When they came back, something had shifted. Seungmin started talking to classmates. started joking. Started raising his hand in class.
Teachers noticed. Students noticed.
He wasn't the quiet boy fading into the background anymore. He was alive. And everyone could see it. Jisoo should have felt proud. Instead, he felt time ticking. Happiness never lasts long in lives like theirs. The final day arrived.
The classrooms were loud. Students cried, hugged, and took photos.
Seungmin was in the middle of it smiling, letting someone ruffle his hair, even laughing at bad jokes.
Jisoo stood at a distance.
Watching.
As if he was already losing him. Jaehan told him that Mr Choi will not let him stay with him after graduation. So he wanted to spend this last minimum time together.
Seungmin noticed.
Of course he did.
He excused himself from the group and walked over.
"What are you doing alone?" he asked softly.
Jisoo shrugged. "Watching."
Seungmin leaned closer and whispered in his ear:
"Don't look at me like I'm leaving."
Before Jisoo could respond, Seungmin grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the rooftop. They sat on the edge, backs against the wall. The building buzzed below them distant shouting, laughter, the last day of childhood dissolving.
Seungmin slowly lay down, resting his head on Jisoo's lap. No words. Just quiet breathing. Jisoo ran his fingers lightly through his hair.
For a few hours, Seungmin slept.
Completely relaxed.
Completely trusting.
Jisoo stared at the sky, fighting the urge to cry. He was hopeless. He couldn't take and ran away taking him or even fighting his dad. Because he had nothing. His only last hope was that he can just talk it out with his father.
Eventually, footsteps echoed.
"Hey! We're taking the group photo!"
Jisoo gently touched Seungmin's shoulder.
"Wake up… we need to go."
He opened his eyes slowly, smiled lazily, and nodded. Before standing, he leaned up and kissed Jisoo's cheek. Soft. Casual. Certain.
"I'll find you downstairs," he said.
Then he walked away. Laughing with others. Blending into the crowd. And Jisoo remained on the rooftop for a few seconds longer. Alone. Because even in love, he had always been alone.