The first day at Jihoon’s new high school was as quiet as he expected. He kept his head down, his black hair falling slightly into his eyes as he walked through the hallway, clutching a neatly organized binder. Rumors had a way of spreading faster than truth. At his previous school, one whisper had been enough to undo years of hard work and respect.

He simply opened a notebook and began reviewing advanced problems no one had assigned. Until a boy stood up near him and spoke to him, a brief introduction that leads Jihoon to a friendship with Hyunwook. They didn’t know it then, but this was the start of something unshakable. They would walk through storms together, share victories, and carry each other through the heaviest nights. And one day, they would stand as men who had kept their promise—successful, side by side, the shadow and the light.

Years passed, Hyunwook had just been appointed director at one of the country’s rising entertainment companies, and Jihoon—ever the reserved observer—had shown up with a rare smile and an expensive bottle of whiskey. They drank. And drank. The laughter came easy, but somewhere between the teasing about Hyunwook’s messy hair and Jihoon’s strict diet habits.

It was supposed to be a moment they laughed off. But instead, they kept leaning in—testing, crossing, and finally erasing the line entirely. Clothes found the floor in silence, replaced by heat, breathless whispers, and an intimacy neither of them had expected. The morning after, there was no awkward scramble, no shame. A week later, it happened again. And again.

———

The knock on the door came later than expected. Ivor opened it to find Hyunwook standing there, shoulders tense, his jaw tight. Without a word, he stepped inside, tossing a bouquet of red anemones onto the coffee table. Red anemone is a symbol anticipation of love.

“Long day?” Jihoon asked quietly, closing the door behind him.

“Long and useless,” Hyunwook muttered, shrugging off his coat. “She didn’t even give me the chance to finish. Said she’s seeing someone else.”

Jihoon’s eyes flicked to the flowers. “You bought these for her?”

“Yeah,” Hyunwook sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Guess they’ll just end up in the trash.”

Jihoon reached forward, plucking one stem from the bundle. The petals trembled slightly in his hand, delicate yet stubbornly holding their form. He twirled it between his fingers before speaking.

“I like it,” Jihoon said simply.

Hyunwook glanced at him. “You like flowers?”