They kissed, long enough to lose track of time—until Kwon gently pushed Tae back, guiding him into the passenger seat of his car.
"You should head home," Kwon whispered, brushing Tae's hair back.
Tae hesitated, his eyes lingering. His heart didn't want to go, but he obeyed silently, closing the door behind him.
—
Elsewhere, Sechan sat alone, still staring at the number saved on his phone.
He had been holding back, convincing himself not to call, but his fingers betrayed him. He pressed dial.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Then, a sleepy voice answered.
"Hello?"
It was Jungwon.
Sechan's breath caught in his throat. The voice—it cracked something deep inside him. He placed the phone closer to his ear but still, he said nothing.
"Hello?" Jungwon repeated, half-asleep but growing alert.
"Can we meet and talk? Please… just don't hang up," Sechan finally said, his voice low, strained, almost pleading.
Jungwon, who had been ready to hang up, froze.
He didn't need to check who it was. He knew that voice.
"What do you want?" Jungwon said sharply. "How the hell did you get my number?"
Sechan remained silent.
Jungwon's voice grew colder.
"Listen—I have a girlfriend. I don't want any misunderstandings."
"…Please," Sechan whispered, barely audible.
"You know what? Wherever you see me—avoid me. Just let me be," Jungwon said, then hung up without another word.
The silence afterward was heavier than the call itself.
Sechan sat there, the phone still pressed to his ear.
His heart stung in ways he couldn't describe.
"What am I going to do now?" he asked himself quietly.
He poured himself another drink and stumbled home, the world around him blurred by more than just alcohol.
Days melted into weeks. Weeks folded into months.
And just like Jungwon asked, Sechan kept his distance.
It was agonizing, but he honored it.
Jungwon noticed.
There were no more calls. No awkward glances across the hallway. No presence shadowing his steps. It brought him peace, but it also left an emptiness he didn't want to admit.
He told himself it was for the best. That he had moved on.
But some nights, he wasn't sure who he was trying to convince.
Then came graduation day.
The school was vibrant with laughter, hugs, photos, and farewells.
Jungwon and Kwon had come to celebrate their senior friends.
Jungwon handed out flowers and heartfelt notes, smiling genuinely as he embraced each friend.
Kwon was equally cheerful, joining in the congratulations and celebrations with lightness in his step.
Things had eased. The tension that once lingered among them had lifted—at least on the surface.
Then Sechan appeared.
He walked slowly toward Jungwon.
Jungwon saw him and smiled gently. "Congratulations," he said, voice soft but sincere.
Sechan smiled back, but his eyes held weight.
"I'm sorry… if I was ever a bother to you," he said. "But… could I at least get a hug?"
Jungwon hesitated—only for a second—then stepped into his arms.
As they hugged, Sechan leaned in closer, voice low, trembling just slightly.
"It's real—from my heart. I'm really sorry if I hurt you… But my heart still beats for you. Which means I still have feelings for you. And since I still do… I promise—I'll come back for you."
Jungwon pulled back slightly, eyes wide, searching his face.
He didn't speak—he couldn't.
"Thanks for the hug," Sechan said with a soft smile and walked away.
Jungwon stood frozen, watching him leave. His chest tightened, unsure whether it was relief, pain, or longing.
From a short distance away, Chae stood silently, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold.
"I really can't afford to mess with Sechan," she thought to herself, lips curving into a knowing smile.
But she didn't realize—Sechan was standing just behind her.
He tapped her shoulder lightly.
Startled, she turned around. "Oh, it's you."
"Yeah. I think it's time you backed off," Sechan said, voice steady, eyes unreadable.
"You don't have to say it—I already planned to," Chae replied, smiling without spite.
"Good," Sechan said. "Be a good girl and graduate well."
He smiled once more before turning and walking away.
Chae watched him go, shaking her head.
"Sometimes… if you judge him by his smiles, you'll be fooled," she murmured.
She turned and walked toward Jungwon.
"Can we talk?" she asked.
"Sure," Jungwon replied, smiling cautiously.
They stepped aside, away from the noise.
"I think we should break up," Chae said plainly.
Jungwon blinked. "What? Why?"
His voice lowered. "Wait… This has something to do with Sechan, doesn't it?"
Chae shook her head calmly.
"No. We're just not compatible. And honestly… it's obvious you only agreed to date me because of him."
Jungwon looked away, shame creeping in.
"I… I… You caught me," he admitted, eyes dropping.
Chae looked at him kindly.
"You keep pretending you don't have feelings for him. But your eyes betray you. You like him, Jungwon. You're just afraid."
She touched his arm gently.
"And a guy like Sechan—if he still has feelings for you… he'll always come back."
She smiled softly.
"Prepare yourself. You never know. He just might."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Jungwon alone.
He lowered his head, the guilt settling heavily on his chest.
From a distance, Kwon had seen everything.
As soon as Chae left, Kwon walked over.
"What happened?" she asked gently.
"She said we're not compatible," Jungwon replied quietly.
"She's right. You two were never meant for each other," Kwon said without hesitation.
Jungwon sighed. "She knew I used her… to push Sechan away."
Kwon nodded. "Then she's smarter than she looks."
"I feel so bad for using her…" Jungwon whispered, head down.
Kwon placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then learn from it. Don't run from what you feel. Not again."
Let's go join the seniors—at least for a while," Kwon said, his voice low but steady.
Jungwon glanced at him, then nodded, trying to shake off the lingering weight in his chest. The celebration in the background carried on—music, laughter, the scent of flowers and farewell hugs. But something in the air still felt unfinished.
Just as they turned toward the crowd, a junior rushed over, slightly out of breath, and tapped Kwon's arm.
"Someone asked for you," the junior said, pointing toward the school gate.
Kwon raised a brow and followed the direction of the finger.
A sleek black limousine sat quietly under the shade of a tree just outside the gate—its presence out of place in a school setting, like a secret waiting to be revealed. The windows were dark, mysterious. Silent.
Kwon's heart stirred with curiosity.
The junior added, "He said you should check your phone," before bowing politely and jogging away.
Kwon blinked, pulling out his phone. A new message lit up the screen.
It's Tae. Come to the car.
His heart jumped. The world around him dimmed for a moment. He stood still, staring at the screen as if the words might rearrange themselves, as if they might mean something different.
Jungwon, watching him, asked gently, "Is everything okay?"
Kwon didn't answer right away. His eyes remained fixed on the limo, then shifted down to the message again.
"It's Tae," he said quietly. "He's in that car."
Jungwon's face tensed slightly, then softened. "What are you going to do?"
Kwon swallowed. He could feel his pulse in his throat.
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I have to go."
Jungwon nodded with quiet understanding. "Then go. See what he has to say."
Kwon took one more breath, deep and grounding, and began walking toward the car. Each step felt slow, like wading through memory. The closer he got, the louder his thoughts became.
He hadn't seen Tae since that night.
Since the kiss.
Since the silence that followed.
Since the space between them grew wider than words could fill.
Tae had vanished like smoke, and Kwon had told himself to move on. To forget the weight of that gaze, the way Tae had pulled him close like he was afraid to let go.
But now—he was here.
The car's door opened slowly just as Kwon reached it.
And there he was. Tae. Sitting inside. Waiting.
Kwon froze, his breath catching in his throat as their eyes met for the first time in what felt like forever.
Tae looked tired—but calm. Like someone who'd fought through a storm and still hadn't found the shore.
"Get in," Tae said softly.
And Kwon had no choice but to obey the pull of something deeper than pride.