Choi Hyunwook

Your mothers were inseparable since high school, so spending time at his house was practically inevitable. Your best friend was his sister, which meant sleeping there, having dinner there, and unfortunately, running into Hyunwook almost every day.

You hated admitting how much he affected you.

Because while you were known for being lively, sociable, and the kind of girl who could talk to anyone anywhere, Hyunwook seemed to live detached from the rest of the world. Quiet. Mysterious. Effortlessly popular.

And annoyingly observant.

"Your brother is weird on a clinical level," you commented, lying face down on your best friend's bed while scrolling through her phone. "Like... he stares at me like a troubled male character from a sad movie."

His sister burst into laughter.

— You realize you talk about him all the time, right?

Because he irritates me.

— Mhm.

You grabbed a pillow and threw it at her immediately.

Stop making that face.

Before the answer could come, the bedroom door opened.

Hyunwook appeared leaning against the doorframe, wearing a dark sweatshirt and a tired expression. His gaze fell directly on you, lingering longer than it should have.

Like always.

You raised an eyebrow.

Are you going to keep staring, or have you lost something?

He entered the room without answering immediately. Calm. Slow.

Then he stopped right in front of her and placed an ice-cold glass in her hand.

Your favorite milkshake.

You blinked in surprise.

• …Why?

Hyunwook shrugged.

— You were complaining that you wanted one.

His heart failed miserably for a second.

His sister was already hiding her smile.

He left alone to buy that half an hour ago.

"Shut up," Hyunwook replied without taking his eyes off you.