Let's be lovers

As the classes were over in the afternoon, the students were ready to leave either for their coaching classes or home ASAP. 

"Did you really ask your father if you could go out with me today?" Min Jun asked. He had already noticed the sleek black car waiting just outside the school gates. It was unmistakably there for Park Hyun Soo, and Min Jun couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

Hyun Soo turned to Min Jun, catching his hand in a firm grip. "Yes, I did. But right now, we need to get out of here unnoticed," Hyun Soo said, his eyes darting back to the car. "Let's take another route. Do you know a way?"

Min Jun smirked, understanding instantly what Hyun Soo had in mind. "You want to slip past your driver—and your bodyguard too, I assume?"

"Exactly," Hyun Soo confirmed, his grip on Min Jun's hand tightening as if urging him to act quickly. "But let's discuss this later. We need to make a run for it before they see us."

Without another word, the two turned sharply, heading towards the school's backyard. Reaching the edge of the yard, they found a section of the wall that looked manageable to climb. 

"The wall is huge. How are we supposed to jump to the other side?" Hyun Soo asked, staring up at the imposing wall. For Min Jun, the height wasn't an issue, but he knew Hyun Soo wasn't as physically strong.

Min Jun looked at him with a reassuring smile. "Easy. Get on my back, grab hold of the iron grill up there, and then climb over to the other side. I'll give you a boost," he instructed confidently.

Without hesitation, Min Jun crouched down, motioning for Hyun Soo to climb onto his back. 

"But your shirt will get dirty," Hyun Soo protested, a little hesitant despite the urgency.

Min Jun clicked his tongue in mild impatience. "Forget about my shirt. Do you want to get caught and punished instead? Now, come on!" His voice was firm, but there was a playful edge to it, urging Hyun Soo to trust him.

Taking a deep breath, Hyun Soo quickly climbed onto Min Jun's back, reaching up to grasp the iron grill tightly. As soon as Hyun Soo was secure, Min Jun rose to his full height, using his strength to push Hyun Soo up further. With some effort, Hyun Soo managed to climb up and swing his legs over, landing safely on the other side of the wall.

For Min Jun, the task was far simpler. He took a few steps back, then sprinted forward, leaping high to grab the grill. In one fluid motion, he pulled himself up and vaulted over the wall, landing gracefully beside Hyun Soo.

Hyun Soo, already holding Min Jun's bag, rushed over to dust off the dirt from his friend's shirt. 

Hyun Soo felt a surge of pride and excitement; it was the first time he had done something so daring for himself. Meanwhile, Min Jun was genuinely happy for Hyun Soo, glad to see him taking charge of his own life, even in small ways.

"Let's go!" Min Jun said with a grin, taking Hyun Soo's hand in his. As they walked, Hyun Soo couldn't help but realize that Min Jun was the one person who could truly protect him—someone he could trust completely.

They followed a narrow pathway lined with cherry blossom trees, their branches arching gracefully overhead. A gentle breeze swept through, carrying the delicate pink petals into the air, swirling them around the pair in a beautiful, almost magical dance before they softly settled onto the ground.

Hyun Soo's breath caught as he looked up, mesmerized by the scene. Min Jun too stopped and looked at him. His eyes softened to see Hyun Soo's calm and smiling face. 

For Hyun Soo, the moment felt surreal, almost as if they had stepped into another world—one where worries and fears were momentarily forgotten.

"It's beautiful," Hyun Soo whispered, his eyes wide with wonder. He had never been outside to witness such a sight. This was the first time he experienced the early April cherry blossoms. 

Min Jun glanced at him, his expression softening as he saw the awe on Hyun Soo's face. "Yeah, it is," he agreed, though he wasn't sure if he was talking about the cherry blossoms or the look of pure joy on Hyun Soo's face. 

Min Jun noticed a delicate cherry blossom petal resting softly on top of Hyun Soo's head. Smiling to himself, he closed the distance between them, catching Hyun Soo off guard. 

As Min Jun's hand gently reached up to retrieve the petal, Hyun Soo looked up at him, their eyes meeting. In that brief moment, the affection Hyun Soo held for Min Jun was clear in his gaze, unguarded and sincere.

Min Jun met his gaze with a warm smile, holding up the petal between his fingers. "I think I'll keep this as a memory of today," he said.

"Huh? How?" Hyun Soo asked as he watched Min Jun's next move.

Min Jun opened his bag and carefully placed the petal inside one of his notebooks, pressing it gently between the pages to preserve it. He then closed the notebook and secured it back in his bag, making sure it was safe.

After zipping up his bag, Min Jun slung the strap back over his shoulder, his eyes sparkling with mischief and fondness. 

"Let's go," Hyun Soo said, taking a few steps ahead. But before he could get far, Min Jun grasped his wrist, stopping him in his tracks. Hyun Soo turned around, surprised to see the serious expression on Min Jun's face.

Hyun Soo blinked rapidly, feeling a sudden rush of anxiety as he glanced around to make sure no one was watching. Min Jun's unusual behavior stirred something unexplainable in his heart.

"Min Jun, you should let go of my hand," Hyun Soo said softly, trying to pull his hand back. His gaze dropped to the ground as his heart began to race, the closeness between them making him feel vulnerable in a way he didn't fully understand. 

This feeling had been creeping up on him more and more, especially since the day before, and it was beginning to bother him.

"Hyun Soo," Min Jun called his name in his gentle voice.

"Hmm?" Hyun Soo responded, still avoiding eye contact.

"Look at me," Min Jun urged, his tone filled with an unspoken emotion.

Slowly, Hyun Soo lifted his head, meeting Min Jun's intense gaze. "What happened? We're in the middle of the road. You can't just hold my hand like this," he murmured, nervously biting his bottom lip.

"I know," Min Jun replied. "But I like holding your hand."

Hyun Soo felt his breath hitch as his eyes drifted to Min Jun's lips. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of what was happening, but his heart already knew the truth.

Then, Min Jun spoke again, his voice carrying a quiet resolve. "Let's be lovers, Hyun Soo," he proposed.