Chapter Text
The sound of his alarm pulled Han out of sleep.
He stared at the ceiling, blinking slowly, trying to piece together everything that happened the night before.
Was that a dream? Han wondered.
He reached for his phone on the bedside table. The moment the screen lit up, something on the lock screen jolted him fully awake.
Notifications:
1 Message from JL
“Good night, Hani!”
The message answered his question immediately.
Right. JL messaged him yesterday at 11 PM—when Han was already asleep.
His fingers hovered above the screen as he started typing a reply.
“Good morning, JL. Sorry I wasn’t able to reply becau—”
He erased it.
“Good morning, JL. Hope you had a goo—”
Deleted again.
“Good morning, J—”
Then he remembered Rule #1: Limited texts and calls.
Han had never been so frustrated. He tossed his phone somewhere onto the bed with a quiet groan. Of course he wanted to reply to JL, but he might break the rules they had agreed on—or more accurately, the rules JL had established.
He sighed and dragged a hand over his face before finally getting up.
Better to prepare for the day than think about nonsense.
-
Han now sat in his usual seat on the bus. A Seoul University lanyard hung around his neck. Photography major. Earphones in, gaze fixed outside the window, untouched by the morning chaos.
Just like before.
Except now the chaos included his name.
Students whispered around him.
How Park Han got JL.
How the quiet, nonchalant guy suddenly asked JL out.
How JL actually agreed.
There were giggles, envy, rumors—voices buzzing softly around the bus. But Han didn’t react. Music blasted through his earphones while his mind drifted back to yesterday.
-
They had been sitting at a café near the university.
Han with a strawberry banana shake, JL with a matcha latte.
Han stirred his drink while JL asked question after question—favorite color, favorite number, favorite food, favorite song. Even smaller, more personal things.
JL typed every answer into his phone.
Han didn’t mind. He knew exactly what JL was doing. And so he answered everything, even though JL never shared anything about himself.
Han knew why.
JL probably didn’t remember those things about himself either.
The thought tightened something quietly inside Han’s chest.
So instead, Han smiled. Answering every question.
Letting JL know him— remember him—through notes.
The bus jerked to a stop, pulling Han from his thoughts.
Someone boarded. A familiar figure.
JL.
Han’s eyes followed him instinctively. His thoughts are so noisy in contrast to the calm face he always carries.
Would he remember yesterday?
Would he sit beside me again?
Would he remember me?
The entire bus seemed to hold its breath. The same students who used to greet JL loudly now only watched in silence.
Everyone was waiting.
Han quietly turned off his music as JL searched for a seat.
Silently hoping—not for attention.
But just JL to choose the seat next to him.
JL walked down the aisle and stopped right beside Han and sat..
Whispers rippled from behind them.
“Maybe that’s why JL always sits beside Park Han.”
“He must like him.”
“They’re cute together.”
And maybe—maybe Han’s heart fluttered.
-
Later, they walked side by side into campus.
Han still wore his earphones, but no music played. Just in case JL decided to speak.
People watched them everywhere they went—whispering, giggling, observing.
Probably noticing that the two of them hadn’t exchanged a single word. Yet they still walked calmly beside each other—comfortable in the quiet.
Han was content with that, even if JL never glanced at him.
Or so he thought.
-
Han’s class ended three hours later.
His phone vibrated inside his jeans.
Notifications:
2 Messages from JL
“Hi Hani! Thanks for walking with me earlier.”
“I’m waiting for you outside your building~”
Han choked slightly when he read them and immediately began stuffing his things into his bag.
Knock knock.
Han whipped his head around, anticipation flashing through him.
But it wasn’t JL.
“Hi, Park Han.”
Juwon stepped inside. “I’ll go straight to the point.”
Han frowned. He was supposed to meet JL, not his best friend.
“Stop dating JL,” Juwon said firmly.
Han’s throat went dry.
“Why?” he asked.
“You don’t even like him, do you?” Juwon sighed and pulled a chair closer.
“Who told you I don’t like him?” Han replied, continuing to shove things into his bag.
He wanted to end this conversation quickly.
JL was waiting.
“You barely even looked at him before,” Juwon argued.
Han scoffed quietly.
“You don’t know anything, Juwon.”
Juwon said nothing after that.
He simply watched as Han slung the strap of his bag over his shoulder, still unsure what was really happening between his best friend and the man in front of him.
Still unsure of Han’s intentions.
And Han understood.
Because it was true.
Everyone believed Han was a boy without affection—quiet, reserved, living inside his own world.
Everyone believed Han didn’t care about anything around him.
That was true.
But everything people thought about him fell apart the moment JL appeared.
No one knew that Han turned off his music every morning—every time JL sat beside him—just in case JL said good morning.
No one knew that Han intentionally slowed his pace so he could walk behind JL until JL reached his building safely.
No one knew that while everyone else fought for JL’s attention, Han’s gaze softened quietly whenever he saw JL smile.
No one knew.