𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐃𝐄; boysnextdoor

almost ; sungho

There was always something about Sungho that made Y/N's heart feel a little lighter. Maybe it was the way his laugh echoed through the room, unrestrained and infectious, or how he always seemed to know exactly what to say when she was on the verge of breaking.

They met in their second year of high school, when the world felt impossibly large and terrifying. Y/N had just transferred schools, feeling like an outsider in a sea of unfamiliar faces. She'd spent her first week quietly navigating the hallways, eating lunch alone in the corner of the cafeteria, and wondering if anyone would notice her absence if she simply disappeared.

Then, one rainy afternoon, she found herself trapped under the awning of the school entrance, staring at the torrential downpour. She hadn't thought to bring an umbrella, and the idea of running through the rain to catch her bus made her stomach sink.

"Need a rescue?"

The voice startled her, and she turned to see a boy standing there, holding an umbrella and wearing a crooked smile. He was tall and lanky, with messy hair that looked like it had been styled by a strong gust of wind.

"I'm Sungho," he said, offering her the umbrella.

She hesitated. "Are you sure? What about you?"

"I don't mind getting wet," he replied with a shrug. "Besides, it looks like you need this more than I do."

That was how it started.

From that day on, Sungho became a constant in Y/N's life. He was her first friend at the new school, the person who made her laugh when she wanted to cry and who dragged her into the chaos of his world with a grin and a wink.

Sungho had a way of making everything feel like an adventure. He'd convince her to skip studying for an afternoon to explore the city, claiming it was "educational research." He'd share stories about his family, his dreams, and his fears, never holding anything back.

For Y/N, who had always been guarded, Sungho was a revelation. He taught her how to let people in, how to trust, and how to laugh so hard her cheeks ached.

But somewhere along the way, things started to change.

It was subtle at first, the way her heart fluttered whenever he smiled at her, or how she found herself searching for him in a crowded room. She told herself it was just friendship, that she was overthinking things.

But then there were moments—small, fleeting moments—that made her wonder if he felt it too.

Like the time they went to the rooftop to watch the sunset. They'd been talking about nothing in particular when he suddenly turned to her, his expression soft and serious.

"You're my favorite person, you know that?" he said, his voice quiet but steady.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she thought he might say something more, something that would change everything.

But he didn't. Instead, he laughed and added, "Don't let it go to your head, though."

She laughed too, masking the disappointment that settled in her chest.

Y/N didn't know when she started falling for Sungho, but once she realized it, it was impossible to ignore. Every glance, every touch, every shared laugh felt heavier, charged with an unspoken tension that neither of them dared to acknowledge.

It wasn't that she hadn't thought about telling him. She'd rehearsed the words in her head a thousand times, imagined all the ways he might respond. But every time she opened her mouth, fear held her back.

What if it ruined everything? What if he didn't feel the same?

And so, she kept her feelings locked away, hidden behind a carefully constructed mask of friendship.