Chapter 9
Around the lake, green grass spread wide.
Students gathered in small groups—some lying on the grass, some couples kissing, others laughing together while sharing food.
In that relaxed atmosphere, Aiden found the best spot.
Unlike the other areas, this place had a full view of the lake and barely any people nearby. It almost looked as if it had been left empty for someone special.
Without hesitation, Aiden sat down.
As Sonnet was about to sit, he took a handkerchief out of his pocket and spread it on the grass for her.
The unexpected gesture made her chest flutter slightly. She sat down on the black silk handkerchief.
Aiden must have some purpose, she reminded herself.
Trying not to get drawn in any further, she accepted the sandwich from him as if it were nothing special.
“Is there anything you can’t eat?”
“No.”
“What do you like?”
She took a bite of the sandwich and looked at him.
His lips held a faint smile, and his lively eyes were fixed on her, waiting for her answer.
Her heart beat faster as she replied,
“Carrots.”
The moment she said it, a piece of carrot she had bitten into slipped out with some corn sauce.
Just before it fell to the ground, Aiden caught it with his hand.
Had anyone ever asked her what she liked before? It was such an unfamiliar question that she felt flustered.
Still, she calmly took the carrot from his hand and put it back into her mouth.
It had come out of her mouth, so it should have been dirty.
But Aiden didn’t even frown. He simply smiled.
“You must really like them.”
She nodded.
Now that she thought about it, the sandwich was surprisingly good.
It was richer and softer than the carrot sandwiches she bought every day outside the school. The sweet corn blended well with the carrot.
She usually avoided the cafeteria because it was crowded and exhausting, even if the food was said to be good.
But this wasn’t bad at all.
“Is it good?”
She nodded sincerely.
Then she realized Aiden hadn’t eaten at all. He had just been watching her.
She was about to politely ask if he liked it too when—
His hand brushed lightly against the corner of her mouth.
His thumb wiped away the sauce there and then went straight to his own lips.
He licked it off casually and took a bite of his sandwich.
Sonnet stared at him.
‘Isn’t that dirty? Why does he act like it’s completely natural?’
She couldn’t understand.
Unless he truly liked her… would someone really go that far?
When she stopped eating and just stared, Aiden looked back at her.
The moment their eyes met, his lips curved upward.
“Did I get something on my face too?”
He leaned slightly closer.
For some reason, her heart started racing again.
“Nothing’s there,” she said quickly.
Aiden chuckled and leaned back on one arm, looking out at the lake.
She followed his gaze.
A light breeze blew from the water. It wasn’t humid. It was cool and refreshing.
In the distance, laughter echoed softly between gusts of wind.
The sky was especially clear, and the green grass and sparkling lake surface shone like scattered jewels.
Strangely, it wasn’t hot here.
It felt almost like a dream—a summer without heat.
Something inside her felt lighter, freer.
She had always thought people who sat here were wasting time without purpose.
But now that she was sitting here herself, the fresh scenery and open atmosphere felt better than she had imagined.
Without realizing it, she turned to Aiden.
Their eyes met at the same time, as if he had also been about to look at her.
“Isn’t it nice here?”
She nodded honestly.
“They say the school was built after seeing this lake.”
He leaned slightly toward her as he continued.
“They thought if the lake was here, students might come to school with a happier heart.”
He smiled after saying that, and for some reason, his face seemed to glow in the sunlight.
Suddenly, loud splashing and shouting came from the lake. A few students had jumped into the water and were playing around.
“Do you like water?” he asked.
“Yes.”
Aiden’s lips curved.
“Have you ever swum?”
“No.”
His brows furrowed slightly.
“You’ve never swum?”
“People like me don’t have many places to swim.”
There were rivers nearby, but the current was strong. Wealthy people built private villas and took over lakes and beaches.
“I’ll teach you someday. Somewhere suitable.”
She didn’t respond.
She didn’t want to imagine playing in the water with him like some real couple.
That would make this feel too real.
A gentle summer breeze passed again.
Aiden looked at her, black hair shifting slightly on his forehead.
“What season do you like?”
His bright blue eyes were full of curiosity.
Most people weren’t interested in her preferences at all.
But Aiden kept asking questions.
Whether he was truly curious or not, she answered honestly.
“Spring and summer.”
Aiden smiled widely.
For a moment, she thought his smile looked like bright summer sunlight.
“Same as me. I like summer too.”
He looked genuinely happy.
She just nodded. Sharing something in common didn’t make her particularly happy.
She liked spring and summer for a simple reason.
That was when comprehensive exam scores were released.
Aiden looked at the clear sky.
“Most people hate summer. They say it’s too hot.”
“It’s hot, but it’s bearable.”
In the shade, it wasn’t bad. There was wind.
Under direct sunlight, though, it burned.
“Exactly. In summer, I can play horse-lance matches, swim, and it rains a lot.”
There was a brief silence.
He looked at the sky again, then back at her.
“Do you like rainy days too?”
Rainy days were her favorite.
But strangely, it rarely rained where she was.
Even if it did, the clouds would clear quickly, as if the rain avoided her.
She felt his gaze waiting for her answer.
She almost said yes.
But it was strange how many things they already shared in common—mint scent, summer, rain.
“I do like rain,” he said instead. “But on match days, I prefer clear weather. For some reason, it always rained whenever I had a match. But the moment you came, the sky cleared.”
“……”
“We even won because of that.”
His bright smile spread when their eyes met.
She didn’t know what to say.
It was true that rain rarely followed her.
And somehow, that had benefited him.
As if understanding her silence, Aiden smiled and looked back at the lake.
Then a bee buzzed near them.
It circled around Sonnet’s chest, and she instinctively stepped back.
She bumped into something solid.
And smelled mint.
It was Aiden’s chest.
As she tried to step away, Aiden held her shoulders and waved his hand, shooing the bee away.
When it finally flew off, he kept his arm around her shoulders and leaned down slightly, looking concerned.
“Are you okay?”
His low, pleasant voice brushed against her ear.
He had asked that before.
But why did her heart keep pounding like this?
And she was practically in his arms now.
She tried to move forward, but he gently tightened his hold.
His breath brushed against her ear and down her neck.
“Can’t we just stay like this?”
She was too flustered to answer.
Aiden rested his face lightly against her shoulder.
“You smell nice.”
Her eyes widened.
“Smell?”
“Yeah.”
His short, lazy reply made her ask quickly,
“What kind of smell?”
