I had a habit a few months ago. One that got me... really excited.
That habit was...
"Hnn... No, he's outside the door—stop it, Daniel..!"
Getting railed by Daniel while Jiho was close by.
We did it in the school bathrooms when I told Jiho I had to fix my makeup. I'd return with Daniel, and he'd just laugh it off, saying he "took a shit."
We did it when Jiho and I were supposed to hang out. Daniel would show up minutes before and we'd do it quickly, just to shove it in your face without you knowing.
Of course, Daniel and I were lovers outside of that too.
But those times… It felt good to do that to Jiho.
He pissed me off so much. I couldn't take it anymore.
The pleasure I got from Daniel wasn't just pleasure—it was payback. Payback for making me wait until it didn't matter anymore. At least, that's how I felt.
You kept throwing glances, Jiho. Then brushing them off like you were just looking at me. You'd call me your friend over and over when it was so obvious you wanted more.
And I liked Daniel.
I even loved him later on.
But a part of me—maybe a big part—did it to spite you.
I was right there, Jiho. RIGHT. THERE.
You were always so open, so honest. Talking about everything, even the embarrassing stuff. You shared everything with us—with me. And I loved that. I was addicted to it.
And it was clear you liked me.
I was dying for you to say it. Just so I could say how addicted I was to you too.
But you didn't.
What, was liking me too embarrassing to admit?
Was saying it that mentally exhausting for you?
Fine. Don't say it.
Watch me get swept away by someone else. That's what you get.
And honestly… I started to love Daniel more than I ever liked you.
So when that day came—when you finally said it on the roof:
"I like you, Eunhee."
…
I was just tired.
I already had someone. Someone stable. Someone who understood me, even if we disrespected you when you weren't around.
You took too long. And I compared the two of you, and… Daniel was better. I told myself I wasn't going to go through it again.
So I left you there. On that roof.
And then…
I found out you never said anything because of that same honest, trusting nature I used to love.
You trusted Daniel. Our...Your friend. Who lied to me about you constantly.
And did the same thing to you to keep you in check.
But now I'm just... tired.
Even when you came back from the dead.
And then you say you want to let me go. You want to move on. That lying like Daniel did is just... the way the world works. You're broken. But you're honest again.
I finally got you back—the you I was addicted to.
Impulsively, I ran from Daniel's house and went to my cousin's house Misaki. I wanted to... I don't know. Get you back. Like something out of a telenovela.
But I'm so, so tired.
I think I made a mistake.
Daniel and I—we had something that worked.
He understood me in a way you never did.
And now… I don't know what to do.
Maybe I should just go back.
——— PRESENT ———
Eunhee opened her eyes.
She was in Misaki's apartment. The memory had faded, leaving behind that familiar dull weight in her chest.
She stared at the ceiling as the thought came.
'I'm… the worst.' She shook her head.
'....'
Her gaze drifted to the side of the bed.
Empty.
'I didn't realize how used I'd gotten to sleeping next to someone.' She thought of Daniel.
'He was so big… like a giant teddy bear I could cling to all night. If it were Jiho… only a few centimeters taller than me…'
A small chuckle slipped out.
'He'd feel so small in my arms. Like a baby. So cute. He'd probably get all flustered… I don't think I ever saw Daniel flustered, not even once.'
She lowered her head back onto the pillow, eyes tracing the cracks in the ceiling again.
'Daniel always took the reins. It was... comfortable, I guess. I didn't have to think too much about the future. I was cared for. Provided for.'
'That should be enough, right? We understand each other. Now more than ever—flaws and all.'
'....'
Her eyes drifted downward.
'I'll just go back to Daniel later today...' She clenched her fist.
'I need to be with him. That's where things make sense. That's where… I don't have to question anything.'
'And he's the only one who ever saw that part of me—that perverted, petty, vengeful part—and didn't flinch. Jiho… he hates me for it.'
She blinked.
'I should… get ready for school.'
———
BUT—
The moment she saw him with someone else at the edge of the school's gate, her body stiffened, her jaw clenched. Rage rippled under her skin as her eyes locked onto Jiho—smiling at another girl.
A real looker, at that.
'Who… who is that?'
Her thoughts sharpened, frantic.
'Who IS that girl? I've never seen her before. Who is she, Jiho!? D—didn't you love me—'
She froze, eyes dropping to the floor as the memory of their conversation from two nights ago resurfaced.
'...You… really moved on? T—this fast? So easily?'
Her lips trembled, then pressed into a hard line.
'No. It doesn't matter. You're allowed to meet new people. And I… I decided to go back to Daniel. I made that choice. I…'
But even she didn't realize it.
How sharp her gaze had become.
How her fists had curled.
How she stared at Jiho—not like looking at a friend from afar…
…but like a starved beast, stalking prey.
She gulped as she looked at his figure disappeared through the school gates, Yuna and Seokjin beside him.
ESPECIALLY, Yuna.
A moment later, she followed. Silent.
Jiho sat at his desk, eyes lowered.
'...She's here. Eunhee's in the classroom with me. Is this some kind of joke?' He grumbled, glancing sideways.
There she was—unbothered, calmly pulling out her books like nothing had happened.
Only one seat had been left, near the window at the front that Jiho took. The teacher hadn't arrived yet, and the classroom was full of quiet murmurs. Even without his hyper perception, Jiho still felt the weight of stares pressing on him. He couldn't tell what they were thinking—he assumed gossip, judgment, more whispers.
'I wish they'd let it go already,' he sighed. 'No one's going to let me get close again, thanks to you, backstabber.' His thoughts burned with Daniel's name. 'Can't they just leave it be?'
'Maybe it's still because of that mess her friend caused…' He clenched his fist. 'It still pisses me off.'
'Whatever. I'll bite through today. I'll talk to Amelie or Marcel. I need to figure out how this "Ki" works. I can't keep going like this.'
He bit his lip, remembering the rush he felt when he realized how much stronger he'd gotten.
'I want to get stronger.'
He almost smiled, then shook his head.
'I need to get stronger.'
Little did he know…
"Hey… that's Jiho, right?" a girl whispered. "The godawful terrible guy you told me about from your school? He's… gulp… so hot."
"... He might be a walking red flag, but damn—that face. He makes K-pop idols look average."
"Those muscles… they're practically bulging. I could run a meat grinder on them… Jesus..."
"His uniform's so tight on him… Ugh. I know I'm a horrible person for saying this, since he hurt Eunhee and all, but I want to rip those clothes off him."
"Imagine him and Daniel naked… or him and that Jang guy—oh my god. Do you think they're dating? Bad boy meets evil uncle who makes him his pet... Ughnngh. Imagine the possibilities…"
"Oh, I saw that InstaGrab post too… Daddies, take meeeeee~"
'They all hate me,' Jiho thought, drenched in gloom.
And unbeknownst to him, as Jiho leaned on his elbow, waiting for the lesson to start…
Eunhee sat in the back, staring daggers at the girls across the room—mentally tallying every single one of them.
The lesson passed in a blur. The teacher droned on about world affairs, the infection, upcoming events. Jiho barely registered any of it.
Now it was a five-minute break. The room grew louder as students chatted more freely, energy rising between periods.
The boys threw him the usual mix of discontent and envy, whispering in circles like vultures. But the girls?
They were still drooling.
"Talk to him, then~" one teased, watching Jiho lean on his elbow, eyes lost out the window.
"You do it," another giggled.
"Fine, fine... Just a quick hello—"
Suddenly, someone brushed past them like wind. Ginger hair trailing behind her.
"...No way."
"...Is that...?"
"Jiho." She called.
He flinched.
The girls fell dead silent. So did the rest of the room.
Jiho slowly turned, hesitant, stomach tightening.
'Still so jumpy… hehe...' Eunhee thought, amused.
"What is it," he asked, barely hiding his tension. "...Eunhee?"
He looked up—and there she was. Arms behind her back, back arched ever so slightly, her chest and belly subtly pushed forward as she shifted her weight onto one leg.
A soft, unreadable smile lingered on her lips.
"Wanna go see a movie tonight?"
Jiho blinked.
Eyes shot away from hers as his face flushed.
"…?!"
'What the fuck..!'