The Wrong One

Jay had always been easy to talk to. That kind of boy who didn't ask too much, but somehow still knew when something wasn't right. Like now—while everyone else moved on from the burn incident, Jay kept glancing at me between hair touch-ups, his brows pulled together in that half-concerned, half-teasing way he wore so well.

"You sure you're okay?" he asked gently, voice low but playful as he leaned closer. "You burned your hand and suddenly Sunghoon's ready to call 911."

I smiled, trying to wave him off. "He was just... overreacting."

Jay tilted his head, like he wasn't buying it. "Was he?"

His voice was soft, teasing—but something about it felt sharper this time. Like he'd seen too much. Like he knew something, or maybe sensed something you hadn't meant to show.

"You know," he added, picking up a lock of his hair for you to straighten, "if I burned my hand, you wouldn't even blink."

You rolled your eyes, laughing it off. "Because you wouldn't scream about it like a drama prince."

"True," Jay smirked. But then his eyes settled on you again, serious now. "But still... it's different with him, isn't it?"

The words caught in your throat. You didn't know what to say—because yes, it was different. But not in the way Jake thought.

Because it wasn't supposed to matter.

Because he wasn't supposed to care.

Because... he wasn't supposed to be the one who made your heart race like that.

But Jay was still looking at you. Waiting.

You forced a light laugh. "You're imagining things."

He didn't push. But he didn't smile either.

And for a moment, it was just quiet. The kind of silence that wraps around you when someone sees a little too much.

Jay's teasing faded into something quieter, more curious. But before either of you could say anything else, the door opened — and the air shifted.

Sunghoon walked in.

Not a word, not a glance. Just passed through like he didn't notice anything. Like you weren't there.

But you felt him.

The way his gaze flickered—just for a second—toward you and Jay. How his jaw tensed just slightly before he turned away. His footsteps were calm, but his presence hit you like a cold wind.

Jay noticed too. You saw it in the slight pause of his hands, the way he lowered his voice after that.

"You okay?" Jay asked again, but quieter this time. More careful.

You nodded.

But you weren't. Not really. Because suddenly you could feel that familiar ache crawling back into your chest—the one Sunghoon always left behind. It was like he was punishing you for something you didn't mean to do.

For pulling away.

For not explaining.

For letting Jay laugh too close and too long.

Sunghoon passed by again to grab his phone, brushing a little too close to the chair you sat in. Still silent. Still cold. His shoulder nearly grazed yours, but he didn't stop.

Jay called out, "You good, bro?"

"Fine," Sunghoon muttered, already halfway to the door.

But just before he disappeared, he glanced back—quick, sharp, unreadable—and locked eyes with you for the briefest second.

It was enough to steal the breath from your lungs.

And then he was gone.

Leaving you in a room that suddenly felt too quiet, too heavy, and far too guilty.

Because even if nothing happened...

Even if Jay was just being Jay…

Why did it feel like you'd betrayed something?

Someone.

The moment the door shut behind Sunghoon, it felt like all the air in the room left with him.

Jay was still sitting in the chair, humming softly as he scrolled through his phone, but your mind was spiraling. You couldn't stay there. Not when your chest felt like it was caving in.

"I'm just getting some air," you whispered, slipping out of the room.

The hallway outside was dim and quiet, the kind of silence that made your footsteps echo louder than they should. You didn't expect to find anyone out there—let alone him.

But there he was.

Sunghoon, leaning against the wall just a few feet away. His head tilted back, eyes closed like he was trying to breathe through something too heavy for words.

You froze.

Then, before you could lose your nerve, you took a step forward and reached out—your fingers wrapping gently around his wrist.

"Sunghoon," you said, your voice low, trembling. "Wait. I... I need to tell you something."

His eyes opened slowly, sharp and unreadable, staring down at your hand on his wrist. For a second, he didn't say anything. Then he pulled away—not roughly, but enough to sting.

"You don't get to do this," he said, voice quiet but cutting. "You pushed me away when I was closer."

His words hit harder than you expected. But it was the way he looked at you—tired, hurt, angry—that really broke you.

"I didn't mean to," you whispered, but your voice faltered.

"Then what did you mean to do?" Sunghoon asked, stepping back, shaking his head slightly. "One second you look at me like I'm everything, the next... you act like I'm no one."

You opened your mouth, but no words came out.

He stepped closer this time—not too close, but just enough for his voice to drop, for it to feel personal. For it to feel like he was giving you one last chance.

"Do you have anything to say?" he asked, eyes locked on yours. "Anything to deny that you... that you're bad at this? At handling people who actually care about you?"

You blinked, stung. Your throat tightened.

Nothing.

You had nothing to say.

And that was worse than saying the wrong thing.

Sunghoon gave a soft, bitter laugh. "See?" he whispered. "Exactly."

Then he stepped back.

"Stop confusing me," he said again, this time like he meant it more for himself than for you.

And before you could stop him, he turned and walked away.

The hallway felt colder after he left.

His words still hung in the air, heavier than anything you could carry. "See?" That one word echoed like a stamp on your silence—proof of everything you failed to say.

You stood there frozen, hand still half-raised from where you'd grabbed him, as if letting it fall would mean surrendering to the truth you didn't want to face.

How did it get this far?

Sunghoon used to smile at you. Tease you when you were too serious. He'd hold doors open, remember the smallest things you liked, and somehow always knew when you were too tired to pretend you were okay. He was cold to everyone—but not to you.

Not until now.

And all it took was one moment—one misstep—for him to look at you like that. Like a stranger. Like he didn't recognize the version of you that stood beside Jay, laughing a little too long.

You hadn't even realized how much of his warmth you'd taken for granted.

Now, all you could think about was how the most unreadable, untouchable person in this world—the Sunghoon—had let his guard down for you. And you didn't just miss it...

You hurt it.

He was everything. The way he moved, the way he held back his emotions until they cracked through in the smallest glances. He wasn't just cool. He wasn't just talented.

He was the kind of person you didn't get twice.

And now, you might've already lost your chance..