I wasn’t expecting her to say that.

"I like you, Han Seo-jun… but I know I'm not in the equation."

Her voice was soft, almost shaking, but she kept her eyes on me.

Honest eyes.

Brave, even when her heart was probably breaking.

For a second, I didn’t know what to say. I opened my mouth, then closed it again.

Why does stuff like this always hit me harder than it should?

I ran my fingers through my hair and looked away, trying to find something to say that wouldn’t hurt more than she already felt. But maybe it was too late.

I knew she liked me.

I’m not blind.

She always looked at me like I was more than just the school’s troublemaker.

Like I wasn’t full of pain and anger and bad decisions.

But I… I thought I liked Ju-kyung. No, I do like Ju-kyung. I think.

So why does my chest feel tight now?

Why does it hurt seeing her like this?

She gave me a small smile.

Not fake, not sarcastic — just sad.

Like she was already letting go.

"I just needed to say it."

she said.

"I didn’t want to keep pretending. I know your heart is somewhere else, and that’s okay. I just… needed to be honest."

I took a step toward her, but stopped myself.

What could I even do? Hug her? Apologize? Tell her not to cry?

But she wasn’t crying. She was being stronger than me.

I looked at her again — really looked at her.

She’s always been there.

Not loud, not pushy. Just… there.

A quiet comfort I never knew I needed.

Every time I laughed at something dumb, she laughed too.

Every time I was in a mood, she just sat beside me, no questions asked.

She never asked for anything back.

And now she was walking away.

"Wait."

I said, before I could stop myself.

She turned around, eyes wide.

"I don’t want you to go thinking you’re not in the equation."

Isaid.

"I just… I never looked at the math properly."

Her brows pulled together, confused.

"I thought I had everything figured out. That I liked Ju-kyung. Maybe I still do. But with you, things feel… different. Easier. Real."

She didn’t say anything.

Just stared, like she wasn’t sure if she should be hopeful or hurt.

I stepped closer.

"I don’t know what this means yet. I don’t want to lie to you. But if you’re willing to be patient… maybe I can try to figure it out. With you."

Silence. Long, heavy.

Then, she gave me the smallest nod. Not a promise. Just a maybe.

And somehow, that maybe felt like the first right thing in a long time.