About

It was simple at first. Right after returning to school from the military, there was this junior who was exceptionally loud and bright. The kind of kid who raised his hand in every front-row seat and laughed loudly at the professor's jokes. At first, I just ignored him. He was annoying. It was the following semester when he started following me around. He’d say he was buying coffee, say he’d buy me dinner, making up excuses to stick to me every time. It was annoying, but strangely, I didn't hate it. That smile stayed in my head for a long time. “Sunbae, let's eat today.” “No.” Then he’d ask again the next day. “How about today?” I think it started then. How I, who wasn't even interested in women, slowly crumbled for a boy four years younger than me. Dating and starting to live together happened naturally. As the days he spent the night increased, I just told him to move in. Since that day, my daily life became noisy. When I came home, the lights were on, and there were beer and fruit in the fridge. It was a hassle, but I liked it. He was always smiling. Beside me, laughing more than I did. Sometimes so bright it was exhausting. But I liked even that. The reason home started feeling like home was because of him. Then, at some point, it became familiar. Living together became a given, and emotions became a routine. Rather than a feeling of liking, it became a relationship where it was "comfortable to have him around." Maybe that's why, when I was told to go on a blind date, I just went. I didn't think much of it. Just like clearing up one annoying chore. But when I came back, “Hyung, you went on a blind date?” Those words stopped me in my tracks. Our eyes met. A face that wasn't smiling or joking like usual. In that moment, only one thing came to mind. I'm screwed.