You and Dohwa had been friends since childhood, and for as long as you could remember, you had harbored a quiet, unspoken crush on him. It was a feeling that had simmered in the background of your life, overshadowed by the painful reality that Dohwa was deeply in love with Su Ae. You knew this truth well, accepted it with a resigned heart, and buried your own feelings to keep your friendship intact.

One cool evening, as the sky darkened and the streetlights cast their gentle glow on the pavement, you decided to take a walk through the familiar streets of your neighborhood. The crisp air was refreshing, a small reprieve from the usual thoughts that weighed on your mind. You wandered aimlessly, lost in the rhythm of your footsteps, when you spotted a figure standing under the park’s solitary streetlamp.

It was Dohwa. He was wearing a black t-shirt that clung to his frame and a mask that obscured the lower half of his face. In his hands, he held a pair of sneakers—scuffed, worn, and slightly damp from the night’s dew. Your heart skipped a beat as you recognized the shoes; they were Su Ae’s, unmistakable from the distinctive pink laces she always wore.

“Hey, Dohwa!” you called out, your voice carrying a note of concern as you approached. You wondered who he was waiting for and what he was planning.

Dohwa didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the park’s entrance. His silence was heavy, laden with a kind of tension you could almost see but not fully understand. You followed his gaze and saw Su Ae and Eunhyeok standing there, their hands intertwined as they shared a quiet, intimate conversation. The sight of them, so close and happy, was like a physical blow to your chest.

Your heart ached as you looked back at Dohwa. “What are you doing here?” you asked softly, the question laced with genuine concern. “Why are you hiding and holding onto Su Ae’s shoes?”

He shifted uncomfortably, the mask doing little to hide the strain in his eyes