Thanks everyone who is reading my book.it really means a lot.
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When Sehun asked Hairi to go participate in a group study session, she was unsure of what to expect. She was accustomed to their moments on the rooftop, a silence that had been filled only with soft-spoken words and laughter that was like a treasure only they had. But this was different. Now, they will be studying in a larger setting and she was not sure their bond would feel the same with other people present.

The session was supposed to take place over the weekend, Saturday to be specific, at a cafe close to the campus and by the time Hairi got there, her heart was in her throat. She spoke to Sehun in a corner where some of his mates were hanging, who seemed amply prepared since he was already going through his notes. His expression was bright as soon as he saw her walking in and waved at her bashfully. To quell the storm of emotions that was building inside of her, that singular action was enough.

She immediately reined in her emotions and smiled as she took a seat opposite to him, "So how is it going everyone? ," she addressed the rest of the people in the room in a friendly manner. "Sorry I am late Guys!"

"Don't concern yourself, that's alright. We have only just begun,'' said Sehun flashing a smile as he slid a blank notebook toward her. "Here, you can do some recap."

The cafe was pleasantly noisy, and Hairi loved the pleasant atmosphere that the study session held. They had divided themselves into pairs for different elements of a project, looking up on occasions to share or raise a query. However, it was not rare for Hairi to lock eyes with Sehun who was staring at her in a manner that accelerated her heartbeat, his eyes in hers, a moment longer than necessary, cheeks flushed.

After one hour or so, they seemed to reach a point of residence. Almost all members of the group had risen to gather light refreshments or to amuse themselves by stretching. There after, only Hairi and Sehun were still present and sitting at the table.

He dropped his head back and stretched his hands while letting out a sigh of satisfaction. "I really don't know how you do it, but you make it look so easy," he said looking at her with a half smile.

Hairi laughed as her gaze fell on his calm demeanor, her heart racing in the process. "I mean, I can't say it is easy, but then, this is something I have always enjoyed doing – working on such projects, especially because it feels... nice, you know?"

Sehun's head bobbed in silent contemplation as he appeared lost in thought. "Yeah, I understand that. You... you are really something else, Hairi," he found himself saying quietly, as if trying hard not to say it out loud.

A compliment thrown her way so openly made Hairi's cheeks turn red. "Thanks, Sehun," she responded, slightly embarrassed while lowering her gaze to her hands. Another soft answer was on her mind, one to deserve the tender compliment he offered, however, her head was blank with disorder.

They spent a few moments in total silence, allowing the exchange of words to linger in the air like an unfulfilled promise. Hairi found her gaze wandering up again and this time, she noticed how the light seemed to play in Sehun's hair, how his smile, which usually hid everything, seemed to draw back a little, giving the impression that there was much more to him than he let on.

Right when she was about to utter a word, the rest of the group came back, interrupting the moment. Lowering her gaze, she prayed that no one spotted her reddened face as they settled back in to read.

As the session went on, Sehun appeared to be in a much better mood, as he told side stories and made jokes that were very new to Hairi. He stated that he is fond of quiet places, like the library and the rooftop of the building and even mentioned some of his hobbies, such as doodling whenever he has a free time and walking around the city for hours. Hairi was all ears, absorbing everything he said. Sehun was different. All these qualities were present in him. They were distinct in her, and she had no idea in the particular way he was showing her those qualities. He had let his guard down without reservations.

They stole glances now and then, every glance feeling like a language in itself, like a prelude of something that is yet to begin.

When the lesson was over, however, Hairi was impressed how much more she knew about Sehun, although the dialogue had been rather light-hearted. It was like she was knitting something together. One word, one chuckle, one brush of the fingers as they exchanged the slips of paper with words in her imagined view. And yet it was making her fall for him, once more, this time rather stronger than ever, as each minute went by.

As they packed up, Sehun hesitated, looking as though he wanted to say something but couldn't quite find the words. His fingers brushed against hers as he reached for his bag, and he pulled back quickly, his eyes darting away.

"Uh, thanks for... for helping me with that part of the project," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Hairi felt her heart pound as she looked up at him, her gaze softening. "Of course, Sehun. Anytime."

He paused, glancing down at his hands, then back at her. His expression was a mix of nerves and something else she couldn't quite place. And then, in a move so subtle that she might have missed it if she hadn't been paying attention, he reached out and gently touched her arm, his fingers lingering for just a second longer than necessary.

"Trust me, I do mean it," he said, the sincerity in his voice evident. "I do not know how I would have managed without your support "

The sensation was short, yet it left a hollow in Hairi. Throughout the period, her thoughts were in an arrhythmia trying to make sense of what just happened and whether the same mattered to him as much as it did to her.

She made a decisive effort to hold herself together and offered him a reassuring smile even though she felt as though her heart was about to explode.

"It's no problem," she hastened to answer, her voice calmer than she would have expected under the circumstances.

They overstepped their boundaries just enough to take a well-deserved pause, studying each other while the outside world dimmed. Hairi felt a rush of bravery take over in her for just a brief period and for that second, imagined herself doing things she longed for, such as holding his hand and pouring out all her feelings that she had kept buried for ages.

But she didn't have to think of performing any of that when a loud, boisterous voice erupted among their classmates. Sehun took a step back, coughed softly, but kept smiling so that it was apparent he still wanted to cling on.

"Well," he said, this time softer, "I will probably bump into you, right?"

Hairi nodded, still balancing her notebook and the desire to not trembling her voice out. "Uh huh. Sure."

They exited the café; however, their shoulders only brushed once before they walked away at the corner. Hairi looked back one time and saw Sehun's outline by the light pole. For a brief moment, he also looked back, their gaze intertwined in an instant that left her breathless.

As she made her way back home, that warmth ended where his fingers had trailed on her skin. She turned backward, again and again, captured in that moment wondering if he had thought about it as well—this thin rope between them that was present, yet, so very invisible in its presence.

That night, however, when she lay on her bed Hairi was just looking at the ceiling, for the first time in many years feeling a great deal of different feelings. It was; hope. Excitement. And fear. She was unsure of what would follow, but at that moment it was the only moment that she felt no apprehension for what lay ahead.

She pulled the notebook toward herself, closed her eyes. This was her redemption; the scope of correction she got was not only for her errors but her entire narrative. There was no way she was going to let it pass.

That possibility calmed her and infused some steel resolve within her.

And just when she was about to sleep, a vibration of the phone on the bedside table woke her up. Half-asleep and half-curious she reached out for it.

One message notification popped up from Sehun.

 The next message said: "Same time tomorrow? Or are you too scared to meet me that soon?"

 A smile spread across her face, and her heart raced as she began to type her response."Scared of you? Not even a little." 

 As soon as she hit send, one thought echoed in her mind - This is just the beginning.

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Thanks for reading vote comment it means a lot.