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

sept , jealously's game

"Whatever your name is," Jae-i said coldly, "we were just fooling around at a party. That's all. I hate it when guys get clingy."

Ae-ra winced at the bluntness, feeling a pang of sympathy for Kang Ha.

"Oh, and you want some advice?" Jae-i continued, her voice sharp. "Consider it payback for the shirt you lent me the other day."

He-ra raised an eyebrow in confusion, while Ae-ra's mind raced. The shirt at the race track? That was his? Something about that realization left her unsettled, though she couldn't quite pin down why.

Jae-i's gaze dropped to Kang Ha's patched-up lip, her tone suddenly cutting deeper. "Drop out."

"What?" He blinked, caught off guard. "Why would I—"

"Because Ri-an hates you. And if you stay, things will only get worse."

Kang Ha's smile returned, softer this time. "I can handle myself," he said. His voice carried a quiet confidence, a calm that hinted at his resolve. "And for the record, I liked kissing you. I liked that it was you. And I liked that you didn't push me away."

Ae-ra's breath hitched at his words, an unexpected unease swirling in her chest. She glanced at Jae-i, who scoffed before turning on her heel and walking off.

He-ra let out a delighted giggle. "I'm rooting for you," she teased. "A passionate romance between the classes? Very Romeo and Juliet. But why Jae-i? There were plenty of girls there."

Kang Ha didn't hesitate. "She was the prettiest girl there," he said simply, his sincerity catching even He-ra off guard.

Ae-ra had heard enough. Without a word, she walked away, her thoughts a jumble she didn't care to untangle. She didn't notice Kang Ha watching her leave, his gaze soft, before he turned and walked off in the opposite direction.

‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍓 ⋅ ˚✮

After school, Ae-ra headed to her private ballet lesson, the echoes of her pointe shoes tapping softly against the studio floor. For hours, she practiced until her breath came in short, shallow gasps.

"Okay, we're done for the day," Ms. Park announced with a sharp clap of her hands. Her tone was clipped, as always, but not unkind. "You did well. But next time, do better."

Ae-ra nodded, her throat too dry to respond. She drained her water bottle and began packing her things, the dull ache in her muscles reminding her of how much she had pushed herself.

Leaving the studio, Ae-ra forced a polite smile as she bid Ms. Park farewell. Her steps felt heavy as she wandered through the dimly lit school hallways, her fingers scrolling absently through her phone. The silence around her made her thoughts louder. I could've done better... if only there wasn't so much going on, she pondered.

"Ae-ra?"

She jumped at the sudden voice, her heart skipping a beat. Whipping her head around, she froze when a hand gently landed on her head. Looking up, she saw Kang Ha, his usual smile curved into something softer—almost tender.

"Kang Ha?" Her voice cracked slightly as she stared at him, wide-eyed. His presence this close made her chest tighten. It's probably just the adrenaline from practice, she reasoned, pressing her lips together.

"I stayed late to help the teachers clean up," he explained casually, shrugging as if it were no big deal. "They left early, so I ended up doing most of the work myself."

Ae-ra rolled her eyes instinctively. Of course, they'd leave the new scholarship student to handle everything. "Why are you still here, though?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.

She gestured to her leotard and tights, the only change being her ballet flats swapped for sneakers. "Ballet practice," she murmured, rubbing her sore arms. "It went on longer than I expected."

Kang Ha chuckled, the sound light and easy, as though it could lift the weight from her shoulders. But before she could reply, a sharp honk cut through the quiet air.

They both turned toward the sound. There, leaning casually against his luxury car, stood Ri-an. His piercing gaze locked onto Kang Ha, his expression unreadable but unmistakably tense.

"Ri-an?" Ae-ra called out, hurrying toward him, her fingers brushing his sleeve. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice low, already sensing the tension crackling between the two boys.

Ri-an's gaze softened as he looked down at her. Gently, he reached for her hand, his touch light but deliberate. "I knew you had late practice, so I came to take you home," he said smoothly, his words carrying a weight that left her stunned.

Her eyes widened. Ri-an, doing something this thoughtful? she thought skeptically. This has to be about Kang Ha—trying to get under his skin.

Ri-an's focus shifted back to Kang Ha, his expression hardening slightly. "Let's go," he said simply.

Without waiting for a reply, he gently placed a hand on Ae-ra's back, guiding her to the passenger seat. He opened the door with effortless grace, and she slid inside, glancing back at Kang Ha as Ri-an climbed into the driver's seat.

Kang Ha stood motionless, watching as the car pulled away. Ae-ra gave him a hesitant wave through the window, her heart heavy with unspoken words.

In the growing distance, the tension lingered, unspoken but undeniable, leaving behind a silence that said more than words ever could.