Lee Jun-ho sat at his desk, the university application form spread out in front of him, stark and intimidating. His pen hovered above the line where he had to declare his faculty choice, but for the first time, he felt a weight pressing down on him that was more than just the burden of a decision. It was the realization that he had never considered what he wanted. He had always been told what was expected of him, what would make his parents proud.
**Law.** It was the only path that had ever been laid out for him, the only future his family ever discussed. "You'll work for the family firm," they had said, their voices filled with pride. "You'll uphold our legacy." The words echoed in his mind, a chant of obligation that drowned out his own desires.
But deep down, he had never felt a spark of interest in the law. It felt like a cage, an expectation he had learned to accept but never embraced. He sighed, the weight of his parents' dreams settling on his shoulders, and finally, after much internal struggle, he marked his choice: **Faculty of Law.**
At the end of the day, he told himself it was worth it if it made his parents happy. But as he put down the pen, a flicker of disappointment crept in. Was this really the life he wanted?
---
Trying to shake off the thoughts, Jun-ho decided to clear his mind by opening the curtain to let in some fresh air. The afternoon sun spilled into his room, illuminating the familiar view of their shared courtyard. But then, in a shocking twist, his gaze landed on something that took his breath away.
There was Min-jun, his neighbor and childhood rival, standing shirtless, a towel draped casually around his shoulders as he dried his hair. The sunlight glinted off Min-jun's toned physique, the contours of his muscles striking against the casualness of the moment.
For a moment, Jun-ho was mesmerized. He found himself staring, completely caught off guard by the unexpected sight. Min-jun looked fit, tall, and entirely too confident for Jun-ho's liking.
Then, as if sensing his gaze, Min-jun turned, his eyes locking onto Jun-ho's with an expression that shifted from surprise to discomfort. In an instant, Min-jun pulled the curtain shut, leaving Jun-ho flustered and wide-eyed.
"What the hell?" he muttered to himself, heart racing. He jumped back onto his bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to process what had just happened. Thoughts swirled in his mind, but the more he tried to think, the more it felt like an empty void.
He couldn't shake the image of Min-jun from his mind.
**What if Min-jun applies to the same university as me?!** The thought hit him like a bolt of lightning, igniting a wave of frustration and anxiety. The idea of seeing Min-jun every day, of having his rival so close again, was maddening.
"No way," he groaned, shoving his face into his pillow. The fabric muffled his irritation, but it couldn't silence the annoyance bubbling within him. Kicking his feet in the air, he let out a frustrated groan, the pillow becoming a vessel for all his pent-up feelings.
He hated this rivalry, hated that it had consumed so much of his life. And yet, he couldn't deny a flicker of curiosity. Was there a chance that maybe—just maybe—things could be different in university?
Jun-ho lay there, his mind racing. What if this time, instead of competing, they found a way to coexist? But as soon as the thought formed, he pushed it away, shaking his head. **No. That was impossible.** They had always been rivals; that was their fate.
But still, as he lay there, he couldn't help but wonder: would their paths intertwine once more, or would they finally drift apart? The uncertainty gnawed at him, leaving him restless as the day slipped away.