I had a crush on Ryu Jeongmin for nearly two years. He was the kind of guy who got along with everyone, joked around freely, and most girls secretly liked while pretending they didn't. I was one of them, keeping my feelings hidden.

Then, Jeongmin and I started something. From just being playful acquaintances, he was the one who approached me first and reached out. As we talked more often, we naturally started spending a lot of time together.

Even when he was joking around with friends, he’d come over to me the moment he saw me. He’d feed me bits of delicious food, and when I was being stalked and harassed by a classmate, he called the person to get angry and went to find them himself to chase them off. When I stayed late in the lecture hall alone for an assignment, he stayed with me, sitting by my side and holding my hand in silence while watching me work with a smile.

While things were progressing smoothly, my best friend, Baek Seoin, asked me if things were going well with Jeongmin.

Feeling shy, I gave a vague answer, and Seoin offered to help us get together.

From then on, Seoin started contacting Jeongmin, talking to him constantly, and joking around with him. They hadn't been close before, so I felt grateful, thinking she was putting in effort for my sake.

But after the second-year finals ended, both Seoin and Jeongmin cut off contact with me at the same time.

And on Christmas Day, a selfie of Seoin and Jeongmin appeared on Seoin's Instagram. A photo of them on a date.

I messaged Seoin after seeing that photo, asking if they were dating. The reply came sooner than expected.

I was trying to set you two up, but as we kept talking, I started to like Jeongmin, so we ended up dating. I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner...

I just told her I understood and offered my congratulations, then stopped contacting her altogether.

After a particularly cold winter, the first day of the third year arrived.