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୨⎯ jia ⎯୧

i ring the doorbell, my heartbeat steady. within seconds, the door swings open, and there he stands - maskless, just like the last time i saw him. his dark eyes study me for a moment, and then, without a word, he extends his hand.

i shake it, but it's not like any other business handshake. it's not firm - it's soft. deliberate.

"come in," he says, stepping aside.

i nod, walking in with slow steps. his apartment is exactly what i expected - expensive and clean.

"sit," he gestures toward the couch. i do.

without asking, he walks toward his sleek bar cart, picking up a glass.

"drink?" he asks.

"depends," i say, watching him carefully. "what are you offering?"

he turns slightly, holding up a glass filled with a deep red liquid.

"a cherry mojito."

i blink, my brows furrowing slightly.

he notices my expression and smirks. "well," he says, stepping closer. "i remembered."

i keep my face neutral, but something inside me shifts. so he paid attention. i take the glass from his hand but don't drink it. instead, i set it down on the table beside me, leaning back against the couch with a intense gaze.

"let's get back to the real deal," i say, my voice smooth. "i need to participate again next year."

he watches me carefully, swirling the drink in his own glass, his expression unreadable. then, he lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head slightly.

"just like that?" he muses. "you leave mid-games, break the rules, and now you expect me to just let you back in?"

"ehm for your information, you let me go," i remind him.

he takes a slow sip of his drink before setting it down. then, he leans forward slightly.

"if you want it that bad," he murmurs, tilting his head. "beg for it."

i blink, my body tensing slightly. "excuse me?"

his smirk deepens. "you heard me."

i inhale slowly, gripping my knee to keep myself from reacting. i knew he was going to test me. push me. he always does.

"why?" i ask, my voice carefully controlled.

he leans back, stretching his arms across the back of the couch like he has all the time in the world. "because i want to hear it."

"you were the one who let me leave. and now you want me to beg to come back?" i say.

he shrugs. "rules are rules, tiger. and you broke them."

i narrow my eyes at him. "if you didn't want me to come back, you wouldn't have agreed to this meeting."

he chuckles, shaking his head. "smart girl."

his gaze flickers over me, calculating, and i know he's waiting for me to react, to break first. but i won't. if he wants me to beg? he's going to be disappointed.

he tilts his head slightly, watching me like a predator toying with its prey. "no begging, no coming back," he says smoothly. "simple as that."

i clench my jaw, my nails digging into my palms. i hate this. i hate the way he's enjoying this, the way he's making me prove myself. but i also need this. i didn't come here to lose.