Only if you say yes!! (En-drama)

Cracks in the facade (Sunoo)

Sunoo still remembered the first time he met Eunjin—how he thought, even for a fleeting moment, that they could be friends.

It was a regular school break, and Sunoo was in the cafeteria, trying to decide between a strawberry milk carton and a packet of chips. As he pondered his options, his eyes wandered around the bustling room. He noticed a girl sitting by herself at one of the back tables, her face illuminated by the screen of her phone. She seemed completely absorbed in whatever she was watching, her eyes wide, fingers gripping the edge of the table as if she were on the edge of her seat.

Curious, Sunoo's gaze lingered. He saw the unmistakable flicker of a horror movie—something dark and thrilling, with eerie sound effects that sent shivers down his spine even from afar. A grin spread across his face; he was a horror fan himself. He always found it a bit difficult to meet others who shared his love for horror. Most people he knew found the genre too unsettling.

With his mind made up, Sunoo bought his snacks and walked over to her table. "Hey, mind if I sit here?" he asked with a friendly smile, pointing to the seat next to her.

Eunjin looked up, seemingly startled out of her trance. She studied him for a moment but then shrugged. "Sure, go ahead," she said, her tone indifferent but not unkind.

Sunoo sat down and peered over at her screen. "Oh, that's one of my favorites! Have you gotten to the part where—"

"Shh!" she interrupted, not taking her eyes off the screen. "No spoilers."

He chuckled, his smile widening. "Alright, alright." And so, they watched together, both leaning in as the tension of the movie grew. They didn't talk much, but there was a shared excitement between them that made Sunoo feel like he'd found a kindred spirit.

After that day, they started hanging out more often. They'd meet up during breaks, swapping recommendations for horror films, and talking about their favorite scenes. They talked about everything and anything—small talk that grew into deeper conversations, and laughs that turned into secrets shared over quiet moments. Sunoo was surprised by how much they had in common—everything from their taste in music to their shared love of spicy food. Slowly, he began to let his guard down, enjoying the time they spent together.

One time, they spent hours discussing a horror movie that had just been released. They even planned to meet up later that week to watch it together. Eunjin was engaging, witty, and knew how to keep a conversation alive. She laughed at his jokes and was quick to pick up on his interests. Sunoo thought he was just lucky to find someone who clicked with him so well. But as time passed, he began to notice little things that didn't sit right with him.

It wasn't long before Sunoo began to notice that all the members seemed to know Eunjin too. Jay had mentioned her once, and Sunghoon had given a nonchalant nod when her name came up. Even Jungwon seemed to be familiar with her. At first, Sunoo was happy; he thought it was another thing they had in common—a friend who fit seamlessly into their circle. He thought it was great, almost too good to be true, that they all had the same friend.

But then, things started to feel off. Eunjin didn't seem to realize that Sunoo was close to the others. She thought he was just another friendly face in school, unaware of how deep his friendships with them ran. So, when she got too comfortable, the cracks in her facade began to show.

It happened one rainy afternoon in the cafeteria. The cafeteria was crowded and filled with the loud chatter of students seeking shelter from the downpour outside. Sunoo and Eunjin had taken their usual spot by the windows, watching raindrops race each other down the glass. They had just finished watching another horror trailer, and Eunjin leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms casually. She looked around the room, her eyes following a group of students passing by.