One-shots, chapter eighty-nine

"As long as I live
I'll love you"

Thea had found herself increasingly burdened by the workload and expectations of university. Had she foreseen the difficulties of college, she might have reconsidered her decision. There were occasions when she would sacrifice sleep to finish assignments or prepare for upcoming exams. Despite the fatigue from her academic responsibilities, and with the school year only halfway through, she remained determined not to abandon her education so easily.

The primary drive behind her completion of her university classes each day was the anticipation of seeing Mun waiting for her outside the university. Despite not being a student himself, Mun would regularly meet her after classes and accompany her home on foot, creating a joyful conclusion to her day.

Thea held onto the books tightly as she exited the main building of Yonsei University, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the campus. As usual, her eyes scanned the bustling entrance, and it didn't take long for her to spot Mun, leaning casually against the low stone wall near the gate. He was hard to miss, tall and effortlessly stylish, his hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket as he waited for her.

What caught Thea's attention immediately, however, wasn't just how good he looked. It was the way every girl who passed him seemed to do a double-take, their gazes lingering a little too long. Some giggled as they walked by, whispering to each other, while others straight-up stared, unable to hide their admiration. Mun, ever oblivious, didn't seem to notice any of it. He was too focused on his phone, completely unaware of the attention he was drawing.

Thea frowned, her steps slowing slightly as she observed the scene. She was used to girls noticing him—Mun had that kind of presence that turned heads wherever they went. But today, it felt different. Maybe it was the sheer number of looks he was getting, or maybe it was how many of the girls made no effort to be subtle about it. Either way, a flare of jealousy sparked inside her, her eyes narrowing slightly as yet another girl shot Mun a lingering glance before walking off.

As Thea walked closer, her mind raced. She didn't want to be the possessive type, but seeing so many girls eyeing him like that stirred something protective in her. She didn't want anyone to get the wrong idea. Mun was hers, and she felt the sudden urge to make sure everyone knew it.

With a determined glint in her eye, Thea quickened her pace. When she finally reached him, Mun looked up from his phone, his face breaking into a warm, genuine smile that instantly softened her mood. "Hey, babe," he said, his voice casual, as if he hadn't just been the center of every girl's attention.

"Hey," Thea replied, her tone light but with a hint of mischief in her eyes.

Without missing a beat, she stepped up to him, slipping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his chest, hugging him tightly as if she hadn't seen him in days. Mun blinked in surprise but quickly smiled, wrapping his arms around her.

"Well, someone's in a good mood," he teased, his hand moving to brush a strand of hair from her face.

Thea tilted her head back to look up at him, her fingers playing with the hem of his jacket. "Just happy to see you," she said sweetly, but there was a playful glint in her eyes.

Mun, still oblivious to the gazes of the girls passing by, leaned down and kissed her forehead, chuckling softly. "Missed me that much, huh?"

Thea smiled, but instead of replying, she stood on her tiptoes, cupped his face with both hands, and kissed him—boldly, right there in front of everyone. It wasn't a quick peck either; it was the kind of kiss that left no room for misunderstanding, the kind that made it very clear that Mun was hers.

When she finally pulled back, Mun looked a little dazed but amused, his brow quirking up. "What was that for?"

Thea grinned, glancing around just in time to see a few of the girls who had been staring earlier now quickly looking away, their interest clearly diminished. Feeling satisfied, she turned back to Mun, her hands still resting on his chest.

"Just making sure everyone knows you're taken," she said casually, though there was an unmistakable hint of pride in her voice.

Mun blinked, then laughed softly, shaking his head. "I didn't even notice anyone looking."

Thea gave him a playful look. "That's because you're too busy being perfect to realize it. But trust me, they notice."

Mun's smile widened as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as they began walking toward the exit together. "Well, I only have eyes for one person, so they can stare all they want. I'm not going anywhere."

Thea's heart fluttered at his words, her earlier jealousy fading completely. She leaned into him, smiling to herself. "Good. Because you're mine."

Mun smirked, glancing down at her. "Always have been, sweetheart."

With that, they left the campus, Thea feeling content and more than a little smug. The girls could look all they wanted—Mun was hers, and she had no problem reminding everyone of that.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a soft golden glow on the quiet streets, Mun and Thea strolled side by side, their hands tightly intertwined. They walked in a comfortable silence, the kind that only comes with familiarity and ease, punctuated by bursts of quiet laughter whenever one of them cracked a joke.

"You know, I'm still not convinced you didn't cheat during that card game," Mun teased, nudging her gently with his elbow.

Thea chuckled, shaking her head. "If you actually paid attention instead of staring at me the whole time, maybe you'd have a chance at winning."

Mun raised his hands in mock surrender. "Guilty as charged."

They both laughed, the sound light and easy, matching the rhythm of their steps. The city seemed quieter than usual, as if the world had shrunk to just the two of them. Neither noticed the dark clouds gathering overhead.

Just as Mun was about to respond, the first drops of rain began to fall. A light sprinkle at first, quickly turning into a steady downpour. Thea glanced up, her eyes widening as she laughed, the sound merging with the soft patter of rain.

"We didn't bring an umbrella, did we?" she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

Mun shook his head, a grin spreading across his face. "Nope. Looks like we're in for it."

Without hesitation, they continued walking, now soaked as the rain poured down. Their laughter only grew louder as they both tried, and failed, to shield themselves with their hands.

Suddenly, Mun stopped. Thea, surprised, turned to look at him, rain dripping from her hair. His gaze softened, the world fading away as he looked at her, drenched and laughing, utterly unbothered by the storm.

Before either could say a word, Mun stepped closer, his hand reaching up to brush a wet strand of hair away from her face. He cupped her cheek gently, his thumb tracing her skin.

In that moment, surrounded by the rain and the quiet hum of the city, Mun leaned in, pressing his lips to hers in a soft, tender kiss. Thea's breath caught for a second before she kissed him back, the rain swirling around them, but neither caring.

When they finally pulled apart, Mun rested his forehead against hers, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "Guess I'm not too bad at paying attention after all."

Thea laughed, her hand still resting on his chest. "I think I'll let you have this one."

And as the rain continued to fall, they stood there for a moment longer, wrapped in the kind of warmth that even a storm couldn't wash away.

Mun and Thea finally reached the door of their home, soaked from head to toe, water dripping from their hair and clothes. Mun gave Thea a sheepish grin as he reached for the door, their laughter from earlier still lingering in the air.

As soon as they stepped inside, the warmth of the house enveloped them, contrasting sharply with the chilly rain outside. They were greeted by the sound of voices—Jun-seo, Thea's older brother, was in the living room with his girlfriend Hana, along with Mo-tak, Ms. Chu, and Jeok-bong, all gathered around chatting.

"Look who finally made it," Jun-seo said, turning towards them. He raised an eyebrow at their appearance. "And drenched to the bone, I see. Didn't think to bring an umbrella?"

"We didn't think it'd rain," Thea replied with a laugh, shaking out her hair, which sent a small spray of water flying in every direction. Mun grimaced and pulled at his wet shirt, causing the others to chuckle.

Jeok-bong, sitting cross-legged on the floor with a snack in hand, chimed in, "You two look like you've been through a romantic drama or something. Kissing in the rain, maybe?"

Thea blushed slightly but tried to play it off. "Let's just say the rain caught us off guard."

Mun, ever the tease, gave a mischievous smirk. "I mean, if you're going to get soaked, you might as well make the most of it, right?"

Hana laughed, shaking her head. "Well, at least you two had fun, but you're dripping all over the floor!"

Ms. Chu stood up from the couch, waving them over. "Go change into something dry before you catch a cold. I'll get some towels."

Mo-tak, leaning casually against the wall, smirked at Mun. "You've got some nerve showing up looking like that. You're lucky you didn't drag Thea through mud puddles."

"Hey, I'm not that reckless!" Mun defended himself, holding his hands up, though his smile betrayed him.

Jun-seo stood and walked over to his sister, taking her in for a second. "You guys need to be more careful. Rain like that can be unpredictable." Despite his serious words, there was a soft concern in his tone. "But I'm glad you're okay."

Thea smiled up at her brother. "I'm fine, Jun. It was just rain. Nothing we couldn't handle."

Mun clapped Jun-seo on the shoulder. "See? We're both in one piece. Plus, a little rain never hurt anyone."

Ms. Chu returned with towels, handing them to the pair. "Go on, dry off. I'll put some tea on. You'll need something warm after being out in that storm."

As they headed toward the bathroom to change, Mun turned back to the group. "I guess that means no bonus points for enduring the rain?"

Jun-seo rolled his eyes while Hana and Jeok-bong laughed. Mo-tak gave him a thumbs up. "You get points for entertainment, at least."

Mun winked. "I'll take it."

With that, Thea and Mun disappeared down the hallway, the sound of their fading laughter blending with the comforting warmth of home, while their friends remained in the living room, grinning at the pair's obvious chemistry.

After drying off and changing into comfortable clothes, Mun and Thea rejoined the group in the cozy living room. The storm outside had intensified, with the rain tapping steadily against the windows and the wind howling through the trees. Ms. Chu brought over two steaming mugs of tea, handing one to Mun and one to Thea, who sat down on the couch next to him.

"Thanks, Ms. Chu," Mun said, wrapping his hands around the warm cup, grateful for the heat after being soaked to the bone. Thea took a long sip, savoring the warmth that spread through her chest. The rest of the group was lounging around, the mood casual but charged with anticipation.

On stormy nights like these, they had a tradition: horror stories.

"You know what nights like this are perfect for, right?" Mo-tak asked, his eyes glinting mischievously.

"Horror stories," Jeok-bong chimed in, barely able to contain his excitement. He rubbed his hands together like a mischievous little boy. "I've got a good one."

Jun-seo chuckled from his seat beside Hana. "You always say that, but half the time you scare yourself more than us."

Jeok-bong waved him off, determined. "Not this time! This one's different."

Mun leaned back, glancing at Thea. "Are we sure we're ready for this? Especially with a storm raging outside?"

Thea smirked. "I don't get scare that easily."

Mun raised an eyebrow playfully, but before he could tease her, Jeok-bong launched into his story, his voice dropping to a hushed, eerie tone. He told them about a haunted village deep in the mountains, where a strange figure was said to appear whenever it rained, tapping at windows and luring people outside into the storm, never to be seen again.

The wind outside whistled as if on cue, rattling the window panes, making the room feel smaller, darker. Ms. Chu, sitting in the corner, folded her arms and listened quietly, her face unreadable. Mo-tak leaned forward, clearly enjoying the atmosphere, while Jun-seo looked skeptical but intrigued, his arm resting protectively around Hana.

As Jeok-bong finished the story, just as he described the figure appearing in the pouring rain, a loud crash of thunder echoed outside, and at that exact moment—the lights went out.

Complete darkness enveloped the room.

A collective gasp filled the air, and for a brief moment, no one moved. The only sound was the drumming of rain and the distant rumble of thunder.

"W-what was that?" Jeok-bong's voice wavered, clearly spooked despite his bravado. He shuffled closer to Mo-tak, who had gone completely still.

Mun blinked in the darkness, instinctively reaching for Thea's hand. She grasped his tightly, her heart pounding. "Power must've gone out because of the storm," she said, though her voice was quieter than usual.

Jun-seo cleared his throat, his tone more serious now. "It's just the storm, nothing to worry about. The power will come back soon."

But then, another loud creak came from the hallway, causing everyone to freeze. Hana clutched Jun-seo's arm, her eyes wide in the dim light of the storm outside.

"I thought you said we were alone," Mo-tak muttered, his eyes darting toward the darkened hallway.

Ms. Chu, ever the calm one, let out a small chuckle, though it did little to ease the tension. "It's probably just the house settling. Or maybe the wind knocking something over."

"Or it's the figure from Jeok-bong's story coming to get us," Mun said, half-joking, though he couldn't help but feel a bit unnerved himself.

Jeok-bong let out a nervous laugh. "Don't even joke about that, man."

A flash of lightning illuminated the room briefly, casting long, eerie shadows across everyone's faces, followed by another deep rumble of thunder. Mun glanced over at Thea, who gave him a small, reassuring smile despite the tension in the room.

"Well," Mun said, trying to lighten the mood, "at least we have each other if the figure does show up. Strength in numbers, right?"

Thea squeezed his hand, her voice steady but playful. "Just promise not to run off and leave me behind."

"Never," Mun said, flashing her a grin, even though she couldn't see it fully in the dark.

Just then, another loud thud came from outside the house, making everyone jump. Jeok-bong yelped and clutched Mo-tak's arm, while Hana stifled a small scream.

Ms. Chu calmly stood up and made her way to the window. She peeked through the curtains, squinting into the rain. "It's just a loose tree branch hitting the side of the house. Nothing supernatural here, folks."

As the tension eased with her explanation, everyone let out a collective breath of relief. Another flicker of lightning brightened the room momentarily, and the wind seemed to calm.

"Well," Jun-seo said with a wry smile, "that was a little more excitement than we needed."

Just then, the lights flickered back on, the hum of electricity returning as the room bathed in the familiar, warm glow. Everyone sat back, exhaling as the storm outside continued but now felt less threatening.

Mun chuckled, leaning closer to Thea. "Guess we survived the ghost story."

She smiled, shaking her head. "Barely."

Author's note;

What did you think? Honestly, I found it amusing while reading because the last part I could actually picture everything, and it really suits each of their characters so well 😂

Please stay tuned as there are still 9 extra chapters left! See you in the next update! ❤️

1/10 ✅