MasukWhen Haru stepped into the train station, the air felt heavier than usual.Maybe it was because of what happened at school.Maybe it was because tonight mattered more than he wanted to admit.He scanned the crowded platform but didn’t see Tae Min anywhere.He quickly pulled out his phone and called him.Upstairs, near the ticket gates, Tae Min’s phone vibrated.“Haru? Is he already here? Where is he?” he muttered before answering.“Where are you?” Tae Min asked immediately.“I should be the one asking that. Where are you?” Haru shot back.“Are you at the station?”“Yes. I’m sure this is the one near my house.”“I’m upstairs near the entrance.”Haru turned in a slow circle. “I’m downstairs… and there’s a train on the other side.”Tae Min froze. “What?”“There’s a train on the opposite track.”“Then you’re on the other platform.”Silence.“…Wait. You’re saying we’re separated by the tracks?”“Yes.”Haru felt ridiculous. “Then come over here.”“If I do that, we’ll take the train going th
“Yeah! I knew you would agree! Yes! Woohoo!” Tae Min shouted, throwing both arms into the air as if he had just won a championship.A few students near the rooftop door turned to stare.Haru’s eyes widened in embarrassment. “Hey! Sit down! You’re not a kid anymore.”“Why?” Tae Min laughed, spinning once. “This is a celebration!”“I said sit down!” Haru hissed, grabbing Tae Min’s sleeve and pulling him back toward the bench near the railing.Tae Min stumbled forward and nearly fell on top of him.Haru’s grip tightened. “People are looking at us.”Tae Min glanced around casually. “Let them. What do they care?”Haru’s jaw clenched. His voice dropped. “I care.”That made Tae Min pause.There was something in Haru’s tone—something heavier than embarrassment.“…Okay. Fine,” Tae Min muttered, sitting properly this time. “But don’t pretend you’re not excited.”Haru avoided his eyes for a second before answering. “Of course I am. I just don’t need to announce it to the whole school.”Tae Min l
Tae Min felt it before he understood it.Haru was avoiding his eyes.He had glanced at him once in the car — just once — but Haru immediately looked away, pretending to adjust his earphones.Why is he acting like that?Tae Ha continued driving toward school, humming softly to herself. Tae Yeon was half-asleep in the front seat.Tae Min slowly pulled out his phone and opened the map application. He searched the mall again. Arcade location. Movie times. A small gift shop on the second floor.He smiled unconsciously.Haru noticed.From the corner of his eye, he saw Tae Min’s lips curve upward — that quiet, secret smile.What is he smiling about?Haru leaned slightly to peek.The moment Tae Min sensed movement, he turned his body away and lowered his phone out of sight.Then he giggled.Softly.Haru’s eyebrow twitched.Oh, he wants to play like that?Haru pulled out his phone and typed aggressively.WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!Tae Min’s phone buzzed. He read it — and laughed under his breath.
The morning air was still cool when Tae Min, Tae Yeon, and Haru hurried across the parking lot.“Shotgun!” Tae Yeon declared, racing ahead and jumping into the front seat.“You always say that,” Tae Min muttered, sliding into the back seat beside Haru.“Buckle up, boys,” Tae Ha called gently from the driver’s seat.“Okay, Mrs. Tae Ha!” Haru replied brightly, fastening his seatbelt.Tae Min mumbled, “Okay, Mom,” without looking up from his phone.“We’ll stop by Haru’s house first,” Tae Ha continued as she started the engine.Haru straightened slightly. “Thank you, Mrs. Tae Ha. Did my mom know we’re coming?”“I texted her before we left,” Tae Ha said with a smile. “She said she prepared your favorite dishes.”Haru’s eyes lit up. “She did? Thank you for telling her!”Beside him, Tae Min’s fingers paused briefly over his screen.Favorite dishes.He remembered the way Haru smiled at dinner last night, the way he clung to him in his sleep.Stop thinking about that.“You know what?” Tae Ha s
“Are you awake now?” Tae Min whispered.Haru only tightened his arms. “Where’s my pillow…?”Tae Min frowned. “What did you mean earlier?”“Ahh… my pillow…”Before Tae Min could react, Haru pulled him close and hugged him tightly.“Hey! That’s me!” Tae Min tried to pry himself loose. “I can’t move!”Haru smiled in his sleep. “Fluffy… so soft…”“I am not soft,” Tae Min muttered, his face heating.Haru nuzzled closer. “Best pillow ever…”Tae Min froze.Was he sleep talking? Or was he pretending?“You’re hugging me like I’m a body pillow,” Tae Min whispered. “I’m not even that comfortable.”Haru shifted slightly. “Hmm… it’s getting harder.”“I told you,” Tae Min hissed under his breath.He hesitated… then slowly wrapped his arms around Haru.“I have no choice,” he murmured, blushing. “You won’t let go.”Haru let out a small, content sound. “Best pillow…”“Quiet,” Tae Min warned. “They’ll hear you.”“So cold…” Haru suddenly shivered. “It’s cold…”Tae Min glanced at the air conditioner. “Ar
“I can’t breathe!” Haru gasped, his voice half-laughing, half-panicking as Tae Min tightened his arms around him.“Where were you?” Tae Min demanded, still holding him like he might vanish again. “Why did you suddenly disappear?”“I said I can’t breathe!”Tae Min finally loosened his grip—but only slightly.“You scared me,” he muttered. “You were gone at the pool. I thought—”“You thought what?” Haru challenged.“That you left.”Haru stared at him.“Didn’t you say you wanted me to leave?”The words struck harder than Tae Min expected.Silence settled between them.“What happened to your new playmate?” Haru asked, his tone carefully casual.Tae Min looked away. “I got rid of her.”“Why? I thought you liked playing with her more than me.”“I made the wrong choice,” Tae Min admitted quietly. “I regretted replacing you the moment you walked out.”Haru blinked.“Did you really look for me?” he asked. “Did you go to my house?”“Of course. I wouldn’t lie about that.”For a moment, Haru’s exp







