Chapter 22
The whole afternoon, Ji-eun couldn't stop thinking about it.
The way Min-jun held her.
The way he didn't let go.
The way his voice shook when he said he couldn't handle her getting hurt.
Her hand still tingled where his fingers had been.
And Min-jun…
He kept glancing at her all through class, trying to act normal but failing miserably.
At the end of the day, when the final bell rang, everyone rushed out—
—but Min-jun stayed seated.
And Ji-eun stayed too.
Silence.
Until Min-jun quietly said:
"Ji-eun… walk with me today. Please."
The "please" surprised her.
She nodded.
---
The Walk Home — A Secret Finally Opens
Today, he didn't walk fast.
He didn't keep distance.
Instead, he walked beside her… close.
Closer than usual.
Ji-eun noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way he kept inhaling like he was trying to say something but couldn't.
Finally, she spoke first.
"You've been… different today."
He stopped walking.
A soft wind passed between them.
Min-jun looked down at the pavement, fists tightening.
"Ji-eun," he murmured, "can I tell you something? Something I've never said before."
Her heart thumped.
"Yes," she whispered. "Tell me."
He took a shaky breath.
Then the truth finally spilled out.
---
Min-jun's Past
"When I was younger… people only talked to me because they wanted something."
Ji-eun blinked.
"…Wanted something?"
He nodded, staring at the ground.
"Because of my family. Because of my grades. Because of my reputation."
His voice lowered.
"No one cared about me. They only cared about what I could do for them."
Ji-eun's chest tightened painfully.
He continued.
"If I didn't help, they got angry.
If I messed up, they called me useless.
And if I trusted someone…"
He swallowed.
"They left."
A long silence.
Ji-eun didn't breathe.
Min-jun's voice dropped to a whisper.
"So I stopped trusting.
Stopped letting anyone close.
Stopped feeling anything."
He finally looked up—
right into her eyes.
"But then you came."
Ji-eun froze.
Her heart beat so hard she felt dizzy.
"You didn't want anything from me," he said quietly.
"You didn't pretend.
You didn't use me.
You didn't talk to me because you were scared of me."
He stepped closer—just a little.
"You talked to me because you saw me."
Ji-eun's eyes shimmered.
Min-jun exhaled shakily.
"And I didn't know how to deal with it.
How to deal with… you."
The last word came out soft, fragile, full of hidden feelings.
Ji-eun took a small step closer too.
"Min-jun," she whispered, "thank you for telling me. That takes courage."
He looked down again, embarrassed.
"I don't tell people things. Ever."
"I know," she said gently.
"…But I told you."
She smiled softly.
"And I'm happy you did."
He looked at her again—
and this time, he didn't hide anything.
Not the fear.
Not the pain.
Not the feelings.
"Ji-eun," he said quietly, "I—"
But before he could finish…
A sudden shout rang out from behind them:
"Ji-eun!"
They both turned.
Jin-woo was running toward them, waving something in his hand.
In an instant, Min-jun's expression darkened.
And Ji-eun's heart dropped—
because she knew this moment, this tension…
…was about to change everything.