Cracks In The Ice
590 Words
The rest of the day felt strange.
Very strange.
Ever since the incident at the lockers, Kang Min-jun had not left Seo-yeon's mind.
Especially the look on his face.
For a brief moment...
he had looked lost.
As if he had remembered something painful.
Seo-yeon shook her head.
Why was she even thinking about him?
They barely knew each other.
Just then, the classroom door slid open.
Everyone immediately looked up.
Kang Min-jun entered.
The atmosphere changed instantly.
As always.
Girls secretly stared at him.
Some students straightened their backs.
Others lowered their voices.
Min-jun, however, looked unusually quiet.
His expression remained cold, but there was a slight crease between his brows.
As if something was bothering him.
He walked to his seat near the window.
For a brief second—
his eyes met Seo-yeon's.
Then he looked away.
The whispers immediately started.
"Did you see that?"
"He looked at her again."
"This is getting weird."
Yoo Na-ri clenched her jaw.
Enough.
She had had enough.
---
During break time—
Seo-yeon was called to the rooftop.
She hesitated.
But eventually, she went.
The rooftop was empty.
Except for Yoo Na-ri and her friends.
The moment Seo-yeon arrived, Na-ri turned around.
Her expression was cold.
"I warned you."
Seo-yeon sighed softly.
"I really don't understand what your problem is."
"My problem?"
Na-ri laughed.
"My problem is you."
Seo-yeon frowned.
"You show up here and suddenly everyone is talking about you."
"That's not my fault."
"And now Min-jun is paying attention to you."
The rooftop became quiet.
Seo-yeon blinked.
"...What?"
Na-ri stepped closer.
"Do you think I don't notice?"
Seo-yeon looked genuinely confused.
Because honestly...
she had noticed nothing.
Na-ri scoffed.
"Don't act innocent."
"I'm not."
"Then stay away from him."
Seo-yeon remained silent.
Na-ri's expression darkened.
"Do you know how long I've liked him?"
Her voice became softer.
"I've known him since we were children."
Seo-yeon's eyes widened slightly.
Children?
"But no matter what I do..."
Na-ri smiled bitterly.
"He never looks at me."
For the first time—
Seo-yeon saw something unexpected.
Sadness.
Real sadness.
Na-ri wasn't just angry.
She was hurt.
But before Seo-yeon could say anything—
the rooftop door suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
Kang Min-jun.
Silence.
His eyes moved from Na-ri—
to Seo-yeon.
His expression immediately darkened.
"What are you doing?"
No one answered.
Na-ri forced a smile.
"We're just talking."
Min-jun looked at Seo-yeon.
"Are you?"
Seo-yeon hesitated.
"...Yes."
He frowned.
She was lying.
For some reason, he could tell.
Na-ri's fists tightened.
Again.
He was looking at Seo-yeon.
Not her.
Never her.
"I think you should leave."
Min-jun's voice was calm.
But cold.
Very cold.
Na-ri's face paled.
"...You're taking her side?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then why are you here?"
Silence.
Even Min-jun himself didn't know.
Why had he come?
Why had he felt uneasy when he heard Seo-yeon had been called to the rooftop?
Why did he keep worrying about her?
Suddenly—
A memory flashed.
Cherry blossoms.
A little girl standing alone.
Crying.
And a younger version of himself saying:
> "Don't cry. I'll protect you."
Min-jun froze.
His breathing became uneven.
Protect...
Who?
The image disappeared.
Again.
Leaving him confused.
Seo-yeon looked at him.
"...Are you okay?"
Her voice pulled him back.
Their eyes met.
And for some reason—
his chest tightened.
Na-ri watched everything.
Then she finally understood.
And that realization terrified her.
Because for the first time in years—
Kang Min-jun was looking at someone.
Someone other than her.
And that someone...
was Han Seo-yeon.
- Writer
