"I… I don't even know if it's true," the senior said, glancing around nervously. "I just heard it randomly… from someone else."
Jungwon and Kwon exchanged quick glances, their earlier shock still lingering.
"Why did you both shout like that?" another curious senior asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kwon's cheeks flushed, and he quickly tried to cover. "It's nothing… hehe, just surprised, that's all," he replied, forcing a nervous laugh.
From a few tables away, Sechan and Tae, seated with a few friends, caught the tail end of the conversation. Their eyes locked briefly on Jungwon and Kwon's table.
Tae instinctively placed a hand over his chest and smiled faintly, feeling his heartbeat quicken. The flutter in his chest was unmistakable—an excited, hopeful flutter.
One of the seniors near Jungwon and Kwon leaned back with a grin and said, "Guys, remember—our graduation is coming up soon. You don't want to miss it."
"When is it exactly?" Jungwon asked, pausing with a bite of his food.
"In a few months," another senior replied, watching Jungwon closely.
Kwon's voice dropped, almost wistfully. "So… after you leave, we'll be all alone."
A tender silence followed, the weight of impending change settling over them.
The senior nodded knowingly. "I know everyone might get busy after graduation—jobs, college, whatever comes next—but that doesn't mean we can't stay in touch. We'll meet up, have good times, and you'll make new friends too. Life doesn't end here."
Kwon and Jungwon both nodded slowly, the comfort of those words easing some of the unease.
They chatted a little more, sharing laughter and memories, before the bell rang signaling the end of lunch break.
The friends packed up and headed to class.
As they settled into their seats, Jungwon suddenly noticed a girl sitting a few desks behind them, glancing nervously in their direction.
"Why is she looking over here?" Jungwon whispered to Kwon, who had also noticed her.
The girl's hands gripped something hidden under her desk, and she seemed visibly anxious.
"I thought I was the only one who noticed," Kwon murmured.
Then, without warning, the girl stood up abruptly and walked straight over to their desk.
"Hi… I'm Chae," she said quickly, almost breathlessly, holding out a small wrapped gift toward Jungwon.
Jungwon blinked in surprise, exchanging a confused look with Kwon.
Before either of them could respond, Chae turned and hurried back to her seat, lowering her head shyly.
Jungwon carefully turned the gift over in his hands. On the top was a neat little note written in soft cursive: "Please, open it when you get home."
Jungwon glanced back at Chae, who now sat with her head bowed low, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. It was clear she was too embarrassed to even look his way.
Kwon, who had been observing the whole scene, leaned closer and grinned teasingly. "Hmm… seems like someone has a crush on you."
Jungwon turned to Kwon immediately, a faint pink tint rising to his cheeks. "Stop it," he said, trying to act unfazed, but Kwon caught the way he avoided eye contact.
Kwon chuckled. "You're even blushing. This is too good."
"Can you just—" Jungwon exhaled, cutting himself off. He placed the gift carefully into his backpack, as if handling something fragile. "Let's just focus on class."
The remainder of the school day passed in a blur. The lessons dragged on, but the students' attention was far from the blackboard. Instead, soft whispers and knowing glances filled the room. Word had spread—Chae had given Jungwon a gift.
It was all anyone could talk about.
"Did you see it?"
"She gave it during class!"
"Is Jungwon dating her now?"
"No way. He looked so confused…"
Even though the whispers were quiet, the constant murmur was impossible to ignore.
Jungwon kept his head down, pretending to be focused, but the weight of the stares pressed against his back like a spotlight. Kwon tried to act casual beside him, but even he could feel the tension rising in the classroom.
The gossip didn't stay confined to one circle for long. It eventually floated across the classroom… and landed in Sechan's ears.
He had been leaning back in his chair, chatting with a classmate, but the moment he heard Chae's name linked to Jungwon, his posture straightened and his gaze sharpened.
His friend raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"
Sechan didn't respond immediately. He stared ahead, his jaw tightening. His fingers slowly tapped against his desk, a rhythm that betrayed his irritation.
He stood up suddenly.
His friend blinked. "Where are you going?"
"To handle something."
Sechan's mind raced with frustration. A gift? From that girl? In front of everyone? His steps were quiet, but determined.
No. Jungwon isn't someone she can just claim. He's mine.
The school hallways buzzed with hushed voices, heads turning, and eyes following every step Sechan took.
He didn't care.
Let them whisper.
Let them guess.
Let them choke on their own curiosity.
He had made up his mind—today, he was going to make it clear to everyone, especially to Chae, that some boundaries weren't meant to be crossed.
Sechan's footsteps echoed down the corridor with purpose, his shoulders stiff with tension. His jaw clenched tight, eyes dark with emotion that swirled beneath the surface like a storm ready to break.
Not far behind, Tae walked briskly, his brows furrowed with concern. He could read Sechan like an open book, and he didn't like the page he was on now.
"Don't do anything rash," Tae warned, his voice low but firm as he kept close behind.
Sechan didn't reply. His silence said it all. His mind was already set. Tae quickened his pace.
"I mean it, Sechan," Tae added, stepping beside him now. "This isn't the way to handle it. You know how you get when you're angry."
Still, no response. Just the sound of shoes scraping against polished floor tiles as Sechan stormed toward the courtyard where he had seen her heading a moment ago.
Chae, completely unaware of the emotional typhoon heading her way, was humming softly to herself as she clutched her small crossbody bag. She had just finished her little errand—dropping off the handmade charm she had worked on all week for Jungwon's locker.
A gift. A small token of affection.
She knew it was bold, but… she liked him. He was sweet, always smiling, always kind—even to people who didn't expect it.
Her cheeks were still tinged pink from the nerves.
Would he like it? Would he know it was from her? Would he smile the next time they passed in the hallway?
Her thoughts were cut short when she turned the corner and found herself face-to-face with Sechan.
No—blocked by Sechan.
His tall frame loomed in front of her, expression unreadable, jaw tight. His dark eyes locked onto hers with such intensity it sent a chill crawling down her spine.
"Sechan?" she asked softly, surprised.
But there was no warmth in his response. No teasing remark like usual. No sly smirk.
"What gift did you give Jungwon?" he asked, voice flat and emotionless. Controlled… too controlled.
Chae blinked. "Huh?"
Sechan's eyes narrowed just slightly. "Don't play dumb. That gift . Was it from you?"
"…Y-Yes." She looked away, fidgeting with the strap of her bag. "I just thought he might like it. I mean, it's not a big deal—just something I made. I guess… I kind of have a crush on him."
The second those words left her lips, a strange silence fell between them.
Tae had arrived now, but stood at a safe distance, not wanting to intrude—yet completely ready to step in if needed. He leaned slightly against the stone pillar, arms crossed, ears alert.
Sechan's heart dropped.
So she really did like him.
Chae wasn't flirting. She wasn't teasing. This wasn't some rumor. She said it herself. Her eyes were soft with sincerity, her voice quiet with hope.
He took a breath, trying to stay calm. But something about the way she stood there—so honest, so open—made it worse.
Made it harder.
"You see," Sechan began, voice heavier now, his tone strained but unwavering, "he's not single."
Chae tilted her head slightly. "What do you mean?"
"He's taken," Sechan said, looking directly into her eyes. "By me."
Her lips parted in surprise. She blinked.
"You… and Jungwon…?"
"Yes," Sechan confirmed, "and I don't want you in the picture."
His words weren't shouted. They were spoken quietly, almost painfully, like every syllable was dragged from the depths of something he hadn't fully acknowledged until now.
"So back off," he finished, trying to maintain control of his emotions. "Please."
Chae stood frozen, processing his words.
She hadn't expected that.
She looked down at the ground, then back up at Sechan. "I… I didn't know. I'm sorry. I never meant to come between anyone. I just thought…"
Sechan softened just slightly at her apology, but the tension still crackled in the air like a wire stretched too thin.
Tae finally stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Sechan's shoulder. "You did what you came to do, man. Let it go now."
Sechan took a step back, breathing heavily. He nodded once.
Chae gave a small, regretful smile. "Thanks for telling me."
And then she turned and walked away, leaving Sechan standing there—heart pounding, throat dry, and a heavy weight pressing against his chest.
Tae watched her go, then turned to his friend. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know," Sechan said after a moment. "I just know I couldn't stay quiet anymore."
And as they stood in the courtyard surrounded by nothing but whispers and the fading sound of footsteps, Sechan realized something he hadn't allowed himself to admit before:
It wasn't about Jungwon.
It was about him.
He wasn't ready to share—not Jungwon, and not his heart.
Not yet.