Mornings at the café.
Evenings on the basketball court.
Nights at the boxing gym.
That became their routine.
And Seungmin learned everything.
Fast.
Too fast.
Movements Jisoo practiced for years became natural to him in days. Footwork, rhythm, balance he didn't hesitate. He didn't even look like he was trying.
Every time Jisoo corrected him, the mistake never appeared again. Watching him created a feeling Jisoo didn't want to name.
Half pride.
Half irritation.
As if effort meant nothing in front of talent. Yet those same days were when Seungmin started trusting him. Waiting for him after work. Sitting closer than necessary. Talking without being asked.
So Jisoo stayed careful. Gentle. Predictable. Because the calmer he looked, the less the truth showed.
Three days before the semester began, Seungmin brought him to a lake outside the city.
No noise.
No people.
Only still water reflecting a pale evening sky. They sat on the concrete edge. Their shoulders touched without either moving away. Jisoo felt it instantly and the atmosphere was different. His chest tightened.
This is it.
Seungmin stared at the water for a long time before speaking.
"Jisoo."
Just his name but Jisoo's throat already hurt.
"What good did I ever do to deserve you?"
The words were quiet, almost confused.
"I would've died," Seungmin continued. "Back then… I really would have."
Jisoo's hands curled into fists in his lap. And his eyes were filled with shame.
"You gave me a reason to live. To want a future. A better future with you."
A pause.
"When you're around… I don't hate breathing anymore."
Seungmin's face stayed blank as always. No smile. No trembling voice.
But the stillness made the words heavier.
"I want to live with you."
Something inside Jisoo collapsed. He didn't know why he was crying because someone finally loved him, or because he knew he had no right to receive it. Before he could answer, Seungmin leaned forward and kissed him.
It wasn't hesitant.
It was certain.
Jisoo shook as he held onto him.
"I love you," he whispered, voice breaking apart.
And in that moment when Seungmin believed him completely. The lie stopped being a plan and became a sin.
When the new semester began, Jisoo made a decision. Even If the relationship had started with a lie,he would make everything else real. That was how he justified it. They started dating quietly at first.
Mornings together at school. Lunch shared in corners. Evenings stretched longer because neither wanted to go home.
Seungmin smiled more now. Not politely but genuinely. He waited for Jisoo outside the classrooms. He leaned on him when he was tired. He started texting first. And Jisoo gave him everything he could: time, attention, and patience.
And sometimes, when Seungmin wasn't looking, Jisoo stared at him like someone memorizing a face before losing it.
One evening Seungmin showed him two tickets.
"A four-day trip," he said. "Mountain side."
His voice was calm but his eyes were alive. Jisoo felt his stomach drop. But Jaehan found out.
"If Seungmin does something like this," Jaehan warned quietly, "Mr. Choi will notice. And if he notices, you would stay invisible but for Seungmin it will very hard."
The message was clear.
Danger increases with happiness.
Jisoo should have said no.
But the idea of being away just the two of them somewhere no one knew them… He couldn't refuse. So the four days became one.
The air there was colder. Cleaner.
No school uniforms.
No expectations.
They walked along narrow trails. Ate cheap food from roadside stalls. Took blurry photos. Seungmin laughed openly, freely like someone who had never been allowed to before.
In the evening they stood on a ridge overlooking endless green hills, and Seungmin said quietly lying on his shoulder.
"If we ran away… do you think anyone would find us?"
Jisoo didn't answer. Because part of him wanted to say yes. And part of him knew running away doesn't erase contracts. But he didn't know how to hide the guilt feeling so he just smiled for him.
That day was the happiest Seungmin had ever seen. And that terrified Jisoo.