somewhere between almost and always [so junghwan treasure completed]

18

Like how Ji-eun paused when Junghwan called. Or how she always looked for him in a crowd, even when she claimed she wasn't.

He was quiet, but not blind.

"You two dating?" he asked one day during art class.

Ji-eun blinked. "Who?"

"Don't play innocent. You and the guy who looks like he's trying not to punch me every time I talk to you."

"Junghwan's not like that."

"Maybe not to you."

She didn't respond. Just focused on her brush strokes.

Min-jae watched her for a moment before saying, "You smile more when you talk about him."

She paused.

Then smiled again.

Min-jae caught it. "See?"

"You're annoying."

"Not the first time I've heard that."

That night, Ji-eun sat on her balcony, phone in hand, debating whether to call Junghwan.

They hadn't talked properly all day. Their conversations had been short, clipped.

He was distant.

And she wasn't sure if it was because of Min-jae... or something else.

She called.

Junghwan picked up on the third ring.

"Hey."

"Hey."

Long pause.

She bit her lip. "You've been weird."

"I've been busy."

"With what?"

"Thinking."

Her heart skipped.

"About?"

"You and me."

More silence.

"Do you... want to talk about it?" she asked.

He sighed. "I don't know what we are sometimes. You get me, and then... I lose you in these moments."

"I'm not going anywhere, Junghwan."

"I know. But it still feels like I have to fight to stay close."

She didn't know what to say to that.

Because he wasn't wrong.

Maybe she had been drifting a little. Distracted by changes, caught in the excitement of someone new noticing her.

Not romantically.

But still... noticing.

The next day, Min-jae didn't joke. Didn't tease.

Instead, he slid a folded piece of paper onto Ji-eun's desk during lunch.

She opened it under the table.

I know you love him.
I just wish I'd met you first.
— M

Her chest tightened.

She folded the note quickly, stuffing it into her pocket.

She didn't look back at Min-jae all day.

But her heart felt strangely heavier.

After school, she found Junghwan at the bike rack, headphones in, hoodie half-zipped, eyes on the pavement.

"Junghwan."

He looked up slowly.

"We need to talk," she said.

"About Min-jae?"

"About us."

He took out his earbuds.

She stepped closer. "I'm not going to lie. He... noticed things. About me. About you. He saw things I didn't."

Junghwan stayed silent.

"I think I got caught up in the idea of someone new seeing me. Complimenting things you never say out loud. Not because you don't care. But because you don't know how."

He winced a little.

"And that's okay. I'm not asking you to be him. I'm asking you to be you. Just... don't shut down when you're scared."

He looked at her then, really looked.

"I thought maybe you'd realize he fits better with you."

"No," she said gently. "He just fits differently. But you—"

She reached out and placed her hand over his chest.

"You're the only one who makes this feel like home."

Junghwan closed his eyes.

Then opened them slowly. "I don't say much. But I feel everything."

"I know," she whispered.

And this time, they didn't need to say anything else.

Because they both understood:

Love didn't have to be loud to be real.

Sometimes, it just had to be heard.

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