Chapter 14: Chapter 14 – Whispers and Warnings
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1. Back to Reality
The hospital discharged Ji-hoon three days later.
The wounds were healing. The bruises were fading.
But the scars—the ones no one could see—remained.
Hana walked beside him as they entered the school gates.
Whispers followed them.
"Did you hear? Ji-hoon was in a fight."
"And Hana was there too."
"Are they… together?"
Hana sighed.
"People talk too much."
Ji-hoon smirked.
"They're not wrong."
Her cheeks burned.
"W-We're not… I mean, we never talked about it."
He stopped walking.
Faced her.
"What do you want it to be?"
Her breath hitched.
Around them, students moved.
But in that moment, it was just them.
Hana swallowed.
"I…"
A loud squeal interrupted.
"Hana!"
Min-ji rushed forward, grabbing her arm.
"I have so much to tell you—wait, why are you blushing?"
Ji-hoon chuckled.
Hana glared.
"Shut up."
Min-ji gasped.
"Oh my God. Did I just interrupt a confession?"
Ji-hoon shoved his hands in his pockets, amused.
"I'll leave you two alone."
Hana panicked.
"Wait—"
Too late.
He was already walking away.
Min-ji turned to her, grinning.
"Spill. Now."
Hana groaned.
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2. Trouble in the Air
The day passed too slowly.
Hana barely paid attention in class.
Her mind kept replaying the moment at the gates.
Ji-hoon's words. His intensity.
What do you want it to be?
She didn't know.
Or maybe she did.
She just wasn't ready to say it out loud.
A folded note landed on her desk.
She frowned, opening it.
Meet me after school. The rooftop.
No name.
But she knew who it was.
Ji-hoon.
Her pulse quickened.
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3. Rooftop Confessions
The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink.
Ji-hoon leaned against the railing, waiting.
Hana stepped forward.
"You wanted to talk?"
He turned, watching her.
For once, there was uncertainty in his gaze.
It made her nervous.
"I meant what I said earlier," he said.
Hana's fingers curled around the strap of her bag.
"You mean—"
"I like you."
Her heart stopped.
He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I don't know how to do this. I'm not good at… normal things. Relationships. Saying what I feel."
He looked at her.
"But I know I don't want anyone else."
Hana's eyes softened.
This was Ji-hoon.
Rough edges. Hidden scars. A boy who had been alone for too long.
And yet—
Here he was, opening up to her.
She took a step closer.
Then another.
Until she was standing right in front of him.
Slowly—hesitantly—she reached for his hand.
"I like you too," she whispered.
His fingers curled around hers.
And for the first time in a long time—
Ji-hoon smiled.
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4. A Kiss in the Rain
They left school together.
The air was warm, the sky darkening.
Then—raindrops.
Soft at first.
Then harder.
Hana giggled, covering her head with her hands.
Ji-hoon just watched her.
"You're an idiot," he muttered.
She spun toward him, smiling.
"And you like me anyway."
His lips twitched.
He stepped closer.
She stilled.
The rain blurred the world around them.
Then—
His fingers brushed her cheek.
His eyes searched hers.
And before she could think—
He kissed her.
Soft. Slow. Like she was something fragile.
Like she was his.
Hana's heart melted.
She kissed him back.
And in that moment—
Nothing else mattered.
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5. A Storm Brewing
The next morning, everything changed.
A new rumor spread like wildfire.
Hana and Ji-hoon.
A couple.
People stared. Whispered.
But that wasn't the worst part.
A letter appeared in Hana's locker.
No name. No signature.
Just five chilling words.
You should have stayed away.
Her blood ran cold.
Someone wasn't happy about this.
And she had a feeling—
The worst was yet to come.
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End of Chapter 14