¹²┆𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞ᯓ★ˎˊ˗

──── ୨୧ ────

The days slipped by in their usual rhythmuniversity, café, studying late into the nightbut something had shifted in the air. It wasn't just the weather warming into early spring. It was the way Kai had started looking at me.

At first, I brushed it off. He was friendly with everyone, easy to laugh, easy to talk to. But slowly, I noticed his eyes lingering a little longer on me than they did on anyone else. He'd always sit closer during breaks, always find a way to joke with me, always make sure I was laughing.

To me, he was just a good friend. Nothing more. At least, that's what I kept telling myself.

But Jungwon seemed to notice before I did.

One quiet afternoon at the café, Kai leaned across the counter with a grin, teasing, Kai:"Sohee, you should smile more often like that you look even cuter."

I laughed awkwardly, shaking my head. Sohee:"You're ridiculous, Kai."

Before I could say more, Jungwon's voice cut in, sharp and colder than I'd heard in weeks. Jungwon:"Maybe you should focus on actually working instead of flirting."

The air went still.

Kai blinked at him, then chuckled, brushing it off with his usual humor. Kai:"Relax, boss. I was just making conversation."

But Jungwon didn't smile. He didn't laugh. His jaw tightened, and his eyes lingered on Kai with a warning in them. Then he turned back to his task, silent and tense.

I pretended not to notice, but my chest tightened.

‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍒 ⋅ ˚✮

Later that evening, when the café quieted, Kai leaned over to me and asked casually, Kai:"Hey, do you want to hang out sometime? You know, outside of work. Just the two of us."

I froze for a moment. My first instinct was to say no I had exams, essays, so much to do. And more than that, there was Jungwon, always at the edge of my thoughts. But when I glanced at Kai's expectant expression, I found myself smiling politely.

Sohee:"Sure... why not?"

Kai's grin widened. Kai:"This weekend, then? Saturday afternoon? There's a new mall that just opened we could grab bubble tea or something."

Sohee:"Okay," I said softly. Sohee:"That works."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Jungwon stiffen. His hand froze mid-motion, the rag he had been using to wipe the counter pausing for a second too long. He didn't look at me. He just kept cleaning.

But the tension in his shoulders was impossible to miss.

ִֶָ𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🐇་༘࿐

The days passed quickly, carrying me toward Saturday.

When the weekend finally arrived, I dressed simply but neatly light jeans, a soft pastel sweater, my hair pinned back loosely. Nothing too fancy. Nothing that could be misunderstood. This was just... hanging out. Just friends.

Or at least, that's what I kept repeating to myself as I met Kai at the mall entrance.

He greeted me with a wide smile, holding two bubble teas in his hands. Kai:"Strawberry for you. I remembered."

I blinked, surprised. Sohee:"Oh... thank you."

We walked through the crowded mall together, sipping our drinks and weaving through stores. Kai made jokes about silly clothes on display, insisted I try on sunglasses that looked ridiculous, and even dragged me into the arcade, where he was overly competitive about the claw machines.

I couldn't deny it he was fun. Easy. Effortless. For the first time in weeks, I laughed without feeling the heavy ache in my chest.

And yet... something felt off.

It wasn't Kai. It wasn't the day. It was the strange, crawling sensation that prickled at the back of my neck, like someone's eyes were on me. I kept glancing around, half-expecting to catch sight of Jungwon in the crowd. But each time, there was nothing. Just strangers.

Maybe it was just my imagination.

Kai noticed my distraction once or twice. Kai:"You okay? You keep looking around."

I forced a small smile. Sohee:"Yeah, I'm fine. Just... tired from exams."

He accepted my answer easily enough, but his gaze lingered, searching, before he shrugged it off and went back to teasing me into trying more games.

𖦹 ׂ 𓈒 🥞 ／ ⋆ ۪

As the afternoon stretched into evening, we wandered out of the mall into the cool air, still carrying little shopping bags and leftover laughter.

Kai walked me home, chatting about classes, coworkers, and funny things customers had said. He was kind, easy to listen to, and his presence warmed the silence that had grown so familiar in my life.

When we reached my apartment building, he stopped and smiled at me. Kai:"Thanks for today, Sohee. I had fun."

I smiled back, sincere. Sohee:"Me too."

He raised a hand in a casual wave. Kai:"See you at work."

And then he left.

I went upstairs to my apartment, unlocking the door with a soft sigh. It had been a good day. A fun day. Maybe even the happiest I'd felt in a long time.

But as I set my bag down and leaned against the door, the emptiness returned.

Because even though I had laughed and smiled and felt lighter than I had in weeks... it wasn't the same.

It wasn't Jungwon.

No matter how much I tried to move on, no matter how much I tried to convince myself that Kai could fill the gap my heart knew the truth.

And that truth hurt more than anything else.

✧₊⁺🕯⋆.˚୨ৎ

Sunday mornings usually meant sleeping in a little longer, especially when my shift at the café didn't start until later. I stretched lazily in bed, enjoying the warmth of my blanket, when suddenly my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

Kai: Come downstairs in 10 minutes.

My eyes widened. Ten minutes?! I had just woken up, hair a mess, face bare, still in pajamas. Why was he even here?

With a groan, I scrambled up, rushing through my routine. I washed my face, applied just a touch of makeup, quickly brushed through my hair, and pulled on something simple but neat. My heart was racing not out of excitement, but from the sheer panic of rushing.

By the time I stepped outside, Kai was already waiting, leaning casually against the railing with a grin.

Kai:"Sohee," he said cheerfully. Kai:"What took you so long?"

I gave him a flat look, though my lips twitched into a smile. Sohee:"Maybe because someone decided to show up uninvited at my apartment first thing in the morning."

Kai shrugged, clearly unbothered.Kai: "I wanted to bring you to work."

I raised an eyebrow. Sohee:"Don't you have the day off?"

Kai:"Yeah," he said simply, hands tucked in his pockets. Kai:"But why not walk you there? Your shift starts in an hour, right? We've got time. We can take a walk first."

I hesitated but then nodded. Sohee:"Fine."

We started walking through the quiet Sunday streets, the air crisp and fresh. Kai was talkative, as always, telling me little stories from his life funny things from school, moments with his family, random anecdotes about traveling. His life seemed... light. Easy. Carefree.

And I couldn't deny it: Kai was a genuinely kind person. The type of guy who could make anyone laugh without even trying. The type of person who carried warmth everywhere he went.

I laughed at his jokes, listened to his stories, and for a moment, I let myself relax.

By the time we reached the café, I was smiling. Kai walked me right to the door, still chatting about some silly memory, and just as I was about to say goodbye, I noticed him.

Jungwon.

Standing behind the counter, his expression was frozen his eyes locked on us, wide but cold, like he had just seen something he didn't want to believe.

My stomach dropped.

Kai, oblivious, flashed me a grin. Kai:"Well, have fun today... though probably not as much fun without me around." He winked playfully.

I let out a small laugh, but it came out weak. Sohee:"Yeah... thanks for walking me."

Kai:"Anytime," he said brightly before heading out.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside. Jungwon didn't say anything. He just nodded stiffly as I went to the back to change into my uniform. My heart was pounding what was that look on his face? Shock? Displeasure? No... maybe I was imagining things.

୧ ‧₊˚ 🍮 ⋅ ☆

The day dragged on in quiet monotony. The café wasn't too busy, and with only Jungwon and me working, the silence between us felt heavier than ever. Normally, even if he was reserved, there was a comfort in his presence. But today... something was different. He glanced at me a little too often, his eyes lingering for just a second longer than usual, but every time I caught him, he quickly looked away.

It was as though there were words on his tongue he didn't know how to say.

By the time evening came and the café emptied, we cleaned in silence. I couldn't take it anymore.

I set down the cloth in my hand and looked at him. Sohee:"Is there... something you want to say?"

Jungwon paused, still wiping down a table, his eyes fixed on the wood. For a long moment, he didn't answer.

Finally, in a low voice, he said, Jungwon:"Are you... with Kai?"

My eyes widened. I hadn't expected him to ask something so direct, so personal.

I stammered, Sohee:"What? No. We're just good friends. We get along well, that's all."

Jungwon's jaw tightened slightly. Jungwon:"It doesn't look that way."

My chest tightened. Sohee:"What do you mean?"

He shook his head quickly, refusing to meet my gaze. Jungwon:"Forget it. It's nothing."

And just like that, he turned away, leaving me standing there with my heart pounding, my thoughts spiraling.

˙ ✩°˖🫐 ⋆｡˚꩜

We finished cleaning, the quiet stretching painfully between us. When we were done, I grabbed my things and left first, murmuring a quick goodbye. Jungwon stayed behind, still working, his back to me.

As I walked home, my mind wouldn't stop replaying the look in his eyes, the hesitation in his voice. Was he... jealous? No. That couldn't be. Jungwon had made it clear he didn't want to be close. He didn't want me tangled in his world.

And yet... the way he looked at me today said otherwise.

When I got home, I pulled out the golden sun pendant hidden beneath my shirt. I still wore it every day. I still touched it when I thought of him, which was nearly always.

Sitting on my bed, I opened the small box where I had tucked away the photobooth strip the silly pictures we had taken, our faces pressed close together, our smiles carefree. I traced a finger over Jungwon's smile, my chest aching.

Where was the boy I had first met? The one who smiled at me like I was light itself?

Tears blurred my vision, hot and stinging. I missed him. I missed him so much it hurt.

But instead of reaching for my phone, instead of sending a message I might regret, I buried myself in my textbooks, forcing myself to focus on the exams waiting for me in the coming week.

Even as I studied, though, my mind wasn't on formulas or essays. It was on Jungwon. Always Jungwon.

And as the night stretched on, I wondered... was today the beginning of something breaking or the start of something neither of us could keep denying?

The week before my exams began like no other. I made a decision I wouldn't go to the café, at least not until all my tests were over. I needed to focus, to give everything I had to studying.

The days blurred together. University, the library, my room. Books, notes, highlighters, endless cups of coffee. Sometimes my phone buzzed with messages from Kai little things like "Fighting! You got this." or "Good luck, Sohee." His encouragement made me smile faintly, but my heart wasn't with his words.

More than once, while staring blankly at my textbooks, I wondered what Jungwon was doing. Was he working his usual shifts? Did he notice I wasn't there? Did he... think of me at all?

The week passed quickly in that rhythm of exhaustion. By Friday, I had taken every exam, and by the weekend, I finally let myself breathe. I slept late, indulged in food, and spent an entire day watching dramas in bed. For the first time in weeks, I felt light.

But the truth was, I missed the café. I missed the familiar warmth of the place, the chatter of coworkers, even the quiet, heavy presence of Jungwon.

Monday came. I had promised myself that once exams were over, I would go back. And this time... I wanted to feel like me again.

That morning, I chose a dress a light, floral one perfect for spring. I curled my hair gently, styled my makeup more sweetly than usual. For once, I wanted to step into the café not as the tired, stressed Sohee they'd seen for weeks, but as the bright, fresh Sohee who felt alive again.

When I pushed the door open, I expected the usual hum of the shop. Instead—

"Surprise!"

Confetti burst into the air, laughter filled the space, and my coworkers rushed forward. Mina, Yujin, Sara, and of course Kai were all there, clapping and smiling.

Yujin:"You did it, Sohee! You survived exams!"

My heart swelled as I laughed, hands covering my mouth in disbelief. They were all so warm, so thoughtful.

And then I saw him.

Jungwon.

He stood a little apart from the others, not holding confetti, not clapping. Just standing. Watching. His eyes found me, and for a split second, his composure broke. His gaze lingered too long, his lips parted slightly, and—was that color rising in his cheeks?

My breath caught.

Kai, full of energy, grabbed my hand and spun me around playfully.

Kai:"Look at you what a beauty today!" he teased, and everyone laughed. I smiled, thanking them all, answering their questions about the exams.

Meanwhile, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jungwon retreat to the counter, cleaning quietly, as though trying to pretend none of this mattered.

Eventually, everyone settled back into their shifts. Mina, Sara, and Yujin left early since they had been covering the morning hours. That left only Kai, Jungwon, and me.

Of course.

The evening dragged, Kai cracking jokes as always. Kai:"Sohee, you're seriously too pretty today," he said with a grin, winking. I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't ignore the sharp glance Jungwon shot in his direction.

When the café finally closed, Kai insisted on walking me home. I didn't want to make a scene, so I agreed.

We reached my door. The street was quiet, shadows stretching under the dim lights. I turned to thank him, but Kai didn't step back. Instead, his eyes flicked to my lips, his hand lifting slowly to cup my cheek.

I froze.

Sohee:"Kai..." I said softly, moving my head slightly away. Sohee:"I think you're misunderstanding."

He chuckled lowly. Kai:"Come on, Sohee. Don't act like you don't want this too."

My chest tightened. Sohee:"No, Kai. Really. It's not like that."

But before I could step back, his grip on my wrist tightened, pulling me closer.

Kai:"Don't pretend," he whispered, leaning in. Kai:"I've seen the way you look at me. Just stop making it so hard."

Panic jolted through me. Sohee:"Kai—stop. Please."

And then—

A fist connected with his face.

Kai stumbled back, swearing. Kai:"What the—?!" He turned, clutching his jaw, and froze.

Jungwon.

Standing just a few steps away, his face hard, his eyes blazing.

Kai:"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Kai spat, blood at the corner of his lip. Kai:"Are you crazy?"

Jungwon didn't answer. His stare was cold, sharp, unrelenting.

Kai sneered, wiping his mouth. Kai:"What's this? Jealous? You can't even admit it, can you? Afraid someone else might actually want her?"

He shoved Jungwon hard in the chest. Kai:"Say something, coward."

Jungwon didn't move. His voice was low, dangerous. Jungwon:"Touch her again... and you'll regret it."

Kai laughed bitterly. Kai:"Or what? Huh?" He turned toward me, reaching again, mocking. Kai:"Maybe I should kiss her right now, see what you'll do—"

That was it.

Jungwon's fist collided with his face again, harder this time. Kai staggered, tried to retaliate, but Jungwon was faster, stronger. The two clashed, fists flying, the quiet street erupting in violence.

Sohee:"Stop it!" I cried, rushing between them, shoving at their chests. Sohee:"Both of you, stop!"

Breathless, Kai stumbled back, glaring. His voice was venom. Kai:"This isn't over."

He turned and stormed into the night, his shadow swallowed by the darkness.

I spun toward Jungwon. His lip was split, his cheek already bruising, his knuckles raw.

Sohee:"Jungwon," I whispered, stepping closer, tears burning in my eyes. Sohee:"Why would you do that? You didn't have to—"

He didn't look at me. His head was down, chest heaving.

I lifted his chin gently, forcing his gaze to mine. Sohee:"You're hurt. Look at you... what were you thinking?"

Our eyes locked, and for a heartbeat, everything froze. My breath hitched, my worry laid bare. His pain, his anger, his longing all of it poured into that single look.

And then, before I could say another word

his lips were on mine.

ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ♡ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ