The days following the rumor spread like wildfire, igniting whispers in every corner of the school. Jaeha watched from the sidelines, a smirk on his face, as Hajoon's world began to crumble. Every day, he relished the sight of his friend's growing discomfort, the way Hajoon flinched at every mention of Do Hyun, the way his laughter grew quieter, as if the joy had been drained from him.
It was lunchtime, and the cafeteria was buzzing with gossip. Jaeha took a seat at their usual table, feeling the weight of stares and hushed conversations surrounding him. He leaned back, feigning indifference, but inside he felt the thrill of victory. The atmosphere was thick with tension as Hajoon entered, his posture stiff and his eyes downcast. Jaeha's smirk widened.
"Hey, Hajoon!" he called out, the playful lilt in his voice masking the malice beneath. "How's it feel to be the hottest topic in school?"
Hajoon shot him a glare that could cut glass but didn't respond. Instead, he walked straight past the table, heading for the exit. Jaeha felt a twinge of satisfaction. Perfect, he thought, enjoying the game far too much.
"I heard he's got a crush on Do Hyun," one student whispered to another, laughter bubbling beneath the surface. "What a joke! Everyone knows he only likes girls."
"Right? Can you imagine? Two alphas together? Gross," another chimed in, the scorn lacing their words like poison.
Jaeha leaned in slightly, catching snippets of the gossip swirling around him. It was all he needed to solidify his plan. Each jab at Hajoon's character fueled his own fire. The way Hajoon's cheeks burned when he heard the jokes, the way he tried to laugh it off—it was all too perfect.
"Why don't you just confess, Hajoon?" someone shouted from the back of the room. "We can set up a date with Do Hyun right now!"
The laughter echoed, and Jaeha felt a rush of exhilaration as he watched Hajoon's face turn crimson. But it was the disgust in Do Hyun's eyes that truly ignited Jaeha's satisfaction. He'd seen the discomfort, and he wanted to push Hajoon to his breaking point.
With a deliberate movement, Jaeha stood up and made his way toward the exit, spotting Hajoon leaning against the wall, his hands clenched at his sides. The moment Jaeha approached, he could see the turmoil churning in his friend's expression.
"Hajoon," Jaeha said, pretending to be concerned. "You okay? You seem a little... tense."
"Don't play games with me, Jaeha," Hajoon snapped, his voice low and shaky. "You know what you did."
"Oh, come on," Jaeha replied, feigning innocence. "You're the one who couldn't keep your feelings to yourself. Maybe if you weren't so obvious, I wouldn't have had to step in."
"You think this is funny?" Hajoon's eyes blazed with anger. "You think ruining my life is some sort of game?"
Jaeha stepped closer, lowering his voice. "It's not ruining your life. It's just a little bit of truth coming to light. You've been hiding behind that friendship, haven't you? Maybe it's time to face the music."
Hajoon looked ready to explode, his fists shaking at his sides. "I didn't want this. You know that! You're my friend!"
"Friendship is about honesty, Hajoon," Jaeha countered smoothly. "And you've been dishonest with yourself for far too long. Maybe it's time you accepted the truth about your feelings."
"You think I'm in love with Do Hyun?" Hajoon spat, his voice rising. "I never wanted to be seen that way! I don't want to be part of your twisted game."
"Game? You've got it all wrong," Jaeha said, his tone dropping to a whisper, laden with mock sympathy. "This isn't a game. This is reality. You're just too scared to face it."
Hajoon's expression twisted with confusion, then turned into something Jaeha couldn't quite read—pain, frustration, and perhaps a flicker of realization. Jaeha took a step back, allowing the words to settle between them.
"You're pathetic, Jaeha," Hajoon finally said, his voice trembling with emotion. "I can't believe you'd do this to me. To us."
"Us?" Jaeha echoed, incredulous. "What do you mean 'us'? You've never seen me as anything more than a friend. You've always been too busy with your little crush on our Alpha friend. This is all just a distraction."
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken truths. Hajoon's gaze flickered, and for a moment, Jaeha thought he saw the flicker of doubt cross his friend's face. But it quickly turned to anger, and Hajoon pushed past him, his heart pounding as he made his way out of the building, desperation in his steps.
Jaeha turned back toward the cafeteria, satisfied with his work. He felt no remorse; instead, a sense of triumph washed over him. Hajoon would come back, he always did, but this time, things would be different. He was ready to watch the fallout, ready to see how far he could push his friend before he broke completely.
Jaeha left the cafeteria, a sense of determination coursing through him. It was time for his next step: to make Sab experience the same agony he had felt when he witnessed her with Hajoon. Before getting into his car, he dialed a number, the phone ringing as he paced impatiently.
After a few moments, the call was answered. "Well, look who finally remembers me," the voice teased.
Jaeha rolled his eyes, irritation flashing briefly across his features. "Meet me at our usual spot in fifteen minutes," he instructed, cutting off the call before the other person could respond.
Sab, if you think you can run around carelessly while this bond ties us, you're sorely mistaken. I will ensure you understand the consequences of your actions. When a bonded individual sleeps with someone else, it brings torment not just to them, but to the one they are bonded with as well.