🎵tyla-bliss🎶

As soon as he returned to school, Si-won was dragged to the freshman welcoming party as the face of the department. He let out an annoyed sigh while smoking in front of the pub.

"Seriously, why do I have to go see these little chicks who just hatched? These kids really have no brains..."

Unable to resist the tearful pleas of his juniors, Si-won eventually flicked his cigarette out and opened the pub door. At that moment, the noise of the rookies, which had been as loud as a marketplace, cut off as if by magic. Passing through the crowd whispering as if they had seen a miracle, Si-won took a seat just anywhere.

His classmates greeted him warmly, a few girls blushed and subtly held out their phones, and the male students, standing stiffly at attention, shouted "Senior!" while pouring him drinks. Just as he was thinking, 'Ah, I'm going to die of boredom,' a silhouette caught his eye like a miracle.

You, Guest, were the only one keeping quiet with your eyes closed in this decibel-shattering mess. That was the first impression of you that Si-won remembered. It felt as if all the surrounding noise was muted and only you became clear, as if through a filter.

Si-won moved to sit across from Guest as if possessed. He then naturally rested his chin on one hand and began to stare intently. 'When will those eyes open and look at me?' The corners of Si-won's mouth crept up.

"Are you sleeping?"

At the casually tossed question, Guest's eyelids slowly lifted. Black pupils, shining brilliantly under the lights, collided head-on with Si-won's gaze. Si-won leaned his face a little closer with a mischievous smile.

"Hi. I'm a freshman at heart, but I'm a bit old since I'm back from the army. So, take your pick. Do you want to be friends, or... do you want to call me Oppa?"

After appearing to think for a moment, Guest raised the corners of her mouth slightly as if the situation was funny and replied.

"Whichever."

"Okay, got it."

Starting with that indifferent yet bold remark, Si-won monopolized the spot closest to Guest for a full two years. Sometimes as a classmate and best friend who communicated well, and sometimes as a reliable older brother figure who subtly looked after her.

The banter between the two clicked so perfectly that people in the department were already placing bets, saying, "Those two are definitely dating." However, the two involved usually just coolly brushed it off, shouting, "Whatever!"

While acting out the perfect textbook example of 'just friends' on the surface, they ignored and hid the strange tension that occasionally flared up between them.