???????? || Pi Hanwool ?

Hana dragged her feet back to the study room, the weight of guilt pressing down on her chest. With every step, the frustration twisted deeper inside her. When she finally stepped through the doorway, her heart sank further. The place was a disaster—papers shredded, their study plan crumpled, their photos together torn like meaningless scraps.

She swallowed hard, leaning against the broken table, eyes fixed on the mess in front of her. "I'm sorry, guys," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper.

"No! Why are you apologizing?" Heewon immediately shot back, arms crossed in disapproval.

"Yeah, how is this your fault?" Jun added, patting her back as if trying to knock some sense into her.

Hana exhaled sharply. "How could I not?" She looked at them, frustration evident in her eyes. "Hanwool is my boyfriend. Minhwan is my friend. And they're the ones torturing you guys."

Jiwoo scoffed, crossing her arms. "Yah! Stop it. This doesn't suit you," she said before smacking Hana lightly on the arm. "Why are you taking responsibility for Pi Hanwool's mess? Last I checked, he was the one pulling all the strings, not you."

Gamin, who had been quiet until now, let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Hm... You shouldn't worry too much, Hana."

Hana let out an exasperated laugh, throwing her hands up. "Oh, sure, Gamin, let me just flick the worry switch off real quick." She gestured dramatically, earning a smirk from Jun.

"Look," Jun started, "if anything, Hanwool should be in here apologizing, not you."

"Exactly!" Heewon added. "You're not the one tearing this school apart."

Hana sighed, rubbing her temples. Maybe not, but I'm still in the middle of it. She wanted to believe her friends, wanted to believe that none of this was her burden to bear—but deep down, she knew Hanwool's war had consequences, and like it or not, she was caught in the crossfire.

***

The rest of the school day passed in an eerie silence, as if the chaos from earlier had never happened. Hana, Jiwoo, and Heewon kept to themselves, barely sparing a glance at anyone. Gamin was busy searching for Sehyun, And whenever Jun had a free moment, he stuck close to the girls like an unofficial bodyguard.

"Hana, stop glaring at everyone," Jiwoo muttered as they made their way toward the canteen.

"I'm not," Hana replied, raising a perfectly arched brow whenever someone dared to look in their direction. Her silent try me expression was enough to make most people scurry away.

Heeown, ever the peacekeeper, took charge in the lunch line, grabbing plates and passing them around. "Guys, just for today, let's not fight, okay?" She sighed. "You three are ticking time bombs."

Hana snorted, turning to Heewon. "Excuse me, Chipmunk, but I think you are talking about yourself." She laughed, earning a playful glare from Heewon.