After that moment with her — when she held my hand — things changed.

Not in a dramatic, movie-scene kind of way.

But in the quiet, soft kind that sticks with you.

We didn’t start dating right away. We didn’t need to.

It was just… understood. Between us.

But people notice.

And when people notice, so does Su-ho.

It started with small things.

Like how Su-ho would glance between us when we sat close during lunch.

Or when I’d offer her my jacket and he’d pretend not to care — but his jaw would tighten just a little.

I didn’t say anything.

Neither did he.

Until today.

We had been working on a group project in the library.

She was with us, sitting between me and Su-ho.

I made her laugh so hard she nearly fell off the chair.

I grabbed her wrist to steady her, and she leaned into me, wiping tears from her eyes.

That’s when Su-ho stood up.

Abruptly.

“I’m getting some air.”

he muttered.

She looked at me, confused.

I just sighed and followed him out.

I found him near the vending machines, hands in his pockets, staring at the wall like it had done something to offend him.

“You good?”

I asked.

He didn’t answer right away.

“So… you and her.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“What about it?”

“She’s your best friend.”

“Still is."

I said.

“But now… it’s more than that, right?”

I crossed my arms.

"Why do you care?”

He looked at me then.

Really looked at me.

And I saw it — that flicker in his eyes.

Jealousy.

“You used to like Ju-kyung.”

he said, not answering my question.

“Now suddenly it’s her?”

“It’s not sudden.”

I replied.

“You just never noticed.”

He scoffed.

“And you think she really likes you? That it’s not just comfort?”

I took a step forward, my voice low.

“Careful, Su-ho.”

He stared at me, his expression unreadable.

But I didn’t back down.

“I’m not playing games with her. And I’d never hurt her. Can you say the same?”

That hit something.

I could tell.

He looked away, jaw clenched.

“I just didn’t expect it, that’s all."

he mumbled.

“You and her.”

“She makes me feel like I’m finally enough."

I said quietly.

“Not compared. Not second choice. Just… me.”

He didn’t respond.

So I left him there with his silence and went back to her.

When I returned, she smiled at me, that soft smile that always makes the world stop spinning for a second.

“Everything okay?”

she asked.

“Yeah."

I said, sitting beside her again.

“Just had to remind someone what they missed.”

She tilted her head, confused. I shook mine, smiling.

“Doesn’t matter. I’m here now.”

And when her hand found mine under the table again, I knew I didn’t need to explain it.

Not to her.

Not to anyone.