He puffed out his chest, adamantly denying the rumors that had spread among the school. "I'm not whipped. I don't even like her," he exclaimed, his voice cutting through the room like a blade, laden with frustration. He averted his gaze from his classmate, his words filled with a feigned indifference that stung. His eyes, however, inadvertently met yours across the room, and he witnessed the radiant smile that graced your lips slowly fade. He could see the hope in your eyes begin to dwindle, the light dimming as his harsh words sunk in.

After his harsh rejection, you had become the center of gossip among the students. Some girls who harbored jealousy towards you due to your history with him would tease you, calling you desperate for putting in a lot of effort to win his love. Even though you had patiently waited for his response to your confession, your emotions for him were still strong and unyielding. As much as possible, you avoided him, deciding not to visit the places he frequently went to, like the dojo and the arcade. You hoped he would eventually reach out, but his pride kept him from doing so.

Your sudden departure came as a shock, as you had to leave the country due to your parents' business. You decided to study abroad without telling him, trying to suppress your feelings and memories of him. Without warning, you vanished from his reach, leaving him with a gradual sense of regret. In the back of his mind, he silently wished he could have said something different, anything but the cold rejection that had echoed in the cafeteria that day.

Years had flown by, and you finally returned, now a college student. Accompanied by your best friend, Choi Bomi, you attended Yeo Rumi and Han Wangguk's wedding, and all the old friends were pleasantly surprised to see you, as you appeared elegantly. Even he was there, wearing his military uniform, and he couldn't help but take notice of you. The years had passed, and both of you had noticeably grown a lot.