The final bell rang, releasing a flood of students into the hallways. Hyunwoo shuffled behind the crowd, backpack heavy, notebook still clutched in his hand.
Minjae was already sprinting ahead, waving at some random passerby.Minjae:"Wait up, future king! The streets need your… presence!"
Hyunwoo (thinking):Future king… yes… I will rule over all of them with my dignified presence.
Taemin strolled casually beside him, hands in pockets, sunglasses perched like he was on a runway.Taemin:"You know, you kind of look dead right now. Did you lose money?"
Hyunwoo:"…I am just… broke. My money never existed in the first place."
Jisoo snorted."Yeah, there we go, brokie. Accept your loss to this young master."
Sora, as usual, walked silently, sketchbook in hand. Occasionally he'd stop to doodle a passerby or a stray cat.
Hyunwoo's gaze wandered automatically—of course, he noticed Mina again. She was ahead, waiting at the crosswalk, headphones in, completely unaware of the chaos around her.
Hyunwoo (thinking):There she is. Graceful… careful with her steps… the perfect balance of calm and chaos… I actually need to stop this.
Minjae leaned in, whispering loudly.Minjae:"She's there! THE MINA! What are you doing? You're just staring, aren't you? This is why we think you're weird."
Hyunwoo (thinking):I am not just staring. I am… analyzing… subtly. Like a professional observer. Wait—that sounds so weird. Never mind. Yeah… okay, I really am a weirdo.
Taemin:"Professional stalker? You literally froze like a deer in headlights the last time she blinked at you."
Hyunwoo (thinking):That blink… it was significant. I'm not crazy, I swear. No—on second thought… maybe I am.
The group reached the crosswalk. Mina pressed the button, waiting. Hyunwoo instinctively slowed, keeping a safe distance so it looked casual.
Minjae, unable to restrain himself, muttered:"Bro… you're literally following her. Stop. You look like a cat ready to pounce."
Hyunwoo (thinking):…Maybe a careful, dignified cat.
As the light changed, Mina started crossing. Hyunwoo's legs moved automatically. He matched her pace—too fast, too slow, then stopped abruptly.
Jisoo groaned."Why do I even bother? He's going to trip on the curb and ruin everything."
Sora scribbled furiously."Excellent. Note to self: Hyunwoo cannot do anything right. Never trust him with something important."
Hyunwoo finally caught himself and took a deep breath. He opened his notebook, pretending to jot something down.
Hyunwoo (thinking):Observation #2: Mina crossing street. Timing… impeccable. Gait… rhythmic. Expression… calm yet subtly distracted. My masterful observation deduced all of this from a single glance.
Minjae peeked over his shoulder.Minjae:"You wrote all that while walking? You're insane. And masterful? Like that's something to be proud of."
Hyunwoo:"Dedication. Discipline. And the most important—ME."
Just as he was about to close the notebook and possibly say something, Mina's attention shifted. She waved at someone behind him, completely oblivious to the chaos he was causing.
Hyunwoo (thinking):She waved… at someone else.…Not me.…My poor delusions died right there and then.
Minjae groaned dramatically."Poor guy. He lost his mind a long time ago."
Hyunwoo straightened his back, squared his shoulders.Hyunwoo (thinking):…Yes. Maybe I have. But I'm a heroic observer. And heroes persevere. Maybe… though a wise hero knows when to stop.
The group continued down the street: Minjae babbling nonsense, Taemin posing like a runway model, Jisoo rolling her eyes, Sora silently recording the scene. And Hyunwoo… Hyunwoo was already planning his next "strategic engagement" with Mina. Like a mentally ill patient, that he was.