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There are exactly twelve steps between the music building and the campus coffee cart. Jihoon knows this because he counts them every morning, earbuds in, head down, hoodie up — the universal uniform for “don’t talk to me before caffeine.”
But this morning is… off.
He notices it in the way people stare as he walks past. Not the “he’s that composer kid” kind of stare. No, this one’s more amused. Slightly sympathetic.
A group of first-years whisper and giggle as he passes.
“Should we tell him?”
“Nah, it’s kinda funny though.”
Jihoon frowns, glancing down. Black hoodie, normal side out. No toothpaste on his sleeve. Nothing on his pants.
And then—
“Hey! Wait up!”
Jihoon turns just as someone jogs up to him — fluffy blonde hair, oversized jacket, and a smile entirely too awake for 8:43 AM.
Kwon Soonyoung.
Theatre major. Campus dance captain. Walking embodiment of sunshine. The same Soonyoung Jihoon’s admired from several silent benches and crowded corridors but never once spoken to.
Jihoon blinks. “…Uh.”
“There’s a sticker,” Soonyoung says. He steps forward — way too close — and gently peels something off Jihoon’s back. “Got it.”
He holds up the note. Bold black marker. Jihoon squints.
“KICK ME 😆”
Jihoon groans. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Nope,” Soonyoung replies cheerfully, crumpling the sticker in his fist. “Perfectly placed. Artistic prank, honestly.”
Jihoon rubs his face. “I knew people were staring.”
“They were,” Soonyoung says. “And not one of them helped.”
“…except you.”
Soonyoung shrugs like it’s nothing. “Felt like a crime not to.”
Jihoon’s lips twitch. “Thanks. Really.”
“Anytime,” Soonyoung says, then tilts his head. “You’re Jihoon, right? Music composition?”
Jihoon blinks. “Yeah.”
“I’ve heard your demo for Stardust. That string layering? Genius.”
Jihoon blinks harder. “You’ve heard my—why?”
“I choreographed to it last semester,” Soonyoung says casually. “You’re kinda famous in the dance room.”
Jihoon mumbles, “No I’m not.”
“You are to me.”
Jihoon freezes.
Soonyoung doesn’t seem to notice what he just said — or maybe he does, because he scratches the back of his neck and says, “Uh—coffee?”
Jihoon stares.
“I mean—I was gonna get some anyway,” Soonyoung says. “You were headed there, right? Unless you hate company.”
“…I don’t.”
Soonyoung beams. “Cool.”
They walk in comfortable almost-silence. Jihoon keeps expecting Soonyoung to fill the space with chatter, but he doesn’t. He’s just… there. Present. Warm.
“I always see you walking this way,” Soonyoung finally says. “Same hoodie, same earbuds. You look like you’re solving equations in your head.”
“I’m usually writing lyrics.”
“Ah. Emo equations.”
Jihoon huffs a laugh.
Soonyoung grins.
They reach the cart. Soonyoung orders something caramel-coated and overly joyful. Jihoon gets an iced americano. No sugar, no frills.
“No whipped cream?” Soonyoung gasps.
Jihoon deadpans, “It’s morning.”
“That’s what makes it fun!”
They sit near the koi pond — Jihoon’s usual hiding spot, now invaded by this chaotic warmth of a boy who doesn’t seem to know how to be quiet and yet somehow isn’t annoying.
“I’m just surprised you helped,” Jihoon says, eyes on his cup.
“With the sticker?”
“Yeah. Everyone else ignored it.”
Soonyoung shrugs. “You looked like you needed someone on your side.”
Jihoon glances up.
Soonyoung’s voice softens. “I see you around a lot. Headphones in, head down. You always seem… somewhere else.”
Jihoon says nothing.
“I guess I just wanted to be the reason you looked up today.”
Jihoon blinks, and for a second, the air stills.
“That’s… weirdly poetic,” he murmurs.
“I moonlight as a musical theatre kid,” Soonyoung replies with a wink.
Jihoon actually laughs. A soft sound, warm and rare.
Soonyoung’s heart stutters.
They sit until the drinks are gone, until the quiet feels like a shared secret.
Eventually, Soonyoung stands. “So… will you look up tomorrow?”
“Huh?”
“You said you don’t look up much. Will you? In case I’m there again?”
Jihoon pauses. Then nods, cheeks pink. “I will.”
Soonyoung’s smile goes star-bright.
He leans forward, pulling something from his pocket. Before Jihoon can react, he sticks something gently onto Jihoon’s hoodie.
“Hey—what—”
“Not a ‘kick me’ note,” Soonyoung promises with a smirk.
Jihoon peels it off.
It’s a round yellow sticker, smiley face on it. Scribbled below:
“Text me sometime ☺ - Soonyoung”
Jihoon stares at it.
By the time he looks up, Soonyoung’s already walking backward down the path, waving.
“See you tomorrow, Jihoon!”
Jihoon can’t help the smile blooming on his face.
And the next morning, when he reaches the same path…
he looks up.
Soonyoung’s waiting — this time with two drinks and something unreadable but hopeful in his eyes.
Jihoon stops in front of him.
“Didn’t expect you to remember,” Soonyoung says.
“I did,” Jihoon replies. “And I brought something.”
Soonyoung blinks. “Yeah?”
Jihoon reaches into his hoodie pocket and pulls out a crumpled Post-it. It says:
“Tomorrow, maybe I’ll hold your hand.”
Soonyoung’s eyes widen.
Jihoon steps closer. “But today, I’m gonna do this.”
And before Soonyoung can ask—
Jihoon kisses him.
Soft, shy, but firm. Real.
When he pulls back, Soonyoung’s eyes are wide. “Wow.”
Jihoon shrugs. “Had to shut you up somehow.”
Soonyoung laughs, bright and breathless.
“Tomorrow,” he whispers, “you better keep that promise.”
Jihoon takes his hand.
“I will.”