the girl who stole my hoodie

The first thing everyone noticed about Ari was her smile the cute and pretty smile which is like sunshine.

The second was that she somehow knew everyone's favorite snack before they told her.

She held doors open, remembered birthdays, helped first-years find their classrooms, and somehow never made anyone feel like a burden.

"You're too nice," her friends often complained.

"I just like seeing people smile," Ari would laugh.

On the other side of campus sat Mina.

Quiet.

Soft-spoken.

Always hidden behind a novel or sketchbook.

She preferred the library over noisy cafeterias, rainy afternoons over sunny ones, and hoodies two sizes too big because they made her feel safe.

Most people thought she was cold.

She wasn't.

She was simply afraid of being too much for people.

One rainy afternoon, Mina rushed across the courtyard without realizing how slippery the ground had become.

"...Ah!"

She stumbled.

Before she could hit the floor—

A warm hand caught hers.

"You okay?"

Mina blinked.

Amber eyes.

A gentle smile.

Ari.

"I-I..."

Her cheeks turned bright pink.

"I'm fine."

"You almost introduced yourself to the ground."

"..."

"..."

"...That sounded cooler in my head."

A tiny laugh escaped Mina before she could stop it.

Ari grinned proudly.

"There it is."

"What?"

"Your smile."

Mina immediately looked away.

"I wasn't smiling."

"You were."

"No."

"You definitely were."

"...Maybe a little."

"Mission accomplished."

The rain became heavier.

Without saying a word, Ari pulled off her oversized green hoodie and draped it over Mina's shoulders.

"W-What are you doing?"

"You're shivering."

"But you'll get cold."

"I'll survive."

"I can't take your hoodie."

"You already are."

Mina looked down.

It smelled faintly like vanilla and fresh laundry.

It was warm.

Comfortably warm.

"...I'll return it tomorrow."

Ari smiled.

"You can keep it for another day if it makes you smile again."

Mina's heart skipped a beat.

Why was this girl so unfairly kind?

The next morning, Mina arrived early just to return the hoodie.

Ari looked at her, then tilted her head.

"...You look cute in it."

Mina froze.

"...Huh?"

"I think it suits you."

Mina covered her burning face with the sleeves.

"D-Don't say things like that..."

Ari laughed softly.

"Sorry."

"...Not really."

"...Not really."

Mina peeked at her through the oversized sleeves.

"...You're impossible."

"And yet," Ari teased gently, "you came early just to see me."

"I came to return your hoodie!"

"Mhm."

"..."

"...And maybe to see you a little."

Ari's eyes lit up as if she'd just won the lottery.

"Really?"

Mina immediately regretted admitting it.

"I-I take it back!"

"No refunds."

She smiled so brightly that Mina couldn't help smiling too.

Neither of them realized it yet, but from that rainy afternoon onward, Ari would become the person who always reached for Mina's hand first—and Mina would slowly learn that being loved gently didn't have to be something she was afraid of.

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