Noelle swallowed hard, forcing herself to stand taller, to remind herself that she was here too. She had known Han first. She had spent the holidays showing him her world, guiding him through streets and food stalls, laughing with him under the twinkling lights. She couldn't let Jessica's aura, her effortless charisma and the way everyone seemed drawn to her, intimidate her completely.
Jessica paused a few steps away, turning slightly to speak to someone behind her. Noelle could see Fiona leaning closer, whispering something that made Jessica laugh, an easy, genuine sound. The sight made Noelle's chest tighten. She hated feeling so small in comparison, but she couldn't deny it: Jessica was extraordinary.
Han nodded, glancing back at Jessica, then realising he needed to focus. "she's… wow," he muttered, to himself.
Noelle's stomach sank further. He wasn't even trying to hide it. And yet, despite the anxiety curling in her chest, a small spark of determination flared. She wasn't going to disappear quietly. She had a chance here, however small, to remind Han that she existed too and not as a shadow behind Fiona or Jessica but as herself.
The drums rolled louder, and Jessica finally moved past, giving Han a faint nod of recognition before turning her attention elsewhere. Noelle let out a small, shaky breath, realising how close she had come to panicking completely.
Han looked at her, his expression conflicted. "She's… something, huh?" he said, tone full of awe and curiosity.
Noelle forced another smile, nodding. "Yeah… she is," she admitted quietly. And in her heart, she resolved that she wouldn't let herself fade away so easily.
The festive street carried on, bright and bustling, but between the three of them, a quiet tension hung in the air, charged and waiting. The storm had arrived.
Jessica had a way of drawing people in that was almost unfair. Boys would trail behind her in the hallways, offering snacks, lending pens or trying to make her laugh and she would glance at them with that cool, assessing stare that made them squirm without her even raising her voice.
She didn't need to speak to dominate a room; a simple tilt of her head, a small smirk or a knowing glance was enough to make everyone around her tense with anticipation. And when someone dared to step too close or assume she might like them, she had a knack for tearing through the pretence with words that left no doubt.
"Oh, you really thought bringing me lunch would make me notice you?" she would ask, voice soft and deceptively calm while the boy's face went crimson. "Sweet of you, but I don't reward desperation."
Or if someone tried to flirt too boldly: "Cute line. Really. Too bad I've heard it a hundred times before." Her words were precise, sharp, delivered with a smile that made it sting even more. Boys would stumble over themselves, embarrassed and awed, some trying to explain, some silently wishing they had never opened their mouths.
Jessica never lingered with anyone. The moment someone seemed to think they might matter, she moved on, her attention shifting to someone or something more interesting. She thrived on the chase, the game and the thrill of watching others scramble to keep up.
Noelle had heard stories of boys falling hard and fast for Jessica, only to be dismissed in seconds. And while it seemed cruel, there was an art to it. Jessica was perfectly aware of her power and she wielded it with precision. No one left the encounter confused; everyone left knowing exactly who was in charge.
It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. And for Noelle, watching Han step closer to that whirlwind of charm, she felt a tiny flicker of panic. Jessica could consume attention effortlessly, leaving everyone else scrambling to catch their breath.
Han had been walking down the lantern-lit street, still buzzing from the drums of the lion dance, when he noticed a subtle shift in the crowd. People were stepping aside, whispering, craning their necks, and he followed their gazes.
And then he saw her.
Jessica.
She was standing near a small stall, laughing lightly at something Fiona had just said. Her long black hair shimmered under the glow of the lanterns, her posture effortless yet commanding. Even from a distance, Han could feel the magnetic pull of her presence; the way people instinctively turned toward her, the subtle energy she radiated, the way she seemed to own the space without even trying.
Han stopped, frozen for a moment. His pulse quickened and for the first time in his life, he felt that dizzying, startling jolt people always described as love at first sight. It wasn't just her looks though she was undeniably striking. It was the way she carried herself, the confidence and lightness in her laugh, the sharp intelligence that gleamed in her eyes. He couldn't look away.
Noelle, standing a little behind him, noticed the sudden shift in his expression. Her stomach sank. She had known this would be a challenge but seeing it happen so suddenly, Han's eyes lighting up at Jessica, made her heart tighten.
Jessica turned her gaze and for a brief second, her eyes met Han's. He felt it as if a current had passed through him, leaving him breathless. She smiled faintly, the kind of smile that was small, private and yet utterly disarming. The world seemed to shrink around them, the lanterns, the drums, the chatter of the crowd, all faded into a soft blur.
"Hi," Han managed to say, his voice a little too loud, a little too rushed.
Jessica glanced at him, raising an eyebrow in amused curiosity. "Hello," she replied smoothly, her tone light but confident. She studied him for a moment, as if weighing whether he was interesting enough to keep in her attention and Han felt his stomach flip.
He wanted to say something clever, something to impress her but his mind had gone blank. All he could do was stand there, captivated, his heart racing.
Noelle's chest tightened. She had always been quiet and steady, the kind of girl who never demanded the spotlight. But Jessica… Jessica commanded it effortlessly. Han's focus on her was unmistakable and Noelle couldn't hide the pang of jealousy and anxiety that surged through her.
Jessica, oblivious to the tension she had caused, smiled faintly again, then turned slightly to Fiona, who was watching the interaction with her usual confident energy. The two girls exchanged a quick laugh and Han felt his attention tugged even more toward Jessica.
He realised, in that instant, that he was completely smitten. His pulse thrummed in his ears, his thoughts scattered and a thrill of both excitement and dread coursed through him. Jessica was unlike anyone he had ever met and he was utterly, helplessly drawn to her.
Noelle stepped back, her hands gripping the railing a little too tightly. She knew she had to do something, but what could she possibly say to compete with this new, dazzling presence? The lanterns above flickered, casting shadows across Jessica's face and for Han, it was like seeing a light he couldn't look away from, one he didn't want to.
The crowd continued to swirl around them, the noise of drums and chatter forming a soft hum in the background, but for Han, everything else had disappeared. For the first time, he understood why people said someone could "steal your breath away." Jessica had just done that: effortlessly, entirely and irrevocably.
And for Noelle, watching from the edge of the street, it was a quiet, painful realisation: Han's heart had shifted and she wasn't sure if there was any way to get it back.