Joy sat comfortably on her soft, milky-colored rug inside her cozy room.
The gentle light filtered through the window, casting a warm glow around her. In her hands, she held a delicate bouquet of white roses—gifts from Ji-Hoo.
She gazed at them softly, a gentle sigh escaping her lips as memories flickered in her mind.
Slowly, her fingers reached out and took her phone from the side table. She pressed the screen to call Ha-Joon, but the call went unanswered.
A flicker of disappointment crossed her face.
Without a word, she tossed the phone aside, her eyes returning to the white roses. A tender smile played on her lips as she stared at the flowers, lost in thought.
Suddenly, her mind drifted back—she was in a dim movie theater. Ji-Hoo had taken her hand, gently covering his eyes to hide from a particularly romantic scene on the screen. She chuckled softly, remembering how protective and cute he looked.
"Ah, Ji-Hoo," she whispered softly, a smirk forming on her face. "I never thought I'd have fun with you like I did today..." Her eyes lingered on the roses, a warm feeling blooming inside her.
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Ha-Joon was deeply engrossed in reading his brown book, Uncover the Power, when suddenly—CRASH! The window glass rattled loudly. Ha-Joon jumped, nearly dropping his book.
Startled, he hurried over and flung the window open.
Standing outside was In-Su, wearing a pink shirt that looked more like a strawberry and brown shorts that… well, looked like he had just rolled out of bed.
His messy black hair stuck out in all directions, and his bright red eyes sparkled with excitement—like he'd just discovered the secret to unlimited snacks.
In-Su waved enthusiastically, holding two plastic bags that looked suspiciously like fast-food takeout. "Ha-Joon!" he called up, voice loud and cheerful.
Ha-Joon blinked, trying to process this unexpected visitor. "Uh… what are you doing here?" he whispered, voice full of suspicion and curiosity.
In-Su grinned mischievously. "Help me up! I've got important stuff," he said, wiggling the plastic bags like a prize.
Ha-Joon raised an eyebrow. "Important stuff? Looks like you raided the fridge and forgot to pay the bill."
In-Su nodded seriously.
"Exactly! It's very important. The best kind of important." He tilted his head. "Plus, I needed adventure. And snacks. Lots of snacks."
Ha-Joon rolled his eyes but reached out his hand. "Alright, but if you fall and break something your bones, I'm blaming the snacks."
In-Su clambered up with a little struggle, slipping slightly on the windowsill.
"Whoa! Almost broke a nail," he said dramatically, clutching his chest. "This is harder than sneaking out past my parents."
Finally, In-Su was inside, landing on the floor with a loud thud.
He quickly straightened up and struck a heroic pose. "Mission accomplished. Food delivered!" he announced, holding the plastic bags like trophies.
Ha-Joon shook his head, smiling despite himself. "You know, I was expecting an alien invasion or a secret spy mission, not a snack delivery."
In-Su grinned wide. "Hey, I'm a multitasker. Saving the world and bringing snacks. That's how I roll."
Just then, Ji-Woo's voice called from down the hall, "Ha-Joon, is everything okay? I heard a crash!"
Ha-Joon sighed, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, sis, just… a minor earthquake. Nothing to worry about."
He turned to In-Su, who was already rummaging through one of the plastic bags. "Well, thanks for the important delivery," Ha-Joon muttered, giving In-Su a playful nudge.
In-Su winked. "Anytime, bro. Now, let's eat before the snacks escape!"
In-Su carefully pulled out the first item from the plastic bags: a steaming bowl of ramen, its aroma making his mouth water.
Next, he revealed a box of crispy fried chicken, a bag of fries, and a small container of sweet rice cakes—each laid out on the tiny table between them.
He grinned proudly. "Ta-da! The finest feast for my best friend. Bon appétit!" he declared, spreading the food like a fancy waiter.
Ha-Joon sat cross-legged on the floor, eyes flicking between the food and In-Su. "You sure you didn't just raid the fridge after midnight?" he asked with a smirk.
In-Su threw a playful glare. "Hey! I have classy taste, thank you very much. Besides, I bought this special for you. You should start first."
Ha-Joon hesitated, eyes narrowing. "No, you start. You're the older one—you should lead by example."
In-Su dramatically clasped his chest. "Me? Start first? But I bought all this for you! Because… just because I'm a good friend," he added with a wink.
Ha-Joon chuckled softly, eyes twinkling. "Well, since you insist…" He reached for a spoonful of ramen, but In-Su suddenly leaned forward, blocking his hand.
"Wait! Wait!" In-Su grinned mischievously. "I think I should go first. You know… for tradition. Besides, I look hungrier. It's only fair."
Ha-Joon rolled his eyes but decided to play along. "Fine, but only if you admit I look better eating," he teased, raising an eyebrow.
In-Su leaned in close, whispering loudly, "Hmm… maybe. But your hair looks like you've been electrocuted. How do you expect me to take you seriously as the 'big brother'?"
Ha-Joon's face instantly went bright red. "Y-You…!" he stammered, trying to hide his embarrassment.
In-Su chuckled and tapped his chin.
"Or maybe it's the mysterious look you're going for," he teased, winking. "Seriously, with that hair, you look like you've just woken up from a nap… at midnight."
Ha-Joon quickly grabbed a chopstick, and started eating, cheeks burning hotter. "Just eat your food," he muttered, voice a little squeaky.
In-Su grinned wider, watching him turn a shade of red that could rival a tomato.
"Oh, I see! My teasing works," he said triumphantly. "Now, I'll just sit back and enjoy watching my friend blush like a ripe strawberry."
Ha-Joon tried to glare, but the blush was pretty obvious now. "Y-You're impossible," he muttered, shoveling food into his mouth to hide his embarrassment.
In-Su leaned back, crossing his arms. "Impossible? Nah. I'm just special. And you're lucky to have me around—for the snacks, if nothing else," he teased, winking again.
Ha-Joon shook his head, laughing despite himself. "You're insufferable," he said, but his cheeks still glowed.
They shared a quiet moment, the teasing fading into comfortable silence—though In-Su couldn't resist one last jab.
"By the way," he said, nudging Ha-Joon with his elbow, "if you keep blushing like that, I might start calling you 'Cherry Blossom' instead of 'Ha-Joon'."
And with that, Ha-Joon's face turned even redder, and he threw a nearby pillow at In-Su, who just laughed loudly.
After finishing their meal and sharing a few more teasing laughs, In-Su quietly slipped out of the room through the window they had come in. Ha-Joon watched him go, feeling unexpectedly lonely.
"Ha-Joon, I'm going," In-Su called softly, waving from outside.
Ha-Joon hesitated, then waved back, a small smile tugging at his lips.
But then, a thought struck him—what if he went with In-Su? His parents might not like him sneaking out, and he didn't want to get into trouble.
"Wait!" he blurted suddenly, rushing downstairs, his grey shirt slightly wrinkled from the quick movement, and his black shorts looking good on him—at least, he thought so.
He reached his parents, nervously fidgeting. "Mom, Dad… can I go out with my friends?"
Mrs. Kim looked up from her seat, smiling warmly. "Of course, Ha-Joon. To where?"
Ha-Joon's heart sank a little. He hadn't thought this part through. What excuse could he give? His mind scrambled as he looked for an answer.
Just then, Joy bounded into the room, cheerful and oblivious. "To the park! We're just gonna get some fresh air,'' she chirped happily.
Ha-Joon's eyes widened. Perfect. No need to lie. He nodded quickly, grabbing Joy's hand without hesitation. "Yeah! The park!" he exclaimed, waving hurriedly.
Without waiting for more questions, he sprinted out of the house, a blur of black shorts and nervous excitement.