Epex Oneshots (short stories) /imagines

Baeksung- brother's best friend

Baeksung couldn't remember when visiting Keum's house had started to feel different. It used to be simple: he'd head over, they'd play video games, eat too many snacks, and talk about everything from their classes to the next big sports game. But lately, he found himself glancing at the clock before he left, trying to figure out if Y/N would be home by the time he got there.

Y/N was Keum's younger sister, just a year below them in school. She was quiet but sharp, the type of person who usually stayed in the background but who always seemed to have a witty comeback if you listened closely. He'd always known her in the way one knows a friend's sibling — she was there, but she was Keum's little sister, and that was supposed to be the end of it.

But one afternoon changed everything.

It had been a regular Saturday, and Baeksung was over at Keum's house to study for their physics midterm. Keum, though, had slipped off to the store to grab snacks, leaving Baeksung alone with his notes and the faint hum of the air conditioning. Just as he was losing focus, Y/N walked into the kitchen, spotting him at the table.

"Oh, didn't know you were here alone," she said, looking mildly surprised. She went to the fridge, pulling out a bottle of iced tea.

Baeksung shrugged. "Keum ran out to get snacks. He'll be back soon."

She nodded, pouring the tea into a glass. Then, after a brief pause, she tilted her head, watching him with a hint of curiosity. "Need any help with that?" she asked, nodding to the physics notes spread across the table.

Baeksung blinked, caught off guard. He'd never really had a conversation with Y/N alone before. "Uh, yeah. I mean, sure. If you want to."

She pulled out a chair and settled next to him, skimming the page he was working on. They quickly fell into a rhythm, with her explaining concepts he'd missed and offering tips on remembering formulas. Her explanations were clear and patient, and he found himself listening to her voice more than he was focusing on the words she was saying.

At one point, she glanced up at him, catching him staring. "What? Do I have something on my face?"

Baeksung's face flushed as he quickly looked back down at his notes. "Uh, no. Just, um... surprised you're so good at this, I guess."

She laughed, and the sound was soft and easy, like she wasn't used to laughing around him but didn't mind trying. "Well, Keum might be the loud one, but some of us actually pay attention in class."

Baeksung chuckled, his initial awkwardness melting away as they continued working together. By the time Keum returned, arms laden with bags of snacks, Baeksung had almost forgotten where he was. But as Keum dropped the bags on the table, his presence snapped Baeksung back to reality, and he quickly scooted his chair back a little, hoping Keum wouldn't notice the way he'd been leaning toward Y/N.

"Yo, thanks for keeping him company," Keum said, giving his sister a teasing smile. "Who knows how long he'd survive staring at that book alone."

Y/N rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth in her gaze that Baeksung hadn't seen before. "Don't give him too hard of a time. He's actually a pretty decent study partner," she said, glancing over at Baeksung with a small smile before heading back to her room.

From that moment on, Baeksung found himself thinking about Y/N more often than he cared to admit. He'd look for excuses to study at Keum's house or to show up early before they went out, hoping for even a brief moment of conversation with her. She always greeted him with that calm, knowing smile, sometimes joining in with her brother's teasing, sometimes throwing him a small, private look that made his heart skip.

Eventually, Keum started noticing his friend's odd behavior.

"You've been acting weird," he said one day after school as they walked toward his house.