BTNF 01

Chapter 1 …

“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”

White snow swirled over the single-family house built of red bricks.

In the second-floor room, bathed in the sunset, coats and bouquets were scattered haphazardly, and the two of us sat on the bed facing each other, swallowing dryly as our eyes met.

“…I won’t.”

As I answered, I shakily took off the turtleneck sweater I had been wearing.

In the warm, heated room, I could see Haebum’s Adam’s apple moving noticeably as he swallowed.

Ji Haebum and I were friends that everyone acknowledged.

We had met in kindergarten, graduated from the same elementary school, drifted apart in middle school, and then reunited in high school to fight the intense battle of college entrance exams together—a so-called childhood friend.

I thought we would remain that kind of friend for life.

If only a few hours ago, after the graduation ceremony, Haebum hadn’t confessed in an empty classroom…

“I like you.”

The moment I heard those words, I suspected it was a prank, like an April Fool’s joke—but still, I chose to lean into it and be honest with my own feelings.

Because it was the last time.

Tomorrow, you wouldn’t be here.

I threw off the thin T-shirt I had worn under my sweater, revealing pale skin I had never shown anyone before.

At the same time, I noticed Haebum’s fingertips trembling noticeably.

“Wait, Wooju.”

Haebum moved his lips as if he wanted to say something first.

“I have something I need to say now.”

“Later.”

I didn’t want to hear it today.

I already knew what he was going to say.

“I… tomorrow I—uh.”

I silenced him with my lips to tell him not to say any more.

Startled, he clenched his fists tightly for a moment, then relaxed and closed his eyes.

We stayed like that, lips touching, not moving for a while.

A delicate current of emotion ran between us.

Finally, as our lips parted and invaded each other clumsily, I decided to erase everything.

The rest of our clothes were discarded, and a moment began where my mind seemed to bleach white.

“They say it might hurt for girls.”

“It’s okay.”

Haebum’s fingertips, as he pulled down the last piece of underwear, were as cold as snow. My own fingertips, surrendering to him, were just as cold.

It took a long time for our bodies to fully open to each other.

Even though it was snowing outside, sweat formed on our foreheads, and our faces flushed with heat.

“I’m sorry. This must be hard.”

Haebum apologized with a face tangled with guilt and self-reproach.

I shook my head, signaling that it was okay.

Even if we couldn’t become one, just being skin-to-skin like this was meaningful.

I tightly held Haebum’s shoulders, who kept trying to pull away in fear of hurting me, and clumsily rubbed our lips together, sliding my tongue in.

Twenty years old. It still felt strange to realize I was an adult.

But I wanted my first time to be with him once I became an adult.

I think he felt the same way.

Haebum’s touch was awkward and clumsy, but that made it all the more intoxicating.

The strange yet ecstatic sensations spread through my body.

When his tongue and lips brushed against my skin, gasps escaped my lips.

Whenever I touched the damp places with my fingertips, the prickling sensation made every fine hair on my body stand on end.

“Ah…”

When he finally entered me just a little after a long time, I forgot to even breathe from the unfamiliar pain.

But I bit my lip to hide it.

I brushed Haebum’s cheeks, who seemed even more tense than me, trying to ease the tension in his body.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, mmm…”

“I’ll try moving.”

Every time he moved, my whole body seemed to melt with premature excitement.

“Ha, ugh…”

He became bolder, filling me entirely, and I was busy moaning as I clung to his solid form.

“Does it hurt?”

“It feels good. So keep going, don’t stop…”

Over the throbbing pain, a hazy pleasure rose like heat haze.

He tried to kiss and soothe every part of my body, dispersing the pain, but couldn’t stop his hips from moving upward.

“Ah, ha.”

Sweat soaked us both.

Squeak, creak.

The bed groaned out of rhythm.

Haebum kept pushing between my thighs relentlessly, unsure what to do.

It hurt because he was clumsy, but that made that night all the more unforgettable.

We abandoned the name “friends.”

“Wooju…”

“It’s okay. Go quickly.”

After the quiet, long first time, all I could do was let him go first, pretending nothing had happened.

If I hadn’t pushed him away, I would have begged him to stay by my side forever.

After sending him off, I spent the night burning with fever.

And the next day…

When my mom handed me the graduation album, saying Haebum had forgotten to give it to me, there was our photo.

In the picture, we stood side by side, smiling widely and making peace signs.

It was the moment we won the three-legged race on sports day.

Take care, Wooju.

But my gaze lingered longer on the yellow Post-it note attached beside the photo.

“Haebum is going to the U.S.? We didn’t even ask when he leaves.”

Hearing my mom’s belated words, all the resolve I had built up felt like it crumbled.

I had thought I sent him off just last night.

“Ji Haebum is leaving tomorrow. His flight is in the evening.”

But it wasn’t too late yet.

I recalled what the kids had said during the graduation ceremony yesterday. I hurriedly put on my coat.

Even so, dragging my feverish body and running in a panic, I couldn’t meet him.

• The number you dialed is not in service.

I remember the cold touch of snow as I collapsed onto my knees.

Even after several winters, thinking back on that day always made a corner of my heart ache.

My first love had ended so futilely.

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“The confirmation hasn’t come through yet. We may need to wait a day or two longer.”

On the way from Incheon International Airport to Seoul.

The roads were full of red lights from heavy traffic.

Trapped in a completely blocked road, Wooju adjusted her glasses and continued the call.

“We just need to review a few additional conditions, but as of now, our side has no issues. As long as no unexpected variables arise, it’s likely to proceed smoothly.”

• Okay. Good work. When will you arrive at the office?

“The traffic is bad, so it’ll probably take at least another hour.”

While on speakerphone, Wooju checked her phone to see if any new messages had come. The contact she had been waiting for from Malaysia to Korea still hadn’t reached out.

• Come straight to my office when you arrive. We need to start the meeting, so have the materials ready.

“Understood.”

• It’ll be hectic as soon as you get here, but let’s do our best until the end. With the weekend excluded, today is the last day.

“You mean the new director, right?”

Next Monday, a new director would be assigned to KU Display.

He had previously held a top management position at the U.S. headquarters and was coming to oversee the new factory in Malaysia—a formidable figure. It made sense the department head was taking special care.

Rumor had it he was the chairman’s grandson, with a multi-billion won salary, and because he was both too young and handsome, some even speculated he might be a fraud.

Thanks to that, employees had been working overtime since last month to prepare for his arrival.

Wooju was included.

This Malaysia business trip was more of a preliminary inspection to report to the new director.

• Yeah. These days, I feel drained day by day. Soon, reports will go directly to the president.

“Don’t worry. I prepared the business trip report on the plane.”

• As expected of our Section Chief Yoo! I swear I’d be lost without you. I’ll get you coffee when you get here.

“Yes, sir.”

After hanging up, Wooju exhaled deeply.

The new director wasn’t the problem. Her gaze lingered on the unanswered messages as she pulled her phone from the stand.

• The number you have dialed is switched off.

When she called, the cold automated voice confirmed the phone was off.

Her boyfriend, Shim Giwook, often turned off his phone, using being busy as an excuse.

And their wedding was less than two months away.