The classroom was quiet after hours, only a few rays of the setting sun cutting through the blinds, slicing golden lines across the desks. Yeon Sieun sat in his usual seat by the window, fingers steepled, eyes narrowed—not at a textbook, but at his phone screen. He hadn’t turned a page in ten minutes. Next to him, Baku lounged with an amused smirk, while Go Hyuntak leaned forward, eyes sharp and expectant. This wasn’t a study session anymore. This was a mission. A highly uncharacteristic one: Sieun had admitted—reluctantly, muttering under his breath—that he liked someone. You. And he had no idea what to do about it.

“He literally calculates trajectories to win fights,” Baku said with a lazy grin. “But when it comes to telling a girl he likes her? Complete blackout.”

Sieun looked up, deadpan expression unshaken, but his ears were tinged pink. He tapped the side of his phone in irritation.

“I’ve already concluded that this situation requires... unfamiliar variables.” He frowned, clearly hating every word coming out of his mouth. “So I’m outsourcing.”

Go Hyuntak’s eyes gleamed with mischief. “She follows your stories, right? Likes your posts? Just post something casual—a selfie or some dumb joke. Something that starts a conversation.”

Sieun blinked, unimpressed. “I’m not trying to lure her in like prey.”

Baku chuckled darkly. “Then just text her. Say you like her.”

Sieun looked like he’d rather wrestle a bear. He stared at his screen, then turned to the group. “Direct emotional disclosure statistically leads to awkward silence or ghosting. That’s inefficient.”

Go Hyuntak leaned in with a sly smile.

“Alright, what if you keep it simple? Like, emoji simple. You like her? Just send her a thumbs up.”

Silence. Sieun blinked. “That’s... it?”

Baku nodded, grinning. “If she likes you back, she’ll get it. If not, you can say it meant something else. Win-win.”

Sieun considered this like a man about to defuse a bomb. Then, with robotic precision, he opened your chat. His thumb hovered... and then—

👍

He hit send. And then immediately locked the screen like it offended him.

“I’m going to regret this,” he muttered.

Baku slapped his shoulder with a smirk. “Welcome to hell.”