Chapter 3: The Project We Share

The classroom buzzed with low murmurs and rustling papers as homeroom wound down. Mr. Han adjusted his glasses, a familiar sign that something official was about to happen. Daewon glanced up from his notes just as the teacher tapped the chalkboard with his pointer.

“We’ll be starting our spring group project today,” Mr. Han announced, drawing everyone’s attention. “It’s a short-term assignment, due in two weeks, and you’ll be working in pairs.”

A few groans echoed across the room. Group projects usually meant carrying the weight alone—or worse, being paired with someone awkward.

Aera, quietly flipping her notebook closed, didn’t seem fazed. She kept her expression calm, though her fingers lingered on the edge of her desk.

Daewon’s heart picked up speed. What if…?

Mr. Han began calling out names.

“Jisoo and Minji. Junho and Harin…”

Daewon held his breath.

“…Kang Daewon and Yoo Aera.”

For a second, time froze. Daewon’s pen rolled off his desk, hitting the floor with a soft clink. He barely noticed.

Beside him, Aera slowly turned her head, meeting his eyes. Her face was unreadable—but her voice, when she spoke, was soft and clear.

“Looks like we’re partners.”

Daewon blinked, then nodded. “Y-Yeah… okay.”

His voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat and tried again, “That’s… good.”

Junho elbowed him from the side, grinning. “Lucky.”

Mr. Han finished assigning partners and handed out the project guidelines. They were to create a presentation on a chosen theme that reflected “Youth and Change.” Research, visuals, and a short speech—all done together.

Daewon read the paper twice but couldn’t focus. His mind was already imagining sitting across from Aera, talking, planning, maybe even laughing.

A group project had never sounded so terrifying—and wonderful.

A few hours later, the final bell rang, releasing a tide of students into the sunny courtyard. Daewon lingered behind in the hallway, nervously clutching the assignment paper.

He spotted Aera at her locker, quietly organizing her books. The spring sunlight filtered through the windows, catching in her hair. He swallowed hard, then walked over.

“Hey,” he said, standing just a little too stiff. “About the project…”

Aera turned to him with a gentle expression. “Right. Do you want to meet after school sometime?”

“Yeah,” he said quickly, too quickly. “I mean—sure. We could… maybe start tomorrow? The library?”

“The school library?” she asked, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

He nodded. “Unless you want to go somewhere else?”

Aera thought for a moment, then smiled. “The library’s okay. It’s quiet.”

Her smile eased the tension in his chest.

“Oh—and about the topic,” she added, holding up her sheet. “You have any ideas for ‘Youth and Change’?”

Daewon scratched the back of his head, glancing around as if inspiration might be hiding in a locker. “Maybe… something about how people drift apart and come back together? Like how seasons change?”

Aera’s eyes lit up slightly. “That’s… actually nice. Like how friendships change over time?”

“Yeah, or… feelings,” he said, his voice lowering just a little.

A moment passed between them, not awkward, just quiet.

Aera tilted her head. “Then maybe we could do a visual project. Like, compare childhood memories to now.”

“Like photos and drawings?” Daewon asked, already picturing his sketchbook.

She nodded. “You draw, right? I’ve seen your pencil case. It’s full of charcoal sticks.”

Daewon blinked. “You noticed?”

Aera looked away, her voice soft. “Only a little.”

He smiled. “Okay. Let’s meet tomorrow, and we’ll start from there.”

As they walked off in different directions, the same thought echoed quietly in both of their minds:

This project… might become something more.

That Evening – Daewon’s Home

The sun had just dipped below the rooftops of Haneul-dong as Daewon stepped into his home. The scent of simmering soup and freshly cooked rice greeted him. He slipped off his shoes and called out, “I’m home.”

From the kitchen, his mom replied cheerfully, “Dinner’s almost ready!”

“Oppa!” a small voice chirped. His little sister, Kang Minseo, peeked out from behind the doorframe, her pigtails bouncing as she ran up to him with a grin.

“Hey, Minseo,” Daewon said, ruffling her hair.

“Did you see Yoo Aera again today?” she asked innocently, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Daewon’s ears turned pink. “Wh-what? How do you even know that name?”

“You talk in your sleep sometimes,” she said, giggling, then skipped off before he could react.

At the dinner table, their dad asked about school between spoonfuls of kimchi stew.

“Any projects coming up?” he said, lifting his chopsticks.

Daewon nodded, avoiding his mom’s eyes. “Yeah. Group project. Presentation.”

“With anyone interesting?” his mom asked, smiling knowingly.

“Just… a classmate,” he mumbled, then took a big bite of rice.

Minseo leaned in and whispered, “Yoo. Ae. Ra.”

He kicked her gently under the table.

After dinner, Daewon took a long shower, the steam fogging the mirror as he stood under the water, thinking.

He dried off and walked to his small room, where his sketchbook sat waiting on the desk. He passed it without opening it, tossing himself onto the bed.

Lying on his back, he stared at the ceiling fan spinning above him. The events of the day played in his mind like a soft movie reel: Aera’s calm voice, her smile, the way she had said “Looks like we’re partners.”

He rolled onto his side, burying his face into the pillow.

“She noticed my charcoal sticks…” he whispered into the quiet. “Why does that make me so happy?”

He didn’t have an answer, but his heart was light as sleep slowly pulled him under.

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