The night was alive with laughter, clinking glasses, and a hum of excitement as Lee Jun-ho stood in the centre of a lively staff party, effortlessly entertaining guests. His laugh was smooth, his smile as charming as ever, as he greeted each person with an air of sophistication. His family's influence ensured he was always poised, always in control, even when inside, all he wanted was a moment to breathe. Parties like this had become second nature to him—playing the perfect host, always meeting expectations, never faltering.
Jun-ho held his glass, mid-conversation with a group of senior lawyers, when someone abruptly bumped into him. The spill of his drink splashed across the floor, a stain blooming on his polished shoes.
"Hey, watch where you're going," he snapped, irritation flickering across his face before he even turned to look.
When he did, his eyes narrowed, locking onto the unmistakable face of his childhood rival, Park Min-jun. Of course it was him.
Min-jun stood there, a bit wobbly and flushed, clearly tipsy. His slightly dishevelled hair and the faint sway in his step told the story of someone who had indulged a little too much in the evening's festivities. His eyes, though glazed with alcohol, still held that infuriating spark of nonchalance Jun-ho had always hated.
Jun-ho let out a derisive scoff, shaking his head as he turned back to his guests. Not tonight, he thought, plastering his perfect fake smile back on his face, ignoring Min-jun's presence as if he was nothing more than an annoying fly buzzing around. Still, the memory of their endless rivalry stirred something bitter inside him.
Since birth, Jun-ho and Min-jun had been tangled in a rivalry that neither of them had ever chosen. Born on the exact same day, they had been compared from their earliest moments, their families measuring them against each other at every possible milestone.
It started with innocent comments in daycare, whispers among the parents about which child spoke first, or who learned to walk sooner.
"Jun-ho's walking already? Well, Min-jun started saying full sentences last week!"
From there, the competition grew fierce as they entered elementary school, where the real comparisons began. Grades, certificates, awards—it was an endless cycle of trying to outshine one another. If Jun-ho got top marks in math, Min-jun would win the science fair. If Min-jun aced the piano recital, Jun-ho would crush him in a debate competition. It was exhausting, but for Jun-ho, it had always been clear: his family demanded victory.
In middle school, the rivalry deepened. They joined the same clubs, entered the same competitions, even ran for student body president against each other. It wasn't just about being the best anymore; it became personal. Every failure of Min-jun's felt like a victory for Jun-ho, and every success of Min-jun's cut him deep, though he would never show it.
Then came high school. Their rivalry reached its peak, with every year pushing them harder, their parents' expectations growing heavier on their shoulders. Jun-ho's family, well-established in law, had never allowed him to fall short of perfection. Min-jun's parents, whose family owned one of the largest dental chains in Korea, constantly set the bar higher for him as well. Jun-ho grew to despise Min-jun, not just for the competition, but because every time his name came up, it was as if Jun-ho's efforts weren't good enough. It was always, "You have to be better than Min-jun."
By the time they graduated, their rivalry had become ingrained into their identities. Their entire existence had been framed around trying to outdo one another. Min-jun's failures were Jun-ho's greatest triumphs, and Jun-ho's successes only ever felt real when they eclipsed Min-jun's.
As university applications approached, Jun-ho's path seemed clear. His family made it clear he had no choice but to attend one of the most prestigious schools in Seoul and follow the family tradition into the faculty of law. It wasn't passion that drove him, but obligation. Life had never been about what he wanted—it had been a challenge, a test to prove he was good enough, better than the rest, especially Min-jun.
Jun-ho always took satisfaction in knowing that Min-jun, who chose to pursue dentistry, was walking a different path. They would no longer be compared directly—finally, a break from the exhausting cycle.
Yet, here they were. At the same party, on the cusp of university, their rivalry far from over. And even though Min-jun's drunken stumble had been brief, it was enough to remind Jun-ho of everything he hated about him.
The party continued, but Jun-ho's thoughts kept drifting back to that one face—the face he had grown up measuring his worth against. Min-jun. The one person who had managed to remain a thorn in his side for nearly his entire life. He could pretend to ignore him tonight, but deep down, Jun-ho knew their story was far from finished.
University was just around the corner. A new battleground awaited.