The most beautiful flowers
often have the shortest bloom.
Their temporary nature is what makes them so breathtaking, and so heartbreaking.
SUNGHOON'S POV:
Since transferring to this school, a lot has happened—more than I expected.
Jay has been my best friend since kindergarten. We've always had each other's backs. In middle school, we became close with Jungwon and Heeseung. They're the only ones I really open up to.
Jay has a cousin, Wonhee. We're the same age, and back in middle school, I noticed she was being bullied. She didn't have many friends, so she started spending time with us—though she never got as close to Jungwon and Heeseung. I helped her with her studies sometimes. To me, she's always felt like a little sister.
When high school started, my mom wanted me to attend an international school. I went, but I never really liked it. Eventually, my mom noticed how unhappy I was and let me transfer back this year—to the same school as my friends.
And Jay has a girlfriend now—Haerin, and lately I've been spending more time with him and Haerin friend group: Nari, Y/N, Juhee, Jake, Sunoo, and Niki.
They're all pretty loud and playful—flippant— but Juhee and Niki are quieter. Especially Niki. I hardly ever see him at school; I think he only shows up once or twice a month.
Even though I usually don't like being around new people, I never feel bored or out of place with them. They're… real. They don't try to act perfect, and there's something peaceful about that.And that Y/N. She's always doing something unpredictable, Always in motion, always saying what she thinks—no filter, no fear.The teachers are constantly sighing her name.
"Y/N, sit down." "Y/N, be quiet." "Y/N, not again." She's kind of a mess… but in a way that's hard to ignore.
_____
Today was the final game—against Hana High. They're known for being tough, and with Jay injured, I knew we had to step up.
The game was intense. Every point was hard-fought, but in the end… we won.
As the buzzer sounded, I looked up toward the stands—Y/N and her friends were already on their feet, dancing and celebrating like we'd just won the world championship.
The energy was contagious. Soon, other students joined in, turning the bleachers into a wave of joy and noise.
I couldn't help but smile.
When the coach said he was treating us, we were all excited. Some girls from the crowd even asked to take pictures with us, and we gladly posed before finally heading out.
But as we stepped outside, we noticed a commotion near the gate.
A group of students—some from our school, some from Hana High—were shouting and pushing each other.
And there, right in the middle of it all, were Y/N and her friends.
It looked like they weren't involved in the fight—they were trying to break it up.
We rushed over and managed to stop the fight with the coach . Jay immediately went to his girlfriend, pulling her safely to the side. I noticed Y/N shooting a glare in my direction—I wasn't sure why.
Just then, Miss Bok arrived, her expression stern. We all knew punishment was coming. She first told the girls from the other school to leave immediately.
Then she turned to Y/N and her friends, her eyes narrowing.
"I should have known you'd be at the center of this! Do you ever think about this school's reputation?" she shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.
Haerin spoke up quickly, "Miss, we weren't involved! We didn't even know what their problem was—"
But Miss Bok cut her off. "If you weren't involved, why were you even here? And why would you be fighting with students from another school without a reason? It's clear you called other here to back you up!" She glared accusingly at other girls, not giving them a chance to explain further.
"Miss, we really weren't involved—we saw them fighting and tried to stop it," Juhee said politely. She was usually quiet and her voice was firm and respectful than others.
Miss Bok ignored her and turned her sharp gaze toward the other girls from our school who had been involved in the fight. "Well? What do you have to say for yourselves?"
One of the spoke up, avoiding eye contact. "Miss, they invited us here to back them up in a fight."
Y/N couldn't hold back. "Hey, you bitch! Why are you lying?" she said, a smile of sheer disbelief on her face.
Another girl began sniffling, playing the victim. "Miss, it's true! They invited us, and at first we didn't want to come, but they said they'd bully us if we didn't help..."
"You girls are utterly disgraceful!" Miss Bok snapped, her voice cold with anger. "The principal will hear about this. I'm recommending suspension for all of you."
"It wasn't us!" Nari fired back, her voice shaking with frustration. "Just ask the other school who they were fighting with! It wasn't our group!"
Miss Bok's eyes narrowed. "How dare you speak to me like that? You're spoiled, disrespectful, and clearly weren't raised properly. Do your parents ever discipline you at all?"
Her words were harsh and hurtful, meant to shame them.
Y/N, though visibly stung, kept her composure. A tense, defiant smile touched her lips.
"They did discipline us, Miss. They taught us to tell the truth.Which is why you should ask the other school who started the fight. Then you might actually see the truth."
Before Y/N could say another word, Miss Bok's hand flew through the air—SLAP—striking Y/N across the face. As she raised her hand to strike again, another teacher—Sir Kim (our coach) —stepped in and blocked her.
"That's enough," Sir Kim said firmly. "All of you, go home now."He accompanied Miss Bok, and they walked away.
Soon, everyone else headed home, leaving just the girls, along with Jake, Jay, and me.
"I told you not to get involved in fights. You're a girl—you could've gotten hurt," Jay said to his girlfriend, his voice a mix of worry and frustration.
Haerin fired back, "We were only trying to stop it! You're not believe me too?" She sounded hurt that he doubted her. Jay sighed and led her away, probably to calm her down in private.
"These two…" Y/N said, shaking her head with a slight smile. She didn't even look like she'd just been slapped. What kind of girl is she?
Just then, Jake checked his phone and his expression changed. "Y/N, I have to go. My grandma fell in the bathroom."
"Is she okay?" everyone asked at once.
"Don't worry," he said quickly, already turning to leave. "I'll let you know."
The rest of us decided to head home too. As we walked, Nari pulled me aside while Juhee and Y/N talked a few steps ahead.
"Sunghoon," she said quietly, "I need to run by Juhee's. Can you walk Y/N home? She acts tough, but… she's really sensitive" I simply nodded.
After a minute, Nari called out, "Y/N-ah, I need to grab something from Juhee's. Go home without me, okay?"
Y/N pouted slightly. "I wanted someone to walk with…" she murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. But she nodded anyway as Nari and Juhee headed off in the other direction.
Once they were gone, she turned to me with a casual, almost unthinking shrug.
"Let's take the long way—through your street. I'm not ready to go home yet."
I looked at her, surprised. "You know where I live?"
"Of course!" she said without thinking. "We rang your doorbell last week and then ran away befor—"
She suddenly froze, her eyes widening as she realized what she'd just admitted.
A forced, guilty grin spread across her face.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at her confession. "Please don't tell your parents," she pleaded, her eyes wide with a mix of guilt and hope.
I just nodded, still smiling.
Instead of heading straight home,I led her to my secret spot—a quiet place just before reaching my house. It's hidden from most people, with a clear, beautiful view of the sunset.
I handed her a chocolate milkshake I'd brought along earlier.She took a sip and sighed contentedly. "This is so relaxing… Why didn't you bring me here sooner?"She said it more to herself than to me, lost in the moment.
The golden sunset light washed over her face, and for a while, I just watched her—calm, peaceful, and beautifully unaware.
It was… relaxing.
More than I expected.
It was getting late, so I gently told her, "We should head back."
She pouted slightly but perked up when I added, "I'll bring you here again sometime."
That seemed to satisfy her, and she followed me happily.
As we passed my house, she suddenly stopped and stared at me, confused.
"Hey… aren't you going home? Did you forget where you live?"
It was such a genuine, unfiltered question—so her—and I found it oddly endearing.
I shook my head. "No. I'm walking you home first."
A soft smile touched her lips.
The whole way there, she chattered nonstop—about school, friends, the sunset, everything.
I realized this is what she's like when she's truly happy: bright, bubbly, and beautifully unrestrained.
And honestly? I didn't mind listening.
____
"Amma! Amma!"
Y/N stopped talking mid-sentence when she heard the little voice. A small boy came running toward her from across the street, his arms outstretched. Without hesitation, she bent down and scooped him up just as he reached her.
A moment later, a young man—who was clearly the boy's father, given how much they resembled each other—walked up to us.
"Amma… I to-old da-da I wa-ant to see y-ou, bu-t he do-n't let me," the little boy mumbled, his words still blurred and babyish. I could barely make out what he was saying, but Y/N seemed to understand perfectly.
She spoke softly to the little boy for a moment, then Y/N smiled warmly at the man, and the two exchanged a few quiet words and handed the baby back to his father. The man nodded gratefully, though the boy clearly didn't want to go—he pouted and reached for Y/N again. Still, his father gently guided him away, carrying him toward home.
After they walked away, I couldn't hold back my curiosity.
"Who was that?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
She explained how she'd met them at the market—the little boy had mistaken her for his mother, and they'd become oddly familiar since then. I felt a wave of relief wash over me… but then a new, confusing fear crept in. Why did it bother me so much when he called her 'amma'?
I've never really been interested in girls before. It's just not something I've ever cared about. But just now… was I actually jealous?
She's not the kind of girl I ever imagined myself with. I always thought I'd want someone quiet, soft-spoken, neat—the complete opposite of her chaotic, loud, endlessly energetic self.
My head was spinning with questions I didn't know how to answer.
When we finally reached her house, she turned to me with a bright, grateful smile. Without thinking, I reached out and gently touched her cheek—the same spot where Miss Bok had slapped her just hours earlier.
Her eyes widened, and she looked up at me, surprised and silent.
"It doesn't hurt now, right?" I asked softly, my thumb gently brushing the spot where Miss Bok had hit her.
She nodded, her eyes still locked on mine.
I slowly lowered my hand. "Get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Thank you for today," she said, a shy smile playing on her lips. "And you'd better take me to that spot again someday, okay?"I glanced back and nodded.
Once she was inside, I walked home, my mind still replaying the moment my hand brushed her cheek.
The second I stepped through the door, my mom appeared, her eyes bright with curiosity.
"Who was that girl you were walking with? Your girlfriend? You should introduce us!"
My younger sister peeked out from behind her, equally eager.
I didn't answer. I just smiled slightly and continued down the hall to my room, leaving them whispering excitedly behind me.
At dinner, they wouldn't stop asking about her.
"She's kind of pretty, you know. Don't ruin it," my sister warned playfully.
I just smiled quietly, not giving anything away.
__
Later, while studying at my desk, I couldn't stop thinking about Y/N. She's childish, loud, and completely unpredictable—but that's what makes her so charming.
I replayed everything that happened today—the way she stood up for her friends, how she smiled even after being hurt, the sunset, the milkshake, the way her eyes widened when I touched her cheek…
I couldn't help but smile like an idiot.
And strangely… I felt grateful to that little boy and his dad. They made me realize something important.
I like her.
I really, truly like her.
And tomorrow… I'm going to tell
_____
Next morning:
I woke up earlier than usual this morning, my mind already racing with thoughts of how I would tell her today. Feeling restless, I decided to go for a walk—my usual routine, though lately my feet have carried me down the path toward her house. I've been doing this ever since I found out where she lived, though I never really let myself ask why.
I paused near her home, my eyes drifting up to her window.Quiet. Still.
She's probably still asleep.
I've been thinking about her since that first day I walked her home—though I always refused to admit, even to myself, what those thoughts really meant. But yesterday… yesterday changed everything. It wasn't just a feeling anymore. It was real.
And today… I'm going to say it.
___
After i got back home, I took a shower, and got ready for school, my mind still focused on one thing: telling her how I felt.
A short while later, I reached school just as she and her friends arrived. They were earlier than usual, and I found myself noticing yet another small detail about her routine. She was smiling and talking animatedly with her friends, just like she always does.
I took a deep breath and started to approach them, my heart beating a little faster. But before I could get close enough to say anything, I overheard a snippet of their conversation.
The few words I caught—along with the serious tone and quick glances in my direction—made my blood run cold. My steps faltered. The confidence I'd felt just moments ago vanished.
I thought she might like me too. I guess I was wrong.
I clenched my fists, frustration and disappointment washing over me. Without another moment's hesitation, I turned and walked away, the words I had planned to say dying on my lips.
Maybe I misunderstood her…
Or maybe I understood perfectly.