Jungwon

She looked smaller than usual.

Standing just outside Maya’s house, her shoulders pulled in, phone clutched like it had claws.

I don’t know why I noticed it, or why it hit me the way it did. But something about the way Yuri was breathing—too shallow, too fast—made every part of me freeze.

“Yuri,” I said.

She turned, clearly startled. Her eyes darted to me, then away like she hadn’t expected me to follow.

“I’m walking you home.”

She didn’t argue. Just nodded, quietly.

We walked in silence. The party noise faded behind us, swallowed by the night air.

Streetlights glowed a soft yellow, casting long shadows on the sidewalk.

I kept my hands in my pockets, but my eyes kept drifting to her—how she kept checking her phone, how she clutched her bag too tight, how her lips trembled just enough to make my chest feel weird.

“You feeling okay?” I asked.

“Yeah,” she said, but it came out too fast. In a way as if it was a default response.

“Yuri,” I said again, softer this time.

She didn’t answer.

I hated that. I hated how she always pulled away and act like everything is fine. Like she was more afraid of being seen than being broken.

Her phone buzzed again.

I caught a glimpse of the screen before she tilted it away.

Dad?

Her hand shook as she declined the call.

I stopped walking.

So did she.

She didn’t face me, but her voice came out small. “It’s nothing.”

Nothing. Right.

But the way her fingers curled, the way her shoulders tightened—every part of her screamed the opposite.

I stepped a little closer. “Do you want me to walk you all the way home?”

She hesitated.

Then nodded.

———

Her house wasn’t far. It was older, the paint on the gate chipping, windows dark. As we approached, I noticed how she slowed down.

Like she was walking into something she didn’t want to. Its not like this isnt the first time im walking her home, why is she acting so scared? I have a feeling...

“Is anyone home?” I asked, even though I already knew.

She opened the gate without answering.

I followed her in.

The porch light flickered as she reached for the door. Her hand lingered on the knob.

Then a voice from inside.

“You’re late.”

Low. Cold. Something that made me tensed as I see the way Yuri flinched.

Before I could react, the door opened, revealing a man with tired, sunken eyes and a frown etched so deep it looked permanent. So this is her father.

His gaze landed on me. Narrowed.

“Who’s this?”

“I—he’s just a classmate,” Yuri said quickly. “I forgot my notes at school, he came to give them.”

I didn’t bring anything but I knew her intentions so I didn’t correct her.

“Mm.” Her dad looked me up and down, unimpressed. “Leave.”

His voice was sharp. No room for kindness.

Yuri turned to me. Her smile was forced. “I’ll see you at school, okay?”

I dont know what im feeling, concerned? worried? angry? I should’ve left.

But something felt wrong. Her eyes didn’t match her voice. Her posture screamed fear.

Still, I nodded. “Text me when you wake up.”

She blinked. Just once. Then closed the door.

I stood there for a moment, listening.

One second. Two.

Then I heard it.

Raised voices. Muffled. Angry.

I walked away.

But my fists were clenched.

Shit.

———

Later that night, I sat on my bed staring at my phone.

No message from her.

Not even a "made it home" or a "thanks."

And I couldn’t stop thinking about her dad’s voice. That sharpness. That tone. It wasn’t normal. Not for a father. Not for anyone.

And I hated the way I couldnt step up. Ask her directly. Confront her.

I opened my messages.

Sunghoon: Did she go home already? I haven’t seen her since she stepped out.

Me: I walked her.

A pause.

Then another text.

Sunghoon: Everything okay?

I didn’t reply immediately.

What could I say?

That I saw the way her hands trembled?

That I heard shouting after the door shut?

That I wanted to knock it down and pull her out of there?

I didn’t know what this feeling was. But it sat heavy in my chest. Ugly and frustrating.

Before I could type, my phone buzzed again.

Sunghoon: Something’s not right, isn’t it?

Me: No. It’s not.

———

The next morning, I waited at the gates for her.

She didn’t show.

Class started. Her seat stayed empty.

Rin looked over at me with a question in her eyes. I shook my head once.

Sunghoon slipped me a note during the second period.

Check her house after school. I’ll meet you there.

I kept my eyes forward, but my heart wouldn’t stop pounding.

Something was wrong.

I knew it.

And this time, I wasn’t walking away.

———

After class, the streets felt longer. The air was heavier.

When Sunghoon and I reached her gate, I stopped.

The light inside was on.

I walked up to the door and knocked.

No answer.

Sunghoon peered through the window, his jaw tightening. “Is that… her?”

I moved beside him.

Yuri.

Curled up on the living room couch. Pale. Still.

I didn’t wait.

I knocked again—louder. “Yuri!”

Still nothing.

Panic surged in my throat. I rattled the doorknob, but it was locked.

“Wait,” Sunghoon muttered, pulling something from his bag. A spare key?

He opened the door.

We rushed in.

“Yuri!” I dropped beside her. She stirred weakly.

Her skin was burning.

Fever.

“Hey, hey—look at me,” I whispered. “You’re okay.”

She didn’t speak. Just curled tighter into herself.

“I’m taking her,” Sunghoon said. “She’s not staying here.”

He didn’t wait for permission. Didn’t care. Just gathered her carefully in his arms, like something fragile.

And I followed without a word.

Because she didn’t belong in that house.

She belonged somewhere safe.

———

That night, I sat in Sunghoon’s living room while he cooled a wet towel and Yuri slept in his room. I’d never seen him so focused, so angry beneath the surface.

“She’s staying here for now,” he said, placing the towel on her forehead. “You’ll help me.”

I nodded.

Of course I would.

I’d do anything.

Because something about this girl made every part of me stir. Every part of me remember.

Even the parts I’d buried long ago.

────୨ৎ────

Word count : 1082
SOTD : Echoes by Enhypen

Author's Yap:

-HII sooo I was actually sick the whole week so I wasnt able to update like how I thought I would and along with that was a bunch of freaking projects ARGHHH
-Okay the story is GONNA get more 🫶😵‍💫🙊❤️‍🩹