?????? ??? , ?im rian (REWRITE)

trios , new faces, new tensions

     Suddenly, a sleek black car rolled to a stop in front of her house, pulling her back to reality. "I have to go now," she told Lacey, sharing quick goodbyes and kisses over the phone. She slipped it into her bag and walked toward the car, where the tinted window rolled down, revealing Ri-an's familiar face.

     "Took you long enough," she said with a teasing smile.

     "Get in," he replied, his voice clipped and distant. She noticed the tension in his eyes, something simmering just beneath the surface. He wasn't in a talkative mood, and Ae-ra knew better than to pry. She sighed lightly, circled the car, and slipped into the passenger seat.

‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍓 ⋅ ˚✮

     The drive to the race track was quiet, tension hanging between them like a heavy curtain. When they arrived, Ri-an got out and opened her door, extending a hand. Ae-ra hesitated but took his arm, linking hers with his as they walked toward the crowd gathering by the track. What is he playing at? she wondered, glancing sideways at him. But before she could voice her thoughts, her attention was pulled toward a tall girl with long, sleek black hair. Woo-jin and He-ra were already chatting with her, their expressions a mix of awkwardness and forced cheer.

     The girl turned, her gaze immediately dropping to Ae-ra and Ri-an's interlocked arms. Her expression was hard to read, but Ae-ra felt the intensity. And while the girl's face remained impassive, Ae-ra sensed something under the surface, an unspoken tension that radiated from her.

     Ri-an let go of Ae-ra's arm, his posture stiffening as he addressed the girl. "Hello, Jae-i." His tone was calm, but there was a note of challenge.

     Jae-i glanced past him without acknowledging his greeting. "Let's play a game, Ri-an," she said, her voice as smooth and impassive as her gaze.

     "What game?" Ae-ra blurted, her curiosity piqued. She noticed He-ra shifting nervously beside her, as if this moment were a familiar but uncomfortable ritual.

     "The winner gets a wish granted," Jae-i replied flatly, ignoring Ae-ra's question. "Three laps. I take pole position. When I win, that's it. Once you agree, there's no backing out."

     Ri-an's eyes narrowed, but a spark of resolve flashed in them. "You haven't won yet," he shot back, his voice unyielding. "And if I win, you'll have to tell me what's really going on here."

     Without another word, Jae-i turned on her heel and walked toward her car, her confidence unshaken. But she paused for a moment and looked back, locking eyes with Ae-ra for the first time. "What's your name?"

     Ae-ra returned her gaze, keeping her tone polite yet unflinching. "Chun Ae-ra," she replied with a small bow. "Nice to finally meet you, Jung Jae-i."

‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍓 ⋅ ˚✮

     Engines revved, and Ae-ra, Woo-jin, and He-ra watched as the cars took off, disappearing around the first bend in a roar of speed and power. Ae-ra turned to Woo-jin, her brows furrowed. "Are they always like this?" she asked, sensing there was more at play than a simple race. "Or did something happen between them?"

     Woo-jin exchanged a look with He-ra, who hesitated. "We're not exactly sure ourselves," she murmured. "All we know is Jae-i left suddenly, out of nowhere, three months ago."

     Ae-ra nodded, her curiosity growing as the cars thundered past, Ri-an's car inching ahead of Jae-i's. She glanced at Woo-jin, who was rubbing his temples in irritation. "What's gotten into them?" he muttered, clearly annoyed. "Do they always have to be so... intense?"

     As the final lap neared its end, Jae-i's car surged forward, overtaking Ri-an in a final daring maneuver. The race was over. Jae-i climbed out of her car, her face impassive as Ri-an approached her, visibly frustrated. "What were you thinking, driving like that?" he demanded, his voice raw with concern. "You could have gotten hurt, Jae-i!"

     Ae-ra observed him, surprised at the depth of his reaction. She must really mean something to him, she thought, feeling a pang of sympathy she rarely felt for anyone. Her gaze shifted to Jae-i, who met Ri-an's worried look with cold detachment.

     "I won, so I'll tell you my wish," Jae-i said, her tone unwavering. "We're done. I'm finished."

     Ae-ra's eyes widened as she watched the exchange. Jae-i's words were like an arrow, sharp and final. She glanced at Woo-jin and He-ra, who had already started walking away, clearly uncomfortable with the unfolding scene. She followed them, but something made her pause at the car, watching as Jae-i approached her own vehicle, now fully changed into a casual outfit.

     Unexpectedly, Jae-i stopped in front of her. "Take care of him for me, please." Her voice was soft, but the words hit Ae-ra with surprising force. She blinked, watching as Jae-i turned away, climbing into her car and leaving without another word.

     She turned and saw Ri-an walking toward her, his gaze downcast, his hands clenched at his sides. The usually collected, almost stoic Ri-an seemed almost fragile in that moment, like he was holding himself together by a thread. When he finally looked up at her, his face was an unreadable mask, but his eyes betrayed him—they were filled with a kind of hurt Ae-ra wasn't accustomed to seeing.

     Without thinking, she reached out and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, offering what little comfort she could. "Let's go," he murmured, his voice thick with a rawness he was struggling to control.

     She nodded, her own voice soft. "How about we go get some shortcake or something?" she suggested, a hint of a smile breaking through. "It'll help, I promise," she glanced down to his hand that was bruised. "And we can take care of that as well."

     He looked at her for a long moment, the barest flicker of a smile in response, before nodding. She could feel the weight of his emotions, the turmoil he was barely containing, and while she wasn't sure why she felt compelled to be there for him, she knew she wanted to stay. Maybe it was the way he looked at her then, with a quiet vulnerability he'd never shown before, or maybe it was something she hadn't yet put into words.