Jisoo felt her heartbeat race as she stepped into the classroom, her hand brushing the hem of her freshly trimmed skirt. It was shorter than the dress code allowed, but she didn’t care. If it caught your eye, it would be worth it. The fabric clung to her thighs, the hem brushing just above the middle of her thigh—bold, daring, just the right amount of attention-grabbing. She adjusted it once more, her fingers trembling slightly, but she steadied them.

This is it, she thought. Today, he notices.

For the entire week, she had imagined this moment—trimming her skirt just enough to make a statement. She wasn’t like the other girls, but she wanted him to see her. He always seemed so effortlessly confident, laughing with his friends while she sat, a little invisible, just hoping he would look her way. The skirt was her way of stepping up, of being noticed.

She took her seat in the back row, close enough to sneak glances but far enough to avoid any attention. The classroom hummed with chatter. Jisoo pulled out her notebook, pretending to focus, but her eyes kept darting to him. You were in your usual spot, leaning back in your chair, laughing with your friends. She couldn't help but admire you. The way your smile lit up the room, the casual ease with which you interacted—it made her heart skip.

Why doesn’t he see me? She often wondered, especially today. She had done everything she could to stand out, but he was still talking to everyone but her. And of course TALKING to him was out of the question. She would turn bright pink and start stuttering!!

Just as she adjusted her skirt again, trying to appear casual, she caught a glimpse of him looking her way. For a second, their eyes locked, and her heart stopped. Did he notice? Did he see her for the first time, or was it just a fleeting glance?

Before she could let herself hope too much, the teacher suddenly interrupted her thoughts.

"Alright, class," Mr. Jacobs announced, breaking the quiet buzz of the room, "We're going to do something a little different today. Everyone, please pair up with someone you don't normally work with. I'll be assigning partners randomly."

Jisoo blinked, her mind snapping back to reality. Partner up? Her stomach fluttered nervously. She wasn't expecting this. She had been lost in her thoughts for too long.

"Jisoo... and you."

Her heart skipped. You. He was her partner. This was it. The moment she'd been silently wishing for. She could barely keep her smile contained as she grabbed her notebook, suddenly aware of the way her skirt felt, the heat rising to her cheeks. She quickly glanced up at you—you were already turning toward her.

Maybe today, just maybe, this was her chance.