When Park Sohee is forced to leave behind her childhood home, the familiar comforts of family, and all the memories she's spent years building, she's faced with the overwhelming challenge of starting fresh. With her younger brother Jisung by her sid...
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As the days passed, Sohee found herself growing closer to Sunwoo. They had settled into an easy, comfortable friendship, spending time together between classes and chatting casually whenever they could. What began as polite conversation quickly turned into shared laughs, inside jokes, and an understanding that made the whole "new kid" experience feel a lot less lonely for Sohee.
But there was one thing Sohee had started to notice—and it wasn't as easy to ignore. Sunwoo, despite his easygoing nature and laid-back attitude, was undeniably popular with the girls. It was obvious the moment he stepped into a room—the way people's eyes lit up when he smiled, the way his presence seemed to effortlessly draw attention. He had that natural charm, the kind that made heads turn.
At first, Sohee didn't think much of it. It wasn't like she had any expectations or hidden intentions, right? They were just friends. But the more she observed, the more she realized how visible he was to everyone around him. It wasn't just the girls who were drawn to him. He had a way of making people feel seen, valued. And it made Sohee realize something that she hadn't fully acknowledged until now—her own ego took a hit.
It wasn't like she had expected anything more, but after all these years of high school where no boy had ever really paid her much attention, Sunwoo's easy friendship felt different. Not in a romantic way, but in a way that made her feel... seen—which, in her mind, was a rare occurrence. She'd spent most of her time in the shadows, blending into the background, never really catching anyone's eye, especially not a boy's.
Sunwoo was the only person who ever seemed to show genuine interest in her beyond surface-level small talk. It wasn't anything special or extraordinary, but it was more than she'd gotten in a long time. And now, seeing how others looked at him—how they gravitated toward him—Sohee couldn't help but feel that familiar ache of insecurity creeping in. She wasn't naive enough to believe Sunwoo would notice her in that way—not with the attention he was getting from others. It made her question things she hadn't thought about before. Was it wrong to feel just a little hurt when she saw him with the girls? Was she just another girl in the crowd?
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. It wasn't like her to be this insecure. Sunwoo had never given her any reason to feel jealous or left out. But somehow, this little seed of doubt had been planted, and it was hard to shake off.
It was a Friday night, and Sohee was tucked under her blankets, feeling miserable. The cold she had caught a few days ago had only gotten worse, and now, with a sore throat, stuffy nose, and body aches, she was completely bedridden. Her immune system had always been weak, and it seemed like every little bug that passed by would hit her hard.
From outside her room, she heard the familiar sound of her little brother's voice.
"Noona! I'm going to go play soccer with my friends!" Jisung called out, his voice full of excitement.
Sohee barely managed to lift her head off the pillow, her throat sore from the effort. "Okay, have fun, please be safe," she croaked, trying to sound more energetic than she felt, but her voice barely made it past a whisper.
