Seungmin started coming to the club every day.
It annoyed both Han and Jisoo, but neither of them said anything. Ignoring him felt easier than dealing with whatever his presence stirred up. Nearly a week passed like that.
Han had wanted to leave the very first day Seungmin showed up. He didn't.
He stayed just to prove a point that Seungmin didn't matter. That he was nothing more than a background character.
One evening, Han was practicing alone, hitting the punching bag again and again. He could feel Seungmin's eyes on him.
Watching.
The tension crawled under his skin. His punches grew heavier, faster — reckless. Then it happened. His hand twisted awkwardly, pain shooting up his arm.
Before He could react, Seungmin was already there, grabbing his hand.
He shoved him away without thinking.
Hard.
The moment Seungmin stumbled back, the regret hit. His expression disappointed, hurt — froze Han in place. He opened his mouth to say something, anything.
But Jisoo rushed in, gripping His arm and pulling him away.
Seungmin stayed where he was, watching them leave.
Han kept looking back. Everything else faded. For a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
Jisoo returned with a cold pack.
"Let me help," he said.
"I can do it myself," Han replied, reaching for it.
"Han—"
"Please. Just give it to me."
Jisoo let go.
It shouldn't have hurt, but it did. Han refusing him felt like losing — not just a moment, but something much bigger. Like Seungmin had taken a place that used to be his.
When the pain eased, Han went outside to look for Seungmin.
He was gone.
Guilt settled heavily in his chest. Worse — he had left without telling Jisoo.
The next day at school, Han sat beside Seungmin as usual.
Seungmin stood up immediately and moved to another seat.
That was it.
Han's thoughts spiraled.
He's angry because I pushed him.
I didn't mean to.
I needed help that day, and he ignored me.
What Han didn't know was that Jisoo had told Seungmin the truth — or at least his version of it.
That Han hated him.
Seungmin believed it.
By evening, none of them showed up at the club.
When Jisoo called, Han said his hand still hurt. It became his excuse. Even when it healed, he found new reasons — errands, family plans, lies stacked on lies.
Jisoo noticed. He didn't push. After all, he had been the one forcing Han to stay in the first place.
A few days later, someone asked Seungmin why neither he nor Han came anymore.
That was how he found out Han had stopped too.
That night, Seungmin went to the club.
Jisoo was in the dressing room when Seungmin walked in.
"Why are you here?" Jisoo asked. "Han quit."
"Then tell him I quit too," Seungmin said calmly. "Maybe he'll come back."
Jisoo laughed. "Why do you think you matter that much? He doesn't even like boxing. I was the only reason he stayed."
Seungmin froze — then relaxed.
"So… I don't make him uncomfortable?"
Jisoo looked at him like he was insane. "You're unbelievable."
Seungmin stepped closer, meeting Jisoo's eyes directly.
"Teach me boxing."
Jisoo turned away. "I don't teach for free."
"My father already pay you alot," Seungmin said evenly. "But you still need more."
That was enough.
Jisoo's mind went blank. His breathing turned sharp, uncontrollable. He shoved Seungmin's hand away and forced a smile.
"You know me," he said. "The more money, the better."
Seungmin tilted his head slightly.
"Who would know better than me?" he said softly. "You chose money over me."
The room seemed to collapse inward.
For the first time, Jisoo felt like he was falling — dragged into a past he had spent years avoiding.
The Seungmin who never spoke about what happened.
The Seungmin who never looked him in the eyes.
That Seungmin was gone.