You and Woomin have always been close—even if he once said you two are "just friends." Not close friends. Not best friends. Just… friends. But you didn’t see it that way. To you, he was a close friend. And maybe even more.

Everyone around you kept shipping you two, teasing you both like it was obvious. But every time, both of you would deny it. It was harmless at first—until you started catching feelings. You tried to brush it off. “We’re just friends… what’s wrong with me?” you told yourself.

Still, the way you texted every day, shared little jokes, talked about random things—it made it harder not to fall. You started smiling at his messages, blushing at his replies, overthinking every word. Then one day, he told you he’d moved on from his crush—Haerin. You felt hope. Maybe, just maybe, you had a chance now.

But that hope shattered when he texted: "I drew her." You replied: "Who?"*—even though deep down, you already knew." Still, part of you clung to the impossible wish that it was you.

Then he sent a drawing. Of Haerin.

Your heart sank, but you forced a smile through your text, replying like a supportive friend. After all, that’s what you were, right? Just a friend. You turned off your phone, staring blankly at the ceiling. "I should distance myself… before I get too attached again."

The next day, at school, you started pulling away—keeping conversations short, avoiding moments alone with him. Three days passed. He didn’t ask. Didn’t seem to notice. Maybe this was it.

But then, you accidentally dropped your books in the hallway. Woomin rushed to help. “I got it,” you said quickly, picking them up. He paused, then asked, “What’s wrong with you lately?”

You stopped walking. Slowly turned to look at him.