Midterms (4) - Yeonhui's Search and Serena's Confession
Yeonhui, who had come to Terastial Academy as an exchange student from Celestial Academy and was now officially enrolled in the third year of the theology department, had just finished her first exam. Though it was only the first of the midterms for the third-year first semester—meaning just three more to go before graduation—it held special meaning for her all the same. Thanks to her cherished junior and fellow countryman, Seong Hyun-jin, who had made it possible for her to stay at the academy, she wouldn't have to return home even after two more exams, including this one.
Doing well on today's exam was like properly buttoning the first button of her remaining life at Terastial Academy. As expected from someone who had topped the theology department even at the superior Celestial Academy, Yeonhui dominated this exam with overwhelming scores. Feeling a bit pleased that she'd gotten off to a good start, she stepped out of the exam hall, thinking now that the test was over, she could repay Seong Hyun-jin for his past help by treating him to a meal.
So, as soon as she left the exam room, she headed straight for the training grounds where the first-year combat department students were taking their exams. No one knew how she knew exactly where the first-year combat department's exam site was, but Yeonhui made a beeline for it.
However, she was a little late.
"Oh my…."
It looked like the exam was already over. The only people left in the exam area were the combat department instructors staying behind to clean up.
"It's already finished…?"
Wondering where to find her junior now, Yeonhui pondered for a moment—then suddenly shuddered. Driven by something close to instinct, she started hurrying in a certain direction.
Something…
An uneasy feeling. Why was this sensation hitting her so suddenly? It was the same anxiety she'd felt long ago, back when she was living alone before meeting Shania. Unable to hide her bewilderment, Yeonhui quickened her pace so much that passing students glanced at her in surprise.
Then she spotted someone familiar and approached him.
"Excuse me…! You're a first-year combat department student, right?"
"Uh, yeah, I am…."
It was none other than Daniel, a first-year combat department student like Seong Hyun-jin. He was on his way back from grabbing a meal with the other members of Group 3, excluding Seong Hyun-jin. When Yeonhui suddenly approached and acted like she knew him, Daniel felt flustered but also oddly pleased.
There was hardly anyone at the academy who didn't know Yeonhui—the exchange student from Celestial Academy who even managed one of the academy's religious facilities, the Sun God's Chapel. Even as a first-year, Daniel knew her name and face, so she was quite famous. For such a person to approach him first and strike up a conversation? Of course it made him feel good. Unable to help himself, Daniel grinned and asked her,
"How did you know I'm in the combat department?"
"I saw you passing by last time. But more importantly, I have something urgent to ask."
"Ah, what is it?"
"Do you know where Seong Hyun-jin went?"
At that moment, Daniel's grinning expression froze. The same went for the expressions of his classmates with him. And Daniel muttered in disbelief,
"……Again?"
"Pardon?"
Yeonhui was taken aback by Daniel's sudden change, but she quickly composed herself and asked once more. He seemed to know where Seong Hyun-jin had gone, after all.
"If you happen to know…."
"Seong Hyun-jin again!? Damn it, why do girls always go looking for that guy!!"
"……?"
Yeonhui looked puzzled at Daniel's outburst—not because she didn't understand his reaction, but because his words raised a question.
"Who else was looking for him besides me?"
"You don't even need to go looking—Serena Eldark was just with him right after the exam ended!"
Serena Eldark.
The moment Yeonhui heard that name, her expression turned icy cold.
"Gasp…!"
Seeing her face, Daniel stopped his rant and gulped in shock.
"That bitch in heat finally…."
"……Pardon?"
Daniel wondered if he'd misheard, but Yeonhui neither denied it nor stuck around—she just walked away. Letting out a hollow laugh, Daniel said,
"Senior Yeonhui's scary…."
"…But didn't she just call someone a 'bitch' or something?"
"……Yeah, she did?"
It was obvious who Yeonhui meant by 'bitch' with just a moment's thought about the conversation. Realizing that, Daniel and his classmates stood there in bewilderment for a while.
The place Serena led Seong Hyun-jin to was a combat department lecture hall. Now that midterms were over, it was an empty room no one would visit. Serena dragged him inside.
"Serena? Why here…."
"…You wanted an answer, didn't you?"
Serena gently released Seong Hyun-jin's wrist, which she'd been holding. Complaining that it was hard with other people watching, she grumbled at him for not understanding her feelings.
"I can't answer where others might see."
"……!"
Seong Hyun-jin's eyes widened.
"That means…."
He felt like he knew what she was about to say without hearing it. But before he could say more, Serena spoke first, as if determined to say it herself.
"…I never expected it to turn out like this."
Serena recalled their first meeting. She'd thought he was handsome back then, but it hadn't sparked any romantic interest.
"At first, you were just… a unique, comfortable person to me."
Her initial impression had been mere curiosity: There's someone like this out there? His actions weren't ordinary, after all. That was it at first. Someone intriguing, but without special expectations, so she could treat him normally. Someone she felt like getting closer to.
"That's how it was, for sure."
But at some point, Serena started becoming aware of Seong Hyun-jin.
"Then, before I knew it, you started getting on my mind."
Romantically speaking. She couldn't pinpoint exactly when, but it seemed to start around the time he'd helped her with various things.
"Probably because you… helped me with all sorts of stuff without me realizing. Most people who approached me like that had ulterior motives, and the only ones who didn't were my parents."
But Seong Hyun-jin was different. Without asking for anything, he'd shouldered Aiel Northwood's schemes himself and given him a thorough scolding. Sure enough, afterward, Aiel Northwood couldn't even speak when he ran into Serena.
Of course, even if she'd drunk the traditional liquor and fallen for Aiel's plot… she wouldn't have lost or been seriously hurt. The special dragon magic only dragonkin could use—Useon—couldn't be thwarted by mere potions messing with her condition. Still, he'd protected her and handsomely judged the culprit… so Serena ended up harboring feelings for Seong Hyun-jin, who had done so much for her.
"…But I thought it wasn't that. I told myself you were just a friend. A slightly… special friend."
Even so, she hadn't realized it herself. She knew something felt off, but not that it was her liking him as a man. Serena was a pure girl experiencing love for the first time, after all.
At first, she'd denied it; later, she'd ignored it. The constant butterflies, the fixation, the attention to his every move… she didn't want to know what emotion it was.
But.
"…If it was just friendship, I wouldn't feel this way."
Serena knew that much. You don't feel like this for friends.
"So I realized."
Though a pure girl new to love, she wasn't an idiot. She had ears to hear and eyes to see. Especially her mother, who had a romantic love with her father, often shared those stories with her daughter, hoping she'd one day have an equally wonderful romance. So she knew what love was. She'd just been confused since it was her first time feeling it—her head knew all along.
"That the feelings I have… come from seeing you not as a friend, but differently."
And the moment she realized it, her emotions churned like an uncontrollable wave in her mind. Seong Hyun-jin looked more handsome than anyone in the world; even his silly actions and jokes seemed cute. Above all, she wanted him to always stay unharmed and healthy.
"…Seong Hyun-jin."
Having bared her heart honestly, Serena stepped back slightly. Leaning against the edge of a desk, she parted her lips.
"I'll give you the answer you want right now."
Seong Hyun-jin had already been watching her, unable to hide his surprise, but now his eyes widened even more. Feeling his gaze, Serena—redder in the face than he'd ever seen—couldn't meet his eyes straight on and looked down.
I have to say it…
She couldn't muster the courage. She'd planned to confess, but when the moment came, her mouth wouldn't open. But an even stronger emotion kept urging her on. An emotion no reason could stop: love.
Lacking courage but unable to contain her feelings, Serena finally spoke.
"…I, I like you."
She'd meant to say it clearly, but the words tumbled out clumsily under the weight of her emotions. Flustered by her own awkwardness, Serena tried to pull herself together, but it only made her stammer more.
"I mean, not as a friend—ah, no, I mean… ugh…."
Serena felt ashamed of herself for becoming tongue-tied. She couldn't even convey these overflowing feelings properly—why was she so lacking in courage? She squeezed her eyes shut. And in that moment.
"…Serena Eldark."
Seong Hyun-jin, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
"You like me?"
"……."
Serena just nodded slightly at his question.
"Look at me."
"Pardon…?"
As she lifted her head, Seong Hyun-jin was suddenly close. He grabbed her wrist firmly and placed her hand against his chest, saying,
"I'm not even fully grown yet, not very manly… and you really like me?"
"……Hngh!"
He'd asked seriously, but it was obvious how that would affect Serena.
I-it's touching… Seong Hyun-jin's chest… harder than I imagined…
The stimulation was beyond imagination. Overwhelmed, Serena's eyes started spinning.
"Tell me if it's true."
But Seong Hyun-jin pressed for an answer. Unable to endure it, Serena finally snapped.
"I said I like you…! What more proof do you need…?"
"Well, I…."
"I don't know why you're so down on your looks, but…!"
Reason flew out the window for Serena. The moment her hand touched his chest, shame had exceeded its limit, breaking her brakes. She shot to her feet.
"!"
She pressed her forehead to his with a thunk and met his eyes.
"Y-you're handsome! Even this close up, you're really handsome! So you don't need to keep checking…! Don't think I'd dislike you because of your looks… please."
At her plea, Seong Hyun-jin released her wrist slightly. His expression looked relieved, as if a long-held worry had been resolved. Serena came to her senses a bit and quickly turned away, her face burning where their foreheads had touched—but she tried her best not to dwell on it.
And Seong Hyun-jin let out a deep, relieved sigh.
"……I see."
"……."
"You're not teasing me?"
"N-no, of course not…."
Serena denied it immediately.
"I wouldn't have the confidence to tease you like this."
"…Yeah, that's the Serena I know."
"……."
Serena glanced at him sidelong. Then quietly asked,
"…Do you need more proof or something?"
"Proof?"
"You… haven't given me an answer yet."
"Ah, the answer…."
Seong Hyun-jin looked at her as if just realizing. Serena waited demurely, her face still flushed red.
"……."
"……."
No words passed between them, but the atmosphere didn't cool—it heated up more.
What caught Seong Hyun-jin's eye first was Serena's lips. Pretty, peach-tinted lips glistening softly. Had she put something on them? Or was that their natural color? They looked like fruit, tempting and delicious. What would they taste like? Sweet like fruit, maybe?
Unknowingly, Seong Hyun-jin leaned down. Surprised by his boldness, Serena's shoulders trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away. Their breaths touched skin. His breath was a little hot; hers, warmed by excitement, matched it. Serena had always been like that, but now Seong Hyun-jin's face was flushing too.
Serena gazed at his face; he at her cheek… then their eyes met. Feeling each other's breaths, they stared for a long moment. It felt like time had stopped. Serena Eldark and Seong Hyun-jin both felt like they were the only two people in the world right then. Step outside, and others would be there—but that obvious fact slipped their minds in the heat of emotion.
Feeling that burning passion, Serena gently closed her eyes. Confirming she wasn't refusing, Seong Hyun-jin leaned in further. Lips brushed lips, mucosa touched mucosa—teasingly light. Not fully pressed, not quite apart: an ambiguous contact. Partly from his own lack of courage.
Feeling it wasn't enough, Serena cracked her eyes open. Grasping his collar lightly, she encouraged him as if fully understanding his hesitation.
"Be a little braver. I'm okay…."
"……Yeah."
Her single word of support gave him courage. He leaned down more, and Serena closed her eyes again.
And finally.
…Ah.
Serena recalled that memory. Her mother's smile as she shared stories of love with her father, beaming with happiness. She'd listened with interest back then, but hadn't fully understood the feeling.
I think I get why you were so happy now, Mother.
Now, she felt she understood that emotion all too well.