Hwang Hyunjin has always been the definition of perfection at Seoul High: tall, handsome, captain of the soccer team, and dating the prettiest girl in school, Sohee. But beneath his cold, untouchable exterior, there’s a part of him that no one gets to see—except maybe one person.

Kim Seungmin, his best friend, is everything Hyunjin isn’t: loud, playful, shamelessly teasing, and always full of life. As Hyunjin’s final year unfolds, tensions with Sohee start to rise, while his quiet moments with Seungmin grow more complicated.

Their tight-knit friend group—Wooyoung and San (the chaotic couple), Ryujin (the sharp-tongued one), and Bambam (the life of the party)—witness it all, often pulling Hyunjin out of his shell without even realizing it.

One evening at Seungmin’s house, surrounded by laughter, steam, and the glow of a hot tub, Hyunjin begins to notice the cracks in his carefully constructed life—and the person who makes him feel something real.

⸻

The late summer air was warm but soft, tinted orange by the fading sunset. Laughter echoed through the backyard of the Kim residence, where a large hot tub bubbled in the corner, surrounded by soft lights strung overhead.

Wooyoung was already half-submerged, splashing water at San, who retaliated with a dramatic wave that drenched Ryujin’s hair.

“Yah! Do that again and I’ll shove your face under,” Ryujin snapped, slicking her wet hair back.

“Romantic,” Bambam commented from the steps, sipping on a soda like he was at a drama shoot.

Hyunjin sat back in the tub, arms draped over the edge, his dark hair wet and falling against his forehead. His expression, as always, was unreadable—sharp eyes watching everyone with an icy calm.

Beside the tub, Seungmin sat on the ledge with his legs dipped into the hot water. He wasn’t shirtless like the rest of the guys. Instead, he wore a pair of tight short shorts that hugged his thighs and an off-shoulder oversized T-shirt that slipped down one arm, revealing his soft, pale skin. The sleeves covered most of his hands, making him look unintentionally adorable.

He dangled his feet lazily in the water, splashing Hyunjin every few seconds.

“Yah, Seungmin,” Hyunjin muttered, voice low but carrying. “Stop.”

Seungmin grinned, tilting his head. “Make me.”

The entire group let out a synchronized “Oooooh~” like a group of kids watching a fight.

Hyunjin shot them all a death glare. They immediately turned back to their conversations.

Sohee slipped into the water next to Hyunjin, wrapping her arms around his. “Jinnie~ why aren’t you smiling? You look mad again.”

He stiffened under her touch. Lately, her high-pitched voice grated against his nerves, and her constant need for attention was starting to feel suffocating.

“I’m fine,” he said curtly.

She pouted, leaning closer. “You’ve been so cold lately. Are you ignoring me?”

Before Hyunjin could answer, Wooyoung shouted, “Couple fight alert!”

San smacked the back of Wooyoung’s head. “Shut up, not everyone’s as loud as you.”

Seungmin, watching from his perch, chuckled under his breath. “You two sound like an old married couple.”

Hyunjin’s eyes flicked up to Seungmin without meaning to. The way Seungmin’s damp hair stuck to his forehead, the way his shirt slid a little more off his shoulder as he leaned back on his palms—it made Hyunjin’s chest feel tight. He immediately looked away, annoyed at himself.

“Why don’t you get in?” Bambam called to Seungmin. “You look like a lifeguard that lost their swimsuit.”