Chapter Text
The afternoon sun hangs heavily above the university buildings, turning the concrete pathways almost blinding beneath the heat. Students crowd every shaded area they can find, some sitting along stair railings with iced coffees pressed against their cheeks while others rush between classes clutching folders and unfinished outputs. Somewhere near the gymnasium, an organization event blasts music loud enough to echo across campus while the smell of street food drifts faintly from the vendors outside the gates.
Minju sits alone beneath the covered waiting area near the business building, one leg crossed over the other while lazily stirring the ice around her drink with her straw. Her laptop bag rests beside her seat, abandoned after three straight hours of lectures she barely survived mentally.
But honestly? She is too entertained to feel tired because for the past three weeks, she has accidentally become the sole witness to Yang Jungwon slowly developing interest in Kim Sunoo and it is fascinating. Not because Jungwon acts obvious, it's actually the opposite.
Jungwon remains exactly the same person everyone knows him as. Calm, polite, responsible, the kind of student professors greet warmly in hallways and younger students instinctively respect without questioning why.
But Minju notices things other people don’t. The tiny pauses, the questions casually disguised as conversations. The way Jungwon always seems attentive whenever Sunoo’s name gets mentioned even when pretending not to care. It is controlled so well that nobody else catches it.
Nobody except her or maybe she’s just too delusional about the thoughts of Yang Jungwon and Kim Sunoo. Minju taps her nails lightly against her plastic cup before finally glancing toward the pathway again when movement catches her eye and there he is.
Kim Sunoo.
Walking toward her beneath the harsh sunlight like the heat itself bends around him instead of affecting him. Minju immediately straightens slightly in her seat because honestly, Sunoo always looks noticeable, but today especially feels unfair.
His white long sleeves are rolled neatly to his elbows, exposing silver bracelets around his wrist while a black shoulder bag hangs carelessly against one side of his body. His headphones rest around his neck, slightly tangled against the silver chain beneath his collar. Even from a distance, Minju can already tell he looks exhausted from finishing requirements all week, but somehow exhaustion only softens him instead of ruining him.
Several students turn their heads while he walks past. One guy sitting nearby outright stares and Sunoo either doesn’t notice or simply expects it already. Probably the second one. Minju watches him approach while sunlight catches briefly against his hair, making him look almost glowing beneath the heat.
Ridiculous. She suddenly decides something, she will tell him about the recent hangouts. About Jay, about Jake, about the group dynamics but not about Jungwon’s reactions.
Not yet because she wants to see how naturally Sunoo moves first once he starts planning again.
“Finally,” Minju says dramatically once he reaches her. “I almost forgot what you look like.”
Sunoo exhales tiredly before dropping down beside her heavily, leaning back against the bench with a groan. “I’ve been fighting for my life.”
“That’s dramatic.”
“You’re not the one handling three research groups filled with idiots.”
Minju snorts loudly. Sunoo lets his head fall backward briefly, eyes closing for a second while the afternoon breeze brushes against his face. Up close now, Minju notices faint dark circles beneath his eyes.
Definitely overworked.
“You look suspiciously alive for someone sleep deprived,” she comments.
“That’s because I finished most of my requirements already,” Sunoo says proudly while opening one eye.
Minju immediately glares at him. “I hate gifted people.”
“I know.” The answer comes so naturally that Minju laughs despite herself. Then she hands him the iced americano she bought earlier.
Sunoo takes it immediately without even thanking her.
Spoiled. Exactly the same as always.
“You’re lucky I love you,” Minju mutters.
“I know that too.” Sunoo finally takes a long sip before sighing softly in satisfaction, shoulders visibly relaxing afterward.
“Oh my god,” he murmurs dramatically. “I missed caffeine that wasn’t made by engineering students.”
“That sounds targeted.”
“It is targeted.”
Minju shakes her head fondly before studying him carefully. “So,” she says casually, “how’s your political science senior?”
Sunoo nearly chokes on his drink. Minju immediately bursts out laughing. “Oh my god,” she says while grabbing his arm dramatically. “It was serious.”
“It was not serious,” Sunoo says quickly, wiping his mouth while glaring at her.
“You went on multiple dates.”
“It was two.”
“You posted stories.”
“That means nothing.”
“You let him buy you dessert.”
“That also means nothing.”
Minju stares at him in disbelief. “You’re emotionally unavailable.”
“I’m emotionally selective.”
“You’re annoying.”
Sunoo flips his hair lightly before fixing the sleeves of his polo again. “Anyway, he talked too much.”
“You literally like intelligent men.”
“I like intelligent men who know when to stop discussing constitutional law during dinner.”
Minju bursts into laughter again while Sunoo shakes his head dramatically. Then before Sunoo can continue ranting, Minju suddenly cuts him off.
“Oh right. You missed a lot.”
Sunoo glances toward her immediately while still drinking his coffee. “What happened?”
And just like that, Minju starts feeding him information carefully, not too obvious and not enough to expose Jungwon, you know just enough.
“We accidentally hung out with Jay’s group again,” she says casually.
Sunoo groans instantly. “Again?”
“It wasn’t planned this time either.”
Then Minju starts narrating everything, the café hangouts. Chaewon loudly claims Jake and Sunoo are soulmates. Ni-ki practically idolizes Jake academically. Sunghoon silently judges everyone while eating their food. Jay slowly becomes more obvious with Jake without realizing it himself and throughout the entire conversation, Sunoo listens more quietly than usual beside her.
His fingers tap lightly against his coffee cup while his expression slowly sharpens the longer Minju talks.
“The thing with Jay,” Minju says eventually while leaning back against the bench, “is that he genuinely likes Jake.”
Sunoo stays quiet. Listening carefully now.
“Like seriously,” Minju continues. “He pays attention to him constantly. Even during group conversations, he watches Jake first before reacting half the time.”
Sunoo hums softly. “But?”
Minju sighs quietly. “But Jungwon’s place in his life is too permanent.”
There it is, the actual problem. Sunoo’s jaw shifts slightly while staring ahead toward the busy campus pathway.
Minju continues more carefully now. “It’s not romantic from what I see.”
“But Jay prioritizes him,” Sunoo says flatly.
Minju nods once and honestly, that single nod says enough because that is exactly the problem Jake keeps struggling with. Not betrayal, not cheating, just never fully being first.
“When Jungwon speaks,” Minju says softly, “Jay listens immediately. When Jungwon disappears, Jay notices first. Even their friend group naturally adjusts around them.”
Sunoo scoffs quietly beneath his breath and Minju knows exactly why because Sunoo hates seeing Jake become someone who adjusts for love instead of being chosen confidently.
“The annoying part,” Minju continues, “is that Jungwon himself doesn’t even act clingy.”
Sunoo glances toward her.
“He’s respectful,” Minju explains. “Actually very respectful. Sometimes I feel like he already knows there’s something between Jay and Jake even if Jay never officially told him.”
That makes Sunoo’s brows furrow slightly. “But he still stays beside Jay,” Sunoo says.
“Because that’s normal to them,” Minju answers honestly. “That’s their dynamic already.”
And somehow that makes it worse because nobody is intentionally cruel here. Nobody is technically wrong but Jake still ends up hurt anyway. A warm breeze passes through the pathway while nearby students laugh loudly somewhere behind them.
Then Minju nudges Sunoo lightly with her shoulder. “So?” she asks casually. “Are you still continuing your plan?”
Sunoo exhales slowly before leaning back dramatically against the bench again.
Honestly? He almost forgot about it.
The past few weeks have genuinely been fun. Random dates. Research events. Flirting with people. Enjoying attention. Living exactly the way he likes.
Free, easy and uncomplicated. Then Jungwon keeps quietly appearing somewhere in the back of his thoughts anyway.
Annoying. Sunoo clicks his tongue softly.
“I’m enjoying my freedom first,” he mutters lazily.
Minju narrows her eyes suspiciously. “Freedom?”
“Yes,” Sunoo complains. “Because once I start focusing on Jungwon properly, I actually have to commit to the bit.”
“The bit,” Minju repeats flatly.
Sunoo ignores her completely. “And he’s boring.”
Minju almost laughs because somehow the word boring sounds noticeably less convincing now.
“He’s literally the definition of stable,” Sunoo continues dramatically. “Political science student. Perfect grades. Responsible. Well-mannered. Probably thanks jeepney drivers.”
“That’s attractive.”
“That’s terrifying.”
Minju grins while watching him rant.
“And I’ll miss my current life,” Sunoo continues while stretching his legs out slightly beneath the bench. “Because if I focus on Jungwon, I can’t disappear randomly anymore.”
“That’s true.”
“And I have to make sure it doesn’t look obvious,” Sunoo adds thoughtfully now. “Because if Jungwon notices too quickly, it becomes embarrassing.”
Minju presses her lips together immediately to stop herself from smiling.
Oh. If only Sunoo knew.
“He probably still thinks I forgot that balcony thing anyway,” Sunoo mutters confidently while taking another sip of coffee.
Minju almost chokes. Dangerous, very dangerous because Yang Jungwon definitely did not forget kissing Kim Sunoo beneath that balcony rooftop, not even close and judging from the quiet patience Minju has been observing these past few weeks.
Jungwon might already be waiting for Sunoo to come back on his own.
-
Jake and Leehan genuinely do not plan to visit Sunoo and Minji's university that day.
In fact, both of them are supposed to be trapped inside the engineering building until sunset finishing final paperwork submissions while surviving entirely through caffeine and mutual suffering.
The engineering department always feels exhausting near midterms. Students crowd the hallways carrying drafting tubes, laptops, rolled papers, unfinished prototypes, and half-dead expressions while professors move around like military officers hunting weak students to fail.
Jake has just finished presenting a major systems proposal barely twenty minutes ago, and judging from the loosened tie around his neck and the exhaustion sitting beneath his eyes, he is already mentally halfway home.
Leehan looks worse.
His hoodie sleeve is stained with marker ink, his hair slightly messy from repeatedly dragging his fingers through it during revisions, and he still carries three folders tucked against his side like emotional baggage.
“You know what,” Leehan mutters while stepping out of the engineering building beside Jake, “I think universities should legally pay students for enduring this.”
Jake laughs quietly, adjusting the strap of his bag over one shoulder. “That defeats the purpose of tuition.”
“Then lower the tuition.” with a scrunched nose Leehan answered back.
“Now that I agree with that.” Jake answered which both of them laughed at.
The afternoon air outside feels warmer compared to the freezing classrooms upstairs. Students scatter across the pathways in clusters, some laughing loudly while others sit on the grass reviewing notes like their lives depend on it.
Jake exhales deeply the moment sunlight hits his face. “I’m so tired.”
“You say that every day.” It is so evident that even Leehan is also exhausted but what can they do? They chose this course themselves.
“Because engineering is a punishment.” Jake smiled at Leehan despite saying this.
Leehan nods solemnly. “True.”
Then suddenly, Jake’s phone vibrates inside his pocket. At first he barely pays attention to it. He pulls it out lazily while still walking, glancing down casually before immediately slowing mid-step.
Then stopping completely and Leehan nearly crashes into him.
“What the hell?” he complains while grabbing Jake’s shoulder to steady himself. “Why did you stop walking like a divorced father?”
Jake ignores him entirely. His eyes stay locked on his screen. A calendar notification glows brightly across it.
SUNOO & MINJU FREE AFTER 1PM (4 HRS VACANT)
Leehan notices the exact moment Jake’s expression changes.
“Oh no,” Leehan says immediately, already knowing.
Jake slowly lifts his head. “We should visit them.”
Leehan stares at him blankly. “You’re insane.”
“It’s been weeks since we properly hung out.” Jake said and started to condition himself.
“You saw Sunoo at three in the morning four days ago.” Leehan whined because supposedly they'll just go home after the suspension of class notice.
Jake looks offended immediately. “That was emotional support and Minju is your girlfriend?”
“That was because he got rejected from a VIP club reservation and you know how we can give each other some space because of these hell courses we took” Leehan highlighted that his relationship with Minju is healthy.
“He was devastated.” Jake laughs and focuses on Sunoo because he knows Leehan also cares about Sunoo.
“He threatened to sue the manager.”
“He had grounds.”
Leehan stops walking entirely just to stare at him properly now. “Your friendship with Sunoo genuinely needs government observation.”
Jake only grins shamelessly before already changing direction toward the parking lot. Leehan groans dramatically toward the sky but follows anyway because honestly this has been their friendship dynamic for years now.
Jake decides something and Leehan complains about it but then still follows him regardless. As they continue across the engineering pathways, people greet Jake almost every few steps.
“Jake!”
A group of lower-year students wave enthusiastically from one of the benches. Jake immediately smiles and waves back naturally.
“Your presentation was insane earlier, bro!”
“Send me your reviewer please!”
“Are you joining the intramurals this year?”
Jake answers all of them easily while continuing to walk, somehow balancing conversation and movement effortlessly.
“Yeah, I’ll send the file later.”
“No promises for intramurals.”
“You guys survived Professor Han’s quiz?”
Leehan watches the entire thing beside him with visible disbelief. “Sometimes I forget you’re popular,” he says finally.
Jake shrugs casually. “I’m approachable.”
Leehan almost laughs. Approachable is one way to describe it.
Jake has the kind of personality people naturally gravitate toward. Warm without trying too hard. Smart without making others feel stupid. Friendly in a way that feels genuine instead of performative and annoyingly handsome on top of that.
“You’re athletic, smart, emotionally available, and annoyingly kind,” Leehan says while counting with his fingers dramatically. “People eat that up.”
Jake snorts. “You sound bitter.”
“I am bitter.”
Jake laughs louder this time. Then another student suddenly jogs toward them from behind.
“Jake! Wait!”
Jake turns immediately. “Yeah?”
The student hesitates slightly before smiling sheepishly. “Uh, thanks for helping me with thermodynamics last week.”
Jake’s expression softens instantly. “You passed?”
“Barely.”
“That still counts.”
The student laughs before walking away looking noticeably relieved. Leehan watches the interaction quietly for a second before shaking his head.
“You know,” he mutters, “sometimes I understand why Jay fell for you.”
Jake nearly chokes. “Shut up.”
“I’m serious.”
“We are not discussing my emotional disasters right now.”
Leehan grins wickedly. “So you admit it’s emotional.”
Jake opens his mouth to retaliate but familiar voices suddenly echo behind them.
“Where are you two going in such a hurry?”
Jake closes his eyes briefly because he already recognizes that voice and somehow he just knows this conversation is about to become complicated.
“Where are you two going in such a hurry?” Jake closes his eyes briefly the moment he hears the voice.
Because of course. Of course it’s Jay and his friends.
Leehan notices the exact expression Jake makes and immediately starts laughing under his breath. “That sigh sounded married.”
“Shut up,” Jake mutters automatically before both of them finally turn around.
The entire group is already approaching from across the engineering pathway.
The late afternoon sun casts long shadows across the concrete while students continue flooding the campus after dismissal. Some sit beneath trees reviewing notes while others crowd the nearby food stalls laughing loudly over unfinished drinks and somehow even in the middle of all that movement, Jay’s group still catches attention naturally.
Mostly because they are loud. Well, some of them.
Chaewon walks in front dramatically with iced coffee in one hand and sunglasses perched on top of her head like she’s entering a runway instead of a university campus. Beside her, Ni-ki argues loudly with Sunghoon about basketball rankings while gesturing so aggressively he nearly spills his drink.
“You literally don’t understand defensive rotations,” Ni-ki complains.
Sunghoon looks completely unbothered. “You say that every week.”
“Because you’re wrong every week.”
“You’re emotional.”
“I’m informed.”
Yunah trails beside them scrolling through her phone camera while fixing her hair occasionally through the reflection. Every few seconds she glances up just enough not to crash into someone.
Then there’s Jay. Walking calmly near the center of the group with one hand holding his bag strap loosely over his shoulder. Even from a distance, Jake notices the way Jay’s face softens slightly after spotting him properly.
It was small, subtle and beside Jay was Jungwon.
Jungwon who walks quietly with both hands tucked inside his pockets, a dark cardigan hanging loosely over a white shirt while the afternoon breeze shifts softly through his hair.
Unlike the others, Jungwon isn’t loud at all, it's actually the opposite. Yet Jake notices several passing students glance toward him anyway. Not because Jungwon demands attention but because people naturally look longer when they see him.
There’s something clean about the way he carries himself. Calm posture. Relaxed expression. The kind of composure that makes someone seem untouchable without trying.
Leehan once described Jungwon as “the type professors trust immediately.”
Honestly? It's accurate. By the time they finally stop in front of Jake and Leehan, Chaewon is already narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
“Why do you both look guilty?”
“We’re not guilty,” Jake answers immediately.
“You definitely are,” Sunghoon says calmly before taking a sip from his drink.
Ni-ki points dramatically between them. “This is the face people make before committing crimes.”
“We’re literally just walking,” Leehan deadpans.
“Suspiciously.”
Jake rubs his forehead tiredly. “Why are all of you like this?”
“Born talented,” Chaewon answers proudly.
Leehan sighs before deciding honesty is easier. “We’re visiting Minju and Sunoo.”
Immediately Chaewon gasps loud enough that nearby students turn toward them.
“AT HANSEONG UNIVERSITY?”
Jake physically flinches. “Please stop screaming.”
“No,” Chaewon says instantly. “Take us with you.”
Jake and Leehan exchange the exact same exhausted look.
Absolutely not.
Jake already knows this is a terrible idea not because Sunoo would genuinely hate it. Okay maybe a little. But mostly because Sunoo plus this group together always creates chaos somehow and judging from the way Ni-ki already looks excited?
It would definitely become worse.
“We’re just dropping by for a bit,” Jake explains carefully. “Sunoo's been stressed lately because of requirements. He might throw a tantrum if too many people suddenly appear.”
“That makes me want to go more,” Sunghoon comments calmly while drinking his coffee.
Leehan immediately points at him aggressively. “See? This is exactly the problem.”
Ni-ki bursts out laughing while Yunah hides her smile behind her cup. Meanwhile Jay only watches Jake with quiet amusement. “Does Sunoo actually throw tantrums?”
Jake looks at him blankly. “You saw him threaten legal action at your birthday party because the music was bad.”
Jay immediately laughs. “Okay fair.”
Chaewon loops her arm dramatically around Yunah’s shoulder. “Please. We’ll behave.”
“That sentence alone sounds fake,” Leehan mutters.
“We just want to see the famous business university,” Yunah says casually. “And maybe Sunoo too.”
“Mostly Sunoo,” Ni-ki admits shamelessly.
Jake narrows his eyes. “Why?”
Ni-ki shrugs carelessly. “He’s entertaining.”
“That’s concerning.”
“Correct,” Sunghoon says.
Jay glances toward Jake again before speaking more softly this time. “We really won’t stay long.”
Jake hesitates not because of Jay. Actually Jay has been the easiest part lately. The problem is everything surrounding him.
The secrecy, the uncertainty. The fact that Jake still doesn’t fully know where he stands sometimes and somehow bringing that complicated mess into Sunoo’s territory feels dangerous because Sunoo notices everything.
Every imbalance, every hesitation. Every unfair thing Jake pretends not to mind. Then beside Jay, Jungwon finally speaks for the first time since arriving.
“We don’t have classes anymore anyway.” It was a simple sentence, with a polite tone. Nothing unusual about it and yet somehow the timing blends perfectly into the conversation, natural enough that nobody thinks twice about it.
Not even Jake because Jungwon says it casually while looking toward Jay instead of anyone else, expression relaxed like he’s simply agreeing with the group.
There’s no obvious curiosity. No eagerness, nothing suspicious at all. Just Jungwon being his usual considerate self.
Leehan crosses his arms. “You people are seriously determined.”
Chaewon points proudly. “Friendship.”
“Nosiness,” Jake corrects.
“Both can exist.”
Ni-ki suddenly grins. “Besides, if Sunoo kicks us out, at least we’ll witness it live.”
“He absolutely will,” Leehan mutters.
Yunah laughs softly. “You talk about him like he’s some rich final boss.”
“He is,” Jake answers immediately.
“And you’re all weirdly obsessed with him,” Sunghoon adds.
Jake opens his mouth to defend himself, then pauses. Because honestly? Fair enough.
Meanwhile Jungwon quietly listens beside them while the conversation continues around him. His posture remains relaxed, one hand still tucked inside his pocket while the other loosely holds his phone.
Outwardly, he looks completely unaffected but somewhere in the back of his mind, another thought quietly surfaces.
He wonders if Sunoo will be annoyed to see them. Then another one follows almost immediately after. He wonders what expression Sunoo will make first and for some reason that thought alone is enough to make the corner of Jungwon’s mouth lift slightly before he smooths the expression away again.
Subtle enough that nobody notices except maybe Jay. Who glances at him briefly before looking away again without thinking much of it.
Jake finally exhales dramatically. “Fine. But if Sunoo curses at all of you, I’m not helping.”
“He definitely will,” Leehan says.
“Worth it,” Ni-ki answers instantly and somehow that becomes the final decision.
The trip toward the business university takes longer than expected because Chaewon keeps getting distracted by random stores while Ni-ki insists on buying snacks halfway through. By the time they finally reach the campus gates, even Sunghoon looks mildly tired.
Then they step inside and immediately fall silent because the university genuinely looks insane.
Tall glass buildings tower above landscaped gardens while fountains sparkle beneath the afternoon sunlight. Students wearing fitted uniforms and polished shoes walk confidently between buildings carrying tablets, coffee trays, and presentation boards like mini executives instead of college students.
Even the atmosphere feels expensive.
“Jesus,” Ni-ki mutters quietly. “This place looks like rich people spawn here naturally.”
Yunah slowly lowers her sunglasses while staring around. “I suddenly understand Sunoo more now.”
Sunghoon glances toward the massive finance building ahead of them. “The pressure here probably kills people weekly.”
Leehan laughs. “Exactly.”
Jay watches students rush past carrying marketing presentation materials and quietly whistles beneath his breath. “This place is intense.”
Then beside him, Jungwon silently studies the surroundings, carefully. His gaze drifts across the polished architecture, the intimidating atmosphere, the sharpness of everything around them and somehow it makes sense.
This place fits Sunoo too well. It is competitive, beautiful and difficult. The kind of environment where people survive through confidence and sharp thinking. Jungwon slips one hand into his pocket while walking quietly behind the others. Then his gaze lifts naturally toward the distance and immediately finds him.
Sunoo.
Seated beneath one of the shaded waiting sheds near the business building beside Minju, one leg crossed lazily over the other while holding an iced americano. His sleeves remain rolled neatly to his elbows while his bag rests carelessly beside him.
Even from far away, Jungwon notices students glancing toward Sunoo while passing by. Some stare longer than necessary. One girl literally looks back twice after walking past. Sunoo notices none of it or maybe he does and simply expects it already. Jungwon’s gaze lingers for one second longer before calmly looking away again.
Meanwhile across the business university courtyard, Minju notices the approaching group first.
At first, she only recognizes Jake and Leehan from afar because of the way Jake walks. Relaxed posture, one hand holding food bags while talking to Leehan beside him who already looks annoyed about something.
Pretty normal. Then her eyes drift farther behind them and widen immediately because why is Jay there?
Even Chaewon and Sunghoon. And— Oh. Oh this is interesting.
Minju’s gaze flickers briefly toward Jungwon walking quietly beside Jay before returning to Sunoo sitting across from her completely unaware.
The afternoon sun filters softly through the trees surrounding the waiting shed, streaks of warm light passing over the table between them. Around the courtyard, business students move in polished clusters carrying laptops and coffee cups while others rehearse presentations near the open lawn.
Meanwhile Sunoo remains fully focused on complaining.
“and then she had the audacity to say my analysis was intimidating,” he says dramatically while leaning back against the bench. “Intimidating. In a business school. What does she want from me? Mediocrity?”
Minju barely hears him anymore because now the entire engineering squad, as she calls it, is getting closer. Especially because Jungwon is here too and unlike everyone else, Jungwon’s attention immediately scans the area once they enter the courtyard.
Like always, it was not obvious, not searching, just naturally observant but Minju notices anyway. So instead of saying anything, she calmly kicks Sunoo beneath the table.
Hard enough to annoy him.
“Ow,” Sunoo complains immediately, glaring at her. “What was that for?”
“Turn around.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
Sunoo narrows his eyes suspiciously first before finally twisting slightly in his seat then freezes because walking toward them is not only Jake and Leehan carrying several food bags.
But also Jay, Chaewon, Ni-ki, Sunghoon. Yunah.
And Jungwon.
Sunoo’s entire expression shifts into disbelief, then irritation. “What the hell.”
Minju immediately hides her smile behind her coffee.
Perfect.
Jake reaches them first, looking entirely too pleased with himself before dramatically placing several food containers onto the table one by one like offerings for peace negotiations.
Tteokbokki. Mint chocolate drinks. Mint chocolate macarons. Mint chocolate bread.
An entire separate bag specifically filled with mint chocolate variations because everyone knows only Sunoo likes them enough to defend them publicly.
The smell of warm food immediately spreads across the table. Sunoo stares at the containers then at Jake. Then back at the containers again. His expression softens for maybe half a second before immediately hardening again out of principle.
“Why are you here?” he asks flatly.
Jake drops comfortably into the seat beside him like he belongs there. “Hello to you too.”
“I wanted peace today,” Sunoo complains while sitting up properly now. “Not engineering students invading my campus.”
Ni-ki snorts immediately beside Chaewon.
“Told you,” Leehan mutters proudly while sitting across from Minju.
Jay laughs quietly while rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry. They wanted to see the university.”
“You people are trespassing,” Sunoo says while glaring at the entire group. “I can literally report this.”
“We signed in properly,” Yunah argues while sitting beside Chaewon.
“That doesn’t make it less annoying.”
“You sound like a principal,” Sunghoon comments calmly while taking the empty seat near Jungwon.
Sunoo immediately points at him. “And you specifically look like someone who cheats on exams.”
Sunghoon blinks once. Then unexpectedly laughs beneath his breath. It was low and short. Like he genuinely finds that funny.
Ni-ki immediately turns toward him in disbelief. “Sunghoon, why are you enjoying this?”
“Because he talks like a rich grandmother threatening lawsuits.”
Sunoo gasps dramatically. “Excuse me?”
“That reaction alone proves my point.”
Even Jay starts laughing properly now while Chaewon nearly leans against Yunah from amusement.
Meanwhile Jungwon quietly settles into the remaining seat near the edge of the table. Not too close, not too far either. It was comfortable and balanced. Unlike during Jay’s birthday party where the environment forced introductions naturally, this setting feels different.
This feels more casual, more personal and Sunoo notices it too because somehow seeing Jungwon inside his university feels oddly intrusive. Like two different parts of his life touching unexpectedly.
“You’re all lucky I’m too tired to fight properly today,” Sunoo mutters while finally opening one of the mint chocolate drinks.
“You fight properly?” Leehan asks.
“Unfortunately,” Jake answers immediately.
Minju watches the entire interaction quietly while resting her chin against her palm because this is exactly why people like Sunoo despite the attitude.
There’s always something playful beneath it. Sharp words delivered with expressive reactions. Complaints that never feel genuinely cruel. The kind of personality that fills space naturally.
Even nearby students passing the waiting shed keep glancing toward their table because Sunoo’s voice rises dramatically every few minutes. One pair of girls walking nearby literally slowed down after hearing him say “If one more engineering student breathes near me today, I’m transferring schools.”
Jake looks completely unfazed while opening the tteokbokki container for him anyway. “Eat first before threatening academic violence.”
Sunoo immediately takes the chopsticks. Minju snorts quietly.
“There,” Jake says proudly while leaning back. “See? Tamed.”
“I can still ruin your life.”
“You say that every Tuesday.”
“Because every Tuesday you deserve it.” Another round of laughter spreads through the table.
Even Yunah smiles more comfortably now while Chaewon starts asking Minju questions about business professors.
Then Ni-ki glances around the courtyard curiously. “Your campus is intimidating.”
“It’s supposed to be,” Sunoo says while chewing lazily. “We produce future CEOs and emotionally unavailable executives here.”
“That explains you,” Leehan mutters.
“Shut up.”
Jay watches Sunoo and Jake bicker quietly from beside them, amusement lingering across his face but underneath that amusement, something else settles too because this version of Jake feels different here.
Comfortable and taken care of. Not careful the way he sometimes becomes around Jay. And suddenly Jay understands something uncomfortable.
Sunoo is not just Jake’s best friend. Sunoo is like a home to him.
Meanwhile beside Jay, Jungwon casually joins the conversation naturally whenever needed. Balanced enough that nobody particularly notices him observing more than speaking.
When Minju starts complaining about marketing presentations, Jungwon calmly asks Minju about their grading system. When Ni-ki jokes about business students dressing too formally, Jungwon casually points out that engineering students look homeless during exam weeks.
Even Sunoo reacts immediately to that.
“That’s true actually,” he says while nodding seriously. “Some of you genuinely look unemployed.”
Leehan looks offended. “I spent forty minutes dressing today.”
“And still lost.”
Sunghoon laughs again unexpectedly. This time louder. “You’re kind of mean,” he tells Sunoo.
“You people came into my territory,” Sunoo replies while gesturing around the courtyard dramatically. “I’m defending my land.”
“That sounds feudal.”
“It is feudal.”
Then finally Jungwon speaks directly toward Sunoo for the first time since arriving.
“So business students bite strangers on sight?”
The question comes so suddenly and so calmly that the table quiets for half a second, not because the words themselves are shocking but because Jungwon says it with such an unreadable expression that nobody immediately realizes he’s teasing.
The afternoon breeze moves softly through the open waiting shed, rustling papers scattered across nearby tables while students pass by outside carrying iced coffee and laptops. Somewhere across the courtyard, an organization booth blasts music too loudly, but at their table, everyone’s attention shifts almost instantly toward Jungwon and Sunoo.
Sunoo slowly lifts his head from his mint chocolate drink, his eyes narrow immediately because there is something deeply irritating about the way Jungwon looks right now. Relaxed posture, calm face, elbows resting loosely against the table like he has not a single stressful thought inside his body.
And worst of all he genuinely looks curious. Like he does not realize he’s provoking someone.
“You’re all strangers,” Sunoo says flatly while setting his drink down.
Jungwon hums softly. “We met before.”
“That doesn’t mean I claimed you.”
Ni-ki nearly folds over laughing beside Chaewon while even Jay covers his mouth briefly.
“Claimed?” Yunah repeats between laughs. “What are we, a cat?”
Sunoo points at her immediately. “Exactly and you all wandered into my territory uninvited.”
“That explains the hostility,” Jungwon says smoothly.
Sunoo turns toward him fully now. “Oh my god,” he mutters. “You do this on purpose.”
“Do what?”
“That.” Sunoo gestures vaguely at him with visible annoyance. “Whatever this is.”
Jungwon blinks once, calmly. “I asked a question.”
“You asked it like you were hosting a documentary.” That makes Sunghoon laugh openly this time, actually laugh.
The kind where he leans back slightly while shaking his head because he genuinely cannot help it anymore and somehow that only irritates Sunoo more.
“Why are all of you entertained?” he asks in disbelief while looking around the table. “He’s annoying.”
“No,” Chaewon says immediately. “You’re both annoying. Together.”
“Exactly,” Ni-ki agrees while pointing between them excitedly. “This is fun.”
Sunoo looks personally betrayed. “I thought you people came here peacefully.”
“We did,” Jungwon answers.
Then after one small pause, he adds calmly “But you started threatening legal action the moment we arrived.”
“That was justified.”
“You threatened deportation too.”
“That was also justified.”
Leehan physically covers his face while Minju bites the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing too hard because this is new. Usually when people meet Sunoo’s personality for the first time, they either become intimidated or overly careful around him.
But Jungwon? Jungwon keeps stepping into it naturally, not aggressively, not defensively either. Just enough to keep pushing at Sunoo’s patience little by little and somehow it works terrifyingly well.
“You know what your problem is?” Sunoo says while crossing his arms.
Jungwon tilts his head slightly. “I feel like you’re about to tell me anyway.”
“You sound too academically calm all the time.”
Ni-ki wheezes loudly. “Academically calm?”
“Yes,” Sunoo says immediately while pointing aggressively at Jungwon now. “Like he says everything like he’s answering an essay question.”
Jungwon nods once. “That’s fair.”
“Oh my god,” Sunoo mutters while leaning back dramatically. “See? That. That right there.”
“What did I do now?”
“You agreed too politely.”
The table bursts into laughter again. Even Jake starts choking on his drink while Jay lowers his head briefly against his shoulder, laughing quietly.
And honestly? It is entertaining because Jungwon still does not look offended. If anything, he looks more amused now. His eyes are softer. Mouth slightly curved upward while watching Sunoo complain like this is the most naturally entertaining thing he has seen all week.
Meanwhile Sunoo grows more suspicious by the second because this should not be happening.
Jungwon is supposed to be the calm perfect-student type. The emotionally stable best friend. The polite honorable son who probably thanks professors after class.
So why does talking to him suddenly feel like arguing with someone secretly enjoying every second of it?
“You’re weird,” Sunoo says bluntly.
“That’s a strong accusation.”
“You talk like customer service.”
Ni-ki slams both hands against the table laughing. “JUNGWON,” he gasps toward Jungwon. “HE SAID YOU SOUND LIKE CUSTOMER SERVICE.”
Sunghoon looks fully entertained now too. “Actually he’s right.”
Jungwon finally laughs properly, not loudly but enough that his shoulders move slightly this time and the sound catches Sunoo off guard for one stupid second because—
Oh.
That’s unfairly attractive. Sunoo immediately gets annoyed at himself for noticing.
“You’re all acting like I’m joking,” he mutters while opening his tteokbokki again aggressively. “But imagine hearing him talk during an argument. I’d actually lose my mind.”
Jungwon watches him for a moment before asking calmly, “You get into arguments often?”
“Yes.”
“With everyone?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because people are stupid.”
“And you’re not?”
“No,” Sunoo answers immediately.
Jungwon nods slowly like he is seriously considering the answer. Then he says, “That sounds difficult for society.”
The entire table loses it again. Even nearby students glance toward them now because the laughter grows too loud.
Sunoo stares at Jungwon in complete disbelief, then points at him again. “See? SEE?” he says while looking at the others. “This is what I mean. He insults people politely.”
“I think that’s just debating skills,” Jungwon replies.
“You’re irritating.”
“You’ve said that three times already.”
“And I’ll say it again.”
“Consistency is important.”
Sunoo gasps dramatically like he has just been personally attacked. Minju finally gives up trying to hide her smile because this dynamic is absurdly good.
Even Jake notices it now, the weird balance between them. Sunoo being expressive and dramatic while Jungwon keeps responding calmly enough to make him spiral further.
Neither backing down, neither offended and strangely neither disengaging either. It feels less like two people clashing and more like two people instinctively matching each other’s rhythm without realizing it yet.
Which is dangerous.
The laughter from Sunoo and Jungwon’s argument lingers around the table long after the conversation should have already moved on.
Mostly because everyone keeps looking between them now, though not obviously but enough.
The waiting shed has grown noisier over the past few minutes, students crowding nearby tables after classes ended while warm late-afternoon sunlight spills across the courtyard in long golden streaks. Someone from the business organization nearby keeps testing microphones for an upcoming event, random feedback noises occasionally echoing through the open area.
Yet somehow their table still feels louder than everything else. Chaewon leans forward against the table dramatically, eyes bright with amusement while staring directly at Sunoo.
“We should seriously hang out more.”
Sunoo does not even hesitate. “No.”
The answer comes so fast that Ni-ki bursts out laughing immediately.
“Damn,” he says. “You rejected her like a job application.”
“Because she keeps volunteering herself into my life,” Sunoo replies while lazily stirring his drink with the straw. “That’s alarming behavior.”
Chaewon points aggressively at him. “You are literally fun to annoy.”
“That sounds like emotional terrorism.”
“You threatened to deport us from your campus 30 minutes ago!”
“And I stand by that.”
Sunghoon quietly shakes his head beside Jungwon, the corner of his mouth twitching upward again. Honestly, he did not expect this visit to become entertaining but Sunoo is strangely easy to provoke and even stranger to watch because despite all the dramatic complaining, he keeps engaging back instead of shutting the conversation down completely.
“You know what?” Chaewon says while leaning back against her chair. “I think you secretly like us.”
Sunoo looks genuinely offended. “Oh my god.”
“You do!”
“No, I don’t.”
“You laughed.”
“I laugh at unfortunate situations too.”
“That’s psychologically concerning.”
“It’s adaptive.”
Yunah snorts softly beside her drink while Jake already looks exhausted in the familiar way of someone who has witnessed this behavior too many times to react anymore.
Meanwhile Jungwon stays quiet for a moment, watching Sunoo’s expressions shift rapidly between irritation and amusement, very expressive.
Sunoo complains with his entire face. The narrowing eyes. The dramatic blinking. The way he gestures with both hands like every sentence deserves visual effects and the more Jungwon watches, the more he understands why people naturally give Sunoo attention.
He demands it without trying or maybe without realizing he’s trying. Sunoo suddenly narrows her eyes suspiciously at Chaewon. “Wait.”
Everyone glances toward him. Then he points dramatically. “You hate me too much specifically.”
Chaewon blinks once. “What?”
“That usually means hidden affection.”
Ni-ki immediately folds forward laughing while Leehan physically groans into his hands.
Sunoo stares at Chaewon like she personally offended his bloodline. “Do you have a crush on me?”
The entire table explodes.
“WHAT?” Chaewon yells so loudly nearby students glance over again.
Sunoo points at her confidently now, fully committed to the accusation. “You keep insisting we hang out. You miss me after one meeting. You’re emotionally attached.”
“You’re INSANE.”
“That sounded defensive.”
“I’m not defensive!”
“Then explain your behavior.”
Jay lowers his head laughing beside Jake while Yunah nearly spills her drink trying to stop herself from laughing too hard. Even Jungwon smiles again and somehow that annoys Sunoo immediately because why does Jungwon keep looking so entertained?
“What?” Sunoo asks suspiciously after catching him smiling again.
Jungwon blinks calmly. “Nothing.”
“No. You keep doing that.”
“Doing what?”
“Looking amused.”
“You are amusing.” The answer comes too naturally and for one stupid second, Sunoo actually pauses.
Then immediately recovers. “You sound like a guidance counselor trying to calm down a problematic student.”
Ni-ki physically slaps the table laughing.
“Why are you attacking him specifically?” Chaewon asks between laughs.
“Because he keeps talking like a textbook.”
Jungwon tilts his head slightly. “That’s a new insult.”
“It’s not an insult. It’s an observation.”
“Academically calm,” Sunghoon mutters under his breath, remembering Sunoo’s earlier complaint.
Jake immediately starts laughing again. Then Yunah smoothly cuts through the chaos while fixing her sleeve. “Speaking of observations, how was your date with the polsci senior?”
The energy shifts instantly. Minju notices it immediately because beside Jay, Jungwon’s fingers stop moving briefly against his coffee cup before relaxing again.
Tiny reaction, almost invisible but there. Sunoo groans dramatically before dropping his forehead briefly against the table.
“Terrible.”
“That bad?” Jay asks, smiling slightly.
Sunoo immediately lifts his head again with visible betrayal in his expression. “He trapped me inside a three-hour TED Talk about himself.”
Ni-ki laughs instantly.
“No, because listen,” Sunoo says while sitting up properly now, clearly invested in narrating his suffering. “At first he was attractive. Smart. Polished. Nice voice. I thought maybe this would finally be worth my time.”
“And?” Yunah asks.
“And twenty minutes later I realized he only asks questions so he can redirect the conversation back to himself.”
Chaewon winces. “Oh.”
“I told him I liked psychological thrillers,” Sunoo continues dramatically. “Then somehow we ended up discussing his internship achievements.”
Sunghoon quietly lowers his head, shoulders shaking faintly because he is trying not to laugh.
“I felt kidnapped,” Sunoo says. “Like I got held hostage inside LinkedIn.”
Even Jungwon laughs softly at that, not loudly but enough that Sunoo hears it immediately. And unfortunately the sound is nice which irritates him.
“What?” Sunoo asks while narrowing his eyes toward him.
Jungwon rests his elbow lightly against the table now, expression calm again despite the faint amusement still lingering in his eyes.
“You’re dramatic.”
“I was suffering.”
“You survived.”
“Barely.”
Chaewon suddenly points excitedly. “But you looked happy in the stories!”
Sunoo groans loudly. “Because I insulted him.” and everyone pauses.
“You what?” Yunah asks carefully.
Sunoo looks entirely unapologetic. “I told him his personality felt like mandatory group work.”
Ni-ki almost falls sideways laughing. Jake covers his face briefly. “And people still pursue you voluntarily.”
“That’s because I’m charming.”
“That’s because you’re pretty,” Leehan corrects immediately.
Sunoo gasps dramatically. “I have substance.”
“You threatened legal action an hour ago.”
“Because people lack discipline.” Another wave of laughter spreads across the table.
Meanwhile Minju quietly watches Jungwon again because unlike the others, Jungwon is not laughing just because Sunoo is entertaining. He is listening carefully. Absorbing every detail, every reaction, every exaggerated complaint. Like he enjoys understanding how Sunoo thinks and maybe worse he enjoys provoking him too.
“You know what your problem is?” Sunoo suddenly says while pointing his fork toward Jungwon.
Jungwon raises one eyebrow slightly. “I feel another character assessment coming.”
“You probably relate to that senior.”
The table immediately reacts. “Oh?” Chaewon says dramatically while leaning closer.
Jungwon looks genuinely curious now. “How?”
“You’re both academically unbearable.”
“That’s vague criticism.”
“You speak too properly.”
Jungwon hums thoughtfully like he is seriously reflecting on the accusation. “So your issue with intelligent men is communication style.”
Sunoo stares at him. Then slowly turns toward the others with visible disbelief.
“See?” he says while pointing aggressively toward Jungwon. “SEE? This is exactly what I mean. He talks like he’s writing an essay during conversations.”
Ni-ki laughs so hard he physically leans against Sunghoon for support but Jungwon only watches Sunoo steadily before speaking again.
“If it helps,” he says, “I don’t usually compare debate competitions to psychological thrillers.”
Sunoo narrows his eyes immediately. “That sounded like flirting.”
Jay almost chokes on his drink. Chaewon screams and this time Jungwon does not deny it immediately. Which somehow makes the entire table even louder.
The conversation only begins settling after nearly another twenty minutes of chaos.
By then the courtyard has grown even busier, late afternoon sunlight pouring warmly across the business university grounds while students flood out of classrooms carrying laptops, iced coffee, and unfinished groupwork. The nearby fountain reflects streaks of gold from the lowering sun, and somewhere behind the finance building, a student organization starts testing speakers for an event loud enough to echo across campus.
Their table somehow remains louder. Mostly because Sunoo keeps reacting to everything like he was personally offended by human interaction itself.
“and another thing,” Sunoo continues while aggressively stabbing a fishcake with his chopsticks, “why do engineering students always walk around carrying emotional damage and calculators?”
Ni-ki gasps dramatically. “That’s class discrimination.”
“It’s observational research.”
Leehan sighs tiredly beside him. “You literally know engineering students.”
“Unfortunately.”
Jake shakes his head while stealing one of Sunoo’s fries despite the immediate glare it earns him. Then suddenly Sunoo pauses mid-rant. His eyes narrow toward his phone screen and the shift is immediate enough that Minju notices first.
Uh oh.
Sunoo slowly lowers his chopsticks. “Oh my god.”
Jake immediately looks up. “What happened?”
Sunoo stares at the screen like it personally betrayed him. “I forgot.”
“That sentence is never good,” Leehan mutters.
Minju leans slightly closer before immediately wincing after seeing the notification flashing brightly across Sunoo’s phone.
FACULTY PRESENTATION REVISION SUBMISSION — 5:00 PM
“Oh,” she says softly. “You’re doomed.”
“I know.”Sunoo sounds genuinely devastated.
He drops backward dramatically against the bench while dragging one hand down his face. Around them, students continue passing by noisily while warm wind rustles through the trees lining the pathway, but at their table everyone suddenly looks entertained by Sunoo’s suffering.
Except Sunoo himself. “This is oppression,” he mutters.
“You literally forgot your own deadline,” Jake says.
“Because I was distracted.”
“By what?”
Sunoo gestures vaguely toward all of them. “This.”
Ni-ki immediately points at himself proudly. “We ruined his academics.”
“You people ruined my peace.”
“You were yelling at Jungwon for thirty minutes voluntarily,” Sunghoon says calmly.
“That was community service.”
Jungwon quietly laughs again beside him, not loudly.
Just soft enough that Sunoo hears it immediately and somehow that annoys him more than if Jungwon laughed openly because it always feels like Jungwon is privately entertained specifically by him.
“You,” Sunoo says while pointing accusingly toward Jungwon now, “are enjoying this too much.”
Jungwon looks calm as ever, one arm resting loosely across the back of his chair while the afternoon light catches softly against his dark cardigan.
“I’m observing.”
“That sounds threatening.”
“It’s sociology.”
“You’re polsci.”
“Adjacent field.”
“That’s worse.”
The table erupts laughing again while Sunoo groans dramatically before finally sitting up properly.
“Anyway,” he says while gathering the scattered papers across the table aggressively, “I still need to submit revisions personally because apparently this university enjoys manual suffering.”
Sunghoon watches quietly as Sunoo starts reorganizing folders inside his bag with increasingly irritated movements. His rings click softly against the metal zipper while loose strands of hair fall across his forehead from how aggressively he moves.
“You still have to present?” Sunghoon asks.
“No,” Sunoo mutters. “But the faculty likes making students wait outside offices for psychological warfare.”
“That sounds illegal,” Yunah says.
“It should be.”
Minju snorts softly beside him while helping stack some loose papers together. “You should’ve submitted this yesterday.”
“I was busy.”
“Doing what exactly?”
Sunoo pauses briefly, then answers honestly. “Nothing productive.”
Jake immediately laughs. “That’s my boy.”
“Do not encourage him,” Leehan says.
“I support artistic lifestyles.”
“Sunoo majors in business.”
“Exactly. Expensive artistic lifestyle.”
Another wave of laughter spreads across the table before Jake casually asks, “How long will the submission take?”
Sunoo freezes for half a second. Then groans again like the answer physically hurts him. “Forever.”
“That sounds dramatic.”
“Our finance dean reviews presentations personally if she dislikes your formatting.”
Ni-ki blinks. “That’s terrifying.”
“She once rejected someone because their graphs lacked emotional clarity.”
“What does that even mean?”
“No one knows.”
Even Jungwon looks slightly amused now. “Sounds intense,” he comments lightly.
Sunoo immediately points at him. “Exactly. Even the engineering students are judging us now.”
“I’m polsci.”
“Same stress. Different fonts.”
Sunghoon lowers his head laughing quietly while Chaewon stretches comfortably against her seat. “We’ll just wait for you then.”
Sunoo immediately looks horrified. “No.”
Chaewon blinks innocently. “Why?”
“Because absolutely not.”
“We don’t mind.”
“I do.”
Jake leans back against the bench with visible amusement already forming in his expression because he clearly knows where this conversation is heading.
“We can stay nearby,” he says casually.
Sunoo slowly turns toward him. “No.”
“Yes.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
Leehan sighs deeply. “You two are exhausting.”
Sunoo ignores him completely, now fully focused on Jake. “You are not waiting for me.”
“What if I want to?”
“You shouldn’t.”
“That’s not convincing.”
Sunoo narrows his eyes dangerously. “Because I said so.”
Jake grins immediately. “There it is.”
“There what is?”
“The spoiled rich dictator tone.”
“I’m not spoiled.”
Every single person at the table stares at him silently. Even nearby students walking past glance over because the silence becomes so immediate.
Sunoo looks offended. “Wow. None of you support me.”
“You threatened deportation earlier,” Ni-ki reminds him.
“That was justified.”
Meanwhile Minju notices something else entirely because while everyone laughs again, Jungwon stays quieter now.
Still participating and listening but his eyes follow Sunoo naturally while the latter fixes his sleeves distractedly before stuffing papers into his bag with increasing annoyance. Like he finds the entire thing entertaining.
“You’re all going home,” Sunoo announces while standing finally. “And you” he points directly toward Jake now “are bringing the trespassers with you.”
“Trespassers?” Yunah repeats with disbelief.
“You invaded my campus.”
“We signed in properly!” Chaewon argues.
“That doesn’t mean you belong here.”
Sunghoon quietly mutters, “You really sound like campus security.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
Sunoo ignores Sunghoon effortlessly before turning back toward Jake. “And I better not see any of you waiting after this.”
Jake still looks unconvinced. “You’re acting like you’re entering a battlefield.”
“I am entering a battlefield.”
“You’re submitting a presentation.”
“To the finance department.”
Ni-ki visibly shudders. “Actually fair.”
Sunghoon laughs softly beside him while watching Sunoo continue adjusting his folders against his chest dramatically.
“You know,” Jay says carefully, “most people would appreciate friends waiting for them.”
Sunoo immediately looks suspicious. “That sounds emotionally manipulative.”
“It's a concern.”
“It’s surveillance.”
Jungwon speaks then for the first time in nearly two minutes, it was so calm. “You really don’t like people waiting for you.”
The table quiets slightly, not heavily but just enough. Sunoo glances toward him. Jungwon’s expression remains relaxed, but unlike earlier teasing, the question sounds more observant now.
Like he’s actually curious and somehow that catches Sunoo off guard briefly, only briefly.
“Because waiting creates emotional obligation,” Sunoo replies while adjusting his bag higher against his shoulder. “Then suddenly I’m responsible for everyone’s time.”
“That’s surprisingly thoughtful,” Yunah says before she can stop herself.
Sunoo immediately points at her. “Don’t compliment me. It feels suspicious.”
Jungwon laughs softly again. There it is that stupid quiet laugh. Sunoo narrows his eyes immediately. “You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Looking entertained.”
“You are entertaining.”
The answer comes too naturally, too smoothly and for one irritating second, Sunoo forgets what he was about to say. Minju notices. Then Sunoo recovers quickly by glaring harder. “You sound like you secretly enjoy annoying me.”
Jungwon tilts his head slightly. “Maybe you’re easy to annoy.”
“That sounds like a challenge.”
“Maybe it is.”
Ni-ki physically grabs Sunghoon’s arm laughing. “Why does this feel like unresolved sexual tension?”
“NI-KI,” Jay says immediately.
“What? I’m observant!”
Sunoo looks horrified. “You people are insane.”
“But not wrong,” Chaewon mutters.
Sunoo gasps dramatically while Jungwon calmly drinks from his iced coffee beside him like none of this concerns him at all. Which honestly makes it worse.
“You’re all exhausting,” Sunoo announces finally.
“And yet,” Jungwon says smoothly, “you’re still talking to us.”
Sunoo points aggressively toward him again. “You specifically are my least favorite today.”
“That’s progress. Earlier I was untrustworthy.”
“You’re both.”
Jungwon nods thoughtfully. “I’ll work on that.”
“That sounded fake.”
“It wasn’t.”
“It felt fake.”
Another round of laughter spreads across the table. Then finally Sunoo exhales dramatically before stepping backward away from the bench.
The sunlight catches against the silver rings around his fingers while warm wind shifts softly through his oversized hoodie.
“You’re leaving,” he says while pointing toward Jake, Leehan, and Minju specifically now. “All of you.”
Jake salutes lazily. “Yes, your highness.”
“And if I come back and see anyone waiting for me,” Sunoo continues, “I’m blocking everybody.”
“That’s emotional abuse,” Jake calls after him.
“That’s discipline.”
Then Sunoo turns fully toward the faculty building, still muttering complaints beneath his breath while fixing the folders against his chest and somehow the second he disappears into the crowd of students crossing the courtyard, everything feels quieter immediately.
Ni-ki notices first. “Why does it suddenly feel empty here?”
“Because he talks enough for twelve people,” Leehan answers.
But beside Jay, Jungwon’s gaze lingers briefly toward the direction Sunoo disappeared and just distracted enough for Minju to notice.
-
By the time Sunoo finally steps out of the faculty building, the entire campus already feels slower compared to earlier.
The afternoon crowd disappeared almost completely. Hallways that used to overflow with business students carrying presentation boards and coffee cups now sit half-empty beneath warm ceiling lights. Somewhere downstairs, a professor’s voice echoes faintly from an open classroom while the sound of distant laughter drifts through the open pathways connecting the buildings.
Sunoo exhales the moment the faculty office doors slide shut behind him. His neck hurts, his shoulders ache and he is one inconvenience away from becoming violent.
Two hours.
He spent two whole hours defending his report to three professors who kept questioning his projections like they personally invested in the company inside his case study. At least his proposal got approved, that part matters. Enough to stop him from filing emotional complaints against the faculty department.
He rubs his eyes tiredly while walking down the wide concrete staircase outside the building. The evening air feels cooler now against his skin after being trapped inside air-conditioned meeting rooms for hours. Students pass him occasionally, some carrying laptops while others walk in groups discussing assignments loudly.
Sunoo barely pays attention. He reaches for his phone instead and the screen lights up immediately with messages.
Jake:
[photo]
Home already. Don’t start fights.
The attached photo shows Jake lying face down across his bed with one shoe still on.
Sunoo snorts quietly under his breath.
Leehan:
[photo]
Engineering survived me today.
Leehan’s picture contains several rolled papers scattered across a desk beside instant noodles and an unfinished energy drink.
Then Minju.
Minju:
[photo]
Safe inside my room. No engineering students nearby.
Sunoo shakes his head while typing quickly.
Sunoo:
If any of you are secretly waiting outside my building I’m blocking all three of you.
Jake reacts instantly.
Jake:
You’re so mean to people who buy you food.
Leehan:
Ungrateful behavior honestly.
Minju:
You’d miss us after three hours.
Sunoo rolls his eyes before locking his phone again. Then his stomach growls loudly enough for him to glare downward like betrayal personally offended him.
“Unbelievable,” he mutters while pressing a hand dramatically against his stomach. He considers going home immediately. Unfortunately, he knows himself well enough to understand that if he skips dinner tonight, he’ll wake up tomorrow feeling like death.
So food first. He tried the university canteen but it was a big mistake. The moment he enters and sees the food trays beneath fluorescent lighting, disappointment floods his entire face.
The rice looks dry. The soup has suspicious oil floating on top. The chicken looks exhausted. Sunoo stares at the counter for several seconds before slowly turning around again.
“No,” he says firmly to himself. “I deserve better than this.”
A nearby student laughs quietly after overhearing him. Sunoo ignores it completely and walks right back out. The small café outside campus suddenly feels worth the extra walk. Even if his legs already feel weak from exhaustion.
The streets outside the university remain busy despite the hour. Cars crawl slowly through traffic while groups of students crowd convenience stores and food stalls near the sidewalks. The café near the corner glows warmly beneath yellow hanging lights, large windows revealing crowded tables inside.
The moment Sunoo steps through the entrance, warmth immediately wraps around him along with overlapping conversations and the smell of coffee and fried food.
Every table is occupied. “Of course,” he mutters tiredly.
Several students type aggressively on laptops while others review printed notes beside untouched drinks. The entire café feels alive in that specific university-student way where everybody looks exhausted but refuses to go home yet.
Sunoo scans the room carefully while adjusting the strap of his bag higher against his shoulder. Then finally, near the far corner beside the windows, he spots a four-seater table occupied by only one person.
Thank God.
He immediately walks toward it while fixing the sleeves of his hoodie absentmindedly. His attention stays focused on the empty seats until he reaches the table and properly sees the person sitting there.
Sunoo stops walking. “What are you doing here?”
Across from him, Jungwon slowly lifts his head from the papers spread neatly across the table.
Several books sit stacked beside his laptop. Highlighted notes fill an open notebook resting near his elbow while a half-finished iced americano sits beside his hand. His glasses lie folded neatly on top of one textbook.
Of course he’s studying and Sunoo already feels irritated.
Jungwon blinks once before recognition settles softly across his expression. “Hello to you too,” he says calmly while placing his pen down beside his notebook.
Sunoo stares at him for another second. “No seriously,” he says while shifting his bag higher onto his shoulder, “why are you here?”
Jungwon glances around the café casually before answering. “Studying.”
“You do that willingly?”
“I have exams next week.”
“That still sounds concerning.”
A small smile appears briefly on Jungwon’s face.
The café lights reflect softly against the window beside him while people continue talking around them. Outside, headlights move slowly through evening traffic, casting shifting streaks of light against the glass.
Sunoo notices all of it unwillingly. Then notices Jungwon noticing him noticing.
Annoying.
“You just came from your presentation?” Jungwon asks while leaning back slightly in his seat.
Sunoo narrows his eyes immediately. “Do I look terrible?”
“You look tired,” Jungwon answers honestly.
“That means terrible.”
“No,” Jungwon says while resting one arm casually against the table. “You still look nice. Just stressed.”
The answer comes too naturally. Sunoo immediately looks suspicious. “Why do you sound practiced?” he asks while narrowing his eyes further.
Jungwon’s mouth twitches slightly like he’s holding back a laugh. “Practiced?”
“You talk like someone who calms people down professionally.”
“Political science students do a lot of damage control.”
“That sounds manipulative actually.”
Jungwon finally laughs quietly beneath his breath and somehow that irritates Sunoo more because the sound is soft enough to feel genuine. Sunoo gestures dramatically toward the empty chair. “Can I sit here or are you going to make this difficult?”
Jungwon glances toward the seat before looking back at him. “We’re close enough to share tables now?” he asks calmly while folding one of his papers neatly.
Sunoo scoffs loudly before dropping into the chair across from him anyway. “I would’ve asked anybody. You just happened to be here.”
“Hm.”
“There,” Sunoo says immediately while pointing accusingly at him. “You did it again.”
Jungwon tilts his head slightly. “Did what?”
“That annoying little hum thing.”
“It bothers you?”
“Yes.”
“And yet you still sat down.”
Sunoo opens his mouth immediately before stopping halfway because unfortunately Jungwon is right. Which makes him more annoying.
“I’m hungry and exhausted,” Sunoo says while throwing his bag onto the empty chair beside him. “If I had to look for another table I genuinely might’ve collapsed.”
“That sounds dramatic.”
“It’s realistic.”
Jungwon studies him quietly for a moment before closing one of the books spread across the table. Sunoo notices immediately.
“You’re stopping?” he asks while resting his elbow against the table.
“I can continue later,” Jungwon answers calmly while stacking several papers together. “You look like you need distraction more than I need constitutional law right now.”
Sunoo blinks once. Something about that sentence feels unfairly smooth, it’s not flirtatious. It was just natural enough to slip past defenses easily.
“You sound like you read psychology books for fun,” Sunoo mutters suspiciously.
“I took one elective.”
“That explains enough honestly.”
A server finally approaches the table and Sunoo orders aggressively.
Pasta. Rice meal. Fries. Cake. Coffee.
Jungwon watches the entire process quietly before asking, “Stress eating?” while lightly tapping his fingers once against his cup.
Sunoo leans back against the chair dramatically. “Rewarding myself for surviving.”
“You almost failed?”
“I almost fought my professor.”
Jungwon lifts one brow slightly. “Verbally?”
Sunoo points toward him immediately. “See, this is why I find political science students shady. Why did you specify verbally first?”
“Experience.”
“That’s not comforting.”
Jungwon laughs again. This time the sound comes fuller. His shoulders move slightly with it while he lowers his gaze briefly toward the table and unfortunately, Sunoo notices that too. Which becomes a problem because Jungwon still should not be his type.
Sunoo likes men who are sharper around the edges. Men who flirt obviously. Men who enjoy attention openly and know how attractive they are. Jungwon feels different from that. He’s too composed, too proper, too academically clean. Even his handwriting looks disciplined and yet Sunoo still remembers the balcony.
The way Jungwon held his waist firmly. The way he kissed without hesitation despite looking so calm earlier that night and that memory irritates him deeply because Jungwon should not have kissed that well.
“You’re staring again,” Jungwon says suddenly while lifting his drink casually.
Sunoo straightens immediately. “I was judging you.”
“Should I worry?” Jungwon asks while hiding his smile behind the rim of his cup.
“You should always worry around me.”
“That sounds threatening.”
“It is threatening.”
Their food arrives soon after, filling the table with the smell of butter, spice, and freshly fried food. Sunoo immediately starts eating while Jungwon quietly moves his books aside to make more space for the plates.
“You’re weirdly considerate,” Sunoo says after swallowing a bite of pasta while watching Jungwon reorganize the table neatly.
Jungwon glances at him briefly. “You’re surprisingly observant.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“It sounded like one.”
Sunoo clicks his tongue before grabbing his drink. “You twist words too much.”
“You exaggerate too much.”
“I make conversations entertaining.”
“You make conversations exhausting.”
Sunoo gasps dramatically while pressing one hand against his chest. “That was rude.”
“You threatened to report us for trespassing earlier.”
“And I meant it.”
Jungwon smiles faintly again before leaning back slightly against his chair. “You complain about everything.”
“Because most things deserve criticism.”
“Do I deserve criticism too?”
“Yes,” Sunoo answers immediately while pointing his fork toward him.
“That was fast.”
“You study political science willingly.”
“You study business willingly.”
“That’s completely different.”
“How?” Jungwon asks while resting his chin lightly against one hand now, genuinely looking entertained.
“Business students become rich.”
“Politicians become powerful.”
Sunoo narrows his eyes immediately. “That answer alone proves I’m correct for distrusting you.”
Jungwon laughs softly again and somehow the conversation keeps moving naturally after that.
One topic shifts into another without awkward pauses settling between them. Sunoo complains about professors who love humiliating students publicly. Jungwon talks about debate competitions turning emotionally violent during election season. Sunoo insults law students generally. Jungwon retaliates by calling business students emotionally unstable people with expensive coffee addictions.
At some point, Sunoo realizes he has already finished almost half his food without noticing. Which means he relaxed, that realization alone feels dangerous enough because conversations with Jungwon should not feel this easy and Sunoo has always known that easy things become complicated the fastest.
-
Sunoo finally slows down from eating when the café shifts into its late-evening rhythm.
The rush from earlier has not disappeared, but it has changed shape. Students now linger longer at tables, some with laptops still open, others slouched over half-finished meals. The lighting inside feels warmer than before, casting a soft amber tone across wood tables and glass windows. Outside, streetlights begin to flicker on, catching in passing reflections of cars and pedestrians heading home.
Sunoo leans back in his chair with a quiet breath, shoulders dropping slightly as the fatigue he ignored earlier finally settles in.
His plate is nearly empty. A few fries remain pushed to one side, slightly cold. The rice dish he ordered earlier is gone except for a faint oil stain on the plate. His drink sits beside him with melted ice floating near the top, condensation forming a small ring on the table.
Across from him, Jungwon is still seated properly, posture steady, attention split between his notes and Sunoo.
A notebook lies open in front of him, filled with clean handwriting and structured bullet points. A pen rests between his fingers while another page sits partially annotated beside it. Everything about his setup looks deliberate, like each item belongs exactly where it is.
Sunoo stares at it for a moment too long.
“How is your handwriting that controlled?” Sunoo asks, pointing his fork toward the notebook. His tone is half complaint, half disbelief. “It looks like it’s trying to impress someone.”
Jungwon glances at the page, then at him. His expression stays relaxed. “It is just notes.”
“That is not just notes. That is academic intimidation.”
Jungwon shifts his pen slightly between his fingers. “You sound threatened.”
“I am threatened.”
A faint curve appears at the corner of Jungwon’s mouth before he looks back down at his notes. The movement is subtle, controlled, but it stays longer than Sunoo expects.
Sunoo notices it and he immediately dislikes it. Then continue eating a fry just to avoid thinking about it.
A few seconds pass with the background noise of the café filling the space between them. Someone laughs near the counter. Chairs scrape lightly against the floor. A barista calls out an order number. Nothing unusual.
Sunoo should be paying attention to literally anything else. Instead, his mind drifts again. The memory does not arrive gently. It drops in suddenly, like his brain is actively sabotaging him.
The balcony, the cold air brushing against his skin.
Jungwon’s hand steady at his waist, firm enough to keep him close but not uncomfortable. The moment Sunoo had leaned in first without hesitation, followed by Jungwon’s response that felt far too controlled for someone supposedly “boring.”
Sunoo blinks once. Then immediately reaches for his drink.
What a dangerous memory and extremely unnecessary.
“You just stopped moving,” Jungwon says, voice steady.
Sunoo coughs lightly once to recover. “No I did not.”
“You were chewing and then paused mid-chew for about five seconds.”
“I was thinking.”
“About what.”
“Existential topics.”
Jungwon tilts his head slightly, watching him with a calm curiosity that feels too precise. “You think about existential topics while eating fries.”
“Yes. I am multidimensional.”
Jungwon hums softly, like he is accepting the answer but not fully convinced. He closes his notebook halfway, then sets the pen down beside it.
Sunoo notices that too. Why is he paying attention to that?
“You look tired,” Jungwon says after a moment.
Sunoo leans his elbow against the table. “I survived academic humiliation today. I deserve exhaustion.”
“You mentioned that earlier.”
“It is still true.”
Jungwon lets out a quiet laugh through his nose. It is brief, unforced, and slightly warmer than his usual tone. “Did your project go well at least?”
Sunoo nods once. “Approved after revisions.”
“That is still good progress.”
“You sound like a supportive parent.”
“You sound like someone who needs one.”
Sunoo narrows his eyes. “That was unnecessary.”
“It was accurate.”
The exchange continues easily, like neither of them is trying too hard to steer it anywhere. That is what bothers Sunoo slightly. Most conversations either revolve around him or demand something from him. This one just moves naturally, like it is not asking for permission.
Jungwon takes a sip of his drink, eyes briefly scanning Sunoo’s face afterward as if checking something unspoken.
Sunoo catches it and immediately chooses to ignore it. After a pause, Jungwon asks, “Do you usually forget things after drinking?”
Sunoo sighs internally. There it is. He knew it would come back.
Still, he keeps his posture relaxed, fingers lightly tapping the edge of his cup. “Depends on the situation.”
“What kind of situation?”
“The level of emotional inconvenience.”
Jungwon blinks once. “That is not a measurement.”
“It is my measurement.”
“And the party was?”
“Emotionally inconvenient.”
“You seemed fine there.”
“I was performing.”
Jungwon studies him for a moment, expression neutral but attentive. “So you do not remember anything after that.”
Sunoo finally looks at him directly. He already decided earlier how to handle this.
Stay calm. Keep it simple. Do not give anything away.
So he answers evenly, “Should I remember something?”
For a brief second, Jungwon does not respond.
The café noise continues around them, filling the silence without disturbing it. A chair squeaks somewhere behind them. Someone laughs too loudly near the entrance. A student walks past their table speaking on speakerphone.
None of it reaches the space between Sunoo and Jungwon. Then Jungwon leans back slightly, shoulders relaxing.
“No,” he says calmly. “Nothing important.”
Sunoo watches him carefully. That was a lie, he is sure of it. Still, Jungwon’s tone is too smooth to challenge directly, so Sunoo decides to lean into it instead.
“You sound disappointed,” Sunoo says, chin resting lightly on his hand.
Jungwon lifts his brows slightly. “Why would I be?”
“You are asking too many questions.”
“You are answering them too defensively.”
“I am always defensive.”
“That explains a lot.”
Sunoo clicks his tongue. “You are getting comfortable.”
Jungwon looks at him for a second longer. “You are still here.”
That lands differently than Sunoo expects. He opens his mouth to respond, then pauses because Jungwon is right again. His food is gone, his drink is nearly finished yet he is still sitting here, still talking and still engaging.
Sunoo clicks his tongue again, this time louder. “You are annoying.”
Jungwon nods once. “You have said that multiple times.”
“It deserves repetition.”
Jungwon leans slightly forward again, resting his forearm on the table. “You have also been talking to me for the last twenty minutes.”
“I was bored.”
“And now.”
Sunoo pauses then answers too quickly, “Still bored.”
Jungwon smiles faintly again. It was not mocking, not dismissive but just observant. Sunoo hates that expression the most because it feels like Jungwon is not reacting to him. He is reading him and worse, doing it without effort.
Sunoo shifts in his seat slightly, gaze moving briefly toward the side of the table where Jungwon’s notes are still neatly arranged.
Without thinking, Jungwon pushes the remaining fries slightly closer to him again, a quiet gesture that almost goes unnoticed unless someone is paying attention.
Sunoo notices it, he just does not comment on it. Instead, he grabs one fry and eats it slowly, like it was his decision the entire time.
Jungwon watches, then speaks again. “You are still staring.”
Sunoo immediately looks away. “You wish.”
“I do not think that is something I wish for.”
“That is exactly what someone who wishes for it would say.”
Jungwon lets out another soft laugh, slightly longer this time. It sounds less restrained than earlier, like he is starting to allow himself to be more relaxed around Sunoo.
That realization sits in Sunoo’s mind longer than he wants it to. He covers it quickly with an attitude. “Stop laughing. It is distracting.”
“You started this conversation.”
“I regret it.”
“You are still here.”
Sunoo exhales slowly, leaning back fully now. “You are insufferable.”
Jungwon nods once. “So are you.”
Sunoo pauses then, against his better judgment, he smiles slightly while looking away.
“Yeah,” he mutters under his breath, like he is not admitting anything important. “I know.”
-
By the time they finally leave the café, the sky outside has fully darkened.
The air feels cooler now compared to earlier, while cars pass steadily along the road, headlights reflecting against damp pavement. Students still crowd nearby convenience stores and food stalls, groups laughing loudly as they walk past campus gates.
Sunoo steps out of the café first, stretching both arms above his head with a groan.
“My body is shutting down,” he complains dramatically. “If I collapse here, tell people I died because of capitalism.”
Jungwon follows behind him, one hand carrying his folders while the other adjusts the strap of his bag slightly higher on his shoulder. “You say that like you were forced into business school.”
“I was seduced by money.”
“That sounds believable actually.”
Sunoo narrows his eyes immediately before starting down the sidewalk beside him. “You’re getting too brave tonight.”
“You keep threatening me but nothing happens after.”
“That’s because I believe in mercy.”
“You threatened legal action against cafeteria food this afternoon.”
“It deserved it.”
Jungwon laughs softly again. The sound is quieter outside, blending naturally beneath the noise of traffic and distant conversations. Sunoo notices it anyway.
Annoying. Everything about tonight has been annoying. Mostly because Jungwon somehow keeps fitting into his space too easily.
They stop near the curb outside campus where students wait for rides and taxis beneath a covered loading area. Several motorcycles pass by while security guards continue checking IDs near the university gate.
Sunoo pulls his phone from his pocket, already opening a ride-hailing app. Then beside him, Jungwon glances toward the street before speaking casually.
“My driver’s almost here.”
Sunoo barely looks up. “Congratulations.”
“I can just drop you off.”
That makes Sunoo pause briefly. He lifts his eyes slowly toward Jungwon, suspicion immediately visible across his face. “You political science students are ridiculous.”
Jungwon looks amused already. “That’s a very broad statement.”
“You all act like secret government officials.” Sunoo gestures vaguely toward him. “Drivers. Cardigans. Calm personalities. Generational wealth.”
“You forgot emotionally unavailable.”
“That one was implied.”
Jungwon smiles faintly before looking toward the road again. “So is that a yes?”
Sunoo should say no. Objectively speaking, he knows he should.
But his body feels exhausted down to the bones now. His shoulders ache from carrying project materials all day, and the thought of sitting inside a cab alone for another thirty minutes suddenly feels unbearable.
Also he might genuinely fall asleep standing up. So after a few seconds, Sunoo sighs dramatically. “Fine. But if your driver kidnaps me, I’m haunting you first.”
“That seems unfair.”
“You offered the ride.”
Jungwon hums softly like he accepts responsibility already. A black sedan slowly pulls up near the curb moments later.
Sunoo immediately clicks his tongue. “See? Rich people behavior.”
“It’s just a car.”
“It’s a suspiciously expensive car.”
Jungwon opens the back door for him calmly. “You were accepting rides from strangers earlier.”
“You’re not a stranger anymore unfortunately.”
Something flickers briefly across Jungwon’s expression at that. It was tiny, almost impossible to catch but Sunoo sees it anyway before climbing into the car first.
The inside smells faintly clean, subtle leather mixed with soft fabric freshener. Warm lighting glows dimly overhead while quiet instrumental music plays from the front speakers.
Sunoo immediately sinks deeper into the seat with a relieved sound. “Oh this is dangerous.”
“What is.”
“I could sleep here forever.”
Jungwon settles beside him after giving the driver instructions quietly. “You’re dramatic even when tired.”
“I’m especially dramatic when tired.”
The car pulls smoothly away from the curb. For a while, neither of them speaks immediately.
The city outside moves in blurred lights through the windows while soft traffic noise hums beneath the music. Sunoo rests his head briefly against the seat, eyes half-lidded from exhaustion.
Then he glances sideways toward Jungwon again. “You always go to school with a driver?”
Jungwon shakes his head once. “Usually I drive myself.”
“Then why today?”
“I left my car at home earlier.”
“Rich people problems.”
“You own a car too, right?”
Sunoo groans immediately. “Don’t remind me.”
Jungwon turns slightly toward him now, more curious. “You don’t drive?”
“I hate driving.”
“You have a license.”
“Unfortunately.”
Jungwon looks entertained again. “Then why own a car?”
“Decoration.”
“That’s wasteful.”
“That’s luxury.”
Jungwon lets out another quiet laugh while Sunoo continues shamelessly.
“I’m a passenger princess,” Sunoo says proudly while crossing his arms. “Jake drives me. Leehan drives me. Minju drives me. Sometimes random friends drive me.”
“You just invite yourself into people’s cars?”
“I provide emotional support.”
“You sound expensive.”
“I am expensive.” The answer comes naturally, confidently, without hesitation and Jungwon notices immediately that Sunoo is not joking.
There is something strangely honest beneath Sunoo’s spoiled attitude. He asks for things because somewhere deep down, he genuinely expects people to give them. The strange part is that most people probably do. Jungwon understands why now.
Sunoo fills spaces completely. Even exhausted, even messy from an entire day at university, he somehow still pulls attention naturally without asking for it directly.
Beside him, Sunoo suddenly squints suspiciously. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Jungwon looks away smoothly. “You looked serious for once.”
“I’m always serious.”
“No you’re not.”
“Yes I am.”
“You threatened to sue pasta.”
“They were undercooked.”
Jungwon shakes his head lightly, smiling beneath his breath again. The movement makes Sunoo stare for a second too long because honestly, Jungwon looks unfair tonight.
The dim lighting inside the car softens his features slightly, dark hair falling naturally against his forehead while his sleeves remain pushed carelessly near his elbows. His voice stays calm even while teasing, steady enough that Sunoo keeps forgetting he originally found him boring.
Which is irritating, very irritating and Sunoo looks away first.
Outside the window, traffic slows near an intersection. Red lights wash briefly across the inside of the car before disappearing again.
Then Jungwon speaks again, tone casual. “You really don’t remember much from the party?”
Sunoo almost rolls his eyes.
Persistent.
“I remember enough.”
“Like what?”
“You people annoyed me.”
“That’s all?”
Sunoo shrugs lazily while keeping his gaze outside. “There was dancing. Chaewon screaming. Ni-ki almost falling over something.”
“He did fall.”
“See? I remember accurately.”
Jungwon watches him quietly for another second. “Nothing else?”
Sunoo finally turns toward him again. He already practiced this with Minju earlier. Stay relaxed. Stay believable. So he frowns slightly like he is genuinely thinking hard. “Did something embarrassing happen?”
Jungwon holds his gaze calmly. Then, very slowly, he says, “Depends who you ask.”
Sunoo feels his stomach flip once.
Dangerous answer.
Still, he only scoffs lightly before leaning back against the seat again. “If I embarrassed myself, that sounds like everyone else’s problem.”
Jungwon laughs softly under his breath and somehow the sound feels quieter now. The rest of the ride passes easier after that.
Conversation drifts naturally between random topics. Professors they hate. University politics. Chaewon’s inability to stay quiet for more than ten seconds. Jake’s weird emotional attachment to Sunoo. The fact that Leehan apparently once slept through an earthquake.
The car slows as it approaches Sunoo’s condominium building.
The streets outside are quieter now. Earlier evening energy has thinned into late-night stillness, replaced by occasional passing vehicles and the soft glow of residential lights stacked across nearby buildings. The security post at the entrance casts a steady white light onto the pavement where a guard checks incoming cars. The lobby beyond the glass doors is visible in warm gold tones, clean and minimal, with a few residents moving in and out at a relaxed pace.
Inside the car, Sunoo shifts slightly in his seat, stretching his shoulders as if trying to push away the remaining stiffness in his body. His tie from earlier in the day is already loosened, collar slightly open, hair no longer as neatly styled as it was this morning.
Jungwon sits beside him, posture still composed even after the long day. His sleeves are rolled up to his forearms now, revealing a casualness that was not present earlier at the café. A folder rests on his lap, but he is no longer reading it. Instead, his attention is mostly on Sunoo, though subtle enough that it does not feel intrusive.
The driver slows near the curb. Sunoo reaches for the door handle first, already preparing to leave.
Then Jungwon speaks, tone light but deliberate. “Your place is here?”
Sunoo glances back at him like the question is unnecessary. “No, I just enjoy dramatic car exits.”
Jungwon nods once. “Noted.”
Sunoo clicks his tongue. “You’re getting too comfortable talking to me.”
“You keep responding anyway.”
“That is because I’m polite.”
“That is not what I would call it.”
Sunoo opens the door halfway, then pauses briefly as the cool night air seeps into the car. He exhales slowly, finally feeling how tired his body actually is now that he is no longer distracted.
Before he steps out, Jungwon adds casually, “Do you always fall asleep easily when you are tired?”
Sunoo stops and slowly turns his head back inside the car. His expression sharpens slightly. “Why are you asking that?”
“Curious.”
“That is a suspicious kind of curiosity.”
Jungwon leans back slightly into his seat, watching him calmly. “You answer a lot of things without thinking when you are tired.”
Sunoo immediately narrows his eyes. “I always think.”
“That is debatable.”
“It is not debatable.”
A short pause follows. The driver glances at them briefly through the rearview mirror but says nothing.
Sunoo notices Jungwon still looking at him, steady and unbothered. There is no pressure in the gaze, just observation. Like Jungwon is studying something he already suspects.
Sunoo tightens his grip on the door handle slightly. Then forces his tone to stay casual. “What exactly are you trying to figure out?”
Jungwon tilts his head a little. “Nothing specific.”
“That is worse.”
A faint smile appears at the corner of Jungwon’s mouth. “You are very suspicious for someone who just accepted a ride from me.”
“You offered.”
“And you accepted.”
“I was tired.”
“You are still talking.”
Sunoo pauses again, caught for a moment, then quickly recovers with a scoff. “That is because you are annoying.”
Jungwon hums softly like he accepts the answer, but his gaze does not move away. There is a brief silence between them, filled only by the quiet hum of the car engine and distant street noise outside.
Then Jungwon speaks again, tone almost absentminded. “You really do not remember anything from the party.”
Sunoo’s shoulders tense slightly, almost invisible unless someone is watching closely, which Jungwon is. Sunoo exhales through his nose. “I told you already. I remember enough.”
“That is not an answer.”
“It is my answer.”
Jungwon studies him for another second longer. Then he leans back slightly, hands resting loosely on his lap again. “Alright.”
That single word feels too easy. Sunoo does not like how easily he lets it go. So he pushes the door open fully this time and steps out of the car, adjusting his bag strap over his shoulder.
Cold night air hits him immediately, making him exhale quietly. He turns back toward the window.
Jungwon is still seated inside, looking up at him through the slightly tinted glass. The angle softens his expression, but not enough to hide the attention behind his eyes.
Sunoo lifts a hand lazily. “Thanks for the ride.”
The words come out automatic, casual, almost careless.
Jungwon raises his brows slightly. “That sounded like an afterthought.”
“It was.”
A faint laugh escapes Jungwon again, low and unbothered. “Of course.”
Sunoo starts walking backward toward the entrance doors, still facing him for a moment longer than necessary. “Don’t read too much into it.”
“I am not reading anything.”
“That is exactly what someone reading too much would say.”
Jungwon shakes his head slightly, amused. “Good night, Sunoo.”
Sunoo pauses at the edge of the curb, hand already near the building access door.
Then he answers without hesitation, “Yeah. Night.”
He turns away immediately and walks into the building lobby like the conversation is already finished.
Inside, warm lighting washes over him again. The marble floors reflect soft overhead light while the quiet hum of the elevator area fills the space. Sunoo walks toward the elevators without slowing down, rolling his shoulders once as if trying to reset his thoughts.
Behind him, outside, Jungwon remains in the car for a few more seconds. The driver says something softly about departure timing, but Jungwon does not respond immediately.
His eyes stay on the entrance Sunoo just walked through, not lingering dramatically. Then he finally leans back into his seat and gives a short instruction to the driver. The car moves away from the curb.
Inside the elevator, Sunoo presses the button for his floor and exhales again, this time longer. He tilts his head slightly against the mirrored wall. For a moment, his reflection stares back at him. Tired eyes. Slightly messy hair. A face that looks too calm for someone whose thoughts are not cooperating.
He clicks his tongue quietly.
“Annoying,” he mutters to himself, though it is unclear who exactly he means.
The elevator doors close slowly in front of him.
-
Jungwon arrives home a little after nine in the evening, tired enough to want silence but awake enough that his thoughts keep circling back to one very specific person.
The main residence sits brightly against the darkening street, warm lights glowing through tall glass windows while security opens the gates immediately for the car. Jungwon leans back briefly against the seat as they enter the driveway, loosening his cardigan sleeve with one hand.
His driver glances at him through the mirror carefully. “You studied late today, sir.”
Jungwon hums once. “Something like that.”
The driver clearly does not believe him. Mostly because Jungwon almost never studies outside campus cafés voluntarily.
The moment he steps inside the residence, familiar voices echo faintly from the receiving area. Low conversation and calm laughter. The smell of tea and expensive coffee lingering lightly through the air.
Jungwon already knows who’s there before he fully enters.
Sure enough, both grandfathers sit comfortably near the sitting room while Jay occupies the armchair beside them, sleeves rolled to his elbows while checking something on his phone. The older men pause mid-conversation the moment Jungwon walks in.
“There he is,” Jungwon’s grandfather says first. “You came home late.”
Jay looks up immediately and their eyes meet for barely a second. Jungwon already knows.
Ah, so this is going to happen tonight.
“You look tired,” Jay’s grandfather comments while adjusting his glasses. “Did you study the whole afternoon?”
Jungwon slips one hand into his pocket loosely before answering, “Mostly.”
“Mostly,” Jay repeats under his breath with amusement.
Jungwon ignores him completely.
His grandfather gestures toward the dining area. “Sit first. Eat something before disappearing upstairs.”
“I already ate.”
“With who?” Jay asks too quickly.
Jungwon turns toward him slowly. “You were literally there earlier.”
Jay only smiles and it was very unhelpful.
The older men continue discussing business matters after that, talking about upcoming meetings and investments while Jungwon listens halfway. He answers when spoken to, calm and polite as always, though Jay notices immediately that his attention drifts every few minutes.
Not distracted exactly, maybe occupied and honestly? Jay already has a very strong guess why.
After another ten minutes, Jungwon finally stands. “I’m changing first.”
His grandfather waves him off immediately. “Go rest.”
Jungwon heads upstairs without another word, climbing the familiar staircase while loosening the watch around his wrist. The second floor feels quieter, colder somehow after the noise downstairs.
The moment he enters his room, he exhales softly. Then immediately remembers Sunoo again..
Jungwon tosses his watch onto the dresser before pulling open his closet. His reflection catches briefly against the mirror while he changes into a loose dark shirt and lounge pants and annoyingly enough, his mind keeps replaying moments from earlier.
Sunoo glaring at him across the café table while eating fries. Sunoo accusing him of “academic psychological warfare” because his notes looked too organized. Sunoo pretending, as Jungwon assumed, not to remember the party while reacting every single time Jungwon pushed the conversation near it.
Jungwon runs one hand through his hair before quietly laughing to himself once because honestly?
Kim Sunoo is exhausting.
After washing up, Jungwon heads toward the smaller private lounge connected near the east wing of the residence. The room stays dim compared to the rest of the house, shelves lined with old books and vinyl records while muted news channels flicker quietly from the television.
Jay is already there, he expected it anyway because he knows Jay already has a hint of whatever is this. He lies lazily across the couch with one arm behind his head, phone balanced against his chest.
The moment Jungwon walks in, Jay lowers the phone slowly. “There you are.”
Jungwon drops onto the opposite couch without ceremony. “You look too comfortable in my house.”
“I practically grew up here.”
“That explains the lack of manners.”
Jay grins immediately. “See? This is why your grandfather likes me more.”
Jungwon reaches for the bottled water on the table first before replying calmly, “My grandfather likes stray cats too.”
Jay snorts, then finally says, “So.”
Jungwon already sighs before Jay can continue. “Don’t start.”
“That means I’m right.”
“You haven’t even asked anything yet.”
Jay sits up properly now, expression amused. “You stayed behind.”
Jungwon twists the bottle cap open slowly. “Clearly.”
“At Sunoo’s university.”
“Yes, Jay.”
“Alone.”
Jungwon finally looks at him. “You’re becoming irritating.”
Jay only smiles wider which unfortunately confirms that he absolutely plans to continue. “What happened?” Jay asks casually. “You studied together?”
“We ate.”
Jay blinks once. “That sounds weirdly domestic.”
“It was dinner.”
“With Kim Sunoo.”
“That’s still dinner.”
Jay watches him carefully now because the thing about Jungwon is this. He rarely sounds affected by people. Interested sometimes, maybe. Curious occasionally but affected? Almost never. Yet right now there is something quieter in Jungwon’s voice. Something more thoughtful than usual and Jay notices it immediately.
“So?” Jay asks after a moment. “Do you like him?”
Jungwon leans back against the couch first before answering. “I think he’s interesting.”
Jay groans dramatically. “That’s worse.”
“How.”
“Because you only say people are interesting when you plan on studying them psychologically.”
“I’m not psychoanalyzing Sunoo.”
“You absolutely are.”
Jungwon drinks water calmly while Jay watches him like he’s entertainment. Unfortunately for Jungwon, he kind of is.
“What even happened?” Jay asks. “You both argued the whole time?”
“He insulted me for twenty minutes straight.”
Jay bursts out laughing immediately. “That’s normal.”
“He called me emotionally suspicious.”
“That one’s fair.”
“He said people in political science look rich and arrogant by default.”
“You do.”
Jungwon stares at him flatly.
Jay raises both hands immediately. “I’m just saying.”
Jungwon shakes his head once, though there’s a faint smile threatening briefly at the corner of his mouth and Jay notices that too.
“And?” Jay pushes carefully now. “Did you figure out what you wanted to confirm?”
Jungwon goes quiet for a few seconds because honestly?
No. He didn’t.
If anything, Sunoo became harder to read after tonight.
The pretending-not-to-remember act should have been obvious. Jungwon already caught several reactions that gave him away. The brief pauses, the way Sunoo’s expression shifted whenever conversations drifted too close toward the party.
He remembers one moment clearly. Inside the car earlier. Jungwon casually mentioning rooftops and Sunoo immediately looking out the window afterward, like someone hiding a reaction.
Jungwon taps his thumb lightly against the bottle before finally answering, “I still don’t know.”
Jay studies him carefully now. “That means he avoided the question.”
“He avoided everything.”
“On purpose?”
“Yes.”
Jay laughs quietly beneath his breath before leaning back again. “Sounds like Sunoo.”
Jungwon exhales softly. “He’s difficult.”
“He enjoys making people work for his attention.”
“He enjoys irritating people.”
“He enjoys reactions,” Jay corrects.
Jungwon glances toward him briefly. “What’s the difference?”
“There’s a huge difference.”
Jungwon shakes his head once. “I genuinely can’t tell if he dislikes me or if he’s entertaining himself.”
At that, Jay actually laughs harder because there it is. The uncertainty, small, controlled, hidden beneath Jungwon’s calm expression but definitely there and honestly? Jay cannot remember the last time someone made Jungwon genuinely unsure of himself socially.
“You should probably increase your patience,” Jay says finally while stretching his arms above his head.
Jungwon narrows his eyes slightly. “Excuse me?”
Jay grins lazily. “I’m serious. If you plan on surviving Kim Sunoo long term, you’ll need at least triple your current patience level.”
The room quiets briefly after that. Jungwon does not answer immediately, which already says enough. Jay notices it instantly because if Jungwon truly had zero interest, he would have denied it already.
Instead, he just sits there thinking dangerously.
Jay watches him for another moment before laughing softly again. “You’re doomed.”
Jungwon finally looks at him properly. Calm, composed and completely unreadable again. Then he says, “You’re being dramatic.”
Jay points at him immediately. “That expression right there? That’s exactly the face you make before obsessing over something for months.”
“I do not obsess over people.”
Jay stares at him flatly. Then slowly says, “You alphabetized your bookshelf at thirteen because the colors stressed you.”
“That was different.”
“No,” Jay replies calmly. “That was exactly the same.”
Jungwon opens his mouth to argue, then stops. Mostly because arguing would only encourage Jay. Across the room, Jay looks entirely too satisfied with himself. The silence that follows feels comfortable though.
Outside the tall windows, the city has settled into its late-night rhythm. Distant headlights move through the streets below while scattered lights from neighboring buildings glow against the darkness. Somewhere downstairs, the faint sound of laughter drifts from the main sitting room where their grandfathers are probably still discussing business.
Neither of them speaks for a moment. Jay scrolls through his phone and Jungwon finishes the rest of his water yet despite the quiet, his thoughts drift back toward the same person again.
Sunoo glaring at him across the table. Sunoo accused him of psychological warfare. Sunoo pretending not to remember and Sunoo remembering anyway.
Jungwon lowers the bottle onto the coffee table. Maybe Jay is right, that thought alone is irritating because Jungwon dislikes uncertainty.
In academics, uncertainty can be solved through research.
In debates, uncertainty can be solved through preparation.
In business, uncertainty can be solved through information.
People, however, are different. People are unpredictable and complicated. Kim Sunoo seems determined to be more complicated than most.
"What are you thinking about now?" Jay asks without looking up from his phone.
Jungwon immediately answers. "Nothing."
Jay laughs. The kind of laugh that says he doesn't believe him at all. Then he finally stands, stretching lazily before heading toward the door. "I'm going to sleep."
"Good."
"Try not to spend the next three hours overanalyzing everything."
"I won't."
"Another lie."
Jungwon reaches for the nearest pillow. Jay leaves before it can hit him. The door closes behind him. Jungwon remains where he is for another minute. Eventually he stands and walks toward the window overlooking the city.
The glass feels cool beneath his fingertips. Far below, the lights continue moving endlessly through the streets. For a brief moment, he remembers something Sunoo said earlier.
The exact words aren't important, the smile that came with them is. Jungwon exhales quietly and then shakes his head once. The problem is that for someone supposedly so exhausting, Jungwon doesn't seem capable of stopping himself from thinking about him and somehow, he suspects that's only going to become more problematic from here.
The city continues glowing beyond the glass. Somewhere across it, completely unaware, Kim Sunoo is probably ending his night too. For the first time in a long while, Jungwon finds himself wondering when he'll see someone again.
The thought lingers longer than it should, then, despite himself, Jungwon smiles.
Small, private and dangerous. And upstairs, in the quiet of the Yang residence, the future heir of Daehan Legal Group finally realizes something important.
Kim Sunoo is no longer just a curiosity.
He's becoming a distraction and Jungwon has never been particularly good at walking away from things that manage to capture his attention.