The morning was as unremarkable as ever, the school corridors buzzing with chatter and the occasional sound of lockers slamming shut. Jiho shuffled through the crowd, still replaying the odd interaction with Mirae in his mind. The faint brush of her hand on his and that single moment of eye contact were enough to make his brain race faster than the morning announcements.
"Yo, Jiho!"
Jiho turned toward the familiar voice. A tall, lanky figure with slightly disheveled hair was walking toward him. Su Yong had a face that always seemed to carry a shadow of weariness, but his lopsided grin gave him an approachable air.
"Su Yong! When did you get back?" Jiho asked, surprised.
"Just last night," Su Yong said, dropping his bag on Jiho's desk and leaning against it casually. "You didn't think I'd let you handle this circus alone, did you?"
Jiho chuckled. "You're the one who left me here to fend for myself in the first place. How was Busan?"
"Same old," Su Yong shrugged. "Beaches, fish markets, and my grandparents nagging me to eat more."
Before Jiho could respond, Seulgi popped into the conversation. "Well, if it isn't the infamous Su Yong. Back to grace us with your brooding charm?"
"Nice to see you too, Seulgi," Su Yong replied with a half-smile.
"Don't worry, Jiho's been keeping himself busy. Or should I say, distracted by a certain someone," Seulgi teased, wiggling her eyebrows.
"Seulgi!" Jiho hissed, his face flushing.
Su Yong raised an eyebrow. "A 'certain someone,' huh? Who's got my boy wrapped around their finger?"
"It's not like that!" Jiho protested. "She's just… a classmate."
"A very mysterious classmate," Seulgi added with a grin.
Su Yong's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face. "Sounds interesting. Who's the lucky girl?"
Before Jiho could respond, the bell rang, signaling the start of class. Seulgi gave them a cheeky wave before disappearing into her seat.
"We'll talk later," Su Yong said, patting Jiho on the shoulder.
---
As the day went on, Jiho found himself appreciating Su Yong's return. Having his best friend back brought a sense of normalcy, even if Su Yong's calm demeanor sometimes made him hard to read. The two of them had been inseparable since middle school, though Jiho had always felt there was a part of Su Yong that remained locked away.
During lunch, the trio—Jiho, Su Yong, and Seulgi—gathered at their usual spot in the courtyard. Jiho noticed that Su Yong was scanning the area, his sharp eyes seemingly taking everything in.
"Looking for someone?" Jiho asked.
"Just curious," Su Yong replied. "So, where's this 'mysterious classmate' of yours?"
"Right there," Seulgi said, pointing toward the tree where Mirae sat, her ever-present notebook on her lap.
Su Yong followed her gaze. His expression didn't change, but Jiho could tell he was analyzing Mirae in his usual quiet way.
"She doesn't seem like the type to draw attention to herself," Su Yong remarked.
"She doesn't," Jiho said. "But there's something about her…"
Su Yong nodded thoughtfully but didn't press further.
---
That afternoon, during gym class, Jiho and Su Yong found themselves paired up for basketball. Despite Su Yong's slightly reserved nature, he was still competitive when it came to sports.
"You're out of practice," Jiho teased after Su Yong missed a shot.
"Cut me some slack," Su Yong replied, grabbing the rebound. "I've been busy."
As the game went on, Jiho noticed something he hadn't seen before. While Su Yong moved with precision, there was a certain hesitancy in his actions, as if he were holding himself back.
After the game, the two sat on the sidelines, catching their breath.
"Hey, Su Yong," Jiho began cautiously. "Everything okay?"
Su Yong glanced at him, his usual mask slipping for just a moment. "Why do you ask?"
"You just seem… different," Jiho said. "Not in a bad way, just… I don't know."
Su Yong shrugged. "Maybe I've just grown up a little. Not everything needs to be a competition, you know?"
Jiho nodded, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it.
---
As the day ended, Jiho and Su Yong walked home together, their conversation drifting from school gossip to video games. Su Yong's return brought a sense of balance to Jiho's life, even if his friend's subdued nature was a reminder of the things they didn't talk about.
In the distance, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Jiho glanced at Su Yong, wondering what secrets his best friend was keeping—and how long it would be before they came to light.
Little did he know, Su Yong's story was as tangled as the threads of fate that seemed to be pulling them all together.