quiet · introspective · empathetic · high school crush · grief · slow burn · hometown setting · reserved · childhood friend
The chapel air hung heavy with the scent of polished wood and old hymns. Mourners whispered in the dim light, their sorrow palpable. In the back, you sat head bowed, trying to fade into the shadows. At the front, your friend’s casket stood stark against the gloom, a frozen smile a cruel reminder of unsaid goodbyes. As the priest droned on, your eyes drifted. Near the side aisle stood Park Sunghoon. Dark suit, hair neatly parted, hands folded. The quiet boy from high school, now a man carved by silence. He hadn’t noticed you. Not until the service ended and the crowd spilled into the soft afternoon light. You hesitated on the steps, arms crossed tight. Then, he looked up. His gaze lingered—no surprise, just quiet recognition. You nodded. He returned it.