Soo-hyun and Jin-ho have been best friends for as long as they can remember, but lately, Soo-hyun's feelings have started to change. Caught between friendship and something deeper, he struggles to hide the truth from Jin-ho, even as every glance and...
Soo-hyun Soo-hyun sat at the edge of the school courtyard, the warmth of the autumn sun slipping between the leaves above. His gaze wandered absentmindedly, eyes tracing the dancing shadows of the trees, but his thoughts were far away-focused on the figure across the yard.
Jin-ho. The boy who had been his best friend for as long as he could remember. The boy who made Soo-hyun's heart race with just a glance. The boy who never knew how much Soo-hyun wished to be more than friends.
"Soo-hyun, are you zoning out again?" Jin-ho's voice broke through his thoughts, light and teasing. He sat down beside him, throwing an arm around Soo-hyun's shoulders in the way he always did, too casual, too familiar.
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Soo-hyun stiffened slightly, his heart skipping a beat at the touch. He was used to this-Jin-ho's easy-going nature, his affection-but today, the weight of his own unspoken feelings made the gesture feel too intimate, too overwhelming.
"Yeah, just thinking," Soo-hyun muttered, forcing a smile, hoping it didn't betray the storm of emotions swirling inside him.
Jin-ho raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "Thinking about me?" His voice dropped an octave, teasing but with a hint of sincerity.
Soo-hyun's breath hitched for a moment. "No," he said, trying to sound casual. "I was just... thinking about how stupid I am for still being friends with someone like you."
Jin-ho laughed, the sound bright and carefree. "I guess I'm just that irresistible, huh?" He nudged Soo-hyun playfully.
But Soo-hyun didn't laugh. He couldn't. His heart was hammering, his thoughts a jumbled mess. What was he doing? Why couldn't he just tell Jin-ho the truth?
The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, and the students around them started to shuffle back to class. Jin-ho stood up, stretching lazily. "We have chemistry next. I swear, it feels like the entire universe knows how much I hate that class."
Soo-hyun stood up too, trying to push his feelings away, trying to act normal. He followed Jin-ho toward the school building, his heart still racing, his mind spinning with questions he wasn't sure he was ready to answer.
Author's Note:
Hey, everyone! I hope you're enjoying the start of this story! I know it's just the first chapter, but things are about to get really emotional. 😊 Soo-hyun's journey with Jin-ho is just beginning, and I can't wait to see where it goes! If you're into slow-burn romances with a lot of emotional tension, this one's for you! Please leave a comment or vote if you liked it-I'd love to hear your thoughts! 💖
