The classroom, upon returning, was chaotic. A quick glance revealed Park Jin-woo and Kim Jin-seong whispering to each other and passing notes. Woo-young frowned. It bothered him how they hadn’t just stopped Lee Soo-hwa and Nam Ki-hyuk from fighting earlier. Instead, they had seemed entertained by it, as though watching an MMA match.

He clicked his tongue inwardly and turned his attention back to his textbook. Lee Soo-hwa had left early, claiming he wasn’t feeling well, and Woo-young thought it was probably for the best. After the scare, it would be better for him to rest at home and recover.

During the break, Go Tae-seong didn’t say a word. Woo-young also didn’t bring anything up, staying silent. Since he didn’t attend any tutoring or extra classes, he needed to focus on his regular lessons first. With just ten minutes, there wouldn’t be enough time for a meaningful conversation.

He’d ask after the sixth period, during dinner time. Go Tae-seong usually went for dinner before his evening classes, so that would be a better time to talk.

Woo-young had sent several messages to Nam Ki-hyuk, but as expected, there was no reply. His mind kept wandering, as if unwanted thoughts were like a mind map, trying to spread. He forced himself to push those thoughts aside and focused back on the lesson. Finally, the last class ended. Woo-young quickly stood up, following Go Tae-seong out.

“Go Tae-seong.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you know why Nam Ki-hyuk is like that?”

Without bothering to beat around the bush, Woo-young asked directly. Go Tae-seong, who had been walking, paused and looked at Woo-young for a moment, then shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

“What? Didn’t you hear anything earlier?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Why what?”

Go Tae-seong raised an eyebrow at Woo-young, giving him a confused look, then asked a question in return. As usual, he wore an indifferent expression.

“Seriously, didn’t he say anything? Nam Ki-hyuk? Not a word?”

“No. He didn’t.”

“Sigh… what the hell is going on?”

Woo-young frowned, ruffling his hair. He had expected Go Tae-seong to at least have heard something from Nam Ki-hyuk, but it turned out that nothing was said, and the last three hours of waiting had been for nothing.

“Lee Soo-hwa must’ve done something wrong.”

At Go Tae-seong’s offhand remark, Woo-young lifted his gaze. Go Tae-seong was still walking forward, his face showing no change from usual. He didn’t even look at Woo-young as he continued speaking.

“Nam Ki-hyuk isn’t the type to do something for no reason.”

“…”

“Isn’t that right?”

When their eyes met, Go Tae-seong gave a slight smile. Woo-young felt unexpectedly flustered.

“…Well, yeah.”

He blinked slowly, unsure why he felt that way. It was true. Nam Ki-hyuk was a simple-minded guy, so it wasn’t like him to pick a fight just to cause trouble.

But that didn’t mean Lee Soo-hwa would have started it either. If he’d been wronged, it would be one thing, but he wasn’t the type to start trouble for no reason. The thoughts that had begun swirling like a Mobius strip kept looping back to the same conclusion.

“But Woo-young.”

In the quiet between them, Go Tae-seong called his name. Woo-young, who had been walking silently beside him, looked up.

“Don’t let Soo-hwa get too close to you.”

Go Tae-seong stopped walking, and Woo-young did the same.

“Why?”

“Don’t you know why?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Woo-young looked at Go Tae-seong with puzzled eyes. Go Tae-seong lowered his gaze for a moment and pressed his lips together, then met Woo-young’s eyes again.

“What if he starts liking you?”

Choke “What?”

The absurd words almost made Woo-young choke. He coughed into his hand, then furrowed his brow. Of course, he thought it was a joke. But Go Tae-seong, with his usual nonchalant expression, looked at Woo-young without the slightest hint of humor.

“I’m asking what you’ll do if he starts liking you.”

For a moment, Woo-young was at a loss for words. It felt like a sudden blow, and he had no idea how to respond. As he blinked, trying to find the words, Go Tae-seong sighed softly, a crooked smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Ah…”

“…”

“Kind of fucked up, so you don’t even want to imagine it, right?”

At the unexpected words, Woo-young froze. The air he had unconsciously inhaled seemed to get stuck in his chest. Without realizing it, he clenched his fist, and his muscles began to stiffen.

“Hey. What’s with the language?”
Woo-young tried to act nonchalant, pursing his lips tightly. He attempted to smile, but it didn’t come easily.

“Why?”

At his question, Go Tae-seong slightly tilted his head, his expression still one of indifference.

“No, fuck…”
Woo-young’s response was cut short. He wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. The words “Are you really okay with a guy liking another guy, Woo-young?” seemed to echo in his ears. His heartbeat, which had been pounding hotly, began to race even faster.

“If it’s fucked up, just say it’s fucked up, what else would you call it?”

A sharp pain shot through his chest. Go Tae-seong’s smile, though neat and composed, looked anything but genuine. He continued to stare directly at Woo-young, his gaze unflinching.

“I saw you holding onto Lee Soo-hwa earlier. It looked… pretty fucking weird.”

Woo-young blinked slowly, like a turtle. He didn’t need to be told. He could tell Go Tae-seong was mocking him.

“So what I’m saying is, Woo-young,”
Go Tae-seong’s voice, smooth and familiar, drifted into his ear. He reached out and placed a hand on Woo-young’s shoulder. It was a friendly, casual gesture, as if nothing was amiss.

“I’m telling you to be careful before that fucked-up thing happens, alright?”
“…”

“Don’t make a fucking scene for no reason…”
A sudden, heavy wall seemed to crash down between them. It fell swiftly, like the blade of a guillotine coming down after a signal.

Woo-young’s gaze dropped. It landed on Go Tae-seong’s hand, which still gripped his shoulder. The long, beautiful fingers—he’d wanted to hold them at least once. His friend’s casual arm around his shoulder, completely unaware of the feelings he was having.

Without realizing it, Woo-young lifted his arm and shoved Go Tae-seong away. He winced in disgust. The touch, which would have been normal any other time, felt more uncomfortable than ever. His heart pounded, as though he had stolen something, but the corner of his chest felt icy cold.

Go Tae-seong stopped in his tracks, and his dark eyes locked onto Woo-young. Woo-young clenched his jaw, exhaling deeply, trying to hold back the pain. He needed to laugh it off, act like it didn’t matter, but the pain in his chest made it impossible to manage his expression.

“I… I’ll be right back. Bathroom.”

Woo-young turned away, walking briskly.

A burning red fever seemed to chase after him. The spark spread quickly, like a wildfire in the dry season, and he had nothing to hold onto. There was no escape for someone who had lost their way; only another ruin waiting.

Later that day…

The whole day had been a blur. His memory was fragmented, like a person with dementia. He couldn’t even remember what he’d been doing in the gym. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Go Tae-seong, and he couldn’t focus on anything else.

“Before that fucked-up thing happens, be careful.”
“Don’t make a fucking scene for no reason…”
The words sent a shiver down his spine. They weren’t directed at him, but they felt as though they were. Today, Go Tae-seong had spread like an uncontrollable cancer cell, growing so rapidly that it felt suffocating. The more he thought about it, the more it hurt. The more he tried to bottle it up, the more it tormented him.

On his way home, Woo-young, walking aimlessly, fiddled with his phone. He didn’t know what he was thinking, his mind a haze as he flipped through the dictionary.

“Goosebumps whisper: The feeling of skin crawling due to cold, fear, or disgust.”

Cold, fear, disgust. The emotions he imagined Go Tae-seong would feel if he knew what Woo-young was thinking. The thoughts made him shiver. Related search terms like “fear” and “shock” appeared. Woo-young chuckled weakly at the glow of the screen in the dark, a faint, pale light.

His hand hovered over the chatroom he’d been in earlier, and he noticed the number of participants had dropped from four to three.

Nam Ki-hyuk has left the chat.
Though he’d expected it, it was too obvious. Woo-young silently tapped on the chat, where his messages from earlier in the day were piled up.

[19:35 Let’s talk after study]
[20:15 Ki-hyuk, pick up the phone]
[21:21 Answer me, how long are you going to ignore me?]
[22:30 Are you not going to see me??]

He had called dozens of times, but Nam Ki-hyuk hadn’t answered. It had been difficult just keeping up with his own emotions, let alone worrying about Nam Ki-hyuk. As he scrolled through his messages, all of a sudden, new replies appeared.

[Nam Ki-hyuk: Come to the playground in front of your house after practice. 23:31]
[Nam Ki-hyuk: It’s 23:31 now]
[Nam Ki-hyuk: Waiting. 23:32]

Woo-young blinked slowly at the unexpected reply. Gripping his phone tightly, he began to walk toward the playground. The moonlight dimmed in the damp air.

At the playground…

From a distance, Woo-young could make out Nam Ki-hyuk’s silhouette. He was sitting on the swing, moving slowly under the streetlight. His head was slightly lowered.

Woo-young stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath, and then walked over to the empty swing. He sat down with a thud.

“Pitiful.”

At the sound of footsteps, Nam Ki-hyuk glanced up at him, then looked down again, sulking, kicking the ground with his shoes.

“What?”

“Is it a trend now to show up without saying anything? Coming over without any contact, causing all this trouble. You’ve been ignoring me all day on chat.”

There was no reply. Woo-young silently lowered his gaze and stared at Nam Ki-hyuk, who was sitting quietly.

“Is your jaw okay?”

He mumbled as he inspected Nam Ki-hyuk’s jaw area. Fortunately, there didn’t seem to be any swelling or visible injury.

“I’m sorry for hitting you earlier. I thought you were out of your mind. I didn’t want you to lose control and keep attacking me.”

Nam Ki-hyuk, who had been keeping his mouth tightly shut, answered bluntly.

“It fucking hurt.”

“…”

“It’s embarrassing.”

Woo-young raised his eyebrows at the quiet muttering.

“Someone who knows it’s embarrassing still acts like that…”

“…”

“Ugh, forget it.”

He mumbled the rest of his words. It was in the past now, and there was no point in dwelling on it. What mattered wasn’t that.

“Why do you keep skipping school? Didn’t your mom yell at you?”

“Yeah.”

“Isn’t Kiju noona home? Didn’t she say anything?”

“Yeah.”

Nam Ki-hyuk answered briefly and sat down on the swing. The atmosphere turned cold, and Woo-young let out a quiet sigh.

“Stop with the one-word answers, you little shit.”

“…”

Woo-young waited in silence as Nam Ki-hyuk remained quiet. It seemed like he didn’t plan to continue the conversation anytime soon, but if he had come this far, there must have been a reason. Woo-young decided to wait for him to speak first, giving him space until then. It might be something he found hard to talk about.

The rusty squeak of the swing echoed through the quiet space. Silence hung between them, and the sky, overcast from early in the day, didn’t have a single star.

“Hey.”

Nam Ki-hyuk, still holding the swing’s ropes, spoke abruptly. His eyes remained fixed on the ground. Woo-young, without answering, raised his head to look at him. The dim streetlight cast a reddish hue over Nam Ki-hyuk’s face, which looked as heavy and gloomy as the dark clouds from earlier in the day.

“I don’t like Lee Soo-hwa.”

“…”

“I’m not hanging out with him anymore.”

Woo-young frowned at the straightforward words. The sudden statement was completely different from what he had expected to hear.

“Why?”

At his question, Nam Ki-hyuk furrowed his brows. He clenched his fist around the ropes of the swing, and Woo-young kept his eyes on the change in his expression. He had been bothered by this whole thing all day too.

“What’s up, you bastard?”

“…”

“Why? Tell me.”

Nam Ki-hyuk let out a sigh through his nose without opening his mouth, closing his eyes for a moment.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

After a brief pause, he murmured quietly.

“Let’s just hang out like we used to, just the two of us. Without Lee Soo-hwa.”

Woo-young exhaled sharply at the absurd suggestion. If things kept going this way, it would just keep spinning in circles, back to square one. His already aching head felt like it was starting to throb again.

“Ah, for fuck’s sake, stop with the bullshit.”

The words came out in an irritated tone. It pissed him off that Nam Ki-hyuk was acting like Lee Soo-hwa was some kind of disposable object to be thrown away. Relationships weren’t something that could be cut off so easily, and his childish insistence felt forced.

“So why the hell are you doing this? I need a reason to think about it, you know. You can’t just randomly say ‘don’t hang out with him.’ Fuck, who the hell do you think you are?”

His words burst out angrily, and Nam Ki-hyuk winced. He abruptly looked up at Woo-young.

“Ah, I just don’t like him. Can’t you just accept that?”

His voice trembled at the end of the sentence. It was a habit he had when he was frustrated.

Woo-young narrowed his eyes. He had wanted to listen to Nam Ki-hyuk’s reasons seriously, especially after what had happened in class. If Lee Soo-hwa had done something wrong, he intended to make him admit it and apologize. The same would apply if it was the other way around. But Nam Ki-hyuk wasn’t explaining anything, and it felt like he was just throwing a tantrum without a reason.

“Stop throwing a tantrum, Nam Ki-hyuk.”

“It’s not a tantrum, I just really don’t like him.”

“So why don’t you like him?”

“I just don’t. I don’t want to hang out with him anymore! He pisses me off!”

“Ah, fuck, stop it already!”

Woo-young shouted before he realized it. His anger flared up, and he glared at Nam Ki-hyuk with burning eyes.

“Are you a fucking little kid? Just randomly saying you don’t want to hang out without any reason—what kind of bullshit is that? Don’t you think it’s childish?”

The two voices echoed loudly through the quiet playground.

The red traffic light blinked. It was nearly midnight, and even Nam Ki-hyuk, who had shown up at this hour, was throwing tantrums. It was frustrating and annoying. After racking his brain all day, Woo-young wasn’t feeling well either.

“Ugh, I’m not going in. I fucking don’t want to listen. I told you I don’t like you, I don’t want to hang out with you! We’ve been friends for years, can’t you even understand that? Is it because of that girl, Lee Soo-hwa?!”

“Fuck! I’m asking why you don’t like him!”

At the loud shout, Nam Ki-hyuk stopped talking. The sound of their heavy breathing echoed. Woo-young gripped the swing’s ropes tightly, puffing up his chest as he inhaled deeply. The anger that had been building up all day poured out uncontrollably.

“What’s the difference between you and those thugs? Why! What did Lee Soo-hwa do wrong? If there’s something wrong, at least say it!”

“Fuck, I don’t know! I just don’t like him! So don’t hang out with him!”

“Ah!”

Woo-young suddenly jumped up and kicked the swing’s post. He put his hands on his waist and tilted his head back, staring into the dark sky. Ha, ha. Despite trying to take deep breaths, he couldn’t control his emotions. A horrible feeling quickly rose, choking him, as if something was squeezing his throat. His insides were boiling with anger. He was so furious he could smash whatever was in front of him.

“Fuck… why, why are you so angry?”

Amid the deep silence, Nam Ki-hyuk’s voice, low and thick, broke through.

“Do you… do you like Lee Soo-hwa or something?”

His eyes widened, and he glared at Woo-young with a burning look. Woo-young let out a bitter laugh at the absurd question.

“Ah… what kind of trash talk is that?”

It wasn’t even worth answering. He had been hearing all sorts of nonsense all day. The day had been particularly bad. He wanted to leave right then, but Nam Ki-hyuk, now serious, seemed determined not to stop.

“I heard it all from Jo Hyun-woo.”

Nam Ki-hyuk continued, his voice tight with restraint.

“They said you asked the kids to collect money because of Lee Soo-hwa. That you stopped anyone from talking to him. That because of you, the kids couldn’t even talk to him. They said you were always being a bitch about it, that the quiet kid, Kwon Woo-young, was always talking about money, that you were a fucking loser’s sidekick, that there was something between you two. Did you know that?”

With those rapid-fire words, Woo-young’s face turned cold and stiff.

“I didn’t give a shit about that bastard. I didn’t even care about him. But then that fucking bastard, Lee Soo-hwa, took off his glasses, and he looked pretty cute. They were saying ‘Woo-young, are you in love with him?’ I kept saying no, but they didn’t stop! You don’t know, do you? You don’t know anything! Ever since I heard those words, I didn’t like him! But still, even if you liked him, I didn’t care, so I just hung out with him!”

Nam Ki-hyuk’s eyes were bloodshot, his breath ragged. He gripped the ropes of the swing even tighter and stared at Woo-young, who stood motionless. Woo-young, too, looked down at him with cold, stiff eyes.

Anger surged to the top of his head. The people who couldn’t say a word in front of him, but talked shit behind his back, were the ones that pissed him off. He could see Nam Ki-hyeok laughing it off, defending himself. The same went for what happened earlier that day. The unfamiliar words from Go Tae-seong, and then it was all about Lee Soo-hwa. Lee Soo-hwa, Lee Soo-hwa! Both Nam Ki-hyuk and Go Tae-seong kept repeating the same thing.

Why? Why was it so wrong? Wasn’t it okay for a friend to like another friend? Wasn’t it okay for a man to like another man? Was it disgusting and creepy? Was it a terrible thing just because it was hard to imagine? So should it be hidden? I know, I know that too. I know. But is it really… is it really so wrong…

“So.”

Despite the turmoil in his chest, Woo-young answered with frustration. It felt like tears, mixed with anger, might spill out, so he twisted his face even more.

“Ah, so what? What does that even matter? What do you want me to do about it? Why the fuck does it matter right now?!”

His voice, filled with fury, shattered the tense silence. He felt like he was suffocating, as if the hot lump of anger that had risen to his throat was choking him. His clenched fists were shaking uncontrollably.

“Why… why aren’t you saying it? Why won’t you admit it?”

Nam Ki-hyuk, his face stiff, locked eyes with Woo-young. It was as if he had been struck at his core by Woo-young’s raw, naked rage.

“Do you… do you really like him?”

Nam Ki-hyuk’s pupils shook wildly. Woo-young, who had lowered his head without realizing it, let out another bitter laugh. His eyes were cold and hard.

“Ha… fuck.”

And then, the fragile thread of his reason snapped.

“So what if I do?”

“……”

“Is it wrong to like someone?”

Nam Ki-hyuk, taken aback by the unexpected answer, shut his mouth. Woo-young’s eyes, wide open, were tinged with red. The tender skin around his eyes sparkled in the dim light of the moon. His mind was already overwhelmed with the words Go Tae-seong had said just hours earlier.

It was creepy, disgusting. A man liking another man, a friend liking another friend, you liking yourself, Kwon Woo-young liking Go Tae-seong… liking someone.

The ember, which had been barely smothered, flared up again. The spark, once it caught, exploded violently with a loud bang.

“Is it wrong to like someone? Why is it wrong? I said I like him, fuck, did those bastards contribute anything? Whatever those assholes say doesn’t matter! I like him! So what the fuck does it matter?!”

With a deafening roar, heavy fragments of emotion slammed into his body. Woo-young was engulfed in a searing, sorrowful rage, so overwhelming that it made him forget the pain. The unjust frustration surged within him like an erupting volcano, reducing him to a defeated, broken soldier. No matter how hard he struggled, there was nothing he could do.

“You… you fucking…”

Nam Ki-hyuk stammered, unable to continue. He had never seen Woo-young this angry, so his confusion was understandable.

Still standing, Woo-young furrowed his brows, watching Nam Ki-hyuk fumble for words. He hadn’t meant to lose his temper like this. He didn’t want to. But today, today was different. The words of Go Tae-seong and Nam Ki-hyuk had reopened the wounds that he had been forcefully suppressing for years. It was like someone had set fire to his chest.

“Hey, just go.”

Woo-young sighed as if chewing on the words. He was irritated, and despite his sadness, he couldn’t shake the feeling of annoyance. In a voice dripping with frustration, he spoke again.

“Just leave… I don’t know what I’ll do right now.”

“……”

At the silence that followed, Woo-young slowly lifted his gaze and saw Nam Ki-hyuk, wounded and standing there. His face was twisted in pain as he stared at Woo-young.

“Kwon Woo-young, you… you really are too much.”

Nam Ki-hyuk’s voice trembled, holding back tears. His eyes, red at the corners, began to fill with tears. Seeing the tears, Woo-young furrowed his brow and closed his eyes. He knew. He knew he was wrong. This wasn’t the right way to take his anger out on him.

“Ha… fuck.”

Woo-young ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. Slowly, he rubbed his face with both hands.

He shouldn’t have met him today. He should have just left things alone. His own desires had led to even worse consequences. He never intended to hurt him, nor did he want to be hurt himself. But somehow, everything had turned out this way. The situation kept drifting in unintended directions.

The anger he had unleashed felt like a regret. Everything had gone wrong.

“I’m sorry for what I said. I really am. Ha…”

“……”

“I wasn’t in the mood for it either. Just go home. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

Woo-young muttered as if to himself, his words barely audible. He should have been the one comforting Nam Ki-hyuk, but he couldn’t even calm his own feelings, so it was impossible for anything to improve. Right now, staying together wouldn’t solve anything.

“Ki-hyuk. Just… just go for now.”

His voice had softened, trying to soothe him, but he still kept his palm pressed against his eyes, refusing to look at him. Suddenly, there was a rustling sound from somewhere. Nam Ki-hyuk, who had been standing motionless, hesitated before slowly walking away. A few moments later, the sound of footsteps running on the dirt ground echoed, growing fainter as they disappeared in the distance. Only then did Woo-young slowly lower his hand. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

“Ha… fuck.”

Thud. Woo-young weakly kicked the swing post, then collapsed onto the ground, sitting down with his back against it. He roughly ran his fingers through his hair, then gripped it tightly, looking up at the sky. The destructive emotions rising within him were overwhelming.

The words he had thrown at Nam Ki-hyuk had been a double-edged sword. While he had wounded him, he had also been hurt in the process. But even as his heart tore apart, he didn’t feel the need to patch it up. Karma. This was something he had to face. Everything was inevitable.

The moon, hidden behind thick clouds, reminded him of Go Tae-seong. Whether it was when he stood boldly in the pitch-black darkness or when he was hidden under the heavy rain clouds, whether in the daytime or at night, he was always there, following him. He hated it. But at the same time, he liked it. The white moon, which always made him think of Go Tae-seong, was so incredibly frustrating. Yet, even now, in this moment, he desperately wanted to see him again.

“Did you come?”

Woo-young, who had been squatting down tying his sneakers, glanced up. Unlike yesterday, when the rain had been pouring, today the sun was shining brightly from the morning. Go Tae-seong stood in front of him, bathed in the sunlight that was shining directly on him, making Woo-young squint slightly. It was unusually bright.

After tightening his shoelaces, Woo-young adjusted his bag on his shoulder and stood up. He couldn’t look Go Tae-seong in the eye, not after what had happened the day before.

“Let’s go.”

He casually patted Go Tae-seong on the shoulder and walked past him as if nothing had happened. The morning air was refreshing. Unlike the chaotic mess of emotions inside him the night before, the breath he took now was filled with the clean scent of the early morning. Go Tae-seong followed him silently.

“Woo-young.”

Go Tae-seong, who had been silently following behind, suddenly grabbed Woo-young’s shoulder. Startled, Woo-young stopped in his tracks. When he looked up, he met Go Tae-seong’s gaze, which was staring down at him quietly.

“It’s swollen.”

Go Tae-seong’s eyes lingered on Woo-young’s face. His firm index finger touched the skin around Woo-young’s eye. Unknowingly, Woo-young flinched.

Again. That piercing gaze, as if it could see through everything, an unrelenting stare that wouldn’t let him hide anything. The silent pressure, like it would expose everything within him.

It was suffocating. As the emotions swelled up, Woo-young lowered his gaze. He didn’t want to expose the one small secret he had left hidden.

“Ah… I ate ramen late last night, so it’s probably swollen. Maybe I cooked two packs? The broth was kind of salty.”

He nodded his head, then resumed walking. For some reason, he felt like he could feel that persistent stare from behind, as if it was watching him closely.

The night before, when Woo-young had returned home, he buried his face in the pillow, wrapped himself in the blanket, and cried uncontrollably.

Everything was just so damn messed up, he hated everything, and he was disgusted with himself.

He felt like everything he had built up was being denied. No, it felt like even his very existence, Kwon Woo-young, was being denied. Alone, he had fallen into endless torment, struggling, but he couldn’t even hold onto a broken string. There was nothing to pull him out of that black abyss he had been in the night before.

He had tossed and turned nearly all night, and by the time the dawn came, he had just barely fallen into a shallow sleep when his alarm went off. When he opened his eyes, he saw his eyelids were slightly swollen. He had known that Go Tae-seong, with his sharp senses, would notice, but as always, he was quick to pick up on it. The guy was sharp.

“Did you eat ramen and go to sleep, so it’s swollen?”

In response to the question, Woo-young slowly nodded. He raised his lips slightly in a forced smile, then shrugged his shoulders.

“Yeah, I shouldn’t eat late-night snacks anymore.”

“But why only your eyes?”

At the calm tone of the question, Woo-young closed his mouth. Go Tae-seong’s gaze, unwavering and direct, fell upon him, probing deeply. Woo-young felt the suffocating pressure, as if he could feel his innermost secrets being exposed.

“Oh, I was eating and the broth splashed into my eye, so I rubbed it really hard.”

“……”

“You should be careful when eating ramen too. It stings like hell if it gets in your eye.”

Woo-young nervously glanced around, his gaze drifting to the other side of the street. His expression was calm, but inside, he was a bundle of nerves. The silence hung heavily between them. He knew Go Tae-seong probably wouldn’t believe him. It sounded like a flimsy excuse even to him. But he couldn’t think of anything else to say. He had no courage to face it, so avoiding it was the only option.

“Kwon Woo-young.”

At the unfamiliar voice, Woo-young stiffened. He slowly turned around and saw Go Tae-seong standing slightly to the side, looking at him. Their eyes locked, and Woo-young’s heart sank at the emotionless gaze Go Tae-seong was giving him.

“What is it, bastard?”

Woo-young forced a smile, trying to act nonchalant. His smooth cheek formed a playful dimple as he smiled. For a moment, Go Tae-seong’s pupils seemed to waver at the sudden smile, but it was only for an instant.

Go Tae-seong took a step forward and reached out, lightly grabbing the upper part of Woo-young’s loosely tied necktie. Woo-young’s eyes followed Go Tae-seong’s hand, but he didn’t move.

“You.”

“……”

“Behave yourself.”

Go Tae-seong pulled the loose necktie up to Woo-young’s neck, tightening it. It felt as though he was being choked, though from the outside, it looked like Go Tae-seong was just adjusting it. Woo-young lowered his head slightly and silently watched as Go Tae-seong adjusted his tie.

Kwon Woo-young. The familiar, yet strange name echoed in his ears.

The school that returned was no different from yesterday. The sound of a ball bouncing in the classroom, the rustling of book pages being turned, the noise of people chatting and laughing clumsily—it was as busy and disordered as a freshly opened market.

There were no answers to the problems I had been thinking about last night. The events of yesterday felt like a kindling, as if they were trying to burn me alive. In a moment of misplaced frustration, I blurted out that I liked Lee Soo-hwa, and even spoke harshly.

In reality, it was as if I had fought with Nam Ki-hyuk, but I didn’t even know what needed to be reconciled. What he wanted was a blind break with Lee Soo-hwa. But with my personality, I couldn’t just do that, no matter the reason.

Fortunately, Nam Ki-hyuk arrived at school before class started. I made eye contact with him first, but he turned away. I understood how he felt. He must have been upset among the mocking guys, and I knew that from the time we had spent together.

Thinking about it made my head throb again. I wanted to punch someone, maybe Jo Hyun-woo or Kim Hyun-woo, though I didn’t even remember who it was. But I had no parents to handle things for me, no one to ask for money, so I had to endure it.

It was something that would be forgotten once it passed. I wasn’t a reckless child anymore. I was becoming an adult who could handle things on my own.

Throughout the class, I kept glancing at Nam Ki-hyuk, sitting diagonally ahead of me. But he never once looked my way. Even the messages I had sent him weren’t read, so I had no choice but to confront him directly.

After the fourth period, during lunch, I suddenly stood up from my seat and walked over to him. He was surrounded by Park Jin-woo and Kim Jin-sung’s group, chatting loudly.

“Nam.”

With a short call, everyone’s gaze turned toward me. I ignored it and stared at him silently.

“Let’s talk.”

At my words, Nam Ki-hyuk looked up at me. After a brief silence, I spoke again.

“Let’s talk.”

Without saying anything, Nam Ki-hyuk turned his head and got up from his seat. He pushed Park Jin-woo’s shoulder and turned his back to me.

“I don’t have anything to say. Hey, let’s go eat.”

The people standing around, sensing the tension, slowly began to head out the door. I frowned and silently watched as they left.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but it was becoming harder. I cursed inwardly and turned around. There was Go Tae-seong, sitting sideways with his legs crossed, flipping through a book.

Sigh. I couldn’t help but let out a breath. I walked back to my seat and plopped down. He had already sensed the atmosphere between Nam Ki-hyuk and me.

What should I say? Had he already heard about what happened with Nam Ki-hyuk? I wondered why he didn’t ask me about it first, and that made me even more uneasy. Maybe Go Tae-seong was waiting for me to speak first.

I sat in thought for a moment. Go Tae-seong was the type who didn’t care about anything other than his own business. It seemed like it would be better to finish the conversation with Nam Ki-hyuk first. Based on his attitude today, it didn’t seem like things would be easily resolved, but I had to do it. After lunch, I decided to take him out briefly, apologize for yesterday, and wrap up the conversation.

My head started to hurt again. As I pressed my throbbing temples with my fingers, a white hand appeared in front of me.

“Here… eat this.”

It was a grape-flavored and strawberry-flavored lollipop. I picked up one of the candies from the desk. Even without looking up, I knew it was Lee Soo-hwa. As expected, Lee Soo-hwa was nervously twisting his hands, looking down with an uneasy face.

“Oh. Thanks.”

Holding the candy in my hand, I deliberately winked at him. He was probably feeling self-conscious. I wanted to ask him about it right now, but I knew that unless I spoke openly with Nam Ki-hyuk, it would all be pointless.

I decided to let it go. Instead of digging into Lee Soo-hwa’s intentions, it seemed better to talk to Nam Ki-hyuk all at once.

Lee Soo-hwa’s face reddened in surprise at the sudden wink. There was only one candy left on the desk. As usual, it was Go Tae-seong’s share. I picked up the candy and handed it to him.

“Hey.”

However, Go Tae-seong briefly glanced at the candy and then ignored it. He had no intention of taking it. I raised my eyebrows at this unexpected behavior.

“What’s the matter? Take it.”

Still looking at his book, Go Tae-seong spoke.

“I don’t like candy.”

He said, smiling faintly. What the hell? No one loved candy as much as Go Tae-seong. I knew that for sure. Lee Soo-hwa, who had been watching, hesitated. I smiled nonchalantly and looked at him.

“Why? Afraid of getting cavities?”

“……”

“Then both are mine. Thanks? Hey, don’t bring stuff for this guy again.”

At the playful words, Lee Soo-hwa’s stiff expression softened a little. After quietly watching Lee Soo-hwa’s face, Woo-young quickly stood up.

“I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

He tapped Go Tae-seong’s arm, and Go Tae-seong, who had been reading, slowly closed his book and stood up. Woo-young, who had started walking ahead, turned his head back. He motioned toward Lee Soo-hwa, who was still standing there absent-mindedly.

“Lee Soo-hwa. What are you doing?”

At Woo-young’s words, Lee Soo-hwa hesitated for a moment, then followed behind with quick steps. Though he seemed a little subdued, he appeared to be in a better state than expected.

The three of them walked through the noisy hallway and headed to the cafeteria. It was quieter than usual without Nam Ki-hyuk, who was always the loudest. Woo-young didn’t feel like joking around either, but the silence between the three of them started to feel uncomfortable.

“Lee Soo-hwa.”

“Yeah?”

“What major are you going to apply for?”

Lee Soo-hwa looked up at him in response. Woo-young had always known that he was a hard worker who focused on his grades, but upon reflection, he realized he had never actually asked him this question before.

“Law… law school.”

Lee Soo-hwa muttered with his eyes cast down. Woo-young raised his eyebrows slightly, smiling faintly.

“Ah, so you’re going to become a law student?”

“…Yeah… My father… he told me to.”

He trailed off, his voice faint. Unlike Woo-young’s expectation that Lee Soo-hwa might be the typical rich kid who grew up spoiled, it seemed like he came from a strict family. Woo-young glanced at Go Tae-seong, who remained silent, before turning his gaze back to Lee Soo-hwa.

“Isn’t there something you want to do? A major you’re interested in?”

“Mm… Not really.”

Well, that was understandable. There were many kids around him who didn’t know what they truly wanted to do either. Most of them were just struggling to get through their entrance exams, living day by day. Woo-young, too, was aiming for a physical education entrance exam but wasn’t exactly sure what he wanted to do after that.

When they arrived at the cafeteria, they stood in line. As they picked up their trays, Woo-young scanned the room and saw Nam Ki-hyuk with his gang—Park Jin-woo and Kim Jin-sung—sitting at two tables, occupying more space than necessary and looking rebellious.

Woo-young clicked his tongue in distaste and turned his gaze. He then looked at Lee Soo-hwa’s head in front of him and quickly gave up on his thoughts.

“Enjoy your meal.”

“Thank you.”

It was rush hour, so the cafeteria was packed. Despite its large size, it was hard to find a vacant seat. As Woo-young searched for a spot, he motioned to Lee Soo-hwa, who was still looking around.

“Chopa, let’s sit over there.”

Lee Soo-hwa nodded and started walking toward the spot Woo-young had pointed to. After finishing their meal, they carefully dodged the children who were getting up noisily. But suddenly, Lee Soo-hwa stumbled and fell forward with a crash.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Startled, Woo-young’s eyes widened. Lee Soo-hwa was sprawled out on the floor amidst the spilled leftovers.

He turned his head quickly and saw Lee Soo-hwa’s foot awkwardly sticking out. Woo-young’s eyes followed the foot up the leg, moving slowly along his school uniform pants.

“Ah, sorry. Didn’t see you.”

Yu Young-jae, who had been laughing, waved his hand with a grin. Park Jin-woo, Kim Jin-sung, and Lee Jin-ho, who were sitting at the same table, were also giggling.

Woo-young’s cold stare swept over them. At the end of his gaze was Nam Ki-hyuk, who, despite the commotion, didn’t even glance in their direction, silently eating with his head down. His cheeks were puffed out, obviously forcing himself to eat.

Bang. Woo-young slammed his tray down onto the adjacent table. He grabbed Lee Soo-hwa’s arm and glared down at Yu Young-jae.

“You bastard…”

When their eyes met, Yu Young-jae turned away in avoidance. He nervously chuckled at Lee Jin-ho, who sat next to him. Woo-young’s rage boiled inside him, and he felt a hot breath surge up from his chest. His eyes involuntarily contorted with anger.

“Hey, you little shit. Are you out of your mind?”

“Woo-young.”

A voice from behind made Woo-young stop. He turned around to see Go Tae-seong looking down at him with an indifferent expression. It was an unspoken message: don’t go any further.

Grumbling, Woo-young helped Lee Soo-hwa up, who was still covered in food. At the same time, Yu Young-jae spoke with an innocent tone.

“Hey, really sorry. I didn’t mean to do that. What should I do? I’ll pay for the laundry.”

His playful words made Woo-young’s expression grow colder. Park Jin-woo, who was sitting across from him, raised his head and spoke up.

“Go Tae-seong! Come sit here and eat. Woo-young, you should take Lee Soo-hwa to wash up.”

The words, laced with a subtle tone, made everyone around them giggle quietly. Woo-young clenched his fist tightly. He felt an impulse to grab their collar and punch them right now.

“Woo-young, Woo-young…”

A faint voice reached his ears. Woo-young lowered his gaze to see Lee Soo-hwa, whose head was bowed. He was trembling slightly like an animal in front of a predator, his eyes fixed on Woo-young’s clenched fist.

Only then did Woo-young realize that many eyes were on them. Whispers from the surrounding students started to grow louder.

There were too many witnesses. Creating a scene here would benefit no one. It would be better to take Lee Soo-hwa and leave.

With that thought, Woo-young helped Lee Soo-hwa, whose legs were unsteady, to stand up. His small body lifted as if by force from Woo-young’s strong grip. Woo-young gave his trembling shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

“It’s okay.”

He whispered softly, holding back the emotions rising within him, slowly exhaling. After composing himself, Woo-young looked at Go Tae-seong, who was still standing, motionless, with his tray in hand.

“Go eat with those assholes. I’ll take care of this guy.”

He winked at him with a faint smile, pretending to be casual.

The truth was, those guys were just trying to please Go Tae-seong, and Woo-young couldn’t eat in this situation anyway. Besides, Nam Ki-hyuk was there, so it didn’t matter.

“Just go by yourself,” Go Tae-seong said, in a dry, unexpected tone.

Woo-young raised his eyebrows.

“What?”

“Tell them to go on their own.”

Go Tae-seong’s eyes slowly moved toward Lee Soo-hwa. Woo-young frowned involuntarily.

“Ah, what the hell are you saying? Just go and eat.”

Woo-young casually patted Go Tae-seong on the shoulder. Maybe it was a natural reaction for Go Tae-seong, but at this moment, Woo-young couldn’t let that happen. As he passed by, a strange voice interrupted him, making him stop in his tracks.

“Kwon Woo-young.”

At the cold tone, Woo-young froze in place as if struck.

“Let’s eat together.”

Go Tae-seong’s gaze landed on Woo-young. For a brief moment, their eyes met, and the moment stretched out like a slow-motion scene. Strangers passing by continued on their way as if nothing had happened, leaving only Go Tae-seong, Woo-young, and Lee Soo-hwa—who was still covered in food—standing clearly in the middle of it all.

A mix of chaotic thoughts swirled inside Woo-young, but he didn’t have the time or space to think any deeper.

“See you later.”

Woo-young slowly began to walk away. The sounds of chatter and laughter behind him felt like ringing in his ears. “Woo-young, let’s go. The school lunch menu sucks today anyway.” The voice, which normally would have sounded familiar, echoed in his mind, but the vague hope that it might be real quickly faded into the air, leaving only a fading afterimage.

On the first floor of the annex building at Unil High School, there was a shower room reserved for the sports club. However, because there was also a shower room on the first floor of the main building, and the annex was isolated, even the sports club rarely used it.

Woo-young led Lee Soo-hwa there. If they went to the main building where the students were crowded during lunch, the whole school might find out about Lee Soo-hwa being covered in food.

The shower room, as expected, was quiet, without even a single ant. Woo-young exhaled softly and looked at Lee Soo-hwa. His white dress shirt sleeves were soaked in red sauce and stained messily.

“Did you hurt yourself anywhere?”

“…Yeah.”

Lee Soo-hwa nodded, his face pale.

“Are you sure you’re not hurt? Damn, why do I have to keep asking the same thing?”

“…”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Woo-young irritably ruffled his bangs. It felt like he had been asking the same thing for days, and it only made him more annoyed. It seemed like everyone was deliberately trying to make Lee Soo-hwa suffer.

“Take off your jacket. Do you have gym clothes in the classroom?”

His clothes were a mess. From his sleeves to his pants, everything was stained, and it seemed like he needed to change. Lee Soo-hwa shook his head, his face still white.

“Ah, no… I didn’t bring any.”

“Just clean yourself up. I’ll bring some.”

Woo-young left Lee Soo-hwa there and headed back to the classroom. His steps felt heavy, as if something had fallen out of place. It was like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube and it twisting just when he thought it was almost right—each turn making things more and more messed up.

Leaving the annex building, Woo-young walked aimlessly until he was suddenly stopped by a figure blocking his path. Looking up, he saw Go Tae-seong, breathing slightly hard as if he had been running.

“What is it?”

For a moment, Woo-young’s brain stopped processing. They had just parted ways in the cafeteria a few minutes ago. It was unlikely that Go Tae-seong had already finished eating. The path between the main building and the annex was seldom used by anyone, so there was no reason for him to be there.

“Did you not eat? What are you doing here?”

Is he looking for me? Woo-young glanced back at Go Tae-seong, who silently met his gaze. Despite the question, Go Tae-seong remained still and kept staring at Woo-young.

“Did you come to find me…?”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

The corner of Go Tae-seong’s eyes twitched slightly. For a moment, it almost looked like he was frowning.

“Why are you ignoring what I said?”

Woo-young frowned at the low mutter. To be called someone who ignores others—it didn’t sit right with him. He had never ignored anything Go Tae-seong had said.

“Why are you ignoring me?”

At the repeated question, Woo-young blinked in surprise. It was inevitable that he had to bring Lee Soo-hwa here, despite what had been said. He couldn’t just leave someone being mocked in front of everyone and go join the stronger side. He didn’t even see those guys as the “strong side”—they were just pathetic, dirty thugs.

“Woo-young… damn, look at me.”

With a harsh voice, Go Tae-seong grabbed Woo-young’s chin. Lost in thought, Woo-young’s eyes had involuntarily fallen downward, but Go Tae-seong forcefully lifted them.

“When I’m talking to you, you should look at me.”

Go Tae-seong’s dark eyes glinted with anger as his face leaned in at an angle.

“…What’s this about?”

Startled by the sudden action, Woo-young frowned. Go Tae-seong’s grip on his chin was painful.

“How can you just sit there and eat like nothing’s wrong?”

Woo-young grabbed his wrist and forced it away. He understood why Go Tae-seong might be angry, but this level of anger didn’t make sense to him.

“Honestly, it’s kind of messed up. How old are we, and there are still assholes doing this kind of shit? I never would’ve imagined it.”

If it weren’t for him, these guys would have been bullying Lee Soo-hwa long ago. He had felt that something was off about them all along—looking at their actions, they were nothing but bullies.

“Anyway, Lee Soo-hwa’s in the annex shower room, so I need to bring him gym clothes. Go to the classroom. If you didn’t eat, let’s go to the snack bar later.”

Woo-young tapped Go Tae-seong lightly on the chest. Go Tae-seong, who had been staring down at him, pursed his lips.

“You’re going too far.”

“Huh?”

“You’re going too far.”

“What’s too far?”

The languid gaze sharpened with a cold light. The sudden tension made Woo-young blink. Oddly, amidst the moment, the sound of birds chirping could be heard from somewhere. The sky, clear and without a cloud, stretched endlessly upward, and the sunlight beat down fiercely, making the surroundings bright and clear. Through that peaceful serenity, Go Tae-seong’s sharp voice pierced through.

“Why are you so desperate to protect Lee Soo-hwa?”

The lukewarm tone made Woo-young’s throat tighten. It was the same thing again. He had heard it multiple times in just a few days, and it was becoming utterly tiresome.

“Ah…”

With a boiling sound, Woo-young sighed and ran his hand through his hair.

“It’s not Lee Soo-hwa.”

He stopped briefly, then let out another shallow breath.

“It’s not because it’s Lee Soo-hwa. If it had been someone else, anyone else, even you or Nam Ki-hyuk, I would have done the same.”

“The same?”

“Yeah, the same.”

At Woo-young’s firm answer, Go Tae-seong clenched his jaw.

“Same as Lee Soo-hwa and me? Fuck, are you for real?”

Suddenly, Go Tae-seong’s eyes twisted in anger. Seeing his unexpected reaction, Woo-young sighed again.

“Why are you suddenly overreacting like this? Fine, fine, it’s not the same. It’s not the same. No, it wouldn’t be. If it were you, you’d have flipped everything upside down right there. You’d have made a mess of it. If it were you, instead of going to Korea University, you’d be heading to jail next year.”

Woo-young playfully tapped his arm and looked up at him, trying to ease his obviously twisted mood.

“Anyway, how could you pretend you didn’t know? Do you not know Lee Soo-hwa’s personality? He’s soft and weak. If you leave him alone, guys like Yoo Yeong-jae won’t leave him alone. They’ll keep pushing him.”

At Woo-young’s words, Go Tae-seong exhaled sharply. He clearly looked uncomfortable, his face showing no sign of softening. Woo-young scratched his forehead with his finger, visibly frustrated. Then, with an exasperated sigh, he ruffled his hair and shouted “Ah!” The mental overload from the past few days made him not want to think about anything anymore.

“Hey, hey. Just wait here. I’ll go get the gym clothes.”

Just as Woo-young was about to move, Go Tae-seong muttered.

“Lee Soo-hwa’s father.”

“……”

“His father is a prosecutor. Lee Soo-hwa’s father is Lee Soo-wan, a special prosecutor in the Central District Prosecutor’s Office. Nam Ki-hyuk’s father’s company is being investigated by that asshole, and a warrant for his arrest is about to be issued.”

Woo-young’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden statement. The conversation he had with Lee Soo-hwa earlier flashed in his mind.

‘Oh, you’re going to law school?’

‘…Just… my father insisted.’

His father wanted him to go to law school. A prosecutor. The seemingly innocent question he had asked suddenly took on a much more serious meaning. Despite the gravity of the content, Go Tae-seong continued speaking calmly, unfazed by Woo-young’s reaction.

“He didn’t tell me because his pride was hurt. The news is going to break soon, and his sisters are apparently preparing to go study abroad.”

Woo-young’s eyes slowly widened in disbelief.

“No way. Suddenly… What, what did he do wrong? Are you sure about this?”

In his panic, Woo-young grabbed Go Tae-seong’s arm and urgently asked.

“Is his father really going to get arrested? If that happens, is Nam Ki-hyuk’s family ruined?”

Go Tae-seong carefully looked over Woo-young’s face, reacting to his unusual, frantic response.

“They’re a big corporation, so they won’t go bankrupt, but obviously, it’s going to be bad for their family. The exact details will only be clear once the verdict comes out.”

“Ha, shit… What the hell is going on.”

In confusion, Woo-young rubbed his face with both hands. At that moment, the image of Nam Ki-hyuk acting strangely in the classroom flashed in his mind.

‘You want to cause trouble right before the college entrance exam? You idiot.’

‘Shut up. I don’t give a shit about that fucking mess… just leave me alone.’

The face he had made when growling at him in the classroom was still vivid in his memory. Even though the college entrance exam was right around the corner, if something as big as this had happened, he couldn’t focus on exams—he wouldn’t even be in the right frame of mind.

Now, slowly, all the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. Unlike Woo-young and Go Tae-seong, Nam Ki-hyuk’s family had been a peaceful one. No matter what crimes his father had committed, it was clear that Lee Soo-hwa’s father, and by extension Lee Soo-hwa, must have been a source of resentment for Nam Ki-hyuk.

Woo-young cursed inwardly. If Go Tae-seong’s words were true, it was unimaginable what kind of torment Nam Ki-hyuk had been living through these past few days.

“So, Woo-young…”

Go Tae-seong spoke up, leaving Woo-young to stew in his confusion.

“Are you going back?”

There was no emotion in his face, just a calm question. Woo-young squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again, biting his lip. His mind was crowded with thoughts of Nam Ki-hyuk.

Instead of focusing on Go Tae-seong’s question, Woo-young’s thoughts were consumed by how to approach Nam Ki-hyuk. He felt like he should force himself to go speak to him… but was he supposed to pretend it didn’t happen because of his pride? What should he do?

“Ah, wait a minute. Shit…”

There was something he needed to take care of first. He suddenly remembered that Lee Soo-hwa was waiting for him in the annex.

“First, first. Um, I’ll bring Lee Soo-hwa’s clothes, then come back and we’ll talk again.”

With a serious expression, Woo-young took quick steps. He suddenly realized that Lee Soo-hwa had probably been waiting for a long time after being caught by Go Tae-seong. The thought of him shivering alone, like a drenched puppy in the rain, made Woo-young anxious.

After bringing the clothes to him, then he would have to go to Nam Ki-hyuk, pretend like nothing happened, apologize, or maybe comfort him… No, maybe apologize…

“Just leave it.”

In a state of confusion, Woo-young came to a halt, his steps heavy and slow.

“That guy… damn…”

“…”

“Just… just leave it alone.”

When he turned his head, Go Tae-seong appeared, shrouded in darkness. It wasn’t that he was standing in the shadows of the thick tree cover, but it felt like his entire presence was consumed by darkness.

“I can’t stand looking at him anymore, it’s fucking annoying.”

Woo-young slowly blinked. The corners of his usually neat lips were twisted downward, forming an expression he rarely ever wore—a dark and unreadable face.

It didn’t take a question to know why he was wearing that face and speaking those sharp words. In fact, Woo-young already knew. It was a glaring truth that could not be ignored, no matter how hard he tried to turn a blind eye.

‘Damn it… this is creepy.’

As he inhaled the breath he had been holding, his heart made a cracking sound, as if it were about to break.

Woo-young bit the inside of his cheek. Through the branches of the tree above him, he heard the soft flapping of bird wings. A cool breeze brushed against his cheek, and without realizing it, he subtly lifted the corner of his lips, letting out a soft sound as the wind passed.

“Why is it so damn annoying?”

He stared directly into Go Tae-seong’s eyes. He knew that avoiding confrontation was the best course of action, but for some reason, he kept pushing forward, headstrong. Even though he knew it wouldn’t end well, he couldn’t stop himself from pressing on.

“Does it creep you out?”

“…”

“Are you afraid I’m gay or something?”

At Go Tae-seong’s blunt question, his eyes briefly flickered. Woo-young didn’t miss the change, and kept his gaze fixed on him.

His deep, unblinking eyes slowly scanned Go Tae-seong’s face. His long, lazy eyes, his soft lashes with a tiny mole beneath them, his straight and prominent nose, pale, smooth skin, and dark, soft hair. The unwavering gaze that was always directed at him.

He was so beautiful, so precious… like a first love. A love so pure that it felt almost unattainable.

“Just kidding, you bastard.”

“…”

“Did you get scared?”

With a sly grin, Woo-young gave him a light shove. He smiled so widely that his cheeks dimpled, and with a quick nod, he turned away. Despite his turbulent inner thoughts, he couldn’t help but let the smile slip out.

“There’s only three months left until the college entrance exam. Stop making a fuss and just study. I’m going.”

Without waiting for an answer, he turned his back and walked away. The silence that followed left a lingering impression—the look in Go Tae-seong’s eyes, locked onto him, stayed in Woo-young’s mind like an afterimage. That familiar, expressionless face, yet there was a clear trace of embarrassment in his gaze.