Our lips met

The moment their eyes met, a sudden charge of electricity filled the air between them. Both of their hearts began to pound in their chests.

Hyun Soo's eyes widened in surprise, his breath catching as the realization of their closeness hit him. In contrast, Kim Min Jun's gaze softened, a playful amusement dancing in his eyes as he took in Hyun Soo's flustered expression.

Hyun Soo quickly pulled back, his face flushing as he scrambled to apologize. "I-I'm sorry!" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper as he hastily sat up, bringing his hand to his mouth as if to cover his embarrassment. 

His eyelids fluttered nervously, and a faint blush crept across his cheeks, betraying his discomfort. He couldn't believe how he ended up kissing Min Jun's cheek.

Min Jun, now sitting up straight, couldn't help but chuckle softly at Hyun Soo's reaction. "Why did you suddenly go so quiet?" he teased, his tone light, but with a hint of mischief. "It's not like our lips met or anything. There's no need to hide your face from me." His words were playful, but they carried an undercurrent of something deeper, something that made Hyun Soo's heart skip a beat.

Hyun Soo hesitated, then slowly turned his head to look at Min Jun. "Why are you doing this?" he asked. He wasn't sure if he was asking about the teasing, the way Min Jun made him feel, or something else entirely.

Min Jun feigned innocence, tilting his head slightly as if he genuinely didn't know what Hyun Soo was talking about. "What did I do?" he replied, his tone light, though his eyes betrayed a hint of the amusement he was trying to hide.

Hyun Soo's frustration bubbled up inside him. He wanted to tell Min Jun to stop, to not play with his emotions like this, not to flirt with him, but the words wouldn't come. 

Instead, he sighed deeply, his resolve weakening. "You should leave," he said finally, his voice quieter now, tinged with a sadness he couldn't quite conceal. "I need to finish some assignments... I hope you understand." 

He couldn't bring himself to explain the real reason, the fear that gnawed at him—the looming threat that if he didn't secure the top rank, his father would send him away to the USA, far from Kim Min Jun.

Min Jun's smile faded slightly as he sensed the turmoil in Hyun Soo. He knew something was troubling him, something that went beyond the awkwardness of the moment. 

He had a feeling it was related to Hyun Soo's father, the man who cast a long, intimidating shadow over Hyun Soo's life. 

But Min Jun also knew better than to press for details. Instead, he simply nodded, the teasing glint in his eyes replaced by a quiet understanding. 

"Alright," he said softly, rising to his feet. "I'll go. But, remember to go to bed early," he stated. 

"Hmm." Hyun Soo watched Min Jun heading to the balcony. "Be careful and don't fall down," he said with concern. 

Min Jun waved at him and easily glided down the staircase. Hyun Soo ran to the balcony to see if Min Jun safely descended and at the same time, he made sure no one had seen him.  

"Was he really here to tease me or something else? He never acted like this before," Hyun Soo murmured before going in.

~~~~~

The next morning, Kim Min Jun woke up early and got ready for school, his mind already occupied with the thoughts of the day ahead. As he stepped out of his room, he made his way to the kitchen where breakfast had been laid out for him on the table.

The sight of the neatly arranged meal brought a warmth to his heart, but it was the small sticky note placed beside it that truly made him smile. The note simply read, "Finish it all," written in his mother's familiar handwriting.

A gentle smile spread across Min Jun's face as he held the note. The simple gesture reminded him of how much his mother cared for him, and how much she meant to him.

Having her by his side, especially now, was a comforting thought. But the smile quickly faded as he remembered the burden he carried—he needed to protect her this time. There was something sinister lurking within the Park family, a conspiracy he was determined to uncover, no matter the cost.

After finishing his breakfast quickly, Min Jun gathered his things and headed out the door. The cool morning air greeted him as he walked down the quiet lane leading to the bus stop. His thoughts were so preoccupied with the day ahead that he almost didn't notice the subtle presence beside him. But then, he caught sight of a familiar figure from the corner of his eye.

"Hyun Soo!" Min Jun exclaimed, surprised to see his friend walking alongside him. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you in the car?" he asked, referring to the luxurious vehicle Hyun Soo usually arrived in.

Hyun Soo flashed him a carefree grin. "I thought I'd walk with you today," he replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Min Jun raised an eyebrow, slightly puzzled. "From the bus stop?" he asked, knowing Hyun Soo used a car.

"Yes," Hyun Soo said without hesitation, his tone lighthearted and genuine.

Min Jun couldn't help but chuckle. "Then, you are going to be in trouble. Buses are usually loaded in the morning hours," he stated. 

"But you will be on the bus. So, I don't have to be worried," Hyun Soo said, gazing at Min Jun. 

"Of course! I'll protect you," Min Jun answered. 

Upon arriving at the bus station, Hyun Soo wasn't surprised to see the crowd. While going daily through the car, he would always ask his driver to stop nearby to make sure Min Min would have climbed the bus on time. 

Min Jun noticed Hyun Soo's stare at him and wiped his cheek. "Was there something on my face?" He inquired. 

"No," Hyun Soo replied. "Oh, the bus is here!" He chimed in and found how students ran toward it. Suddenly, Min Jun held his hand and dragged him along with him. Min Jun paid the fare and they stood in the middle of the bus. 

Hyun Soo couldn't find anything to hold when Min Jun rested his hand on his arm. "Hold me firmly," he said. His breath fanned his lips as they faced each other. 

Hyun Soo's finger curled on Min Jun's arm, particularly near the bicep. "Do you give this kind of treatment to others too?" he queried. 

Min Jun mused at his question. "No. Only you can get that special treatment," he replied while peering into Hyun Soo's eyes.