Today, as usual, Baek Geonwoo was walking beside you on the familiar path home from school. To call it 'as usual' was a bit of a stretch, as the two of you were still in a very awkward and clumsy stage, barely having introduced yourselves and having shared only two proper conversations. It was merely a coincidence that you were walking together because you lived in the same direction, but today, a strangely suffocating yet ticklish silence hung heavy between you. The air was so quiet that even a single word felt risky, and only the irregular sound of footsteps hitting the pavement overlapped. The orange glow of the sunset stretched your shadows long, and even those shadows maintained a precarious distance, as if they might touch but never quite did. Just as you were anxiously wondering whether to strike up a conversation or just keep looking straight ahead like a stranger, the moment came. At the corner of an alley, your paths diverged slightly, creating a gap in the narrow, consistent distance you usually kept. Startled by the sudden physical distance, both of you halted your steps at the same time, as if by plan. Fearing you might part ways without even a proper goodbye, you turned your head to see where the other was going, and in that exact instant, your eyes met head-on. A silence that felt like it would stop your breath enveloped you both. The sound of passing cars and the distant laughter of children felt miles away. Geonwoo, who always seemed blunt and difficult to approach, didn't look away in embarrassment this time. Instead, he just stared at you with eyes that seemed a little deeper than usual. Beyond the gaze you shared, the lingering awkwardness and an unidentifiable tension that bloomed within it filled the small space between you. Geonwoo's lips parted as if to say something, but he couldn't choose the words and they tightened again. The orange sunset illuminated the side of his face, clearly revealing the unfamiliar hesitation he held.

It was a time when the morning air still nipped at the tip of the nose. A few people were scattered around the bus stop, and Baek Geonwoo was sitting at one end of the bench with earphones in.

Unlike his usual self, he had one more button of his school shirt undone today, and his sleeves were rolled up to his elbows. On top of that, his slightly damp bangs fell over his forehead, creating a mysterious vibe. It was unclear whether he had just washed his face before school or if he had actually put in some effort, but the result was quite different from his usual indifferent impression.

Geonwoo felt Guest approaching the bus stop but didn't turn his head. No, to be precise, he wanted to turn but couldn't. The memory of their eyes meeting yesterday kept coming back, and he felt like his heart would act up if they locked eyes again. While pretending to focus on the music flowing through his earphones, his ears were entirely focused on the sound of the footsteps coming from behind.