The cafeteria was unusually loud that afternoon. Hana and Ji Eun were fighting over fries, Haeyoung looked… distracted, and Junghan was silently watching her from the opposite seat, jaw tight, thumb tapping the table unconsciously.
Then—
"Is this seat taken?"
The entire table froze.
Jisoo stood there, tray in hand, hair still damp from basketball practice, smile easy and effortless. Several girls behind him squealed. Hana almost choked on her drink.
Haeyoung blinked at him. "You… sit here?"
"If it's okay," he said, eyes flicking toward her for a second too long.
Junghan's hand tightened around his chopsticks.
Ji Eun nodded immediately because she's too kind to ever say no. Hana smirked. Haeyoung shrugged.
But Junghan didn't move.
Not even an inch.
When Jisoo settled beside Haeyoung, the tiny space between them vanished.
Junghan's chopstick snapped.
Haeyoung wasn't herself.
Not loud. Not sarcastic. Not arguing with Hana. She stared at her food, poked it, zoned out, and kept flinching whenever Jisoo leaned closer.
Jisoo noticed. Everyone noticed.
Except Junghan—
No, he noticed too much.
"Are you okay?" Jisoo asked gently.
She quickly nodded. "Yeah—yeah, just tired."
But her fingers were shaking.
Junghan saw that. He watched so intensely it was almost painful.
What happened? What's bothering her? Why wasn't she telling anyone? Why wasn't she telling him?
His stomach twisted.
Hana nudged her. "Oi, what's wrong with you?"
Haeyoung forced a laugh. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing."
Junghan didn't believe a word.
Jisoo leaned in to whisper something to Haeyoung, and she froze for a second, then nodded slowly. Whatever he said made her swallow hard.
Junghan's entire chest tightened.
He didn't realize he was glaring until Ji Eun gently tapped his arm.
"Junghan… breathe."
He blinked. Looked down. Then forcibly relaxed his fists.
But the jealousy?
It wasn't mild.
It was raw. Bone-deep. Uncontrolled.
Hana whispered loudly, "Bro looks like he's about to commit a crime."
Ji Eun elbowed her.
Jisoo, oblivious, kept talking to Haeyoung.
And Haeyoung… kept avoiding Junghan's eyes.
That hurt more than anything.
"Kim Junghan. A word."
The moment Junghan stepped out of the cafeteria, Teacher Myung led him to an empty hallway.
"What is going on with you?" Teacher Myung asked quietly. "You've been distracted all week."
Junghan lowered his head. "…Nothing."
"Don't lie to me."
Silence.
Teacher Myung sighed. "Listen. I got a call from the hospital yesterday."
Junghan's head shot up.
Hospital?
His blood ran cold.
Teacher Myung softened. "It's not what you're thinking. Calm down."
Junghan forced air into his lungs.
"It's about your mother," the teacher continued. "She's been… stressed. Very. And the doctor thinks her condition could worsen if—"
Junghan looked away. "It's always my fault, isn't it?"
Teacher Myung grabbed his shoulder firmly.
"Don't ever say that again."
For the first time, his voice wasn't strict. It was human.
"There are things happening at your home that you don't know yet," he added quietly. "Things you deserve to understand."
Junghan frowned. "What things?"
"We'll talk after school."
A new shadow settled over Junghan's day.
Rumors were spreading like wildfire.
Everyone saw Jisoo sit next to Haeyoung.
Everyone saw Junghan look like he wanted to flip the table.
Everyone saw Haeyoung avoid eye contact with both boys.
Hana was loving the chaos.
Ji Eun was stressed out.
Daeho and Dojin were watching from a distance like two bodyguards ready to drag Junghan away if he snapped.
Even teachers were whispering.
And through it all, Haeyoung grew quieter.
And Junghan grew sharper.
And Jisoo kept smiling like he had no idea he was walking into a war.
Right as the final bell rang, Seri appeared at the classroom door.
Beautiful. Calm. Perfect.
Like she always was.
"Junghan?" she called softly.
Junghan stiffened.
Haeyoung's head jerked up at the sound of her voice.
Seri walked inside, holding something behind her back. "I wanted to return your book. You left it in the library."
Junghan blinked. He hadn't even realized he dropped it.
Seri smiled—too warm, too practiced—and handed it to him.
Then she looked at Haeyoung.
Really looked.
Something sharp flashed in her eyes.
"So," she said sweetly, "you three are… getting closer these days."
Hana whispered under her breath, "Oh damn—this is gonna be good."
Haeyoung swallowed.
Junghan's shoulders stiffened.
Jisoo looked confused.
Seri just smiled.
And the entire classroom felt like a storm waiting to explode.
After-Class Begins — The Silence Before the Storm
Haeyoung packed her books slowly, too slowly. She felt Junghan's eyes on her, Jisoo hovering nearby, and Seri pretending to look at her phone but very obviously listening.
Hana whispered, "Bro this is literally a K-drama triangle—square—whatever. Someone fight."
Ji Eun slapped her arm. "Stop."
Jisoo Approaches First
Jisoo: "Hey… Haeyoung, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Haeyoung: (stiffening) "Uh—now?"
Jisoo: "Yeah. It's… important."
Haeyoung: "O-Okay. Sure."
Junghan looked up sharply at that.
Junghan: "Why? What do you need to talk about?"
Jisoo: (calm smile) "It's between us."
Junghan: "Right. Of course."
His voice was flat, dangerously so.
Seri steps closer to Junghan
The moment Haeyoung walks a few steps away with Jisoo, Seri takes her chance.
Seri: "Junghan, are you going home?"
Junghan: (barely looking at her) "No."
Seri: "Do you… maybe want to walk together?"
Junghan: "No."
Seri freezes.
Hana whispers, "Oof. RIP."
But Seri doesn't give up.
Seri: "You didn't even hear me out."
Junghan: "And you didn't need to ask."
Ji Eun's eyes widen. He never speaks harshly.
Seri swallows, her voice softer.
Seri: "I'm not your enemy, you know."
Junghan: "I know."
Seri: "Then why do you act like I'm someone you need to avoid?"
Junghan: (finally meeting her eyes) "Because you're looking at the wrong person, Seri."
Seri's smile dies instantly.
Jisoo & Haeyoung
They reach the empty stairwell.
Jisoo: "You're avoiding me."
Haeyoung: "No I'm not."
Jisoo: "Haeyoung… you literally ran away during lunch when I asked if your project group was full."
Haeyoung: "I DID NOT run. I walked. Fast."
Jisoo laughs softly.
Jisoo: "Why are you acting like I did something terrible?"
Haeyoung: (looking away) "Because you did."
Jisoo: "What?"
Haeyoung: "You confuse me."
He stops smiling.
Jisoo: "Is that bad?"
Haeyoung: "Yes."
Jisoo: "Because of Junghan?"
Haeyoung snaps her head up.
Haeyoung: "What—why would you—no—what??"
Jisoo: "He kept staring at us."
Haeyoung: "He stares at walls too. He's weird."
Jisoo: (quietly) "No. Not like that."
Her heartbeat stumbles.
Junghan is forced to overhear
Daeho and Dojin arrive behind Junghan.
Daeho: "Bro. BRO. You're glaring holes in the floor."
Dojin: "…The floor didn't deserve that."
Junghan: "I'm not glaring."
Daeho: "Your face says 'I will end someone today.'"
Junghan ignores them—until he hears Haeyoung's voice echo from the stairwell.
His entire body tenses.
Haeyoung's voice: "You shouldn't say things like that, Jisoo."
Jisoo: "Then tell me why you're avoiding me."
Haeyoung: "Because I don't want to like you again!"
Junghan freezes.
Daeho whispers, "Oh. Damn."
Inside the Stairwell
Jisoo steps closer.
Jisoo: "You liked me?"
Haeyoung: "Past tense."
Jisoo: "Why didn't you tell me?"
Haeyoung: "Because you would've laughed."
Jisoo: "I wouldn't."
Haeyoung: "Yes, you would. Maybe not out loud but in your head."
Jisoo: (guilty) "I wasn't trying to play with you."
Haeyoung: "But you did."
He opens his mouth… but stops.
Because a shadow appears in the doorway.
Junghan enters
His voice is deep, steady, but ice cold.
Junghan: "This conversation is over."
Haeyoung jumps.
Jisoo stiffens.
Jisoo: "You're not involved, Junghan."
Junghan: "She looked uncomfortable. That's enough for me to be involved."
Haeyoung: "Junghan—"
Junghan: (ignoring her) "If you have something to say, say it properly. Not cornering her in a stairwell."
Jisoo's jaw flexes.
Jisoo: "I wasn't cornering her."
Junghan: "You were."
Jisoo: "She agreed to talk."
Junghan: "And she wants to leave now."
Haeyoung, shocked: "I— I didn't say that—"
Junghan: (soft but firm) "Let's go."
His hand doesn't touch her, but the way he stands slightly in front of her—protective, instinctive—makes her throat tighten.
Jisoo sees it.
And something clicks in his expression.
Jisoo: "So that's how it is…"
Junghan: "Watch your words."
Jisoo: (smirking bitterly) "No need. I got my answer."
Haeyoung: "Answer to what?!"
But Jisoo is already walking away.
From the corridor, Seri watches Jisoo walk out and sees Junghan beside Haeyoung.
Her chest tightens painfully.
Seri (whispering): "I'm already too late… aren't I?"
Junghan escorts Haeyoung back to the classroom silently. She keeps glancing at him, but he refuses to look back.
Before she can speak, Teacher Myung appears.
Teacher Myung: "Kim Junghan. My office. Now."
Junghan: (tensed) "…Yes."
Haeyoung grabs his sleeve before he leaves.
Haeyoung: "Are you angry at me?"
Junghan's breath falters.
He answers without turning around—
Junghan: "I could never be angry at you."
And then he follows Teacher Myung.
Haeyoung stands frozen.
Teacher Myung's Office — The Door Closes
Junghan stands stiff, hands cold, breath tight.
Teacher Myung drops his notebook on the desk and looks right at him.
Teacher Myung: "Sit."
Junghan sits without a word.
Teacher Myung: "You're distracted. Again."
Junghan: "…I'm fine."
Teacher Myung: "You're not. And I'm not stupid."
Junghan lowers his eyes.
The Conversation He Didn't Want
Teacher Myung sighs, leaning back.
Teacher Myung: "Is it your mother again?"
Junghan flinches.
Junghan: "I don't want to talk about her."
Teacher Myung: "But she's breaking you."
Junghan: "I said—"
Teacher Myung: "She blamed you for your brother's death again, right?"
Junghan's hands curl into fists.
He doesn't answer.
Which is an answer.
Teacher Myung: "You need someone to talk to."
Junghan: "I have no one."
Teacher Myung: "…You have Haeyoung."
Junghan's breath shakes.
He looks up, startled.
Junghan: "I don't want her to see that part of me."
Teacher Myung: "She already does."
Junghan: "Not everything."
Teacher Myung: "Why hide it?"
Junghan: "…Because she's the only place I feel safe."
Silence hits the room like thunder.
Teacher Myung studies him long and slow.
Teacher Myung: "You love her."
Junghan's voice drops to a whisper, the truth trembling:
Junghan: "More than anything."
Teacher Myung softens.
Teacher Myung: "Then stop punishing yourself for needing her."
Haeyoung — Waiting Outside
She sits on the stairs outside the office, picking at the strap of her bag, replaying the stairwell moment, Junghan's voice, Jisoo's expression.
Her heart is a mess.
Haeyoung (mumbling): "Why is everything suddenly so dramatic? This is literally an episode of a K-drama. I swear."
She hears footsteps.
It's Jisoo again.
Jisoo & Haeyoung
Jisoo: "You're waiting for him?"
Haeyoung: "Don't start."
Jisoo: "I wasn't starting anything."
Haeyoung: "Then stop assuming things about me."
Jisoo: "You said you liked me."
Haeyoung: (groans) "PAST TENSE."
Jisoo: "Why does past tense bother me?"
Haeyoung: "Why does it bother me that it bothers you?"
Jisoo: "So it bothers you?"
She glares.
Haeyoung: "You're confusing me again."
Jisoo: "You confuse me too."
Haeyoung: "Then leave me alone."
Jisoo: "I don't want to."
She stops breathing.
Jisoo steps closer, tone softer.
Jisoo: "I didn't treat you seriously back then. I know that. I didn't know how."
Haeyoung: "And now?"
Jisoo: (hesitating) "Now… I'm not sure what this is. But I want to understand it."
Haeyoung looks away, overwhelmed.
Junghan Comes Out — Sees It All
The door opens.
Junghan steps out.
He spots Haeyoung and Jisoo talking—close, tense, quiet.
Instant tightness hits his chest.
Junghan: "Haeyoung."
She jumps and stands up quickly.
Haeyoung: "Let's go home."
Junghan: "Yeah."
Jisoo watches, jaw tightening.
Jisoo: "See you tomorrow, Haeyoung."
Haeyoung: "…Yeah."
Junghan doesn't say a word to him.
But the look he gives Jisoo?
Colder than winter.
The Silence That Hurts
They walk side by side.
Not touching.
Not talking.
It's suffocating.
Finally—
Haeyoung: "Are you mad at me?"
Junghan: "No."
Haeyoung: "You look mad."
Junghan: "I'm not."
Haeyoung: "Then why aren't you looking at me?"
He stops walking.
Turns slowly.
Eyes full of something heavy.
Junghan: "Because if I look at you… I won't be able to hide anything."
Haeyoung's breath falters.
Haeyoung: "Hide what?"
Junghan: "Everything."
Her heart drops.
Haeyoung: "Junghan… talk to me."
Junghan: "…I can't."
Haeyoung: "Why?"
Junghan: (voice cracking) "Because it'll hurt."
Haeyoung Softens
She steps closer, lowering her voice.
Haeyoung: "Did Teacher Myung… say something?"
Junghan: "He asked about my mother."
Haeyoung: (soft gasp) "What did you say?"
Junghan: "That I don't want you to see the worst parts of me."
Her eyes widen.
Haeyoung: "Junghan… you idiot."
He blinks.
Haeyoung: "I already see your worst. I just choose to stay."
He looks stunned.
Junghan: "…Why?"
Haeyoung: "Because you're my person."
Junghan: (barely whispering) "I'm… your what?"
Haeyoung: "My person. My idiot. My emotional disaster, my best friend. My—"
He suddenly looks away, swallowing hard.
Junghan: "Don't say things like that."
Haeyoung: "Why?"
Junghan: "Because I'll believe them."
Before She Can Reply… Seri Appears
Seri: "Junghan."
Both turn.
Seri stands there, expression calm… but eyes shining with hurt.
Seri: "Can we talk? Alone?"
Haeyoung steps back, surprised.
Junghan doesn't look away from Haeyoung.
Junghan: "No. Say it here."
Seri's voice cracks.
Seri: "Then I need to ask… one thing."
She looks at Haeyoung.
Then at him.
Seri: "When did she become the only one you see?"
Haeyoung freezes.
Junghan doesn't even hesitate.
Junghan: "A long time ago."
Seri closes her eyes, pain flickering through her face.
Seri: "…I knew it."
Junghan: "I'm sorry."
Seri: "Don't be. I fell alone. You didn't push me."
She bows her head, holding back tears.
Seri: "I'll try to stop hoping."
And she walks away before anyone can stop her.
Haeyoung watches silently.
Junghan stands still, chest tight.