Growing Bond

Ji-eun could feel the shift between them. Jae-min, once distant and guarded, was beginning to open up. Their conversations grew more personal, their shared moments more comfortable. But as their connection deepened, Ji-eun became acutely aware of the whispers around them.

“Why is she hanging out with him?” a classmate murmured during lunch.

“She must be bored. There’s no way she’s serious,” another replied.

Ji-eun ignored them, focusing on Jae-min. But she couldn’t deny that their words stung. In her previous life, she had been one of those people—judgmental and dismissive. Now, she saw how damaging those careless words could be.

---

That afternoon, Ji-eun found herself sitting on the school rooftop with Jae-min. It had become their unofficial hideout, a quiet place where they could talk without interruptions.

Jae-min leaned against the railing, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “You don’t have to stick around, you know,” he said suddenly.

Ji-eun frowned. “What do you mean?”

He hesitated, then sighed. “I know what people are saying. That you’re wasting your time with someone like me. If you’re worried about your reputation—”

“I’m not,” Ji-eun interrupted, her tone firm. She stood up, stepping closer to him. “I don’t care what they think, Jae-min. I’m here because I want to be.”

He looked at her, his expression unreadable. “Why?”

The question hung in the air. Ji-eun’s heart pounded as she searched for an answer. She couldn’t tell him the whole truth—not yet. But she could be honest about one thing.

“Because you matter to me,” she said softly.

Jae-min’s eyes widened, and for a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Then he looked away, his cheeks tinged with pink. “You’re strange, Ji-eun.”

She smiled, relief washing over her. “Maybe. But I’m not going anywhere, so get used to it.”

---

As the days turned into weeks, Ji-eun began to notice more about Jae-min. The way he bit his lip when he was concentrating, the way his eyes lit up when he talked about something he was passionate about. She also saw the exhaustion he tried to hide, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him.

One evening, as they walked home together, Ji-eun couldn’t hold back anymore. “You work too hard,” she said.

Jae-min shrugged. “I have to. My family needs me.”

“But you’re just a teenager. You shouldn’t have to carry so much on your shoulders.”

He stopped walking and turned to face her. “Life doesn’t always give you a choice, Ji-eun. You wouldn’t understand.”

Ji-eun flinched, his words cutting deeper than he realized. He was right—her wealth and privilege had shielded her from struggles like his. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t try to lighten his burden.

“I want to help,” she said quietly.

Jae-min’s expression softened, but he shook his head. “You don’t have to. This is my responsibility, not yours.”

“Maybe,” Ji-eun replied, “but friends help each other. And whether you like it or not, I’m your friend.”

He stared at her for a long moment before sighing. “You’re really stubborn, you know that?”

She grinned. “I’ve been told.”

---

That night, Ji-eun lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. She thought about Jae-min’s struggles and her own past mistakes. She couldn’t change everything, but she could be there for him in ways she hadn’t before.

And maybe, just maybe, she could make him realize that he didn’t have to face the world alone.

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