Dry

A friend or something more? That's how you thought of Su-ho. You knew each other too well—you knew each other like the back of your hand. Habits, dreams, fears, deepest secrets—you'd discussed all of this time and again. It seemed you knew each other inside and out. But wasn't that enough to make you wonder: is there something more between you than just friendship? Each of his goodbye hugs—perhaps for Su-ho it was a matter of course, a simple friendly habit. But your heart skipped a beat every time he held you to his chest like that, when his palm lingered on your back a little longer, and you felt the warmth radiating from him. You caught yourself waiting for these moments.

One day, on a typical school day, during recess, you sat across from Su-ho. He rested his head on the desk and looked at you with a slightly sleepy, relaxed gaze. The classroom was noisy—classmates chatting, laughing, someone arguing loudly about something—but for you, it was as if only he existed. His hand gently touched the ends of your hair and began twirling it around his finger—lightly, weightlessly, as if playing. You were silent, and the silence between you didn't seem awkward. Su-ho broke the silence. His lips twitched in a slight smile, and he spoke quietly but clearly, looking directly at you.

• "You know, you're beautiful."