Seojun leaned back on his hands, glancing around the empty rooftop. Aside from the faint breeze and the distant sounds of students below, it was eerily quiet.
His curiosity got the better of him. "So… why do you eat up here alone?"
Haneul didn't pause in her eating. "Because it's quiet."
Seojun nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah, but doesn't it get boring?"
"No."
"…Doesn't it get lonely?"
"No."
He huffed a small laugh. "Don't you get tired of doing the same thing every day?"
Haneul finally looked up at him. "Do you get tired of breathing every day?"
Seojun blinked. "What?"
She picked up another piece of food, unbothered. "Eating alone is just something I do. Like breathing. I don't think about it."
Seojun stared at her, half-impressed, half-bewildered. "That's… weirdly poetic."
Haneul shrugged. "You asked."
He exhaled, shaking his head. "Man, you really don't care about socializing, huh?"
She thought for a moment, then replied, "I socialize when necessary."
"That sounds like something a robot would say."
Haneul blinked. "You're talking to me right now. That means it was necessary."
Seojun opened his mouth—then shut it.
Wait.
Did she just imply he was the unnecessary one here?
He squinted at her, trying to decide if she was messing with him. But her face remained as unreadable as ever, focused entirely on her food.
Seojun let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples.
This girl was impossible.
Seojun leaned back, stretching his arms with a sigh. "If I were to come here every day to eat… I guess it'd be because of the relaxing atmosphere."
Haneul didn't even look up. "Then don't talk."
He choked on air. "Excuse me?"
She calmly took another bite. "You said you'd come for the atmosphere. Noise ruins atmosphere."
Seojun gawked at her. "Are you seriously telling me to shut up?"
Haneul adjusted her glasses. "I'm just helping you stay true to your words."
Seojun stared at her, then let out a short laugh. "Unbelievable. You're actually kicking me out with logic."
Haneul gave a small shrug. "Not my fault if you can't handle it."
He narrowed his eyes. "You know what? Fine."
And with that, he flopped down next to her, crossed his arms, and shut his mouth.
Silence.
Haneul side-eyed him. "What are you doing?"
"Enjoying the atmosphere," he replied smugly.
Haneul exhaled through her nose, muttering under her breath, "Persistent."
Seojun smirked. Oh, she had no idea.
Haneul looked up at the sky, her violet eyes reflecting the soft light. "You need a break once in a while," she murmured, almost to herself.
Seojun scoffed lightly. "A break from what?"
Haneul lowered her gaze, meeting his eyes. "Everything."
Something about the way she said it made Seojun pause.
For a moment, he considered brushing it off with a joke, but instead, he leaned back against the rooftop floor, resting his hands behind his head. He let out a slow exhale. "Huh. Maybe you're right."
Haneul didn't reply, simply going back to her meal.
For once, Seojun didn't feel the need to fill the silence.
Maybe—just maybe—this wasn't such a bad place to eat after all.
Seojun let out another slow breath, staring up at the sky. The warm sunlight, the gentle breeze, the quiet… it was too peaceful.
Before he knew it, his eyelids grew heavy.
Just a short break, he told himself. Just a few minutes.
And then—
His body relaxed. His breathing slowed.
Haneul glanced at him when she noticed the silence stretching a little too long.
She blinked.
Seojun was completely knocked out.
She stared at him for a moment, then sighed.
"…Idiot."
She quietly finished her meal, occasionally glancing at the sleeping fool beside her. The bright, popular guy who was always surrounded by people… had come all the way up here, only to fall asleep like he hadn't rested in weeks.
Haneul turned her gaze back to the sky.
Maybe… he really did need a break.
Seojun groaned as he slowly drifted back to consciousness. His head felt unusually comfortable—warm, soft… way too nice for the hard rooftop floor.
His brows furrowed. Wait.
His eyes cracked open.
And immediately, he froze.
Haneul was staring directly at him.
Expression blank. Glasses slightly tilted. Face way too close.
And—
Seojun's brain short-circuited.
He was resting on her lap.
His body went stiff. His first instinct was to bolt upright, but the moment he moved—
"You're finally awake," Haneul said flatly, not moving an inch.
Seojun tensed. "Uh—yeah?"
She continued staring.
He swallowed. "Um."
More staring.
Seojun's brain scrambled for an explanation. Why am I on her lap?! Did I roll over in my sleep?! Did she put me here?! WAIT, WHY IS SHE JUST STARING?!
His ears burned. "Why… am I…?"
Haneul blinked slowly. "You looked uncomfortable."
Seojun gawked at her.
"…So you just—put me on your lap?"
She nodded. "Yes."
No hesitation. No embarrassment. Just a simple, factual yes.
Seojun sat up so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. "You—you can't just do that to people!"
Haneul adjusted her glasses. "You were drooling."
Seojun choked. "I—what?!"
She pointed at her skirt. Sure enough, there was a faint damp spot.
Seojun wanted to launch himself off the rooftop.
"I—I wasn't—" He frantically wiped his mouth, but Haneul just kept watching him like he was an amusing lab experiment.
"Don't worry," she said. "It'll dry."
"That's not the point!"
Haneul tilted her head. "Then what is?"
Seojun opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He had no idea what his point was anymore.
All he knew was that she'd somehow managed to completely obliterate his dignity in under ten seconds.
Again.
Seojun was still sputtering when Haneul suddenly tilted her head and said, "You look kinda pathetic when you sleep."
He froze. "Excuse me?"
She nodded, completely serious. "You were mumbling something weird, drooling, and flinching like you were fighting for your life."
Seojun's jaw dropped. "I do not—"
Haneul's lips twitched. "It was entertaining."
Seojun stared at her in horror. Oh no. Oh no no no. This girl—this completely unreadable, unbothered girl—had been watching him sleep like some kind of science experiment, and she enjoyed it?!
He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Great. Just great. Now I've lost all dignity."
Haneul tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I don't think you had much to begin with."
Seojun shot her a betrayed look. "Why are you like this?"
She simply shrugged, completely unfazed.
Seojun sighed in defeat. This girl is going to be the death of me.
Haneul blinked as she watched Seojun groan dramatically, rubbing his face like he had just suffered the greatest humiliation of his life.
Her brows furrowed slightly. Why is he sulking? I meant he looked cute…
She tilted her head, staring at him a little longer. Maybe she should clarify? But before she could say anything, Seojun suddenly shot her a suspicious look.
"You're thinking something weird, aren't you?"
Haneul immediately looked away. "…No."
His eyes narrowed. "You totally are. What is it?"
"Nothing," she said flatly, but for some reason, her ears felt warm.
Seojun squinted at her like he was trying to read her mind. Then, after a long pause, he huffed and crossed his arms. "Whatever. I'm never sleeping around you again."
Haneul blinked. "Are you expecting to?"
Seojun stiffened. His face twitched. "…That's not what I meant."
Haneul just shrugged. "If you say so."
Seojun groaned again, flopping back onto the rooftop floor.
Haneul glanced at him. …He really was cute when he slept, though.
Seojun stretched with a yawn, still shaking off the drowsiness. "What's the time?" he mumbled, lazily pulling out his phone.
The moment he saw the screen, he froze.
School was over.
His brain short-circuited.
"…Huh?"
Slowly, he turned his head to look at Haneul, who was calmly sipping a canned cola. She met his panicked gaze with her usual unreadable expression.
"You let me sleep through the whole day?!" Seojun practically shouted.
Haneul blinked. "You looked tired."
Seojun gawked at her. "That's not—" He ran a hand through his hair, his voice rising. "I missed every single class!"
Haneul tilted her head. "And?"
Seojun nearly choked on air. "And?! That's bad!"
She adjusted her glasses. "You seemed comfortable. Waking you up felt unnecessary."
Seojun stared at her in complete disbelief. "Unnecessary?! Are you my natural enemy?!"
Haneul merely sipped her drink. "You're welcome."
Seojun groaned, collapsing back onto the floor. He was doomed.
Seojun lay there, staring blankly at the sky, trying to process his fate. An entire day. Gone. Just like that.
His mind raced. Did any teachers call my name? Did I miss any important notes? Oh no—what if there was a pop quiz?!
He bolted upright. "I need to—"
Haneul, still as calm as ever, reached into her bag and casually pulled out a notebook, dropping it in his lap.
Seojun blinked. "Huh?"
"I wrote everything down."
"…What?"
She sighed, as if explaining something obvious. "Notes. Assignments. Class discussions. You were mumbling something about quadratic functions in your sleep, so I assumed you'd care."
Seojun stared at her, then at the notebook, then back at her. His brain short-circuited again.
"…You took notes. For me?"
Haneul shrugged. "It was better than watching you drool on my lap."
Seojun spluttered. "I did not—"
Haneul raised an eyebrow. "I should've taken a picture."
Seojun immediately clutched his head. "Oh my god."
Haneul stood up, dusting off her skirt. "You should eat before you panic."
Seojun squinted at her. "Why are you acting like you didn't let me sleep through school?"
She picked up her empty lunch container. "Because I don't regret it."
Seojun pointed at her accusingly. "You—"
But before he could finish, Haneul turned on her heel and walked off.
Seojun sat there, utterly defeated, watching her leave. Then, after a long pause, he looked down at the notebook in his hands.
A slow smile crept onto his face.
"…She's so weird," he muttered.
And for some reason, he didn't mind at all.
Seojun sighed, rubbing his temples. Today had been way more exhausting than expected.
He glanced at the notebook in his hands, then at the now-empty rooftop. Haneul had already left, like their entire interaction never happened.
He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. I should go to the café…
Yeah. That was the best way to clear his head.
With that decision made, he stood up, stretched, and pocketed the notebook.
As he made his way down the stairs, his thoughts lingered on Haneul.
She let him sleep. She took notes for him. And she didn't even make a big deal out of it.
A chuckle escaped him.
"She's seriously weird," he muttered to himself.
But as he walked toward his hidden café, a small, amused smile remained on his lips.
Seojun arrived at his hidden café, expecting to see a familiar figure waiting like always.
But the space in front of the entrance was empty.
He paused. Blinked.
Haneul wasn't there.
For a moment, he just stood there, staring at the spot she usually occupied.
Huh.
"I guess I should be happy," he muttered, scratching the back of his head.
No weird stares. No unreadable glances through those glasses. No random, unsettlingly accurate observations about his life.
Yeah. This was normal.
He pushed open the door and stepped inside.
But for some reason, the café felt… quieter than usual.
A week passed.
Seojun hadn't seen Haneul at school.
Not in class. Not in the hallways. Not even during lunch on the rooftop.
And she definitely hadn't appeared in front of his café.
At first, he didn't think much of it. Maybe she was sick. Maybe she just wanted to be left alone. It wasn't like they were close.
But by the third day, he found himself glancing at her usual seat in class. Empty.
By the fifth day, he caught himself checking the rooftop during lunch. Still no sign of her.
By the seventh day, as he stood in front of his café, staring at the empty space where she usually appeared, he exhaled sharply.
"…This is weird."
He wasn't worried—not exactly. She was probably fine. Probably.
But for some reason, he couldn't shake the nagging thought in the back of his mind.
Where did she go?