After the bathroom incident, Ji Hyun disliked Ji Yong even more.
There were more Saturdays after that—more club meetings, more silent battles. Ji Yong never backed off. If anything, he seemed to enjoy pushing Ji Hyun further, like some twisted game.
To the rest of the school, Ji Yong was golden. Polite. Sharp. Charming when he wanted to be.
But Ji Hyun knew better.
He saw the cracks.
The arrogance behind the compliments. The smugness behind the smiles.
Even Hyun Soo had begun warming up to him lately—especially after one of their project days where Ji Yong actually showed up on time and helped carry half the equipment like a decent person.
The kind of thing teachers loved. The kind of thing Ji Hyun didn't trust.
The clubroom was mostly empty, the evening sun casting long orange shadows through the windows. The air felt heavier, slower—like the whole school was exhaling after a long day.
Ji Hyun sat by the window, eyes on his sketchpad, pencil unmoving.
The door clicked.
Ji Yong stepped in, casual as ever, with a sleek white box in his hand. His sleeves were rolled up, hair slightly damp, and he looked like he belonged in an ad for effortless cool.
He didn't say a word. Just crossed the room slowly, placed the box down on the desk—noticeably closer to Haeri than anyone else—and dropped into the seat beside her.
Ji Hyun didn't even flinch.
But his eyes flicked toward the box and back to the same spot on his paper.
Haeri glanced at it. "What's this?"
Ji Yong leaned back lazily, arms draped over the back of his chair. "Let's just say I brought it for someone with a very predictable taste."
Ji Hyun's fingers curled slightly on the edge of the paper.
Haeri lifted the lid—and gasped softly.
Inside sat rows of strawberries, perfectly plump and dipped in glossy, slightly-melted chocolate. Some had crushed almonds, others tiny flakes of gold or powdered sugar. A few were so smooth the chocolate looked like silk, still dripping just a little under the warm evening light.
"They look like they belong in a dessert commercial," Haeri whispered, visibly impressed.
"You've never brought anything like this before," she added, her tone light but curious.
Ji Yong shrugged. "Well, I figured someone here would appreciate something sweet."
Ji Hyun still didn't look at him.
His gaze dropped to his lap now, fingers curled into his sketchpad.
But Ji Yong wasn't watching Haeri.
His eyes lingered on Ji Hyun. Just for a moment.
And when Ji Hyun refused to meet them—choosing instead to act like the desk was the most fascinating thing in the room—Ji Yong smiled.
Not a mocking smile. Just... playful. Like he was already in on a joke no one else understood.
"You've never brought snacks before," Haeri said, visibly impressed. "This is really thoughtful. Thank you."
Ji Yong gave a light shrug. "Felt like it."
He didn't take his eyes off Ji Hyun.
Haeri picked up one of the strawberries—chocolate glistening, a slow drip threatening to slide off. She popped it into her mouth, her expression softening into delight.
"Mmmm..."
Ji Yong chuckled at the sound, still grinning.
And Ji Hyun...
Ji Hyun's eyes were locked on a single corner of his paper, jaw tensed.
He didn't want to look at them.
Didn't want to see her smiling at Ji Yong.
Didn't want to feel whatever this weird knot in his chest was.
Didn't want to be the third chair at a table made for two.
But then—
"Ji Hyun-ah. Here."
Haeri held the box toward him with a warm smile.
Ji Hyun looked up slowly.
"I don't like strawberries," he said flatly.
There was no sharpness. Just distance.
Haeri blinked, caught off-guard.
Ji Yong reached in, grabbed one himself, and bit into it.
He chewed slowly, watching Ji Hyun from the side, smile still tugging at his lips.
"You don't like strawberries, huh?" he said with a quiet laugh. "Of course not. You don't like anything nice."
Ji Hyun turned his face fully toward him now, sharpness flickering in his gaze.
"You—"
"Hey hey hey! You guys missed me?"
The door burst open. Hyun Soo strolled in, hair windblown, eyes bright, full of that end-of-day chaos that followed him everywhere.
"No," Haeri said instantly, a smile tugging her lips.
"Nope," Ji Yong chimed in, just as casually.
Hyun Soo gave a mock offended look. "Wow. And here I thought I brought light to your boring lives."
Oh—what's this?" He plopped into the chair beside Ji Hyun without waiting for an answer. Before anyone could stop him, he reached into the box, took a dripping strawberry, and popped it into his mouth.
"Mmmmm—wow!" he said, eyes wide. "This is so good! Wait—you didn't eat any? Ji Hyun, you love strawberries!"
Ji Yong raised an eyebrow and leaned back, clearly enjoying the performance.
Ji Hyun shot him a look that could kill.
"That was when I was a kid," he mumbled. "Now I don't like them."
Hyun Soo blinked, unbothered. "A kid? Bro, literally three weeks ago you threw a fit when I ate your last strawberry yoghurt. You said I betrayed your bloodline or something."
Ji Hyun's ears turned red, but his expression stayed locked in place.
"And then," Hyun Soo continued, "you made me walk all the way to the vending machine to buy you a new one—with my own money—"
Thunk.
A strawberry landed against Hyun Soo's face.
He caught it in surprise. "Hey!"
"Why are you here?" Ji Hyun snapped. "You're not even in the club today."
"I was passing by." He grinned. "And then I smelled sugar."
"You look like a pig right now. Stop eating."
"I am a pig. A happy one," Hyun Soo mumbled, reaching for another piece. "Vitamin C, baby."
Ji Hyun gave him a stare that said: Say one more thing and I'll kill you.
But it was too late.
Haeri was laughing behind her hand.
Ji Yong leaned back, watching the chaos with a slow, amused grin, resting his chin against his palm.
Ji Hyun stood abruptly.
The chair made a low scraping sound as he grabbed his bag.
"We're done here."
"Ji Hyun—" Haeri said gently, her smile fading.
But he was already halfway to the door.
He didn't slam it.
Just shut it with a soft finality that felt louder than anything else in the room.
A long pause.
"...I think we hurt his feelings," Haeri said, her voice quiet now.
Ji Yong didn't say anything right away.
He still wore that teasing smile—but it didn't quite reach his eyes anymore.
His gaze remained fixed on the door Ji Hyun had just walked out of.
Hyun Soo stood, brushing crumbs off his hands. "I'll go."
And with one last bite, he hurried after him, the door swinging gently behind.
Silence filled the room again.
The evening light had dimmed now, casting soft gold across the table.
The box of chocolate-dipped strawberries still sat in the center—shiny, delicate, almost glowing.
But untouched.
Untouched by the one person they were quietly meant for.
_________________________________________
The sky was still holding onto the last threads of golden evening when Ji Hyun got home.
He hadn't gone inside. He didn't even change out of his uniform. Instead, he dropped his bag beside the porch and crouched near the low wall by the yard, where Ga-ram sat wagging her tail like she'd been waiting all day.
"You hungry?" Ji Hyun muttered softly.
He scooped some leftover rice and pieces of meat into her bowl, watching her ears twitch as she leaned in to sniff.
The dog barked once—quick, excited—and immediately started eating. Her fur caught the sunlight like it had been dusted with gold. Ji Hyun sat down beside her in the dirt, still in his school shoes, knees pulled up loosely to his chest.
He didn't say anything else.
Didn't have to.
The quietness of the evening, the warmth of the fading sun, and the soft crunch of Ga-ram's chewing made everything feel... a little less heavy.
That is, until—
"JI HYUN-AH!"
Ji Hyun didn't even look. He just sighed.
"Are you seriously ignoring me? Even the dog gets more attention than me?!"
Hyun Soo came jogging around the side of the house, breathless and loud, still in his uniform—tie loosened, hair a mess, bag half-zipped like always. He skidded to a stop just before the porch.
"You followed me all the way here?" Ji Hyun muttered.
"I had to! I thought you'd cool down after, like, ten minutes, but nooo. You stormed out like a drama lead!"
Ji Hyun fed Ga-ram another bit of meat, not even glancing at him.
Hyun Soo dropped onto the ground beside them and flopped onto his side, groaning dramatically.
"I'm the worst," he said aloud. "I'm a certified idiot."
Ga-ram barked once.
"See? Even she agrees."
Ji Hyun snorted quietly through his nose but still didn't say anything.
"I say dumb things. I embarrass people. I ruin the mood. I talk about yogurt at the worst possible time. I talk too much in general. I mean, seriously—who needs to talk that much?"
Ga-ram barked again, louder this time.
Hyun Soo pointed at her. "You're too honest, Ga-ram. You're supposed to support me."
Ji Hyun's lips twitched, but he bit back a laugh.
"I mean," Hyun Soo went on, eyes on the dog, "I knew I messed up the second I said that thing about the strawberry cake. Ji Hyun hates that story. It's not even funny! I just... talk without thinking. Like an actual golden retriever. No offense."
Ga-ram let out a soft growl, then a yip.
"Okay, okay," Hyun Soo said, raising both hands. "You're the cuter one, I get it."
Up until that moment, Ji Hyun hadn't minded. He'd let Hyun Soo ramble. He'd ignored him on purpose. But when Ga-ram barked again—right after Hyun Soo declared himself an idiot for the fifth time—Ji Hyun couldn't hold it anymore.
He laughed.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just real.
Hyun Soo blinked, turning toward him. "You're laughing?"
Ji Hyun shook his head, feeding the last piece to Ga-ram. "What should I even do with you? Even if I stopped talking to you, you'd still say or do something stupid."
Ga-ram barked again—sharp and proud this time, like she agreed completely.
"Are you two teaming up against me now?" Hyun Soo asked, mouth open in mock betrayal.
"She understands me better than you," Ji Hyun said, his voice low but amused.
From inside the house, a sharp voice rang out.
"Hyun Soo! If you keep shouting like that, I'll throw you out with the garbage!"
Hyun Soo froze, eyes wide. "Sorry, ma'am!"
Ji Hyun broke into another quiet laugh.
The sky had softened into a pale lavender above them. The wind smelled faintly of dust, flowers, and someone grilling two houses over.
It wasn't the best day.
But it wasn't the worst anymore.
Not with Ga-ram's barks and Hyun Soo's nonsense cutting through the leftover weight.