The evening had finally settled over the city, the soft glow of the streetlights flickering on as the café’s warm ambiance embraced the cold air outside. Jimin stood behind the counter, his hands moving with practiced precision as he prepared drinks and snacks for customers. His usual upbeat energy was still there, even though the wait for Sumi and her crew had stretched on longer than he expected.

He threw a quick glance at the clock—almost closing time. But he wasn’t annoyed. He had made a promise, and he was determined to keep it. Besides, part of him was curious to see what kind of "friends" Sumi would bring. If there was anything he’d learned about her, it was that she always made an entrance.

His café owner, Mr. Choi, walked past him, tossing him a brief look. “You’re still smiling like you won the lottery, huh?” he remarked, a chuckle in his voice.

Jimin grinned widely. “Hey, that’s just how I am, Mr. Choi! Positivity is my middle name!” he replied, practically bouncing around the counter. "You gotta admit, this place is gonna get way cooler when the ‘Sumi crew’ arrives. It'll be like VIP treatment!"

Mr. Choi gave him a deadpan look. “Right, right. Just don’t get your hopes up, kid. Keep your head in the game, alright?”

Jimin nodded, trying to hide the slight unease that had crept into his mind. He wasn’t nervous about serving Sumi and her friends—he was used to that.

The bell above the door jingled, and there she was. Sumi, walking in like she owned the place, her usual cold expression softened into something playful. And, true to her word, she had brought her "special friends" with her—her special friends, as she’d put it. Jimin’s breath caught in his throat.

At her side, linked arm in arm, was a guy who looked straight out of a magazine. He had perfectly styled hair, designer clothes, and an aura of confidence that seemed to shout money. He looked polished, refined, and rich—far beyond Jimin’s level. His presence alone made Jimin’s heart skip a beat. He felt his palms go sweaty as he tried not to stare.

Sumi’s smile widened as she caught Jimin’s gaze. “Well, well, look who’s still here,” she said, walking up to the counter. She leaned in, her voice low, almost teasing. “I told you I’d come by.”

Jimin gave her a small smile, trying his best to remain calm. "I see you brought your... entourage," he said, gesturing to the group behind her, his tone light and casual.

Sumi’s eyes flickered to the handsome guy at her side, and she gave a slight, almost smug nod. "This is my boyfriend, Jun. Jun, meet Jimin. He works here and thinks he’s too cool for the rest of us."

Jimin’s world seemed to slow down for a moment. His brain processed the words boyfriend, and his stomach twisted into a knot. He tried to remain composed, but the harsh truth of it hit him like a truck. She wasn’t just some girl he could impress with silly remarks and charm. She had him—Jun, the guy who looked like he had stepped out of a luxury car and into her life without a second thought.

Jun gave him a slight nod, a quiet and confident smile curling on his lips. The kind of smile that made Jimin feel like an amateur, like a small fish in a giant ocean of expensive things.

"Nice to meet you," Jun said smoothly, his voice cool and collected, almost as if he was too refined to care much about Jimin’s presence.

Jimin opened his mouth to say something, but the words stuck. He couldn’t quite find the right thing to say. What could he possibly say? The gap between them was too wide, the divide between their worlds too obvious. He felt a rush of insecurity hit him in that moment, his smile faltering slightly.

Sumi, clearly enjoying the discomfort she had created, leaned closer to Jimin. "You’ve got your work cut out for you now, Jimin," she teased, a knowing glint in her eye. “But hey, maybe if you're lucky, I’ll still let you treat us. Maybe you can serve us in style.”

Jimin felt the sting of her words, but he laughed it off, trying to push down the pang in his chest. "Of course, Sumi. I wouldn’t dream of anything else."

But as he turned to grab their order, his heart sank. It wasn’t just the fact that she had a boyfriend—someone who was leagues above him. It wasn’t even the mockery in her words. It was the overwhelming realization that no matter how much he tried to be something he wasn’t, he would always feel like an outsider in her world. No matter what school he went to, no matter how much he changed, he would never be her equal.

Sumi and Jun sat down with her group of friends, who were chatting and laughing, all seemingly living in a world that felt completely out of Jimin’s reach. As he worked, his eyes occasionally flickered back to them, trying to focus, but his mind kept drifting.

She’s with him, he thought bitterly. And I’m just... me.

His thoughts began to spiral, and despite his best efforts to stay upbeat, a small crack of doubt started to form in his heart. The world of the elite, the one he was about to step into, felt more distant than ever. Because, in that moment, he realized he wasn’t just competing with Jun for Sumi’s attention.

He was competing with an entire world that Jimin could never truly belong to.

---

The night air was cool and crisp as Jimin walked slowly along the riverside, his footsteps echoing softly on the empty path. The city lights shimmered across the water’s surface, reflecting a thousand different hues—neon, gold, and pale blue—like the fractured pieces of his thoughts. His mind was a swirl of emotions, and the more he walked, the more he felt the weight of the night settling in.

What am I doing?

He had told Sumi he was going to Sungwon Academy. He had told her with so much confidence, so much energy, that it had almost felt like a victory. But now, standing in the cool, quiet darkness, he realized something—none of it mattered. Not the school, not the new life he was about to start.

What was it all for, if the person he wanted to impress, the person he had been trying so hard to connect with, was already out of his reach?

Jimin’s hands dug deep into his pockets as he continued his solitary walk, his breath misting in the night air. He watched the water flow beside him, the current moving with a certain grace, as if the world was going on without him. He couldn’t shake the image of Sumi and Jun. How easily they fit together, how naturally they belonged in each other’s worlds. Jun with his polished exterior, his wealth, his everything.

And then there was him.

A part-time worker at a small café, dreaming of a life that felt too far away, too out of his grasp. No matter how much he tried to change, to become something more, it never felt like enough. Not for Sumi. Not for anyone.

He stopped at a bridge overlooking the river, leaning against the railing. The cool breeze ruffled his hair, and for a moment, he closed his eyes, letting the silence surround him. He hated how small he felt in moments like these. How insignificant.

Sumi will never see me as more than a joke, he thought, biting his lip. She’s got everything she needs with Jun. And me? I’m just... I’m just some guy with a dream that will probably never come true.

His heart ached, but there was something deeper beneath the pain—a quiet resolve. Maybe this was just the way things were. Maybe he wasn’t meant to be a part of her world. But he could still have his own. He could still chase something better for himself, for his family. For the people who believed in him, even if Sumi never would.

I’ll show them, he thought, his fist clenching as he stared down at the dark water below. I’ll show everyone what I’m capable of. And maybe—just maybe—I’ll finally make something of myself.

But the doubt still lingered, a quiet whisper in the back of his mind. Is that enough?

He sighed, glancing up at the stars above, the soft glow of distant city lights flickering like a dream he couldn’t quite reach. And for the first time in a long while, Jimin let himself be lost in the vastness of it all, uncertain of his place but determined to find it.

But then his eyes narrowed towards something that immediately alarms him.. Shit..

"Hey! Get down! You suicidal punk!"

- Continue