But i wasn't a liar ✔️[ENG ver]

Part 29

Part 29

Hyunjin's fingers dug into the strap of his bag, knuckles whitening from the pressure. He exhaled sharply, tilting his head down as if the weight of his thoughts might crush him. Then, in one swift motion, he pushed himself up and chased after Leeknow's retreating figure.

"Please stop," Hyunjin called out, voice cracking. "I just want to talk."

Leeknow's shoulders tensed at the sound. He quickened his pace.

"One minute!" Hyunjin pleaded, breaking into a jog until he cut in front of Leeknow, forcing him to halt. "That's all I'm asking."

Leeknow's gaze was glacial. "What could you possibly want to say?"

"About that day—"

"You mean that day when you made sure you ruined everything instead of celebrating my mother's birthday?" Leeknow's hollow laugh cut through the air "Do you know what really hurt? It wasn't my mother's ruined celebration. No - the worst pain came from hearing those words... from you."

Hyunjin's throat worked soundlessly. "I'm sorry," he whispered, bowing his head. But Leeknow was already turning away.

"Don't." The word landed like a guillotine. "We're done. Isn't this what you wanted? Two strangers at school ?" A single tear tracked down Hyunjin's cheek as Leeknow walked away. "Consider it settled."

Hyunjin stood rooted, watching until Leeknow disappeared around the corner. The bell rang, laughter echoed from classrooms, but all he heard was static. He blinked rapidly, teeth sinking into his lower lip as he fled to the garden.

Alone beneath the sprawling oak, he dragged his sleeve across his face and tilted his head back. The sky was mercilessly blue.

"You should figure this out," came a voice like splintered glass. "I'm tired of tiptoeing around your mess."

Hyunjin's eyes flew open. Yeji leaned against the fence, arms crossed.

"Happy now?" she asked.

His spine straightened. "What?"

"Still playing clueless?" She stepped closer, lips curling. "No shame for what you did to Leeknow and his family?"

Hyunjin moved to leave, but Yeji seized his wrist.

"Don't touch me!" He wrenched free, voice ricocheting off the brick walls. "This isn't your business!"

Yeji's smile turned razor-thin. "Everything about him is my business. I'll always be there for him—unlike you."

Hyunjin's breath hitched. "You're loving this, aren't you? Now that he's finally rid of me—"

"Yeji." Leeknow materialized beside them, fingers lacing through hers. "Let's go ."

"But—"

His thumb brushed her knuckles "Not everyone deserves to be talked to."

The dismissal struck like a slap. Hyunjin could only watch as they walked away, Leeknow's shoulder brushing Yeji's—a silent testament to where loyalty now lay.

3 days passed without a glance, let alone words. The fragile light Leeknow had brought into Hyunjin's life guttered out, leaving only the echo of what might have been.

Hyunjin's diary

Five days since he last looked at me. Five days of silence, of his anger hanging between us like a blade.

I used to love mornings—used to rush to school with my heart light, because he would be there. Leeknow. The first person to ever glance my way and ask, "Hey, how are you?" like he actually cared. Like I mattered.