If someone had told Ara a year ago that she’d end up dating Jungwon, she would have laughed in their face.

Yet here she was, sitting across from him at their usual café, watching as he stole another bite of her cake like he had every right to it. 

“You have your own, you know,” she muttered, raising an eyebrow. 

Jungwon grinned, completely unapologetic. “Yours tastes better.” 

She sighed, but she didn’t push his hand away when he reached for another bite. Some things never changed. 

After months of teasing, stolen glances, and way too much overthinking, they had finally found their way to each other.

And if their relationship had been chaotic as friends, it was even worse now. 

Jungwon had no shame when it came to PDA. Hand-holding? Always. Leaning on her shoulder? Every chance he got. Calling her babe in front of their friends just to see her reaction? Unfortunately, a daily occurrence. 

“Ara, can you pass me my—” 

“No.” 

Jungwon pouted. “Babe, please?” 

She glared. “I hate you.” 

He smirked. “You love me.” 

Annoying. Absolutely annoying. 

(And yet, she wouldn’t trade him for the world.) 

— 

Graduation day came faster than either of them expected. 

Ara stood at the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the familiar school grounds. So much had happened here—late-night study sessions, dumb bets, their endless back-and-forth teasing. 

“You’re going to miss me, huh?” 

She rolled her eyes as Jungwon appeared beside her. “We’re literally going to the same university.” 

“Yeah, but still,” he said, bumping his shoulder against hers. “Things are going to be different.” 

Ara glanced at him. He wasn’t wrong. They were stepping into a new chapter, one where they weren’t just high school students anymore.

But the thought of change didn’t scare her as much as it used to. 

Not when she knew he’d be by her side. 

She reached for his hand, intertwining their fingers. “Then let’s make sure it’s a good different.” 

Jungwon looked at their hands, then at her, eyes softening. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Together?” 

Ara smiled. “Always.”