ALL HE CAN GIVE.

I MISSED YOU.

Seo Do-Yoon's POV:

Monday has been and will always be a shitty day. As I dragged my tired body through the school gates, I grimaced at the teacher on duty, her voice piercing through the air. She was complaining about the dress code, how arriving five minutes before the bell wasn't early, and how disciplined students were back in her day. Yes, she's an alumna. God, I hate school.

Her voice soon fades, blending with the chatter of kids filing into school—some complaining about how short the weekend was, others panicking about forgetting an assignment due today, and some bragging about the epic time they had. I would brag too, but all I did was stay cooped up in my room, waiting for Ju-Ha's text. It never came. I shake off the dull ache that settles in my chest. I force a smile as I approach the classroom, the kind that feels like pulling a mask over my face—convincing, but hollow.

"Hey, Se Heon, how was your weekend? Did you have fun with Tae Yi?" I asked my desk mate, my voice pitched higher than I intended.

I smiled wider, causing a familiar sting that I ignored as I sat down.

Se Heon had moved here only a couple of months ago, and everything that happened back then developed an inseparable bond between us.

"You sound excited. I think you had more fun than I did. Tell me, I'm all ears," he inquires with a hint of amusement, leaning closer, waiting for me to spill all the details of my amusing, imaginary weekend he thinks I had.

"Nah..." I answer, gently pushing him away and picking out the book for the next period from under my desk.

"I just stayed in all weekend," I added, turning to hook my bag on my chair, hoping he didn't catch the slight waver in my response.

I hate hiding things from him, but there are things I just have to bear alone. No one can help me, and I shouldn't expect anyone to.

"Are you sure? You're glowing," he says, inching closer, disregarding all personal space.

Ironic, I'm glowing? From all the worry? Do I hide it that well, or does he just choose to ignore it? probably the former. Se Heon is a darling, and he'd be all over me if he had even an inkling something was bothering me.

I abruptly turned back to him, getting close to his face—so close he could feel my breath on him. He jumped back, his eyes wide, and his hand rushed to cover his mouth, his face funnily disfigured.

"Yes, I'm sure," I laugh, pointing at his mortified face. I loved teasing him, and the easiest way was to flirt with him.

My sides hurt, and it's hard to catch my breath. I reached out to hold my sides, trying to ease the pain. I noticed a few heads had turned our way, curious. I laughed even louder, their fleeting glances an incentive. My attention returned to Se Heon, who was smiling, his body relaxing as he moved closer, no longer wary of me. He knows I'm teasing him.

"It's not funny, Do-Yoon," he whines, playfully shoving me.

I laugh louder, and my sides hurt more. Would they hurt less if my laugh was genuine? A split-second thought threatened my mask—I felt it crack. A mask that had taken years to craft. I smiled wider as I settled down; I was done performing.

"Sorry, I won't do that again," I said, grinning as I raised my hands in a sign of defeat.

"Also, your man is scary. I wouldn't want him coming for me," I add, whispering.

Immediately, I jump up, dodging his kick. His lips twitch slightly, and a faint curve starts to form.

He's thinking about Tae Yi, my best friend. We go way back to middle school. I consider him one of the only people on this planet I could trust. We've both been through some shit, and I know he would understand me to some degree, but I'd rather be caught dead than admit this to him.