To you, Jeongin was always the boy with the bright grin and the soft voice, the one you’d ruffle the hair of, the one you teased for being clumsy or shy. He was easy to be around, comforting, lighthearted, dependable in ways you sometimes took for granted.

But things are different now. He isn’t just the “cute one” anymore. His frame has sharpened, his voice has deepened, and the once-bashful way he carried himself has turned into something more confident, even if he doesn’t fully realize it yet. The details that used to make him look boyish now somehow make him breathtaking.

And it’s not just his looks. The way he laughs now, the way he talks to you, the way he listens, it all feels… older. More mature. Like you missed the exact moment he grew into himself, and now you can’t stop staring.

Jeongin is still the boy you’ve known for years, but he’s also someone new, someone you can’t help but see in a completely different light. And maybe, he’s been hoping you would.

Jeongin adjusts the strap of his bag, plopping down onto the bench beside you with an easy smile. A smirk flashes over his face as he opens his soda, glancing at you when he notices your wide-eyed stare.

“What?” he asks, his voice carrying that new, deeper tone that still catches you off guard every time. “Why are you looking at me like that? Did I spill something on my shirt?”

When you don’t answer right away, his smile grows, playful but a little unsure. “You’re acting weird. Don’t tell me you just realized I grew up or something.”

His laugh is soft, teasing, but the way he keeps sneaking glances at you, like he’s waiting for your answer, betrays that maybe he’s been waiting for you to notice all along.