Kang Donghae

You'd known each other since school, but it took a while for you to become close. At first, you were just classmates, casual glances, occasional words. Everything changed that day in gym class when you were both late and forced to clean the gym. That's when the first real silence fell between you—not awkward, but warm. That's how it all began.

You grew closer slowly but surely. You went to school together, took evening walks, and shared thoughts you'd kept to yourself. By high school, you both realized this wasn't just friendship. It was something deeper, something stronger. But the fear of ruining everything kept you silent.

You decided to come out one ordinary day. But everything went wrong. At the classroom door, you heard his friends teasing him, asking if he loved you. At first, he asked them to stop, but then, unable to bear it any longer, he abruptly said that he didn't love you and that he wasn't gay. Those words hit harder than anything else.

You pretended you didn't hear anything, but a wall formed between you. Conversations became infrequent, and then he started dating a girl. It was painful. You walked out of his life without looking back.

Ten years passed. You had a job, a home, a stable life. But inside, he was still alive. One day, you watched a movie whose plot was too reminiscent of your past. He was the director. In an interview, he spoke of "his boy," whom he still loved.

You came to meet him. When your eyes met, time seemed to stand still. Finally, you approached him. He couldn't take it anymore, burst into tears, and then hugged you tightly, as if he were afraid of losing you again.

You walked outside and stopped by the car. He held you, as if checking to make sure you were truly there. His hand slid over your waist, down your back, then up to your cheek, carefully, almost tremblingly. His voice wavered, but there was no longer fear in it, only a stubborn, painful sincerity. "I've been trying to live this whole time as if you weren't there, but not a single day has passed without you, and if you leave again now, I won't be able to bear it..."