checkmate. | pi hanwool

Chapter 10

Then, as if the universe enjoyed pissing him off-

He saw her.

Walking down the hall, head held high, acting like nothing had happened. Her usual confidence was still there, even with the bandage on her forehead. Hanwool's eyes flickered over her instinctively, scanning for more damage. A faint bruise along her jaw. Some scratches.

Nothing too bad.

But the bandage was enough to make something in his chest tighten.He barely noticed his own feet moving. By the time he realized it, he was already standing in front of her, blocking her path.

Gaeun barely blinked. "...What?"

Hanwool tilted his head, eyeing her forehead. "You look like shit."

She scoffed. "Wow. You really have a way with words."

He ignored her sarcasm. "So, how bad was it?"

She frowned. "What?"

"The fight," he said flatly, nodding toward her forehead. "Did you at least land a few punches, or did you just stand there and take hits like an idiot?"

Gaeun narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. "I held my own."

Hanwool hummed. "Doesn't look like it."

Her lips twitched. For a second, he thought she was about to punch him.

"Not that it's any of your business," she said, "but yeah, I got hit. Doesn't mean I lost."

Hanwool's gaze darkened slightly. "Tch. Shouldn't have been there in the first place."

Gaeun's expression sharpened. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." His tone was annoyingly calm. "You knew what you were getting into. You walked into a fight against people stronger than you. That's not confidence-that's being reckless."

She let out a dry laugh. "So you think I should've just stood back and done nothing?"

"Would've been smarter."

She scoffed. "Yeah, no thanks. I don't run away when my people are in trouble."

Hanwool's fingers twitched inside his pockets. "I'm just saying," he continued, voice quieter this time, "next time, don't be an idiot."

"Next time?" she echoed. "Why do you sound like you think I'll do it again?"

Hanwool gave her a blank look. "Because I know you will."

Gaeun smirked slightly. "And what? Are you gonna try and stop me?"

Hanwool held her gaze.

"No," he said. "But don't expect me to be impressed when you show up looking like that again."

She rolled her eyes, exhaling sharply. "Relax. We're not even close, so I don't know why you're acting like this concerns you."

Hanwool's jaw tightened slightly, but his expression didn't change. "It doesn't."

"Good," she shot back. "Then don't waste your time worrying about what I do."

He exhaled sharply. "Do whatever you want."

"Glad we're on the same page." She stepped around him, brushing past without another glance.

Hanwool didn't turn to watch her go. He stayed rooted in place, jaw tightening as the sound of her footsteps faded into the noise of the hallway.

That annoying feeling from last night?

Yeah.

It didn't go away.