Born to Rise : Becoming Vice President

Chapter 71 – "Growing Closer"

After last night's dinner, Gevran's mood had taken a strange turn. His chats with Ah Yoon grew more intense—casual banter turned into laughter, emojis flew back and forth, and he found himself waiting for notifications from only one name: Ah Yoon.

Staring into the dark screen of his phone, he saw his own reflection. One simple yet suffocating question echoed in his head:

"What is this feeling? Why won't my heart stop pounding?"

That night, sleep escaped him. He tossed and turned, hugged his pillow tight, even flipped it multiple times—but the confusion remained. Was this just a fleeting crush? Or something deeper?

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A Strange Morning

The next morning, Gevran woke up earlier than usual. He walked out of the dorm wearing a clean white hoodie and ash-gray pants. He looked... different. His steps unsure, his eyes searching for someone—or something.

Instead, he was greeted by a familiar voice.

> "Yo? Gev, where you rushing off to?"

– Ryu Haesung

Startled, Gevran turned to see the full G-Force gang—Jiwan, Mi Yong, Haesung, and Eunwoo—walking toward the campus.

> "I… uh, have an early class," Gevran mumbled, looking away.

Jiwan raised an eyebrow. "That's odd. We usually walk together."

Gevran gave a nervous chuckle and waved them off before quickly walking away. Behind his back, curiosity grew.

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A Tempting Chat

Once on campus, Gevran opened his phone and typed:

> Gevran: "Hey, are you at campus yet?"

Ah Yoon: "Just arrived. Why?"

Gevran: "Wanna grab lunch at the cafeteria today?"

Ah Yoon: "Sure. But no third-wheeling friends, okay?"

His heart thumped again. A stupid smile spread across his face as he stared at his phone during lecture, shielding the screen from the professor's eyes.

---

Busted by G-Force

At lunch, Gevran arrived first at the cafeteria and chose a table near the window. Moments later, Ah Yoon showed up with her usual sweet smile and sat across from him.

But their quiet moment didn't last long.

"WOW~!" came a loud teasing voice.

Gevran whipped his head around and spotted the G-Force crew hiding behind a pillar, snickering.

> "So this is why you bailed this morning?" – Eunwoo

"Sneaky date, huh?" – Mi Yong

"Careful, you might fall too hard." – Jiwan, laughing

Gevran flushed red and lowered his head while Ah Yoon covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.

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Truth & Operation Confession

After lunch, Gevran went back to the dorm alone. But soon after, he texted the G-Force group chat:

> Gevran: "Guys… I need to talk."

They quickly gathered in Haesung's room—their usual basecamp. There, Gevran spoke up.

> "I think I really like Ah Yoon. Not just a crush… it feels serious. But… I'm scared."

> "Scared of what?" – Jiwan

> "I have a purpose. I was reborn for a reason. In my past life, I was weak and broken. This new life—it's a responsibility. If I start getting emotional… doesn't that make me weak again?"

Silence.

> "Bro," Mi yong said, patting his back, "Love isn't a weakness. It's strength. If you're happy, you'll be stronger. Trust me."

Haesung raised his hand like a student in class.

> "I propose we form Operation Confession. We help Gevran create the perfect moment to tell Ah Yoon."

Laughter erupted. But behind the jokes, the support was sincere.

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Growing Resolve

That night, Gevran stood on the dorm balcony, gazing at the city lights below.

> "Maybe… it's time," he whispered.

Time to let go of fear. His past might have been painful, but the present was full of hope. And Ah Yoon was part of that hope.