secret admirers 편지를 쓴 사람 by @renhaissance
Halfway through junior year and someone decides to mess with you by sneaking in a love letter in your locker. Before you knew it, your hopelessly romantic self starts to resurface once again.
series navi. next episode. episode ost is youth by kihyun. ost playlist.
tags & warnings — wc: 6.5k (6,577 words) starring ENHYPEN + READER! ft. HUH YUNJIN from le sserafim, CHOI BEOMGYU from txt, and BOO SEUNGKWAN from svt. fluff, humour, and romance. highschool au, love-letters and secret admirers, lowkey a mystery genre, slowburn, pg-13 (briefly implied temporary disability, mild use of swear words, mentions of food)
episode foreword — hello there! this episode is last edited on december 5, 2022. the reader for this fic uses they/them pronouns, but is fem-presenting. if you're one of the re-readers welcome back! if you're new here, i suggest you take a look at the series navi first! enjoy reading 🤍
ONE OF YOUR favourite things about the snack store blocks away from your house is that it opens up early. Every day of the week at six-thirty on the dot. You know this because back when you were younger—and had just moved into the neighbourhood—morning walks with your father were habitual.
Now this snack store, it was child heaven. Your eyes sparkled in that place. It has so many unique snacks you haven't seen from other stores, and all of them had their own cute little packaging that your kiddie self was obsessed with. From fruit-flavoured candy pops to sweet and salted corn crisps, they probably had something better than popular brands and of course, your dad was equally intrigued from where they were from—however the snacks are unbranded, and your dad said something about how it was locally made, whatever that meant.
The store owner, she is a nice halmeoni. She always greeted you and your dad when you stop by. You thought she was a secretly a witch, with her slowly greying hair but incredibly youthful face, and it didn't help that she always had those three cats in front of her store.
Their names are Hanji, Haneul, and Hansol—the kitty triplets with different fur colours. You used to think that they resembled the kittens from your then favourite Disney movie, the Aristocats. Those cats scatter to the same spots in front of the store—lounging anywhere on the two wooden benches on both sides where the warmth of the light would hit as the morning welcomes the sun.
They meow languidly in hello when you approach them. Occasionally, one or two would saunter in front of you purring, asking for pets and pats. You loved rubbing their little bellies and cooing their names, carrying them in your tiny arms like cherished stuffed toys.
Your father jokingly asked the halmeoni if you can adopt one. You were so pleased with the idea, but sadly, they already have an owner—the son of halmeoni's younger sister.
You remember him vaguely. The memories you have of him wasn't as vivid in your mind anymore. Only a few select details manage to stick with you, knowing there was probably a reason why your child mind chose to forget about him.
He was a shy, lanky kid. Seemed to be around your age too. He played with the cats every so often, and you remember that he always wore an eye patch, like a pirate.
For the first few times that you met him, he seemed to be off-putting and solitary. He gave you surreptitious side-eye looks when the cats run from him to you, and he just keeps to himself even when you tried to talk to him. You thought he just didn't like you, and that hurt your little child heart. You decided to confront him about it.
As usual, you stopped by the store in the morning with your father. The halmeoni asked him for a favour, having him lift several boxes in and helping with stocking the shelves. You waited until the boy came outside, squatting down and hugging his knees as he played with his three kittens.
“Hello again!” Your voice tried to be as chirpy as possible, a new agenda in mind. He doesn't even look your way. And much to your bemusement, he exhales loudly as if to say, not you again.
You figured that the normal getting-to-know-another-kid questions didn't work on him for some reason, so you tried another tactic.
“Is halmeoni a witch? She cursed your tongue, huh? Is'why you can't speak?” The boy gave you the most judgmental look he could ever muster. You blink expectantly at him.
With brows furrowed, he gave another huff, looking back at the kittens, seemingly ignoring your question.
You sat beside him. “I want a cat. Can't you give me Hanji? She looks like Marie, from Aristocats! Do you know that movie? I love that movie, it's my favourite!”
He had his lips pursed, hesitant. For a few moments he just kept quiet. His silence in your presence made you pout and look away... that you didn't catch the way he subtly nodded his head.
When he saw that you weren't looking anymore, he sighed loudly again. That made you feel annoyed.
“Don't you know it's mean to ignore people?” Your voice was clearly upset. Stomping your foot, you stood and made your way in front of him, lips wobbling and eyes a little teary. Taken aback he momentarily loses balance, landing on his butt.
“Do you not like me? Don't you want to be my friend?” You ask him, your hands clutched tightly to your sides. For a six-year-old to ask that question, the halmeoni who overheard everything went outside immediately, seeing how the boy was looking at you then with a guilty expression.
“You must be upset with our Hoonie,” she says gently, walking towards you. Hoonie? That must be his name... You wouldn't know yourself because he doesn't answer you.
“He's ignoring me,” you explain to the halmeoni, pointing at him and wiping the tears away from your eyes. Hoonie immediately denied with a shake of his head. He starts making a series of gestures with his hands, even pointing back to you at some point, and halmeoni nods in understanding.
You were confused.
“Yes, Y/N here wants to be your friend,” She speaks at Hoonie, doing various gestures too with her hands. “But our Hoonie can only speak sign language, because he's still going to a hospital that helps him learn how to talk,” she turns to you again with a kind smile, explaining what speech therapy for children is without overwhelming you. Does this mean Hoonie is still learning how to talk even if he's an older kid now?
“But... he can still hear me, right halmeoni?” You didn't bother asking now about his pirate eye patch, thinking it's just something he likes to wear everyday.
“Yes, honey. Hoonie here wasn't ignoring you,” she begins, and Hoonie nods his head to you. “He just doesn't know if you were willing to understand him yet...” She added with a smile, trying to be encouraging but at the same time, reassuring with Hoonie. Much to her surprise—
“I will understand him! I will study signs! Many signs! I want to be his friend,” You said with such passion the halmeoni laughs wholeheartedly, leaving Hoonie to stand there with his eyes widened.
“I'm sure you will dear,” she said. She looks back at Hoonie, who started gesturing a lot of things you were yet to understand.
"But halmeoni, they're so noisy. I'm sure they're just going to tease me!" he signed, confident you understood none of it that's why he was complaining like this.
"Be nice to them," halmeoni signed wordlessly. "They're a nice kid. Offer your hand or I'm telling your mom no rink lessons for a week," she threatens with a smile. He heaved a deep sigh. "They think you're a witch," he signed quickly just to have the last word.
He offers his hand to you. The smile that broke out your face almost made him smile too, but he wasn't going to let that show.
I hope they're nicer to me, he thinks to himself.
From then on, it didn't stop you from speaking constantly at him. Every morning you smile at him and wave, and, even if it took a long time, he eventually smiled back. You brought a pencil and a pad of paper with you whenever you come by to him.
Knowing that he's the very first friend you made in this neighbourhood, you weren't going to let your lack of knowledge with sign language stop you from continuing to be his friend.
And so you asked your dad for help. Surely there's something that can teach you how to do sign language! You were very eager to know all about it, and after some help from the local library, he gave you a borrowed children's book with pictures on how to do KSL. Your father gladly took the time to guide you through it, seeing how much it meant to you.
Every other day of the week you hang around the boy, during the mornings, and the afternoons... just constantly asking him questions. At days where he's somewhere that you didn't know about, you forced your dad to teach you new words and phrases.
At first it felt slow—because all you had was a pencil and paper for him to answer—that he kind of got used to just listening to you. He nods and shakes his head, but when there was something he couldn't quite answer yet, he makes a 'passing' gesture. And it frustrated you a little, because then whenever the two of you play, there's always misunderstandings. Once you played hide and seek with both of you thinking one was seeking the other. It didn't end very well.
That's why you tried your best to learn sign language quickly. It took a few months, but after constant practice with your dad, you were ready to sign in full, comprehensive sentences.
You were going to surprise him.
“He's gonna be so happy!”
You went to the snack store, planning to finally impress him with your sign language skills. But then you saw him in front of his house, by a parked car with its back compartment open, walking back and forth anxiously as if he was waiting for you. He looked all dressed up like he was going somewhere, but you didn't think too much of it.
“Hoonie-ah!” You called out to him. “I have something to say,” You said while you signed. His eyes widened, noticing you signed your words as you spoke. When you reached him closer, you kept your lips shut with what you said next.
“You are my friend. I am your friend. Let's be friends for a long time. I see you, I hear you, I understand you—I like being your friend very much, so I hope you like being my friend too. I'm sorry I took so long.” The look on his face was indescribable because you were sure what scrunched on his face was five emotions at once.
You went on, a bright smile on your face as you spoke and signed altogether. “Now that I can talk to you like this, it's easier! Don't you think so, Hoonie?”
Before he could sign anything back though, you see his mother and father come out with suitcases at hand, all dressed up for going too.
They said a small hello to you in recognition. His parents knew you were that nice kid Hoon spent time with, but you didn't really know them well enough. They pulled him aside and spoke with him, sensing some signs of distress as he signed at them a little too quickly for you to understand, keeping you at a distance. A few minutes later, halmeoni comes out a little teary-eyed, saying her take care's and goodbye's... until she saw you standing there confused, so you signed to her immediately.
“What's going on, halmeoni?”
She had an expression that held something close to consolation. She couldn't even feel the surprise that you were finally signing, because she needs to find a way around the situation. She pulled you to her side, caressing your shoulders.
When she was explaining what was happening, you start feeling really sad, having an idea about what situation it is. It pains your little kid heart, because now that you've fully learned how to sign, the use for it would go away. For the very first time you'd fully understand what Hoonie tries to say, and yet the first thing he tells you, one that he's sure would be the last thing you'll know from him—
“We're moving away very far... Goodbye, Y/N.”
Years passed. Those memories doesn't really resurface anymore unless you think about it.
You were just a kid back then anyway. The weight of losing a friend because they had to move away isn't as heavy. But he never really moved back, as far as you know. Halmeoni didn't have any news for you about him too, which you used to find upsetting, because halmeoni was the only reminder you have of Hoonie, your childhood friend.
But the snack store still stood until you grew up, eleven years going by now that you're seventeen. You've met new friends, still in the very same place.
“Alright, let's settle this,” You say determinedly, shaking your hands, popping your knuckles—it's a crucial competition, one that has challenged your friendship for years. Every morning you three meet up here so you can walk altogether to school.
“Fair and square, Jake. Fair and square,” Sim Jaeyun mutters to himself, jumping lightly in place, rolling back each of his shoulders, stretching his neck around. He takes a deep breath and exhales a loud enough ‘HOO’ that throws off your mojo. You give him the stink eye.
“It's over for both of you. I've already read your minds.” Huh Yunjin, much more visibly relaxed than you and Jake, taunts with her eyes closed, arms crossed with her left-hand finger pointed to her forehead. She took her time throwing the starting words out, wanting to take both of you by surprise.
“SCISSORS, PAPER, ROCK!”
Hands were shown. Well, one fully open hand was, while the other two were closed into tight fists. It was you and Jake who threw out rock.
“NOOOOOOOO!” You exclaimed, wanting to blame Jake's owlish noise awhile ago for your loss.
“SHI—FU—BLOODY HEASJFJF—” He holds back on the words, knowing halmeoni would 'tut' disapprovingly.
“YES, YES! It's me, hi! I'm the champion it's me—” Yunjin sings in melody, doing her little finger-snapping victory dance.
Yunjin hands halmeoni—who at this point, was so used to all three of you she just shakes her head fondly whenever this happens—her one-thousand won, and takes her pack of strawberry-flavoured candy pops. As much as the other candy pops were tasty, the strawberry-flavoured one is the most superior among all.
When you three were just a bunch of rowdy eleven-year-olds, fighting all the time because of those candy pops were a daily occurrence. One buys too many packs of it that there's nothing left for the other kids.
Halmeoni was the one that had to do something, seeing how it's getting out of hand. She went above the reins of petty capitalism and forced the three of you to settle it with this very game, even setting up a rule that only one pack of it can be bought each day.
Funnily enough, it brought the three of you closer to one another.
“Mmmm, the taste of victory.” Yunjin says.
Jake settled for buying a pack of the star-shaped vanilla marshmallows that tasted like s'mores, and you bought the crunchy toffee mallow biscuits that you plan to save for later during break. Yunjin teasingly and happily waves the pack of candy pops to both you and Jake, to which you just made faces at.
“Less cavities for me I guess,” Jake starts, before immediately throwing five pieces of sugary marshmallows in his mouth.
“You literally ate a handful of its culprits genius—” You point out to him, to which he just hummed in agreement. You grab three pieces for yourself, embracing the irony.
“And stay jealous, I guess,” Yunjin imitates, sticking her tongue out towards Jake. He rolls his eyes, devouring another five of the marshmallows for now just to let Yunjin think she has the last word. You all wave goodbye to the halmeoni and start heading out.
School starts at seven-thirty a.m. You figured that the three of you won't be late, considering how it's only a fifteen-minute walking distance from here to there. But then again, it takes the three of you longer than that because of the constant bickering.
How? Ah, well it goes like this.
Whenever Jake wins, he immediately puts half of the candypops in his mouth and runs like hell away, knowing that you and Yunjin would do any means to take the rest from him. Both you and her were too good with the pitiful puppy eyes and he just learned too quickly not to fall for that anymore.
Whenever you win, you keep the candy pops deep in the recesses of your bag immediately, preferring to have it at school instead. But they both know better than to try and take it from you. You end up having some of their snacks when you walk to school, Jake protesting gluttony.
And whenever Yunjin wins, well. She's boastful. Dangles it in your faces more because she rarely ever wins.
“You better hope the tooth fairies don't visit your dreams with falling teeth,” Jake mumbles loudly enough for Yunjin to hear.
“You better hope the bogeyman doesn't visit your dreams with a million boogers—”
“The bogeyman is for nightmares dumbass—”
“Your boogers are a nightmare—”
“I can't ever have a peaceful morning, can I?” You say mostly to yourself, linking both of your arms with Yunjin and Jake. The two of them were still having a petty argument that goes above your head.
You swear these two has more beef than a cow. But your rhetorical question isn't left unheard.
“You do remember from the beginning it's your fault,” Jake pointed out, and this time Yunjin snorts in agreement. Right, because when they team up, they enjoy teasing you with just about everything.
“Good Witch Lady had to put restrictions because you monopolised the strawberry candy pops,” Yunjin accuses but you raise a hand to stop both of their thought processes.
“It wasn't me,” You looked accusingly to your other side. “It was Jake! I come to the store and all the strawberry candy pops are gone.”
“Oh no, no, not me. I always come to the store early enough, and it's already gone when I get there.” Jake reasoned strongly, looking at Yunjin and then you, although you suspected long enough that they're catching onto something else.
“I come to the store later than the two of you so it definitely couldn't have been me,” Yunjin said with finality, shaking her head. You hold a stoic face knowing damn well who's lying about it—aka, you. You fake innocence, Yunjin having you in a headlock while you try not to strangle Jake for insinuating your little crime.
Nearing the highschool, you walked alongside the students and parents flocking the entrance and the pathway. A banner for the school's soccer team half the size of a billboard was hanging by the surrounding wall near the gate arch, congratulating last month's match win for the Interschool Spring Soccer Playoffs.
“Man, Jungwon really knows my best angles.” Jake was the school team's current soccer captain. He takes up less than a third of the banner. The rest of his teammates take up the remainder. Yunjin rolls her eyes at the comment.
“Ugh, that banner's unreasonably bigger than other team banners.” Yunjin tsks in disdain, just to annoy Jake. He's unfazed though.
“Duh, it's 'cuz my team won all the way with zero losses. Besides, my face gives them good energy.” He sucks in a breath, feigning pride for his looks.
“Ah yes, I forgot you have the narcissist syndrome.” Yunjin deadpans and you laugh.
“We see your face every day and yet get no good energy.” you add, Jake bumping both you and Yunjin's shoulders in retort.
“That's a lie, I'm literally the shining sun between you two thunderclouds.” he continues teasingly. “And honestly, I'm the best this school has ever had. Smart, athletic, model student—” he says thoughtfully, but you and Yunjin shake your head at his smugness. You're both used to his confidence that you learn to block it out, because he's not entirely wrong. Besides he needs the bragging rights. Out of you three, he's the one who's constantly hard on himself.
“I hate to always break it to you Jake, but you're the reason why we're both thunderclouds.” You say to him with a smirk, Yunjin laughing loudly at your interjection.
The students around you start rushing when the guidance teacher started his countdown by the gate, his megaphone alerting any slowpokes lagging behind which, in this case, includes the three of you.
“Crap, we have like fifteen minutes left before classes start. We're still stopping by our lockers.” You and Yunjin sped up like track stars while Jake was left jogging by himself to catch his breath. So much for a soccer captain.
You reached the hallways where students loitered by, talking, cramming, messing around. Jake and Yunjin greets people back enthusiastically every now and then, because they know a lot of people and a lot of people knows them. People try to greet you too, albeit more shyly—or more accurately, reluctantly. You figured you're just really less approachable than your two outgoing bestfriends.
You reach your locker and start stuffing your backpack and lunch bag in it, switching books from yesterday's subjects to today's subjects.
“So I'll see you guys at lunch?” You ask them.
“I have a Council meeting at that time, I wouldn't be able to,” Yunjin says, tying her hair in a high ponytail.
“I can have lunch with you.” Jake says as the morning bell starts ringing.
“Shit we have AP Math for first period,” Yunjin mutters under her breath. “See you in Biochem Y/N. C'mon Jake!” Yunjin rushes.
“Alright, see you guys!” You don't share the same first period as them, so you sprint in the other direction, not wanting to be late.
Today will just be another day. Or so you thought.
Morning classes passed, the day going like usual, but lunch comes and you have a gut feeling of changing winds—however possible it could be—and you soon find out why.
A thin, white envelope falls on your feet as you open your locker.
What in the—
You feel your surroundings blur and slow down, like a scene from a coming-of-age film. The other students continue walking and conversing in the background, completely and seemingly oblivious to everything and everybody else.
What was that...?
You pick the envelope up. Huh?
You scan the front and back for any stamp mark or written names. Sure enough, your name was lightly and delicately written on the bottom right corner, almost as if it was trying to hide.
TO Y/L/N Y/N.
“Y/N! Y/N...? Y/N..!” A voice calls out, but you were too preoccupied over the thing that's on your hands. You gave it a scrutinising look, tilting your head in confusion. Is this a prank?
You blew away a few strands of hair off your face. Suspicious. You were lost in thought that you didn't notice your bestfriend hovering behind your shoulder.
“Watcha got there—” Jake stage-whispers. You let out a strangled yelp of surprise as you jumped back, bumping the back of your head to his own.
“Agh! YAH Y/L/N Y/N! My nose,” He complains, rubbing it with his hand. Your surprise quickly turned into concern, and then just as quickly, turned into annoyance.
“It's your fault! You didn't have to scare me like that...you should've just called me!”
“I did.” Jake says pointedly, eyes locking in on the thing you're holding. “Like three, four times. But you were distracted—”
“I so was not distracted—”
He snatches the envelope upwards. A boyish smile took over his features, you see visibly beneath his hand which was still caressing his nose.
“Give it back, you brat!” You try to grab it from him, dancing from one foot to another to fight for it, but you know any attempt is futile. You're simply shorter than him. He lifted it up closer towards the windows, hoping the sunlight would give him a peek of what's in it, or rather, of what could possibly be written inside.
“Oh my god, is this a love letter?” He exclaims. You try to shush him, jumping high enough to take it from his grasp and quickly hiding it at the back of your blazer.
“Oh sure, just let it be known to the whole school!” You whisper shout.
“What'd it say?” Jake raises his brows, voice lowered but still teasing.
“I didn't even read it yet.” You say.
“Damn right you didn't read it yet. You've been looking at it like some underpaid Forensics agent.”
You narrowed your eyes at Jake, who was wiggling his eyebrows now.
“You put this in my locker, didn't you?” You pointed an accusatory finger at him. He smiled widely. Almost as if he'd admittedly say Yes I Did.
He leaned his head closer to your level. “Why would I give you a love letter?” You were about to slap this envelope to his smug face but he flinched away.
“Okay calm down woman. No, I did not put it in your locker. Why would I? Besides, I don't do letters. It's not like I can't just tell you right away—” he shrugged both of his shoulders, thinking he made a fair point.
You sighed, exhaling a breath you didn't know you were holding in. Jake says shit like that offhandedly it makes you want to smack him. Blood rushed to your cheeks, partially in annoyance.
“Or like, not that I'm saying you're not, you know—” Jake furrowed his brows when he sees your eyes narrowing.
“Jake, shut up,” You say, frowning and pouting while you looked at the envelope again. Upon seeing your faint pink cheeks, he figured you felt embarrassed with what he said before.
“I mean, it's not like you shouldn't receive one! I mean you should, you know? You're totally the type to, uh, to get, like. To uhm—oh I mean, who should uh, get love letters—” Jake offers in consolation, which you both found funny and endearing albeit still annoying, but he was stumbling over his words that you didn't catch what he was trying to imply.
You figured you'd tell Yunjin about this later since she's not joining lunch with the both of you. "If I let you read it with me—"
“Done deal. Yunjin's gonna have a field day with this.” Jake says with a bragging tone because he read it first with you, eyes pointedly innocent-looking.
“Alright, alright just keep your voice down.” You gestured for him to zip. Pulling his arm with you, you try to lead him to the cafeteria, but Jake starts pulling you to the other direction.
“Seriously the cafeteria? Where everyone could see it? We're heading to the gymnasium for this.” You look arguably with your lunch bag in hand, but Jake pulls out his own bag too.
“Y/N, the food can wait, what's more important here is the possibility of your lovelife—” Jake persists and you shake your head, following him begrudgingly.
You reached the school gym. Thankfully it seemed empty. You sat by the chairs on the first row, immediately eyeing the flap of the envelope. You debated whether or not you'd open it slowly or quickly. Jake opted for quick.
You take out the folded, lined paper. Jake straightened it with his fingers. He leans forward closer so he could read with you.
“Dear Y/N,” he begins. Your voices synced in tune together as you began reading too.
I have no idea how to tell you this without sounding like an awkward fool, so I thought a letter would be best. Technically a letter IS the best because at the very least, it's less straightforward. Less room for mistakes too, I guess, no stuttering confessions or anything. I don't really think I'd be able to say what I'm about to say in front of you.
You see, I've always wanted to approach you. But I just couldn't, because well, I'm a coward. There's a lot of things I want to say though. Like, well... how your smile—though it's a rare thing to see on your face because more often than not, it has on a scowl... well, you can only imagine the way I felt, or more precisely, the way I fall for the way you smile whenever I see it.
Your voice faded into a whisper, Jake still lightly but distinctly filling the space with his own reading voice. You swore—your cheeks, if they were pink before, they're now beet red. It wasn't even a love confession but rather, a compliment, it already managed to make you feel this way. How can someone be so direct and yet very cautious? Jake had to pause for a second.
“Oh my god, Y/N this guy is whipped—” he mutters to himself. He continues.
I remember one vividly. It was winter. You were there by the window in class. You wore your woolly scarf with the penguin patch on it. Is it your favourite scarf? You wore that regularly during the winter season... I like penguins! They're cute, the way they waddle. Don't be mad when I say they always remind me of you now. Aren't they cute?
Jake snorts. “You remind him of penguins—” he started to wheeze but you slap his shoulder, urging him to keep reading. You actually found the penguin thing cute. He resumes reading out loud.
Anyway yeah, I remember that day vividly. The sunshine hits your desk gently, a faint beam surrounding your spot as if you were an angel. I just happened to pass by the hall, when I saw you reading during free period. I couldn't see what the title of the book was, but it had a white cover with a cherry blossom tree painting on it. Whatever you were reading back then must have been nice, because the crease in your brows softened, and suddenly, the corners of your lips were turning. It was gradual, small, and subtle... but it was nothing short of beautiful. I wanted to know exactly what words could make you smile like that.
You suddenly let out a sound that was either a suppressed train squeal or a high-pitched engine snort. You stopped and looked at Jake, who paused momentarily with his eyes closed, startled by the sound. Your stupid, sheepish smile keeps breaking out even when you were trying to suppress it back, and you start slapping his arm not once, not twice, but five or six times in giddiness. Jake allows himself to get ragdolled.
“He writes so properly dreamy.” You can't help but gush. “He does it so articulately! The prose, it's like poetry, like—” Jake shakes his head with the stark contrast of words at your lovesick tone. Not everyday he hears you speak this. “Y/N, the poor dude is literally spilling heart eyes for you and you're more focused on his grammar? Unbelievable.”
“Just... just keep reading, it's almost finished—” You say, the smile still stuck on your face. Jake shakes his head to himself with a smug smile.
“Whoever wrote this owes me big. My voice does all the wonderful work—” he flicks the centre of the page, the sound resonating in your ears. He coughs in preparation to read the few remaining parts.
I think by the time you read this letter, lunch hour would be over. Maybe I'd even get to see your face as you read it, who knows. But only maybe, I don't even know if you're gonna read it at school. I wrote this with nothing purposeful in mind. I just wanted to let you know about that specific thing. I mean I did try to write words that would, I don't know, hopefully, make you smile like that. It just occurred to me how that specific memory of you with your penguin woolly scarf is imprinted in my head. Know that whatever I wrote down is genuine too. Really. It makes me smile remembering the way you smile. I hope it doesn't sound weird when you read it... Well, anyway. I'd have to thank you, Y/N. For making me smile as well. I hope I see more of it.
Jake finishes. Your eyes crinkle in adoration for this mysterious writer, your feet tapping quickly on the floor like some giddy schoolgirl, all because your heart couldn't take such sweet words. You were written a love letter.
“Y/N calm down, your shoes are pounding on the poor, defenceless grounds—” Jake takes the letter from your hands and folds it back again.
“Calm down? How can I calm down when someone compliments me like that? And that they said I looked like an angel...?” You squeal again, hitting Jake's arm repeatedly. “A frowny angel, for sure.” Jake stifles a laugh. He was half-surprised, mostly in disbelief, how easily you could get sappy over some secret admirer.
“Y/N, the letter could've come from literally anyone. What if he's a total creep—” He widened his eyes pointedly.
“Let me have my moment,” You tell him, and you inhale long enough for you to try and settle your heartbeat. You skim over the letter again. “Wouldn't he be one of our classmates...? Someone in our year maybe, or maybe not, but—Jake, you have to help me figure out who this is!”
“I mean, sure. BUT. You know we have like a thousand other schoolmates here, right? We don't know if he's in the same year as us. What if he's a senior, OR a junior? And what if he's actually a she?” Funnily enough, Jake was pointing out the right questions.
Chances of figuring out who the mystery writer is will be slim. You don't even know whether they would write another letter.
“Ugh, you guys are loud,” Another voice suddenly said groggily, a few rows up and behind you.
“와 감짝이야씨–!” Jake curses—for the second time today, you yelped in surprise. You and Jake looked at the direction where you heard the voice, and a few beats in, the scene-breaking boy sat up slowly, revealing himself like a zombie. Bleached hair, and a cat-like face, you'll recognise him everywhere. It was Jay, one of the students in your year.
Park Jongseong? What's he doing here—
“Oh, Jay, man, it's just you.” Jake heaves a breath, clutching his heart for dear life. You knew Jay doesn't like to be called Jongseong much. He made people refer to him as Jay instead. He's close friends with Jake, but not entirely with you.
Your eyes widened, realising how Jay had been there the entire time. It's highly likely that he could have heard everything too. If anything was to calm your panicky senses, he looked like he just woke up. You hoped that he just did, and that he heard not a single thing.
“You slept here?” Jake questions the blinking, still zoning out Jay. He yawned and scratched his neck, stretching his back from side to side as he turns towards both of you eyes still half-closed.
“Bro. What else could I possibly be doing here?” He turns his neck in circles. He fully opens his eyes, blinking, then spots you. You blink back as Jake hums in acknowledgment. A strong gust of wind blows through the gymnasium, making your letter fly away from Jake's hold.
“Oh shit—” Jake runs after it, leaving you in your chair under Jay's scrutinising gaze.
“Hello there, Y/L/N Y/N,” He waves, standing up. “Nice to see you, pretty face,” Jay says, nonchalantly.
Ah yes. You are reminded once again as to how he's not exactly friends with you. This guy is a huge flirt.
He greets you exactly that same way whenever he sees you, almost like a default habit. You're not gonna lie, you know Jay is handsome. And cool, and mysterious, yes. You remember having a small crush on him before back in freshman year, but it was gone the moment he started smooth talking his way to you.
“You have got to stop calling me pretty face,” you deadpan. You shared a lot of classes with Jay in sophomore year, and you swore he rarely called you by name ever since then. Almost always pretty face. You don't even know how he can keep it up. It was all good-natured flirting you figured, because he never really pushed further than that.
Probably because you're one of the few people that puts up with his shit without punching him in the face.
It's just weird, how, you two never really formed a close friendship. There was always this affable distance—you and Jay can bicker the way you can with Jake, but you and Jay know very little about each other. It's not even a will they, won't they thing. The chemistry between the two of you is, for a lack of a better word, stagnant. It stays in the comfortable almost-friendzone. You roll your eyes at him when he chuckles.
“What, I can't compliment you too? Or should I start calling you angel?”
Oh my god, no.
He could have heard the whole thing.
Flustered, you look away, trying to pass your attention back to Jake, who's now walking back, letter triumphantly in hand.
“I thought I heard Jake over here confessing his love for you.” Jay says as he walks down from the steps.
Jake stopped in his tracks and widened his eyes. “What?” He exclaimed. He starts shakes his hands in front, letter flapping in his hand.
“That's not—we're obviously not—oh shut up Jay.” Jake tumbled over his words. You glare at Jay, standing up from your seat, once again feeling the familiar bubble of annoyance build up. You quickly snatched the letter back from Jake.
“Jake and I are not dating,” You say to Jay, matching his teasing expression with a meaningless glare.
Jake's doing an 'X' gesture towards Jay, with a pointed look. He starts dragging Jay away to his other side, acting like a shield, seeing your expression.
“Besides, it's none of your business.” You say without much bite. Jay smirks to himself.
“Tomorrow, you are my business,” Jay says offhandedly. Jake was about to say something but you beat him to it.
“I'm sorry, what?” You look at Jay questioningly, wondering if you heard him right. How on earth is he making you his business—
“Tomorrow. We're partners for the science project, remember?” Jay reminds you, walking away from you and Jake who stood there momentarily dumbfounded. Although Jake covers his mouth in a dramatic gasp, looking like he's about to tease you for forgetting. When Jay was out of your sight, Jake pats you on the shoulder, sighing.
“You know, I wanted to be his project partner at least once,” Jake says wishfully.
You scoff and looked at him, half-appalled at his statement. “I wanted to be your partner. But then you had to go for Advanced Placement and now I'm stuck with Mr. Jong Suave—”
“Y/N, the dude has his own black card! That's everything you could ever want in a project partner,” Jake continues to sigh dreamily, walking a few steps ahead than you now. He chuckles after, looking back at your bemused expression. “What I mean to say is, he's not so bad to have as a partner, if you know what I mean.”
“What the hell is that supposed to even mean?” You frown. His statement sounded so sus.
“It means,” Jake pauses for dramatic effect, waiting until the bell rings exactly to indicate that lunch hour is over soon. “We have our first candidate for this secret admirer of yours.”
end notes — so here it is! i added more scenes in the beginning, but other than that, it stayed the same. i figured the story will be better with that structure. i hope you guys enjoyed reading it! what do you guys think so far? although honestly with the way the story is going i can promise you it wouldn't be who you might think it is lmao jk BUT ANYWAY yes thank you for giving my fic a chance! until next time, davin. 🤍