It started on Monday. He was late to their tutoring session. Not drastically, but Taehyung wasn't usually late anymore - not since they'd started... whatever it was they'd started. Their rhythm. Their uneasy, teasing, careful balance. He slid into the library seat with a quick, "Sorry," barely meeting her eyes. His hoodie sleeves were pushed up to his elbows, and she noticed the faint tremble in his fingers as he reached for his pen. Jisoo narrowed her eyes. "Did you eat today?" "Hmm?" He didn't look up, already flipping through the textbook. "Taehyung." "I'm fine." That was the answer she kept getting.

Jisoo started packing up. "Leaving already?" Jihyun teased. "I have homework." "You have a shrine." Jisoo swatted her friend with her sketchbook and slid off the bench. "Come on." But just as she turned to go, something happened. The basketball bounced once, rolled, and landed near the base of the bleachers-close to her sketchbook bag. Taehyung jogged over to retrieve it. She froze. He looked up. Their eyes met. For the first time in years, they were just a few feet apart. His gaze dropped-only for a second-to the sketchbook she hadn't zipped all the way. The top page fluttered open. A pencil sketch. His face. Mid-smile. Too accurate. Time slowed. Then he blinked, smiled politely, and picked up the ball. "Hey. Sorry." He didn't say her name. Didn't act like he remembered. He turned back toward the court. The moment passed. Jisoo's heart sank. She zipped up her bag so fast the pencil snapped inside.