EMPTINESS

Beom-soo's POV

What should I do now?

Everyone keeps whispering like I've done something wrong, like I'm the criminal in someone else's love story. Even after I told them nothing's going on between me and Jung Lee-na, the rumors won't stop.

But to be honest...

She's not bad.

Pretty. Confident. Bold, even in arguments.

She's got attitude, charm, and the kind of looks that make boys freeze up in the hallway.

In short—perfect, by every standard I've ever claimed to care about.

So maybe…

Maybe I could give it a try.

See where it leads.

Just for curiosity.

Just to shut everyone up.

---

When I walked back into the classroom after lunch that day, I knew something was off the moment I stepped in.

All the guys turned toward me.

And in seconds, they were on me.

"Dude, how'd you land her?"

"No way you said yes!"

"She's, like, the Lee Na-yeon of Class 2!"

I laughed it off, brushing them off playfully, even though I wasn't laughing inside.

Some girls whispered from the corner of the room. I heard bits of it:

> "Of course she'd choose him. He's the prettiest guy in our year."

"Ugh, I'm jealous."

Prettiest guy, huh?

I don't even see it. I barely keep up with my appearance.

Still... I guess rumors see more than the mirror does.

But even with all that noise around me—

He didn't react.

Han-jae.

Sat by the window like always, staring out like the wind had answers he couldn't find in people.

Not even a glance toward me. Not even an eyebrow twitch.

Weird, right?

I thought so too.

---

He didn't talk to me.

For days.

Not even when we crossed paths in the hallway. Not even during gym, where he'd usually bump shoulders with me on purpose and call it an accident.

He just stopped.

Vanished from my orbit.

And somehow… that bothered me more than the rumors did.

Tae-min didn't comment either. Which was weirder.

He usually makes everything about him.

Instead, he was oddly quiet, just glancing between me and Han-jae when he thought no one was watching.

---

That weekend, out of nowhere, Tae-min showed up at my house.

He didn't say why.

No texts. No calls. Just… arrived.

He stayed the night. Said he didn't feel like going home.

We didn't talk much. Just played games. Laughed at dumb stuff. Ate instant ramen like kids again. It should've felt normal. Comfortable.

But it didn't.

It felt like avoidance.

Neither of us wanted to talk about what was actually on our minds.

---

The next morning, I planned to meet up with Do-won and Nam-woo to play games together again. Our usual plan. A tradition, almost.

But I had to cancel.

Because Lee-na texted me.

> Wanna go out today? I'm free.

I hesitated before replying.

Then said yes.

---

We spent the day like a proper couple would.

Shopping bags in both hands. Matching snacks. Side-by-side photos on her phone.

Lunch at a nice place. Laughter on the rollercoaster.

She screamed louder than I thought she could. Grabbed my arm more times than I could count.

It was fun.

Lighthearted.

Effortless.

She smiled brightly.

And I smiled too.

But—

Somewhere in the middle of the carousel spinning and her hand pulling mine...

I saw his face.

Lee Han-jae.

Staring out the window.

Not smiling.

Not talking.

Just watching.

Why the hell is he in my head?

I shook it off. But he came back.

When she laughed, I thought of his rare smirk.

When she fed me a bite of her crepe, I thought of that time he handed me ramen in silence, like it meant nothing—but I remembered it for days.

Why am I thinking about him?

Why not her?

She's exactly the kind of girl I've always said I wanted.

So why is someone else's silence louder than her laugh?

I must be feeling off because he hasn't spoken to me lately.

That's all, right?

It's not a big deal.

Han-jae's just... moody sometimes. He'll come around. I mean, we're not even dating. I don't owe him anything. He doesn't owe me anything.

Right?

So why does it feel like I'm the one being dumped?

I shake the thought away and look at the girl sitting beside me.

Jung Lee-na.

Pretty when she smiles. Beautiful when she's laughing with her head tilted back, bangs brushing her cheeks. Any guy would kill to be in my place. And I've got her.

Hand in mine. Eyes only on me.

We're finally dating.

This should feel perfect.

So then…

Why do I feel nothing?

---

"Why are you zoning out again?" she asked, nudging me with her elbow as we strolled down the street.

I snapped out of it, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

Even if it was everything, I made it sound like nothing.

She smiled back without digging further. Maybe she didn't notice. Or maybe she chose not to.

Either way, I was grateful.

The sun was already dipping into gold by the time we reached her house. Her hand was warm in mine. She leaned in, shy at first—but then I kissed her.

It was soft. Polite. Just lips against lips.

A checkbox kind of kiss.

And that's what it felt like—like I was ticking off another thing I was supposed to do.

---

The next day at school, chaos.

Everyone blew up around me the second I stepped in.

"Damn, you finally bagged the goddess?"

"How did you pull that off, Beom?"

"You two kissed for real?"

I just smiled like I was proud of myself. Like this was exactly what I wanted.

I told myself it was fine. Better this than loneliness, right?

But then—

He passed me.

Lee Han-jae.

Shoulder brushing mine, head slightly tilted down, eyes cold.

Not even a glance.

As if I was no one. As if we'd never shared that game night, or ramen, or quiet hours pressed against each other's shoulders in the library.

As if I wasn't even worth reacting to.

It stung.

Worse than I expected.

---

Even Tae-min was colder than usual. He glared at me once, like he was about to say something—but then he didn't. Just walked away.

The two people I used to feel closest to… suddenly don't even look at me anymore.

What the hell did I do?

Was it really because of her?

---

Later that day, I caught a glimpse of Yoon-ah.

Following Han-jae around like a little shadow, all shy smiles and soft footsteps. Like she wanted to speak but couldn't find the right words. I don't even think they've talked yet.

But…

They did look kind of good together.

Cute, even.

The thought made me chuckle under my breath.

But it didn't sit right in my chest.

---

During lunch break, Lee-na found me quickly, linking her arm with mine like she was afraid someone would snatch me away if she didn't hold tight.

"Let's go to the convenience store," she said cheerfully.

We picked out sandwiches, drinks, some snacks. She even insisted on paying this time.

We sat outside on a quiet bench beneath the trees, eating side by side.

Her laughter came easy. Her voice was soft. She wiped some crumbs off my lip and blushed when I looked at her.

Everything was peaceful. Perfect, even.

And yet—

My eyes kept drifting.

To the students walking past. To the windows of our classroom.

To the boy who hadn't looked at me in days.

---

Even when I smiled at her, something in me stayed distant.

She didn't notice.

But I did.

---