Gyuvin's summer had been easygoing, almost monotonous in its chillness. After a family trip to Jeju Island, his little siblings had gone off to camp, leaving the house quieter than usual. Most of his days were spent hanging out with Junhyeon and Gunwook. At this point, they didn't even need to talk much as they'd seen each other nearly every day,
Today was one of those lazy afternoons. Gyuvin was having a heated gaming match with Junhyeon while Gunwook lounged beside them, munching on snacks and occasionally yelling advices that no one asked for. Junhyeon snatched the win, throwing his fists in the air triumphantly.
"Let's go! Good game," Junhyeon grinned, celebrating in his victory.
"You're so annoying," Gyuvin groaned, flopping back onto the couch dramatically.
Gunwook snorted. "Move, loser." He snatched the controller from Gyuvin, eager to face Junhyeon.
As the two started their match, Gyuvin leaned back, eyes lazily following the screen. That's when Gunwook grumbled, "Yo, do you have a mini conditioner or something? It's hot as hell in here."
Gyuvin sighed, dragging himself up from the couch. "Yeah, yeah. Let me check."
He shuffled over to the shelves, opening drawer after drawer, rummaging through a mess of random itemsâold game cases, tangled charging cords. As he opened the third shelf, something caught his eye: a folded piece of paper tucked between a couple of books. Curious, he pulled it out.
It was a drawing.
A garden, simple yet beautiful, filled with intricately detailed flowers, winding vines, and tiny butterflies scattered across the page. Gyuvin immediately recognized Ricky's meticulous style.
He stared at it for a long moment, his chest tightening unexpectedly.
"Found it?" Gunwook's voice snapped him back to reality.
Gyuvin blinked, quickly stuffing the drawing behind the books again. "Yeah, here," he muttered, tossing the conditioner to Gunwook before slumping back onto the couch.
The game continued, Junhyeon and Gunwook bickering loudly, but Gyuvin was barely paying attention. His mind kept wandering back to that drawingâand to Ricky.
It had been weeks since Ricky left for Shanghai, and though summer had been peaceful, Gyuvin couldn't shake the strange emptiness that lingered. There were no more study sessions where Ricky would quietly sketch while pretending to listen to Gyuvin ramble. No teasing arguments.
He missed him.
What made it worse was that Ricky hadn't left any contact information before leaving. He was now completely inaccessible on KakaoTalk now that he is in China.
Gyuvin couldn't help but think Ricky did it on purposeâto give them both time to think and recover after their last hangout when Ricky confessed.
To be honest, Gyuvin still thought about it frequently, replaying the night in his mind. The idea that Ricky liked him like that was both fascinating and shocking. Shen Quanrui? The guy who broke his leg, constantly called him a fool, and never hesitated to make fun of him? It just didn't sit right in Gyuvin's head.
What about Gyuvin?
Well... Gyuvin was pretty sure he didn't like Ricky like that. He liked girls. He always had. But if Ricky was a girl, maybe he would date him. The thought flitted across Gyuvin's mind, strange and persistent. Ricky was beautiful, no doubt. Pale skin, big eyes, sharp features, and cuteness hid behind the cold demeanor.
Gyuvin frequently found himself wondering what Ricky was up to. Was he sketching something new? Making new friends in Shanghai? Did he even think about Gyuvin at all?
The answer shouldn't have mattered so much. But for some reason, it did.
"Yo, you good?" Junhyeon asked, glancing at Gyuvin after scoring a victory.
"Yeah," Gyuvin forced a grin. "Just thinking about how bad you are at this game."
Junhyeon scoffed. "You're just salty 'cause I wiped the floor with you."
The banter flowed naturally, but Gyuvin couldn't shake the lingering thought: Ricky had left, but he hadn't quite left Gyuvin's mind. And holding that garden drawing only made it clearer.
It was finally the first day of Gyuvin's second year of high school. He hadn't been able to sleep the night before, though he'd never admit why. Obviously, it wasn't because he was looking forward to seeing Ricky like some devoted dog. No way. It was because he missed the school vibes, his other friends, and other stuff. That was it.
The moment the bus pulled up to school, Gyuvin practically jumped out and sprinted toward the building. Students stared at him like he was a complete psycho as he bolted down the hallway. He didn't care.
On his way, he nearly collided with Hao and Hanbin, who were casually walking side by side.
"Whoa, easy there," Hanbin said with a laugh.
"Sorry, sorry!" Gyuvin shouted over his shoulder, barely slowing down.
"It's okay," Hao called back.
Gyuvin finally reached his classroom, breathless but beaming. The familiar scent of chalk and the faint buzz of chatter filled the air. His eyes immediately landed on his desk â the one he shared with Ricky last year. A wave of memories hit him all at once.
He made his way to the desk, plopping down into the seat. A smile tugged at his lips as he waited, eyes flickering to the door every few seconds.
Then a new boy approached, backpack slung over one shoulder. He pulled out the chair next to Gyuvin, clearly about to sit down.
"Ah, sorry," Gyuvin said quickly, holding up a hand. "That seat's taken. My friend sits there."
The boy blinked in confusion, but before he could respond, the teacher walked over.
"Actually, it's free now," she said matter-of-factly.
Gyuvin frowned. "What do you mean? It's Ricky's seat."
The teacher's expression softened as if she was about to break some tragic news. "Oh... You don't know?"
Gyuvin's heart skipped a beat. "Know what?"
"Ricky transferred out. He left the school."
The words hit Gyuvin like a punch to the gut. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Gyuvin sat frozen in his chair, the teacher's words echoing in his mind. Ricky transferred out. Transferred? Why? When? He had no idea this was happening. Ricky didn't say a word. No goodbye. No message. Nothing. Shock, confusion, and a growing sense of hurt bubbled inside him. How was that possible? They had spent so much time together last year. And after everything that had happened between them, Ricky just... left? Without a word?
The lesson started, but Gyuvin couldn't focus. His pencil hovered over his notebook, unmoving. The teacher's voice blurred into meaningless background noise as his thoughts spiraled.
Why didn't he tell me? Gyuvin tapped the eraser of his pencil against the desk in frustration. Was it because of what happened at the end of the year? Did he leave because of that night?
The teacher called his name, snapping Gyuvin out of his thoughts.
"Huh?" he blurted, earning a few snickers from the class.
"Pay attention," the teacher said sternly.
Gyuvin spotted Hao and Hanbin standing by the hallway lockers, deep in conversation. Hanbin was leaning slightly toward Hao, his smile soft, and their body language was painfully sweet. Gyuvin cringed.
Gross. Do they have to flirt in public? He thought bitterly.
Clearing his throat loudly, he interrupted their little moment.
Both of them turned, surprised. "Oh, hey, Gyuvin," Hao greeted, still smiling.
"Uh, can I talk to you? Like... privately?" Gyuvin asked awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck.
Hao exchanged a brief glance with Hanbin, who nodded with an understanding smile before walking away.
They moved to a quieter corner near the windows. Before Hao could say anything, Gyuvin unleashed a barrage of questions.
"Why didn't Ricky tell me he was leaving? Did you know? When did he decide this? Where is he right now? Is he okay? Does heâ"
"Whoa, Gyuvin." Hao held up a hand. "Breathe. One question at a time, okay?"
Gyuvin huffed but reluctantly nodded.
"Okay, so... Ricky's in Shanghai," Hao started. "He decided to stay there with his family. They felt it was better for him."
"But why didn't he tell me anything?" Gyuvin asked, his voice rising in frustration. "We were friends, Hao. Even if there was... stuff, we were still friends. He just cut me off completely."
Hao looked at him sympathetically. "Gyuvin, you need to understandâRicky wasn't in a great place last year. You might've thought everything was fine, but it was hard for him."
"Hard?" Gyuvin scoffed. "We would be doing perfectly fine after that night. Things wouldn't even be that awkward."
Hao's expression softened. "He told me it felt like torture every day."
Gyuvin blinked, his chest tightening. "What?"
Hao sighed. "He liked you, Gyuvin. A lot. And seeing you all the time, pretending to be just friends, pretending like nothing happenedâthat was killing him. He tried to push through, but in the end, he couldn't. Staying here just made it harder."
Gyuvin was silent, the weight of Hao's words pressing down on him. He wanted to argue, to say that Ricky should've talked to him, but deep down, he knew Hao was right. He had never fully considered how hard it must have been for Ricky to keep facing him day after day, knowing his feelings weren't returned.
"I didn't know..." Gyuvin admitted quietly.
"Maybe you didn't, but now you do," Hao said gently. "Try to understand him, Gyuvin. Maybe you'll both find your way back someday."
As Hao walked away, Gyuvin was left standing there, grappling with the realization that he'd been blind to Ricky's painâand the guilt of knowing he might've pushed him away without even meaning to.
Gyuvin's second year of high school unfolded like a whirlwind. He matured even more, mentally and physically, though his goofy side remained intact, especially with Junhyeon and Gunwook always by his side. A new addition to their chaotic friend group was Yujin, a bright and shy first-year who fit right in their friendgroup. At this point, the teachers practically threw their hands up in defeat when the gang did anything.
Football remained a big part of Gyuvin's life. He was still the team captain. They fought hard that season but unfortunately lost in the semi-finals. It stung, but Gyuvin took it in stride, rallying the team with a grin and promises of a comeback next year.
Valentine's Day brought a shock Gyuvin never saw comingâSullyoon confessed her feelings to him. He was genuinely surprised but flattered, and after some thought, they started dating. Their dates were lighthearted and fun. Sullyoon was a wonderful personâkind, funny, and easy to be around. For a while, things felt sweet and exciting between them.
Gunwook also found love with senior Hanni, with who he had been in love with for the longest time. Ever since they got together, Gunwook's face practically glowed with happiness and smile didn't leave his face.
Gyuvin also grew closer to some of the seniors, particularly Zhang Hao and Hanbin, whose relationship blossomed openly. Their courage in being the school's first openly gay couple earned them respect and admiration from many, including Gyuvin. They were always a comforting presence, offering advice and sharing hilarious stories during lunch breaks.
As the year came to a close, graduation brought a mix of joy and tears. Gunwook was particularly emotional, knowing that Hanni was moving on to university. Their farewell was bittersweet, but Gunwook held onto hope for their future.
Once the holidays started, Gyuvin and Sullyoon broke up. There were no fights or dramatic scenesâjust the quiet realization that the honeymoon phase had faded, and they were better off as friends.
Through all the ups and downs, one thing remained constant: Gyuvin's quiet, unwavering wait for Ricky. Not a day went by that he didn't check his messages, hoping for even the smallest sign from Shanghai. Though he tried not to dwell on it, the thought of Ricky lingered in the back of his mind. Even during the happiest or busiest moments, there was always a part of him waiting. Always.