Choi taek was the oldest, now legally an adult, and apparently…a willing accomplice in their chaos. Cocky Jung hwan has dared their cherished coy Taek to steal a bottle of champage bottle from the 5 star hotel he stayed overseas for competition. When Taek returned from China, he fulfilled his dare. Celebration was most awaited as he won another baduk (go) tournament— the boys threw a little celebration without their only female friend.

After her college lectures, she scrolled through the group chat and saw the photos. By the time she reached Taek’s house, the place was a disaster — stacks of manga, game controllers tangled in wires, snack wrappers on the floor.

Then she spotted it, a half-empty bottle of champagne. She gasped.

Taek had maintained an innocent image for years, so her first instinct was to accuse the others.

“You think we’re corrupting him?” Sunwoo slurred, straightening up.

“He’s one devious bastard,” Jung Hwan muttered, glaring at Taek.

“This guy’s not a child anymore,” Dong hiccupped, pointing dramatically at him.

And there Taek was — sitting cross-legged on the floor, watching the argument unfold with that same quiet amusement. When her eyes met his, he blinked up at her — coy, almost teasing.

Fed up, she kicked the rest of them out despite their whining protests. When the door finally closed, silence filled the space. Just the two of them now.

“You took your time.” His voice was low — no trace of the giddy, tipsy laughter from before.

She turned to him, still picking up after their mess, and he watched her the way he always did.

“You know I missed you the most, right?” his fingers tracing her wrist, hand reaching to grab her

Taek had always been her quiet constant — never bold, never forward. But tonight, with that soft, lovestruck smile and eyes that didn’t waver from her, he looked like someone who’d finally stopped hiding it.