028

Chapter twenty eight

I stare at the new unopened peach milk carton sitting on my desk, my fingers grip around it and walk up to the front of the class

Dropping it in the trash can, I smile slightly and rub my hands together to make them dry again because of the wetness of the condensation

I turn around my my eyes meet his for a split second, before he looks at Ni-Ki

But somethings different about him, my eyes land on his hair

Instead of his usual faded pink, thats covering his whole forehead messily, it's silver and in a middle part

My jaw practically drops

He dyed his hair??!!

I rush over to my seat, the seat beside it is empty and I patiently wait for her to arrive

A few minutes later she does, a massive smile on her face as she skips over to me

"What's got you in a good mood?" I ask as my face lights up at the sight

I love seeing her happy

"Guess who picked me up today for school and bought me my favourite book

"That's so cute" I squeal in happiness for my best friend, "Wait it was Sunghoon right?"

"Of course silly, who else would it be?" She asks, her eyes glued to the book in front of her, she reaches for the cover and opens the book

Her face drops, "What? Whats wrong?" I ask urgently for an answer, "Is it blank?"

She doesn't say a word just hands me a piece of pink paper, I read it

Hey, I know this is your favourite book and I wanted to do it this way. I've been thinking a lot, even though we broke up, it didn't feel like a goodbye. You still mean so much to me. Could I be your boyfriend again Park Jiwon?

I'll be waiting for your answer

-Sunghoon

"Oh my god!" I swing the note around in happiness, she grabs my hands and we both jump in our seats

"I'm so happy!" She giggles as she takes the note back, reading over his words again

"I'm so so happy for you!" I tell her with a massive smile on my face

Jake lifts up his hand and waves at me from across the cafeteria, I go to wave back but Heeseung pushes him to hurry up and sit down

"Jake's hair, oh my god" Jiwon giggles as my eyes meet her face again

"It came out so nice, can you ask him who did it?" My face lights up and I smile at her

"You're looking at the amazing stylist" I flick my hair behind my shoulders

"No you didn't!" She exclaims, "You should definitely consider doing that as your job" She smiles at me

"I actually wanna open a bakery" I tell her as I take a sip of my milk, that I bought myself

"Why are you studying so hard then? Surely you don't need science" She jokes around

"I just need to keep my options open"

I pack my things slowly, my hands wrapped and raw, the ache in my knuckles becoming familiar

The boxing gym is quiet now, the overhead lights flickering just slightly as the last few people trickle out

I only found this place a few days ago, not long after I started staying at Heeseungs

Ever since my dad slapped me... something in me cracked. And something else — something tougher — began to grow

I can't keep waiting for someone to save me

Especially not someone who won't even look me in the eye anymore

If Heeseung won't teach me how to defend myself, I'll learn on my own

I sling my bag over my shoulder, my hoodie damp with sweat, when a voice calls out behind me

"Haerin? Is that you?"

I pause, turning around. My hair's half-tied, probably sticking to my forehead, but the voice is unmistakable

"Gunwoo?" I say with a half-smile, surprised

He grins, stepping closer, "It feels like it's been forever"

His eyes flick over me — not in a weird way, more like he's trying to figure out how I've changed

Maybe wondering why I'm here of all places, in a boxing gym at dusk with bruised hands and tired eyes

"Last time I saw you was at the hockey game... two months ago?" he says, brushing his hand through his hair, "Didn't even get to say hi, you vanished."

"Yeah... I guess I did" I mumble, tucking a loose strand behind my ear

He nudges my shoulder lightly. "You look different— in a good way, though"

I laugh softly, "That's what happens when life kind of... throws you off a cliff"

He arches an eyebrow, "That bad?"

I shrug, "I've been okay lately. Not great, not awful. Just... surviving"

"Well, surviving is still winning" he replies, "You heading out?"

I nod, "Yeah, I was just about to"

"Wanna grab a drink?" he asks suddenly, "We could catch up, for real this time

I hesitate, glancing down at my bruised knuckles, "Depends on the drink," I say playfully

He laughs, "You haven't changed"

We fall into step together, leaving the gym behind

The cool air outside hits like a wake-up call, and we walk in easy conversation

Turns out Gunwoo started boxing recently too — something about needing an outlet after losing to many games in hockey

He grabs a strawberry milk at the store, and the sight stops me for half a second

Heeseung

The way he stood in this exact convenience, half-asleep, offering me the wrong drink before correcting himself without a word

I can still feel the condensation of that bottle in my palm

No. Don't go there, Haerin. You're here. You're with Gunwoo. An old friend. A familiar face. A past crush. That's all

We keep talking until we reach the house, I walk ahead without thinking — it's muscle memory now

I've done this path for a few nights, it feels like home in all the ways my real home never did

But the second we round the corner, Gunwoo stops walking

"...Wait" he says, squinting at the gate

I turn to him, confused

"This is... this is Heeseung's house"

My heart drops into my stomach, I swallow hard

"You know Heeseung?" I ask slowly

Gunwoo laughs a little under his breath, the sound surprised and weirdly bitter, "Yeah. We used to be friends. Like, tight. Before everything got complicated"

"Complicated how?" I ask, though I'm not sure I want the answer

"He changed" Gunwoo says simply, "Started pulling away from everyone. Didn't say why. Just stopped showing up. Wouldn't talk to me, to any of us. We were a group once, you know?"

I look down at the sidewalk

I didn't know

I mean how Heeseung talked about Gunwoo that night of the hockey game, I would've never guessed they were friends

"He's... letting you stay here?" Gunwoo asks, more softly now

I nod slowly, "Only until I figure things out with my dad. It's not permanent"

Gunwoo studies me for a moment, "I didn't think he let anyone in anymore"

Neither did I

I press my lips together, "He's... different with me. Or at least he was. I don't know anymore"

Gunwoo nods, but there's something behind his eyes — concern, maybe, or warning

"Just... be careful, Haerin. Heeseung's not a bad guy, but he's got walls. And sometimes when people get too close, he makes sure they regret it"

I open the gate without replying, unsure what I'm supposed to feel — guilt, loyalty, confusion? All of it crashes in my chest like a wave

"Thanks for walking me" I say quickly

"Anytime" Gunwoo replies, "And hey... if things ever get too heavy here, just text me, okay?"

I nod, "Thanks", and then I enter the house

I close the door behind me, the click of the latch sounding louder than it should in the silence of the house

I take off my shoes slowly, almost hesitantly, as if the quiet is warning me that I'm not alone

And I'm not

Heeseung's standing in the hallway, hoodie sleeves pushed up, hands tucked in his pockets

His expression isn't cold exactly—but it's distant. Guarded. His eyes flick toward the door I just stepped through, then back to me

"You were with Gunwoo?" His voice is low, too calm

I nod, "We ran into each other at the gym. He walked me back"

His jaw ticks, "You two seem... close."

I raise an eyebrow, "Why do you care?"

"I don't" he says too quickly, "I just thought I should know who's coming into the house I live in"

I laugh bitterly, "Right"

He says nothing, but the silence says enough

I step forward, my voice sharp, "While we're being honest—stop leaving drinks on my desk"

His head jerks back slightly, "What?"

"You heard me" I say, "The peach milk. The one you know I like. You left one on my desk during lunch. Just like you did yesterday. And the day before that"

His expression doesn't change. "I didn't leave anything"

"Heeseung" My tone is firmer now, "I know it was you, you're the only one who knows it's my favourite"

He swallows, eyes flicking away. "Must've been someone else"

I stare at him, "You really think I'm that stupid?"

He doesn't answer

I'm not asking you for anything, okay?" My voice softens, "But don't act like you're not still looking out for me, because I know you are. And pretending you're not—it hurts more"

There's a long pause

"I just wanted to make sure you were eating" he mutters finally, like he's admitting something he wishes he could bury

"I am" I whisper

We stand in silence for a moment, the air tight between us

But he speaks again, quiet but heavy, "When are you going back home?"

I blink, "Home?"

"Your dad's place" he clarifies, but he doesn't meet my eyes

I hesitate, "Do you... want me to?"

He lifts his head slowly, finally locking eyes with me. His voice is almost a breath. "No"

My heart stumbles in my chest

I just thought maybe... you were only staying here until things calmed down" he says, voice unsteady now, "That's what you said"

"Things haven't calmed down" I say, just as softly

"Okay," he whispers, and it's the most honest word I've heard from him in days

A silence lingers between us. Not cold, not hostile—just full

Full of things neither of us has the courage to say out loud

I take a step closer, "Then stop pretending you don't care. Stop acting like I don't matter to you"

His eyes shine in the hallway light, and for a moment, he looks like he might say something—anything. But he just stands there

Still holding back

Still hiding

And I wonder how much longer I can keep pretending that being near him doesn't hurt just as much as being away from him

Herseung finally speaking to her once she's with another guy??!!!

-K