Ever since the filming of Squid Game began, you had been watching your boyfriend Jae-won’s hair slowly grow out for the role of Nam-gyu. At first, it was just a subtle change. But over time, the strands grew longer, the ends darkened, and he adopted a messy but incredibly charming look. And without even realizing it, you found yourself falling in love all over again. With him.

With that new version of him the one with messy morning hair, with strands that danced in the breeze as you walked side by side. With the man you'd loved for so long, but who now made your heart race just by running his fingers through his hair, brushing it from his face absentmindedly.

You remembered the first time you truly noticed it.

He was sitting on the couch in the apartment you shared, cross-legged, reading one of the scripts with his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose. The warm, late-afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows and lit up the soft brown in his hair. His bangs lightly covered his eyes, shifting every time he furrowed his brow in concentration, lips moving silently as he read.

You padded quietly across the room and sat down beside him, your knees brushing his thigh. He looked up, surprised, and gave you a crooked smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" he asked, adjusting his glasses. "Is there something on my face?"

You blinked, feigning innocence. "What? Can’t I admire how handsome my man looks when he’s focused?"

His ears turned pink before his cheeks followed. "You’re distracting me," he muttered, shaking his head with a soft chuckle as he tried to return to the script.

From that moment on, his hair became your favorite thing. It was soft, warm, and always carried that faint strawberry scent from the shampoo he loved. On lazy evenings, he’d rest his head in your lap, scrolling on his phone or half-watching TV with you, and your fingers would automatically find their way into his hair.

Sometimes you’d gently run your nails along his scalp until he purred in satisfaction like a cat. Other times, you’d braid little sections, make tiny ponytails, or clip Sanrio barrettes in just to tease him.

He’d grumble, but never took them off. As much as he complained, deep down you knew he didn’t really mind. It always made him smirk and take a few pictures to post on his Instagram feed.

But all good things… must come to an end.

Filming had officially wrapped and you were more than proud of him for his dedication, his performance, and the way new fans had fallen for Nam-gyu, just like you did.

Another night, he was lying with his head on your lap, phone in hand, while you absentmindedly ran your fingers through his soft strands. The silence was comfortable, broken only by the low sound of the TV. Then, suddenly, without taking his eyes off the screen, he said:

“I think I’ll book a haircut next week. I’ve got some auditions coming up. All the characters have short hair.”

Your hand froze instantly, fingers tangled in a brown lock. You blinked, surprised. “What? Cut it?” your voice came out louder than you intended.

He lifted his gaze to meet yours, and when he saw the expression on your face, a small chuckle escaped him he knew how attached you had grown to his long hair.

Jae-won rolled to the side, sitting up and leaning back on one hand, facing you. His face softened with a smile as he saw your pouting expression.

"Oh, come on, dear," he teased lightly, "don't look at me like that. It's just hair. It'll grow back."