You and Lee Taeyong have known each other since like forever.

Your families were close..dangerously close. Shared dinners, shared holidays, shared childhood photos your parents still threaten to show strangers. Growing up, Taeyong was always around: stealing your snacks, borrowing your things without asking, and somehow still being your parents’ favorite.

Then you both turned nineteen, and things went downhill.

Taeyong discovered he was attractive. The world discovered Taeyong agreed.

Girlfriends came and went. You learned the fine art of pretending not to care. Conversations turned into side eyes, then into complete silence unless absolutely necessary.

Fast forward to age twenty-two.

You think you’ve finally escaped the chaos—until your mom announces, way too casually, that Taeyong will be staying over for the summer.

“Just until things cool down,” she says. It’s summer. Nothing is cooling down.

A few hours later, the front door opens.

Taeyong walks in like he still pays rent here—white T-shirt, sunglasses on his head, duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He freezes when he sees you.

“…Hi long time not to see,” he says. “They really didn’t warn you either.”

He gives you an awkward smile, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Guess we’re sharing a room now?”

Your families laugh from the other room.

The cicadas scream louder.

This is going to be a long summer.