Chapter 5 — The Bruise Everyone Saw, The Words No One Heard

The thugs were already groaning on the ground when Eric finally stopped, chest heaving. His fists dripped red—most of it theirs, but some of it his.

Sunwoo, still catching his breath, pressed his hand to a bruise on his lip. “…You didn’t have to go that far.”

Eric looked at him sharply, ready to snap back like always. But the words caught in his throat when he saw the swelling on Sunwoo’s cheek. His jaw clenched.

“…Did it hurt?” he asked.

The question was so soft Sunwoo almost thought he imagined it.

“What?”

Eric clicked his tongue and looked away, ears faintly red. “Forget it.”

But Sunwoo didn’t forget. For the first time, Eric’s voice hadn’t carried fire or scorn. It carried something else—something Sunwoo couldn’t name, but it made his chest ache in a way punches never did.

The mirror was merciless.

Purple shadows spread across Sunwoo’s cheekbone, swelling just enough to make him wince when he touched it. He tugged his collar higher, trying to cover the faint red along his jaw. It didn’t help. Nothing would.

“Great,” he muttered at his reflection. “Now I look like I lost a bar fight.”

And technically… he had.

By the time he stepped into the classroom, whispers started instantly. Classmates glanced, eyes flicking between his bruises and his usual straight posture. He could almost hear them wondering who dared to touch Sunwoo. Some probably thought Eric had gone too far this time.

Sunwoo ignored them, sliding into his seat. His pen tapped against the desk in a staccato beat.

Then came the shadow.

Eric walked in, hands stuffed in his pockets, hair a little messier than usual. His eyes scanned the room once—and landed on Sunwoo. For a fraction of a second, his expression faltered. A flash of something unreadable. Then it was gone.

He dropped into the seat behind Sunwoo like nothing had happened. Like he hadn’t beaten four guys bloody the night before. Like he hadn’t asked that question that Sunwoo couldn’t stop hearing.

“…Did it hurt?”

Sunwoo’s grip tightened on his pen.

He turned half in his seat, voice low enough for only Eric to hear.

“You’ve got a real nerve, you know that?”

Eric raised a brow lazily. “What?”

“Pretending you didn’t—” Sunwoo cut himself off, realizing just how close he was to exposing that tiny crack of concern Eric had shown. He clenched his jaw. “Forget it.”

Eric leaned back in his chair, smirk tugging at his lips. “Already did.”

The casual dismissal burned hotter than the bruise.

By lunchtime, Sunwoo was already at his limit. When he tried to get up, Eric’s arm shot out, blocking his way with practiced ease.

“Move,” Sunwoo snapped.

Eric tilted his head, studying him. His voice dropped just enough that it wasn’t for anyone else. “If anyone asks… say I hit you.”

Sunwoo froze. “…What?”

“I don’t like sharing credit,” Eric said, smirk sharp and dangerous, but his eyes didn’t quite match it. They lingered on Sunwoo’s cheek too long, like he wanted to say something else.

Sunwoo narrowed his eyes. “You’re unbelievable.”

Eric shrugged. “That’s what makes me fun.”

But when Sunwoo brushed past him, shoulder colliding deliberately, Eric didn’t push back. He just watched, jaw tight, fists curling under the desk—still split, still raw.

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