Absolute Social Temperature

waiting for Jihoon. He wasn't sure what to expect; after all, Jihoon had barel

his curiosity, and Seongwoo couldn't deny that he was loo

out a word, he sat down across from Seongwoo, placing a small stack of papers between t

st to Jihoon, who had already settled into his sea

t?" Seongwoo asked, unsure if he

tral as ever. He didn't look up, keeping his gaze fixed on the

lock out the noise of the classroom around them. He wanted to say something-anything that might break through Jihoon's cold,

ly spoke, his voice barely above a murmur. "

e nodded, pulling out a rough sketch he'd made the night before. "I was thinking we could create a diagram to make things

notes Seongwoo had drawn. After a long pause, he nodded, a barely perceptible movem

a hint of approval in Jihoon's tone, and for a m

from time to time, trying to decipher the fragments of expression that flickered across his face-moments of thoughtfulness, brief flashes o

he began to pack up his things. Jihoon moved to leave,

, Ji

ulder. His eyes were cautious, as if he e

lad we're working together," Seongwoo

Seongwoo to catch a glimpse of surprise-maybe even a flicker of softness in his gaze. But then, a

voice as controlled as

or if he'd simply misread Jihoon's guarded demeanor. But something in him felt lighter,

together in silence, each comfortable in their shared stillness, un

but oddly reflective. His gaze was focused on the papers in

Seongwoo echoed,

... talk to others just for the sake of it. People who say the

s glad." He shrugged, meeting Jihoon's gaze, hoping to convey the sincerity of his w

only deepened the puzzle. He let out a faint, almost in

mocking way, but with genuine amu

that if Seongwoo hadn't been watching so closely, he would have missed it entirely. But in that instant,

before: Jihoon wasn't just cold; he was guarded. Like someone who'd been

ew about warmth, it was that, given ti