Requested by tofutorii.

You had known Ahn Su-ho since you were kids.

Back then, he was the boy who climbed the school fence first, who laughed the loudest when you both got scolded, who always said he would handle things if anyone bothered you. Somewhere along the years, nothing really changed---and yet everything did.

At school, people knew him as the guy who slept through class, who got into fights, who somehow still managed to smile like nothing in the world bothered him.

But you knew better.

You saw the way he quietly walked on the outside of the sidewalk, putting himself between you and the road. You noticed how he always took the heavier bag when you carried too many books. You heard the tiny sigh he let out whenever you laughed at something dumb he said.

One afternoon you both sat on the cracked concrete steps behind the gym. The sun was dropping low, warm light spilling over the schoolyard.

You kicked your foot lightly against his sneaker. “You’re quiet today.”

Su-ho leaned back on his hands. “Am I?”

“Yeah. It’s weird.”

He let out a small breath through his nose, staring ahead like he was thinking about something far away.

You tilted your head. “Did something happen?”

For a moment he didn’t answer. His fingers tapped once against the step, restless.

Then he let out a bitter laugh.

His expression twisted slightly, like something inside him hurt.

“You make it so hard to walk away,” He said.

You blinked. “What?”

He dragged a hand through his hair, looking away from you.

“That stupid soft smile you get---the one you never notice,” He muttered. “The way I can't take my eyes off you.”

Your heart skipped, but you weren’t sure why.

Su-ho continued, voice quieter now.

“Hell, last week I almost punched a guy because he had his eyes glued to you in the lunch line.”

You stared at him. “You… what?”

“I get jealous,” He admitted, shaking his head like he hated the word. “It's so damn dumb.”

Silence settled between you.

He didn’t look at you again. Instead he stared at the empty basketball court, jaw tight.

Inside his head the thoughts kept running, louder than he wanted them to be.

You did this to him without even trying.

The way you leaned close when you talked. The way you trusted him with everything. The way you always looked at him like he was the safest place in the world.

How the hell was he supposed to walk away from that?

How was he supposed to tell you that somewhere between scraped knees, shared snacks, and years of walking home together… he had fallen for you?

Su-ho glanced sideways at you.

You were still sitting there, confused, your fingers nervously tracing the edge of the step.

For a second he almost said it.

The words hovered right at the edge of his mouth.

But then you looked up at him with that same soft smile.

The one he had just talked about.

And his chest tightened.

So instead he nudged your shoe with his own.

“You're overthinking,” He said casually. “Forget it.”

You frowned. “You were the one saying weird stuff.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He stood up. "I meant it in a big-brother typo way." He grinned, stretching his arms. “C’mon. Let’s get food.”

You hesitated, then got up beside him.

As you both walked off the steps, Su-ho shoved his hands into his pockets, eyes forward.

The words were still sitting in his chest.

Heavy. Heavier than before, maybe, because now they hang off his mouth, half unsaid.

Waiting.

But for now… he kept them there.

He glanced down at the smartwatch around his wrist, stretching his mouth like he was getting ready to say something dumb---he used to do that.

"Wanna hear a joke?" He smirked, turning his gaze to you.

And everything felt normal again. Like he never said that. Like he never made it weird.

And maybe, that was the whole point.