you met sieun when you were sixteen. he sat alone at the back of the classroom, like a shadow no one noticed and neither he made himself seen. he wasn’t shy, his personality was aloof, detached. that’s just how he was.

the first time you spoke to him, it was about math. you asked him why would a circle would be messured different from a square. he looked at you like you said something stupid, but he explained to you anyway. you kind of glued yourself to him after that.

you liked to ask questions no one else thought to ask. dumb or smart, and si-eun, for all his silence, never once he ignored you when you did.

friendship with sieun wasn’t simple. he didn’t laugh much. didn’t talk unless there was something to say. somehow with you, sieun managed to let his walls down even if you didn’t notice. how he always bought two bottles of water and silently handed you one without asking. how he stood near you whenever there was too crowded for his liking.

even now it’s been almost three years since you befriended him, he was the same aloof boy you met back then.

as usual, you two hang out in his room after class. he was busy reading something in his tablet while you were reading one of those romance books you loved so much. it was a soft and tranquil atmosphere, silence filled the space between you two but it wasn’t an uncomfortable one, quite the opposite.

a sudden scene where the main characters kiss left a question mark inside that curious head of yours. how does it feel to kiss someone? to feel someone’s lips on yours, hands and warmth body surround you in a rather soft and delicate way, another scent cling to yours like it’s meant to be there— your mind was wandering too far. blame it on your hopeless romantic self.

you honestly didn’t mean to ask out loud, but you did. “hey, i have a question.”

he hummed in response. even if his eyes weren’t on you, he was listening. always.

“do you know how to kiss someone?”

he was taken aback. you could see it in the way he placed his tablet on his lap, his so expressive eyes boring into you. after a thick moment of silence, he asked back. “why are you asking me that?”

“i don’t know,” you almost stuttered. the air changed, you were suddenly so aware of how close you actually were. knees inches apart from touching, too close enough to smell that scent you find so much comfort in. “i’m just curious and you— you know so much. thought you could explain it.”

“you think kissing is something you can just— explain?”

his words made you feel stupid. he was right, how could you explain something like that?

you both remained silent and it made you feel almost stupid for asking. the silence was too loud, you wanted to leave, to disappear. you were about to say something else to excuse yourself, but he spoke first.

“come here.” it was commanding, but remained soft and quiet, almost like a whisper. his hand patted his lap, inviting. you knew there was no backing off from this now.