𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 | (𝙴𝙽𝙷𝚈𝙿𝙴𝙽) [𝙹𝙰𝙺𝙴𝚡𝚈/𝙽]

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟺: 𝙰 𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕

Y/N's POV

As I walked away from Jake, I could hear his footsteps quickening behind me, his presence close enough to send a wave of heat crawling up my spine. The murmurs of the students around us became white noise, drowned out by the sound of my own heartbeat.

I turned slightly, catching his eye, and smirked. "You're gonna sit with me at lunch?"

Jake tilted his head, his lips quirking in amusement. "Lunch break's in thirty minutes. Figured we could spend some time together, get to know each other a little."

I slowed my steps, watching as he ran a hand through his hair, looking at me with a mixture of curiosity and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Well, if that's what you want—"

Jake abruptly stopped mid-sentence, his entire demeanor shifting in an instant. His smirk faded, shoulders stiffening as his gaze locked onto something behind me. I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

His ex-girlfriend.

I grabbed his wrist, my fingers tightening instinctively as I pulled him forward. He didn't resist, but his body remained rigid with tension. Only when I felt her stare no longer burning into my back did I release him.

Jake stared at me, his brows drawn together in confusion. "What the hell was that?"

I folded my arms, leveling him with a sharp look. "What the hell, Jake? You really couldn't help yourself once she was around? If you want her back in your life so badly, then act right."

His mouth opened slightly, but he didn't say anything. Before he could react, I turned on my heel and strode off. As I stepped out of the Gymnasium's hallway, I spotted her again—Jake's ex. Unlike before, she wasn't staring at him. She was staring at me.

I stopped in front of her, waiting for her to speak. Instead, she looked down, her fingers fidgeting at the hem of her skirt. After a long pause, she finally whispered, "Please take care of Jake. He's fragile. It may not seem like it, but he gets easily hurt by a lot of things."

My heart skipped for a second. Of all the things she could have said to me, that wasn't what I expected. I studied her expression, searching for any sign of malice, but all I saw was sincerity—maybe even regret.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, my voice laced with suspicion.

She sighed, her gaze shifting to where I led Jake earlier. "Because he doesn't show it, but he's struggling. He's too proud to admit it, but... he needs someone."

I wanted to scoff. Why did it have to be me? Why was I suddenly responsible for Jake Sim's well-being? But something about the way she said it made me pause. I wasn't sure if it was pity or something else entirely.

Instead of responding, I gave her a small nod. She took it as an answer and walked away, leaving me standing there with more questions than before.

I expected anger. I expected jealousy. Maybe even a slap. But not this.

*