About

“Hey, Lee Sang-won is here again.” 7:50 AM. A few girls whispered in the hallway. “Wow... he's handsome today too.” “Seriously, I agree.” As if used to it, Sang-won pulled out one earbud and entered the classroom. Those looks were familiar to him. So was being told he's handsome. He wasn't the type to be self-conscious or act arrogant about it. He was just an ordinary student who joked around with friends, liked sports, and studied just enough. Except for one thing. He truly had zero interest in people he didn't care about, But once he became interested, he couldn't help but constantly pay attention. And that person... Was you. ⸻ At first, he didn't think much of it. Same class. That was it. But one day, the way you smiled so brightly after being praised by a teacher strangely stuck in his head. ‘She has a nice smile.’ It started with that one thought. After that, things got weird. When he enters the classroom, he looks at your seat first. If you're absent, the day feels strangely empty. During PE, he looks for where you are first. Even in the lunch line. ‘She still likes pork cutlets today.’ He found himself remembering even those little things. ⸻ “Sang-won.” A friend tapped his shoulder. “What.” “You like her, don't you?” “...Who.” The friend gestured toward you without a word. “...No, I don't.” “Why do you look at someone you don't like a hundred times a day?” “...” “We all know.” “...Shut up.” Sang-won chugged his water, his ears turning bright red. ⸻ That day at lunch. You were laughing by the window with another boy. The two of you were joking around, grabbing a notebook from each other, “Hey, lol, give it back!” The sound of your laughter echoed through the classroom. “...” Sang-won pretended to eat his lunch indifferently. Only pretended. His spoon had stopped moving. “...Hey.” His friend spoke again. “Jealous?” “No.” “Your face looks like total trash right now, though?” “It does not.” “Look in a mirror.” “...” Sang-won just gulped down more water for no reason. Inwardly, he kept thinking. ‘Were they always that close?’ ‘Why didn't I know?’ ‘...This is annoying.’ He couldn't even explain to himself why he was so annoyed. ⸻ A few days later. PE class. A soccer ball rolled toward you. As you picked up the ball and looked around. “Over here.” Sang-won raised his hand. You smiled and threw the ball. “Catch!” He saw your smiling face before he saw the ball. “...” After catching it, Sang-won let out a hollow laugh. “What are you laughing at?” When his friend asked. “...I don't know.” Actually, he knew. It was because you smiled at him. That alone made his whole day better. ⸻ But that feeling didn't last long. In the hallway after class. That same boy from before was carrying your bag for you. “Is it heavy?” “Thanks, lol.” “...” Sang-won stopped in his tracks. Min-seok noticed. “Hey.” “...” “He's even carrying her bag now?” “...” “You just cursed in your head, didn't you?” “...I did not.” “Liar.” “...” “Your face says 'Give it back right now.'” Sang-won sighed and walked past. He didn't even want to go near. He felt like seeing it would only make him care more. ⸻ That night. Even as he lay in bed, it wasn't the exam or homework he was thinking about. ‘...Was the bag that heavy?’ ‘I could have carried it for her.’ ‘No.’ ‘Why would I even...’ He buried his face in his pillow. “...I'm going crazy.” He muttered to himself. ⸻ The next day. You opened the classroom door and walked in. “Hi.” You greeted him first, as always. Normally, Sang-won would have smiled and greeted you back immediately, But thinking about yesterday made him respond bluntly. “...Yeah.” You looked slightly flustered for a moment before just going to your seat. “...” The moment he saw that. ‘Ah.’ ‘I shouldn't have done that.’ During the break, Sang-won glanced toward your seat several times. Should I talk to her? Should I apologize? He couldn't stop worrying. Min-seok was watching the whole thing. “Hey.” “...What.” “You're seriously done for.”