A Blessing in Disguise : Jungwon Minji

The yard buzzed with post-lunch chatter as Minji, Hanni, Haerin, and Hyein settled onto their usual bench beneath the shade of an old tree. The warmth of the afternoon sun did little to ease the strange tension swirling in Minji's chest. She stared at her bandaged palm, absently fiddling with the edge of the gauze.

Hanni's sharp eyes caught the movement, and she leaned in with a knowing smile. "Okay, spill it. What happened to your hand?"

Minji shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Just a scratch from P.E."

Hyein raised an eyebrow, exchanging a glance with Hanni. "A scratch that Jungwon personally dragged you to the infirmary for?"

Minji's eyes narrowed, her jaw tightening. "I didn't ask him to."

"That's not what everyone's saying," Hyein teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "The whole school's talking about you two. Apparently, Jungwon's sweet side is headline news."

Minji scoffed, her cheeks warming. "Seriously? He gets attention for every little thing."

"True," Hanni agreed, smirking. "But this time, you're involved."

Minji's grip on her notebook tightened. "It's nothing. He was just being annoying. Like always."

Haerin, ever the gentle soul, smiled softly. "I think it was really sweet of him to help you."

Hanni's eyes gleamed. "Yeah, sweet enough to make someone blush, right, Minji?"

Minji's face flared red. "I am not blushing."

"You're totally blushing," Hyein chimed in, grinning from ear to ear. "Come on, admit it. He likes you."

Minji rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. "He doesn't like me. He likes Haerin."

Haerin blinked in surprise. "What? Why would you think that?"

"Niki and Sunoo are always teasing him about you," Minji explained, crossing her arms defensively. "It's obvious."

Haerin frowned, tilting her head thoughtfully. "But he's never talked to me when you're not around."

A pause hung in the air. Hanni and Hyein exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from amusement to curiosity.

"That's... weird," Hanni said slowly. "If he really liked Haerin, wouldn't he have tried to talk to her by now?"

Minji's lips pressed into a thin line. "He probably would've, if I didn't keep getting in his way."

Hyein leaned back, her brow furrowed. "You think a playboy like Jungwon would let anyone stop him from getting what he wants? That doesn't sound like him."

Minji opened her mouth to argue but found herself at a loss. The thought gnawed at her. Jungwon had never been the type to back down from a challenge. Why hadn't he just ignored her interference and gone after Haerin anyway?

Her fingers curled tighter around her notebook, her mind swirling with confusion.

Hanni's eyes sparkled with mischief. "You sure you're not the one he's interested in?"

Minji's cheeks burned hotter. She shot them a glare, her voice tight. "You're all reading too much into this."

But as she looked away, her heart thudded a little too hard. Their words clung to her thoughts, relentless and nagging.