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"Can u do me a favor?"

prologue.

Daisy's in my hand was bare naked, and even so, I already knew the answer.

He loves me not.

He... loves me not.

I pouted at that, pulling off the last petal with more force than necessary. The poor flower was practically destroyed between my fingers.

"Stupid," I muttered to myself.

The sun looked more nostalgic than ever that afternoon. Orange hues painted the rooftops and made everything feel like a memory before it had even finished happening.

I stood up from the ground, my knees covered in dirt, and brushed myself off quickly. If my father saw me like this, he'd probably scold me again for ruining my clothes.

I wrinkled my nose as I looked down the street.

The asphalt was covered with drawings made from chalk and crayons. Butterflies, suns, flowers, meaningless doodles, and even a failed attempt at a dragon covered most of the block. All the neighborhood kids usually gathered there around that time.

Summer was the best season.

There was no school, no homework, no annoying teachers or principals pretending they cared about you, no psychologists telling you that hiding all the time wasn't helping.

Just playing and playing.

Playing and...

Watching him.

My eyes automatically drifted to the other side of the street.

As always. As every day since I could remember.

As if it had become a habit impossible to break.

Seonghyeon Eom.

My heart gave a small leap.

I sighed, like in those cheesy movies Hyein, Kya, and I watched during sleepovers on Saturdays.

The boy with the uneven bangs was sitting on a bicycle that was much too big for him, laughing with his friends. Martin had apparently just said the funniest joke in human history because everyone was doubled over laughing.

Even him.

And when Seonghyeon laughed...

Well...

When Seonghyeon laughed, the world seemed a little prettier.

"It makes sense, idiot," Louis teased.

"It doesn't!" Keonho protested.

"It does."

"It doesn't!"

"It does!"

"It doesn't!"

Martin was already choking from laughter.

I smiled too without realizing it.

I wasn't even really listening to the conversation.

I was just watching him. Again.

"Who are you looking at?"

Ian's voice made me jump.

I turned so fast I nearly fell over.

Ian was sitting beside me, watching me curiously. Her light hair shimmered beneath the golden glow of the sunset.

"What?"

"I asked who you're looking at."

"No one." I answered a second too quickly.

She wrinkled her nose.

"That's a lie."

"It's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No."

"Yes."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Damn it.

Ian was far too observant.

And far too nosy.

Especially far too nosy.

She narrowed her eyes and followed the direction of my gaze.

And I knew exactly what was about to happen.

My world was about to collapse.

"Oh."

No.

"Ian..."

I pleaded, though I wasn't sure what I was pleading for.

"Oh."

No.

"Ian, don't."

"OOOOH."

Oh, God.

I watched her scan the group of boys.

Louis.

Martin.

Keonho.

Juhoon.

And then...

Seonghyeon.

Her eyes widened instantly.

As if she had just uncovered the greatest secret in the universe.

"SEONGHYEON!"

Her shout echoed through the entire block.

The. entire. block.

I felt my soul leave my body.

"IAN!"

"YOU LIKE SEONGHYEON!"

The words exploded through the air.

My face immediately burst into flames.

"KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN!"

"YOU LIKE HIM!"

"IAN!"

"YOU LIKE HIM, YOU LIKE HIM, YOU LIKE HIM!"

A few meters away, Hyein lifted her head, stopping in the middle of painting a butterfly on Kya's cheek.

Kya turned around too.

Both of them looked at me, then at Ian, then back at me again.

Oh, no.

No, no, no.

This was bad.

Very bad.

"YOU LIKE SEONGHYEON!"

The words echoed across the entire block.

I felt my heart stop.

"Ian!" I shrieked, horrified.

Too late.

It was already too late.

Several heads turned in our direction. Hyein set her paintbrush aside. Kya blinked in confusion. Danielle looked up from the drawing she had been making on the pavement.

And Ian, completely unaware of the disaster she had just caused, covered her mouth with one hand while laughing.

"I can't believe it!"

"Ian, please..."

"You like Seonghyeon!"

"Don't shout!"

"Why?" she asked, amused. She thought this was funny while I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. "Is it a secret or something?"

Yes.

It was a secret.

My secret.

One I had kept for years—in stolen glances during recess, in the moments I watched him ride by on his bike with his friends from the edge of my window, and in the silly words and childish feelings written in my diary.

One I had never wanted anyone to discover.

Because even I knew how ridiculous it sounded.

Because Seonghyeon was Seonghyeon.

And I was... Me.

"Oh."

The sound came from Hyein, and I froze.

"Is it true?" she asked quietly, her voice gentle and curious.

"No," I lied immediately.

"Yes, it is," Ian answered.

"It's not."

"It is."

"No."

"It is."

"IAN!"

"WHAT?!"

Some people were already staring openly.

My stomach twisted.

I could handle Hyein knowing.

Maybe even Danielle.

Kya already knew. My brother too.

But I didn't want everyone else to find out.

Especially not them.

Especially not him.

Ian looked toward the street again.

"Since when?"

"IAN!"

"Since kindergarten?"

"IAN!"

"Since first grade?"

"IAN!"

Her laughter was so loud it nearly made me cry on the spot.

"I can't believe it!" she said between laughs.

At that moment Juun and Yeon arrived. Of course, their little gossip squad had returned.

Juun nearly choked on her ice cream drink.

"Seriously? You like Eom? Eom Seonghyeon?"

Her tone wasn't mean.

Just incredulous.

But somehow that hurt even more.

"Sorry, but I just can't picture it."

Ouch. The words hit me straight in the chest.

"I mean..." he continued, "You know you don't have a chance, right?"

Silence. A horrible silence.

The kind that lasts only a few seconds but feels like an eternity.

My throat tightened.

The words got stuck.

A terrible feeling spread through me.

Because part of me knew Ian wasn't saying anything I hadn't already thought myself.

Still... Hearing it out loud was different. Much worse.

"Hey."

A voice suddenly cut through the silence.

Everyone turned.

Woojin had just appeared from around the corner of the house with a ball tucked under his arm. His expression hardened immediately when he saw I was on the verge of tears.

"Shut your damn mouth, Ian."

Ian's eyes widened.

"I was just—"

"I said shut up."

"Woojin..." I murmured looking at my brother.

"That was cruel."

For the first time, Ian seemed to realize what she had done.

Hyein stood up.

"That was really cruel."

"I didn't mean to..." Ian tried to explain, frowning.

"Well, you said it anyway," Kya interrupted.

My vision started to blur.

I didn't want them defending me.

That only made it worse.

Because it meant this was really happening.

That I was really being humiliated.

That everyone was hearing it.

And then it happened.

The worst moment.

The laughter that had filled the street only moments before began to die out.

One by one. Like candles being blown out.

The boys across the street were watching. All of them.

Martin.

Louis.

Keonho.

Juhoon.

All of them.

And among them...

Him.

Seonghyeon.

I felt my heart drop all the way to my feet.

No.

Please, no.

Not him.

Anyone but him.

Keonho was the first to understand.

And when he did...

He smiled.

That teasing smile of someone who had just found a brand-new topic to joke about. Not me, of course.

Keonho would never be cruel enough to mock a little girl. But he was definitely entertained enough to tease his friend.

"Seriously?" I heard him say.

Martin burst out laughing.

Louis looked genuinely shocked.

"No way."

"She likes Seonghyeon?"

"Shut up," Seonghyeon snapped immediately.

But it was too late.

"Did you hear that?" Keonho teased. "She has a crush on you!"

"Keonho, stop."

"What? It's funny. It's cute."

"I said stop."

And then something happened that I would never forget.

Seonghyeon turned red. Completely red.

His ears. His cheeks. His neck. Everything.

So red it looked like he wanted to disappear.

Keonho started laughing even harder.

"Look at him! He's blushing!"

"Shut up!" Seonhyeon yelled.

"He's blushing!"

"KEONHO!"

The laughter exploded all over again.

And even though they weren't laughing at me...

Even though they were laughing at him and at how ridiculous the whole situation seemed...

It didn't matter anymore.

Because all I could hear was the noise. The laughter. The whispers. The stares. The humiliation.

Too much for my 7 years old young heart.

And then he looked up.

Our eyes met for only a second.

One miserable second.

And what I saw in his expression was what finally broke me.

It wasn't mockery. It wasn't disgust. It wasn't anger.

It was something worse.

Pity.

Or at least, that's what my mind interpreted it as.

I felt something crack inside me.

Without saying a single word, I took a step back.

Then another. And another. Until I turned around.

And ran.

I heard Woojin calling my name. I heard Hyein arguing with Ian.

I heard someone else shouting after me.

But I didn't stop.

Because if I stopped, I was going to cry in front of everyone. And my humiliation would only become even more embarrassing.

I ran all the way home with my chest burning and tears finally streaming down my cheeks.

And I knew it then, standing there with tear-stained cheeks and a heart shattered by embarrassment, that it wouldn't be the last time...

"So... the science club."

Kya stared at the paper in her hands as if she had just uncovered a crime. Her expression went from confused to incredulous in less than three seconds.

"Why that one?" she finally asked. "I thought you were going to join the band. Or journalism. Or even the photography club with Yoonchae."

I didn't lift my head from the table.

The wood felt cool against my cheek, and honestly, it was much more pleasant than having a conversation about my life choices.

"Nah... that was a long time ago, Kya."

"A long time ago?"

She laughed.

She knew exactly what I meant.

Because there had been a time when I was obsessed with those things.

Music. Cameras. Singing. Writing and drawing.

Any artistic activity seemed to catch my attention.

I had spent hours imagining myself in the school band, performing in front of hundreds of people.

Or joining the choir and learning harmonies.

I had even saved up money to buy a secondhand camera because for nearly four months I had been convinced I wanted to become a photographer.

But things change. People change.

And sometimes dreams just stop feeling the same.

"Then tell me the truth."

Her voice sounded suspiciously calm. A bad sign.

Every time Kya spoke in that tone, it meant she had already reached a conclusion and was simply waiting for me to confirm it.

"What truth?"

"The real reason you signed up for science instead of your actual first choices."

My stomach tightened.

"There is no real reason."

"Sure there is."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

I slowly lifted my head to glare at her. She smiled. That smile.

The smile she always wore right before saying something that would ruin my day.

"It's because Seonghyeon is going to be there, isn't it?"

I closed my eyes. Of course. It was one of the reasons.

Of course she had figured it out.

"Although it sounds like he'll be focusing more on basketball this year," she continued. "I heard they want him to be captain next semester."

"Can we not talk about him?"

"That's a yes."

"It's not."

"It is."

"No."

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me Seonghyeon had absolutely nothing to do with your decision."

I opened my mouth.Then closed it.

Because she was right.

Seonghyeon was involved in those circles somehow, even if not directly in the places I originally wanted to be.

And my poor heart couldn't handle it.

Kya raised an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh."

"It doesn't mean anything," I muttered, suddenly shy.

"Uh-huh."

"Stop saying 'uh-huh.'"

"Uh-huh."

I grabbed a pencil from beside my doodles and threw it at her.

She caught it in midair.

"Violence. How mature."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

I sighed and rested my head on the table again.

The noise of the cafeteria filled the air.

Students talking. Chairs scraping.

Teachers walking through the halls.

Everything sounded distant.

As if I were underwater.

"Come on, girl," Kya said after a while, her voice softer this time. "Everyone got over it. It happened forever ago."

I slowly shook my head.

That was the problem.

Everyone had gotten over it. Everyone except me.

To them, it had just been an awkward afternoon when we were seven years old.

A funny story. A memory.

Something to bring up during a gathering to embarrass someone for five minutes before moving on.

But for me...

It had never been just that.

Because after that day, I still had to see Seonghyeon.

Every day. Every week. Every month. Every year.

He lived next from my house. His bedroom window faced mine.

Our parents greeted each other. Our families knew each other.

We went to the same school. We shared mutual friends.

There was no escape.

But I tried. God knew I tried.

For years, I changed routes whenever I saw him coming. If he stepped outside, I went back inside.

If he was at the corner store, I waited outside until he left. If I heard his voice during a neighborhood gathering, I found an excuse to disappear.

At first, I thought the embarrassment would fade.

That eventually I would forget about what happened.

That I would stop feeling that horrible heat creeping up my neck every time someone mentioned his name.

But it never happened.

Because people never let it happen.

"Remember when you liked Seonghyeon?"

"Are you still in love with him?"

"Poor Seonghyeon."

"Poor you."

"He rejected you, didn't he? I mean... you're..."

Comments. Jokes. Laughter.

No one was trying to be cruel. That was the worst part.

No one meant any harm. But it still hurt.

Because every comment was a reminder.

Every joke dragged me back to that afternoon.

To the laughter. To the stares. To the feeling of wanting to disappear.

To what happened after that.

"I think you're still giving it too much importance."

I looked at Kya. She was playing with a strand of hair while watching me.

"Easy for you to say. It didn't happen to you."

"I was there too."

"It's not the same."

"I know."

Her voice was soft this time.

And from the way she said it, I knew she really did understand. For the first time since the conversation started, the amusement disappeared from her expression.

"But you can't keep living like you're still seven years old," she sighed. "You're older now."

The words hit harder than I expected.

Because part of me knew she was right. Part of me knew it was ridiculous to still feel this way.We weren't children anymore.

Seonghyeon was seventeen years old. I was almost sixteen.

Nearly ten years had passed. Ten years.

And yet all it took was hearing his name for something inside me to shrink.

"It's not that easy."

"I never said it was."

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. Then Kya let out a dramatic sigh.

"Besides."

"What?"

"If it were really that important to him, he would've done something by now."

I blinked.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that if he were still thinking about what happened ten years ago, he probably would've tried to talk to you."

I didn't answer. It was true.

And because that was exactly what scared me the most. The possibility that he didn't even remember it.

That while I had carried that embarrassment for years...

For Seonghyeon, it might have been nothing more than an ordinary Tuesday.

"Or..." Kya smiled, already wearing that expression she always got whenever she was about to say something ridiculous. "Maybe he likes you too."

I immediately rolled my eyes and picked up my apple from my tray. I took a large bite just to stop myself from answering too quickly, but I still felt my cheeks warming.

"Stop talking nonsense."

"Nonsense? I'm just saying you never know."

"Yes, you do."

"No."

"Yes." Here we go again.

She was always like this with this girl, always wanting to be contrary. Like Tom and Jerry. I'd go crazy one day

I pointed at her with my apple.

"Kya."

She shrugged, completely unapologetic.

"Well, sorry for trying to give hope to a lost cause."

"You're unbearable."

"And you're no fun."

Before I could answer, a figure came running through the cafeteria. I recognized Hyein before she even reached our table.

Her hair was messy, her nose was red, and she looked like she'd just sprinted up five flights of stairs.

"There you are!"

I turned in my seat.

"What happened?"

"God, I need your help..."

I blinked.

"Me?"

"No, the Ghost of Canterville." She rolled her eyes and pointed at me. "Yes, you!"

Kya watched the scene with interest while continuing to eat her lunch.

"This is about to get interesting."

"Shut up," I muttered.

Hyein completely ignored the comment.

"Danielle and I have to organize some things for the festival."

"What things?"

"Journalism."

She waved a hand as if that explained everything. And honestly, it did.

Ever since the festival preparations had started, Danielle practically lived in the journalism club room.

Hyein wasn't much better. Posters. Interviews. Photographs. Articles. Schedules.

Every time I saw them, they seemed to be carrying stacks of papers.

I couldn't help making a small face.

I had actually thought about joining journalism when the school year began. I really had. But in the end, I hid away in science.

I liked the club, of course. Kenshin and Wonhee were there, and the activities were fun. I especially loved the astrology-related projects.

But a part of me knew perfectly well why I had avoided some other clubs. Because certain names appeared on certain lists.

And I was a coward.

"So what does that have to do with me?" I asked.

Hyein clasped her hands together in front of her.

That was never a good sign.

"Well..."

"No."

"I haven't even told you what I need."

"I know. Still no."

"Please."

"Hyein."

She let out a dramatic sigh before pointing at herself.

"I'm sick."

"I can see that."

"And I can't handle the journalism club and my position as basketball assistant at the same time."

I felt something inside me freeze.

Oh.

Oh, no.

Kya nearly choked on her drink from laughing.

"No."

"Yes."

"No, Hyein."

"Yes, Hyein."

She smiled far too smugly.

I stared at her in horror.

"Don't even think about it."

"Already did."

"Find someone else."

"I don't want someone else."

"I don't want to be that someone."

"Perfect. We already have something in common."

Kya rested her chin on her hand. She was enjoying this far more than she should have been.

"Please continue."

"Don't encourage her."

"I can't help it."

Hyein leaned over the table.

"Come on. You owe me one."

"One?"

"The summer camp last year."

Damn it.

My expression must have changed immediately because she smiled triumphantly.

"I knew it."

"That was months ago."

"And I covered for you all summer."

"Because you're my friend."

"And now you're going to cover for me because you're mine."

"That's not how this works."

"That's exactly how it works."

"Hyein."

"You refused to be a hall monitor because Seonghyeon was in your group."

Kya burst out laughing so hard several students turned to look.

"I knew it!"

"You already knew it." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, but it's still funny hearing it."

I covered my face with one hand.

This was humiliating. Completely humiliating.

"I can't believe you're still bringing that up."

"Because it works."

"It doesn't."

"It's working right now."

And I hated admitting it, but she was right.

I let out a long sigh.

Then I took another bite of my apple while trying to come up with a decent excuse. I couldn't find one. Because, unfortunately, Hyein was right.

She had covered for me countless times. And I owed her favors. Far too many favors.

"Fine..." I finally muttered. "Maybe I could do it."

Hyein's eyes lit up instantly.

"Really?"

"Don't make me regret this."

"I knew you'd say yes!"

"I can still change my mind."

"No, you can't."

"I could."

"No, you can't. I already told the coach."

Kya laughed again.

"This is going to be a disaster."

"Thank you for your support." I made a face.

"Anytime."

Hyein was practically vibrating with excitement.

"It won't be that bad. You just have to hand out water bottles, take attendance, and help with some paperwork. Nothing complicated."

"Uh-huh."

"Seriously."

"Uh-huh."

"It'll be like you're not even there."

I stared at her.

She gave me the most innocent smile imaginable.

Yeah. Sure.

Because spending an entire week in the same gym as Seonghyeon Eom definitely sounded like something that would allow me to go completely unnoticed.

"Just for a week, Mimi."

Damn.

note. im still not used to do so much in dialogues lol 😭 so sorry if its weird, im used to describe TOO much and realized it can be a little annoying so i just made this like that. Idk. Tomorrow will be the first chapter!!!

"Can u do me a favor?"

prologue.

Daisy's in my hand was bare naked, and even so, I already knew the answer.

He loves me not.

He... loves me not.

I pouted at that, pulling off the last petal with more force than necessary. The poor flower was practically destroyed between my fingers.

"Stupid," I muttered to myself.

The sun looked more nostalgic than ever that afternoon. Orange hues painted the rooftops and made everything feel like a memory before it had even finished happening.

I stood up from the ground, my knees covered in dirt, and brushed myself off quickly. If my father saw me like this, he'd probably scold me again for ruining my clothes.

I wrinkled my nose as I looked down the street.

Summer was the best season.

There was no school, no homework, no annoying teachers or principals pretending they cared about you, no psychologists telling you that hiding all the time wasn't helping.

Just playing and playing.

Playing and...

Watching him.

My eyes automatically drifted to the other side of the street.

As always. As every day since I could remember.

As if it had become a habit impossible to break.

Seonghyeon Eom.

My heart gave a small leap.

I sighed, like in those cheesy movies Hyein, Kya, and I watched during sleepovers on Saturdays.

Even him.

And when Seonghyeon laughed...

Well...

When Seonghyeon laughed, the world seemed a little prettier.

"It makes sense, idiot," Louis teased.

"It doesn't!" Keonho protested.

"It does."

"It doesn't!"

"It does!"

"It doesn't!"

Martin was already choking from laughter.

I smiled too without realizing it.

I wasn't even really listening to the conversation.

I was just watching him. Again.

"Who are you looking at?"

Ian's voice made me jump.

I turned so fast I nearly fell over.

Ian was sitting beside me, watching me curiously. Her light hair shimmered beneath the golden glow of the sunset.

"What?"

"I asked who you're looking at."

"No one." I answered a second too quickly.

She wrinkled her nose.

"That's a lie."

"It's not."

"Yes, it is."

"No."

"Yes."

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

Damn it.

Ian was far too observant.

And far too nosy.

Especially far too nosy.

She narrowed her eyes and followed the direction of my gaze.

And I knew exactly what was about to happen.

My world was about to collapse.

"Oh."

No.

"Ian..."

I pleaded, though I wasn't sure what I was pleading for.

"Oh."

No.

"Ian, don't."

"OOOOH."

Oh, God.

I watched her scan the group of boys.

Louis.

Martin.

Keonho.

Juhoon.

And then...

Seonghyeon.

Her eyes widened instantly.

As if she had just uncovered the greatest secret in the universe.

"SEONGHYEON!"

Her shout echoed through the entire block.

The. entire. block.

I felt my soul leave my body.

"IAN!"

"YOU LIKE SEONGHYEON!"

The words exploded through the air.

My face immediately burst into flames.

"KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN!"

"YOU LIKE HIM!"

"IAN!"

"YOU LIKE HIM, YOU LIKE HIM, YOU LIKE HIM!"

A few meters away, Hyein lifted her head, stopping in the middle of painting a butterfly on Kya's cheek.

Kya turned around too.

Both of them looked at me, then at Ian, then back at me again.

Oh, no.

No, no, no.

This was bad.

Very bad.

"YOU LIKE SEONGHYEON!"

The words echoed across the entire block.

I felt my heart stop.

"Ian!" I shrieked, horrified.

Too late.

It was already too late.

Several heads turned in our direction. Hyein set her paintbrush aside. Kya blinked in confusion. Danielle looked up from the drawing she had been making on the pavement.

And Ian, completely unaware of the disaster she had just caused, covered her mouth with one hand while laughing.

"I can't believe it!"

"Ian, please..."

"You like Seonghyeon!"

"Don't shout!"

"Why?" she asked, amused. She thought this was funny while I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. "Is it a secret or something?"

Yes.

It was a secret.

My secret.

One I had never wanted anyone to discover.

Because even I knew how ridiculous it sounded.

Because Seonghyeon was Seonghyeon.

And I was... Me.

"Oh."

The sound came from Hyein, and I froze.

"Is it true?" she asked quietly, her voice gentle and curious.

"No," I lied immediately.

"Yes, it is," Ian answered.

"It's not."

"It is."

"No."

"It is."

"IAN!"

"WHAT?!"

Some people were already staring openly.

My stomach twisted.

I could handle Hyein knowing.

Maybe even Danielle.

Kya already knew. My brother too.

But I didn't want everyone else to find out.

Especially not them.

Especially not him.

Ian looked toward the street again.

"Since when?"

"IAN!"

"Since kindergarten?"

"IAN!"

"Since first grade?"

"IAN!"

Her laughter was so loud it nearly made me cry on the spot.

"I can't believe it!" she said between laughs.

At that moment Juun and Yeon arrived. Of course, their little gossip squad had returned.

Juun nearly choked on her ice cream drink.

"Seriously? You like Eom? Eom Seonghyeon?"

Her tone wasn't mean.

Just incredulous.

But somehow that hurt even more.

"Sorry, but I just can't picture it."

Ouch. The words hit me straight in the chest.

"I mean..." he continued, "You know you don't have a chance, right?"

Silence. A horrible silence.

The kind that lasts only a few seconds but feels like an eternity.

My throat tightened.

The words got stuck.

A terrible feeling spread through me.

Because part of me knew Ian wasn't saying anything I hadn't already thought myself.

Still... Hearing it out loud was different. Much worse.

"Hey."

A voice suddenly cut through the silence.

Everyone turned.

Woojin had just appeared from around the corner of the house with a ball tucked under his arm. His expression hardened immediately when he saw I was on the verge of tears.

"Shut your damn mouth, Ian."

Ian's eyes widened.

"I was just—"

"I said shut up."

"Woojin..." I murmured looking at my brother.

"That was cruel."

For the first time, Ian seemed to realize what she had done.

Hyein stood up.

"That was really cruel."

"I didn't mean to..." Ian tried to explain, frowning.

"Well, you said it anyway," Kya interrupted.

My vision started to blur.

I didn't want them defending me.

That only made it worse.

Because it meant this was really happening.

That I was really being humiliated.

That everyone was hearing it.

And then it happened.

The worst moment.

The laughter that had filled the street only moments before began to die out.

One by one. Like candles being blown out.

The boys across the street were watching. All of them.

Martin.

Louis.

Keonho.

Juhoon.

All of them.

And among them...

Him.

Seonghyeon.

I felt my heart drop all the way to my feet.

No.

Please, no.

Not him.

Anyone but him.

Keonho was the first to understand.

And when he did...

He smiled.

That teasing smile of someone who had just found a brand-new topic to joke about. Not me, of course.

Keonho would never be cruel enough to mock a little girl. But he was definitely entertained enough to tease his friend.

"Seriously?" I heard him say.

Martin burst out laughing.

Louis looked genuinely shocked.

"No way."

"She likes Seonghyeon?"

"Shut up," Seonghyeon snapped immediately.

But it was too late.

"Did you hear that?" Keonho teased. "She has a crush on you!"

"Keonho, stop."

"What? It's funny. It's cute."

"I said stop."

And then something happened that I would never forget.

Seonghyeon turned red. Completely red.

His ears. His cheeks. His neck. Everything.

So red it looked like he wanted to disappear.

Keonho started laughing even harder.

"Look at him! He's blushing!"

"Shut up!" Seonhyeon yelled.

"He's blushing!"

"KEONHO!"

The laughter exploded all over again.

And even though they weren't laughing at me...

Even though they were laughing at him and at how ridiculous the whole situation seemed...

It didn't matter anymore.

Because all I could hear was the noise. The laughter. The whispers. The stares. The humiliation.

Too much for my 7 years old young heart.

And then he looked up.

Our eyes met for only a second.

One miserable second.

And what I saw in his expression was what finally broke me.

It wasn't mockery. It wasn't disgust. It wasn't anger.

It was something worse.

Pity.

Or at least, that's what my mind interpreted it as.

I felt something crack inside me.

Without saying a single word, I took a step back.

Then another. And another. Until I turned around.

And ran.

I heard Woojin calling my name. I heard Hyein arguing with Ian.

I heard someone else shouting after me.

But I didn't stop.

Because if I stopped, I was going to cry in front of everyone. And my humiliation would only become even more embarrassing.

I ran all the way home with my chest burning and tears finally streaming down my cheeks.

And I knew it then, standing there with tear-stained cheeks and a heart shattered by embarrassment, that it wouldn't be the last time...

"So... the science club."

Kya stared at the paper in her hands as if she had just uncovered a crime. Her expression went from confused to incredulous in less than three seconds.

"Why that one?" she finally asked. "I thought you were going to join the band. Or journalism. Or even the photography club with Yoonchae."

I didn't lift my head from the table.

The wood felt cool against my cheek, and honestly, it was much more pleasant than having a conversation about my life choices.

"Nah... that was a long time ago, Kya."

"A long time ago?"

She laughed.

She knew exactly what I meant.

Because there had been a time when I was obsessed with those things.

Music. Cameras. Singing. Writing and drawing.

Any artistic activity seemed to catch my attention.

I had spent hours imagining myself in the school band, performing in front of hundreds of people.

Or joining the choir and learning harmonies.

I had even saved up money to buy a secondhand camera because for nearly four months I had been convinced I wanted to become a photographer.

But things change. People change.

And sometimes dreams just stop feeling the same.

"Then tell me the truth."

Her voice sounded suspiciously calm. A bad sign.

Every time Kya spoke in that tone, it meant she had already reached a conclusion and was simply waiting for me to confirm it.

"What truth?"

"The real reason you signed up for science instead of your actual first choices."

My stomach tightened.

"There is no real reason."

"Sure there is."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

I slowly lifted my head to glare at her. She smiled. That smile.

The smile she always wore right before saying something that would ruin my day.

"It's because Seonghyeon is going to be there, isn't it?"

I closed my eyes. Of course. It was one of the reasons.

Of course she had figured it out.

"Although it sounds like he'll be focusing more on basketball this year," she continued. "I heard they want him to be captain next semester."

"Can we not talk about him?"

"That's a yes."

"It's not."

"It is."

"No."

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me Seonghyeon had absolutely nothing to do with your decision."

I opened my mouth.Then closed it.

Because she was right.

Seonghyeon was involved in those circles somehow, even if not directly in the places I originally wanted to be.

And my poor heart couldn't handle it.

Kya raised an eyebrow.

"Uh-huh."

"It doesn't mean anything," I muttered, suddenly shy.

"Uh-huh."

"Stop saying 'uh-huh.'"

"Uh-huh."

I grabbed a pencil from beside my doodles and threw it at her.

She caught it in midair.

"Violence. How mature."

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

I sighed and rested my head on the table again.

The noise of the cafeteria filled the air.

Students talking. Chairs scraping.

Teachers walking through the halls.

Everything sounded distant.

As if I were underwater.

"Come on, girl," Kya said after a while, her voice softer this time. "Everyone got over it. It happened forever ago."

I slowly shook my head.

That was the problem.

Everyone had gotten over it. Everyone except me.

To them, it had just been an awkward afternoon when we were seven years old.

A funny story. A memory.

Something to bring up during a gathering to embarrass someone for five minutes before moving on.

But for me...

It had never been just that.

Because after that day, I still had to see Seonghyeon.

Every day. Every week. Every month. Every year.

He lived next from my house. His bedroom window faced mine.

Our parents greeted each other. Our families knew each other.

We went to the same school. We shared mutual friends.

There was no escape.

But I tried. God knew I tried.

For years, I changed routes whenever I saw him coming. If he stepped outside, I went back inside.

If he was at the corner store, I waited outside until he left. If I heard his voice during a neighborhood gathering, I found an excuse to disappear.

At first, I thought the embarrassment would fade.

That eventually I would forget about what happened.

That I would stop feeling that horrible heat creeping up my neck every time someone mentioned his name.

But it never happened.

Because people never let it happen.

"Remember when you liked Seonghyeon?"

"Are you still in love with him?"

"Poor Seonghyeon."

"Poor you."

"He rejected you, didn't he? I mean... you're..."

Comments. Jokes. Laughter.

No one was trying to be cruel. That was the worst part.

No one meant any harm. But it still hurt.

Because every comment was a reminder.

Every joke dragged me back to that afternoon.

To the laughter. To the stares. To the feeling of wanting to disappear.

To what happened after that.

"I think you're still giving it too much importance."

I looked at Kya. She was playing with a strand of hair while watching me.

"Easy for you to say. It didn't happen to you."

"I was there too."

"It's not the same."

"I know."

Her voice was soft this time.

And from the way she said it, I knew she really did understand. For the first time since the conversation started, the amusement disappeared from her expression.

"But you can't keep living like you're still seven years old," she sighed. "You're older now."

The words hit harder than I expected.

Because part of me knew she was right. Part of me knew it was ridiculous to still feel this way.We weren't children anymore.

Seonghyeon was seventeen years old. I was almost sixteen.

Nearly ten years had passed. Ten years.

And yet all it took was hearing his name for something inside me to shrink.

"It's not that easy."

"I never said it was."

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. Then Kya let out a dramatic sigh.

"Besides."

"What?"

"If it were really that important to him, he would've done something by now."

I blinked.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that if he were still thinking about what happened ten years ago, he probably would've tried to talk to you."

I didn't answer. It was true.

And because that was exactly what scared me the most. The possibility that he didn't even remember it.

That while I had carried that embarrassment for years...

For Seonghyeon, it might have been nothing more than an ordinary Tuesday.

"Or..." Kya smiled, already wearing that expression she always got whenever she was about to say something ridiculous. "Maybe he likes you too."

I immediately rolled my eyes and picked up my apple from my tray. I took a large bite just to stop myself from answering too quickly, but I still felt my cheeks warming.

"Stop talking nonsense."

"Nonsense? I'm just saying you never know."

"Yes, you do."

"No."

"Yes." Here we go again.

She was always like this with this girl, always wanting to be contrary. Like Tom and Jerry. I'd go crazy one day

I pointed at her with my apple.

"Kya."

She shrugged, completely unapologetic.

"Well, sorry for trying to give hope to a lost cause."

"You're unbearable."

"And you're no fun."

Before I could answer, a figure came running through the cafeteria. I recognized Hyein before she even reached our table.

Her hair was messy, her nose was red, and she looked like she'd just sprinted up five flights of stairs.

"There you are!"

I turned in my seat.

"What happened?"

"God, I need your help..."

I blinked.

"Me?"

"No, the Ghost of Canterville." She rolled her eyes and pointed at me. "Yes, you!"

Kya watched the scene with interest while continuing to eat her lunch.

"This is about to get interesting."

"Shut up," I muttered.

Hyein completely ignored the comment.

"Danielle and I have to organize some things for the festival."

"What things?"

"Journalism."

She waved a hand as if that explained everything. And honestly, it did.

Ever since the festival preparations had started, Danielle practically lived in the journalism club room.

Hyein wasn't much better. Posters. Interviews. Photographs. Articles. Schedules.

Every time I saw them, they seemed to be carrying stacks of papers.

I couldn't help making a small face.

I had actually thought about joining journalism when the school year began. I really had. But in the end, I hid away in science.

I liked the club, of course. Kenshin and Wonhee were there, and the activities were fun. I especially loved the astrology-related projects.

But a part of me knew perfectly well why I had avoided some other clubs. Because certain names appeared on certain lists.

And I was a coward.

"So what does that have to do with me?" I asked.

Hyein clasped her hands together in front of her.

That was never a good sign.

"Well..."

"No."

"I haven't even told you what I need."

"I know. Still no."

"Please."

"Hyein."

She let out a dramatic sigh before pointing at herself.

"I'm sick."

"I can see that."

"And I can't handle the journalism club and my position as basketball assistant at the same time."

I felt something inside me freeze.

Oh.

Oh, no.

Kya nearly choked on her drink from laughing.

"No."

"Yes."

"No, Hyein."

"Yes, Hyein."

She smiled far too smugly.

I stared at her in horror.

"Don't even think about it."

"Already did."

"Find someone else."

"I don't want someone else."

"I don't want to be that someone."

"Perfect. We already have something in common."

Kya rested her chin on her hand. She was enjoying this far more than she should have been.

"Please continue."

"Don't encourage her."

"I can't help it."

Hyein leaned over the table.

"Come on. You owe me one."

"One?"

"The summer camp last year."

Damn it.

My expression must have changed immediately because she smiled triumphantly.

"I knew it."

"That was months ago."

"And I covered for you all summer."

"Because you're my friend."

"And now you're going to cover for me because you're mine."

"That's not how this works."

"That's exactly how it works."

"Hyein."

"You refused to be a hall monitor because Seonghyeon was in your group."

Kya burst out laughing so hard several students turned to look.

"I knew it!"

"You already knew it." I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, but it's still funny hearing it."

I covered my face with one hand.

This was humiliating. Completely humiliating.

"I can't believe you're still bringing that up."

"Because it works."

"It doesn't."

"It's working right now."

And I hated admitting it, but she was right.

I let out a long sigh.

Then I took another bite of my apple while trying to come up with a decent excuse. I couldn't find one. Because, unfortunately, Hyein was right.

She had covered for me countless times. And I owed her favors. Far too many favors.

"Fine..." I finally muttered. "Maybe I could do it."

Hyein's eyes lit up instantly.

"Really?"

"Don't make me regret this."

"I knew you'd say yes!"

"I can still change my mind."

"No, you can't."

"I could."

"No, you can't. I already told the coach."

Kya laughed again.

"This is going to be a disaster."

"Thank you for your support." I made a face.

"Anytime."

Hyein was practically vibrating with excitement.

"It won't be that bad. You just have to hand out water bottles, take attendance, and help with some paperwork. Nothing complicated."

"Uh-huh."

"Seriously."

"Uh-huh."

"It'll be like you're not even there."

I stared at her.

She gave me the most innocent smile imaginable.

Yeah. Sure.

Because spending an entire week in the same gym as Seonghyeon Eom definitely sounded like something that would allow me to go completely unnoticed.

"Just for a week, Mimi."

Damn.

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