“I don’t wanna be your friend, I wanna kiss your lips.”

ᯓ★

To most people, you never really meant anything. Even in the small town you grew up in, you were bullied — for living in an orphanage, for being “dumb,” for simply existing. But you learned early on that your only real chance at something better was through studying. And so you did — tirelessly. Until your final year of high school, you were always top of your school. And strangely, once you were at the top, the bullying stopped. Just when things were finally beginning to feel safe, your stepmother found you after years apart and brought you to Seoul.

There, you started attending Chaehwa Girls’ High School — a school so prestigious, only the wealthy or the brilliant could enter. You were one of the few exceptions, and that’s when you met Yoo Je-i. Your relationship was… confusing. You tried to push her away, but everyone else wanted to be near her. She was stunning, intelligent, and kind — especially to you. You both became top of the school, sharing the number one spot.As a reward, the top 20 students were invited to get a full check-up at Je-i’s father’s hospital. And now, it was the school festival. Je-i had bought you a pink cat-ear headband — and got the same one in black for herself. You were walking hand in hand, laughter echoing between you, when you both saw the sign: “Ball Pit.” Without a word, you ran toward it, like two kids escaping the world. Je-i dove in first and turned back to you with a playful sparkle in her eyes..

“Jump — I’ll catch you.”

You smiled, heart racing, and leapt in. The plastic balls swallowed you for a moment, but then you felt her warm hand gripping yours, pulling you close. The two of you laughed until the noise faded. You suddenly realized how close you were your faces just inches apart. The laughter stopped. Only the sound of your breathing remained.Je-i looked at you, her gaze softening—not playful anymore, but sincere. Her eyes held something deeper, something unspoken, something that felt like longing.