Rumors, Seung-min had learned, were unnecessary.
They rarely carried truth, rarely served purpose, and yet they moved through the school faster than anything else—whispered between classes, passed along corridors, reshaped with every retelling.
He usually ignored them.
There was no reason not to.
This time—
He didn't.
"…I heard someone's confessing to President Youn-jun today."
The words reached him in fragments as he walked past a group of students, their voices hushed but careless enough to carry.
Seung-min didn't slow.
Didn't turn.
Didn't acknowledge it in any visible way.
But the words stayed.
Not important, he told himself.
And yet—
They didn't leave.
"Min!"
The familiar voice came before the presence, bright and unmistakable.
A second later, Youn-jun's weight dropped against his back, arms loosely slung over his shoulders as if balance was optional and personal space nonexistent.
"You walk too fast," he complained.
"You're late."
"I'm not late," Youn-jun said, leaning more of his weight onto him just to be difficult. "I made an entrance."
"You're late."
"You're mean."
"You're loud."
A grin pressed into his shoulder. "You love me."
"…No."
"Liar."
Seung-min adjusted his posture slightly—not to move him away, but to keep them both steady as they continued walking.
It was familiar.
Routine.
Unquestioned.
"By the way," Youn-jun added after a moment, his tone shifting just enough to draw attention, "someone asked me to meet them after school."
Seung-min's steps didn't falter.
"So?"
"I think it's a confession."
There it was again.
The same word.
"Reject them."
Youn-jun pulled back slightly, just enough to look at him. "You didn't even hesitate."
"You don't like them."
"You don't even know who it is."
"I don't need to."
The certainty in his voice wasn't loud.
But it was absolute.
Youn-jun studied him for a second longer than usual, something curious flickering in his expression before it melted into a grin.
"Wow," he said lightly. "Possessive."
"…No."
"Guard dog."
"…Stop calling me that."
But Seung-min didn't look at him when he said it.
And Youn-jun noticed.
The rest of the morning passed as it always did—papers, meetings, small tasks that required attention but little thought.
And yet—
Something felt… off.
Seung-min found his focus drifting.
Not enough to affect his work.
Never that.
But enough that he was aware of it.
Across the room, Youn-jun was talking.
Laughing.
Moving easily between people, his presence filling the space in a way no one else could replicate.
It was normal.
It had always been normal.
So why—
Seung-min's gaze lingered a second longer than necessary.
Why did it feel different today?
By lunchtime, the rooftop greeted him with its usual quiet.
The door creaked softly as he pushed it open, the familiar breeze brushing past him as if acknowledging his presence.
He stepped out—
And stopped.
Youn-jun wasn't there.
A small pause.
Barely noticeable.
He walked forward anyway, settling into his usual spot.
He didn't wait.
He wasn't waiting.
…
The door opened again.
"Min!"
The voice came first—
Then him.
Relief—
Sharp and immediate—
Settled in Seung-min's chest before he could stop it.
"You're late."
"I was busy!"
Youn-jun walked toward him—
But didn't sit.
"Wait here for a second, okay?"
Before Seung-min could respond—
Someone else appeared.
A girl.
First year.
Nervous, from the way she held herself.
Seung-min didn't move.
Didn't speak.
He watched.
It wasn't far.
Just a few steps.
Close enough to see—
Close enough to hear—
"I really like you, sunbae…"
The words came out soft, trembling slightly at the edges.
Seung-min looked away.
It didn't matter.
There was no reason for it to matter.
Youn-jun could talk to whoever he wanted.
Smile at whoever he wanted.
Stand close to whoever he wanted.
That had nothing to do with him.
"…I'm sorry."
Youn-jun's voice was gentle.
Clear.
Uncertain in none of the ways the girl's had been.
"I don't feel the same way."
A pause.
"You're really kind," he continued softly. "And I'm glad you told me. But… there's someone important to me already."
Something—
Shifted.
Seung-min's fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the bench.
He didn't look back.
Didn't need to.
Footsteps approached.
"Min!"
And just like that—
The distance disappeared.
Youn-jun dropped down beside him, leaning close without hesitation, reaching for the lunchbox like nothing had happened.
"I'm starving," he said. "You didn't start without me, right?"
"You're late."
"I was busy getting confessed to."
"You rejected them."
"Still tiring."
Seung-min glanced at him.
"…You said there's someone important."
Youn-jun paused mid-bite.
Then slowly—
Turned.
A smile spread across his face.
Not loud.
Not teasing.
Something softer.
"You."
The word settled between them.
Quiet.
Certain.
"You're the most important person to me," Youn-jun continued, as if it required no explanation. "So obviously I can't date anyone. What if they get jealous of you?"
"…They would."
Youn-jun blinked.
Then laughed.
"See? That's what I'm saying!"
Seung-min looked away.
"…Good."
"Hm?"
"Nothing."
Youn-jun narrowed his eyes slightly, studying him.
"You're acting weird."
"You're loud."
"You love it."
"…Eat."
Youn-jun grinned, bumping their shoulders together.
Once.
Twice.
And then not moving away.
The space between them—
Gone.
Like it always was.
But this time—
Seung-min noticed it.
Not the closeness.
That had always been there.
But the absence of distance.
How wrong it had felt, even for a moment.
How unnecessary it had been.
How he hadn't liked it.
At all.
From across the rooftop, distant voices whispered again.
Speculation.
Assumptions.
Seung-min didn't hear them.
Or maybe—
He did.
And simply didn't care.
Because Youn-jun was beside him.
Talking.
Smiling.
Existing.
The way he always had.
The way he always should.
And for now—
That was enough.
Even if—
For a brief moment—
Something unfamiliar had taken shape inside him.
Something quiet.
Something sharp.
Something he didn't yet understand.
But something—
That didn't like being ignored.
Jealousy.
Seung-min didn't have a name for it yet.
But he would.
Soon.