The Cliff's Edge
Salt and pine mingled in the morning breeze. Down below, waves kissed the rocky shore while seagulls called from somewhere beyond the mist. Hyunwoo stood at the edge of a lonely coastal cliff, miles away from Seoul's chaos, miles away from everything that had gone wrong.
The ocean stretched out before him, silver beneath pale sunlight. Still. Vast. Quiet—everything his heart hadn't been these past few days.
He closed his eyes, letting the wind wash over him. No accusatory voices here. No screens replaying his mistakes on loop. No disappointed faces haunting his thoughts. For just a moment, he could forget it all—his father's cold stare, the burning shame, even Soobin's wounded expression.
Here, he was simply Hyunwoo. A boy with aching lungs and tired feet, standing somewhere too beautiful for someone like him to deserve.
Then—
"Hyunwoo-ah!"
"Hyunwoo-ah!"
"Hyunwoo-ah!"
The shout shattered the silence like a wave against stone.
His eyes flew open, body going rigid. That voice. He'd know it anywhere. Slowly, he turned.
Soobin.
Wild-eyed and breathless, hair disheveled, shoes caked with mud. He looked like he'd been running for hours without pause. When their eyes met, Soobin didn't speak a word.
He just ran.
Before Hyunwoo could process what was happening, warm arms wrapped around him, pulling him close. The impact nearly knocked the wind from his chest. Soobin's face pressed into his shoulder, arms trembling as they held him tight.
Hyunwoo stood frozen, heart hammering against his ribs. He hadn't expected this—not the tears, not the relief, not the desperate warmth. The embrace felt different somehow, more intense than the brotherly hugs from their childhood. But that was just wishful thinking, wasn't it?
"God, I never realized..." Soobin's voice came out hoarse, muffled against Hyunwoo's hoodie. His breath was warm against Hyunwoo's neck. "You got so tall. When I left for the States, you were just this scrawny little pest. Now I can feel your heartbeat like thunder."
He pulled back enough to throw a weak punch at Hyunwoo's chest. Then another. And another.
"Why?" Soobin's voice cracked. "Why did you just disappear without a word? I was right there. I woke up and you were gone. You didn't even let me say goodbye. Do you have any idea how terrified I was?"
Tears streamed down his face now, his fists losing their strength until they simply rested against Hyunwoo's chest.
Hyunwoo's throat felt like it was closing. He'd never seen Soobin like this—so raw, so vulnerable. Crying because of him.
His hands found their way to Soobin's back, holding him like he might vanish if he let go. This closeness felt both familiar and terrifying—too much like that moment when Soobin had kissed him and then pretended it never happened. Maybe it really had meant nothing. Maybe Soobin had already forgotten, chalked it up to desperation and confusion.
"I'm sorry, hyung..." The words barely made it past the wind.
And for the first time in ages, he meant every syllable. Even if that kiss would forever remain the elephant in the room between them.
---
The school gates towered above Jiho like judgment itself. Each step forward felt like walking into a hurricane of whispers, stares, and barely concealed snickers. After the livestream went viral, he wasn't just another student anymore—he was the main attraction. For all the wrong reasons.
Some students watched with pity. Others laughed quietly, their amusement cutting through him like broken glass. The rest simply looked away.
Jiho's pace slowed. His hands shook at his sides, head dropping as if making himself smaller might render him invisible.
Then he felt it—a warm hand slipping into his.
Minaje walked beside him, calm but determined. Without a word, he'd noticed everything and responded with a gentle squeeze.
"It's okay," Minaje said softly, just for Jiho's ears. "I'm here."
Jiho glanced at him, then down at their joined hands. The warmth, the steadiness in Minaje's voice—it felt like armor. His racing heart began to slow. His breathing evened out.
A small nod. Then they walked forward together, past the stares and whispers, past the pity and mockery.
Into the classroom.
The moment they crossed the threshold, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Jiho-ya!"
Seungwoo practically threw himself forward, pulling Jiho into a fierce hug. "Are you alright? Tell me you're okay."
Jiho managed a faint smile, patting his friend's back. "Yeah... I'm fine. Really."
But Minaje, still holding Jiho's hand, caught something else. Across the room, Hyejin sat at her desk with her arms crossed, lips curved in a satisfied smirk. Like she was savoring every second of Jiho's discomfort.
Minaje's eyes narrowed, but before he could react, Seungwoo suddenly whirled on him.
With a sharp shove to his shoulder, Seungwoo exploded, "This is all your fault! Everything that happened to Jiho—the livestream, the bullying, the humiliation—it's because of you!"
The classroom went dead silent.
Jiho's eyes went wide. "Seungwoo-ya"
But Minaje didn't flinch. His expression stayed unreadable, voice steady as stone.
"You're right," he said. "I know I'm the reason. But I'm not running from that. I'll protect Jiho. Whatever it takes."
Before Seungwoo could respond, Jiho stepped between them, his voice louder than usual.
"Enough, Seungwoo! Minaje has always protected me. He's the only reason I survived that night. Don't you dare blame him."
Silence stretched between them like a held breath.
Seungwoo's shoulders sagged, anger melting into guilt. "I'm sorry... Minaje, I didn't mean that. I know you care about Jiho more than anyone. I was just... scared. Frustrated. Everything happened so fast, and I didn't see it coming. I should've been there for him. Jiho's my best friend and I—I failed him..."
Jiho stepped forward and wrapped him in a hug.
"It's fine, you idiot. This whole 'serious apology' thing doesn't suit you anyway," Jiho said with a soft laugh. "I want my chaotic best friend back, not this emotional mess."
Seungwoo let out a shaky chuckle and squeezed him tight.
Minaje watched them with a gentle smile. And for a brief moment, despite Hyejin's smirk and the judgment still hanging in the air, something felt right again.
---
Memories by the Shore
The sun hung lower now, painting the sky in shades of gold. Waves whispered against the shore while a salty breeze carried echoes of the past.
Hyunwoo sat on a flat rock, eyes fixed on the endless sea. Soobin stood nearby, brushing sand from his jeans.
"How did you know to find me here hyung?" Hyunwoo finally asked, his voice barely audible over the wind.
Soobin turned with a soft smile. "When my dad died... I was completely broken. Couldn't breathe, couldn't think. Everything felt like it was crumbling, and I had no idea how to keep going." His voice wavered before steadying.
"You brought me here back then," Soobin continued, his voice softer now. "You didn't say much. Just sat with me. I remember you trying to make me laugh, acting ridiculous just to see me smile." Something flickered in his eyes—a tenderness that made Hyunwoo's breath catch. "We made a promise that day—remember? That no matter what happened, we'd always come back here together."
He paused, gazing out at the same waves, but his attention seemed to drift back to Hyunwoo. "So when you vanished... I searched your house, asked Minaje, checked school. Then I thought—if you're hurting the way I was hurting, you'd come here..." His voice dropped to almost a whisper. "I couldn't bear the thought of you being alone."
Hyunwoo blinked, something warm and heavy settling in his chest. Soobin had remembered everything—even the promise Hyunwoo himself had forgotten. The way Soobin spoke, with such raw honesty, reminded him of that night. The same vulnerability that had led to the kiss neither of them could talk about. But maybe he was overthinking. Maybe Soobin really had just been desperate that night, and this was simply what good friends did for each other.
He looked at Soobin, a smile slowly forming. "You actually remembered all that..."
Soobin grinned back. "Of course. You were there when I needed someone most. Now it's my turn."
Hyunwoo looked down, unable to stop the smile from spreading across his face. He didn't need to say anything. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was full of understanding.
After a while, Hyunwoo broke the quiet. "Do you think Minaje hates me now?"
Soobin's smile faded slightly, replaced by honesty. "Maybe... probably. You hurt someone he loves, Jiho means everything to him."
Hyunwoo nodded, the words stinging even though he'd expected them.
Then he looked at Soobin again. "What about you? Do you hate me?"
Soobin barely hesitated. "No. Not even close." The certainty in his voice was the same as that day—right before he'd kissed him. Hyunwoo's breath caught, and for a terrifying moment, he thought Soobin might lean closer again. Instead, Soobin looked away quickly, a flush creeping up his neck.
The silence stretched between them, heavy with everything unsaid. They both knew what they were avoiding talking about, but neither seemed brave enough to break the spell of pretending that kiss had never happened.
Something shifted in the air between them, the weight of unaddressed feelings and that one desperate kiss hanging like a storm cloud. They looked at each other and smiled, but it was fragile now—the kind of smile that acknowledged too much had been left unsaid. For a moment, time seemed suspended between what they were and what they might be, if either of them found the courage to speak first.
Just like old times. Almost.
But not quite..
---
Back at school, the atmosphere was far from peaceful.
Minaje and Jiho sat hunched over their notebooks, but Jiho couldn't concentrate. Whispers still drifted through the air. Glances lingered too long. His fingers gripped his pen like a lifeline.
Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life.
"Minaje Kang and Jiho han. Please report to the principal's office immediately."
Jiho's heart plummeted.
He turned to Minaje, panic flooding his eyes. "Why are we being called? What if they tell my mom about the bullying? What if—"
Minaje reached across the desk and took Jiho's hand.
"Whatever this is, we'll handle it together," he said firmly. "I won't let anything happen to you. Come on."
They walked through the hallway in silence, Jiho's nerves fraying with each step while Minaje remained steady and calm. When they reached the principal's office, they found an unexpected visitor waiting inside.
A man in an expensive dark suit. Polished shoes. Crisp tie. The kind of presence that commanded attention.
Minaje's eyes widened. "Secretary Park?"
The man turned with a polite smile. "Minaje-ssi. Good to see you again."
Jiho looked between them, confused. "Wait, you two know each other?"
Secretary Park nodded, addressing them both.
"Chairman Jang has requested your presence. A car is waiting outside. Please come with me."
Jiho's confusion deepened. "Chairman Jang? What could he possibly want with us?"
Minaje gave Jiho's hand a reassuring squeeze. "I guess we're about to find out."
---
Inside the car, leather seats and tinted windows created an atmosphere of quiet tension. Jiho kept glancing nervously at Minaje, who stared out the window, lost in thought.
Neither knew their destination.
Neither knew what awaited them.
The city blurred past as they drove toward an unknown future, hands still clasped, hearts racing with questions that had no answers.
Yet.
---