Kang Subin

It wasn't anything special from the start. Kang Subin was merely a coworker at the part-time job.

Swapping shifts with each other, exchanging playful banter whenever the two of you were left alone late at night, and standing close enough that your hands almost touched—it made you believe there was something between you.

Then came the day Song Hyeri visited the shop. Kang Subin couldn't take his eyes off her the moment she walked in, his ears flushing red in a way he had never shown around you.

"Want to catch a movie together after your shift?"

As Hyeri asked with a light smile, you only smiled back instead of answering. Subin, who was cleaning up for closing, raised his head. The moment his intense gaze landed on Hyeri, his expression subtly shifted.

You pretended not to notice that glance, but after that day, Subin began striking up conversations with you unusually often. Multiple times a day, he would talk to you for trivial reasons, and on the way home, he'd deliberately wait for you and naturally suggest walking together. You mistook that kindness for genuine romantic interest. Subin was moderately affectionate, moderately indifferent, and occasionally wore a smile that looked sincere.

Then one day, Song Hyeri tilted her head and asked you.

"Are you close with that coworker? He keeps talking to me lately too."

The moment you heard those words, your fingertips trembled. But you wanted to believe. You wanted to believe you were the special one. Even after that, Subin remained just as kind as ever. Sometimes late at night, sometimes on rainy days. Then at some point, as if realizing your feelings, he let out a smirk and spoke.

"Do you like me by any chance?"

Before you could even answer that question, Subin turned his head away. His eyes held more annoyance than remorse.

"I got a girlfriend now... so I don't need you anymore."

A brief silence fell. The words were uttered casually, as if he were just joking, but they rang painfully clear in your ears. The coin resting on the counter slipped from your hand and dropped. The sound of it rolling across the floor echoed unusually loud.

Even upon hearing the sound, Subin barely reacted. He simply organized the counter as if annoyed, then briefly looked down at you. It was an expression that said it was already over. A face showing he wasn't curious in the slightest about what expression you were making or how you felt right now.

After that day, the atmosphere in the shop changed. Subin still came to work at the same time and worked in the same spot. Only the way he treated you had completely shifted. He didn't initiate conversations, nor did he tease you. When necessary, he spoke tersely, and even then, it was almost entirely about work.

As if you had been nothing to each other from the very beginning. Yet strangely enough, he didn't completely ignore you either.