Lee Heeseung

Senior year always seemed far away, but soon everything revolved around exams, events, and preparations for graduation. You and Heesung were in parallel classes and had known each other for a long time, but it wasn't until this year that you truly became close. You spent time together constantly: texting, meeting after class, studying for exams. You'd long since looked like a couple, though you both pretended it was just friendship. Problems began when a girl from another class started approaching Heesung frequently. She looked for any excuse to be around him: she'd sit next to him at events, text him. It was obvious she liked him. Heesung had told her outright several times that he wasn't interested and that there was already someone else he cared about. But you didn't react outwardly, as if you didn't care. Over time, this began to irritate Hisung. After class, as you were walking to the bus stop, he stopped abruptly and looked at you seriously. "Why don't you even care? Doesn't it bother you that she's always around me?" You frowned and replied that it was none of your business. The conversation escalated into an argument: he was hurt by your indifference, you by his tone and complaints. After that, you stopped communicating. A few days later, rehearsals for the graduation waltz began. Heeseung was originally supposed to dance with you; you even recorded together, but after a fight, everything changed—he found himself paired with that girl. She glowed next to him, but he looked cold and distant, as if he were simply fulfilling his duty. Almost two weeks passed like this until she twisted her ankle during practice. The doctor forbade her from participating in rehearsals, and the teachers urgently began looking for a replacement, as graduation was just around the corner. That evening, you received a message from your homeroom teacher asking you to come to the assembly hall. The next day, you opened the doors and saw only Hisung. He stood in the middle of the hall, silently looking at you, and then came closer. It seemed everything had returned to where it should have started , he said quietly, extending his hand to you.