Jake had always been different. Not because he wanted to—he just… was.

Since childhood, he had been too quiet, too awkward, too afraid to speak. Every time he opened his mouth, his words betrayed him, tripping over themselves in stutters and pauses. And every time, the world laughed at him.

So, Jake had learned that silence was safer. Silence was easier. Silence kept him invisible.

By the time he graduated middle school, he had never known what it felt like to have a real friend. But that didn’t matter. Not to him. Because Jake had found something else—someone else—worth living for.

Park Sunghoon.

The boy who had debuted as an idol four years ago. The boy whose smile lit up Jake’s lonely world. The boy who gave him a reason to breathe when life felt empty. Jake didn’t just admire him—he was obsessed. Posters lined his bedroom walls. Every interview, every performance, every picture—Jake memorized them all. Sunghoon wasn’t just his favorite idol. He was Jake’s entire world.

So, when Jake’s parents left for London after middle school, telling him to stay in Busan and study, Jake didn’t mind. He was used to being alone. He didn’t need friends. He didn’t need anyone to notice him.

He only needed Sunghoon.

---

That morning, Jake stood in front of the mirror, fixing his uniform nervously. His parents had enrolled him in a new high school, and today was his first day. He already felt the familiar weight pressing on his chest—the fear of eyes, of whispers, of laughter.

They’ll laugh at me again… they always do.

He shook his head, grabbed his bag, and walked out.

---

The corridors buzzed with noise when he arrived at his new school. Students shouted, laughed, ran around like they had known each other forever. Jake followed the teacher nervously to his classroom.

“Here it is,” the teacher said kindly. “Don’t worry, just walk in. This will be your class.”

Jake swallowed hard, nodded, and pushed the door open.

Chaos. Pure chaos. Nobody even noticed him. The class was too busy gossiping, throwing paper balls, and shrieking over nothing. Jake let out a shaky breath of relief. Good. They didn’t see me. I’m invisible here too.

He quietly slipped into the last row and sat down, hoping the day would pass quickly.

Moments later, the teacher walked in, clapping her hands. “Good morning, students.”

“Good morning!” they chorused.

“Before we begin, I have an announcement,” she said.

Jake’s heart dropped. Oh no. Please not introductions. Please…

“Today we have two new students joining us.”

Every head turned toward Jake. His chest tightened as his heartbeat thundered in his ears.

The teacher smiled. “But it seems one of them hasn’t arrived yet. That’s alright. For now, Jake, please stand up and introduce yourself.”

Jake’s knees trembled as he slowly stood. His palms were sweating, his throat felt dry.

“H-Hi…” his voice cracked. “I-I’m… Sim Jae… Jae-yun… J-Jake…”

Laughter erupted instantly. Some students slapped their desks, others covered their mouths while giggling.

Jake’s face burned with shame. He stared down at the desk, wishing he could disappear. I knew it. It’s always the same…

And then—

The door opened.

Jake froze. He didn’t dare look up. Not when the class had just humiliated him.

But then he heard it.

That voice.

“Hello. I’m Park Sunghoon.”

Jake’s world stopped.

His eyes widened. His breath hitched. Slowly, almost against his will, he lifted his head.

And there he was.

The boy who had lived in his heart for four years. The idol he had cried over, laughed with, admired endlessly through screens. His Park Sunghoon. Standing right there, in the same classroom, only a few feet away.

Jake’s heart pounded so loudly he thought the whole class could hear it. His embarrassment vanished, his shame forgotten. In this moment, only Sunghoon existed.

He couldn’t look away.

The students screamed and whispered excitedly. “It’s really him!” “Sunghoon!” “He’s so handsome!” Girls blushed, boys muttered in envy, but Jake didn’t hear any of it. He was too stunned, too lost, staring at the person he thought he would never meet in real life.

Time slowed as Sunghoon walked past him. Jake’s chest squeezed painfully, his body frozen like stone.

“STUDENTS! STOP SHOUTING!” the teacher snapped. “Sunghoon will be studying with us from now on. But in this school, he is just a normal student. So treat him like one. Don’t irritate him, alright?”

“Yes, teacher…” the class muttered, though their eyes never left Sunghoon.

Sunghoon gave a polite nod. “Okay.” His voice was low, calm, controlled.

He walked to the back row, near the window, and sat down. Sunlight spilled across his face, highlighting his perfect features.

Jake stared, his heart racing. Is this real? Am I dreaming?

“Jake!” the teacher’s voice snapped him out of it. “Why are you still standing? Sit down.”

Flustered, Jake quickly sat, his classmates laughing again. But this time, he didn’t care. He barely even noticed.

Because when he risked one more glance behind him—Sunghoon was looking back.

Their eyes met.

Just for a second.

But that second was enough to make Jake’s heart explode. He quickly turned back, his ears burning red.

For Sunghoon, it was nothing. Just another glance at a random classmate.

But for Jake…

It was everything.