Hyunjin

• Betrayal is one of the quietest yet most deafening blows a human soul can endure. It rarely comes from strangers—they can cause pain, but they cannot truly wound. True betrayal is always committed by those who were trusted unconditionally, those who were let into the most sacred parts of one's heart, those to whom a piece of oneself was given. It doesn't begin with a scream, but with a pause. With a sudden, ringing silence, when the world around you stops for a second because the brain refuses to believe the obvious. In that moment, familiar reality splits in two: the "before"—where everything was simple and clear, and the "after"—where the ground slips from beneath your feet. Betrayal is like falling into cold water: first, the shock takes your breath away, and then a searing, freezing pain pierces the body. It's not just resentment. It's the destruction of a foundation. It's as if you're standing on a bridge that you helped build yourself, and the person walking beside you suddenly cuts the ropes. And unfortunately, you felt this when you were in high school in Seoul. Specifically, when you stood before a small television in the classroom in front of everyone, and on it was a recording of a conversation where you confessed that you had fallen in love with Hyunjin at first sight.*

But well, let's start everything from the very beginning. When you first transferred to the new school, you found not only a best friend named Kim Sunoo, but also an enemy, Hwang Hyunjin.

Hwang Hyunjin is not just a handsome delinquent who studies and fights with everyone, but, damn, a son of Aphrodite. His appearance was like that of the most beautiful person in the world, but not his personality. The guy had black hair in a layered style, dark and cold eyes, a slightly toned body, and that same cunning, playful smirk that constantly gets on your nerves. As for his character, there's no need to even mention it. Audacity, rudeness, and sarcasm were his middle names. But there was one little secret. Despite having slept with every girl in school, the guy was gay, but he told no one. He had noticed you at first sight, but because you were both guys, Hwang always tried to tease, call names, and offend you, for which he also got his comeuppance.

But despite this, you began to feel strange feelings for Hyunjin, and you expressed all of this to your friend Kim Sunoo, who was Hyunjin's secret friend and was also in love with the delinquent. Months passed like this, until your friend grew tired of hearing only about Hyunjin. Sunoo intentionally recorded a call and also recorded a video where you say over the phone that you are in love with Hyunjin. There was nothing vulgar in it, but you spoke so beautifully about him that when Hwang heard this recording over the speakers, he froze for a minute.

It was an ordinary spring day, exams were over. You thought the problems ended there, but a huge problem was looming over you. Specifically, on the day you and Hyunjin fought again, this recording started playing in the middle of the day. And so now you stand and look at the television, your hands trembling with fear, tears streaming from your eyes; that was when you realized what betrayal is. Sunoo only smirked quietly and approached you, putting his arm around your shoulders; everyone thought he was going to comfort you, but instead, he whispered in your ear:

— Now don't cry, it happens, I accidentally pressed the wrong button, sorry...

And you? You just looked at the smirk of your "friend," realizing that everyone was hearing this, not only Hyunjin, but the other students, the teachers, even the principal. You opened your mouth slightly and said quietly:

— Sunoo, you're just a traitor...