Chapter 23
Jin-woo ran toward them, breathless, waving a small notebook in the air.
"I found this in class! Ji-eun, it's yours, right?"
Ji-eun blinked in surprise.
"Oh—my notebook! I was looking for it!"
She stepped forward to take it—
just one step.
But that one step made Min-jun's heart tighten painfully.
Because she stepped away from him.
Toward Jin-woo.
Jin-woo handed it to her with a smile.
"You dropped it earlier. I thought you might need it for homework."
Ji-eun smiled gratefully.
"Thank you so much, Jin-woo."
And that smile—
that soft, kind, natural smile—
Min-jun's chest burned.
For a moment, he didn't understand the feeling.
Jealousy.
Fear.
The fear of losing her.
All mixed together.
Ji-eun didn't notice.
But Jin-woo did.
He glanced at Min-jun, eyes widening slightly.
"Oh… are you two walking home together?"
Ji-eun opened her mouth, unsure what to say.
But Min-jun stepped forward first.
"Yes," he said sharply.
Jin-woo blinked.
"Oh. Uh… okay. Sorry if I interrupted—"
"You didn't," Ji-eun said quickly.
"It's okay."
Min-jun's jaw tightened.
Jin-woo hesitated, then turned to leave.
But before he walked away, he said gently,
"Ji-eun, if you ever need help with anything… you can always ask me."
He meant it kindly.
But it was the wrong thing to say.
The very wrong thing.
Because the moment Jin-woo disappeared around the corner—
Ji-eun turned back to Min-jun…
…and Min-jun wasn't standing where she left him.
He had walked a few steps away, fists clenched, shoulders trembling with emotions he couldn't hide anymore.
"Min-jun?" she whispered.
He didn't answer.
"Are you okay?"
Still no answer.
Ji-eun stepped closer.
"Why are you upset?"
That was it.
That tiny question.
Min-jun turned around sharply, eyes darker than she had ever seen.
"Why am I upset?" he repeated softly.
"Really, Ji-eun? You don't know?"
She froze.
He walked toward her—slow but intense—until he was standing right in front of her.
Too close.
"Every time he shows up," Min-jun said quietly, "you smile at him. You talk to him. You take things from him."
"Min-jun…" Ji-eun whispered, "that's not—"
"And every time," he continued, voice rougher, "I feel like I'm going crazy."
Her heart stopped.
Min-jun looked away, jaw clenched hard enough to shake.
"I hate it," he whispered.
"I hate how I feel when he's around you."
Ji-eun stared at him—shocked, breathless.
Not because he was angry.
But because his voice wasn't cold.
It was breaking.
Min-jun dragged a hand through his hair, frustrated.
"I told myself I could control it," he muttered.
"That I could stay calm. Stay distant."
He stepped closer again—
close enough that Ji-eun felt his breath against her forehead.
"But every day… you make it harder."
Ji-eun's cheeks flamed.
Her voice was barely audible.
"Min-jun… why?"
He looked into her eyes—
and this time, he didn't look away.
Not even for a second.
"Because I'm scared," he whispered.
Her breath caught.
"Scared of what?" she asked softly.
He closed his eyes for a second, exhaling shakily.
Then opened them.
And the truth finally slipped out.
"Scared that someone else will take you away from me."
Ji-eun's heart stopped.
Completely.
Min-jun realized what he said.
His expression panicked—just for a moment.
"I didn't—
I mean—
Forget it. I shouldn't have said that—"
Ji-eun grabbed his sleeve.
He froze.
"Min-jun," she whispered, voice trembling, "don't run away this time."
He stared at her.
Her gentle eyes.
Her soft voice.
Her warm hand on his sleeve.
Something inside him cracked.
Something deep.
He took a breath—
a long, shaky breath.
"Ji-eun…"
His voice broke.
"I don't want to lose you."
The world went completely still.
Ji-eun swallowed, her heartbeat so loud she could barely speak.
"You won't," she whispered.
And for the first time, Min-jun believed it.