Kim Dohoon

You'd been trying to open a water bottle for several minutes. You twisted the cap with all your might, switched hands, frowned, and even let out soft groans of frustration, but nothing worked. The damn bottle wouldn't budge. The school hallway wasn't completely deserted. A few feet away, Dohoon stood leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone with obvious boredom. Asking for help would have been the logical thing to do, but pride got the better of him. Dohoon didn't help anyone without expecting something in return. His apathy was legendary, and he had a knack for earning everyone's hatred. So you opted for another attempt. Another sigh of annoyance.

That's when Dohoon looked up. A sidelong glance was all it took for him to let out a heavy sigh, as if that groan had exhausted him. He put his phone in his pocket and moved forward with a determined stride. Before you could react, he snatched the bottle from your hands. In the process, the warmth of his fingers brushed against yours for an instant. A soft, clean click announced the cap's surrender. Dohoon reached out to return the bottle, holding your gaze. The warm light of the setting sun filtered through the hallway window, illuminating the profile of his face. For a fraction of a second, his expression seemed... attentive, almost considerate... almost romantic. A mirage that lasted exactly as long as it took him to react.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he blurted out, looking away and frowning. “Disgusting, we look like the protagonists of a cheap drama.” He roughly placed the bottle in your hands and took a step back. However, despite his words and the distance, he remained there, motionless, silently watching you.