Min Cheol's body stiffened when he heard Jo Hee's voice. He sat up from his bed, using his hand to brush his hair backward. He wasn't sure how he should react to this. He wasn't someone who was familiar with rejection or how to deal with it, for him, that day was nothing but an utter embarrassment.

"Min Cheol," Jo Hee called him again. "Can we talk?" she asked carefully, clearly after thinking about it for a long time.

Min Cheol cleared his throat and tried to appear as carefree as possible, "I am quite busy these days actually, you know how hectic my schedule can get."

"Please, Min Cheol. I miss you, so will you please stop avoiding me?" Jo Hee pleaded, her voice trembling.

As much as Min Cheol missed Jo Hee as well, he was not ready to face her. He knew too well how facing she will only increase his agony and he did not move on from her yet. Humans' feelings don't have a switch attached to them, you can't just stop it whenever you want, it takes time.

He didn't reply to Jo Hee, letting the silence sink in.

Jo Hee wasn't stupid either. It didn't take her much time to decode his answer, so she just nodded her head while answering, "I got it, sorry for bothering you."

She ended the call without even giving Min Cheol the chance to reply.

Mae looked at her from behind, deep in her own thought. She wasn't sure how she should interpret the conversation she just heard. She slightly glanced down at her phone, funny how she didn't have his new number. The old one, however, was saved as "Mr Darcy", still in her contact list. No matter how heartbreaking everything was, she could never bear to delete his number or their old pictures.

......

Five years ago.

The annual showcase was right around the corner. Being a sophomore, it was Min Cheol's last chance to perform. Next year, he would become a senior, and senior students in most East Asian countries usually don't get the chance to perform since they have to focus on their studies more.

In one of the piano rooms in his school, Min Cheol sat in front of the black and white keys; his nails cut short and his slender fingers gently pressed the notes. The soft music filled the small space in poignancy.

He was so immersed in a world he created on his own using music that he didn't notice someone was watching him through the small window of the door.

Mae's eyes trailed over Min Cheol's swift hands. The sunlight fell on him, illuminating his prominent bluish-green veins that added colors to his pale skin; his fingers controlled the notes and gave life to the sound that swirled through the air; his eyelashes swayed in mid-air as his head slightly motioned to the beat.

Min Cheol wasn't extraordinarily handsome, at least not when they were still in high school, but he gave off a vibe that could captivate any girl who took the time and effort to get to know him. He seemed nerdy but he had ambitions hiding underneath his eyes which held a desire rarely anyone noticed; he seemed to be the person who followed the rules but he had rebellion raging through his blood; a bad boy hiding under the shell of a gentleman or maybe the opposite. In short, he was irresistible.

As Min Cheol pressed the last key and straightened his back, Mae pushed down the doorknob and opened the door of the piano room.

Min Cheol slightly turned his head to look at Mae, who allowed a soft smile to crawl up her lips. She slowly advanced towards him and called out, "Sunbae."

Min Cheol didn't realize how his features softened as Mae's reflection appeared on his glasses.

"Can I sit beside you?" she asked, the dimples beside her lips were deep yet small.

He slid to the side to provide her space to sit.

"Duet?" Mae pierced his eyes with her blazing eyes, her lips curved up to the side playfully.

He was amused by her actions yet didn't allow it to be shown on his face.

Mae counted three silently before turning her body to touch the first key on the piano.

Min Cheol quietly watched her fingers move through the keys as she played the first verse and then joined in from the second. Mae's grin grew bigger and her eyes lit up with contentment.

As the last note fell and disappeared into thin air, they took their hands back in sync, causing his shoulder to brush her.

He closed the piano and covered it.

"Are you not going to practice anymore today?" Mae asked, her eyes tracing his each and every movement.

"No." He shook his head.

She tilted her head and suddenly asked, "Why are you not performing your rap? I don't think I ever saw you showcasing your rap skill in school."

"Well, I don't want to be the kind of student teachers frown upon, I still need my scholarship."

He darted his gaze away when he answered, staring out of the window.

Mae almost forgot that he needed the scholarship to be able to come to this private school that was too expensive for Min Cheol's family to afford; Mae almost forgot how they belonged to two different worlds, born in two different social classes. At that time, she didn't know that the life in this private school fueled his social anxiety which caused him to suffer later.

The duo moved out of the piano practice room together, the corridor was masked in tranquility.

Mae, as if remembering something, turned to face Min Cheol as she walked backward, the hem of her skirt danced through the air as she did.

"Sunbae, let's have a bet." Her eyes hid a mischievous gleam underneath.

Min Cheol raised his eyebrows.

"If my performance gets the most views this time among the freshers, then go out on a date with me." Her hair bounced as she moved backward, almost jumping.

Min Cheol was enlivened by her words as he broke out into a small chuckle, "You keep trying to go out with me."

"Do you even have any idea how attractive you are?" An impish smirk climbed up her features as her ardent gaze fell on him.

Min Cheol didn't know what to reply, his lips slightly parted yet no words came out.

They walked a short distance in silence before Mae suddenly came to a halt.

"You do know that you didn't refuse," she uttered, her eyes fervently looked at Min Cheol, trying to search for even the slightest change in Min Cheol's expression.

"I didn't," he mused as he came to a halt, staring into Mae's eyes, causing her heart to skip a beat.

It took a few seconds for her to process what he just said. However, when she did, her eyes widened. He already walked past her and stood beside the stairs. Mae turned her heels to chase after him, grabbing his wrist, asking, "Are you serious? Did I hear anything wrong?"

He chuckled, "Yes, I am serious."

"Deal! Don't change your mind afterward then." Her eyes sparkled confidence, even her steps became lighter.

Min Cheol watched her in merriment; a genuine smile appeared on his lips.

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