"Why are you here?"
You roll your eyes, barely glancing up at the person standing in front of you, your voice dripping with boredom.
"I'm here because I miss you," he replies, winking at you in that infuriating way that always makes you cringe.
You’re in your living room, buried in your textbooks, when this boy suddenly appears in front of you, as if someone summoned him from nowhere.
Minho.
He’s your brother Jisung’s best friend in the entire world—or so they claim. There’s a three-year gap between you and them. They’re in their final year of college, while you’re just a freshman.
You would give him a proper introduction, but the truth is, you can't stand him. You’ve hated him ever since you were 15. He and Jisung have always loved teasing you, making your life miserable whenever they could.
"Jisung! Your favorite family member is here!" you shout, unable to handle Minho’s relentless teasing any longer. Sure, you’re in college now and supposed to be more mature (or so you tell yourself), but after years of dealing with them, you’ve become accustomed to hating their antics.
"I wasn’t even part of the family… but I guess I will be after I marry one of the family members," Minho smirks, his voice dripping with mischief.
"Then go marry my brother," you retort, your expression as nonchalant as ever.
He laughs and casually snatches the book you were studying. You’re so used to his flirty teasing by now that it barely fazes you.
It all started back in high school when Jisung teased you relentlessly, convinced you had a crush on Minho. He found it on your pink diary and read it out loud, complete with the cheesy music that played whenever you opened it. (Well, you did have a crush on Minho back then, but it faded over time.)
Jisung teased you so much that you cried your eyes out, and then he told Minho all about it, sparking years of torment.
"Oh no, my sister might actually ace her exams now that she’s seen her only inspiration," Jisung chimes in as he walks down the stairs, pulling on a t-shirt. You roll your eyes at him too.
"I think I should come over more often. I might just make your sister the top student," Minho adds with a grin.
There goes your peaceful day.
But thankfully, they don’t bother you too much, as they soon move to the kitchen to eat. You try to refocus on your studies, but chemistry is giving you a hard time, so you pop in your earbuds and pull up a tutorial on YouTube. Just as you’re getting into it, a glass of orange juice and a muffin appear on your table (or rather, on top of your notebook).
"Eat, little devil. Food helps you focus more," Jisung says, placing the snacks down.
You mumble a quick thanks, thinking he’ll leave, but instead, he plops down on the couch behind you. You’re sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch, your books and notes spread out on the coffee table in front of you. Then, without a care in the world, Jisung props his legs up on the table, acting as if your things are invisible.
You were almost touched by your brother’s gesture… but never mind.
"Yah!" You glare at him, but he just shrugs and turns on the TV, putting on a movie. A minute later, Minho joins him.
"What are you studying, kid?" Minho asks, even though he’s already glanced at your book.
"None of your business."
"Oh, is that a new subject? I’ve never heard of it before."
Argh.
"You should help her, Minho. I heard from her professor that she scored low on a quiz," Jisung says, his tone annoyingly casual.
How does he know that?
"Really?" Minho leans forward, peering at what you’re writing. "Well, chemistry is indeed tough."
"Help her out. You always got high scores in that subject back in the day."
You’re listening to them while half-heartedly writing, your earbuds now turned down low. You’re trying to pretend they’re just ghosts, but hearing them talk about your struggles in chemistry makes you want to join the conversation.
"Sure, if you give me that game console," Minho quips.
"On second thought, I think my sister will manage just fine."
Arghhh.
You can’t take it anymore. You gather up your things, smack your brother’s leg, and stomp upstairs.
Later, you’re back in your study area, trying to focus again when there’s a knock on your door. It can only be one of them since the three of you are the only ones at home. Your parents are working, even on a Sunday.
"What?!" you yell, your irritation clear.
You’re about to open the door when it swings open on its own, revealing Minho.
"You shouldn’t talk like that to your tutor," he says, flicking your forehead.
"Ow!"
Tutor? Jisung must’ve given him the console.
You don’t bother complaining because, aside from being tired… well, yeah, you’re just too tired.
"You should listen well, okay? If you don’t, we won’t get married," Minho teases, treating you like a child as always. You hate it, but you’re too drained to argue.
"Okay." You roll your eyes for the ninth time and settle in to listen as he starts to explain.
The tutorial is full of bickering and Minho’s relentless teasing, but unexpectedly, you finally understand the material. Your questions are answered, and for the first time in a while, you feel a bit of relief.
"Thank you," you say as you bid him goodbye.
"Goodbye. Let me know when you get home. And say hi to your baby cats for me," your brother says, waving Minho off.
"How did your chemistry exam go?"
You’re happy with your results and you share them with Minho.
"I got an almost perfect score!"
"Really?" He messes up your hair. "Then you should thank me. You owe me."
"I’ll get Jisung’s console for you," you joke
Minho is at your house again. He says they have a group study session, but Jisung isn’t home yet. You both settled into the living room, the hum of the TV in the background as Minho lounged on the couch, his legs stretched out comfortably. You took a seat on the floor, leaning against the couch, your study materials spread out on the coffee table.
“So, what else do you need help with, little genius?” Minho teased, nudging your shoulder with his foot.
You rolled your eyes playfully. “I don’t need your help again, Mr. Top Student. I can manage just fine on my own.”
Minho chuckled, the sound light and teasing. “Sure, you can. But remember, you owe me for that almost perfect score. I think I might start charging for my tutoring services.”
“Don’t push your luck,” you shot back, a smile tugging at your lips.
Minho leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand as he looked at you, his expression softening slightly. “You know, you’re pretty impressive. Balancing all this studying and still managing to have a sense of humor.”
You felt a small flutter in your stomach at his words, a sensation that caught you off guard. You quickly masked it with a smirk. “Flattery will get you nowhere, Minho.”
He grinned, leaning back against the couch. “Who says I’m flattering you? I’m just stating facts.”
You opened your mouth to retort, but the words got caught in your throat when you met his gaze. There was something different in his eyes, something that made your heart skip a beat. The usual playful glint was still there, but beneath it was a warmth that made you feel… special.
You quickly looked away, focusing on the notes in front of you, trying to shake off the unexpected feeling. “Anyway, where’s this group of yours? I thought you were supposed to be studying.”
Minho shrugged, casually twirling a pen between his fingers. “They’re running late. I guess they’re not as eager to study as I am.”
“Right, because you’re so eager,” you muttered, the sarcasm clear in your voice.
He chuckled again, the sound warm and familiar. “Maybe I just wanted an excuse to hang out with you. You’re much more fun than Jisung.”
Your heart fluttered again, and you bit your lip, trying to keep your cool. “You’re just saying that because I actually study, unlike my brother.”
“True,” he agreed, his tone light. “But also because you’re interesting. I never know what you’re going to say next.”
You were about to respond when you heard the front door open and Jisung’s voice echo through the house. “I’m back! Did I miss anything?”
You quickly straightened up, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment that your brother had arrived. Minho, however, just smiled, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes as he leaned over and whispered in your ear, “We’ll continue this later.”
Your breath hitched at the closeness, and for a moment, you couldn’t think of a single thing to say. As Minho pulled back with a wink, you felt the butterflies in your stomach take flight.
Jisung entered the living room, oblivious to the tension that had suddenly filled the air. “Hey, what are you two up to?”
“Just studying,” Minho replied casually, as if nothing had happened, though the smirk on his face told a different story.
You nodded, trying to compose yourself. “Yeah, just studying.”
But as you glanced at Minho, who was now chatting with your brother like everything was normal, you couldn’t help but wonder if things between you had just shifted in a way you hadn’t expected. And as much as you tried to deny it, you couldn’t ignore the fact that, for the first time, Minho’s teasing had made your heart race in a way you couldn’t quite understand.
You were walking through the university courtyard, your thoughts scattered as you mentally planned your study schedule for the rest of the day. It had been a busy week, and you were looking forward to some peace and quiet when you suddenly spotted Minho across the way. He was chatting animatedly with a girl, her laughter ringing out as he carried a stack of books for her.
You instinctively slowed your pace, your eyes lingering on them for a moment longer than you intended. The girl was pretty, with a bright smile and an easygoing vibe that made her seem instantly likable. She playfully nudged Minho with her shoulder, and he grinned back at her, that familiar teasing spark in his eyes.
For a second, you considered changing your route, avoiding the interaction altogether. But then you stopped yourself. Why would you do that? It’s not like it mattered. It wasn’t like you cared who Minho was talking to, or how close they seemed. Right?
So you took a deep breath and kept walking, your expression carefully neutral as you approached them. As you got closer, Minho caught sight of you, and his grin widened.
“Well, well, well, look who it is,” he called out, his voice full of mock surprise. “You just couldn’t resist, could you? Saw my handsome face and had to come over.”
You rolled your eyes, a smile tugging at your lips despite yourself. “Oh please, I just happened to be walking by. Don’t flatter yourself.”
The girl next to him laughed at your banter, and you noticed the way she lightly slapped his arm, a gesture that spoke of familiarity. It was clear they were close. Your eyes flickered to her, and you couldn’t help but feel a tiny pang of something—what was it? Jealousy? Annoyance? Whatever it was, you quickly pushed it down.
Minho noticed your glance and, as if reading your mind, raised an eyebrow. “Ah, sorry. Where are my manners? This is Seoyun, a friend from my class. Seoyun, this is my little genius here,” he added with a teasing smirk.
You gave her a polite nod, trying to ignore the way your heart skipped at the word “friend.” “Nice to meet you, Seoyun.”
“Nice to meet you too!” she replied cheerfully. “Minho’s told me a lot about you. He says you’re quite the brainiac.”
You shot Minho a look, and he just grinned, clearly enjoying your reaction. “Yeah, well, someone’s got to keep him in line,” you said, your tone light but with a hint of sarcasm.
Seoyun laughed again, and you couldn’t help but notice how comfortable they seemed together. It was… unsettling in a way you couldn’t quite pinpoint. But you weren’t about to dwell on it.
“Well, I’ve got to get going,” you said, glancing at your watch. “Places to be, things to study.”
“Always so busy,” Minho said, shaking his head in mock disappointment. “But you know, all work and no play…”
“…keeps you out of trouble,” you finished for him with a smirk. “But don’t worry about me. I’ll manage.”
Seoyun smiled at you again, giving a little wave. “It was nice meeting you. Hopefully, we’ll see each other around.”
“Yeah, maybe,” you replied, waving back before turning to continue on your way.
As you walked away, you couldn’t help but glance over your shoulder, just once, to see Minho and Seoyun laughing together as they continued their conversation. You tried to ignore the uneasy feeling that settled in your chest, brushing it off as nothing.
‘She must be his girlfriend,’ you thought to yourself, trying to sound nonchalant even in your own mind. And then you shrugged, forcing yourself to focus on your day ahead. ‘Why would I care?’
But even as you walked away, you couldn’t quite shake the image of them together, the way they seemed to fit so naturally. And for the first time, Minho’s teasing didn’t just annoy you—it made you feel something deeper, something you weren’t ready to face just yet.
“Hey.”
You looked up at the voice calling your name. It was Jeongin, your classmate.
“We got paired for the presentation,” he reminded you. Oh! You remembered now, probably too occupied with other subjects to focus on this. “If you don’t mind, can we start after class? That way we’ll finish early and can focus on other things.”
“Sure,” you agreed, appreciating his practical suggestion.
“Great. We should head to a coffee shop after this.”
After class, you walked together, discussing the presentation details. Jeongin had some good ideas, and you found yourself easily slipping into a productive conversation. The atmosphere between you two was relaxed, and soon you arrived at the coffee shop.
“What do you want?” Jeongin asked as you both approached the counter.
“Latte, please,” you replied, smiling. “Thanks.”
As Jeongin went to order, you scanned the room, your eyes landing on a familiar figure. Minho. He was with a group of friends, casually chatting. When he looked up, his gaze met yours. He smirked at you, and you were about to wave, but then he broke the eye contact and turned his attention back to the person next to him. You scanned the group quickly, noticing your brother wasn’t there.
You tried to focus on your work, but you kept catching Minho glancing at you from the corner of your eye. For the first time, you wondered what he thought of seeing you with another guy. The idea made you smirk a little, enjoying the small twist of the situation. Minho, always so sure of himself, might just be a little thrown off by this.
Jeongin returned with your latte and his own drink, setting them down on the table.
“Ready to get started?” he asked, pulling out his notes.
“Yeah, let’s do this,” you replied, pushing the thoughts of Minho to the back of your mind—for now, at least.
You were studying in the living room, the soft murmur of a video tutorial explaining organic chemistry filling the space. You were too focused to notice Minho entering your house until his voice broke through your concentration.
“Hey, my favorite person,” he greeted with a playful smile.
You glanced around, looking behind you and to the sides. “My brother’s not here,” you stated, raising an eyebrow at him.
He laughed, shaking his head. “Of course you are the one I meant. My favorite person.”
You rolled your eyes, though a small smile tugged at your lips. “If Soonie, Doongie, and Dori were people, they’d be your favorites.”
“Of course,” he agreed, his tone light.
You returned to your studies, but Minho didn’t leave. Instead, he plopped down on the couch, stretching out as if he had all the time in the world. You tried to ignore him, but it wasn’t long before he broke the silence again.
“So, who was that guy you were with at the café earlier?” His tone was casual, but you could feel the underlying curiosity.
You hesitated, not sure how to respond. You didn’t have to be honest, but something made you want to see how he would react. “He’s a suitor,” you said nonchalantly, not looking up from your notebook.
Minho’s expression shifted slightly, but he quickly masked it, leaning back with a smirk. “A suitor, huh? I should tell your brother. Maybe he’ll confiscate your phone so you can focus on studying.”
You narrowed your eyes at him, feeling a spark of irritation. “I’m not a kid, Minho. I can decide who I want to spend time with.”
He chuckled, clearly enjoying your reaction. “Oh, really? You’re still just a freshman. You should focus on your studies instead of getting distracted by things like relationships.”
Your irritation grew. “What about you? You’re in a relationship with that girl you were walking with, but I can’t be in one?”
Minho’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before he quickly composed himself. He knew you were jealous, and he had to hide the smile threatening to break through. “So, you were jealous?” he teased, leaning forward.
You felt a flush of heat rise to your cheeks, and you stood up abruptly, gathering your things. “I’m not jealous,” you snapped, turning on your heel to head back to your room.
As you walked away, Minho couldn’t help but smile. He knew you were, even if you wouldn’t admit it, and that only made him like you more.
Life continues as usual, with your brother Jisung and Minho still finding every opportunity to tease you. Tomorrow is their graduation day, and as you walk into your brother's room to borrow a math book, you decide to ask him a question that's been on your mind.
"Jisung, what’s your plan after graduation?"
You’re genuinely curious, even if you’d never admit it to his face. Despite all the sibling rivalry, you’re proud of him for making it this far.
"Probably end up unemployed," he replies with a shrug.
You give him a deadpan look. What answer did you expect, anyway?
"Obviously, I’ll take the board exam first, then start job hunting," he says while folding his clothes. Then he glances at you, squinting. "You’re not asking because you’re curious about Minho, are you?"
Yeah…no!
You quickly throw a pillow at him, trying to hide your flustered expression. "Do you really think my world revolves around him?" Jisung catches the pillow and smirks, clearly not convinced.
"Even if you don't ask about Minho, I'll tell you anyway. Remember when I told you to spend more time with him? You should’ve listened, because after graduation, he’s going abroad. There’s a job offer waiting for him."
Oh…
You manage a nonchalant nod, but as you leave his room, the news weighs heavily on your mind.
That night, as you lie in bed, you can’t help but replay Jisung’s words over and over. Minho is leaving. The thought sends a strange ache through your chest. You try to tell yourself that it’s not a big deal, that his absence won’t matter—but deep down, you know it will.
Graduation day arrives in a whirlwind of excitement. Your parents are there, beaming with pride, and you stand among the crowd, clutching a bouquet of flowers. You watch as your brother and his friends, including Minho, happily pose for group pictures, congratulating each other and hugging in celebration of finally finishing their studies. The joy is infectious, but there's a tinge of sadness in your heart.
Minho is leaving.
The thought lingers, even as you force yourself to focus on the present moment.
"Hey, little devil, take a picture of us," your brother calls out to you. You roll your eyes at the nickname but comply, grabbing the Polaroid camera hanging around your neck. It is his day, after all.
You snap the picture, capturing their bright smiles and laughter. The moment is perfect, but it tugs at your heartstrings.
Minho is leaving.
No matter how much you’ve pretended to hate him, the truth is, you’re going to miss him more than you’d like to admit.
"Are these my flowers?" your brother asks, reaching for the bouquet in your hands. You quickly hide it behind your back.
"They’re not yours! Mom has your flowers," you retort, giving him a playful glare.
He chuckles, his eyes sparkling with mischief, probably know what you are planning. "Okay, okay, I get it."
Just then, Minho approaches you, his usual teasing grin in place. "Can you take a picture of me? So you’ll have a souvenir picture of me," he said with a wink.
Pushing aside the urge to roll your eyes. Today, you’re happy for him, even if it’s bittersweet.
"Ha ha ha, I’m honored," you reply with mock sarcasm, but you can’t help laughing with him. You snap the picture, trying to ignore the fluttering in your chest.
"We should take a picture together too," he says suddenly, taking the camera from your hands. He hands it to one of his classmates and stands beside you, draping an arm over your shoulder. You try to hide the blush creeping up your cheeks, secretly pleased to have a picture with him. You’re going to miss him.
After the picture is taken, you slowly extend the bouquet toward him. "These are for you. Congratulations."
Minho’s eyes light up with surprise and genuine happiness as he takes the flowers. "It’s my first time receiving flowers. I’m blushing," he says with a laugh. Then, with a mischievous grin, he adds, "Are you asking me to be your boyfriend? Wait, I need to think about it."
He presses a finger to his temple, pretending to be deep in thought.
You slap his arm lightly, laughing. "It’s a farewell gift, you idiot."
"Wait, you should give me more time to think," he says, closing his eyes dramatically. After a few seconds, he opens them with a playful glint. "Yes. I will be your boyfriend."
You freeze, caught off guard. What?
"So from now on, you’re my girlfriend," he declares, and before you can react, he leans in and plants a quick kiss on your lips.
Your mind spins as his words sink in. "I promised myself I’d wait until you graduate, but I can’t help it—especially since I’m going far away, someone might take you from me." he says softly and laughs, messing with your hair. "So wait for me, okay? I promise I’ll come back to you."
It takes a moment, but you finally manage a small nod, a smile tugging at your lips.
Minho smiles back, his eyes filled with warmth.
You realize then,
more than ever,
that you want him
just as much as he wants you.