Minho's footsteps echoed in the hallway as he made his way to his next class. His mind was still buzzing with everything that had happened yesterday, the fight with Dae, and the tension that still hung in the air. He didn't want to think about it, but it kept creeping back, like a low hum under his skin.
As he rounded the corner, he saw Dae up ahead-his posture as straight as ever, his gaze focused on the floor ahead of him.
For a split second, their eyes locked.
Minho's breath caught in his chest, and Dae's expression stiffened just slightly, like he'd seen a ghost. But neither of them said anything. Neither of them even slowed their pace.
Instead, they both just turned their eyes back to the front and walked past each other, the distance between them growing with every step, until the space between them felt as wide as an ocean.
No words. No apologies. No fight. Just two strangers passing each other in the halls.
Minho's
I slide into my seat, trying to shake off the tension from the encounter with Dae. The bell rings, and I pull out my notebook, hoping to zone out for the rest of class. But then I hear the voice behind me, sharp and teasing, as usual.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Mr. Heartbreaker himself."
I sigh, not bothering to turn around. Of course, it's Stella.
"You sure know how to make an entrance," she continues, leaning forward like she has to be in the middle of everything. "First, you get into a fight with Dae. Then you've got Dove wrapped around your finger again. You really are living the dream, huh?"
I try not to let it get to me, but the words scrape at my nerves. I keep my eyes on the front of the class, not wanting to give her any satisfaction. "You finished?" I mutter, my tone more annoyed than I want it to be.
But she doesn't stop.
"And let's not forget your new and improved 'playboy' image. Must be tough being that irresistible," she says, her voice laced with mock admiration. "Guess it's fine, though, right? You're too handsome for everyone to hate you for too long."
I clench my jaw, my grip tightening on the pen in my hand. It's not the first time I've heard people talk like that, but today, it feels like more than just words. It feels like a weight I don't want.
I don't look at her. Don't give her the satisfaction. I just focus on the desk in front of me, willing myself to stay calm.
"Yeah, sure," I say, voice flat, not really caring if she hears the lack of enthusiasm. "Whatever you say, Stella."
She laughs softly, like she's won some kind of victory, clearly enjoying the attention. "I'm just saying, Minho. You've got a reputation now. It's only a matter of time before everyone's back to loving you."
I don't respond. I don't have to.
I roll my eyes, trying to push down the irritation building up inside me. She's relentless, and it's starting to get under my skin, but I can't let her see that. So, I lean back in my seat and throw a grin over my shoulder, turning the tables.
"Must miss me a lot, huh?" I say, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "You seem really interested in my life lately."
Stella laughs, unfazed. "What can I say? A guy like you makes things interesting."
I scoff, feeling the heat of annoyance rise in my chest. "Yeah, sure," I mutter, half to myself.
But she doesn't miss a beat. "Don't worry, Minho," she says, leaning forward like she's got the upper hand. "You'll come running back to me in due time. I know how this goes."
Her confidence is almost impressive if it weren't so annoying. I can't help but smirk, shaking my head. "Keep dreaming, Stella."
She just chuckles, clearly amused by herself. "I'm not the one doing the dreaming here."
I exhale sharply, not wanting to get dragged into her games any longer. I turn my attention back to the front of the class, trying to tune her out, but her voice still lingers in my mind, like a weight I can't shake off.
Stella leans back in her seat, a smug smile on her face as she crosses her arms. "Well, just so you know," she says, her tone full of playful arrogance, "I'm planning on winning the competition. You'll see my performance and wish you had more of a front-row seat."
I can't help but smirk at her confidence, but something about the way she's talking rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it's because I know what she's up against.
I turn slightly, leaning back in my seat just enough to glance over my shoulder at her. "Don't get too confident, Stella."
Her brows furrow, clearly intrigued. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I raise an eyebrow, my voice lower than before, knowing I have the upper hand now. "You've got competition. Trust me, you don't know what you're up against."
Stella scoffs, clearly not impressed. "And what? Do you think you're some kind of expert now?"
I nod, my gaze flicking back to the front of the class, trying to stay casual. "I know how talented she is."
Stella freezes, her smile faltering for just a moment. "Wait-who?"
I smirk, not giving her the satisfaction of answering right away. But it's clear I don't need to say much more. I know Stella's never met someone quite like Dove. And if she thinks she can just stroll in and take the crown, she's in for a rude awakening.
Just as Stella's about to shoot back another comment, the door to the classroom opens, and Dove walks in, her AirPods securely in place, completely unaware of the world around her.
She doesn't even glance at anyone as she makes her way to an empty seat, slipping into the one next to Megan without a care, her focus still fully on whatever song is playing in her ears. The class hums around her, but she's like a bubble, floating through the noise, completely lost in her own rhythm.
I watch her for a moment, something stirring in my chest that I can't quite place. It's been a while since I've seen her so... carefree. So sure of herself, even in the chaos of the world around her.
Stella notices me looking, and I can almost feel her grin from across the room. "So, that's the competition, huh?" she says, her voice almost too sweet. "She seems... distracted."
I don't look back at her, still watching Dove as she finally pulls out her AirPods, sinking into conversation with Megan.
"Yeah," I mutter, my voice colder than I intended. "Don't let her lack of attention fool you. She's more focused than you think."
Stella raises an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "We'll see."
I just shake my head, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. "Yeah. We will."
-ËËââââââââââââââââââââ
Ooo, I like how Minho, despite not fully conversing with Dove yet, still watches out for her and stands up for her.
Maybe he's finally straightening up.