ENHYEOK POV
Jiho is staring at it. Staring at her.
My chest goes still for a second, caught somewhere between annoyance, confusion, and something I don't bother naming. Before I can think, before I can sort the feeling out, the word drops into my head like a stone.
Oh.
Yeah. That's not nothing.
Because no guy looks like that at a girl he hates. Not possible. Not biologically, psychologically, or spiritually possible. And the way he's staring is soft—too soft.
Like he's lost in it, like he's replaying memories with her that don't even exist, like she's something he isn't supposed to look at but he's doing it anyway.
His eyes aren't cold. They aren't confused. They're warm in that irritating, shy, crush-coded way.
And it pisses me off for a reason I don't feel like unpacking.
He rejected her six times with that expression on his face? That's bullshit. Actually, no—what the hell.
Because that smile, barely there, almost hesitant, the kind that slips out unconsciously, doesn't come from "I don't like her." It comes from liking her so much it becomes a problem.
I stand there with my hands in my pockets, feeling irritation crawl slowly up my spine. Not anger. Not jealousy.
Just something sharp and uncomfortable directed at the whole situation. At him. At the way he looks at her like she's some private dream he's too much of a coward to touch.
Minseok says something next to me, but I don't hear it. My focus shifts the moment I notice movement on the stairs.
Jiah.
And her two satellites—Bora and Haerin—walking beside her like chaotic bodyguards.
She's laughing about something, her hands moving as she talks, eyes bright, cheeks flushed, her messy hair swinging behind her. She doesn't see Jiho.
But Jiho sees her.
The change in him is immediate. His shoulders straighten. His breath catches—I notice it. His eyes soften even more, like someone deliberately dimmed the lights around him.
He watches her walk. Every step. Every smile. Every small, ridiculous expression she makes like she's living inside her own world.
And I don't understand how she doesn't feel it. How she doesn't notice him looking at her like she hung the moon and broke it at the same time.
She moves closer, still laughing with Bora. Haerin says something, and Jiah lightly hits her arm, laughing louder.
Jiho smiles at that.
An actual smile.
Soft. Small. Almost shy.
My jaw tightens.
Because no one smiles like that at someone they don't have feelings for. He isn't faking it. He isn't pretending. He isn't confused.
He likes her.
He likes her in that quiet, pathetic, can't-say-it-out-loud way.
She stops in front of the notice board, still not noticing him. She looks at her photo, tilts her head, and mutters something to it like she's having a one-sided conversation.
And Jiho is still staring. Still soft. Still stuck in something he'll never admit.
She laughs again—loud, unfiltered, the kind that turns heads—and his smile widens.
Like she just made his entire day without even trying.
And all I can think is why reject her six times if you're going to look at her like that. Why pretend you don't care when your face gives everything away. Why is she so blind?
Her eyes suddenly shift as she looks around.
Jiho snaps his head away so fast it's almost embarrassing. He pretends he wasn't staring, wasn't smiling, wasn't affected at all.
Jiah freezes for a brief second when she notices him. Her expression changes instantly—too much emotion, too much history, too much hope—and he doesn't look back.
He treats her like she's nothing.
Like she's not even there.
Something in my chest twists in a way that feels unfamiliar and irritating.
This is ridiculous.
Pointless.
I let out a slow breath.
"Bullshit."
And I walk away.
______________
JIAH POV
Bora and Haerin are still half-dragging me down the hallway like I just won some dramatic award for "Best Poem Written While Crying Over a Man Who Doesn't Want Her."
"I still can't believe you won," Bora keeps saying. "A poem? I didn't even know you had emotions that rhyme."
"I didn't either," I laugh. "It literally came out of my eyeballs at one in the morning. I swear I was crying so hard I almost drowned."
Haerin giggles softly. "But it was really beautiful. You're so talented, Jiah."
"Talented at being delusional," Bora adds proudly.
"Shut up," I flick her shoulder, laughing. "It wasn't even that deep. I just wrote whatever came to mind while staring at my ceiling and thinking about Jiho rejecting me again."
We all burst into laughter because it's true, and somehow both embarrassing and funny at the same time.
Then we reach the notice board.
And my picture is there.
I freeze.
"Oh my God," I grab Bora's arm. "Why do I actually look kind of cute? Who is that?"
"You look pretty every day, idiot," Bora says, smacking my back.
Haerin nods seriously. "You look beautiful."
I lean closer, squinting at the picture.
"Okay… past me did a good job."
Then I notice movement.
Someone is standing there.
Jiho.
He's close enough that I could reach out and touch him if I completely lost my mind.
He doesn't look at me. Not even once. He just stands there, looking at the poster like it means nothing.
My stomach twists.
Of course he doesn't notice me.
Why would he?
I open my mouth to say something, anything—but before I can, he turns and walks away.
No hesitation. No glance back. Nothing.
I stare at his back, feeling ridiculous.
Bora claps her hands loudly. "Anyway. Buy us snacks. It's your day."
"Yeah, fine," I mutter, forcing myself to look away. "Let's go."
We head to the store, and I end up buying way more than necessary—chips, drinks, chocolate, and things Haerin didn't even ask for.
We sit outside, eating like we haven't seen food in years.
"Next math test is Wednesday," Bora says. "You're studying, right?"
I nearly choke.
"Yes. I have to pass. Minimum seventy."
"Why so serious?" she asks.
"Because if I don't pass, I'll have to get tutored by Enhyeok," I groan. "Ms. Park said she's pairing low scores with seatmates."
Both of them react immediately.
"No," Bora says. "Absolutely not. Study."
Haerin nods. "You cannot get tutored by him."
"I know," I say. "I refuse. I will pass."
Bora leans back. "But he is really hot."
I groan loudly.
"Do not say that."
Haerin laughs softly. "He really is handsome though."
"Yeah," Bora agrees. "It actually hurts to look at him."
I roll my eyes.
"Sure, he's good-looking. But his personality is terrible. He's rude. Just rude."
They laugh again.
And fine, they're not wrong.
No one looks like him.
But he is still the last person I want teaching me anything.
"Wednesday," I say firmly. "I will pass."
They raise their drinks like we're making a life decision.
We head back to class, still talking, still loud.
Bora stretches her arms. "Are you free tonight?"
"Why?" I ask.
"Let's go to the arcade," she says. "You need a distraction."
"I'll pass."
They both stop walking.
"Why?" Haerin asks softly.
"My parents won't be home," I say. "So I have to go back early."
They groan.
"Why are they never home?" Bora complains.
"Are you not scared?" Haerin asks.
I laugh.
"I'm alone almost all the time. What is there to be scared of?"
They laugh with me.
We turn the corner, still joking, and I'm mid-sentence when it happens.
I walk straight into someone.
My forehead hits something solid.
"Ow—what the hell—" I start, then look up.
And freeze.
Because standing in front of me is her.
Enhyeok's girlfriend.
Park Areum.