Her head snapped toward me, eyes wide. "Y-you!" Her face went scarlet, the words dissolving into incoherent sputters.
Irina gasped dramatically, slapping Jinkyung's arm. "Did you hear that?! He's not even denying it!"
"Hmm…" Jinkyung agreed, grinning ear to ear.
Seolhyo buried her face in her hands, groaning. "I hate you all…"
I popped another candy into my mouth, hiding my smirk. "What? Just saying what everyone's already thinking."
**********
At the PC Bang, Yang Jinsu sat hunched over a computer, the glow of the monitor casting sharp shadows across his face. His fingers slammed the keyboard with growing frustration his expression twisted in rage every time his character fell on screen. Around him, the hum of machines and muffled curses from other players blended into the heavy air of cigarette smoke and stale ramen.
From the entrance, Chulgyu stepped inside, open the computer messaging someone. Then suddenly punching the screen then stood up invite Jinsu shutting down the game, pulling his hoodie up, and trailing after him.
A boy sat slumped against the corner, face bruised and bleeding, barely lifting his head shifting nervously. Chulgyu crouching in front of him slap him more, and Jinsu behind him, slower, tense, his eyes darting across the scene.
What happened next left Jinsu silent but shaken. The violence in that room the way fists landed, the dull thuds, the broken gasps etched itself into his memory. He didn't intervene, didn't move, only stood there with clenched fists, watching.
From that night on, his steps would carry him further away from his old friends, pulled instead into the orbit of Chulgyu's shadow.
**********
Back at school, a cluster of us crowded around Ji Suwon's desk, heads bent over the latest pages of his porn manga.
Kang Hyuk squinted, tapping the panel with a grin. "Wait, is this a new protagonist? Damn, he's packing something huge down there."
Im Yongjin let out a long, dramatic groan. "Khuuuu… I'm jealous! Why can't real life be like this?"
The group burst into laughter, and Kang Hyuk kept flipping through. "Seriously though, this is good. The detail, the shading look at this angle! But hey, why are the volumes so thin lately?"
Suwon scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Ah… I just don't have much time to draw these days."
Choi Jinwoo grinning as he reached over and pinched Suwon's cheek." [Its good]"
The last bell rang, and the school erupted into chaos. Students bolted from classrooms, racing down the hallways like wild beasts freed from their cages. Laughter, shouts, and the thunder of shoes echoed against the walls.
Beside me, Suwon stretched lazily. "Let's go," he muttered, and the two of us drifted toward Class 1–6, where Seolhyo and Inseop had their lessons.
Inside, Seolhyo was just slipping her books into her bag. Her eyes lit up briefly when she saw us. "You're here. Sorry for suddenly calling you," she said to Suwon.
He waved it off. "Ahh, no, it's fine."
That answer made something twist in my chest. I leaned forward with a half-grumble, half-complaint. "What, you can text him but not me?"
Her hands froze mid-zip, and for a second, she wouldn't meet my eyes.
"Why would I text you?" she said flatly, though the way she avoided my gaze said more than the words themselves.
Before the silence grew heavier, I turned my attention to Inseop, who was already slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Oi, Inseop. Let's go home together."
He opened his mouth, then paused his eyes flicking to Suwon standing beside me.
His lips tightened before he forced a polite smile. "Maybe next time." With that, he slipped out the door.
The air stiffened for a moment. I glanced at Suwon. "You two still haven't… settled things yet?"
The word felt clumsy, but it was the only one that fit.
Suwon didn't answer, only staring at the empty doorway where Inseop had left. His silence said enough.
Then Seolhyo broke in, holding out a candy.
"Oh, Suwon here. It's Yang Jinsu's glasses. I picked them up that day. Could you… give it back to him? Sorry for making you do this."
Suwon accepted them with a small nod. "It's fine. I'll make sure he gets them."
"Thanks," she said softly, and for just a moment, her eyes lingered on him.
I cleared my throat, flashing her a grin as I backed toward the door. "See you tomorrow, Seolhyo~"
"You too," she replied, faint but warm.
Walking across the school field toward the school exit, my mind drifted back to that scene in Class 1–6. The way Seolhyo had spoken to Suwon, the way she handed him Jinsu's glasses it should've been the perfect setup. A soft voice, a lingering look, the kind of little moment that could trip a guy's heart if he wasn't careful.
But Suwon? He stood there like a wall. Calm. Detached. Not even the slightest crack.
It bothered me. Not because I wanted him to like her, but because I couldn't wrap my head around it. How could he not? She was Seol Hyorim any other guy would've been halfway to writing love poems just from hearing her say "thank you."
I kicked at a pebble, watching it bounces across the dirt. My thoughts circled back to Park Dong. His crush on Irina hadn't started with a smile, or a laugh, or anything sweet. No, it was the sight of her tears. Just tears. That was all it took. One glimpse of her looking vulnerable, and he was done for.
That's when it hit me. Tears. A woman's tears are the sharpest blade they carry. Doesn't matter how tough a guy thinks he is when he sees them fall, something in him breaks wide open. Maybe pity, maybe guilt, maybe instinct to protect… doesn't matter. Once you're caught, you're caught.
I smirked faintly to myself. Yeah. Tears really are the greatest weapon against men.
**********
Morning light slanted through the hallway as Suwon and I were talking by his locker when Junhyun and Ono arrive by the door.
Without warning Junhyun throw a PE uniform at Suwon. It slapped wet against his chest; Suwon caught it instinctively and froze, nose wrinkling.
"Ugh gross. It's wet," Suwon said, holding the damp fabric away from him. "You know I have to wear that later."
Junhyun scratched the back of his head, awkwardly defensive. "I-uh it's just water, okay? Chill." He sounded like someone trying to sell a stupid excuse.
Junhyun fanning himself theatrically. "Ugh, it's getting hot. Not like last weekend, though
Suwon ask curiously. "So what did you do on the weekend? PC Bang? Billiards?"
"Both," Junhyun shot back, proud.
Ono look at outside sky wearing a blank expression. 'I wish a typhoon would come.'
He glanced at me and Junhyun. "You two went out together, right? Just the two of you? What about Inseop?"
"Out with his girlfriend," Junhyun said, shrugging like it was no big deal. "So yeah, lucky him."
Junhyun. "Good thing Seojin showed up otherwise Ono and I'd look like we were dating for real."
Ono Threaten. "Say that gross stuff again and I'll kill you."
"Shut up," Junhyun snapped, then laughed. "I hate it more that you, dumbass."
Junhyun's grin faded into something like concern. "Hey, when are you and Inseop gonna make up? Just ask him to come to the snack shop, man. It's not that hard."
Suwon shifted, uncomfortable. "I'm… not ready, okay?"
Junhyun rolled his eyes. "So, you two are just going to ignore each other forever? Come on, clear it up."
I folded my arms, watching them. "If you want my opinion?" I said, stepping in, voice low and calm, "don't overthink it. Say what you mean. If he's your friend, he'll listen. Otherwise, drag him to the snack shop yourself force works too."
Suwon actually cracked a small smile. "Yeah, Maybe I will just stop being stubborn."
Junhyun clapped once. "There you go. Case closed." Put his hand in his shoulder.
We finally reached Inseop's classroom. Junhyun leaned in with his usual bluntness.
"Yo, snack shop. Come with us."
Inseop blinked, hesitating then his eyes flicked to Suwon fidgeting by the door, awkward as hell. After a beat, he gave a quiet nod. "...Alright."
Just then, Seolhyo appeared at the doorway, her bright voice cutting in. "Hi."
Her presence shifted the air instantly. She stepped closer, holding a small packet of candy, and handing one to Suwon.
"Did you give Jinsu his glasses yet?"
Suwon straightened, almost relieved to have something normal to answer. "Yeah. Yesterday."
Seolhyo tilted her head. "And what's he up to now?"
Suwon scratched his neck. "Seemed like he was at a PC Bang."