The soft glow of the moon barely lit Jaeha's room as he sat at his desk, hands clenched around a small, empty glass. His gaze was distant, staring past the reflection in the window as if he could see Sab and Hajoon's laughter echoing in his mind. The anger he'd felt in the cafeteria had only simmered, turning cold and hard, forming an idea he knew he should resist—but wouldn't.
"Why should she get to walk away like this?" he muttered to himself, his voice bitter and low. Every thought circled back to that night, the memory of Sab's note taunting him, as if mocking his helplessness. She'd made him vulnerable, broken through the walls he'd spent years building up. She was the reason he now lived in constant agony.
But he would make her suffer. If he had to endure this bond alone, then so would she. No more watching her laugh freely with Hajoon, as if Jaeha meant nothing. No, he'd show her exactly what it felt like to be left with nothing but heartache.
With a slow breath, he leaned back, mind sharpening on the plan forming in his head. There were plenty of ways he could bring Hajoon into the crossfire—small whispers here and there, rumors that would chip away at Sab's view of him, without ever leading back to Jaeha. It was almost too easy.
He smirked thinking about his plan. I feel bad but Hajoon will understand.
The next morning, Jaeha's usual scowl softened into an almost uncharacteristic smile as he made his way down the school's hallway. His eyes fell on his first target, a girl named Mira, always quick to latch onto the latest gossip.
"Mira," he called, his tone warm, inviting. She turned, surprise flashing in her eyes as she caught sight of him. Jaeha was known for his fuckboy activities, so the attention from him means she could have a chance with.
"Jaeha?" she asked, intrigued while blushing. Jaeha notice the change in her expressions. It was nothing usual.
He nodded, putting on an expression of reluctant worry. "Listen, I hate to get involved, but… have you noticed anything off about Hajoon lately?"
Her curiosity was piqued instantly. "What do you mean?"
"You know Hajoon looks at Do Hyun a bit differently, don't you think?" he murmured, just loud enough for Mira to hear.
Her eyes narrowed in confusion. "Like how?
"How should explain? like he likes him or something. I don't know." He tilt his head acting a bit confused.
"You mean, Hajoon have feelings for Do Hyun or something.
Jaeha shrugged with a sly smile, letting Mira draw her own conclusions.
That evening at the game, Mira watched Hajoon and Do Hyun with a keen, discerning eye. She noticed how Hajoon's face would redden slightly whenever Do Hyun brushed against him, even if it was just a fleeting touch as they moved in sync on the court. The way Hajoon's gaze lingered on Do Hyun when he wasn't looking, the small, almost shy smile that would flicker across his face, all these details were painting a clearer picture for her.
As Do Hyun intercepted a pass and charged down the court to make a perfect shot, the crowd erupted in cheers, and Hajoon, caught up in the excitement, wrapped Jaeha in a quick, celebratory hug. But as he let go, Mira caught the way his eyes darted to Do Hyun, as if waiting for him to turn, to notice him. And there it was again.... the faint blush, the unmistable warmth in Hajoon's expression.
Mira's lips curled into a knowing smirk. Now this is something unexpected, she thought. Hajoon actually has feelings for Do Hyun. She leaned back, pleased, her mind already spinning with how this would spice up the rumors swirling around school. Soon enough, whispers about Hajoon and Do Hyun spread like wildfire.
The next day, Jaeha sat back in the cafeteria, watching as Hajoon, clearly flustered, avoided Do Hyun's gaze. Do Hyun himself looked uncomfortable, glancing around as if searching for the source of the rumors.
"Hey, Hajoon," Mira finally said, her voice filled with mock innocence, "so what's the story with you and Do Hyun? People are saying… well, you know."
Hajoon turned pale, his eyes darting to Do Hyun, who was visibly taken aback. "What? Where did that come from?" Hajoon stammered, his voice tight with panic.
Mira shrugged. "Oh, just what people are saying. You two have always been so close…"
The cafeteria buzzed with laughter, murmurs, and sidelong glances. Jaeha watched, his heart pounding with a dark thrill. Hajoon looked like he'd been punched, and Do Hyun shifted uncomfortably beside him.
After lunch, Hajoon stayed behind in the gym to shoot hoops, clearly needing an escape from the gossip that had turned his life upside down. Do Hyun, too, lingered, but his usual ease was absent. The air between them felt strained, weighed down by the rumor's implications.
He just can't take it anymore. After a few minutes, Do Hyun cleared his throat, his voice carefully light but with an edge of discomfort. "Hey, Hajoon… about that rumor. You're not actually into me, right?"
Hajoon froze, the basketball slipping from his hands. He tried to laugh it off, but his face betrayed him, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks. "Do Hyun… it's just a stupid rumor. It doesn't mean anything."
But Do Hyun didn't look convinced. He frowned, his expression shifting from playful to uneasy. "So you're not denying it."
Silence stretched between them, and Hajoon looked away, unable to meet Do Hyun's eyes. "Do Hyun, I—"
Do Hyun took a step back, his face a mixture of shock and something darker—disgust. "You're actually serious, aren't you? This whole time?"
Hajoon's face fell, and he reached out, his voice filled with regret. "Do Hyun, I didn't want you to find out like this. I didn't want you to—"
"Enough," Do Hyun snapped, pulling away. "I thought we were just friends, Hajoon. You're an Alpha, for God's sake. And so am I! What… what am I supposed to think about this?"
He shook his head in disbelief, his face twisted with discomfort and a hint of anger. Without another word, he turned and strode out of the gym, leaving Hajoon alone in the echoing silence.
Hajoon's face had gone pale, his heartbeat thunderous in his ears as he replayed Do Hyun's expression—shock, discomfort, and, worst of all, disgust. His hands trembled, his breaths coming in shallow gasps as he struggled to steady himself. It felt like the ground had vanished beneath him, like everything he had carefully hidden was now exposed and twisted beyond repair.
He clenched his fists, nails digging painfully into his palms. Someone had crossed a line, tearing open the one part of his life he'd worked so hard to keep private. Hajoon's jaw tightened, his eyes burning with anger and frustration. Whoever did this, he swore silently, I'm going to find them.
He had known all along that Do Hyun didn't see him that way, didn't feel that connection, and that was why he had kept his feelings buried. They'd been friends since childhood, bound together through countless memories, and Hajoon had accepted, as painful as it was, that it was a one-sided affection. But he never wanted it to be exposed like this—not in a way that brought nothing but discomfort and embarrassment to the person he cared about most.
His worst nightmare had come true, and he couldn't escape the humiliation or the ache of Do Hyun's repulsed expression. This was beyond any heartache he'd imagined, and he wasn't going to let it go. Whoever had spread this rumor had shattered his world, and he intended to make sure they paid for it.
In a shadowed corner of the gym, Jaeha watched the scene unfold, satisfaction radiating through him as he saw the cracks he'd created. Hajoon, usually confident and composed, now looked utterly shattered, while Do Hyun left with a look of utter revulsion. The sight stirred something vindictive within Jaeha, a twisted sense of balance. If he was suffering, then at least they were too.
But just as he turned to leave, a familiar voice broke through the silence.
"Are you satisfied, Jaeha?"
He turned to see Sab standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and her gaze furious. Her expression was hard, her jaw clenched as she looked at him with utter disdain.
"Excuse me?" he replied, feigning innocence.
"Don't act like you don't know," she snapped, her voice low and full of anger. "I know you started that rumor about Hajoon. You've hurt him and Do Hyun both just to make yourself feel better. How could you do that?"
Jaeha's face twisted into a smirk, though his eyes glinted with a cold edge. "Why should I care? Hajoon brought this on himself by clinging to what wasn't his."
Her eyes narrowed. "You're disgusting, Jaeha. I thought… I thought maybe, despite everything, you had a shred of decency left. But you don't care about anyone but yourself."
"Why should I?" he shot back, bitterness lacing his tone. "I'm the one left here, suffering, while you and Hajoon go on like nothing happened. You have no idea what this bond is doing to me."
"And do you think this will help you?" she demanded. "Hurting others, lashing out? You think that will fill the emptiness inside you?"
He glared at her, but his silence gave her the answer she needed. She shook her head, her eyes filled with disappointment.
"You're more broken than I thought, Jaeha," she said quietly. "But I won't let you drag everyone else down with you."
She turned and walked away, leaving Jaeha in the empty gym, the bitterness he'd felt twisted into something darker and emptier. Sab's words lingered, her anger and disgust etched into his mind.
For the first time, Jaeha felt a pang of doubt, an ache that even his pride couldn't mask.
But Jaeha was Jaeha, and for him, pride was everything. Once he set his mind on something, he saw it through to the bitter end—no matter the cost. It didn't matter that Hajoon was a dear friend, someone with whom he'd shared countless memories and laughter. All that mattered was the satisfaction of proving a point, of watching his plans unfold like a meticulously crafted game.
A smirk crept across Jaeha's face as he clenched his fists, a dark determination settling within him. He relished the chaos he had sown, the way it had set the stage for his next move. The thrill of it sent a rush through him; he felt alive with purpose. He could see the path laid out before him, each step designed to push Hajoon further into a corner, to make him feel the sting of the same humiliation Jaeha had endured.
If this is what it takes to make her suffer, and to make her mine he thought, then so be it. The thought of destroying someone's life—someone he'd once called a friend—didn't even flinch his conscience. Jaeha was beyond caring; he was ready to watch everything burn.
His mind raced with possibilities, plotting how he would leverage this situation to ensure that Hajoon not only felt the weight of the rumors but bore the brunt of the fallout. Jaeha was prepared to play a ruthless game, and in this game, he was determined to win at all costs.