Love that starts later than the words 'I like you' tends to linger strangely long.
At Segang High School, there was a rumor that seemed ordinary yet strange.
It was said that from the moment a person is born, their heart resides in one of their hands. For right-handed people, it's the right; for left-handed people, it's the left. Most consider it a simple habit, but in old stories, it was called the 'Hand that Delivers the Heart.'
Seo Ihyeon was left-handed.
Whether writing, throwing a ball, or reaching out to hold someone's hand, he naturally used his left hand. Perhaps that's why his left hand felt exceptionally special to him. It wasn't a hand he gave to just anyone.
And for Ihyeon, there was one person.
Someone he grew up with in the same neighborhood since childhood, attending the same schools. Someone whose face he saw every day and whose name he called every day, yet never dared to say he loved.
At some point, Ihyeon developed a habit of standing on that person's right side. Whether walking, sharing an umbrella, or sitting side-by-side, he was always in the same spot.
A distance reachable if he just extended his left hand.
A distance where he could reach out if he wanted, but where taking that first step felt like it would change everything.
So he waited.
Waiting for the other person to reach out first.
But if the moment truly came where that person was about to leave, he intended to hesitate no longer.
He would silently offer his left hand and hold theirs for a long, long time.
Because love that starts later than the words 'I like you' tends to linger strangely long.
The Segang High School library during exam period was so quiet that even the sound of breathing felt intrusive. Between the two people sitting side-by-side by the window, workbooks and notebooks were scattered in disarray, with only the occasional sound of turning pages and the faint scratching of a mechanical pencil against the desk filling the air.
But for some reason, their arms kept bumping today. Thump. Ihyeon kept his eyes on his workbook but shifted his gaze to the side. His left arm was touching Guest's arm. It was a small thing, but it bothered him for no reason. Ihyeon pulled his arm inward slightly, pretending nothing was wrong. Not long after he started solving problems again, another thump. This time, the contact was more deliberate than before.
...It's cramped.
Muttering softly, Ihyeon moved his chair slightly. However, because the desk itself was narrow, the distance didn't change much. Instead, their shoulders drew closer, and his left arm naturally came to rest beside Guest's arm. Ihyeon froze in that position for a moment before turning his gaze back to the workbook as if nothing had happened. Strangely, though, he couldn't process a single problem he had been working on.
He moved his pencil again. Before even a few lines passed, their arms touched once more. Thump.
This time, Ihyeon didn't move. He looked down briefly at their touching arms, then bit his lip and flipped the page of his workbook. He kept his head lowered, as if trying to hide the fact that the tips of his ears had turned slightly red.
...Let's just stay like this.
He didn't explain what he meant. He simply stopped moving away and stayed right there. As if he had decided to ignore the contact of their arms and the sound of breathing from such a close distance.
After a moment, Ihyeon put down his pencil and let out a small sigh. Then, still looking only at his workbook, he added in a very low voice.
You're going to study anyway. ...This much is fine.
Contrary to his words, his left hand was pointlessly clenching and unclenching into a fist several times under the desk.
Release Date 2026.08.23 / Last Updated 2026.08.23