As Jongyun and I sat together in the school canteen, the atmosphere was surprisingly relaxed. Gone were the tense looks and awkward conversations that had once characterized our interactions. Instead, we found ourselves engaged in easy conversation, discussing everything from our favorite foods to the quirks of our teachers. It was a far cry from the uncertainty that had once simmered between us, a relic of our childhood misunderstandings.

"Yeah. And then you guys quit," Jongyun remarked casually, his tone tinged with a hint of amusement as he glanced sideways at me. It was true; Yunjin and I had recently left our part-time job at the library, where Jongyun still worked as the assistant receptionist.

"About that. Why don't you try something new too? Like the cafe? We could actually use the extra help," I suggested, hopeful that Jongyun might consider joining us in a new venture.

"Nah. I can't do three jobs," Jongyun replied, shaking his head. His dedication to his current responsibilities was admirable, even if it meant turning down new opportunities.

"Then can't you quit the one at the convenience store?" I pressed, teasing him gently.

"Songjae Woo. I get free snacks there," Jongyun shot back with mock seriousness, earning a chuckle from me.

"Pfft," I couldn't help but laugh at his response, amused by his unwavering commitment to his love of snacks.

"And what?" Jongyun protested, his cheeks flushing slightly as he met my gaze. "Food is everything, okay?!"

"Okay, okay~" I teased, enjoying the playful banter between us. Jongyun's pout only added to the lighthearted atmosphere, and I couldn't help but smile as we continued our conversation.

Before long, the bell rang, signaling the end of our break. We both stood up, brushing off crumbs from our clothes as we made our way to the dish cleaner to deposit our empty plates. Side by side, without any prying eyes hovering over us, we walked out of the canteen and toward our next class, the easy camaraderie between us a far cry from the cracks that had once defined our relationship.

Sitting in my seat next to Yuri, I found myself more preoccupied with the view outside the window than the lesson being taught. Fidgeting with my pencil, I let out a sigh as I gazed at the fluffy clouds drifting lazily across the sky.

It was unusual for me to be so disengaged from class, but the presence of Yuri beside me seemed to have a distracting effect. As the sky darkened, my attention drifted to the notebook lying open on my desk. With absent-minded strokes, I began to doodle, the pencil tracing lines and shapes across the page.

A small rabbit emerged, followed by a quaint house nestled behind it. My imagination took hold as I added whimsical touches, like grasses shooting rainbows into the air. Lost in my own little world, I was startled when Yuri's voice broke through my reverie.

"You draw well," she remarked, her words pulling me back to reality. Unsure of how to respond, I simply nodded, avoiding her gaze as I continued to focus on my doodles.

I could sense Yuri's smile, wide and genuine, directed at me, and it sent a wave of discomfort coursing through me. Desperate to escape the awkwardness of the moment, I found myself tapping my feet impatiently against the tiled floor, willing the class to end so I could make a hasty retreat from my seat beside Yuri.

As I sat in class, tapping my feet impatiently against the cool, tiled floor, I felt a gentle tap on the back of my head. It was so light, almost imperceptible, but enough to draw my attention away from the monotony of the lesson. I turned slightly, scanning the faces behind me, only to find the guy sitting directly behind me innocently shrugging in confusion.

My gaze then fell upon a small object lying on the floor—a lone eraser, obscured by a crumpled piece of paper. Curiosity piqued, I reached down, picked it up, and peeled away the paper covering. Written on it were some words. Instantly, I recognized the familiar handwriting and glanced around until I spotted him, seated one seat diagonally from me. He waved casually, a small smile playing on his lips, before returning my attention to the paper.

"Are you bored?" it read.

I shook my head slightly, scribbling a quick response: "no. Annoyed."

Passing the note discreetly to the boy behind me, I watched as it made its way to Jongyun. His eyes met mine briefly, a silent understanding passing between us. Then, he pointed subtly in the direction of Yuri, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. I nodded in agreement, anticipation building as I waited to see what he had in store.

With stealthy precision, Jongyun contorted his features into a comical expression, directed at Yuri, who remained oblivious to the exchange. Unable to contain my amusement, I stifled a laugh behind my fist, meeting Jongyun's gaze with a shared moment of laughter.

It was as if a weight had been lifted between us, the tension dissolving into a newfound ease and camaraderie. We continued to exchange silent jokes throughout the remainder of the class, the minutes slipping away unnoticed in the warmth of our shared laughter.

As the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, Yuri's sudden gaze caught me off guard. It was as if she sensed the shift in dynamics, her expression curious yet unreadable.

I broke my glance at Jongyun immediately, looking away. My heart raced as I sensed the tension building within me. She tapped on my shoulder, "Songjae."

"Yeah?" I responded, trying to mask my discomfort.

"Do you want to join the dance club this semester?" she asked with a hopeful tone.

"What? No!" I exclaimed, almost too quickly. My abruptness caught her off guard, and she gave me a puzzled look.

"Uh-huh?" she pressed, clearly not satisfied with my abrupt dismissal.

"He is volunteering at the drama club," Jongyun interjected, tapping on my desk. His calm demeanor always seemed to bail me out of these awkward situations, then and now. I nodded in agreement with his statement, feeling like a marionette whose strings were being pulled by my friend.

"Oh! That's even more perfect," Yuri said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"What do you mean?" I asked, a sense of dread creeping into my voice as I watched her grin widen.

"The dance act is at the end. And the drama club has only one act. You'll be able to help both clubs!" Yuri said, her smile growing even brighter as if she had just solved a complex puzzle.

I glanced at Jongyun awkwardly, hoping he would provide some escape route. I really didn't want to get roped into this. Just then, Yunjin came along, her presence adding to the complexity of the situation.

"Yuri, hey," Yunjin greeted, breaking into our conversation with her usual confidence. Yuri turned to look at her.

"Yunjin. Songjae should volunteer for the dance club, right? He would be a good fit-" Yuri began, but Yunjin cut her off before she could finish.

"I know, right? I wish he was not so busy with other things. How about you volunteer?" Yunjin suggested, her voice carrying an authority that was hard to ignore.

Yuri, caught off guard, could only nod. "S-sure," she said, trying her best to smile in a way that didn't look forced. It was clear to everyone around that she was reluctantly agreeing.

Sometimes, Yunjin could be hell to deal with, especially when she spoke in such a way that made it impossible to refuse her. This was one of those times. I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction hearing Yuri's reply. At least I was out of the situation.

"Songjae. It's drama club time," Jongyun said, tapping on my hand. I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me as I stood up and followed him out of the classroom.

As we walked down the corridor, I overheard one of our classmates whisper to another, "Wonder what it would be like if two of the best looking boys became friends?" They glanced over at me and Jongyun, their curiosity evident.

I smiled to myself. If only they knew we were the best of friends already.