Chapter 4
The days drag on, and the tension between Ah-Yumi, Eeunsoo, and Sunghoon deepens. Ah-Yumi finds herself tangled in a web of conflicting emotions, unsure of whom to trust or where she belongs.
One afternoon, Ah-Yumi opens her locker to find a note slipped inside.
"You've been quiet lately. Want to talk?"
Sunghoon's handwriting. She stares at it for a moment, unsure whether she should even bother. Her mind races with questions. Why would he want to talk to me? What does he really want?
She glances around, half-expecting to see Sunghoon's usual entourage of girls hovering nearby, but there's nothing. She snorts under her breath, rolling her eyes. He's probably just bored. It's not like he's ever really been interested in anyone like me.
And yet, there's that part of her—deep down—that's intrigued, that feels drawn to the warmth of his attention. Ugh. Stop it. You're not one of his fans, she tells herself. But despite her inner resistance, her curiosity wins out, and she heads toward the courtyard after school.
When she arrives, Sunghoon is already waiting, casually leaning against a tree with a relaxed posture that looks effortless. His charm radiates from him in waves, and Ah-Yumi can't help but roll her eyes inwardly. Of course he's this relaxed. Everything just falls into place for him.
As she approaches, he grins, clearly pleased that she showed up. "You came," he says, a teasing lilt in his voice. "I thought you might chicken out."
"I'm not a chicken," Ah-Yumi mutters, but her voice lacks conviction. Who's the real chicken here? I'm practically letting myself get swept up in his act.
Sunghoon chuckles, clearly not phased. "Good. I wanted to talk. You've been avoiding me… and Eeunsoo."
Ah-Yumi stiffens at the mention of Eeunsoo. Of course, Eeunsoo. She shifts uncomfortably, trying to mask her discomfort. "I—I haven't been avoiding anyone…"
Sunghoon gives her a look that's half-smirk, half-pity. "Really?" He gestures toward the school building. "You've been keeping your distance. Everyone's talking about it."
Great. Now I'm some kind of topic for them to gossip about. Ah-Yumi feels the urge to defend herself, but the words won't come. Instead, she crosses her arms, feeling her irritation rise. Why does he care anyway?
"Why do you care?" she blurts out before she can stop herself. "You've got plenty of people around you. Why single me out?"
Sunghoon shrugs, still smiling like he knows something she doesn't. "You're different," he says, his voice almost thoughtful. "I don't know how, but I can tell. And I don't like seeing you all alone."
Ah-Yumi's chest tightens at his words. What is he playing at? But she won't admit it—she feels an odd sense of comfort at his attention, even as her mind rebels. "I'm fine," she says stiffly, but even she doesn't believe herself.
Before she can say anything more, the sound of footsteps interrupts them. She turns and sees Eeunsoo approaching, his expression unreadable as always. He doesn't even glance in her direction, his cold gaze fixed solely on Sunghoon.
Oh, here we go, Ah-Yumi thinks, rolling her eyes internally. This is the drama I've been avoiding all week.
Eeunsoo's voice is low, his words sharp. "What's this? A little rendezvous?" His eyes flick to Ah-Yumi briefly, his tone colder. "Don't waste her time."
Sunghoon doesn't flinch, though his smile flickers. "I'm not wasting anyone's time, Eeunsoo. We're just talking."
"Talking?" Eeunsoo's lip curls into something barely resembling a smile. "She doesn't need to be caught up in whatever game you're playing."
Ah-Yumi watches the exchange with growing unease. So this is how they are with each other. She can feel the tension crackling in the air, as if they're both trying to assert their dominance over her without saying a word.
But before she can process any further, Eeunsoo turns on his heel and walks away without another glance. The silence that follows is thick, uncomfortable.
Sunghoon lets out a soft laugh, his voice light. "I'm sure he's just trying to protect you… in his own way." He glances at her, his eyes sincere for once. "But you should know… I'm not a bad guy."
Ah-Yumi raises an eyebrow, skeptical. Yeah, right. You're just a guy who knows how to work people to get what you want. But something in her, something deeper than her judgment, wants to believe him. She wants to trust him.
"I just don't understand," she admits, her voice softer. "Why is everything so complicated?"
Sunghoon smiles, the warmth in his gaze unmistakable. "Because people aren't always as they seem. But don't worry, Ah-Yumi. You'll figure it out. Just don't let anyone dictate who you can be or who you can trust."
She nods, though doubt still lingers in her mind. Easier said than done, she thinks. If only he knew how hard it is to trust anyone.
As Sunghoon walks away, leaving her with her thoughts, Ah-Yumi is once again left in the whirlwind of her emotions. Why does it feel like everything's pointing toward Eeunsoo, yet Sunghoon keeps pulling me in?
The next day, she crosses paths with Eeunsoo again. He glances at her briefly before turning his eyes away, his expression cold. "I hope you're not falling for his act," he mutters, his words carrying a weight that sends a chill down her spine.
She watches him walk away, her chest tightening. Why is he so determined to keep me away from Sunghoon? What's the deal with him?
The confusion only grows. Ah-Yumi feels as though she's stuck in a game she never asked to play—torn between two very different people, unsure of what's real or what's just an illusion.