You coming, or not?

After everything that had happened, Dae-jin stood up from the couch to clean up the snacks he had left on the table earlier. Jae-hyun was already fast asleep in one of the corners, sprawled out, breathing evenly. Somehow, he looked much calmer when he slept. No annoying thoughts.

Dae-jin looked at him, then covered him with a blanket.

" What an asshole," he thought.

He didn't really understand himself or Jae-hyun. If it weren't for this strange connection between them, he probably wouldn't have even looked at him. They hadn't even met at university before, though they went to the same place.

Dae-jin found himself thinking about it, unintentionally. But he couldn't decide whether it was a blessing or a curse.

Maybe a little bit both.

After he finished cleaning everything up, he noticed a pack of cigarettes lying on the floor next to Jae-hyun.

" Interesting…he doesn't really seem like the type who smokes," Dae-jin noted as he slowly picked it up.

" One won't hurt – after a day like this."

Then he quietly stepped out onto the balcony. He took a cigarette in hand and lit it.

As the familiar smoke filled his lungs, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. He couldn't even remember the last time he smoked. Maybe back before university – when Min-woo had swiped a few from one of his friends and convinced Dae-jin to sneak up to the school rooftop and smoke them in secret.

Back then, it felt like he was going to choke.

But now, he felt calm.

Then he remembered he hadn't checked whether Min-woo had replied to his message at all. He wasn't particularly anxious about it, but for some reason, he was still curious. How could he not be – about the person who had stirred up so many feelings in him, only to walk away like it was nothing? 

Dae-jin's stomach tightened a little as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. Then he saw the notification flashing on the screen – there was Min-woo's message. He let out a heavy sigh as he read it. He almost wished he hadn't.

[Min-woo]

Is that so? I'd love to see it. 

Dae-jin stared at the screen for a while, then took a deep drag from the slowly burning cigarette in his hand before replying. His fingers trembled slightly with hesitation as he typed out his response. 

Eventually, Dae-jin finished the message and hit send before he could change his mind. His reply was short – maybe a bit dry – but it carried everything he wanted to say. 

[Dae-jin]

You know. It's a bit funny how you're still curious about things you once turned your back on. 

The moment he sent it, he almost regretted it. Not because it wasn't true – but because it held too much emotion from him. 

He took another drag. The last one. Then he stubbed the cigarette out on the edge of the balcony and leaned against the railing, staring out into the night. 

The city lights flickered below, but nothing stirred in him as much as the thought that maybe, he was already asking too much from someone who once walked away without looking back. 

The reply came faster than Dae-jin expected. Not even a full minute passed before his screen lit up again. 

[ Min-woo ]

Maybe I didn't know what I was turning my back on. 

Then another message came shortly after. 

[Min-woo]

Can we meet? Just…to talk. I think we need to. 

He slowly lowered the phone to his side, but his thoughts stayed tangled in Min-woo's message. His first instinct was to lock the screen. Pretend it never showed up. 

Then behind him Jae-hyun shifted slightly in his sleep, murmuring something incoherent. Dae-jin glanced over at him, his heart was beating faster for a reason he couldn't explain. He remembered the kiss between them not too long ago. Yet he was still hesitating over something unnecessary. 

He looked back at the screen. His thumb hovered over it. 

Then without fully understanding why he typed. 

[Dae-jin]

Fine. Just to talk. 

He hit send before he could second-guess himself.

And in that instant, regret and curiosity hit him at the same time. 

Maybe this was his chance to finally close that chapter for good. And even though things with Jae-hyun weren't fully defined yet, they were heading…somewhere. At least, they had been – until now. 

Dae-jin didn't want to ruin that. Not because of a past that decided to show up uninvited. But he also knew he didn't have a choice. He had to face this – whether he wanted to or not. It's not like he still felt the same way about Min-woo as he did years ago. At least…not entirely. Maybe a part of him did. But he told himself that part was only lingering because they never got closure. And maybe now, it was time to finish what had been left unsaid.