Chapter 1
The first time Kang Jisoo saw Seo Hae-in, it was raining.Not the dramatic kind.Just soft rain… the kind that makes everything quieter.
Hae-in stood alone near the school gate, holding a transparent umbrella, watching people pass like he was studying them instead of waiting for someone.
Jisoo didn't know why he noticed him.Maybe it was because Hae-in didn't move when someone called his name.
"Hae-in!"
A girl waved from across the road.
He didn't turn.
"Hae-in!"
Still nothing.
Jisoo frowned.
The girl walked closer, tapped Hae-in gently on the shoulder.Only then did Hae-in turn.
His face softened immediately.He smiled.Jisoo felt something strange in his chest.The girl signed quickly with her hands.Hae-in responded.Jisoo realized.
He’s deaf.
Hae-in laughed silently at something she signed.And for some reason…Jisoo couldn’t look away.There was something about silent laughter…It felt more honest than sound.
That day, Jisoo learned Seo Hae-in transferred into his class.
Hae-in sat by the window.
He always did.
Like he preferred watching the world instead of being inside it.Students whispered.
"He's deaf."
"Must be hard."
"I wouldn't know how to talk to him."
Jisoo didn't say anything.But he kept looking.Hae-in noticed.Their eyes met.Hae-in looked away first.Jisoo didn’t know why…But it felt like he had lost something.
Later, during lunch, Hae-in sat alone.He carefully opened his lunch box.Simple food.
Rice.
Egg roll.
Kimchi.
Jisoo walked over before he realized what he was doing.He sat across from him.Hae-in looked surprised.Jisoo hesitated.Then awkwardly…He waved.Hae-in blinked.Then smiled.
Small.
Soft.
Like he didn’t expect anyone to sit with him.Jisoo suddenly felt nervous.
"What do I do now…" he muttered.
Hae-in couldn't hear him.But somehow…Hae-in tilted his head like he understood anyway.And Jisoo's heart skipped..
Jisoo grabbed his phone.
Typed.
"Hi. I'm Kang Jisoo."
He turned the screen.Hae-in read it.Then his smile grew.He typed back.
"Seo Hae-in. Nice to meet you."
Simple.
But Jisoo felt like something important just started.They ate together in silence.But it didn't feel awkward.It felt…comfortable.
Before leaving, Hae-in gently pushed something toward Jisoo.A small candy.Strawberry.
Jisoo looked at him.Hae-in shrugged slightly.Jisoo took it.And for some reason…That candy tasted sweeter than anything he had ever eaten.
That night…Jisoo kept thinking about silent laughter.About gentle smiles.About a boy who never heard his name…But somehow made Jisoo feel seen.
And he didn’t know yet…That falling in love with Seo Hae-in would hurt more than anything he had ever known.
