After that evening—
After Ji Yong stepped closer, threw that careless confession into the air, and looked Ji Hyun straight in the eyes:
"Because I like her."
Something shifted.
Days passed.
And each one seemed to mock Ji Hyun more than the last.
They were everywhere now—Ji Yong and Haeri.
Together between classes. Walking side by side after school. Laughing over something at the canteen. Their names were being murmured in corridors, in classrooms, between bites of lunch.
People started talking.
About how Haeri might be dating Ji Yong.
About how they looked "good together."
And Ji Hyun?
He heard it all.
He pretended not to care. He let the words wash over him like background noise.
But he heard every syllable.
The laughter. The teasing. The whispering about them.
And Ji Yong didn't even try to hide it.
If anything, he wanted Ji Hyun to see.
The closeness. The shared glances. The way she smiled up at him like she hadn't smiled at anyone else.
It was deliberate.
It was loud—only for Ji Hyun.
Ji Yong was showing him that he could take something... just because he could.
Ji Hyun didn't know what hurt more:
Watching them.
Or knowing Ji Yong knew he was watching.
He hated how easily Ji Yong could provoke him. Just by being near her. Just by being himself.
And what stung worse than anything?
It was Ji Yong.
That he was the one beside her.
His smirk. His calm arrogance. His subtle, ruthless way of pushing Ji Hyun over the edge—without ever raising his voice.
Sometimes Ji Hyun broke.
Let his emotions spill.
Snapped back. Looked too long. Got too angry.
And every time, Ji Yong would smirk.
Like he'd scored a point.
So Ji Hyun buried it.
He controlled himself. Pushed down the ache.
He didn't know if it was love or not.
But one thing was clear: seeing her with another man made his chest feel like it would collapse.
And worse?
It made him feel small.
Because people like him—like Ji Hyun—they don't get the beautiful things.
They only admire them from a distance.
They fall in love silently, quietly, painfully.
And they never get to have it.
They just... watch.
_______
He dropped out of the club.
Told the teacher in person that he couldn't focus.
She frowned, asked if he was sure.
Even threw a sarcastic little jab: "You lasted longer than I thought."
But when she saw his face—serious, tired—she didn't argue.
Just nodded and let him go.
⸻
One afternoon, Ji Yong leaned over during break, his tone too light to be innocent.
"Hey, know any good restaurants around here? I want to take Haeri somewhere nice."
Ji Hyun didn't lift his head.
Didn't say a word.
But right on cue—his second mouth spoke.
Hyun Soo, oblivious as ever, perked up at the word restaurant.
"Oh! There's this place near the station—we go all the time! Ji Hyun loves their spicy chicken and cheesy tteokbokki."
Ji Hyun stared at his desk.
Dead inside.
He'd just killed Hyun Soo in his mind.
Ji Yong, ever the actor, gave a soft smile of gratitude.
But Ji Hyun knew that look.
He saw the grin hiding behind it. The victory tucked into the corners of his smirk.
Ji Hyun turned and glared.
Ji Yong just winked
Then leaned his chin on his hand and stared across at Ji Hyun, observing the flush in his ears, the flicker of frustration in his face.
"What?" Ji Hyun snapped.
Ji Yong dropped his head lazily onto the desk, smile never fading.
⸻
Later that day, as they walked home from school, someone called out behind them.
"Hyun Soo! Ji Hyun!"
They turned.
For a second, Ji Hyun felt something loosen in his chest.
But it vanished the moment he saw her—
—and him.
Haeri stood there, and beside her, that tall, lean figure—hands in pockets, hair tousled just enough to look perfect without trying. Ji Yong.
He strolled forward like he owned the breeze. Some girls nearby turned to look. It felt like a scene from a drama.
To Ji Hyun?
He was a pain in the ass
"You guys coming? We can go to the restaurant," Haeri said brightly.
Ji Yong matched her step easily.
Before Ji Hyun could open his mouth, his second mouth jumped in again.
"If it's food, I'm in!"
Ji Hyun's jaw clenched.
That was murder number two for Hyun Soo.
Haeri turned to him, hopeful.
Ji Hyun hesitated.
But Ji Yong leaned in with a lazy comment, just enough to stir the fire.
"Still need Hyun Soo to speak for you?"
Ji Hyun didn't answer.
Next thing he knew, he was sitting at a table for four.
Haeri and Hyun Soo sat across.
And Ji Yong?
He was right beside him.
Too close.
Always too close.
⸻
Ji Yong asked Haeri about her favorite food.
Hyun Soo cut in cheerfully, "Why only her? We're starving too!"
Ji Yong laughed, then tilted his head slightly toward Ji Hyun—who hadn't spoken a word since they arrived.
Ji Hyun stared out the window, eyes glazed over, like the sky outside was more interesting than anything here.
A sigh slipped from his lips.
Soft. Unintentional.
But Ji Yong caught it.
He smirked and murmured under his breath, just loud enough for Ji Hyun to hear:
"Boring date for you, huh?"
Ji Hyun's ears turned red—classic sign he was pissed.
Without warning, he smiled tightly—and kicked Ji Yong under the table.
Ji Yong choked on his soup.
Ji Hyun turned his head away, satisfied.
"You guys fight like a married couple," Haeri giggled.
Hyun Soo pointed and laughed. "Ji Hyun might be the wife. He's the one always nagging!"
Ji Hyun didn't respond.
Instead, he crossed his arms and turned slightly toward the window, jaw tightening. He wasn't pouting—but his silence, the slight frown between his brows, said enough.
And Ji Yong, watching with amused eyes, leaned back with a quiet smirk.
"Well, he does sulk like one."
Haeri laughed behind her hand.
Ji Hyun rolled his eyes. "Who would marry this guy?"
⸻
When the food arrived, Ji Hyun froze.
It was everything he loved.
His exact favorites—laid out like someone had read his mind.
He stared, chest tightening.
Even though he hated this idiot beside him, he couldn't say it didn't move something deep in his gut.
Ji Yong turned to Haeri and said:
"There's a saying: to win someone's heart, you feed them. If you can't cook, just give them their favorite."
Hyun Soo let out a dramatic "Awwwww!"
Ji Hyun reached for his fork, tightening his grip.
He didn't want to see her blush. Didn't want to hear her giggle. He didn't want to feel anything.
He stabbed into his plate and started eating.
One by one, they all did.
Hyun Soo and Haeri complimented every bite.
Ji Yong chuckled—and placed food in Ji Hyun's plate without asking.
Ji Hyun blinked.
Didn't resist.
"You eat this," Ji Yong said, lifting another bite toward him.
Without a thought, Ji Hyun leaned in and tasted it.
"...Mmm," he mumbled. "It's good."
Ji Yong smiled quietly.
"Give me too!" Hyun Soo whined.
Ji Yong fed him dramatically, like some prince with loyal subjects.
Ji Hyun shook his head slightly—but his eyes stayed soft.
And for a moment—just that one small, flickering moment—
When the flavor hit his tongue, the world quieted.
No anger.
No jealousy.
No weight on his chest.
Just warmth.
Just the clatter of dishes and the hum of voices.
And Ji Hyun let it happen.
Let himself feel lighter.
Not because anything was fixed.
But because for a second—they weren't enemies.
They weren't anything heavy or broken.
They weren't guarded or tangled in feelings they didn't understand.
They were just teenagers,
eating good food,
sharing the same breath of peace—
—in a moment that would pass.
Like all moments do.
⸻