One Month of Tension

One month had passed since Esther had taken a chance and put the heart sticker on Jaekyung's lunch box. The memory of that day still lingered in her mind, and she couldn't help but wonder if it had been a mistake. Jaekyung's demeanor towards her had changed dramatically since then. His cold shoulder was nothing new, but the anger and resentment that now accompanied it was a stark contrast to the occasional warmth she had seen in him before. Every day, Esther made sure to prepare Jaekyung's meals with care, hoping that her kindness would somehow break through his icy exterior. She would watch him eat in silence, trying to gauge his mood, but he rarely acknowledged her presence. The only sound was the clinking of his utensils against the plate, a stark reminder of the tension between them. Jaekyung's training sessions had become more intense, and he would often come home late, exhausted. Esther would try to engage him in conversation, but he would simply grunt a response before heading straight to bed. The distance between them seemed to grow with each passing day, and Esther began to wonder if she had misread him entirely. Despite his cold behavior, Esther refused to give up. She continued to make his favorite meals, leaving sweet notes and small gestures of kindness around the house. She would find ways to "accidentally" brush against him, hoping to spark some sort of reaction, but Jaekyung remained unmoved. One day, as Esther was making breakfast, Jaekyung walked into the kitchen, his eyes fixed on his phone. Esther took a deep breath and approached him, a warm smile on her face. "Good morning, Jaekyung. I made your favorite pancakes," she said, trying to sound cheerful. Jaekyung barely looked up, his expression a mask of indifference. "Thanks," he muttered, not even acknowledging her presence. Esther felt a pang of disappointment, but she refused to let it get her down. She poured him a cup of coffee and placed it in front of him, her hand brushing against his. For a moment, their eyes met, and Esther saw a flicker of something – a spark of emotion that was quickly extinguished. The silence between them was oppressive, but Esther persisted. She sat down next to him, trying to make small talk, but Jaekyung remained monosyllabic, his responses limited to grunts and nods. Esther wondered if she would ever be able to break through his defenses, or if she would be stuck in this limbo of tension and silence. As they finished breakfast, Jaekyung pushed his chair back and stood up, his eyes flashing with anger. "I need to go," he said, his voice low and menacing. Esther felt a shiver run down her spine as he stormed out of the house, leaving her feeling more lost and uncertain than ever. She couldn't help but wonder what she had done to make him hate her so much. Was it the heart sticker, or was it something deeper? All she knew was that she had to keep trying, no matter how small the chances seemed.