"The Morning After"
The alarm didn't wake him.
His nightmare did.
Junghan shot up in bed, breath shaking, shirt damp with sweat. The same dream. The same fall. The same scream that wasn't loud enough to save anyone.
He pressed his palms into his eyes, trying to stop the trembling.
But his hands wouldn't listen.
6:42 AM.
He was late. Again.
He stood up quietly, avoiding the creak in the floor so he wouldn't wake anyone—
but he didn't need to.
Voices were already echoing down the hallway.
Mrs. Kim's voice.
"…useless. If only I'd had Jung-san instead—"
He froze.
His heart dropped, like it always did.
Then his father's tired voice followed,
"Please, not this in the morning… let him—"
"You hush! You always take his side! That boy is a curse—"
Junghan swallowed, clenched his jaw, grabbed his bag, and slipped out silently.
Outside
Cold wind.
Empty street.
Shaking fingers.
He leaned against the wall near his gate and exhaled, slow and trembling.
"Kim Junghan."
A voice.
He looked up.
Haeyoung stood there, hands on her hips, hair tied messy, uniform slightly wrinkled like she ran here.
She stared at his face for exactly one second—
Then frowned sharply.
"Ya… did you even sleep last night?"
He looked away.
"Yeah."
"Liar."
She stepped closer, scanning his face.
"Your eyes are literally darker than my future."
He huffed a quiet laugh despite everything.
She didn't smile back.
She touched his wrist gently.
"Nightmare again?"
He didn't answer.
Which was enough of an answer.
She sighed, adjusting his collar casually like she'd done it a thousand times.
"Let's go. You're not walking alone today."
He blinked. "Why?"
She deadpanned,
"Because every time you walk alone you look like a tragic K-drama lead who's about to get hit by emotional damage."
He made a face.
She nudged him with her shoulder.
And just like that — the morning felt less heavy.
Walking to School
Haeyoung was talking.
More like ranting.
"And then mom didn't wake me up! She said 'you're old enough to wake yourself.' Old enough? I'm barely old enough to function!"
He listened quietly, hands in pockets.
She peered at him.
"Why are you quiet? Again."
He checked his phone.
"Oh… battery died."
She rolled her eyes hard.
"Great excuse. Next you'll say the moon told you to stop talking."
He smiled slightly.
She noticed.
Her tone softened.
"Feeling a bit better?"
"…Yeah."
"Good."
She bumped his arm again.
"That's literally my job."
He raised a brow. "Your job?"
"Best friend position. Full-time. No salary. Just vibes."
He almost said, you're more than that.
But instead he stayed silent.
At School — Courtyard
The courtyard was loud, chaotic, full of backpacks and gossip.
Lee Hana spotted them immediately.
"OH MY GOD— they arrived together, AGAIN!"
Ji Eun slapped her arm.
"Hana, shut up—everyone already knows they go to school together."
Hana marched toward them dramatically.
"Hong Haeyoung! Kim Junghan! CONFESS! Are you two secretly dating or what?"
Junghan blinked, startled.
Haeyoung didn't miss a beat.
"Yes. I'm dating him."
Junghan froze.
Hana gasped.
Haeyoung continued,
"…dating him in my dreams. Unfortunately reality hates me."
Junghan exhaled slowly as Hana started yelling.
Ji Eun laughed softly. "Morning, Junghan."
"Morning," he said quietly.
Ji Eun's eyes softened at his expression.
"Rough night?"
He paused.
"…A bit."
Haeyoung immediately stepped forward,
"Ya, don't interrogate my friend like a detective."
Hana teased,
"Your FRIEND. Right."
"Right," Haeyoung emphasized loudly.
Junghan tried not to react to that tiny sharp sting in his chest.
Classroom
Students chat.
Snacks everywhere.
Desk noises.
Sunlight through windows.
Haeyoung tossed a snack at Junghan's desk.
"Eat."
He blinked. "What is this?"
"Almond snack. Energy. For your depressing aura."
"My… what?"
"Your aura."
She pointed at him dramatically.
"Today it's giving: I survived but barely."
He choked on air.
She leaned closer, voice softening just for him.
"Junghan."
He looked at her.
"You can tell me if something happened."
His throat tightened.
He looked down at his hands.
"…Nothing. Just the usual."
Her expression stiffened.
The "usual" meant one thing.
And she hated that.
She took a deep breath — controlling anger that wasn't meant for him.
"Then… after school, come with me. Not taking no."
"…Haeyoung—"
"No."
She crossed her arms.
"We're hanging out. End of discussion."
He stared at her.
She always acted casual.
Playful.
Loud.
But in moments like this…
She became the safest place he had.
Lunch Break
Hana and Ji Eun were sitting on the floor eating kimbap.
Haeyoung dragged Junghan behind her.
Hana smirked.
"Oh, private rooftop date?"
"Hana, shut up."
Ji Eun giggled softly.
Haeyoung pulled Junghan to sit beside her.
"Eat with us."
He hesitated.
"…I didn't bring lunch."
Hana shouted,
"THEN EAT OURS— we literally brought half the grocery store."
Ji Eun pushed a lunch box toward him gently.
"I made extra."
He blinked.
"…Thank you."
The girls continued chatting loudly, teasing, gossiping.
Junghan sat quietly, eating slowly, eyes softening as he watched them — watched her.
A life like this…
He wished he could keep it.
He wished it wouldn't end.
After School
Haeyoung caught his sleeve as he was heading toward the gate.
"Come with me."
He knew better than to argue.
They walked down the street toward a small chocolate shop.
The moment they entered, she announced,
"Two hot chocolates! Extra marshmallows! One for my emotionally damaged friend!"
Junghan covered his face.
"Haeyoung, please—"
The owner laughed.
"You two are adorable."
"WE'RE NOT—"
"WE'RE NOT—"
They both said at the same time.
Then stared at each other.
Then looked away instantly.
She handed him the warm cup.
"Drink. You look cold."
He stared at it.
Then at her.
"Why do you care so much?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Because it's you."
His heart stopped for one second.
Just one.
Then resumed, painfully.
Evening — (Walking Home)
"Today felt better," he said quietly.
She grinned.
"Because of me, obviously."
"…Yeah."
She blinked.
He had never answered so sincerely before.
Her voice softened, "You can always talk to me, okay?"
He nodded.
"Always?" she asked again.
"…Always."
She smiled brightly — not knowing that word meant the world to him.
But the night wasn't finished.
Because waiting at home…
Was another storm.
And tomorrow…
their story would shift again.
The sun had already set when Junghan reached his street.
The warmth from Haeyoung's laughter…
the sweetness of the hot chocolate…
the comfort of being seen…
All of it started dissolving as he stepped closer to his house.
Because the closer he got,
the louder the shouting became.
He closed his eyes for exactly three seconds — grounding himself, breathing slowly — before opening the door.
Inside the House
CRASH.
A vase shattered somewhere.
His father's voice followed, tired and strained,
"Please, stop— the neighbors will hear—"
His mother screamed,
"LET THEM! LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW WHAT KIND OF SON YOU'VE GIVEN ME!"
Junghan froze in the hallway.
He didn't want to go inside.
He didn't want to hear it.
He didn't want to be the reason for another storm.
But the second Mrs. Kim saw him…
Everything shifted.
Her eyes sharpened like a blade finding its target.
"Ah. Look who's home."
Junghan bowed slightly, quietly.
"...I'm back, mother."
She scoffed.
"Don't 'mother' me. Do you know what day it is today?"
He blinked.
"Today…?"
She threw a photo frame at the ground — his brother's picture — glass shattering like a stab of guilt.
"The day we lost Jung-san."
His breath caught.
It was that day.
His chest tightened painfully.
Her voice rose, trembling with fury and grief.
"If YOU weren't playing with him—
If YOU hadn't dragged him to the terrace—
If YOU had just been careful—
He would still be HERE!"
His father shouted,
"Honey, stop! It wasn't his fault—"
She pushed him away.
"Don't you dare protect him! The wrong son survived."
The words stabbed him.
But he didn't react.
He just stood there.
Quiet.
Still.
Breaking silently.
His father stepped toward him gently.
"Junghan… go to your room, son."
He nodded, shoulders tight.
But before he could leave—
His mother hissed,
"Did you at least eat dinner? Or did you go crying to that Hong girl again?"
He froze.
His father's tone hardened.
"Enough."
She glared at him, furious.
"One son dead. One useless. God really hates me."
Junghan's fingers dug into his palms until they hurt.
His father placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Junghan," he whispered, voice soft, "come with me."
Inside Junghan's Room
His father closed the door behind them, shutting out the noise.
The silence inside felt heavier.
Mr. Kim looked at him quietly, studying his face.
"…Did you eat?" he asked gently.
Junghan nodded faintly.
"Haeyoung… took me to her house."
A small, weary smile appeared on his father's face.
"Ah… that girl."
He chuckled softly.
"She always knows how to make you smile. She's a good one."
Junghan looked down.
"She's my friend."
His father gave him a look.
"A friend you look at like she's your entire world."
Junghan's throat tightened.
"Dad…"
Mr. Kim squeezed his shoulder.
"You're a good son, Junghan. No matter what your mother says. None of this was your fault. Not then… not now."
The comfort made tears threaten, but Junghan blinked them away.
His father sighed, brushing his hair gently — something he used to do when Junghan was younger.
"You should sleep early, hm? Big exam tomorrow."
"Yeah… I will."
His father turned off the main light and stepped out.
"Goodnight, son."
"Goodnight, Dad."
The door closed softly.
For a moment, everything was calm.
Until—
1:52 AM — THE NIGHTMARE
It began the same way.
The rooftop.
The wind.
His brother laughing.
"Catch me, Hannie!"
He ran after him.
The laughter turned into a slip.
A scream.
A fall.
Blood.
Then silence.
Junghan jerked awake, choking on his breath, tears streaming.
His heart pounded painfully.
He gripped the sheets tightly, trying to breathe, but the memory was too sharp tonight — sharper because of the anniversary.
He buried his face into his hands.
"…I'm sorry," he whispered to the empty room.
"I'm sorry hyung… I'm sorry…"
His voice broke.
Next Morning — 6:10 AM
He didn't sleep again.
He washed his face but the exhaustion still clung to him.
He stepped outside quietly, hoping Haeyoung wasn't waiting—
But she was.
Again.
This time with a coffee can in her hand, tapping her foot impatiently.
The moment she saw his face, her expression dropped.
"…You didn't sleep."
He stayed silent.
She stepped closer, grabbing his face with both hands to look at him properly.
Her voice softened dangerously.
"Tell me what happened."
He inhaled shakily.
"…Nothing."
"Junghan."
He looked away.
She sighed deeply, frustrated at his stubbornness but gentle with him.
Without warning, she pulled him into a hug.
He stiffened.
"W—what are you doing—?"
"Just shut up," she murmured.
"You look like you're holding the whole world alone."
He swallowed hard.
"…I'm fine."
"You're not."
She pressed her cheek against his shoulder.
"And it's okay to not be fine. At least with me."
A small breath escaped him — half relief, half pain.
Then—
A new voice interrupted.
"Hong Haeyoung?"
They pulled apart.
Standing a few steps away…
Min Jisoo.
The boy Haeyoung used to like.
Handsome. Calm. Oblivious.
He smiled softly.
"I was looking for you. Teacher Myung wants to discuss the art club competition…"
Haeyoung blinked, startled.
"Oh— Jisoo? Early today?"
Junghan went silent instantly.
Jisoo glanced between them.
His smile faltered for a second seeing how close they stood.
"…Did I interrupt something?"
Haeyoung shook her head quickly.
"No! No, nothing like that."
Junghan looked down.
Something inside him twisted.
For the first time…
he felt a hint of jealousy.
A new crack in his heart.
And this…
was only the beginning.