It was Wednesday morning, and the mood in class felt different.
Jae Min hadn't been in school for several days, and while no one made a public fuss about it, his absence had begun to cast a quiet shadow over his closest friends.
Linda noticed it first in the way Alex had started to drift during lessons. He'd been unusually silent, often staring at nothing for long stretches, only to jolt back when the teacher called his name. Even his usual sarcasm had dulled into silence.
After the first lesson ended, Linda and Sofia exchanged a subtle glance and made their way over to Alex's seat. He sat hunched slightly forward, his arms folded on his desk, eyes fixed on his notes but not really reading them.
"Hey," Linda said softly as she approached. "You good?"
Alex turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "Yeah," he muttered. "Just tired."
Sofia tilted her head, her tone cautious but firm. "You've been 'just tired' since Monday."
Alex gave a small shrug, brushing off the concern. "It's nothing."
Linda and Sofia were about to turn away when he spoke again—quieter this time, almost reluctant.
"Have you heard from Jae Min?"
There it was.
The two girls paused, and something in the air shifted. Linda gave Sofia a knowing glance before answering. "No. His line's been off. Sofia tried reaching him."
Alex's jaw tightened just a little. "That's not like him."
"Exactly," Sofia said, folding her arms. "It's weird. I don't care if it makes me sound nosy, but I'm going to find out what's going on."
Linda arched a brow. "How?"
"I can ping his phone."
Alex turned his head slightly, a flicker of curiosity breaking through his otherwise composed demeanor.
Linda blinked. "Ping?"
"Yeah," Sofia said, her voice dropping slightly. "Let's just say I have... a few tricks up my sleeve. Legal-ish."
Alex gave a small snort, the corner of his mouth twitching into a faint smile. "Why am I not surprised?"
"I'm serious," Sofia said, her eyes narrowing playfully. "We're not just going to pretend it's normal for him to vanish without a word. He's part of this group."
Linda nodded in agreement. "We'll check on him after school. Quietly."
They both looked at Alex.
He hesitated, then exhaled slowly, as if releasing something he'd been holding in for days.
"Yeah," he said. "We should."
Before the conversation could go further, the classroom door slid open and a teacher stepped in. The three of them exchanged brief, understanding glances before returning to their seats, each of them trying to focus—but now with a new weight on their minds.
---
The afternoon sun had begun to soften when Sofia, Linda, and Alex finally stood outside a modest yet beautiful apartment on a quiet street. It had taken some work—mostly Sofia's not-so-legal tracking skills—but they'd found where Jae Min had been hiding.
The building itself was simple, two stories of clean cream bricks, ivy climbing up one corner, and the scent of someone baking lingering faintly in the air. It didn't match the mystery Jae Min had always carried with him at school.
Sofia knocked lightly on the door.
None of them spoke. Not even Linda, who usually filled silences with something witty or sarcastic. Alex stood a little behind them, arms folded, his body unusually stiff. Neither Sofia nor Linda mentioned it, but they noticed. He'd been different all day—tense, distracted, quieter than usual. Something was clearly on his mind.
They heard the click of a lock, and the door creaked open.
There he was.
Jae Min stood at the entrance wearing a baggy gray sweater far too thick for the mild weather, long loose jeans that pooled around his ankles, a cap pulled low over his forehead, and headphones around his neck. He looked like someone about to head out, though his expression said otherwise—surprised, confused, tired.
"Hey," Linda said first, her voice gentle but upbeat.
Jae Min blinked. "What… are you guys doing here?"
"You've been out of school for days," Sofia said, smiling softly. "We were worried. Don't tell me you're not even a little happy to see us?"
He glanced down, his tone barely above a whisper. "No one's ever come just because they hadn't seen me in a while."
Sofia stepped forward. "Well, that ends now. We're your friends, Jae Min. And friends don't wait for permission to care."
There was a pause. Then, slowly, he smiled.
"Come in."
He stepped aside. Linda walked in first, followed by Sofia. As Alex passed him, their eyes met for a brief moment—an awkward flicker of energy passed between them. Alex looked away immediately, but Jae Min's eyes lingered just a second longer before turning away too.
Inside, the apartment was clean and quiet. Very quiet. It was neatly arranged, almost sterile, the furniture minimal and the colors dark. Heavy curtains covered the windows, letting in very little light.
"Whoa…" Linda muttered. "It's… like mine, but lonelier."
Once everyone was in, Jae Min crossed the room and opened the windows. Light spilled in. He blinked as though he hadn't seen sunlight in days.
Sofia raised an eyebrow. "Were you about to head out?"
"No. I was just… resting."
"In that outfit?" she asked, glancing at Linda with a bewildered expression. "You look like you're dressed for a winter storm. And it's thirty degrees out."
"I like being covered up," he said simply.
Linda didn't press. The tension in the room was soft but palpable.
Jae Min brought out drinks from the fridge—smoothies in little glass bottles—and offered them some snacks. They sat in the small living room, cushions on the floor, the soft hum of silence occasionally broken by crunching chips.
"So…" Linda started, "why haven't you come to school?"
"I've just been tired. Really tired."
"We missed you," she said. "Honestly, Alex missed you the most."
"Stop it," Alex said quickly, cheeks slightly flushed. "I was just… concerned."
Linda and Sofia exchanged knowing looks. "He was freaking out, actually," Sofia teased. "Almost wrote your name on his notebook ."
Alex scowled. "You guys are annoying."
But Jae Min didn't laugh. He stared at Alex for a second—just a second—and Alex glanced back.
They looked away at the same time.
Trying to lighten the mood, Linda clapped her hands. "So, what can we play?"
Sofia reached into her bag. "I brought cards!"
"No!" Alex and Jae Min shouted at the same time.
Sofia blinked. "Whoa, okay… What's going on with you two?"
"Nothing," they both said—again, simultaneously.
"Seriously," Sofia said. "Have you guys fought or something?"
Linda leaned forward. "Alright, fine. You two can show us you're not secretly enemies by doing something together. Like… making us lunch."
"What?" Alex sat up. "I can't cook."
"Exactly," Linda grinned. "That's why Jae Min can teach you."
Jae Min hesitated. "I… don't know."
"C'mon," Sofia chimed in. "Guys can cook too. Convince us you're responsible adults."
Eventually, under the pressure of two determined girls, they both gave in.
Jae Min's kitchen was a pleasant surprise—spacious, lined with dark wood cabinets, granite counters, and sleek silver appliances. A hanging rack carried a few pots and pans, and there was a small herb garden on the window ledge. It smelled faintly of basil and mint.
"So…" Alex said, rolling up his sleeves awkwardly, "what do we cook?"
Jae Min thought for a moment. "How about mandu? They're kind of like dumplings. Easy but good."
They got to work. Flour dusted the counter. Vegetables were chopped. Jae Min moved with ease, folding and filling dough, pan-frying like someone who had done it a hundred times.
Alex watched him. "You're good at this."
Jae Min smiled faintly. "Thanks."
"Your mom teach you?"
Jae Min paused. "I wish she had."
Alex slowed. "Sorry… I didn't mean—"
"It's okay. My parents died before I could even know them."
A cold silence crept in.
Alex swallowed. "Then… who raised you?"
Jae Min didn't look up. "Hell did. I mean people who weren't suppose to."
Alex froze. "What?"
Jae Min finally looked him in the eye, his voice quiet but firm. "I mean it. It's better you don't know."
Something stirred inside Alex—empathy, curiosity, frustration.
Without thinking, he placed his hand gently over Jae Min's.
Jae Min stiffened.
Alex leaned in, his voice soft. "You keep saying that. That it's better we don't know. But if you're hurting, if you're alone—you don't have to be. We're your friends."
Jae Min's eyes widened. His heart skipped a beat.
Then, as though realizing what was happening, he pulled back.
"I like my private life to myself, Alex. Please… don't ask again."
Alex blinked, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. Okay. I'll mind my business."
They finished the food in silence.
Later, when they brought out the mandu, Linda and Sofia nearly screamed.
"This is amazing!" Linda cried with a full mouth. "Where have you guys been hiding this talent?"
Sofia grinned. "Ten out of ten."
The afternoon passed with snacks, laughter, and even a reluctant round of cards. They talked, they teased, and for a while, everything felt normal again.
By evening, they packed up, waved goodbye, and left.
Jae Min stood in the doorway, watching them go.
Once alone, he shut the door, closed the windows, and drew the curtains again. Darkness returned like a familiar blanket. He lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling. The memory of Alex's eyes—the closeness, the warmth—lingered.
He pulled the hoodie over his head, curled up, and finally drifted off to sleep.
But his heart wasn't quiet.
Not tonight.