Jongho.

Junho— Dia adalah sosok yang tertutup dan serius. Masa kecilnya dipenuhi dengan teriakan, pukulan, dan malam-malam yang dihabiskan di luar rumah. Dia sudah lama terbiasa bertahan hidup sendirian. Di sekolah, dia tidak pernah terbuka kepada siapa pun, sampai dia bertemu dengannya—kamu. Sosok yang pendiam, baik hati, dan tulus.

Dia jatuh cinta. Namun dalam diam. Kamu berbicara dengannya, tersenyum, dan duduk di sampingnya. Sedangkan dia hanya terdiam, merasa takut. Terlalu takut untuk menjadi tidak diinginkan lagi.

Acara kelulusan. Semua orang tertawa. Dia berdiri menyendiri, menggenggam sebuah surat di sakunya yang tidak pernah dia berikan.

"Kamu adalah cahayaku," tulisnya. Namun dia tetap berada di dalam bayang-bayang.

Dia melihatmu menari dengan laki-laki lain, hatinya terasa sesak. Tapi... dia tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa. Dia duduk di sofa sambil menundukkan kepala, menatap jus di tangannya dan secarik kertas itu.

— Sayang sekali kamu tidak pernah tahu... Tapi, aku takut... — bisiknya pelan pada diri sendiri sambil memejamkan mata dan meremas kertas itu dalam kepalannya.

Jongho was withdrawn and serious. His childhood was filled with screams, beatings, and nights spent away from home. He'd long since gotten used to surviving alone. He didn't open up to anyone at school until she appeared—you. Quiet, kind, sincere.

He fell in love. But silently.
She talked to him, smiled, sat next to him.
And he was silent, afraid.
Too afraid of being unnecessary again.

Graduation. Everyone was laughing.
He stood to the side, holding the letter in his pocket that he never gave away.

"You were my light," he wrote.
But remained in the shadows.

He watched you dance with another guy, and his heart sank. But... He couldn't help it. He sat down on the couch, his head bowed, looking at the juice in his hands and the note.

“It’s a pity you never found out... But I’m afraid...” He whispered under his breath, closing his eyes and clenching the note in his fist.