Soo Hyun strolled across campus Monday morning with the look of someone who hadn't slept. His hands were buried deep in his hoodie pockets, his jaw tight, and his mind nowhere near the bright blue sky.
Joon-oh spotted him first. "Why do you look like death, man? Regretting not going to the reunion?"
"Nope," Soo Hyun muttered, forcing a smirk. "I was up all night playing GTA… without you losers."
Sung Min gasped dramatically. "You traitor!"
Soo Hyun ignored him, eyes locked on the ground. Ji Hwan. That name wouldn't leave his head.
"So…" Joon-oh leaned forward with a grin, "did you hear? Do Ji Hwan actually showed up. Whole place went crazy."
"Pfft. What's so great about him?" Soo Hyun scoffed.
Sung Min placed a hand over his heart like he'd been personally insulted. "Excuse you—Do Ji Hwan is an architectural legend and a fine man."
"Legend? He's just some guy who drew buildings," Soo Hyun grumbled.
Before Joon-oh could roast him for the comment, a sudden wave of screaming came from the cafeteria.
"What now?" Sung Min muttered, already heading toward the noise. Soo Hyun followed reluctantly, expecting to see some celebrity scandal on someone's phone.
Instead… he froze.
Do Ji Hwan. In the flesh. Standing in their cafeteria, smiling that annoyingly perfect smile while chatting with Su Kyung.
Soo Hyun's stomach knotted instantly. What the hell is he doing here? And why is he talking to her?
He turned to leave, wanting nothing to do with it—when a hand landed on his shoulder.
"It's you," Ji Hwan said, eyes bright with recognition.
Soo Hyun stiffened. "Me?"
Ji Hwan gave him a small, knowing smile. "The mysterious kid from the other night."
A few nearby students gasped. "Wait—you two know each other?"
Soo Hyun pulled away quickly. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Ji Hwan smirked. "Oh, I remember you." His gaze swept over Soo Hyun, slow and deliberate, like he was sizing him up—or worse, flirting.
Soo Hyun bristled. "Keep your eyes to yourself, sunbae."
"Relax," Ji Hwan chuckled, sliding his hands into his pockets. "You were looking for me, weren't you? Guess fate likes playing games."
"I wasn't—" Soo Hyun started, but Ji Hwan stepped closer, voice lowering just enough to make him tense.
"You should be careful," Ji Hwan said smoothly, "picking fights with people you don't know… might make them curious about you."
Soo Hyun's cheeks burned with anger—not embarrassment, definitely not embarrassment. He clenched his fists. "You think you're special because girls drool over you? Because you're—" he hesitated, eyes darting, "—that way?"
Ji Hwan raised a brow, amused. "That way? Should I be offended or flattered?"
The room went quiet. Even Su Kyung turned to look at them, confused. Soo Hyun backed away, muttering something about class, and stormed out.
---
Later that day, Soo Hyun stepped outside to clear his head—and froze again.
Across the courtyard, Su Kyung was smiling as she slid into the passenger seat of Ji Hwan's sleek black car. Ji Hwan, already in the driver's seat, leaned over to say something, making her laugh.
Soo Hyun's hands curled into fists at his sides. What is she doing? Why him?
He told himself it was because Ji Hwan was "trouble." That's all. Just protecting a friend.
But deep down, it didn't feel like just that. It felt like something uglier.
He bit the inside of his cheek, glaring at the car as it drove off.
"Do Ji Hwan…" he muttered under his breath, "you're going down."