The word hung between them.
"I like you, Tae." Woojin repeated.
Jungtae didn't move at first.
"W-what are you talking about, Woojin?"
The room felt smaller than before. The air pressed against his chest, making it hard to breathe. He stared at Woojin, at the familiar face he had known for years, the one that used to make him feel safe without trying.
Woojin let out a low laugh, "I said, I like you… Not as friends."
Jungtae's eyes widened. "Huh?"
"I like you for a long time now, I can't bear seeing you getting close to someone." Woojin added.
Jungtae's heart beat became rapidly faster, his head throbbed. He just stared at Woojin.
"It's ok, you don't have to answer right now." Woojin smiled. "Tae."
Woojin turned around and walked towards the sofa.
Jungtae's fingers curled slowly at his sides.
"Woojin…"
"I-I" His voice came out rough. He cleared his throat. "You're really important to me."
Jungtae swallowed.
"You're my best friend," Jungtae continued. "You always have been. You have helped me a lot."
Woojin didn't smile. He didn't look angry either. He just stood there, waiting. His eyes didn't blink. Like he already knew what was coming and wanted to hear it anyway.
The silence stretched.
Jungtae stepped closer, panic creeping in. "I don't want to lie to you. I don't want to give you hope when I can't return it."
His chest hurt as he spoke. Each word felt like he was breaking something fragile with his own hands.
Woojin's shoulders relaxed just a little.
"But I don't feel… that way."
Woojin's eyes flickered.
"I care about you. I really do. Just not like that." Jungtae continued.
Woojin finally blinked.
Then he smiled.
It was small. Controlled. Almost gentle.
"I see," Woojin said.
That was all.
No shaking voice. No raised tone. No questions.
Jungtae frowned. "Woojin…?"
"It's okay," Woojin said softly. He even nodded, like this was a normal conversation. "I understand."
Something about that made Jungtae uneasy.
Woojin walked past him and grabbed a gift box from inside a cabinet beside the door.
"This is the thing I'm going to give you," Woojin said suddenly and opened the door.
Jungtae froze.
"You should've told me, somehow. About whom you asked for help so I didn't wait." Woojin said. His tone was surprisingly calm. That made the atmosphere worse.
"Sorry, I didn't want to drag you into it," Jungtae said quickly. "I thought I could handle it myself."
Woojin laughed quietly. "You always say that."
He walked toward Jungtae. Not too close. Just close enough. The gift box extended in his hands. "Here."
Jungtae's fingers wrapped around it in silence.
Jungtae clenched his jaw. "..."
Woojin watched his face carefully, like he was memorizing every reaction.
After a moment, he sighed and stepped back.
"Sorry Woojin," Jungtae said quietly.
Woojin smiled again. "Go home. You look tired."
Jungtae hesitated, then nodded. He grabbed his bag and headed for the door.
Just before he stepped out, Woojin spoke again.
"Tae."
Jungtae turned.
"I hope you don't ignore me after this." Woojin said.
The words were calm.
But something about them made Jungtae's skin prickled.
Jungtae nodded. "I won't…"
Woojin's smile didn't change. "Rest well."
"You too…"
Jungtae left with a knot in his chest he couldn't explain.
ৎ────
Jungtae closed the door behind him at home and didn't move. The room felt smaller than usual.
He slid down until his back hit the door, sitting on the floor. The lock clicked above his head. He stared at nothing, breathing slow, uneven.
Woojin's voice echoed in his ears.
'I waited, Tae.'
Jungtae squeezed his eyes shut. His fingers dug into his sleeves.
Something hard pressed against his side.
He looked down.
The gift box sat beside him, he remembered. The paper was smooth, the edges sharp. Just by looking at the gift box, it screams expensive.
Jungtae picked it up. It was heavier than he remembered earlier.
His thumb hesitated at the lid. Then he lifted it just enough to peek inside.
A watch lay against the dark cushion. It was inside a smaller glass box. Clean. Expensive. Stunning.
Beside it was a small folded note.
"I thought of you when I saw this, I want to see you wear it."
He just stared at the watch, his wrist suddenly feeling bare.
Jungtae's lips curved as he fastened the watch around his wrist. He lifted his arm, the metal catching the light, and snapped a photo. His thumbs swiped across the screen. And sent a photo and a message to Woojin.
"Thank you."
ৎ────
Across town, Woojin stood inside his room, when he received Jungtae's message. A single heart emoji reply to Jungtae's message.
His smile faded slowly.
His fingers twitched at his side.
"Friends…" he murmured.
He walked to his room and pulled open a drawer. Inside were things he never showed anyone, some notes, photos, schedules written neatly in pen.
Names.
Times.
Patterns.
"Owen Kwon," Woojin whispered.
His lips curved upward.
ৎ────
That same night. Owen leaned back on his couch, phone in hand.
Haneul sat across from him, arms crossed tight.
"You're enjoying this," Haneul said.
Owen chuckled. "Very much."
"Are you waiting for the outcome?" Haneul snapped. "Do you think your deal was effective in tearing them apart?"
Owen's eyes gleamed. "I know it is, and this is just the beginning."
Haneul's gaze narrowed, his eyes locked on Owen's grin, his jaw clenched.
"Why are you so invested with them anyway? Don't tell me you like that Han Jungtae guy?"
Owen glared at him. "Go home now."
Haneul's fists clenched at his side. He walked towards the door.
"Anyway, your dad will hold another meeting next week."
Owen didn't answer.
ৎ────
Back at school the next day, Jungtae felt it immediately.
Eyes on him.
Not Owen's.
Woojin's.
From across the hallway.
Woojin smiled and waved like nothing had changed.
Jungtae forced a smile back.
Throughout the whole day just small gestures were exchanged between them. Their distance kept getting farther and farther from each other.
He didn't know it yet… but something had already shifted. And it wouldn't stop.