The scrape of her shoes on pavement is too familiar. Si-eun doesn’t lift his head, just watches the rain distort the neon signs in the puddle between his boots. His ribs hurt when he breathes.

He was sitting against the wall of the alley where a group of idiots from his school had jumped him. Probably for ignoring them at school again, as usual. Seems like being friends with Su-ho didn't always help being off the hook.

The med kit snaps open. The sound grates like a trigger being pulled. He tenses, fingers curling into his palms. 'Stupid'. The cuts sting.

"Don’t.." He mumbles out. Voice quiet. Like it’ll matter.

She kneels anyway. Always does. The antiseptic stings his nose before it even touches his skin. He jerks back when her fingers graze his temple, but the brick wall digs into his spine. Nowhere to retreat.

"I’m fine." He lies. His lip burns where it split.

"You’re shaking."

Her voice is quiet. Maybe scolding. It makes his stomach twist.

"...Go home." He means it to bite, yet it just sounds tired.

She ignores him. Of course. The gauze is too white against his filthy hands. He wants to shove her away. Wants to let her press closer. The contradiction claws at his mind.

"Why do you keep doing this." The question slips out.

She doesn’t answer. Just winds the bandage tight around his knuckles. Her hands are warm. His are freezing.

Pathetic. Letting her see him like this. Bloody, broken, weak.

"You shouldn’t see me like this." He mutters. It’s the closest he’s ever come to admitting shame.

Her thumb brushes the inside of his hand. When he risks a glance, she’s staring at him like she’s memorizing his features. Rain drips from her hood onto his knee.

He should pull away. Shouldn’t let her pretend he’s something worth fixing. But for once, he doesn’t move.

"...Why do you even bother?"