TANTIANA UNIVERSITY | RED

CHAPTER 8: THE FIRST BETRAYAL

Gayoon woke up the next morning feeling a little lighter. The heavy weight that had been pressing on her chest seemed to have eased, and the familiar rhythm of the morning offered her a semblance of calm. She took her time in the shower, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of last night's worries. A little makeup helped her feel refreshed, and she picked out a bright, cheerful outfit—a stark contrast to the heaviness she had felt the day before.

As if her mind had been trained to think of Donghyuck, she found herself preparing two sandwiches, packing banana milk alongside them, all without consciously realizing it. It had become a ritual, a small act of care that seemed to come naturally to her now.

Instead of asking her cousins to pick her up, Gayoon decided to walk to the university. The dorm was only ten minutes away from the campus, and she enjoyed the morning air, feeling her steps grow lighter with each passing moment. On the way, she greeted students who passed her by, offering smiles and kind words in return.

She couldn't help but hope she would run into Donghyuck. Maybe she could give him the snacks if he hadn't eaten yet. Their relationship was still a blur—a tattoo that connected them, a bond that was still taking shape. But Gayoon could feel something growing, something she couldn't quite define yet. There was a flutter in her chest whenever she thought of him, and she wasn't sure if it was hope or fear, but it was there, undeniable.

As she walked closer to the university, she heard a voice call out her name.

"Shin Gayoon?"

Gayoon turned around, a smile immediately lighting up her face. "You're Mark?"

Mark nodded, his grin wide. "That's me. And you? You passed by your building."

"Oh, I just wanted to..." Gayoon trailed off, unsure of how to explain her intention.

Mark stared at her expectantly, waiting for an answer.

"Donghyuck," Gayoon said simply, her gaze drifting towards the path where she hoped to find him.

"Ah! Hahahaha, of course, you two. Gosh, I momentarily forgot about it." Mark laughed it off, but there was an edge of concern in his voice. "Well, we can go together then. He's not answering my texts since last night."

"He's not?" Gayoon's voice wavered with worry. "Did something really happen?"

"Hmm?" Mark asked, a little confused.

"Oh, well, I called him last night," Gayoon continued, trying to steady her nerves. "My heart clenched badly."

Mark's eyes widened in surprise. "Did you ask him?"

"I didn't," Gayoon said apologetically, offering him a small smile. "I still don't want to cross the line. We're not... well, we're still figuring things out."

Mark nodded, a sympathetic look in his eyes. "I'm so sorry for him."

"I told him to hang on and that I wouldn't give up on him," Gayoon added, her voice firm despite the uncertainty in her chest.

"That's... thank you, Gayoon." Mark's smile softened, and he gave her an appreciative nod.

Gayoon chuckled lightly. "I'm starting to get really, really curious. You and Jeno want me to do so much."

"Oh, we do," Mark said with a sheepish laugh. "Sorry, uhh... I just mean—"

"Mark, please, you're rambling!" Gayoon laughed, lightly tapping his arm. "It's okay. Just like I said, I won't give up."