The next morning, I walked into Hanwol High with the same quiet steps I always took, the weight of my sketchbook tucked under my arm like a shield. My blazer felt heavy on my shoulders, and the soft clatter of lockers and chatter of students filled the hallway like a tide I wasn't ready to wade into.
I spotted Jihyun leaning against the wall near our homeroom, his hands tucked into his pockets, one eyebrow slightly raised. He gave me a small nod as I approached. My stomach flipped for no reason at all.
"Hey," he said casually, though his eyes held that same sharp, lazy curiosity.
"Hi," I mumbled, adjusting the strap of my bag.
There was a pause—a pause that felt too long and too short at the same time. Then he spoke again, softer this time.
"You draw a lot."
I blinked at him, unsure if I should answer. "…Yeah. I like it."
"Can I see?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.
Something in the way he asked wasn't intrusive or demanding. It was… gentle. Almost careful, like he didn't want to frighten whatever little part of me had stayed hidden for so long.
I hesitated, then opened my sketchbook just enough to show him a few pages. Faces, hands, shadows, a little sketch of the cherry blossom trees outside the school gate. He leaned over, his eyes scanning each line, and for a moment, I felt my pulse slow—like he was seeing something inside me that I hadn't shown anyone.
"These are… good," he said quietly. Not just polite, but really noticing. "You notice the little things, huh?"
I shrugged. "I… pay attention."
"You notice more than most," he said, almost to himself. Then he looked back at me. "Why don't you talk much?"
The question stung more than I expected. "I… I just like to listen," I said softly.
"You mean… you like to watch, right?" His voice wasn't teasing, it was just… understanding.
I wanted to look away, but something in his gaze held me. "Maybe," I admitted.
He didn't press further. Instead, he smirked slightly and leaned back against the wall. "I get it. It's… safer that way."
"Yes," I whispered, my throat tight. "It's safer."
And for the first time, I felt that maybe someone could understand the quiet spaces inside me—without trying to fill them.
From that day on, the silence between us wasn't empty. It carried small talks, shared glances, and the kind of understanding that didn't need to be spoken aloud. I didn't realize it yet, but that moment would mark the beginning of a tether between us, one that would grow stronger, more complicated, and eventually… inescapable.
The morning air was crisp as Naomi and Yuna walked briskly beside me on the path to Hanwol High. The sun barely peaked over the rooftops, casting long, thin shadows across the sidewalk. I tugged my blazer tighter around me, my sketchbook tucked under my arm, while Naomi chattered ahead.
"You've been… different lately, Y/N," Naomi said suddenly, glancing sideways at me. Her tone was light, but her eyes were sharp.
I froze mid-step. "Different how?" I asked cautiously, trying not to sound defensive.
Yuna snorted from the other side of me. "Oh come on, you don't think we notice? You've been… I don't know, more distracted, more… quiet. And that Jihyun kid—he's always around you now, isn't he?"
I felt heat rise to my cheeks. "He's… just walking me to school. That's all," I murmured, lowering my gaze to the pavement.
Naomi tilted her head, her expression half-smile, half-worry. "Just walking? Y/N, you light up when he talks to you. You haven't been like this in forever."
"I'm fine," I said, though my voice wavered. It wasn't a lie—just an attempt to reassure them and myself.
Yuna smirked knowingly. "Uh-huh. Sure. Fine. And what about that stupid sketchbook obsession of yours? You doodle more than ever. You're… distracted, like Naomi said."
I sighed, hugging my sketchbook closer. "It's nothing. Just… school stuff."
Naomi and Yuna exchanged glances, silently communicating something between themselves. Naomi nudged me gently. "Y/N, if you're hiding something, you know you can tell us, right?"
I forced a small smile. "I know. I just… it's complicated."
"Complicated, huh?" Yuna teased lightly. "That's what you say when it's about a boy."
I groaned softly, unable to deny it. "It's not like that."
"Sure," Naomi said, clearly unconvinced. "Anyway, you're acting like you've got a secret crush or something. Spill it already."
I bit my lip, looking straight ahead at the school gates now in sight. "I… I like him," I admitted quietly, my words barely above a whisper.
Both girls stopped and stared at me, their expressions a mix of shock and amusement. Naomi gasped. "You WHAT?"
Yuna's smirk widened. "Finally! I knew it! About time you admitted it."
I groaned, wishing the ground would swallow me. "Don't make it a big deal…"
"Oh, it's a HUGE deal," Naomi said dramatically, pretending to fan herself. "This is monumental! Y/N, you're actually… human. You feel things!"
I rolled my eyes, but a small laugh escaped me despite myself. Yuna bumped my shoulder lightly. "Relax, we're just happy you're finally noticing. Now let's see if he notices you too."
I shook my head, though my heart was fluttering. "I just… I hope I don't mess it up."
Naomi grinned. "You're already messing it up by trying to hide it."
I shook my head again, but a small, genuine smile tugged at my lips. Walking with Naomi and Yuna toward the school felt easier somehow. Their teasing, their laughter—it was a little warmth in a life that had always felt cold.
And yet, deep down, I couldn't stop thinking about Jihyun, waiting somewhere at the gates, his casual gaze and soft voice replaying in my mind.
The school gates loomed closer, and I could already see Jihyun leaning casually against the side wall, his black hair slightly messy from the morning breeze. He looked up as I approached, his dark eyes briefly meeting mine before glancing away. My heart skipped, and I tugged nervously at the strap of my backpack.
Naomi elbowed me gently. "See? There he is. Go on, say hi or something."
I swallowed hard and forced myself to step forward, keeping my gaze on the ground. "H-hey," I murmured.
"Hey," he replied, his voice low but carrying that lazy confidence he always seemed to exude. He pushed off the wall and straightened, walking alongside me.
Naomi and Yuna trailed a few steps behind, whispering to each other. I couldn't hear exactly what they were saying, but the occasional stifled laugh made my cheeks warm.
"So… you're early today," Jihyun said, glancing at me, one eyebrow raised.
I nodded, my throat suddenly dry. "Yeah… just didn't want to be late."
He smirked, a faint glint of amusement in his dark eyes. "That doesn't sound like you. Usually, you're the quiet shadow sneaking in after the bell."
I flinched slightly at his teasing, and he chuckled softly. "Relax. I'm just saying."
We walked in silence for a moment, the soft crunch of our shoes on the pavement filling the space between us. I noticed the subtle tension in my shoulders and how my palms felt clammy. Naomi's whispered commentary from a few feet behind didn't help.
"You two are so obvious," Yuna muttered. "I mean, the way she's blushing… it's pathetic."
I groaned quietly, wishing the ground would swallow me, but Jihyun seemed unfazed—or perhaps he noticed and was enjoying it. He reached the classroom door first and held it open for me. "After you," he said.
"Thanks," I whispered, stepping inside, my heart racing.
As we took our seats, Naomi slid in beside me, smirking knowingly. "You're done for, Y/N. He's going to notice sooner or later. Might as well accept it."
I sighed, resting my chin on my hands. "I just… I don't know if I'm ready for him to notice."
Jihyun, settling into the desk across from me, leaned back slightly and tilted his head, a lazy grin spreading across his face. "Notice what?" he asked casually, though the sharp edge in his voice suggested he already did.
My stomach flipped.
Naomi nudged me under the desk. "Ohhh, he knows. Trust me."
I pressed my lips together, trying not to give myself away. Jihyun's gaze lingered on me for a moment longer than necessary, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck.
The bell rang, and the classroom erupted into noise. But all I could hear was the faint echo of his voice in my mind, the memory of that casual smirk, and the slow realization that maybe… just maybe… this quiet, ordinary day at school was about to become anything but ordinary.