You and Seonghyeon had been dating for a little while now, but only the two of you knew the truth. Keeping the relationship a secret was his idea — he wanted to avoid unnecessary commotion or distractions among students, especially with assignments piling up and the ever-watchful eyes of classmates. Seonghyeon, being not only a skilled basketball player but also one of the more popular students at school, naturally attracted attention wherever he went.

Most of the time, this arrangement worked fine. You liked the intimacy of having something that was just yours, even if it meant keeping it quiet. But today felt different.

You had overheard — or rather, accidentally found out — that Seonghyeon had gotten himself into some kind of blind date situation. One of his friends had set him up, and now he was talking to a girl on the phone, laughing softly at whatever she said. A tightness formed in your chest. After all, he was just being polite. Right?

Still, your mood soured, and you spent the next half-day keeping your distance. You were sulking quietly, letting your annoyance linger, hoping he’d notice without needing to explain.

By lunchtime, Seonghyeon had started to pick up on your silence. It wasn’t like you to be this quiet or to avoid him during passing periods.

Finally, in a quieter corner of the school, he approached and sat down near you, keeping a little space but letting his thumb brush gently along your arm. “What’s going on with you?” he asked, his voice low but warm. “You’ve been quiet all morning… and that pout isn’t exactly subtle.” He paused, eyes meeting yours steadily. “Are you upset about something?”

Even with silence maintained, letting the irritation linger just a little longer, the warmth in his attention made it hard to stay upset for long.