The semester was drawing to a close, and the excitement for the upcoming holidays was palpable among the students. The thought of a break from school was a welcome relief for everyone, but for Wonwoo, there was a weight on his chest that he couldn't shake. His thoughts were consumed with Jain, who hadn't been at school for several days now. The absence was unsettling, and Wonwoo couldn't help but feel responsible for it. After all, the last time they had spoken, things hadn't ended on the best of terms. The guilt gnawed at him.

Wonwoo couldn't bear the uncertainty any longer. His heart was heavy with worry, and the thought that Jain might be avoiding him only made matters worse. He decided to find out what was really going on.

One afternoon, after classes were over, Wonwoo made his way to the staff room. He walked slowly, his steps echoing in the quiet hallway as he steeled himself for the conversation ahead. He pushed the door open and approached his homeroom teacher, Mrs. Kim, who was seated at her desk.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Kim," Wonwoo started, his voice a little shaky. "I was wondering if you knew why Jain hasn't been coming to school lately. Is he okay?"

Mrs. Kim looked up at him with a soft, understanding smile. "Oh, Jain," she said gently. "He's been on sick leave for a few days. He's been dealing with a fever, but he'll be back soon, don't worry."

Relief washed over Wonwoo, but it was fleeting. He couldn't stop thinking about the tension between him and Jain. Was the fever the only reason Jain had been absent? Or was there something more? Wonwoo felt compelled to check on him.

"I'm glad to hear that," Wonwoo replied, though his mind was still racing. "Thank you, Mrs. Kim."

With that, he left the staff room, his thoughts already on what he was going to do next. The next day, after school, he made up his mind. He would visit Jain at his house to make sure he was truly alright. He couldn't just wait any longer.

Wonwoo's nerves were on edge as he walked through the quiet streets towards Jain's house. He hadn't seen Jain in days, and with the way things had gone the last time they spoke, he wasn't sure how his visit would be received. Still, he felt a sense of urgency. He had to know if Jain was okay, even if it meant facing the uncomfortable silence that had come between them.

He arrived at Jain's house and stood there for a moment, hesitating in front of the door. He took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, his heart pounding in his chest. The sound echoed through the quiet street.

A few moments passed before the door creaked open, revealing Jain. He looked different—pale, his eyes tired, and there was an air of frustration about him. When he saw Wonwoo standing there, his expression shifted to one of confusion.

"What are you doing here?" Jain asked, his voice a little hoarse.

Wonwoo blinked, momentarily taken aback by Jain's tone. "I—I heard you were sick," Wonwoo stammered. "You haven't been at school for a few days, so I asked Mrs. Kim about you. She told me you were on sick leave, and I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Jain's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he processed Wonwoo's words. He looked as if he were about to say something, but instead, he stepped back, almost as though he were trying to retreat from the situation entirely.

"Why would you care?" Jain snapped, his voice tinged with irritation. "I don't need your pity. Just leave me alone."

Wonwoo's heart clenched at the sharpness of Jain's words. He had hoped for a different reaction, maybe some concern, but instead, Jain's hostility hit him like a brick wall. He wanted to explain, to make Jain understand that he wasn't there out of pity, but that wasn't what Jain wanted to hear.

"I'm sorry," Wonwoo whispered, but Jain didn't give him a chance to finish.

"I don't need your apology," Jain said, his voice trembling with anger, though his words were harsh. "I'm not interested in you. I'm not like you. I don't want your attention. I don't want your confession. I don't want anything from you."

The words felt like a slap to Wonwoo's face. The confession that had been weighing on his chest for so long, the one he had been carrying around for what felt like forever, seemed to have made everything worse. Jain's rejection stung more than he could have anticipated.

"Jain, I just wanted—" Wonwoo started, but Jain interrupted him with a sharp gesture.

"Just go. I don't need you here," Jain spat, his voice hard and final.

Wonwoo stood frozen, feeling like the world around him had crumbled. He had hoped this visit would help mend the rift between them, but it seemed to have only deepened it. Before he could say another word, Jain slammed the door shut in his face.

Wonwoo stood there for a moment, motionless. His heart was racing, his mind a whirlwind of confusion and regret. He had thought that if he just reached out, if he apologized, maybe things could go back to normal. But now, he wasn't sure if anything could ever be the same again.

His breath hitched as he turned to leave, the weight of Jain's words still hanging in the air. He felt completely defeated, as though a part of him had been ripped away. He had tried. He had done everything he thought he could do. But it wasn't enough. And now, he was left standing alone in front of Jain's house, unsure of what to do next.