The Youth She Never Had

“No, their houses are right next to each other. He has her parents' number—trust him,” Yuna explained.

Then Seunghyub got in, and the ambulance rushed to the hospital.

Jieun suddenly froze, speechless, as she watched the ambulance disappear into the distance. Bomi was still crying, while Daeun helped her move to a safer place. Yuna tapped Jieun’s shoulder, signaling her to follow—but just as she wrapped her arm around Jieun—

Jieun whispered,

“Something’s boiling in my chest… I’m jealous.”

She looked serious, her eyes still fixed on where the ambulance had gone.

“….” Yuna had no words.

“Eunsol doesn’t like him, right? She said she hasn’t liked anyone yet…” Jieun asked, her expression uneasy.

“If you’re curious, then try,” Yuna replied carefully. “But maybe the problem isn’t Eunsol. Did you see how worried he was? How panicked? I’m not sure… but if Eunsol doesn’t like him, then maybe he’s the one who likes her.”

******

BRAK!

Jieun stormed out of Eunsol’s room and house after seeing her with Seunghyub in her bedroom.

Everyone was confused—except Yuna.

They had come to visit Eunsol after her three-day hospitalization.

Yuna quickly ran after Jieun, trying to calm her down.

But Jieun had already seen too much—

Seunghyub feeding Eunsol.

Wiping her lips gently with his thumb.

“Jieun! What’s wrong with you?” Yuna grabbed her arm and turned her around.

“Hh… I don’t know. I don’t like what I saw… I want to unsee it.” Jieun cried.

“Why are you acting like this? We all know he’s her neighbor. If you like him, then ask him out. Don’t take it out on Eunsol.” Yuna shook her lightly. “Please, get yourself together.”

“If I had that kind of illness… would he take care of me too?”

“Jieun…”

...

Inside the house—

Eunsol ran to the window and opened it.

She heard everything.

“I don’t like what I saw… I want to unsee it.”

“Don’t take it out on Eunsol.”

Seunghyub quickly closed the window and pulled her hand.

But she ran outside.

Daeun and Bomi froze in shock.

“Eunsol! Slow down!” Seunghyub shouted, chasing after her.

Running was dangerous for her condition.

“If I had that burdensome illness… would he take care of me too?” Jieun said bitterly.

“Jieun…” Yuna regretted her words.

SLAP!

“EUNSOL!” Seunghyub grabbed her wrist.

Jieun froze.

“Eunsol… I—I’m sorry…”

Eunsol stood there—crying, shaking, furious.

“Burdensome illness?” she said. “If you all feel burdened by me, then just leave. I can live alone.”

Her voice cracked.

“If you want him, then take him. I never asked him to take care of me!”

Everyone fell silent.

Eunsol turned and ran back inside.

But before she could open the door—

Jieun snapped. The sight of him standing there made her ashamed of how she felt.

“You think you’re the main character? That everything is about you? So you can humiliate me like this?!”

“Just go home… all of you.” Eunsol held her chest and locked the door.

Jieun ran off.

Yuna followed.

Daeun and Bomi left too.

Seunghyub stayed behind.

Worried—but giving her space.

******

“Ready… set… go!”

In a small drink house near one of the most famous universities in Daegu, six college students were having fun.

Laughing. Drinking. Playing games.

Except one person.

Seunghyub.

He never touched alcohol.

He was always the sober one—the one who made sure everyone got home safely.

As the night grew louder, someone new arrived.

“Hi guys! This is my sister. Please take care of her,” Kim Youngkwang introduced.

“Hi, I’m Kim Haein,” she greeted politely.

“Oh… the colored pencil…” Seunghyub suddenly muttered.

“Huh?” Everyone looked confused.

“O-oh, no. I just remembered something funny. Maybe it’s not you…” he laughed awkwardly.

“She’s my sister, remember? She used to bother us when we were kids!” Youngkwang laughed.

“Ah… really?” both Seunghyub and Haein were confused.

“I’m sorry if I ever bothered you,” Haein said, sitting down.

...

As the night went on, they grew closer.

Then suddenly—

“AH! Colored pencils! I remember!” Haein pointed at him.

“Hey! Are you drunk?!” Youngkwang scolded.

“I’m sorry—but is it you? I was too embarrassed to look at your face back then…”

“Hahaha, yeah, it was me. I bought them for my friend—but she complained a lot. Even the white one broke.”

“Hahaha I’m so sorry!”

They laughed—sharing a memory only they understood.

******

“Wow… your drawing looks scary. It’s like a photo.”

Seunghyub visited Eunsol in the hospital and was amazed by her artwork.

“Right? It’s getting more realistic, right?” she smiled proudly.

She looked at his eyes.

Her muse.

He had no idea.

“Two years drawing only eyes… hard work really pays off. This is amazing.”

“Starting today, I’ll learn how to draw lips.”

“I’ll wait for it. I’m proud of you.”

He sat on the sofa, busy with his phone.

Friday night.

The only time he could visit before getting busy again.

Eunsol’s condition never improved.

Even her parents were starting to lose hope.

“She won’t make it to 30,” the doctor had said.

“Hahaha…” Seunghyub laughed at his phone.

“What’s funny?” Eunsol asked.

“Haein sent something funny in the group chat.”

Eunsol paused.

“It must be nice… having friends. Are you meeting them this weekend?”

“Aren’t you still in touch with your high school friends?”

“Only Yuna. She’s in Australia now… and she has a boyfriend there.”

She smiled faintly.

“My only friend now is this sketchbook.”

“Seunghyub-ah, I really want to go to the cinema.”

“After your surgery. Loud sounds aren’t good for you.”

“I can wear noise-canceling headphones…” she sighed and tore her page.

"After your surgery. Promise.".

...

Hours passed.

Seunghyub fell asleep.

Eunsol got up slowly and covered him with a blanket.

She crouched beside him.

Studying his face.

“When did he grow up like this…” she whispered.

Her eyes moved—

From his brows…

To his nose…

To his lips.

Dry, as always.

She touched them.

The door opened.

She fell back in shock.

Her heart raced.

Seunghyub woke up immediately.

“Are you okay?!” Mom asked.

“….”

“Why are you on the floor?” He asked.

“A-ah hm… his laptop. I was just curious…”

“Seunghyub, you should go home,” her mom said.

“Okay, Mom. I'm home Eunsol.”

"Hm.." She nodded.

He patted her head before leaving.

...

As he left..

“Are you dating him?” her mom asked.

“No!!”

“Then what were you doing?”

“Don’t tell him… please.”

“You like him?”

“…I don’t know.”

******

“Jieun.”

Seunghyub stopped her after school.

“Let’s talk.”

They went to a quiet place.

“I appreciate your feelings… but there’s nothing between me and Eunsol.”

“I know… I’m sorry.”

“Can you apologize to her? She really treasures you.”

“I can’t… she blocked me everywhere.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault. Don't be sorry.”

".....".

"Thank you for appreciate my feelings. But meeting you like this...Maybe it's the last time."

She walked away.

He froze in his place.

******

“Eunsol isn’t home yet,” her mom said.

“I’ll find her!”

After running for several minutes—

He found her.

Eating ice cream. Crying.

“Hahaha… what are you doing?”

She punched him weakly.

“Jieun apologized… but…”

“But?”

“It still hurts… here.” She pointed at her chest.

“…It’s okay.”

“I never asked to be born like this…”

“I know.”

They walked home.

But Jieun and Eunsol's friendship was never recovered.

The next day—

Jieun transferred schools.

******

“Sunbae!”

Haein ran toward someone she recognized in the campus canteen.

“Oh, Haein-ah. Where’s Youngkwang?” Seunghyub asked, looking around.

“Shouldn’t I be the one asking that? You’re his classmate,” she replied, slightly out of breath.

“Here.” Seunghyub handed her his handkerchief, noticing her smudged makeup.

“Huh?” she blinked in confusion.

“Your makeup is ruined,” he said casually while finishing his food.

“Ah, really? Thank you, Sunbae.”

Haein felt a bit embarrassed, but seeing how unbothered Seunghyub was made her feel more at ease. She took out a mirror and checked.

Her eyeliner had completely smudged under her eyes.

Seunghyub even pointed out the parts she missed while cleaning it up.

They chatted casually.

“Your brother wasn’t in class today,” he said.

“See? Where is everyone? I don’t see Kara or Hun either…” Haein reapplied her eyeliner, then groaned. “Ah, look! It’s ugly.”

“Let me see.” Seunghyub took it from her hand.

“Sunbae, you know makeup?” she laughed.

“Of course. Look—this isn’t waterproof. You’re new to makeup, right?” He handed it back.

“Wow, you’re so cool!” she said, impressed. “I just bought it yesterday… what a waste.”

“Use it in winter. Only two months away. The good point of this a not waterproof make up is easy to wash. Don't waste it.”

“Why do you know so much about makeup?”

“My friend always asks me to buy it for her.”

Soon, their friends arrived.

Youngkwang had skipped class to watch a movie with Kara. Hun had just woken up. The rest didn’t even have classes—they just came to hang out.

It was Jaehyun’s birthday, so they planned to celebrate later.

“HI GUYS!”

The last person arrived—

She jumped onto Seunghyub’s back.

He immediately looked uncomfortable and gently pulled her off.

Haein noticed.

She knew—Gyuyoung had confessed to him last week.

And got rejected.

Still, Gyuyoung kept trying.

Seunghyub was known as the quiet, cool guy on campus.

He could do almost everything.

Basketball, music, swimming—

He wasn’t the top student, but always ranked within the top 10–15.

181 cm tall. Broad shoulders. Sharp eyes. Thick brows.

Nothing overly flashy.

But somehow—

He stood out.

...

“CHEERS!”

Youngkwang threw a party at his house.

His parents were out of the country.

The house was huge. Luxurious.

Music blasting. Lights flashing.

Everyone was having fun.

“Seunghyub! Seunghyub! Seunghyub!”

“No, no, no…” he tried to escape.

“Come on! You’re the most talented guy here!” Gyuyoung dragged him to the mic.

And then—

He sang.

Everyone went silent.

“Wow…” even Gyuyoung stared in awe.

“I told you, he’s talented,” someone muttered.

“You guys are too much. This is my first and last,” Seunghyub said, putting the mic down.

“Do a duet with me!” Gyuyoung insisted—

But his phone rang.

“Sorry, I need to take this.”

Outside—

“Here.” Haein handed him a can of beer.

“Thank you.”

“You don’t have to worry. I’ll call a taxi for everyone.”

“I’m not worried. I just… don’t really like beer.”

“Oh! Should I get something else?”

“It’s okay.”

“Oppa… can I call you Oppa?”

“Do as you like.”

“Oppa… are you gay?”

PFFT—

Seunghyub burst out laughing.

“Do I look like one?”

Haein stared at him—

Her heart racing.

“…No.”

They talked about their childhood.

Memories slowly came back.

“…At that time, my mom was still alive.”

His tone softened.

Haein felt it.

They stayed outside longer than expected—

Until they were called back inside.

Before entering—

“So… you’re not gay, right?”

“Of course not.”

“Yes!” she cheered.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. I’m just happy… I still have a chance.”

He laughed and lightly messed up her hair.

After that night—

Haein kept getting closer to him.

Like now—

She stayed sober with him.

“Look at that beer,” Seunghyub teased.

“I won’t waver!”

“Just drink. I’ll take you home.”

“No. I want to stay sober with you.”

“Why?”

“I’m curious. Why don’t you drink?”

“…Nothing special. I just don’t like alcohol.”

“No alcohol, no smoking… how?”

“My mom had cancer. My dad stopped too.”

“…Oh.”

She looked at him differently.

Across the room—

Gyuyoung noticed.

Haein’s gaze.

Her smile.

Directed only at Seunghyub.

She felt challenged.

She walked over.

“Are you two flirting?”

“No. We’re childhood friends,” Haein replied calmly.

“She’s not aggressive like you,” Seunghyub said jokingly.

“Jay, take her back,” he added.

“He wants you, not me,” Jay replied, annoyed.

Suddenly—

Gyuyoung sat on Seunghyub’s lap.

“Try kissing me once. If you still don’t like me, I’ll stop.”

“Are you cra—WOAH!”

He dodged just in time.

The whole room reacted.

“Is kissing that big of a deal?” she teased.

“Yes. That’s why I want to protect it.”

She rolled away, frustrated.

Haein smiled quietly.

Relieved.

Then—

Their eyes met.

For a few seconds—

Neither looked away.

Haein broke it first and went to the bathroom.

Seunghyub frowned slightly.

Something felt…

Different.

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