ORAS | Chapter 1.4

Author: Anonymous

As the title says, I have a close friend. We’ve been friends since elementary school, and every time he hangs out with a girl, gets confessed to, or becomes close with someone else, I get really annoyed. It’s not just regular annoyance, but it feels like I’m choking and getting angry. Thinking about it, it seems like I’m jealous; but I’m not sure if it’s because I like him… I’ve never even had a girlfriend, so I don’t know.

But, the thing is, he’s really good looking. When we were younger, he was much shorter than me, but he’s grown now… Anyway, he’s ridiculously handsome. His personality is sweet (though sometimes he acts a little crazy), and when he smiles, he’s cute. When we’re together, it’s fun and comfortable, even if we’re just breathing without saying anything. Is this jealousy between friends? Or do I really like him? Please help me out, I’ll give you a lot of stars!!! I’m serious about this, so please respond quickly! I’ll definitely reply to your comments..

[6 Responses]

└ㅇㅇgay

└You said it yourself at the end, it’s fun and “you like him” haha

└Bingo. You’re in love. Go for it!

└You’ve fallen in love, huh? Try confessing.

└I support your love!

└Date me lol

What is love…?

Kwon Wooyoung’s dark eyes moved restlessly as he scanned the portal comments.

They were strangers, so maybe they’d curse at him.

A guy soaked in teenage arrogance, trying to control his friend’s life. Someone who hated things not going his way, a wrecked personality. A strange person. A weirdo.

Despite his inner worries, all he received were the same words from Kihyuk.

The world had changed, but the prejudices were surprisingly absent.

‘└You’ve fallen in love, huh? Try confessing.’

Wooyoung read the words absentmindedly, biting his lip.

He had made his first-ever friend. The guy who gave him a sense of belonging when he had none. The one who taught him about possessiveness, jealousy, envy, obsession, all those feelings.

Even so, to call it love…

He was crazy. This wasn’t normal.

He muttered curses under his breath. He rubbed his face with both hands. But the growing confusion in his heart couldn’t be denied.

Ko Taeseong, Ko Taeseong, Ko Taeseong.

He chewed on the three words swirling in his mouth, replaying the sound of his voice gently calling his name. As soon as the memory surfaced, his heart fluttered.

Ah.

Wooyoung dropped his forehead onto his desk. He pushed away the lingering images that faintly surfaced and, just as he finished organizing the cluttered bookshelf in his mind, the realization hit him.

He liked him.

Ko Taeseong, Kwon Wooyoung did.

As he stirred through his unstable emotions, he finally made a decision.

If he couldn’t avoid it, he had to accept it. Fifteen-year-old Wooyoung decided to cleanly acknowledge his surrender. Realizing even a small part of his feelings wouldn’t change anything. There was no way he could distance himself from Taeseong because of this half-baked emotion. At this point, Wooyoung was someone who would be frantic if Taeseong wasn’t within his sight for even a moment.

It was an impossible situation, wasn’t it?

So Wooyoung decided not to care about the definition of ‘liking.’ The idea of two guys dating was absurd. Taeseong was a guy, and so was he. There was no point in tracing back why such feelings had come about. Therefore, he never once thought about dating Taeseong.

He wasn’t particularly dissatisfied. They were the closest people, within arm’s reach. Whenever he wanted, he could see him. They always exchanged messages when they got home, and their routines were constantly shared. They laughed and talked together all the time. To Taeseong, Wooyoung was first. And the same went for Wooyoung.

They were the best of friends, a bond like no other in the world.

That was enough.

Even after realizing his feelings for Taeseong, Wooyoung continued his life just as before.

Because of his grandmother, who never seemed to sleep, Wooyoung had always woken up early, even when he was young. He always got to school an hour earlier than everyone else. He had to. He needed twice the time others did. The quiet classroom with no one around was perfect for improving his focus.

However, he didn’t tell his friends about his early arrival. He didn’t like living differently from others. Taeseong and Kihyuk, who loved their sleep, always showed up late, so it wasn’t likely anyone would find out.

Yet somehow, his little secret was soon exposed. It happened the day he found Taeseong waiting for him in front of his house, with a chauffeur. Wooyoung couldn’t help but get angry.

The shabby alley, the old neighborhood, and Taeseong, all shining and out of place, didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t even know why it made him angry. He just didn’t like it.

Since he had refused to take a ride, Taeseong had always walked to his house. It was less than a 30-minute walk, but Wooyoung felt uncomfortable. Taeseong should have been getting chauffeured in a shiny car, not walking.

Despite his thoughts, walking together was nice. It became the time he looked forward to most during the day. Even in the mornings, his eyes would snap wide open.

However, on hot summer days when sweat poured down, or on cold winter days when his ears stung with the chill, he felt bad for Taeseong, thinking he was suffering because of him.

So, on especially cold days, Wooyoung would head to the bus stop. Taeseong was particularly sensitive to the cold.

“Wooyoung, it’s so cold.”

It was winter, with winter break and graduation just around the corner. The weather had gotten unbearably cold. Taeseong had grown taller than Wooyoung, who had been the tallest in their elementary school class.

Along with his height, Taeseong had developed broad shoulders and a solid physique, even though he wasn’t exactly athletic like Wooyoung, who attended a sports academy. Sometimes, Wooyoung found it irritating.

“Wooyoung. Aren’t you cold?”

Taeseong, shrugging his shoulders, looked down at Wooyoung.

“Damn, it’s like minus twenty. You don’t think it’s cold? It’s freezing. Seriously freezing.”

Wooyoung, standing at the bus stop, rubbed his arms together.

It was the middle of winter, just before the vacation began. The news was talking about an unusual record-low temperature. Even though he was bundled up in a puffy jacket and scarf, it was still cold.

Watching Wooyoung stamp his feet, Taeseong raised the corners of his lips in a small smile.

“If we stick together, it won’t be as cold.”

He naturally reached out and pulled Wooyoung’s arm.

“My hands are warm. Want me to hold your hand?”

He asked softly, his red lips contrasting with the white breath in the air, somehow making the scene seem oddly seductive. Wooyoung, frozen in place, quickly averted his gaze.

“No.”

He kicked the ground with his sneakers, quickly managing to hide his expression.

He was used to this by now. Taeseong had a natural way of acting affectionate without realizing it. Wooyoung had to get used to it. Otherwise, he’d always be flustered.

“Why don’t you just get in my jacket?”

Wooyoung, grinning, pushed against Taeseong’s chest with his shoulder, teasing him. Taeseong raised his eyebrows.

The passage you’ve shared is an intricate exploration of complex emotions between two friends, focusing on one character’s struggle with his feelings for the other. The protagonist, 우영 (Woo Young), is navigating his emotions of jealousy, affection, and confusion towards his best friend, 고태성 (Ko Tae-seong). The dynamics between them have evolved since their childhood, and 우영 is now realizing his deeper feelings.

우영 feels a sense of possessiveness and intense discomfort when Tae-seong interacts with others, especially when he’s surrounded by friends or receives attention from girls. The internal conflict of not understanding whether this is just jealousy or love creates a profound tension in 우영. Despite the emotional turmoil, he maintains a somewhat detached approach, trying to downplay his feelings as mere friendship.

The story illustrates the complexity of adolescent emotions and identity, particularly regarding romantic feelings between friends of the same gender. The narrative subtly touches on themes of self-discovery, the difficulty of expressing emotions in such relationships, and societal expectations about what love should look like. 우영’s internal dialogue—rejecting his feelings as unimportant or irrational—reflects his struggle with societal norms, as well as his desire to preserve the bond they share without complicating it.

The way 우영 tries to navigate these feelings while maintaining a close friendship with Tae-seong is emotionally charged. He’s simultaneously drawn to him but also repelled by the idea of labeling his feelings as love, especially when it seems impossible for them to be together. The subtle tension, such as moments where they are physically close or when Tae-seong behaves affectionately, only intensifies 우영’s emotional confusion.

Would you like to explore a particular aspect of the story in more detail, or discuss the characters’ development further?

This passage deepens the emotional tension and inner conflict of 우영 (Woo Young). It’s a vivid portrayal of his internal struggles and his complex relationship with 고태성 (Ko Tae-seong). 우영 is caught in a whirlwind of frustration, jealousy, and a sense of helplessness, particularly regarding his feelings for Tae-seong.

우영 feels as though his connection with 고태성 has grown increasingly distant, not because of any particular action by Tae-seong but because 우영 himself is struggling to come to terms with his emotions. His frustration is exacerbated by the increasing realization that he is in love with Tae-seong, a love that is one-sided and unreciprocated, at least from what he perceives.

The conflict intensifies when 우영 finds himself standing up for someone else, a classmate named 이수화, in the face of bullying. The scene where 우영 intervenes highlights a key aspect of his character: a sense of justice and protectiveness, even if it’s at odds with his own turbulent emotions. This moment of intervention provides a stark contrast to the ongoing emotional turmoil he feels in his personal life, especially in regard to his feelings for Tae-seong.

The scene also reveals 우영’s evolving sense of responsibility. Though he maintains a hard exterior, there’s a tenderness and protectiveness that comes out when he defends 이수화. His actions, while outwardly tough, reveal a deeper sensitivity and desire to stand up for those who can’t protect themselves, something he doesn’t always offer to himself.

The comparison between 우영’s devotion to 고태성 and his rising frustration over the lack of control he has over their dynamic becomes more pronounced. Despite everything, he still finds himself longing for Tae-seong’s affection, which remains elusive. His life, while structured and focused on success, is emotionally lacking in the areas that matter most to him.

The emotional depth here — the way 우영 wants something he can’t have, while simultaneously struggling to push back the feelings of inadequacy and longing — is compelling. The narrative shows how his inner world is constantly in turmoil, which contrasts with his outward appearance of focus and discipline.

Would you like to explore more about how 우영’s relationship with 고태성 and other characters evolve in this context, or perhaps dive deeper into the emotional undertones of specific scenes like this one?

Wooyoung exhaled a sigh without even realizing it. He inwardly cursed, wondering how a pair of glasses could cost 260,000 won.

With a furrowed brow, he stared at the cracked glasses before slowly scanning the group of boys standing in front of him.

“Kim Jeongho, Park Jihwan… Ah, move aside, Ha Minjun, Jo Hyunwoo.”