My Blue
Chapter 1:
The Boy Who Felt Like Blue
He wasn’t just a color—
he was the whole damn sky
"Good friends are like stars.
Y/N POV:
"Wake up, Y/N-ah!"......."Wake up, Y/N!" My mom’s voice boomed through my door. Just five more minutes… I buried my face deeper into my pillow.1… 2… 3. "KIM Y/N! I said wake up! Unless you want to be late on your first day!"
I groaned. The sweet, drawn-out "Y/N-yaaa~" was long gone—now it was just full-name wrath.
"I’m awake…"I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.
"Wash up and come down!" she snapped. "And I told you to stop reading those ridiculous fanfictions all night!"
I dragged myself out of bed, my body moving like a zombie with zero springs left. Mom was still grumbling downstairs about "useless hobbies" and "school uniforms wrinkled like trash."
When I checked the time, I finally got why Mom was raging. But whatever—being late was basically my brand. I washed up half-assed, same as always. Scrolled my phone while pulling on my uniform. Nari's text made me snort: "I overslept ~ Just come get me, I'll wait for you" I reply and continue changing.
I stumbled downstairs, before mom could yapping "I'm gonna be late!" I yelled, hopping on one foot as I wrestled with my sneakers.
"This is why you shouldn’t stay up reading those stupid—"
*SLAM.* The door cut off her words. I didn’t need to hear the rest—I’d memorized this rant after years of morning wars.
Nari's house wasn't far from mine. She was already waiting outside when I got there, looking pissed as usual.
"You sloth!" she yelled immediately. "We're gonna be late because of you!"
“Don’t even try that!”I shot back, nearly tripping over the curb. “You texted me ‘I overslept’like a hypocrite!”
We argued the whole way to school - "Your fault!" "No, yours!" - but somehow still made it there crazy fast. Fighting with Nari always made time fly.
I'm Kim Y/N, a second-year high school student whose life runs on chaos and iced coffee.
Today was supposed to be just another first day—except I was already late, per usual. At least I wasn’t suffering alone. My ride-or-dies since kindergarten were with me:
-Nari– The "mom friend" who’s actually the messiest one
-Haerin– Human sunshine with zero filter
Juhee – Sarcastic genius who tolerates us
We’d pinky-sworn in elementary school to *stick together forever*, and against all odds? Still here. Still disasters.
As I sprinted toward school with Nari. I spotted Haerin and Juhee waiting at the gates.
Haerin waved wildly like she was flagging down a rescue plane. Juhee just checked her watch with that classic 'I-can't-believe-I'm-friends-with-you-idiots' look. Some things never change - and honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
We finally reached class, and all eyes snapped to us - including our math teacher’s deadly glare. *Please don’t take class on first day,* I begged silently, already regretting my life choices.
"Come in," he said sharply, and we scrambled inside like scared mice. Nari and I immediately beelined for the sacred back row(the VIP zone for slackers), but—
"Front. Now." The teacher pointed at the disaster seats - right under his nose.
Nari groaned as we collapsed into the front-row desks. Behind us, Juhee and Haerin - sit
Haerin kicked my chair. "Told you we should’ve run faster."
"No class today," the teacher announced, and the room instantly buzzed with muffled cheers. He paused at the door to point at our group. "And you four - this is your last warning don't be late again."
The second the door closed, Nari whipped around in her seat, eyes scanning the room like a hawk."Holy crap! There are so many new hotties this year!"
We burst out laughing. Haerin immediately pulled out a compact mirror, checking her reflection while declaring: "That's it. I'm confessing to my crush this semester! We all need boyfriends!"
" Ew." I made a face. "I've never met guy who could actually make my heart race. I want a tall, hansome, single dad"
Juhee rolled her eyes "You read too much fiction. That only happens in novels, dumbass."
Nari kept scanning the room like a kid in a candy store when suddenly—
"AHH! LOOK! HE'S SO HOT!" she shrieked, pointing directly at a guy near the window.
The whole class burst out laughing. Haerin immediately slapped a hand over Nari's mouth, her face turning tomato-red. "YOU IDIOT!" she whisper-yelled, panicked."That's Jay's friend! I told you I wanted to confess to Jay, and now you're pointing at his friend?! You're ruining everything!"
Nari blinked, slowly lowering her finger. "...Oops?"
Haerin *dropped her head onto the desk* with a loud groan."I'm moving schools."
The bell rang, signaling our escape."Let's hang out!" I said, already slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
Haerin slumped in her seat like a deflated balloon."I have no energy left. You guys emotionally bankrupted me."
Nari looped an arm around her shoulders with a devilish grin."C'mon, grumpy. I'll treat you to boba."....."And don't act like this is new,"she added, poking Haerin's cheek.
At the magic word *treat* Haerin's eyes lit up like a slot machine hitting jackpot."Fine. Let's go." She stood up so fast her chair screeched.
We burst out laughing at her whiplash mood swing."Never change," Juhee said, wiping fake tears.
We were walking down the hallway, already having forgotten our earlier embarrassment, laughing loudly as we recounted our winter break. I was walking backward, facing my friends as I animatedly retold a story, waving my hands for emphasis.I collided hard with someone, stumbling back a step."Hey, look where you’re wa—" My voice died in my throat.It was him.
Jay’s unfairly attractive friend—the one Nari had pointed at earlier. Up close, he was even more devastating.Tall and lean, but with shoulders that made him seem untouchable. His hair, soft and slightly tousled, looked like it had been painted with the muted strokes of a watercolor brush.*Pale skin*, not just fair but *milky*, like the first snow of winter. A *small mole* near the bridge of his nose, subtle but devastating. And his *eyes*—sharp, dark,—they weren’t blue, but...
They *felt* like it
He was the embodiment of Yungkai’s *Blue*—that quiet, haunting melody about longing and comfort. The kind of person who made you feel calm just by existing near you, even when he was glaring daggers into your soul.
Without a word, he stepped around me and walked away.
My heart wasn’t just racing—it was rearranging itself. This wasn’t the fictional "single dad" fantasy I’d joked about. This was real. And it terrified me.
"Hey, you!" Nari snapped her fingers in front of my dazed face.Haerin leaned in with a shark-like grin."Ohhh~ You *like* him."
"Wha—no!He's not even my type!"I crossed my arms defensively, then immediately betrayed myself by adding,"I mean, sure he's objectively handsom—"
"HEY GUYS!"
A chorus of cheerful voices cut me off. We turned to see *Sunoo, Jake, and Ni-ki* bounding toward us like overexcited puppies.
*Saved.*
I could’ve kissed them.
Sunoo slung an arm around my shoulders, oblivious to my internal crisis."Let’s hang out! The cafeteria’s serving tteokbokki today."
Our squad was pure chaos—loud, bright, and impossible to ignore.
Most of our after school, we’d take over some random place—the convenience store, the park, the arcade—talking and laughing so loud people would stare. We’d met *Sunoo, Jake, and Ni-ki* back in middle school, and even though high school had scattered us across different classrooms, it never stopped our chaos. Well—except for *Ni-ki and Juhee*, our designated "quiet ones" who mostly just spectated our nonsense with varying degrees of amusement (though Ni-ki had that one legendary dance battle incident we’d never let him live down).
By the time I dragged myself home it was already 19:00.Mom gonna scold me. But Some things were worth the scolding.
The front door clicked shut behind me as I mumbled, "I'm home..."My voice sounded as drained as I felt.
Mom peeked from the kitchen, wooden spoon in hand. "You hung out again?"
"Mm." I leaned against the wall, already sliding off my shoes.
"Next time, come home earlier,"she said, stirring something that smelled like garlic and scolding."Shower before it gets too late. And help me with—"
"Later." I was already trudging upstairs, my legs moving on autopilot.
My dad worked as a renowned doctor at Seoul’s largest hospital, My mom ran a home bakery business, whipping up custom cakes and pastries for orders, while also managing a small café she visited a few times a week. As for my siblings, my older sister—the stylish fashion designer—and my brother, a college student.And I'm the youngest.
Family dinners were my mom’s sacred ritual. With Dad being a busy surgeon at Seoul’s top hospital, we rarely all sat together—which was why Mom treated every shared meal like a national holiday. Tonight, despite my protests that I’d already stuffed myself on street food with friends, she piled my plate high with kimchi jjigae. “Just a little,” she insisted, eyes daring me to refuse. So I ate a few obligatory bites, watching Dad sneak vegetables onto my brother’s plate when Mom wasn’t looking, while Noona scrolled through fabric samples mid-chew. It was messy, imperfect, and ours.
After dinner, my phone buzzed nonstop—our group chat was flooding with photos from today. Dozens of photos blurred together under my tired eyes: Nari’s exaggerated pouts, Haerin’s candid laughter, the golden-hour snapshot of us piled together on the park bench like overexcited puppies.
I swiped them away.
Silence always left room for unwanted thoughts.
*Him*
That stupid mole. Those sharper-than-knives eyes. The way he’d looked at me like I was a walking inconvenience.
*Ugh*
I chucked my phone across the bed and opened Wattpad, searching for a novel trashy enough to override my brain.
Chapter 2:
The Chaotic Art of Liking Someone
Liking someone is like a temporary
insanity – but somehow, it feels sane
Y/N POV:
"I woke up to an unusual silence – no alarm blaring, no mom's voice calling out. I checked the time; it was only 5:00 AM. I tried to drift back to sleep, but my mind was wide awake.
"Ahhh, the new Y/N is born," I muttered to the ceiling, grinning.Who knew I could wake up before noon without a threat of bodily harm? My mood shot up instantly—partly because of the novelty, mostly because today, I’d see *him* again. I bragged about it on group chat, but crickets – guess everyone else is still dreaming."
I came downstairs after my shower, and Mom froze mid-pour, her coffee kettle hovering over the cup like she’d just seen a ghost.
"Are you sick?" she blurted, eyes wide.
I couldn’t blame her. I was the type of person who showed up late even on exam days. Waking up early? Voluntarily? This was basically an alien invasion in her eyes. "Nope, just reborn as a morning person," I said, snagging a piece of Cake from the fridge.
I helped her with breakfast, then quickly changed into my uniform upstairs. After fueling up, I walked over to Nari's house.
__
Today, the teacher rearranged our seating, but our seatmates remained the same. The warning was clear: "We won't separate those who sit together, but if you're disobedient, we'll reconsider." Luckily, Jay and his friend sat directly behind and to the side of us, and Haerin and Juhee took their seats in front of us.
Math class was never fun—but with Miss Bok at the helm, it was even more torturous. The woman was a legend in the worst way possible.Nobody liked her. Nobody even pretended to.
As usual,Nari and I treated class like our personal chatroom, while whispering and passing doodles.I caught a glimpse of Jay's handsome friend, who was surprisingly focused on the lesson.Ugh. How boring could one person be?
Before we knew it, Miss Bok's piercing gaze landed on us. "Those two—Bae Nari and Kim Y/N—get out!"Miss Bok's voice cut through the room like a rusty saw.
We didn't hesitate to get out of our seats. Soon after, Haerin and Juhee followed suit, playing along with our usual routine – if one of us got kicked out, we'd all pretend to get kicked out too.
A hot wave of embarrassment crashed over me.What must he think of me now? I didn’t care about others’ opinions—but his? I think i really like him ..
When the teachers disappeared, i turned to my friends "I have something to confess," I whispered urgently. Haerin rolled her eyes. "Just say it. Don’t do that dramatic ‘I-have-something-to-say’ nonsense." I took a shaky breath."I... I think I have a crush on that new boy," I mumbled, *pointing discreetly in his direction.*
Nari burst out laughing."Hah! I knew it! The way you stared at him yesterday—" . My finger was still outstretched when he suddenly looked up. I freaked out "That’s also—and that’s too—and that’s—that’s—" I swung my pointing finger wildly at random objects: a chalkboard, a backpack, a half-eaten sandwich.
My friends doubled over laughing, clutching their stomachs.
"Ohhh, Y/N," Haerin wheezed, tears in her eyes. "That blush makes you look like a scared monkey!". I was so embarassed.
Haerin leaned in with a smirk, lowering her voice to a dramatic whisper."His name is Park Sung-hoon. Jay's best friend—and apparently some kind of academic genius."
My eyebrows shot up."How do you even know that?"
She twirled her phone triumphantly."Jay and I text. Obviously." As if that explained everything. "He said Sung-hoon, Jungwon, and Heeseung are all tight. Oh, and—" She paused for effect, eyes glinting. "I think Jay also like me too."
Lunch was a sacred ritual of stolen fries and exaggerated gossip—until *they* appeared.
Sung-hoon and his friend stood near the vending machines, surrounded by girls from another class. One giggled while twirling her hair.
"Are they not ashamed of themselves?" I muttered, stabbing my kimchi with unnecessary force.
Nari followed my glare and grinned. "Ohhh, someone’s *jealous*—"
"I’m not!" My voice cracked. "I just think public displays of desperation should be illegal."
Sunoo, ever the agent of chaos, leaned in. "Y/N, your face is doing that thing where it looks like you swallowed a lemon." They teased me nonstop while we ate.
After lunch, Jake announced he needed to go to the library.Everyone else bailed immediately—"I’d rather eat cafeteria mayo," Nari declared.
Jake’s grip on my wrist was ironclad. “You’re my emotional support human,” he declared, dragging me toward the library like a hostage.I hated libraries.
Sure, I loved reading, but the oppressive silence always made me feel like I’d get *shushed into another dimension* just for breathing too loud.
When we got there, I saw Sung-hoon and Heesung studying away. I grabbed a book and sat down across from them, while Jake searched for his own stuff. I snuck peeks at Sung-hoon from behind my book.
"Wow, staring so hard your eyeballs might fall out?"Jake stage-whispered, leaning into my space with a shit-eating grin.I elbowed him away, face burning. "Shut up. You're blocking my view," I muttered, desperately trying to peer around his shoulder.
He grabbed my wrist, saying, "Let's go, I'm in a hurry." I protested, "Wait, I can't see! Go ahead, I'll follow you.""
When I looked up again,he was gone. I walked over to his seat and sat down in his chair, closing my eyes to catch a whiff of his lingering scent. "Mmm, it smells so good," I breathed. But when I opened my eyes, my heart skipped a beat – Sung-hoon was staring right at me, his gaze locked on my face.
*Oh my god, what do I say? Help!!!!!* "That's my seat." His voice—god, his voice—was like dark honey poured over gravel. Low. Smooth. Dangerous.
"Ahh... uhh... sit! I think—nobody sits?" I stammered, I awkwardly poked my tongue out—a stupid habit I couldn’t control—before I launched myself upright, chair screeching like a betrayed cat. I didn’t look back.I ran.
I didn’t stop running until I reached the classroom door.
I slumped against the classroom door, thumping my forehead against it rhythmically. *Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.*
Look at her, Juhee," Nari’s voice cut through my misery. "Does she think she’s a bull practicing headbutts?"I peeled my face off the door to see them doubled over laughing, Nari clutching Juhee’s arm for balance. I caved and told them everything—the chair, the scent, the sprint of shame. Their laughter escalated to wheezing.
"You're peak stupidity,"Juhee wheezed, wiping laugh-tears from her eyes. "I wish I was there! Sunghoon's amazed face—he probably thinks you're mentally unstable!"
Nari hip-checked me, grinning. "So? Were you embarrassed? Just a little?" *Was I? *
Sure, I was shy—but embarrassed? I shook my head hard enough to rattle my brain.
Juhee snorted. "Even with a crush, you've got zero shame. Iconic."
The warning bell rang. Nari grabbed my wrist, dragging me toward class. "C'mon, disaster bisexual. Your future ex-husband awaits."
__
When the last bell rang, we quickly packed our bags. "Let's go to my house today," I suggested, but first, we had a plan. We followed Sung-hoon secretly, and what we discovered blew our minds – we live on the same street! His house is actually pretty close to mine.
Chapter 3:
Fragments of Us
His eyes met mine for just a second—
just long enough to drown in,
not long enough to matter
Y/N POV :
The moment we tumbled into my house, the smell of vanilla cake hit us like a hug. Mom stood at the counter, flour dusting her apron as she turned with a smile.
"Why do you rarely visit?” she scolded, waving a spatula.“Eat dinner here! Sleepover! I’ll make Jangjorim!”
We squealed with excitement-the four of us were practically vibrating with sleepover energy. Our families had always been close: Nari and I lived just streets apart, while Juhee and Haerin were neighbors since birth.Our friendship was practically woven into our neighborhood’s DNA.
Mom slid a freshly baked cake onto the table, its vanilla scent wrapping around us "This is what I baked today—eat up!".."And call your parents—tell them you’re staying the night."
They called their parents anyway, though we already knew the answer.Permission was practically guaranteed—the only time our parents ever said no was when we'd been oversleeping at each other's houses too often. But lately, with school and growing up, those chaotic sleepovers had become rare.
We'd grown so comfortable with each other's homes that it felt like one big, extended family. Clothes, books, and other belongings were scattered across each other's houses, a testament to our frequent sleepovers and hangouts.
___
After dinner, we bolted upstairs—only to be stopped by Mom’s voice from the living room: "Don’t forget your assignments!"
We froze mid-step.
“Do… we have assignments?” I whispered, like the answer might summon a demon.
Nari and Haerin blinked at each other.“No clue.”
Juhee sighed, adjusting her glasses.“Of course we do—you three never pay attention!" she scolded, though we all knew she'd bail us out like always.
In our usual chaotic division of labor, Juhee solved the actual problems with terrifying efficiency, Nari and I "paraphrased" her answers (changing just enough to look original), and Haerin decorated the margins with doodles of us as superheroes. Within minutes, we'd conquered the homework through our signature blend of academic delinquency and teamwork.
We arranged our floor beds in the usual chaos—blankets half-tangled, pillows thrown like grenades. The gossip started instantly:
"Ji-hoon totally winked at you today—"
"That wasn’t a wink,he had something in his eye—"
"LIES! You’re just blind—"
We were shrieking so loud the neighbors probably regretted living nearby when suddenly—
"LOOK AT MY NEW BOYFRIEND!" Haerin yelled, shoving her phone in our faces. "Isn’t he handsome?" The screen showed Jay mid-blink, one eye half-closed like a drowsy owl.
Silence. Then—
"SINCE WHEN?!" Nari launched herself at Haerin, caught between excitement and betrayal."You didn’t tell us!"
Haerin smirked.”Just now, I told you we’ve been texting”
I seized her shoulders."Ask him if Sunghoon’s single. RIGHT NOW."
"Relax,"Haerin said, smug as a cat with cream."Even with a boyfriend, I’d never abandon you losers."We looked at her with a mix of amusement and skepticism, but our conversation continued late into the night.
The room was filled with laughter and chatter, and it wasn't until 2:00 AM that we finally settled down to sleep.
__
"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!"
A sudden gust of cold air hit me as someone—probably Nari—yanked my blanket away. I curled into a defensive ball, but it was too late.
"Get uuuup," Juhee sing-songed, poking my cheek with her ice-cold fingers. How was she already showered and dressed?
"Mmmph."I buried my face under a pillow. "Five more minutes."
But the universe had other plans. One by one, my friends emerged from the bathroom, their hair damp and smelling like my mom’s strawberry shampoo. I dragged myself to the shower, half-asleep under the warm water.
By the time I stumbled downstairs, the others were already "eating"—if you could call it that.
As we approached the school gate, I spotted Sung-hoon chatting with a group of girls from other classes. They were all giggling and smiling at him, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance. Why did he have to be so attractive to everyone?
"Y/N, your eye is doing that twitchy thing again," Nari whispered, poking my cheek.
"What? No it’s—"
"She’s right," Haerin said, snapping a pic of my murderous expression. "You look like a disgruntled kitten."
I opened my mouth to protest, but Juhee cut in:"Breathe. Before you implode."
And just like that—the spell broke.Nari tripped over her own shoelaces, Haerin started a dramatic retelling of last night’s blanket theft, and I was laughing so hard I forgot to be jealous.
Time moved weirdly when you were actively avoiding responsibility.One minute, we were debating who’d score the most in afternoon sports; the next, Miss Bok was tapping her ruler like a metronome of doom.
“Bae Nari. Kim Y/N.” Her smile was terrifying. “Care to explain why your ‘homework’ has the exact same wrong answers? Including…” She squinted. “ Also Jung Haerin and Lee Juhee ’?”
Juhee whispered"Three days in, two ejections. We’re setting records."
As Miss Bok pointed to the door (again), I realized we weren’t alone- some other was exiled with us.At least failure loved company.
I stole one last glance backward.
Sung-hoon’s eyes met mine.
Just for a second. Just long enough to make my stomach flip.
Worse than detention?
Knowing your crush witnessed your academic downfall.
I whipped around, pressing my back to the wall. “Ughh ...Why does he always see me when I stumble?”
Nari patted my shoulder. “Stay strong, soldier. At this rate, we’ll beat our ‘kicked out’ record by Friday.
_
It’s games and sports time now. Our class (2-1) is playing basketball against class 2-2, and Sunghoon is playing too.
The game starts, and everyone is cheering loudly.
The basketball court was chaos—squeaking sneakers, screaming fans, and Sunghoon moving like he was born with a ball in his hands. When his winning shot swished through the net, our friend group became a chaotic celebration squad,we lost all our dignity: dancing around while the others stare at us.
Sunghoon, still glowing with that post-game adrenaline high (why did sweat have to look so good on him?), he walks over to our class seats, smiling, and he started walking straight toward our seats. My heart did a backflip—
Until Wonhee happened.
She materialized out of nowhere, shoving a water bottle into his hands and clinging to his arm like a possessive koala. Sunghoon blinked, startled, but didn’t shake her off.
My celebratory mood nosedived into oblivion.
“Let’s go,” I muttered, slinging my bag over my shoulder with unnecessary force. The walk home was suddenly very quiet.
At night, I checked my phone and saw that our class was making a group chat. I kept looking for Sunghoon’s name — My thumb paused mid-swipe—there he was.
Sunghoon’s profile.
I stared at it like it held the secrets of the universe.
Should I message him?
Absolutely not.(Some unspoken rule of crushes: Thou shalt not text first, even if thy fingers itch to do so.)
Mom’s voice floated upstairs: "Y/N! Stop playing and study!"
I grabbed my sketchbook instead,so I ended up drawing Sunghoon instead.I love drawing—honestly, it’s the only thing I feel really good at.
When I finally looked up, the clock read midnight. My unfinished homework lay abandoned, but the page in front of me was alive with the boy who’d been living in my head rent-free.
Chapter 4:
Through thick and thin
You don't always see them, but you
know they're always there"
Y/N POV :
Today’s Friday, so we get to leave school early. I walked to school excitedly when suddenly—
"Look, your crush!"Nari nudged me, nodding toward the front.
There he was—Sunghoon, walking just a few steps ahead of us.
"He’s so handsome,"I sighed, "even from behind."
Nari fake-gagged and rolled her eyes. "You’re so dramatic. You can’t even see his face!"
" It’s a very nice back,"I defended, just to watch her fake convulse.
We spent the rest of the walk teasing each other, laughing the whole way.
By the time we reached the gates, Nari was wheezing. "I need new friends."
"Liar," I laughed, looping my arm through hers. "You live for this."
The bell rang, and our homeroom teacher walked in with unexpected news. "There might be a picnic and outing," he said casually, instantly electrifying the classroom. Even though it wasn't certain, our friend group exploded with excitement - we were already planning outfits and imagining the day.
The teacher groaned. "It’s not even approved yet—"
Too late. We were already mentally at that picnic, outfits coordinated, snacks packed, and dignity left behind.
Lunchtime chaos was normal for us—but not like this.
"Save me a seat,"Juhee had said, heading to the restroom like a sane person while the rest of us stampeded toward the cafeteria.
We were halfway through stealing extra kimchi when the rumor hit: "Class 3 girls cornered Juhee behind the school!"
We knew Juhee would never start trouble with anyone. Without hesitation, we all dropped our trays and sprinted to the back of the school.
Juhee was surrounded by five girls, while the other students watched like it was a cinema. We pushed through the crowd.
Haerin struck first. "You bitch!"she spat, getting nose-to-nose with their leader. "Why the fuck are you harassing our friend?"
The girl’s lips curled into a sneer. “Then ask her why she’s been texting my boyfriend—”.
We cut her off with laughter—cold, mocking, anything but genuine.
"Maybe your boyfriend texted her first…"I smirked, tilting my head. "I think he’s just bored of staring at your pathetic face all day.
I could practically see the steam coming out of their ears.
We knew Juhee wouldn't text him first—
"Don’t try to get involved—this isn’t even your business," snapped the girl who seemed like their leader, her voice sharp with anger. "And your friends aren’t on my level to even compete with me. Tell your girl to stay away from my boyfriend."
" If it's Juhee's problem, then it's absolutely our business," said sweetly, tilting my head. "And if she's soooo beneath you..." I paused for dramatic effect,"...then why is your precious boyfriend looking her way instead of yours?"
The crowd erupted in "OOOHs" as the girl's face turned scarlet.
Nari and Haerin shot me a look—our silent signal.Haerin flicked her eyes toward the exit.Message received.
"You’re right," I sighed, raising my hands in mock surrender. "We don’t want trouble. We’ll go—after all, you’re our precious seniors." My voice dripped with exaggerated sweetness as we slowly backed away.
Then I dropped the bomb with my most devilish smile:
"But maybe focus less on us and more on keeping your boyfriend?—if your boyfriend’s chasing girls who don’t even know him?” A theatrical gasp. “Oh dear. How long until he dumps you for someone who actually cares?”
The crowd erupted in whispers. Someone stifled a laugh.
We turned to leave, the tension coiled like a spring. Every muscle in my body was primed for the fight I knew might come.
I’d barely taken two steps when sharp pain exploded across my scalp—one of them had yanked my hair hard.Just like I predicted.
I whirled around and drove my fist straight into her face. A sick crack echoed as her head snapped back.
Chaos erupted.
Her friends lunged at me, but Nari and Haerin were already there—Haerin elbowed one girl in the ribs while Nari shoved another into the crowd. Somewhere in the blur, I heard shouts to stop, but I didn’t care. My blood was roaring, fists flying. I wouldn’t stop. Couldn’t.
Not until they regretted ever touching us.
Then—out of nowhere—someone grabbed me from behind, lifting me clean off my feet.
I twisted, kicked, clawed at the arms locked around me—useless.
A second later, my shoes scraped against the pavement as I was dropped to the ground. I shoved the tangled hair from my face, blinking up—
Sunghoon.
He stared down at me, his expression unreadable, the chaos around us fading into muffled shouts.
My gaze darted past him—Jake had Nari in a firm bearhug, her legs still kicking wildly at empty air - Heeseung stood between Haerin and the bullies, his arms outstretched like a referee - while Sunoo hovered protectively near Juhee. Across the courtyard, Jungwon and a few others blocked the remaining girls, their voices sharp with warning.
The ringing silence after the storm was deafening. Sunghoon's gaze dropped to my split knuckles, then back to my face. His lips parted as if to speak -
"ALL OF YOU! PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE NOW!"
Miss Bok’s voice cracked like thunder, leaving no room for argument.
We marched down the hallway, the other girls trailing behind us—a mess of smeared makeup, bloody noses, and murderous glares aimed straight at me.
Pathetic.
They only knew how to pull hair and scratch.Sure, my scalp burned where they’d yanked my hair, and Nari’s wrist was red from someone’s nails,my friends and I looked almost untouched.
The moment we stepped into the office, they started sobbing—dramatic, ugly tears.
My friends and I exchanged glances. Were they serious?The audacity was almost impressive.
But we stayed silent.
What was the point?
Most of the witnesses were Class 3 students—Ha-eul’s loyal little sheep. Even if we defended ourselves, they’d twist our words. The teachers would believe the crying girls, not us.
So we stood there, jaws clenched, as the lies piled up.
Let them talk.
Truth doesn’t matter in a war of favorites.
The principal gave us a final warning, and as punishment, we were sentenced to laps around the school yard after class.
When we walked into the classroom, every head turned—some curious, others whispering. We ignored them and dropped into our seats.
Before we could even sit down, Jake and Sunoo burst in, their grins brighter than the afternoon sun.
“My brother, you are the coolest,” Jake announced loudly, throwing an arm around my shoulders in a playful headlock.
Sunoo added with a smirk, “By the way, Some of us might transfer to your class.A certain someone’s been begging the teachers".
Nari perked up. “Wait, really? Then where’s Niki? Shouldn’t he be here gloating too?”
Sunoo sighed dramatically. “You know our Niki—he only honors us with his presence once a week.”
We burst into laughter—loud enough to earn a glare from the teacher walking in.
Jake and Sunoo scrambled out, but not before shooting us a final thumbs-up.
Every teacher who walked into class scolded us like clockwork—monotonous, predictable, and utterly boring.
It wasn’t even our fault.
But the worst part? Sunghoon’s presence
After school, we trudged to the field for our punishment laps. Nari dramatically collapsed after half a round. "I’d rather get suspended," she wheezed, flopping onto the grass.
Haerin wheezed "If... they wanted... us tired... so we wouldn’t fight... why... does this... make me... want to... fight... more?"
" Ughhh… I’m dying—can’t… run… anymore…” Nari wheezed, collapsing onto the grass like a deflated balloon.
I was just as exhausted—my lungs on fire, legs trembling—but I couldn’t stop laughing.Maybe it was the delirium.
When the teacher finally dismissed us, we flopped onto the ground like starfish, too dead to move.
“I’m gonna be sore andsniffly tomorrow,” I groaned, wiping sweat from my forehead “This punishment was basically war crimes.”
Juhee wiped her brow with a dramatic sigh. "Don't complain. This was basically charity - the principal clearly noticed you need exercise."
"Me?" I scoffed, still catching my breath. "You're the one who needs it more. I exercise every morning and night!"
"Yeahhh, if by 'exercise' you mean wrestling with your bedsheets!" Haerin shot back, dodging behind Juhee.
Nari peeked out, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Remember when you rolled right off the bed? That floor *kissed* you goodnight!"
The group erupted into laughter as I lunged for Nari—only to wipe out spectacularly, landing face-first on the grass. Instead of helping, they pointed and howled.
As we stumbled toward the school gate, Jake and Sunoo were leaning against the school gate when we finally dragged ourselves out.As we started walking home together, Juhee suddenly turned to Haerin with a curious look.
"Hey Haerin, you announced you were dating Jay, but none of us have seen him since. Is he a ghost boyfriend?"
We all nodded in agreement - now that she mentioned it, I realized I hadn't spotted him either. With everything that had happened recently, we'd barely noticed his absence.
Haerin smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear."He took his grandmother overseas for a medical checkup. But he should be back today - might have already arrived, actually."
Sunoo perked up immediately. "Oho~ Does that mean we'll finally get to meet the famous boyfriend?"
Jake grinned, elbowing Haerin playfully."Better prepare him - our approval isn't easy to earn!"
Nari suddenly clapped his hands together."Let's all go out tomorrow! It's been forever since we hung out properly."
I nodded in agreement."Yeah... with all the chaos lately, we barely get to just chill together anymore."
Haerin pulled out her phone, already typing. "I'll tell Niki. Let's meet at Y/N's mom's café at noon." She paused, grinning. "If he bothers to show up."
"What does this guy even do all day when he never comes to school?" I wondered, kicking a pebble. "He's more mysterious than the Bermuda Triangle"
Juhee giggled, swinging her bookbag. "His mom called me last week - she's worried sick because he's been locked in his room all day. Thinks he's depressed or something."
Sunoo immediately clutched his chest dramatically. "Our poor Niki! Maybe he's writing emo poetry in there. 'The darkness... it calls to me...'"
"With his vocabulary?" Jake snorted. "More like 'School bad. Sleep good.'"
We all burst into laughter, the sound echoing down the quiet street. Haerin nearly dropped her phone while trying to type, and Juhee had to grab my arm to steady herself as she doubled over giggling.
As we reached the intersection where our paths diverged, Sunoo pretended to wipe away tears. "Alright, drama club adjourned. Tomorrow at noon - and remember, if Niki doesn't show..."
"Text him the crying emoji fifty times?" I suggested.
"Perfect." Haerin gave a thumbs up as she turned down her street. "See you losers tomorrow."
"Bring your detective hats!" Jake called after us, already walking backwards toward his house. "We're solving the Mystery of the Missing Niki!"
With final waves and lingering laughter, we headed our separate ways, the setting sun painting the sidewalk gold behind us. I couldn't help but smile - tomorrow's meetup was already shaping up to be anything but boring.
Chapter: 5
The Ride Home
Every moment with you
makes my heart skip a beat
I woke up before my alarm for once—sunlight barely peeking through my curtains.Must be because of our plans today.
I padded to the kitchen, the house quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator. Mom had left early for the café.
After scarfing down breakfast (and savoring the rare silence without Mom nagging me), I curled up with my novel for a bit.Freedom tastes sweet.
The shower washed away my restless thoughts. I emerged to stare at my closet like it held life’s great mysteries before settling on white tee, dungarees, and my trusty black suede sneakers—outfit chosen for maximum café-sprawl comfort.
My reflection in the mirror was decidedly eh. The morning humidity had already frizzed my hair, so I twisted it into a messy bun, letting a few rebellious strands frame my face. Good enough.
I bounded downstairs to find Dad lounging on the living room couch, his reading glasses perched on his nose as he flipped through a medical journal. Sunlight streamed through the windows, painting warm stripes across his worn-out slippers.
"Appa, aren't you going to the hospital today?"I asked,plopping down beside him.
He immediately set aside his papers, his tired eyes crinkling into a smile."Not until afternoon,. I wanted to see your bright face before you ran off with your friends."He reached out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear."Did you sleep well?"
Seizing the opportunity, I switched to my sweetest voice, clasping my hands under my chin."Appaaa~ Seventeen released new album! Your most wonderful, amazing daughter—"
"Ugh, not this again," my brother groaned as he entered, still in his basketball shorts from morning practice "Stop acting like that—people might think you’re a girl!" he teased.
I glared at him sharply."Shut up!" I threw a pillow at him.
"Appa, don't fall for it! She's been practicing that disgusting aegyo in the mirror!"
Before I could retort, Dad chuckled warmly."Yah, let your sister be cute." He turned back to me, pretending to consider deeply. "If I buy the album, will you stop—"
"Yes!" I cheered.
"Another album? Didn’t you just buy their last one? "Oppa interjected. "You already have like twenty of their albums!"
"But this is a new comeback! It’s totally different!"I whined, grabbing dad arm. "Please? I’ll do extra chores!
Just then, Nari peeked through the door. "Y/N, are you ready?" she yelled before we could even see her face clearly. Once she reached us, she grinned at my dad."Oh, Uncle, you’re not busy at the hospital today? That’s not like you!" she said playfully.
"I'm not that busy today.But Nari-ya~ You've become a stranger in our house," Dad replied warmly. "Are your parents doing well?" he asked immediately.
Nari replied with a cheerful update about her family before my brother cut in.
"Yeww, Bae Nari, why are you so dressed up?" my brother said, looking her up and down with a judging face. "You look like you're going on a date." He teased her.
Nari looked down at herself. "Don't you dare destroy my confidence," she said sharply.
"Do you two have boyfriends? Ooh, I guess I know something. This one always takes forever to get ready for school, and now she's doing it on a weekend?" he said, pointing a thumb at me.
"Shut up, oppa! Let's go, Nari, before he embarrasses us any further!" I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the door, ignoring our laughter from the living room.
We decided to walk to the café even though Dad offered to drive us; the weather was too nice to miss. We were chatting happily on our way when we came across Jake and Sunoo at the corner, who fell into step with us.
We walked into the café and were instantly greeted by Auntie Sooji familiar, cheerful voice. ‘Over here!’ Haerin called out—she and Juhee had already snagged the big table near the window.There were only a few customers inside, and since most people were getting takeaway, it felt quiet and cozy—perfect for us. My mom was busy finishing orders in the kitchen, so we were free to catch up without a single interruption.
"Wait, did you four plan to arrive together?" Juhee asked as we slid into the booth.
Jake shook his head, slumping into the seat beside me. "Nope. We just met on the street. Pure coincidence."
Haerin rolled her eyes, scrolling through her phone. "Why didn’t you two just go to Niki’s house and drag him here? You know he’s probably still in bed."
Sunoo sighed, stirring his iced coffee. "We tried calling. He left us on read."
"Just call him again—" I started, but before I could finish, the café door chimed.
In walked Niki, looking like he’d just rolled out of bed—hair messy, hoodie on inside out, and moving with the energy of a sloth on a Sunday morning.
We all stared.
"What?" he grumbled, dropping next to Nari."Why did you choose this huge table?" he mumbled, "Are more people coming? Who else is joining?"
Juhee pushed a menu toward him calmly. "It has the best view, and since no one’s sitting here, we can spread out. Stop complaining and drink this Americano before you fall asleep on the table."
We were all laughing and chatting loudly at our table when my mom suddenly appeared, holding a tray of fresh drinks.
"Yah… do you think this is your personal living room?" she teased, though her tone was light. "just lowers your voice and laugh, you are not the only one "
She passed out the drinks, and we all immediately softened our volume—but not our smiles.
"Thanks, Imo!" Sunoo said, giving her an innocent blink.
"Don't thanks me," she shot back, trying to look stern. "Behave… or this isn't free!"
Just then, a noisy group of boys chimed in. It was our section's basketball team. Based on the loud, familiar way they entered, it felt like it wasn't their first time at the café. When some of them saw us, they waved over.
Jay and his friends were also there. I noticed Sunghoon looking down at his phone. As soon as Jay spotted us, he signaled to his group, and they all made their way to our table. I quickly nudged Jay into the seat next to Haerin.
"You said you were playing basketball. Why are you here?" Haerin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"We did play," Jay replied, slightly out of breath. "The court is just near here."
My mom came over with our food and noticed the new arrivals.
“Well, hello young men! What can I get for you?” she asked warmly, though her eyes flickered curiously between us and the basketball team.
Without waiting for their order, she leaned in a little and asked, “Are you all friends?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jungwon replied politely. “We were in the same class”
Just as my mom turned to grab her notepad, Heeseung grinned mischievously and opened his mouth:
“Yeah, especially since you guys were totally fighting yest—”
Before he could finish, Nari lunged across the table and clamped her hand over his mouth, her eyes wide with panic. “Shhh! Do you have a death wish?!” she hissed through gritted teeth.“That’s Y/N’s mom! If she finds out, we’re dead!”
Heeseung’s eyes widened in understanding—and maybe a little fear—as he slowly nodded behind Nari’s still-covered mouth.The whole table fell silent, waiting to see if Mom had heard. But she was already walking back toward the counter, humming lightly as she went.
We all breathed a sigh of relief—crisis (narrowly) avoided.
"Ohhh, sorry! I didn’t know!" Heeseung whispered, finally free from Nari’s grip but still looking guilty.
I shrugged and dug into my noodles, totally focused.
Then Jake leaned over, his voice a low tease in my ear: "Hey, you know you're eating in front of your crush, right? You should eat a little more... delicately,"
I didn’t even look up, my mouth half-full.
"I’m hungry. Besides, whoever likes me will like me even with noodles hanging from my mouth. And whoever doesn’t? Well, same."
The whole table burst out laughing—and I only then realized I’d said it way louder than I meant to.
My eyes flickered nervously toward Sunghoon.
He was already looking right at me, a soft, amused smile playing on his lips.
"Exactly," Jay said, giving me an approving thumbs-up. "That’s the spirit."
After we finished, Jake, Sunoo, and Niki had already left. As we stepped outside into the cool evening air, Haerin leaned in and whispered something into Jay’s ear. A mischievous grin spread across his face before he turned and murmured something to Heesung.
A moment later, Heesung clapped his hands together like he’d just organized a military operation. “Alright, listen up! Sunghoon—you drop Y/N off. Jungwon, you take Juhee. And I’ll take Nari.”
My eyes went wide. Nari’s did too.
“Wait, it’s okay—we can just walk—” she began, but Haerin cut her off smoothly.
“Nari-ya! Just say yes—they have motorbikes. And didn’t your mom tell you to come home early tonight?” Haerin widened her eyes meaningfully, and I knew right then—this was all her plan.
I glanced nervously at Sunghoon, who simply nodded calmly, as if dropping me home was the most natural thing in the world.
In the end, they all agreed. One by one, they drove off, until it was just Sunghoon and me standing there.
I stood frozen on the sidewalk, my heart doing a nervous tap dance against my ribs. I’d imagined this moment a hundred times, but now that it was here, all I felt was a wave of panic. My hair was a mess, my clothes smelled like french fries, and I was suddenly, painfully aware of every single one of my flaws. Maybe I wasn't ready to be this close to him physically.
He was already seated on his motorbike, holding out a helmet for me. When I didn't move, he raised an eyebrow.
“Well?” he said, his voice cutting through the silence. “Are you going to get on, or are you expecting me to lift you up?”
My eyes widened, and I shot him a sharp glare. He almost smiled—a faint, fleeting twist of his lips—but his tone hadn’t sounded like he was joking. It was cool, direct, and left no room for argument.
Swallowing my pride and my panic, I finally forced my feet to move. This was not how I’d pictured my first alone time with him, but maybe… just maybe… it was a start.
I took the helmet and got on rigidly, settling myself behind him. I was careful not to touch him, leaving a deliberate space between us.
We started going, but within just a second, he stopped the bike abruptly. The sudden halt made me lurch forward, and my chest slammed against his back. I quickly pulled myself upright, my face flushing.
He chuckled softly.“Just hold on to me. I won’t bite—you don’t have to be scared.”
I could hear the smile in his voice—smooth and warm, like honey.
Then he glanced back slightly, his tone turning more serious yet still gentle.
“Do you know what I said?”
"Mmm... Ye-ahhhh," I stammered, finally wrapping my arms around his waist. Even if we weren't in an accident, I felt like I could die just from this situation alone, my heart hammering against my ribs. Get a grip, I scolded myself silently.
"Which way?" he asked suddenly, making me wince.
"I asked you, which way is your house?" he repeated, his voice patient but clear.
I somehow managed to tell him, though I have no idea how the words actually came out. Around him, I completely lost myself. I had never been this nervous in my entire life.
Finally, we reached my house. As he brought the bike to a smooth stop, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. I need to put some distance between us now, I told myself, or I might actually die from this heartbeat.
I clumsily stepped off the bike, my legs feeling strangely weak.
“We live on the same street,” he said casually, as if he’d just noticed.
“Yeahhh,” I managed to choke out. Around him, it wasn’t just my words that failed me—my whole body seemed to forget how to function.
“Thank you,” I added softly, finally meeting his eyes.
He simply nodded, his expression unreadable. I turned and walked toward my house, each step feeling heavier than the last.Just as I reached the door, I heard the soft roar of his engine starting again behind me.
I felt a mix of lingering excitement and mild embarrassment buzzing under my skin. When I finally checked my phone, our group chat was flooded with messages—dozens of questions, teasing remarks, and excited reactions. They were far more hyped about the ride home than I was, and it made me smile despite my flustered state.
Since it wasn't too late, I decided to keep myself busy. I tidied up the living room, wiped down the counters, and carefully watered the flowers on the balcony, each task helping to calm my still-racing thoughts.
Afterward, I took a long, warm shower, letting the water wash away the tension. I hadn’t realized how mentally exhausting it would be to sit so close to Sunghoon—every second required concentration, composure, and a whole lot of self-control. Honestly, riding on the back of his bike was more draining than walking home alone.
At night, I didn’t feel like studying, so I started doodling about today’s ride with Sunghoon. I drew it in a cartoon style, capturing everything exactly—his cool posture, my flustered face, even our outfits. I couldn’t help but smile to myself.
But as I lay in bed, sleep wouldn’come. My mind kept replaying everything that happened. I scolded myself for acting so awkward and nervous around him.
Park Sunghoon… you really made me look like a fool today.
Chapter 6:
In-Between
I was stuck in the in-between,
a confusing limbo where maybe meant
everything and nothing all at once.
Y/N POV:
Today is Sunday. After eating breakfast, I tried to go back to sleep since I barely slept last night.
Just as I was finally dozing off, someone barged into my room. It was Niki.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, sitting up groggily.
"You don't even check your damn phone!" he said, plopping down on my bed beside me. "There are like fifty messages blowing up the group chat."
I fumbled for my phone under my pillow as Niki tugged at my blanket. "Get up. Change your clothes. We're going."
"Going where?" I mumbled, finally unlocking my phone. Notifications flooded the screen-most from Haerin.
The latest message read:
💬 Haerin: "GUYS MEET AT MY HOUSE NOW. IT'S IMPORTANT."
Niki stood up, already heading toward the door. "That's what I'm trying to tell you. It's 'important.' Now hurry up-I'm not getting yelled at because you're still in pajamas."
"We literally just saw each other yesterday," I groaned, dragging myself out of bed like a zombie. "What could possibly be so important?"
"Exactly," Niki agreed, rolling his eyes. "I was about to start a new game, but then Sunoo and Jakw showed up at my house and said we have to go. Something about a 'group emergency.'" He made air quotes with his fingers, looking entirely unimpressed.
Still half-asleep, I changed into the first somewhat-clean hoodie and jeans I could find, pulled my hair into a messy bun, and followed Niki out the door and we headed towards Haerin house.
When we arrived at Haerin's house, I didn't hold back. "You punk! What's so 'important' that you made me wake up in the middle of my sleep?" I shouted as I walked in.
They were all playing UNO and were being incredibly loud. Haerin looked up at me and gave an innocent smile.
"I know that! There is nothing important!" I said, glaring at her in an angry tone.
"I'm home alone and I was bored," she said, looking at me with pleading eyes.
Before I could scold her again, Sunoo cut in, eyes sparkling with mischief, "Okay, but since we're here... what happened with you and Sunghoon yesterday?" he said, suddenly everyone turned to look at me with intense curiosity.
I answered their endless questions while preparing a packet of noodles. Honestly, before I got here, I was bored and didn't even want to come. But now, nobody looked like they wanted to leave. They were all in the living room, listening to music blasting way too loudly.
"Last night, I couldn't even sleep properly!" I complained loudly over the noise.
Just then, the doorbell rang. They were so into the music that no one even heard it.
"Y/N, just get the door!" Haerin yelled back, not moving from her spot. "And why couldn't you sleep last night?"
I walked towards the door, still shouting over my shoulder, "You punk! If your crush gives you a ride home, are you able to ev-"
Before I could finish the sentence, I swung the door open.
Jay, Heeseung, Jungwon, and-of course-Sunghoon, all standing at the doorstep. Jay was biting his lip to keep from laughing, Jungwon's eyes were wide with amusement, Heeseung had already turned away with a smirk, and Sunghoon... Sunghoon just stood there, one eyebrow slightly raised, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"Are you not going to let us in?" Heesung asked, a teasing smile on his face.
"Oh! Just come in," I said, stepping aside quickly and trying to sound casual. "It's not like I'm fully blocking the door."
Inside, I was screaming at myself: Don't act crazy in front of Sunghoon. Be cool. Be normal.
I felt my entire body instantly catch on fire from sheer embarrassment.
__
After i finish cooking, I took out the cold drinks, the table is ready. " It's ready, the food is ready" i said, i beat the steel cover of pot with spoon.
Now i realised why I'm making so much noodles, they all hide to me. They say they're all extra hungry. I glared them sharply all.
"Ohh, you made this? It's so good!" Jay said, looking genuinely impressed.
I'm actually a little pro at cooking. Since my mom owns a café, she always taught me a few things.
"She's our personal chef!" Jake announced, then he turned to Sunghoon with a look that said he was clearly trying to stir something up. "Sunghoon, don't you think it's delicious?"
Sunghoon simply nodded in agreement, offering a small smile.
"She's total girlfriend material," Jake said.
I knew he was trying to do something crazy, but that was beyond what I expected. I choked on my food and started coughing violently. The noodles were quite spicy, making it even worse. Sunoo quickly handed me a glass of water.
I glared at Jake sharply before getting up from the table. Having a crazy friend is so stressful-I can't even have a crush peacefully.
I'm sure Sunghoon already knows I like him.
Before the others left, Niki and I headed out first. When I reached home, I was surprised to see my sister already in the kitchen, cooking dinner. Lately, she'd been so busy with her fashion design projects that we hardly saw each other anymore. As the oldest, she's always carried a lot on her shoulders, but these days it felt like we were barely passing each other in the hallway.
"Unnie, you're home! Where is everyone else?" I asked, genuinely happy to see her.
"Mom and dad went to the hospital to visit a friend," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "And Jaemin's hiding in his room, as usual." She smiled tiredly but warmly. "It's nice to have you here. I feel like I haven't talked to you in weeks."
After I changed into something more comfortable, I started helping her chop vegetables. We fell into our old rhythm easily, and soon we were chatting and laughing like we used to. I told her all about Sunghoon and how I kept making a fool of myself in front of him. She listened, shaking her head and laughing at all the right parts.
"Ah, young love," she teased. "I'm glad you told me. I've missed this."
That night, after our unexpected heart-to-heart, I worked on some assignments. They were easy, but my mind kept wandering back to the kitchen-and how much I'd missed my sister.
##############################
After that Sunday, our group felt a little closer-especially with Jay and his friends. We'd chat casually between classes, joke around during breaks, and even share snacks like we'd known each other for years.
But Sunghoon... Sunghoon was different.
No matter when I saw him, Wonhee was always by his side. He helped her study during lunch, walked with her between classes, and sometimes even carried her books. I have to admit, it bothered me a little.
____
The day of the High School Basketball Tournament had finally arrived. Our first match-up was against the famous Yungseo High School. Everyone was so excited! Our group waited for each other at the gate and then walked over to the tournament together.
When we arrived, we headed straight to our school's section in the bleachers. There was a short opening ceremony with a few performances, and then-finally-the game began.
Jake, Heeseung, Jay, and Sunghoon were all playing on our school's basketball team, and we cheered louder than anyone-screaming their names with every shot and steal.
But during the first half of the game, Jay got injured. Haerin was completely bewildered and worried-it looked like it might be his bone. The coaches rushed him to the hospital, and Juhee and Haerin followed right behind them.
The game resumed, and I cheered as loudly as I could, pouring all my energy into supporting the team.
In the final minute, Sunghoon made an incredible shot-swish! We won!
The crowd erupted. We were screaming, hugging, jumping up and down-completely lost in the moment.
But then I saw Wonhee grab Sunghoon's arm, leaning in a little too close to celebrate. My smile faded. There goes my mood...
As the excitement died down, we ran into Heeseung."We're going to visit Jay," I said. "Are you coming?"
"Yeah, we're all going after we change," he replied. "Wait for us-we'll go together."
So we did. A little while later, Heeseung, Sunghoon, Wonhee, Nari, and I all headed to Jay house together since he hadn't been admitted
And the whole way there, I couldn't help but notice how Wonhee never seemed to leave Sunghoon's side.
When we arrived, Jay's mom, Mrs. Park, greeted us warmly at the door.
"They're up in his room," she said with a kind smile. "Go on up."
When we walked in, Juhee and Jungwon were already there chilling with Jay.
Jay was in bed, looking far too pleased with himself for someone who'd just cracked a bone.
"Took you guys long enough!" he said, gesturing with his good arm.
"You... you look like you're not that hurt badly," I finally said, the words tumbling out in a mix of relief and pure indignation.
His right arm was wrapped in a light cast.
"Doc said it's just a small crack," he explained, shrugging with his good shoulder. "No basketball until this heals, though."
Heeseung shook his head, trying to look serious but failing. "Could've been worse, you drama king."
"Where's Haerin?" Nari asked.
"She went to the washroom," Juhee replied.
Just then, Haerin returned, and Jay immediately started hamming it up.
He clutched his left arm and winced dramatically. "It hurts right here..." he said in an overly soft, pitiful voice.
I fake-gagged. "Yah, are you for real right now?" I flicked his good arm.
But Haerin shot me a death glare.
"Jagiya~ does it hurt?" she cooed, gently patting Jay's head like he was a wounded puppy.
The whole room burst out laughing-they were totally teasing me now.
Jay smirked, looking way too pleased with himself.
After a second,"Let's hang out!" Jay suggested cheerfully, acting like he wasn't the one wrapped in a cast.
"You guys go without me." I said, my eyes drifting toward Wonhee, who was practically glued to Sunghoon's side. "I'm not really feeling it."
Wonhee didn't miss a beat. She glanced at me, then turned to the others with a sweet-but totally fake-smile.
"Let's just go without her. It's not like we can't have fun just because one person doesn't want to come."
Ugh. She was seriously getting on my nerves.
"We're not going anywhere without you," Haerin said firmly, immediately jumping to my defense. She then turned to Jay, her expression shifting to one of playful scolding. "And you-you're injured. You should be resting, not planning hangouts."
"Yeah, bro," Heeseung added, giving Jay's good shoulder a light pat. "Just focus on healing up first. We need you watching-and cheering-when we crush the other schools."
I caught Wonhee shooting me a disgusted look out of the corner of my eye.
Huh. Typical.
There were already rumors spreading around school that she and Sunghoon were dating-mostly because she was always hanging off him, invading his space, touching his arm, making sure everyone saw them together.But sometimes, I noticed... Sunghoon looked tired of it too.
His smiles seemed forced around her, and he'd often subtly create distance when she got too close.
Maybe he was just too polite to say anything.
Or maybe he didn't want to hurt her feelings.
But one thing was clear: she wasn't his girlfriend-no matter how much she pretended to be.
" Then, Sunghoon-oppa~... can you drop me off?" Wonhee asked in that sickly sweet voice of hers.
I couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm in a hurry. I'll go first," I said abruptly, turning and walking out before anyone could respond.
I didn't look back-not at Sunghoon, not at Wonhee, not even at my friends.
But I could hear footsteps behind me.
My friends were following.
Let Sunghoon deal with her. Let them figure it out.
I was done watching that performance.
As soon as we got outside, Nari slung an arm around my shoulder.
"Aigoo~ someone's definitely jealous," she teased, squeezing me lightly.
I'm not jealous," I shot back a little too quickly. "There's literally nothing to be jealous of."
Juhee raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you run out like Cinderella after midnight?"
Before I could respond, she added, "Still... it's kinda weird how he lets her cling to him like that."
Haerin sighed, like she'd explained this a million times before.
"I told you-she's Jake's cousin. They've all been friends since middle school. Sunghoon's basically her honorary brother." I stayed quiet. Maybe that was true.But something in my gut told me Wonhee's feelings for Sunghoon were real-even if his weren't the same.
We had planned to sleep over at my house, but since the basketball team's next game is a little far away and we have regular classes tomorrow, we decided to stop by their houses first to pick up their uniforms before heading to my place.
At night, we turned my room into our own little world. We made bed on the floor , blasted music, and danced like no one was watching.
This is what I love most about being with them-in these moments, I forget everything else. All the stress from today just melted away.
We danced until we were completely exhausted and ended up staying up way too late. After everyone else fell asleep, I still couldn't shut my brain off, so I read my novel until my eyes grew heavy.
I didn't end up falling asleep until around 3:00 a.m. I'm definitely going to wake up late tomorrow.
Chapter 7: The Unexpected Surprises
It's amazing how people
can cross paths in the most
unexpected ways.
Y/N POV:
The next day, we woke up late-just as I'd predicted.
We rushed to get ready and barely made it to class before the teacher walked in.
He started by praising the boys on the basketball team, encouraging them to bring home a win in their upcoming game.
Then, his tone shifted slightly as he looked around the room.
"I expect everyone to stay focused during class," he said firmly. "Win or lose, your education comes first."
I exchanged a tired but amused glance with my friends.
We were assigned group projects, and the teacher posted the group lists on the board.
I scanned the names-mine was missing.
I walked up the teacher's desk after class. "Sir, my name isn't on any group," I said politely.
"Oh? Let me see," he said, scanning the list himself. "Which group should I put you in?"
I noticed Nari and Juhee were in the same group, so I smiled sweetly and suggested,
"Sir, you can add me to Haerin's group."
He shook his head immediately. "Absolutely not. If you and Haerin are together, you'll just chat the whole time and get nothing done. You two are trouble when you're in the same group."
He gave me a stern but knowing look before assigning me to a different group.
So much for that idea.
"Sir, we won't chat-I promise we'll focus!" I pleaded, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
He shook his head firmly. "No. I'm putting you in Sunghoon's group. He's responsible, and he can help keep you on tra-"
Before he could even finish, I blurted out, "Oh sir, that's a blessing I don't deserve!"
A huge, uncontrollable smile spread across my face.
He stared at me, completely baffled. "...What?"
I quickly composed myself. "N-Nothing! Thank you, sir!"
Then I practically floated back to my seat.
Haerin immediately leaned over. "You look way too happy. Did we get put in the same group after all?"
"No..." I said, trying to play it cool. "But I'm with Sunghoon."
Their eyes went wide, and they looked even more excited than I was.
Nari grabbed my arm, her voice dropping to a dramatic whisper.
"This is your chance! You have to shoot your shot before Wonhee literally superglues herself to him!"
Class was dismissed early today because the basketball team had practice. Since Haerin was spending time with her boyfriend and Jake was at practice, the rest of us didn't feel like hanging out without them, so we all headed home early.
When I got home, I ran into my mom at the door.
"Where are you going, Mom?" I asked.
"I'm going to the market to pick up some ingredients and a few other things," she replied.
"Wait for me-I want to come too!" I said, rushing inside.
I tossed my bag onto the couch and called out to my brother, "Oppa, I'm going with Mom-can you put my bag in my room?"
I didn't even bother changing out of my uniform.
"Hsssh-I said I'd wait for you! Don't run so fast-you're such a clumsy girl, you're going to fall!" Mom scolded lightly as I reached her. "And why didn't you change? Your uniform will get dirty at the market."
"Ahhh, I just missed you!" I said, hugging her arm and ignoring her complaints.
But once we got to the market, I instantly regretted tagging along.
Mom took forever carefully examining every item, going in and out of what felt like a dozen shops without buying anything. She was being unbelievably picky-lingering over produce, comparing prices at every stall, and walking out empty-handed more often than not.
I waited outside the shop, quietly grumbling to myself about how long Mom was taking.
Just then, a little boy-maybe three or four years old-tripped and fell right in front of me.
I quickly knelt down and helped him up, brushing the dust off his knees.
"Wow, you're so brave! You didn't even cry," I said softly, smiling at him.
I reached into my pocket and handed him the lollipop I'd been saving.
"Tha-nk y-ou... Ap-pa say... bi-g bou... do-n't cry," he mumbled in that adorable, unclear baby language. I gently pinched his nose. "Aigoo, you're so obedient! Where is your appa?"
Just then, a man's voice called from behind us. "Jun-nie~, why did you run off?" He scooped up the little boy, who responded with happy mumbles.
The man turned to me with an apologetic smile. "Hi, I'm Jun's dad. Sorry if he troubled you."
He was tall, handsome, and looked young-maybe around 27 or 28. He had that vibe of a single-dad CEO straight out of a romance novel... but of course, a guy like this definitely had a wife. I mean, he had a kid and looked like that-no way he was single.
Get a grip, Kim Y/N. This isn't one of your novels, I scolded myself silently. Besides... Sunghoon is way handsomer.
Wait-did I really just compare them? Ugh, I'm going crazy. I shook my head slightly, finally realizing I hadn't even replied. I just stood there smiling awkwardly.
"Oh, you're a high school student? Do you live around here?" he asked warmly.
"No," I replied politely. "I'm just here shopping with my mom."
We chatted briefly before he smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry-we're actually in a bit of a hurry. It was nice meeting you."
He lifted Jun into his arms, and they walked away together. They looked so sweet-a picture-perfect father and son.
His wife is really lucky, I thought wistfully. I hope one day I have a little boy as cute as Jun.
After we got back home, I couldn't stop thinking about that adorable little boy. We had dinner, and later that night, during our group video call, I told everyone what had happened earlier that day.
"Ooh, maybe he's a single, rich dad! Why did you let him go?" Haerin said in her usual unthoughtful way.
I rolled my eyes. "No way-he definitely has a wife. His son is still a baby!"
"Whether he's single or not, you already have a crush on Sunghoon. Don't go imagining things about some random dad," Juhee added wisely. I nodded in agreement.
But Nari, never one to let things go, leaned closer to the screen. "Okay, but just hypothetically... if he was single and liked you, who would you choose? Sunghoon or Mr. Single Dad?"
"Don't be ridiculous," I shot back. "I like men, but I don't want someone else's man. Besides, I said the baby was cute-not the dad!"
They all gave me identical looks of disbelief.
"You don't know if he's taken or not," Nari argued, looking way too proud of herself. "And you said the baby looks like him. So if you think the baby is cute, that means you think the dad is cute, too!"
I had no idea how to argue with her weird logic.
"Well, Sunghoon is way better looking anyway," I mumbled finally, my face growing warm.
As I tried to fall asleep, I couldn't get little Jun out of my mind. Maybe we were meant to meet... I thought dreamily, before immediately shaking my head. He's just a baby, you fool-what are you even thinking?
Then a silly, shocking thought crossed my mind: Is it because it's time for me to have a baby?
No way-stop thinking like that, Y/N! I scolded myself, pulling the covers over my head. You're too young for this!
____
The Next Day
When class started, Mr. Yoon came in and began explaining the group project. He told everyone to sit with their assigned groups. In my group: me, Sunghoon, Ji-soo, Jaemin, Ye-jin, Jin-hyuk, and Go-eun
Mr. Yoon had each group choose a project topic through a blind draw. We ended up with a survey-based project-which meant we'd have to work together outside of class.
More time with Sunghoon? This is a blessing in disguise.
Since our project required conducting surveys, we split into smaller teams to cover more people.
· Ji-soo, Ye-jin, and Jin-hyuk were already close, so they volunteered to work together.
· Jaemin and Go-eun lived on the same street, so they paired up.
· That left... Sunghoon and me.
Jaemin grinned. "Since you two live in the same neighborhood, you can be partners!"
Is this really happening? I don't deserve this kind of luck...
"Whatt?" Sunghoon looked at me, confused, while the others started laughing.
I hadn't realized I'd said that out loud.
My face flushed bright red. So. Embarrassing.
Go-eun and Ye-jin teased me when the boys weren't paying attention. I just smiled awkwardly-since I wasn't really close with them yet, I felt a little embarrassed. It's funny how I get shy around people I don't know well... but they were actually really kind. I think I'm going to like being in this group.
At lunchtime, we all brought tiffins like we used to before the basketball tournament started. The school had changed the head cook recently, and the food just wasn't the same. So Haerin and Nari suggested we go back to sharing homemade lunches-they said it felt more special and memorable that way.
Jake and Sunoo came to our classroom with their tiffins, and today, Jay joined us too.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Nari asked playfully.
Jay grinned. "Without my girlfriend, the food just isn't as tasty. But when I asked her to eat in the cafeteria, she didn't want to go without you guys."
I lightly slapped his arm. "You're so over the top!" Then, without thinking, I added, "Besides, Sunghoon doesn't have anyone to eat with..."
Huh? What am I even saying?
"Aigoo~ Jay, why don't you invite him to eat with us next time?" Jake teased, wiggling his eyebrows at me "Seems like someone here misses him".
I felt my face heat up. "It's not like that! I just think it's lonely to eat alone," I mumbled, poking at my rice.
Haerin jumped in, not helping at all. "If you feel that bad for him, why don't you just go eat with him yourself?"
I shot her a sharp glare, but before I could respond, Jay-who was busy stealing my kimchi-added, "Don't worry about Sunghoon. Jungwon and Heesung are probably with him. And Wonhee might be there, too."
Ugh. I hate that girl. Why does she always have to be stuck to Sunghoon like that?.
After school, we started walking home-taking the route that passed by Sunghoon's house. Nari, Haerin, and Juhee wanted to try my mom's baking, so they decided to come over to my place before heading home.
As we were walking, I suddenly heard a little voice shout, "Ama! Ama!" I turned around and saw little Jun running toward me as fast as his little legs could carry him, his dad following not far behind.
"Ama! Ama!" he called again, wrapping his arms around my legs once he reached me.
I froze, feeling completely awkward. My friends stared in amazement. Jun's dad caught up,he also look embarrassed and surprised.
"Jun-ah, she's not your ama. She's noona, okay?"he said gently, trying to loosen Jun's grip.
But Jun shook his head, bursting into tears. "No! Ama!" he cried, clinging even tighter.
"He's never done this before," Jun's dad said, running a hand through his hair. He looked genuinely embarrassed-and a little helpless.
"Don't worry, it's okay," I said softly, bending down to lift Jun into my arms.
My friends finally snapped out of their shock and swarmed around us, cooing and making funny noises to cheer him up. Within seconds, Jun was laughing, his earlier tears completely forgotten.
"Wow, he's such a little heartbreaker!" Nari said, grinning.
"Takes after his dad," Juhee whispered just loud enough for me to hear.
Jun's dad chuckled softly, relief clear in his eyes.
"Do you live around here?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
He smiled warmly. "Yes, we just moved in recently." He pointed toward a house just a few doors down-and I realized with a jolt that they were Sunghoon's neighbors.
"Jun-ah, it's time to go home," he said gently, reaching for his son. "Say goodbye to noona."
But Jun clung to me even tighter, burying his face in my shoulder.
Eventually, his dad managed to lift him into his arms. Jun waved clumsily at my friends, then turned his big eyes back to me.
"Ama... bye-bye," he whispered.
I waved back, my heart melting a little despite the awkwardness.
"Sorry if he troubled you all," his dad said with an apologetic smile before turning to carry Jun home.
"Wow, you're a mom at such a young age, Miss Y/N!" Nari teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
"And you and Jun's dad looked pretty good together," Haerin added with a smirk. "Plus, you skipped the hard part-no pregnancy, no labor, just a ready-made cute kid. And his dad looks rich, too!"
I shot back, "Shut up! You don't even know if he's a single dad!"
Nari slapped my arm-not playfully. "Ow! What was that for?" I whined, rubbing my shoulder. "I'm right, aren't I? Do you know if he's single?"
"You idiot, have you ever used your brain?" she said, giving me another light slap. "What?!" I exclaimed, completely confused.
They all stared at me with disbelief. "Jun called you 'amma'," Nari said firmly."If he had a mom around, he wouldn't be calling strangers 'mom,' would he?"
"Ohhh..." I said slowly, finally understanding.
My mind started racing.Did his mom pass away? Are they divorced? My chest ached thinking about it. He's just a baby...
I got so lost in my thoughts that I barely heard whatever my friends said next.
My mind was spinning.
What really happened to Jun's mom?.
My friends didn't stay long-I was too lost in my own thoughts to keep the conversation going.
After I changed into comfortable clothes, I wandered into the kitchen and lingered near my mom while she cooked.
I must have been standing there a while without saying anything, because she finally snapped:
"Yah! You've been following me around and you're not even helping! You're just getting in my way!"
She nudged me lightly with her hip to move me away from the counter.
"Mom..." I said softly, still staring at her.
She turned, wiping her hands on her apron. "What?!"
Then she narrowed her eyes. "...Are you up to something? Did you do something crazy?"
Her glare was so intense, I almost felt guilty- even though I hadn't done anything!
After a moment of silence, I finally asked:"Mom, if a baby has a mom... can he still call someone else 'mom'?"
She didn't even look up from the vegetables she was chopping.
"That's nonsense. When you were a baby, you called your aunt 'mom,' too."
"No, I mean... a total stranger," I pressed.
She stopped chopping and stared at me.
"Why are you talking such nonsense? You need sleep. Go take a nap before dinner."
But I couldn't let it go.
"Wait, mom... if a guy is a handsome single dad, don't you think a lot of girls would be interested in him? Like... he probably wouldn't stay single for long, right?"
She sighed, finally putting down the knife. "How should I know? I'm not a single dad." Then her eyes narrowed. "Do you like a single dad?"
"No! Not at all!" I said, forcing a smile that probably looked more like a grimace.
She pointed the knife handle at me. "You're still a teenager. If I find out you're interested in some single dad, I won't go easy on you."
"I know, I know," I mumbled, quickly backing out of the kitchen before she could ask any more questions.
____
Weeks later...
Today was the final game of the basketball tournament. Our school team was competing against Hana High School, and the atmosphere was electric.
We arrived early to get good seats-Jay was with us too, though he was still recovering and couldn't play.
Once the game started, Jay grew more and more competitive from the sidelines.
He was shouting advice, groaning at missed shots, and basically coaching from his seat-getting so into it that he'd frustrate himself. We couldn't help but laugh.
Both teams were playing fiercely. Our guys were sharp as always, but Hana High was strong too.
Sunghoon was especially impressive-smooth moves, perfect shots-and it seemed like he'd gained quite a fanclub from the other school's side of the bleachers.
And Jake?
Total crowd-pleaser. I'm pretty sure he already had half the numbers of the girls watching.
He's always been a bit of a playful flirt-not in a shady way, just... charismatic and social.
You could tell he loved the attention. He's the kind of guy who's friends with everyone and flirts like it's a hobby.
But he's always respectful. It's just how he is.
____
In the end, we won!
We erupted into cheers, hugging and dancing right there in the stands. Even other students joined in, caught up in the excitement.
I caught Sunghoon looking over at us, a rare, genuine smile on his face.
My heart did a little flip. Yeah... I'm still totally into him.
The coach called Jay over-he was treating the whole team to celebrate, and since Jay was still an official member, he went along too.
As we headed out of the court, we noticed a group of girls-some from our school, some from others-gathered near the gate. They weren't just talking...
It looked like they were arguing.
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