My phone lets out a cute sound, notifying me of a new message in the Kokoa app. I pull the device from my pocket and wake the screen. SuBin's name greets me.

It really isn’t bad, but it is a bit difficult for MinSeok to walk. Walking like that may endanger his secret. And even if it doesn’t, I guess he’ll just be too uncomfortable to stay. As I am about to suggest he goes home, he has decided on his own anyway. He called his uncle. From their conversation, I surmise he is a doctor, and probably the reason MinSeok can be exempt from gym classes.

I arrive at my desk and put my phone down. I don’t seem to have an answer for SuBin. I don’t think I can say MinSeok and I are friends; I just keep on worrying about him. When I’m not doing anything, my thoughts drift to how MinSeok is doing. After our accident, I feel like he has been more stressed and that just makes me worry more. Dark circles seem to start forming under his eyes. He may not have been sleeping properly.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

As I approach the door to our house, a panting figure approaches me.

“Yoon SuBin! How are you so early?”

“I ran as soon as our club meeting ended.” He props his arms on his lap, smiling and panting at the same time, like a dog waiting for his master to tell him he’s a good boy.

I input the passcode and open the door to let us in. “Why are you this curious?”

SuBin dashes inside as if he owns the place. Well, he has been in our house hundreds of times since we were young. My family doesn’t treat him as a guest anymore.

“Because it’s you," he replies.

I lift an eyebrow at that. “What does that mean?”

“You're my best friend. Won't you be curious if I suddenly have a new friend too?” he says as he flops down to our couch.

“But you always have new friends," I retort with a giggle.

SuBin pouts at this with puffed cheeks. It’s in moments like this that he gets mistaken for his age. If it wasn’t for his height, everyone will probably think he is still in middle school.

“You’re such an evil person, Seo JaeHoon.”

I just laugh at his sulking. “Kidding aside, MinSeok and I… we’re not really... friends”

“Eh?” His face scrunches into confusion. “But I felt like… There’s something between you two… Like something you are keeping from me...”

“No, there isn't anything…” I trail off. I shouldn’t tell him everything. He’s my best friend, but I must keep MinSeok's secret, as I have promised in my letter. I have to omit some details like how I told Jae-In.

The sound of the Kokoa app interrupts me as I am about to speak.

SuBin slides behind my shoulder, peeking at my mysterious message.

“Spam message,” he says and goes back to the couch.

“Yeah. Blocking it.”

My thumb hovers at the “Block” button when a new message comes in.

My eyes widen at the message.

Right. I have been waiting for him to message me since last week. And now, he really is doing it. Another message pops up on my screen.

The seconds pass like minutes. I gulp with nervousness.