Distance
1110 Words
The next few days were strange.
Very strange.
At least for Han Seo-yeon.
Because somehow…
Kang Min-jun seemed to be avoiding her.
At first, she thought she was imagining it.
But then she began to notice the little things.
Whenever she entered the classroom, he would suddenly become interested in the view outside the window.
Whenever she passed by him in the hallway, he would simply walk past without looking at her.
Even during lunch, if she happened to be nearby, he would quietly leave.
It was subtle.
But noticeable.
And for some reason…
it bothered her.
Seo-yeon sighed softly as she arranged her books on her desk.
Did she do something wrong?
She couldn't remember offending him.
Maybe she had said something strange.
Or perhaps—
she had misunderstood his kindness from the beginning.
Maybe lending her an umbrella had meant nothing to him.
After all…
they were from completely different worlds.
"You're sighing again."
Seo-yeon looked up.
Lee Ji-ho stood beside her desk, smiling.
"You'll grow old quickly if you keep doing that."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Good morning."
"That's better."
He sat on the empty chair in front of her.
"Now tell me."
"What?"
"Why do you look like someone stole your favorite book?"
Seo-yeon laughed softly.
"I don't look that bad."
"You do."
"...Do I really?"
Ji-ho nodded seriously.
"Very."
She looked down at her desk.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Then—
"Do you think someone can suddenly dislike another person?"
Ji-ho blinked.
"That's random."
"I know."
He studied her face carefully.
Then—
"This is about Min-jun, isn't it?"
Seo-yeon's eyes widened.
"W-What?"
Ji-ho chuckled.
"I knew it."
"It isn't like that."
"Really?"
"..."
"..."
He smiled.
"You're easy to read."
Seo-yeon looked away, embarrassed.
"I just…"
She paused.
"I feel like I did something wrong."
Ji-ho's expression softened.
"Did he say that?"
"No."
"Then why do you think so?"
"...Because he's been avoiding me."
Silence.
Ji-ho glanced toward the window.
Kang Min-jun sat in his usual seat.
As expected, his eyes were on Seo-yeon.
The moment he noticed Ji-ho looking at him—
he looked away immediately.
Ji-ho nearly laughed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"No."
Seo-yeon looked at him.
"I don't think you did anything wrong."
"But—"
"Trust me."
His smile widened.
"If anything… I think Min-jun is the one with the problem."
"...What does that mean?"
Ji-ho simply laughed.
"I'll tell you someday."
Seo-yeon looked even more confused.
---
Meanwhile—
Kang Min-jun stared outside the classroom window.
Or at least, he pretended to.
Because the truth was—
he could hear every word.
And it annoyed him.
Why was Ji-ho always around her?
Why did she smile so easily when talking to him?
No.
That wasn't important.
Nothing about this was important.
He frowned slightly.
This was exactly why he had decided to keep his distance.
Because things had become strange.
Too strange.
Whenever he saw Han Seo-yeon—
his thoughts became messy.
Whenever she smiled—
his chest felt… lighter.
And whenever she looked upset—
he found himself worrying.
It made no sense.
He had known her for only a short time.
There was absolutely no reason for him to care.
None.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Maybe he truly was overthinking.
Yes.
That had to be it.
Because there was no other explanation.
Suddenly—
laughter.
Soft laughter.
A blurry image flashed through his mind.
Pink petals.
Warm sunlight.
A small figure running ahead.
Then—
nothing.
Min-jun immediately opened his eyes.
Again.
These strange memories again.
His brows furrowed.
Who was that?
And why did it always happen whenever Seo-yeon was nearby?
No.
Enough.
He had already decided.
He would stop thinking about her.
He would keep his distance.
Everything would return to normal.
Yes.
That was for the best.
---
By lunchtime, the rumors had only grown worse.
"Look, Ji-ho is sitting with her again."
"I thought Min-jun liked her."
"Maybe Ji-ho does."
"Poor Na-ri."
The cafeteria buzzed with whispers.
Seo-yeon lowered her head.
She was beginning to hate rumors.
Ji-ho, however, looked completely relaxed.
"Ignore them."
"...How?"
"Like this."
He picked up his juice and took a sip.
Seo-yeon laughed softly.
"You make it sound easy."
"It is."
"No, it isn't."
Ji-ho smiled.
For a moment, neither of them noticed—
someone watching them.
From across the cafeteria.
Kang Min-jun.
His expression remained unreadable.
But his eyes stayed on them.
More specifically—
on Seo-yeon's smile.
Again.
That strange feeling.
Why did it bother him?
Ji-ho was simply making her laugh.
That was all.
So why…
did he suddenly feel irritated?
A friend beside him suddenly spoke.
"You've been staring for five minutes."
"I haven't."
"Sure."
Min-jun frowned.
His friend grinned.
"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you're jealous."
Min-jun nearly choked.
"What?"
The boy laughed.
"I'm joking."
"..."
"...Unless?"
"I'm not jealous."
"Okay."
"I mean it."
"Of course."
Min-jun looked away.
Annoyed.
Ridiculous.
Jealous?
Of Ji-ho?
Impossible.
He didn't even care.
He absolutely did not care.
Then why…
did he suddenly lose his appetite?
---
After school—
the sky was painted in shades of orange and gold.
Students slowly began leaving the campus.
Seo-yeon quietly packed her books.
As she stepped out of the classroom—
she suddenly stopped.
Kang Min-jun stood a few steps away.
Alone.
For a brief moment—
their eyes met.
Silence.
The hallway suddenly felt too quiet.
Seo-yeon hesitated.
Then—
"Min-jun?"
The moment she called his name—
he froze.
It was the first time she had called him that.
No honorifics.
Just—
Min-jun.
For some reason—
his heart skipped a beat.
Seo-yeon took a small step forward.
"Did I… do something wrong?"
Her voice was soft.
Confused.
Genuine.
Min-jun looked at her.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—
"No."
Seo-yeon blinked.
"...Then why have you been avoiding me?"
Silence.
Because honestly—
he didn't know how to answer.
Should he tell her?
That simply being around her made him feel strange?
That he kept seeing blurry memories he couldn't understand?
That he had been trying to convince himself not to think about her?
Ridiculous.
He looked away.
"...You're overthinking."
Seo-yeon's expression slowly fell.
"Oh."
For some reason—
seeing that expression bothered him.
A lot.
"...I see."
She forced a small smile.
"I'm sorry."
Before he could say anything—
she bowed slightly.
Then walked away.
Min-jun stood there.
Watching her retreating figure.
The hallway suddenly felt emptier.
A strange heaviness settled in his chest.
Then—
for the first time—
he wondered.
Had keeping his distance really been the right choice?
- Writer
