because i fell in love with the boy next door. | psh

love

★ | #5 | LOVE.

our families had gotten closer after the dinner. it felt like every weekend now, they'd find some excuse to spend time together—this time, it was a casual picnic at the park. the sky was clear, a soft blue that made everything feel lighter, but nothing about today felt easy.

especially not with sunghoon so close.

it was strange how i'd catch him looking at me sometimes. or maybe it wasn't that strange at all. it was like he knew something that i didn't, like he could see through me, past everything i tried to keep hidden. every time our families laughed together or chatted casually, i felt his presence like a quiet hum in the background.

at one point, we found ourselves standing next to each other, watching our parents setting up the picnic blanket. his arm brushed against mine, just lightly, and even though i tried to ignore it, i couldn't shake the way it made my heart pick up speed. it was stupid, really—just a touch, but it felt like more.

you're quiet today, he said, his voice low, almost teasing. he wasn't even looking at me when he said it, but i could hear the smile in his words.

am i? i asked, trying to sound casual, though i knew it wasn't working.

he finally turned his head, locking eyes with me, and there it was again—his gaze, steady, knowing. yeah, you are. his lips curved into that familiar smirk, the one that always made it hard to think straight. but i like it. makes me wonder what's going on that mind of yours.

i looked away, feeling the warmth spread to my cheeks again. nothing, really.

he let out a quiet chuckle, not pushing any further, but i knew he didn't believe me. still, the conversation drifted into silence, and i focused on anything but him. but even when i wasn't looking at him, i could feel him next to me. it was like his presence alone was enough to unsettle everything inside me.

later, as the day wore on, we ended up alone for a brief moment—our families wandering a little further ahead while we lingered behind, walking at our own pace. it was quieter then, the sounds of the park fading into the background, leaving just us.

so, he started, his voice softer now. what do you like to do, you know, when you're not being quiet around me?

the question caught me off guard. i hadn't expected him to ask something like that. i don't know, i answered slowly, realizing i wasn't sure what to say. i guess... i like reading. listening to music.

he nodded, as if he was trying to memorize every word. what kind of music?

anything, i said, a little flustered. depends on my mood.

i get that. he looked thoughtful for a moment, then his eyes flicked back to me, sharper than before. you ever think about... getting out of here? going somewhere new?

i blinked at the question. sometimes, i admitted. why?

just curious. he smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. you don't seem like the kind of person who's meant to stay in one place.

i didn't know what to say to that, so i said nothing. the air between us felt heavier somehow, like the weight of unspoken words hung in the balance. he wasn't wrong—there was a part of me that wanted to escape, to get away from all of this. but hearing him say it out loud made it feel real, like he saw through the walls i'd built.

before i could gather my thoughts, our families called out to us from a distance, breaking the moment. we walked back to them in silence, the sound of his footsteps next to mine grounding me, even though my heart was still racing.

as the laughter of our families filled the air, sunghoon's laugh rang out, clear and infectious, like music that wrapped around me, pulling me into a moment of pure joy. it was impossible not to smile when he laughed, and it felt like the world faded away, leaving just the sound of him and the warmth of the sun.

when he glanced over at me, that playful spark in his eyes made my heart race. by the way, i said, my voice a bit shy, i didn't get your name.

it's park sunghoon, he replied, and the way he said it—like it was something special—made my heart flutter.

it was also the first time i heard his name.

there was something electric in the way we connected, an understanding that didn't need words. his laughter lingered in my mind, turning into a melody that played on repeat. it dawned on me then, in that bright moment filled with smiles and warmth, that perhaps this wasn't just a fleeting crush anymore. something deeper was stirring within me.

as the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything, i realized i was beginning to feel something that felt a lot like love.