" LOVED YOU " [ JD ]

CHAPTER 4 [ FLASHBACK:1 ]

CHAPTER 4 : FLASHBACK
PART - 1

Flashback: Joong was 20, and Dunk was 18

Joong's POV

Medical school is exhausting. If I had known it would be this stressful, I might have reconsidered my choices. I sighed, rubbing my temples, drowning in my thoughts about exams and assignments. As I was lost in my self-pity, a soft voice broke through my mental chaos.

"Are you alright, dude?"

I looked up and saw a boy standing in front of me. He had the most angelic face I had ever seen—his deep brown eyes filled with curiosity, his cheeks slightly flushed, and his lips curved into a teasing smile.

"Me?" I asked, pointing at myself like an idiot.

He chuckled. "I don't see anyone else standing here."

I let out a small laugh, slightly embarrassed. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just drowning in stress. Exams and coursework have been driving me insane."

"Ohh, susu na!" he said encouragingly, his warm smile making my stress momentarily disappear.

"Thanks. By the way, I’m Joong. What’s your name?"

"Hehe, not gonna tell you that easily."

I furrowed my brows. "Oii, why not?"

"I don’t know anything about you, so why should I tell you my name?"

"But you know my name! That’s not fair," I pouted.

He rolled his eyes playfully. "Ahh, fine. My name is Dunk."

"Ohh, Dunk. That’s a cute name."

"Hehe, thank you. Well, see you later, Joong."

"Mmm, yeah. See you."

As he walked away, I found myself staring at his retreating figure. His soft brown hair swayed slightly in the breeze. He was so cute—his cheeks, his eyes, his long eyelashes, his lips…

Shiaa, Joong! Calm down! You just met him!

⋅˚₊‧ 𐙚 ‧₊˚ ⋅

Days had passed, and I often found myself glancing around campus, secretly hoping to run into Dunk again. It was ridiculous, really. I barely knew the guy, but there was something about him that lingered in my mind longer than it should have.

Then, one sunny afternoon, as I was walking towards the university entrance, deep in thought about an upcoming anatomy quiz, I saw him.

Dunk.

He was standing just ahead, chatting animatedly with another boy. They were laughing, clearly comfortable with each other. My heart clenched a little—tight and unwelcome.