A gust of wind rustled the rain tree's branches above her, scattering light and shadow across Bella's lap. She picked at the rice on her tray, barely noticing the bites she took. Her eyes wandered across the courtyard until they landed on a familiar silhouette emerging from the canteen.
Yunho.
He spotted her immediately. His expression softened and within seconds, he was weaving through the tables toward her, hands tucked in his pockets, a casual half-smile tugging at his lips like always.
"Hey," he said as he reached her, nudging her knee gently with his own before sitting beside her.
"Hey," she replied, brushing some leaves off her tray.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Around them, the chatter of students faded into the background hum.
Then Bella asked the question that had been quietly lingering in her mind for weeks.
"Why do you always walk me home?"
Yunho blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"
She turned slightly toward him, brows raised just enough to signal she wasn't teasing. "I mean, you walk me all the way to my dorm almost every evening. But I've never once seen you turn and go anywhere. I don't even know where you live."
Yunho leaned back against the bench, looking up at the canopy above them for a moment, lips twitching like he was debating something.
"Maybe I like the walk," he said finally, but there was something careful in his voice.
Bella narrowed her eyes. "Do you walk everyone home?"
"No."
"Then?"
Yunho turned to her and for once, the smile faded.
"I like the quiet time we spent together. That 15 mins of silence companionship that belongs to me and me only" he said quietly.
Bella's throat tightened. The simplicity of the answer, honest and unguarded, struck her harder than she expected.
"But still," she said, trying to keep her voice light, "you always walk me home. And then what? Do you teleport back?"
He smirked. "Not quite. I lived in a huge compound with my parents. It's too far from here. So after I drop you off, I just take a cab home"
She looked at him, incredulous. "So you go out of your way every single day."
"It's not out of my way if I want to be there," he said.
Bella stared at him, momentarily unsure of what to say. No one had ever made her feel like that before, like her presence mattered, without condition.
He stood up slowly and glanced at her, hands back in his pockets. "You done eating?"
She nodded, gathering her tray.
"Come on," he said, offering her a hand.
She took it.
Later that night, Bella lay curled on her bed, the glow of her phone lighting up the dark room. Her textbooks lay forgotten on the desk and the only thing she could focus on was the replay of that afternoon, the way Yunho had looked at her, the weight in his words, the warmth in his hand.
And that one detail she couldn't shake.
A huge compound. It had sounded... extravagant. Out of place, almost like a joke. But Yunho hadn't looked like he was joking.
She stared at their chat for a minute before finally typing.
Bella:
So... about that "huge compound" you mentioned earlier 🤨
Were you serious, or just messing with me?
She hesitated a second before hitting send. The "read" mark appeared almost instantly.
A reply popped up within seconds.
Yunho:
Lol
You really think I'd make that up?
Bella:
I don't know 😅
You say things with that weirdly straight face. I can never tell if you're being serious.
Yunho:
Fair. But yeah. I wasn't joking. We are… comfortable, I guess.
Bella blinked at the screen. That's code for wealthy.
Bella:
Like "fountain in the front yard" kind of rich?
Yunho:
More like "three fountains, two dogs with three housekeepers and a gardener who's been with us since I was born."
Bella:
...
Okay. That's excessive 😭
Yunho:
Tell me about it. I had to convince my mom to let me to the university by myself. She wanted to hire a driver.
Bella:
You're basically a drama character at this point. A real life Chaebol.
What's next? Secret heir to a conglomerate?
Yunho:
lol not so secret. But eeeww. Chaebol?!
She paused at that reply.
Bella:
Wait…
You're joking, right?
The typing bubble appeared. Then disappeared. Then reappeared.
Yunho:
Maybe.
Maybe not.
Bella stared at the screen, not sure what to make of it. He always felt so normal beside her. Casual. Kind. Real.
And yet… it makes her kinda regret asking him in the first place but at the same time, makes her feel want to know more about him.
Bella:
You're hard to read, Yunho. I'm not sure if I want to continue this line of questioning.
Yunho:
But you're getting closer.
Bella screamed into her pillow and gave up.
The next afternoon, the two of them wandered through campus at a lazy pace, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the pavement. They passed one of the older, ivy-draped academic buildings; tall, elegant and entirely too fancy-looking for general lectures.
Bella slowed her steps and tilted her head toward it.
"Okay, be honest," she said, squinting up at the grand architecture. "Did your family donate that building?"
Yunho glanced at it, expression unreadable. "Why would you think that?"
She gave him a look. "Because it's the only one with marble pillars, stained glass windows and a courtyard that looks like it belongs in a historical drama."
He shrugged, hands tucked into his pockets. "Maybe the university just has good taste."
Bella narrowed her eyes. "So that's a yes?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you didn't say no either."
He smirked, looking straight ahead. "Maybe I like being a little mysterious."
Bella groaned. "You're infuriating."
"And yet," he said, flashing her a grin, "you keep asking."
She nudged his arm with her shoulder. "Only because it's suspicious! You show up, super lowkey, never talk about your family, then casually drop that you live in a compound and take cabs every night. Come on. What am I supposed to think?"
Yunho looked at her, amused. "That I'm just a guy who likes walking you home?"
Bella stared at him for a moment, searching his face.
"I'll figure you out eventually," she said, half teasing, half serious.
Bella smirked. "Hmm. Then maybe the one behind the garden? The one that looks like it belongs in a K-drama. Lots of windows. Very suspicious."
"That's the language research centre," he replied dryly.
"Sure it is," she said, eyes narrowing in mock skepticism. "You probably have a hidden escape route behind a bookcase or something."
Yunho laughed, the sound easy and low. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"
"Honestly?" she said, glancing up at him. "I'm starting to believe you might."
He gave her a sidelong look, a half-smile curling on his lips. "You know... you could always come over and see for yourself."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "Is that your way of tricking girls into visiting your 'secret tunnel?"
He looked at her in a serious tone, eyes searching, "Trick? I'm only asking because it's you."
Yunho then breaks the tension and grinned. "You've been curious since last night."
"I have not," she lied.
"You messaged me about it right before bed," he reminded her.
Bella crossed her arms and gave him a playful glare. "Because it sounded ridiculous! I had to make sure you weren't some undercover chaebol playing commoner."
"Too late," he said with a wink. "I'm clearly the rich, handsome male lead. Destined to suffer for my FL."
Bella snorted. "If anyone's suffering, it's me, dealing with your dramatic one-liners."
They kept walking, laughter between them, light and easy. But beneath the teasing, something warmer lingered, the kind of closeness that didn't need to be said aloud to be felt.
Later that night, after an awkward convo that didn't really end, Bella heard a knock on her front door.
She opened it to find Yunho standing there, hoodie half-zipped.
"You walked me home and came back?" she asked, heart already flipping.
"Couldn't sleep," he said. "Too much in my head. About you."
And then, without another word, he stepped forward.
The kiss was slower this time. Deeper. Like he wasn't rushing anything but wasn't holding anything back either.
Her fingers found the collar of his hoodie. His hand settled against the small of her back. Something changed in him as he seemed deepen their kiss, to stake his claim, leave his mark on her. When they finally broke apart, both of them breathless, Yunho rested his forehead against hers.
"Now maybe I'll sleep now." Yunho turned and left, leaving Bella dazed by his sudden intrusion.