Joy stepped forward, her voice trembling with concern. "Yes, Ji-Hoo, what is it?"
The others gathered around, standing in the middle of the rooftop as a tense silence settled over them.
Ji-Hoo looked down, his shoulders heavy with sadness as he sighed deeply.
"I'm leaving... next week."
The words hit like a punch. Silence fell over the group. Ha-Joon squinted, his brow furrowing in confusion.
In-Su nodded slowly, understanding flickering in his eyes.
But Joy's face turned pale; her eyes widened as if she might faint. "Leaving...??" she managed to whisper, her voice hoarse and trembling.
"Yeah… I'm going to Japan to see my parents," he began, voice strained. "They want me to come… they said it's important." he added running a hand through his hair.
He paused, lowering his head as sadness seeped into his tone.
Ha-Joon stepped forward quickly, grabbing Ji-Hoo's hand and looking into his eyes with earnest compassion.
"You can tell us if you consider us friends," he said softly. "We're here for you, Ji-Hoo."
Ji-Hoo looked up, eyes shimmering with tears. Without warning, he embraced Ha-Joon tightly, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Ha-Joon, Silver—my parents—they want to get me married to some rich woman. I know it's weird, but… they don't want me to finish high school. They want me to marry early."
He choked on the last words, tears flowing freely as he poured out his pain and confusion.
Ha-Joon's breath caught in his throat. In-Su moved instinctively closer, offering silent comfort as Ji-Hoo's anguish overwhelmed him.
Joy, clutching her chest as if her heart hurt, stepped back in shock, tears cascading down her face.
"No..." she whispered, voice breaking, before she turned and ran down the stairs from the roof, her figure disappearing in the distance.
Ji-Hoo loosened his grip on Ha-Joon and hurried after her, but she was already gone. The remaining two stood in silence, the weight of the moment settling over them.
Ha-Joon's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at In-Su. "Marriage? What kind of parents would want their child to marry at 19?, I mean what's their motive?"
In-Su nodded solemnly. "Ji-Hoo is 20," he said quietly.
"It doesn't matter," he shot back, frustration and confusion in his voice. "That's just... wrong." In-Su placed a steady hand on Ha-Joon's shoulder, his expression calm but serious.
"And why do you care?" In-Su asked and Ha-Joon seized his shoulder from In-Su's grip gently, his voice trembling.
"Because Joy is my friend. And I love her. She's been such an amazing friend to me, In-Su." Ha-Joon said, He stepped back, eyes searching.
"But she doesn't like Ji-Hoo, does she? She doesn't like him, right?" In-Su asked desperately but Ha-Joon stood silent.
In-Su looked at him, his expression unreadable. Seeing the concern etched across Ha-Joon's face, he already knew the answer,
"Oh my god… Ji-Hoo doesn't know that. "In-Su whispered and ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"Does Ji-Hoo like her?" Ha-Joon asked moving closer to In-Su.
In-Su hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yeah... I know so."
In-Su's eyes darkened with realization. "That explains everything… It's complicated."
The air grew heavy with unspoken truths and hurt feelings, each of them lost in their own thoughts about the fragile web of friendships and unspoken love.
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In the quiet aftermath of their walk home, In-Su and Ha-Joon moved through the bustling afternoon streets, their expressions heavy with sadness.
Ha-Joon's face was uncovered, revealing the weariness and frustration clouding his features.
In contrast, In-Su's face remained mostly hidden beneath his mask, but his posture and the tension in his shoulders betrayed his own inner turmoil.
The sun blazed brightly overhead, almost blinding in its intensity, casting long shadows on the pavement.
Despite the warmth, a chill seemed to cling to both of them, their silent sorrow echoing the heaviness in their hearts.
"Are you going to the café today?" In-Su said his voice was soft, almost hesitant, like he was afraid of disturbing the fragile calm.
Ha-Joon nodded slowly, letting out a sigh. "Yeah… I'm going to the café. Are you coming with?"
In-Su froze for a moment, considering.
Then, with a shrug, he gave a small, resigned smile. "Yeah, sure. Why not?"
-------------
They arrived at the café, a cozy place filled with the hum of conversation and laughter. The atmosphere was warm and inviting—an oasis amid their turbulent emotions.
Ha-Joon took his apron, slipping it over his head, and approached the counter, where he picked up his pen.
"What will you like to have, sir?" he asked with a gentle smile, holding a pen and a small jotter.
In-Su looked up from his phone, glancing at Ha-Joon with a relaxed expression. "Come on, Ha-Joon, don't be so formal…"
Ha-Joon hesitated a moment, then kept a polite tone, though his voice carried a hint of warmth. "Sir… your order, please."
In-Su sighed, amused by the playful formality ,"Just a simple coffee and a slice of vanilla cake. Yeah, I'll have that."
He winked, and Ha-Joon nodded, turning back toward the counter to place the order.
While sitting alone at a table, In-Su scrolled through his phone, lost in thought. Suddenly, Mr. Bark stormed past him, a look of extreme frustration etched on his face. In-Su furrowed his brow.
"Huh? What's up with managers nowadays?"
He watched Mr. Bark with growing curiosity, then turned his gaze back to him once more.
Suddenly, chaos erupted.
Mr. Bark burst into the kitchen with a thunderous roar, startling everyone. The employees, caught off guard, immediately ran and scattered, leaving Ha-Joon standing frozen behind the counter, his eyes wide with shock.
"Hey, you little...!" Mr. Bark bellowed, grabbing Ha-Joon roughly by the collar.
Ha-Joon's eyes widened in fear and confusion as the angered man shouted in his face. Without warning, Mr. Bark's filthy hand swung out and slapped Ha-Joon hard across the cheek.
The sound echoed sharply, trembling in the tense air.
Ha-Joon instinctively clutched his cheeks, which burned from the slap. Pain shot through him, tears threatening to spill over as his face turned red.
"What is the meaning of that?" he asked, voice trembling, fighting back the sting of humiliation.
"You're always late and lazy," Mr.Bark spat, his voice venomous. His grip tightened as he reached for Ha-Joon again, eyes blazing with fury.
Just as the situation seemed about to spiral further into chaos, a strong hand gripped Mr. Bark's wrist, halting his assault.
The grip was firm, unyielding—powerful enough to make the angry man falter.
Everyone in the café turned in shock, and we all knew who it was.
"How dare you touch him...? with your filthy hands" In-Su's voice was cold and sharp, with a dangerous edge that cut through the tension like a blade.
He squeezed Mr. Bark's wrist harder, causing the man to wince in pain. Slowly, Mr. Bark loosened his grip and let go, but his eyes flicked with defiance.
Instead of backing down, Mr. Bark pushed In-Su aggressively, charging toward Ha-Joon again. His face twisted with rage and contempt.
''Get out of my way insolent child.... Boys like you are the reason the society is in a bad state'' Mr. Bark said hands clutched.