Late Nights in the Library

You always chose the same corner of the campus library to study, a quiet spot by the window that overlooked the college quad. You liked the solitude—until one late night, someone else claimed your seat.

"Uh, excuse me," you began, standing awkwardly beside the desk.

The boy looked up, his messy hair falling into his eyes. He was handsome in a slightly disheveled way, with a hoodie that seemed to double as a pillow. "Oh, sorry. Is this your spot?"

You hesitated. "Not officially, but I usually sit here."

"Fair enough." He grinned and started gathering his books.

"No, it’s okay," you said quickly. "You can stay. I'll just sit—"

"Sit here," he interrupted, gesturing to the chair across from him. "There's room for two."

That night, you both worked in silence, except for the occasional shared glance when you dropped your pen or he muttered a frustrated, “Ugh, calculus.” Slowly, you started talking—about classes, professors, and how coffee at the campus café was basically flavored water.

Over the next few weeks, you found him in your spot almost every night, always saving the chair across from him. His name was Sunoo, an engineering major with a terrible sleep schedule and a surprising love for poetry.

One night, as you packed up, Sunoo hesitated. "You know," he said, "I didn’t just sit here that first time by accident. I saw you working here every night and thought maybe… I'd get lucky and say hi."

You blinked, caught off guard. "You planned this?"

He laughed nervously. "A little."

You smiled, your cheeks warm despite the cold. "Well, it worked."