Chapter 4 The cracks in the Ice

The first month of the semester passed in a quiet rhythm of classes, projects, and long stretches of silence between Seongwoo and Jihoon. Yet, in that silence, something had shifted. Jihoon had begun to speak a little more, and though his words were still blunt and measured, Seongwoo could sense a faint loosening of his guard.

It was subtle-like when Jihoon would occasionally glance at Seongwoo's sketches with a faint, almost imperceptible nod of approval, or when he'd linger for a few extra moments at the end of their study sessions, as if he was no longer in a rush to leave.

One afternoon, they sat across from each other in the library, working on the finishing touches of their project. Seongwoo was sketching out a final diagram for their presentation, and Jihoon was typing up the last of their research notes. The library was quieter than usual, with only a few scattered students, and a peaceful silence had settled over the room.

Out of the corner of his eye, Seongwoo saw Jihoon frown, his fingers pausing over the keyboard. He looked up, meeting Seongwoo's gaze briefly before looking away, as if embarrassed by whatever thought was troubling him.

"Something wrong?" Seongwoo asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

Jihoon hesitated, his gaze flickering back to Seongwoo. "This... presentation. How do you think people will react?" He spoke quietly, as if the question was something he'd never intended to ask.

Seongwoo tilted his head, surprised. "What do you mean? It's just a class project."

Jihoon's jaw tightened slightly, and he looked away, his fingers tapping idly on the edge of the keyboard. "Never mind," he muttered, but there was a tightness in his voice that made Seongwoo realize this was about more than just the project.

"No, tell me," Seongwoo pressed gently. "Whats bothering you?"

Jihoon was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the table, as if weighing whether to answer. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost hesitant. "People usually... judge," he said, his words carefully measured. "They look at the surface of things and make assumptions. I don't like being... scrutinized."

Seongwoo felt a pang of understanding. Jihoon's icy demeanor wasn't just a shield; it was armor he'd learned to wear, a way to protect himself from the opinions and judgments of others. And yet, behind that armor, there was someone who cared more than he let on.

"I get that," Seongwoo said, offering a reassuring smile. "People do judge. But that doesn't mean we have to let it bother us. It's just a projectㅡif they want want judge, let them. We know we did our best."

Jihoon's gaze softened slightly, and for the first time, he looked at Seongwoo without that guarded, distant expression. "That's... easier said than done ," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Seongwoo leaned forward, meeting Jihoon's eyes. "I mean it, Jihoon. We're here to learn, not to impress anyone. If people want to make assumptions, that's their problemㅡnot ours."

Jihoon looked away, his expression unreadable. But there was a faint, almost imperceptible hint of relief in his eyes, as if Seongwoo's words had eased a weight he'd been carrying alone. They returned to their work, the silence between them no longer uncomfortable but filled with a quiet understanding.

The next day, their presentation went smoothly. Jihoon's nervousness was barely visible, masked by his usual calm, almost detached demeanor. Seongwoo took the lead in presenting their visuals, and when he glanced at Jihoon, he caught a hint of gratitude in his gaze.

After class, Seongwoo walked with Jihoon toward the main hall, feeling a strange sense of camaraderie between them. As they reached the exit, Seongwoo noticed Jihoon hesitating, his gaze drifting toward the nearby window where a few students were gathered, laughing and chatting.

Seongwoo followed Jihoon's gaze, watching the group of students with a mixture of curiosity and sympathy. "Do you.. ever want to join them?" he asked gently.

Jihoon's expression hardened slightly, his jaw tightening. "Not really," he replied, his voice tense. "Its easier this way. Less... complicated."

Seongwoo could sense there was more to Jihoon's answer than he was letting on, but he chose not to push. Instead, he smiled, hoping to ease the tension. "Well, if if ever change your mind, I'm around," he said, his tone light. "I'm not exactly the life of the party, but I can be decent company."

Jihoon glanced at him, and for a brief moment, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips. It was so quick that Seongwoo almost missed it, but the warmth in Jihoon's gaze lingered, even as he turned to leave.

The days continued to pass, and Seongwoo found himself looking forward to their study sessions more than he would have expected. Jihoon had a quiet presence that was oddly calming, and Seongwoo felt a strange comfort in the silence they shared-a silence that didn't feel empty but instead held a sense of mutual understanding.

One evening, as they wrapped up their session, Seongwoo gathered his things, glancing at Jihoon with a small smile. "Want to grab something to eat? I know a place nearby that has great tteokbokki," he offered, the invitation slipping out before he could second-guess it.

Jihoon blinked, visibly taken aback. "I.. don't usually eat out," he replied, his tone cautious.

"It's just a quick snack," Seongwoo said, grinning. "Consider it a celebration for finishing our project."

Jihoon hesitated, his gaze flickering toward the exit, as if weighing the decision. Finally, after a long pause, he nodded. "Alright. Just this once."

They walked to the small street stall in comfortable silence, and as they stood side by side, Seongwoo couldn't help but feel a sense of quiet contentment. Jihoon seemed more relaxed than usual, his usual guardedness replaced by a faint curiosity as he watched the vendor prepare their food.

As they ate, Seongwoo noticed Jihoon's expression softening, his usual cold demeanor giving way to a rare moment of openness. There was a faint smile on his lips, a small, almost shy curve that made Seongwoo's heart skip a beat.

"You know," Seongwoo said casually, his tone light, "You're not as scary as people think you are."

Jihoon looked at him, a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Is that supposed to be a compliment?"

Seongwoo laughed, his smile warm. "Maybe. It's just... I'm glad I got to know you. You're different from what people assume."

Jihoon's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked as though he wanted to say something in return. But instead, he simply nodded, his expression thoughtful. They finished their meal in silence, but Seongwoo couldn't shake the feeling that, in that quiet moment, they'd crossed an invisible line-one that had drawn them just a little closer.

As they walked back to campus, the sun dipping below the horizon, Seongwoo felt an odd sense of anticipation, as if something unspoken hung in the air between them. Jihoon walked beside him, his steps measured, his gaze fixed ahead, but Seongwoo couldn't help but notice the faint hint of a smile on his lips.

And for the first time, he realized that he wanted to see Jihoon smile more often.