? ???????? ???? ? phi hanwool

In the morning, as Rin stepped through the school gates, her eyes instinctively searched for Geon-yeop. But he wasn't there.

She let out a quiet sigh, the weight of guilt pressing against her chest. No matter how much she tried to push it aside, it clung to her, refusing to loosen its grip. She had hurt him-maybe more than she realized. And now, his absence felt like a punishment she wasn't sure she could endure.

She walked through the crowded hallways, her footsteps slow and uncertain. The usual noise of Yuseong High-the laughter, the fights, the whispered gossip-felt distant, as if she were moving through a fog.

When she reached her locker, she leaned her forehead against the cool metal for a moment, closing her eyes. What the hell am I doing?

"Rough night?" Ji Woo's voice pulled her back to reality.

Rin straightened, turning to face her. "Something like that."

Ji Woo studied her for a moment before leaning against the locker next to hers. "Geon-yeop's absence is bothering you." It wasn't a question-it was a statement.

Rin hesitated, then nodded. "I screwed up."

Ji Woo hummed thoughtfully. "You did."

Rin shot her a glare, but Ji Woo only smirked. "Hey, at least I'm honest."

Before Rin could respond, the air in the hallway shifted-voices dropping to hushed murmurs, students stepping aside as a familiar presence entered the building.

Hanwool.

His uniform was slightly disheveled, as if he hadn't bothered to fix it after a fight. His sharp gaze swept over the hallway, indifferent to the attention he was getting-until it landed on her.

Rin's breath hitched as their eyes met. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, without a word, Hanwool started walking toward her.

Ji Woo let out a low whistle. "And there's your other problem."

Rin clenched her jaw. "Not now, Ji Woo."

But her friend only grinned, stepping away. "I'll leave you two lovebirds to it."

Hanwool stopped in front of her, his gaze dark, unreadable. "You look tired."

Rin crossed her arms. "You're not exactly a breath of fresh air yourself."

His lips quirked up slightly, but there was no humor in his expression. "We need to talk."

She swallowed. "About what?"

Hanwool tilted his head slightly, studying her as if trying to peel away the layers she kept hidden.

"About us.

_

Hanwool leaned against the lockers, the wind coming from the windows tousling his dark hair as he watched Rin with an intensity that made her shift uncomfortably. His usual smirk was absent, replaced by something unreadable-something serious.

"We need to talk," he said, his voice lower than usual. "About us."

Rin's breath hitched for a fraction of a second, but she quickly masked it with a scoff. "Us?" she repeated, crossing her arms in defiance. "Since when was there an 'us'?"

Hanwool let out a quiet chuckle, though there was no humor in it. "Don't act like you don't know what I mean." He took a step closer, his gaze locked onto hers. "Ever since I called you Kim Nara, you've been avoiding the truth."