We stepped out of the café.
Cold air.
Peace.
For three seconds.
Then—
Bzzzzzz.
My phone.
I pulled it out.
Jea-Hyun.
Of course.
I answered.
"Hello?"
His voice came through—sleepy, tired… still annoying.
"Min-Jun," he yawned, "tomorrow I'm coming over for the science project."
I froze mid-step.
"…Tomorrow?"
Behind me—
Niran went still.
Then slowly—
"Lord…" he whispered. "You are such a—"
"Keep quiet," I muttered quickly.
"What?" Jea-Hyun asked.
"Nothing!"
He sighed. "Anyway, I'll come early. Don't be weird."
"…Okay."
"Good."
Click.
Call ended.
Silence.
I slowly lowered my phone.
Then—
I felt it.
That stare.
I turned.
Niran had stopped walking.
He was just standing there.
Looking at me.
Eyes narrowed.
Dangerous.
"…What?" I asked.
He stepped closer.
"Why," he said slowly, "are you accepting invitations like this is your house alone?"
"It is my house."
"You invited her."
"It's tomorrow."
"You accepted him."
"It's a project."
"You're collecting people now?"
I scoffed.
"It's not your life."
Silence.
Oh.
That was the wrong thing to say.
His eyes darkened.
"…What did you just say?"
I grimaced slightly—
Then repeated it.
Clear. Slow.
"It's. Not. Your. Life."
Big mistake.
He inhaled sharply—
Then grabbed me.
By the air.
My collar lifted—
My feet barely touching the ground.
"HEY—?!"
I started struggling.
Jumping slightly.
"PUT ME DOWN—"
"You think this is a joke?" he snapped.
"I CAN'T BREATHE—"
"You keep inviting people—into my situation—"
"I SAID I'M SORRY—"
"You said it's not my life!"
"It's NOT—WAIT—IT IS—OURS—TEAMWORK—PLEASE—"
He held me there.
Lecturing.
Like an angry mom.
"You don't think before you act," he continued. "You just say yes to everything—"
"I GET IT—"
"Do you?"
"I DO—NINA—PLEASE—"
Pause.
Silence.
A little girl nearby, holding candy, stared at me.
Confused.
Concerned.
I was—
Floating.
Talking to air.
Begging.
"…Mom," she whispered, "why is that boy flying?"
Great.
Perfect.
This is how I die.
Embarrassment.
"I'M SORRY, NINA—PUT ME DOWN—PEOPLE ARE WATCHING—"
"…Don't call me Nina."
"I TAKE IT BACK—NIRAN—SIR—MASTER—PLEASE—"
He dropped me.
I hit the ground.
Hard.
Again.
My back.
"OW—"
He crossed his arms, glaring down at me.
"Control your life."
I lay there.
Broken.
"…You just tried to kill me."
"Correction," he said calmly, "discipline."
I groaned.
"I hate you."
He smirked.
"No, you don't."
When I got home—
It wasn't quiet.
Of course it wasn't.
Ji-Ah's voice filled the entire house.
Sharp. Loud. Annoying.
"Can't you clean properly?!"
A staff stood there—head down.
Silent.
"I said the floor should shine, not look like this," she continued, disgust dripping in every word.
Hyun-Woo?
On the couch.
Scrolling his phone.
Unbothered.
Of course.
I walked past them.
No one stopped me.
Good.
I headed straight to my mom's office.
Knocked once.
"Come in."
Cold.
Always cold.
I stepped inside.
She was seated behind her desk—perfect posture, perfect expression, perfect distance.
Mrs. Lee.
My mother.
I stood there for a second.
Then—
"…Mother."
She looked up briefly.
"Yes?"
Straight to the point.
Always.
"I wanted to tell you something," I said quietly.
"Say it."
I swallowed.
"Tomorrow… a friend is coming over. For a project."
Pause.
"And… someone else too."
Her pen stopped.
Slowly—
She looked up.
"Someone else?"
"…Yes."
"A girl?"
I hesitated.
"…Yes."
Silence.
Then—
A small laugh.
Not warm.
Sharp.
"I see."
I stayed quiet.
"You're bringing people into this house now?" she continued. "Girls?"
I opened my mouth—
Closed it.
"Since when?"
"I just—"
"You don't 'just' do things, Min-Jun."
Her voice sharpened slightly.
"You barely focus on your studies, and now you're entertaining guests?"
I clenched my hands slightly.
"I am focused."
She ignored that.
"I brought you up to present well," she continued, calm but cutting. "To be someone I can show proudly."
Niran stood at the side.
Watching.
Silent.
For once.
"You hardly speak, you avoid people," she added, "and now suddenly you're bringing strangers into my house?"
"They're not strangers—"
"They are to me."
That shut me up.
"You think this is appropriate?" she asked.
I didn't answer.
Because anything I said—
Would be wrong.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"And after everything happening at your school…"
My chest tightened.
"The boy who died," she said, voice quieter now, but heavier. "And now this behavior?"
I froze.
"I expected you to act with more sense," she continued.
I tried to speak—
"I just—"
Nothing came out.
My throat tightened.
Words—stuck.
Like always.
Niran's expression shifted.
Slightly.
Annoyed.
Sharp.
Like he wanted to say something—
But couldn't.
Because he wasn't the one being spoken to.
"You're becoming careless," my mom added.
I looked down.
My vision blurred slightly.
Great.
Not now.
Not here.
I blinked.
Too late.
A tear slipped.
I wiped it quickly.
"…Sorry."
Her expression didn't change.
"Stop crying."
Cold.
"You're a boy. Act like one."
That—
Hit harder than everything else.
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Suffocating.
I stood there.
Hands clenched.
Trying to say something.
Anything.
Nothing came out.
Niran looked at me.
Really looked this time.
And for once—
He didn't smirk.
"…Enough," my mother said finally.
Her voice dropped.
Calm.
Low.
Worse.
"You may leave."
I didn't move immediately.
Then—
"…Yes, Mother."
I turned.
Walked out.
Slow.
Quiet.
Closed the door behind me.
And just like that—
I was dismissed.
I stepped out of the office.
The door clicked shut behind me.
Quiet.
Too quiet.
"…Well," Niran said lightly from beside me, "that went great."
I didn't answer.
"She didn't even throw anything," he added. "Progress."
Still nothing.
He glanced at me.
"…Hey."
I kept walking.
Fast.
"Min-Jun."
"Don't."
My voice cracked.
I hated that.
He slowed slightly.
"…You're fine," he tried, softer now—but still teasing. "You didn't die. That's a win."
I stopped.
Then suddenly—
I covered my face with both hands.
And the tears just—
Came out.
Sharp. Quiet.
Uncontrolled.
"Hey—"
I didn't let him finish.
I turned and ran.
Straight upstairs.
My steps uneven, breath shaky, vision blurred.
I pushed my door open—
And froze.
Ara was there.
Standing near the middle of my room.
She turned quickly.
"Oh—Min-Jun, I was looking for—"
I didn't let her finish.
I walked straight to her—
And hugged her.
Tight.
Too tight.
Like if I let go, I'd fall apart completely.
She froze.
"…Min-Jun?"
I didn't answer.
My face pressed into her shoulder, my hands gripping the back of her shirt.
My breathing broke.
Soft sobs slipping out before I could stop them.
I always cried.
Just—
Never in front of anyone.
It felt wrong.
Too open.
Too… small.
I bit down on my hand slightly, trying to stop the sound—
Hide it.
Control it.
Ara's expression softened immediately.
"Oh…"
She didn't ask questions.
Didn't pull away.
She just hugged me back.
Tighter.
One hand gently holding the back of my head.
"It's okay," she whispered.
Soft. Steady.
"I'm here."
That made it worse.
I gripped her more, shoulders shaking slightly.
Trying to be quiet.
Failing.
At the doorway—
Niran stood there.
Leaning against the frame.
Arms crossed.
Watching.
Silent.
For once—
No teasing.
No comments.
Just… watching.
Ara slowly lifted her head—
Her eyes drifted toward the door.
And stopped.
Right where Niran stood.
She froze.
Just for a second.
Her brows pulled together slightly.
"…?"
Niran straightened a little.
Their eyes—
Almost met.
She couldn't see him.
Not fully.
But—
She felt something.
A presence.
Close.
Watching.
Her fingers tightened slightly on my back.
A flicker of fear crossed her face—
But she didn't move away.
Didn't let go.
Instead—
She hugged me even tighter.
"It's okay," she repeated softly.
"I've got you."
Niran looked at her.
Long.
Quiet.
Then leaned back against the door again.
Arms crossed.
Still watching.