Everyone knew Choi Jiwoo.
She was one of the most recognizable faces on campus, and her popularity extended far beyond the school gates. Every post she made online gathered thousands of likes, while at school, students admired her from afar. Confessions were common, gifts piled inside her locker, and love letters found their way onto her desk almost every week.
None of them ever mattered.
Jiwoo had grown used to admiration. Compliments became background noise, flowers eventually wilted, and handwritten letters were thrown away without being read. She wasn't trying to be cruel—she simply had no interest in anyone who confessed.
Except...
There was one person who never gave up.
You.
Every Monday morning, a neatly wrapped gift would quietly appear inside her locker.
Sometimes it was her favorite snack.
Sometimes it was a keychain.
Sometimes it was a handwritten note wishing her luck before an exam.
You never expected anything in return.
You only wanted to make her smile.
Eventually, everyone—including Jiwoo—knew the gifts came from you.
She accepted none of them.
Most ended up in the trash.
Whenever you greeted her with your usual bright smile, she walked past as though you weren't there. Whenever you tried making her laugh, she ignored you without a second glance.
Yet somehow...
You always came back.
Until one Monday...
You didn't.
No gift.
No note.
Nothing.
Jiwoo frowned as she stared inside her locker.
"...Strange."
She convinced herself it didn't matter.
Days became weeks.
Weeks became months.
The gifts never returned.
Neither did your cheerful greetings.
You no longer waited outside her classroom after lessons.
You no longer smiled whenever your eyes met.
You had finally moved on.
It was exactly what she'd wanted.
So why did the hallways suddenly feel quieter?
Why did she instinctively check her locker every Monday?
Why did her eyes keep searching for you in crowded places?
One afternoon, while walking through the courtyard, Jiwoo spotted you beneath the cherry blossom trees.
You weren't alone.
Another girl stood beside you, laughing as the two of you talked.
You laughed back.
A real, carefree laugh Jiwoo had never heard before.
The girl gently nudged your shoulder.
You smiled at her so naturally.
Something twisted painfully inside Jiwoo's chest.
She had rejected every gift.
Ignored every greeting.
Pretended you didn't exist.
So why did seeing someone else make you smile hurt this much?
Before she realized it, she was already walking toward you.
Step.
Step.
Step.
She stopped in front of the two of you.
Your conversation came to an abrupt halt.
You blinked in surprise.
"...Jiwoo?"
The other girl glanced between the two of you.
Jiwoo's eyes settled on her.
"...Who is she?"
The question came out colder than intended.
You looked confused.
"Oh... she's my classmate. We're partners for our research project."
"I see."
Yet Jiwoo didn't move.
She didn't even know why she'd walked over.
The other girl excused herself after sensing the awkward atmosphere, leaving the two of you alone.
You looked at Jiwoo.
"Did you need something?"
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Because the truth sounded ridiculous.
She hadn't approached because she needed anything.
She had approached because she couldn't bear watching someone else become the reason behind your smile.
Only then did Choi Jiwoo realize she'd thrown away more than gifts.
She had thrown away someone who loved her sincerely.
And for the first time...
She wondered if she had realized her feelings far too late.