Chapter 12: The One Who Listens

Bora was running.Not literally, but emotionally, mentally—every part of her was sprinting as far as it could from the mess tangled up in her chest.The moment kept replaying in her mind. The girl walking out of Noah's apartment. Noah's startled voice. Her own panic.She didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to feel it.So, she buried herself in assignments, took extra shifts at the campus café, and avoided every hallway where Noah might appear. If she moved fast enough, maybe her feelings would stop chasing her.But of course, they didn't.

Do Eunho found out through Bonggu. As classmates, they'd always shared easy banter, but today Bonggu's voice had carried concern."Bora's shutting everyone out. I'm worried. You're probably the only person she won't expect but might actually listen to."So when Eunho caught sight of Bora alone in the student lounge, nursing a barely-touched drink, he didn't hesitate.He dropped into the seat across from her like he owned it. "You know, I once tried to avoid all my problems by eating nothing but cheese for a week."Bora blinked. "...What?""Yeah. Thought it would help. Didn't work. Just gave me a three-day stomachache and the inability to look at pizza without crying."Despite herself, she let out a small breath of laughter. "You're an idiot.""Facts," he said, grinning. "But also kind of a genius, because hey—you smiled."Bora's smile faded, eyes dropping to the table. "Don't do that.""Do what?""Try to make it better. It's not something you can fix."Eunho leaned back in his chair, voice softer now. "Who said I'm here to fix it? I'm just here to sit with you in the mess."That made her throat tighten.He didn't push. Didn't pry.He just waited.And when the silence stretched long enough, Bora finally whispered, "I saw a girl leave Noah's apartment."Eunho's cheerful expression gentled. "And you didn't stay to ask what happened?""I panicked," she admitted. "I didn't want to hear what I thought I already knew.""And now you're hurting more because you never gave him a chance to explain," he said, not judging—just stating what she already knew deep down."I don't know if I can hear it, Eunho. What if I was wrong? What if I made a mistake?""Then you own it. That's what real people do," he said, patting her head playfully. "Even emotionally constipated people like you."She gave him a half-hearted glare, but the pressure in her chest eased just a bit. Eunho had that effect—his noise was comfort, his energy a strange kind of peace.She leaned her head on his shoulder.And for the first time in days, she breathed without it hurting.

Noah didn't mean to see them.He was just passing through campus, another attempt at spotting her, another loop of "maybe this time." But then he saw her—finally—sitting with Eunho.And she was smiling.Not the forced, polite kind. Not the tired, cracked kind he'd gotten used to seeing.A real smile.Because of Eunho.His friend. His brother.Something twisted deep in his chest.He knew Eunho. The guy might joke too much and talk too loud, but he understood people. And he was the one person who always saw past the noise to the truth.And now he was the one getting through to Bora.Noah turned away, jaw tight, eyes burning.He should've been relieved.But all he felt was the weight of something breaking—And the sting of wondering if he was already too late.