, but the lingering feeling of Harin's words from the comfort room kept replaying in her mind. The way his tone had softened, the way his gaze had lingered on her, and how that sudden, unexpected shift in his usual demeanor had left her heart fluttering in ways she didn't quite understand.
It wasn't long before Naomi, Levi, and Junia noticed the change in the air. Their glances were more observant now, eyes flicking between Hannah and Harin, their expressions mischievous as they exchanged knowing looks.
Hannah caught their eyes briefly, narrowing her gaze. They were definitely up to something.
"What?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady despite the unease bubbling up within her.
Naomi, always the troublemaker, simply shook her head, her lips curling into a teasing smile. She didn't answer immediately, but her amusement was obvious as she returned her focus to her food, her eyes occasionally flicking toward Harin.
Junia, not one to hide her curiosity, flashed a sly grin before sneaking another look at Harin, who, despite trying to act oblivious, couldn't seem to hide the faintest blush creeping across his cheeks. Levi, ever the joker, leaned forward with a cheeky smile, clearly on the verge of bursting with laughter.
Hannah's brow furrowed, her patience wearing thin. "What are you all looking at?"
Naomi, grinning from ear to ear, leaned back in her chair dramatically. "What are we looking at?" she repeated, as though the question were absurd. "Look at you two! Did something happen while you were treating his hand?"
Harin, who had been trying to focus on his meal, froze mid-bite at the sudden attention. He glanced up, first at Levi, then Naomi, then Junia—and finally, at Hannah, his confusion evident on his face.
"What?" he asked, deadpan.
Naomi, Levi, and Junia all exchanged another look, and this time, it was almost like they were preparing for a performance.
"What happened?" Levi added with a knowing grin, causing a soft chuckle to bubble out from him.
At that moment, Harin finally seemed to catch on. "We just talked," he said, his voice carrying the slightest hint of annoyance, but it wasn't enough to cover the discomfort creeping up on him.
Levi raised an eyebrow, still smirking. "Talked about what?"
Harin's eyes flicked to the ceiling in exasperation, then back to the group. "She said she'd kick my ass if I got hurt again."
Hannah, hearing those words aloud, instantly felt her face heat up. That didn't sound as simple when I said that to him.
But it was too late. The moment the words left his lips, it was like a switch flipped. The teasing smirk on Naomi's face became exaggerated as she leaned toward Hannah, dramatically batting her eyelashes. "Aww, how sweet. My friend is worried about you~" she teased, stretching the word 'worried' with a mock swoon.
Hannah's stomach churned as Naomi's playful tone made her feel suddenly exposed. "Stop," she muttered under her breath, trying to suppress the rising embarrassment. But it was clear from Naomi's wide grin that her teasing had only just begun.
Levi, not missing a beat, added his own flair to the dramatics. "She's so concerned~ She said she'll kick your ass if you get hurt again." He threw his hands up like an over-the-top stage actor, making the entire table burst into laughter.
Hannah, still frozen in her seat, could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Her hands clenched tightly around her chopsticks, trying to stop herself from either fidgeting or doing something embarrassing. How did it get to this point so quickly?
Junia, leaning forward with a bright gleam in her eye, leaned in toward Naomi and Levi. "Oh, so this isn't the first time he's done something like that?" she asked with a teasing, almost sly edge to her voice. The way her eyes sparkled made it clear she was thoroughly enjoying the unfolding drama.
Naomi and Levi exchanged looks that were pure mischief. They chuckled darkly before glancing back at Junia.
"Kyaa! I'm gonna fall—!" Naomi exclaimed, acting out a scene as if she were about to faint. Levi quickly leaned in, pretending to catch her in his arms with a grand flourish.
"Oh no, my love! I'll save you!" Levi said, throwing himself into the scene with all the enthusiasm of a Shakespearean actor, and the two of them burst into louder laughter. Junia's giggles added to the chorus of teasing.
Hannah, still horrified by the direction this conversation had taken, sat rigidly in place. The last thing she wanted was to be dragged into this ridiculousness. I never thought they would team up against me like this.
Junia finally straightened up, wiping away the tears from her eyes, and looked at Harin with a soft smile. "So, Harin saved her when she fell?" she asked, her voice filled with amusement.
Levi and Naomi responded in unison, drawing out their words. "Right~"
Junia's eyes twinkled. "That's so sweet. But... not to the extent of doing it twice—without hesitation."
Harin, who had been quietly picking at his food, suddenly stopped. The teasing atmosphere seemed to fade as he looked up and met Junia's gaze. His voice, calm and unbothered, rang through the table. "It's not a big deal," he said, "I just didn't want to see her get hurt again." His eyes shifted to Hannah's, lingering just a moment longer than expected.
The table immediately went silent.
Levi, mid-bite, froze, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. Naomi's chopsticks clattered onto her tray, their noise cutting through the heavy silence. Junia's eyes widened in realization, her gaze flicking between Harin and Hannah like a giddy spectator to a show she didn't want to miss.
Hannah, completely stunned, felt her heartbeat race in her chest. Did he—did he just say that?
The words hung in the air, innocent enough on the surface, but the way he looked at her... it was like he meant so much more than he let on.
The mood shifted again, this time in a way that was almost tangible. Something unspoken passed between them, something no one else could see, but both Harin and Hannah felt it, even if they couldn't name it.
And then Naomi broke the silence with a high-pitched shriek. "AWWWW!!!" she yelled, shaking Hannah by the shoulders like a kid in a candy store. "What was that?! What's with that look, boy?!"
Her dramatic display yanked Harin from his trance. He quickly looked away, returning to his food like nothing had happened.
But the table wasn't done yet.
Levi, now grinning like the Cheshire cat, pointed his chopsticks at Harin. "Bro, that was a confession if I ever heard one," he said, half-laughing.
Junia, still watching with a mix of amusement and awe, raised an eyebrow. "Harin, are you sure you're not hiding something?" she teased, clearly relishing the spectacle unfolding before her.
Harin, ever the calm one, simply continued eating. But the red flush creeping up his ear betrayed him.
Hannah, who had been caught in the whirlwind of teasing, remained still, her mind reeling. She stared at Harin, her face serious but unreadable, and for the first time, she wondered if maybe... just maybe... Harin wasn't just putting himself in harm's way for nothing.
Was it really for me?
The thought swirled in her mind, heavy and undeniable, leaving her chest tight with something she couldn't name.
But she didn't say anything.
Not yet.