The hallway buzzed with activity as I trailed behind Niki, frustration simmering under my skin. He had pulled away from me a while ago, walking faster with every step as if trying to escape. My wrist throbbed slightly from his earlier grip, but I pushed through, my voice strained as I called out again.
“Niki.”
He didn’t even glance back. It was as though I didn’t exist, his retreat deliberate and maddening.
“Niki, just stop!” I raised my voice, catching the attention of some students passing by. Their curious stares only added to my irritation, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Still, he continued, unbothered.
“NIKI!” This time, my shout echoed through the corridor, stopping a few people in their tracks. Before I could call out again, though, a voice cut through the noise, sharp and commanding.
“CHAE!”
Sunwoo’s yell was deafening, halting me in my tracks. My head whipped around to find him, but when I looked back, Niki’s eyes were on me at last. His gaze held a mix of frustration and something unreadable, and I let out a heavy sigh. Fine. If that’s how he wanted to play, I’d adjust.
“Chaewon.” Sunwoo was suddenly beside me, his strides long and determined. Before I could process it, he grabbed my arm firmly.
“Let go,” I said, my voice steady but cold. To my surprise, he obeyed instantly, his grip falling away.
“Chae, I—” he started, but before he could finish, a scoff from Niki interrupted him.
“Oh, Sunwoo,” Niki drawled, his tone laced with mockery. “I wonder what would happen if I said—”
“I’m sorry!” Sunwoo blurted, his desperation palpable.
But I wasn’t paying attention to Sunwoo anymore. My focus was on Niki, whose sharp words lingered in the air like a challenge.
“Say what?” I asked quietly, narrowing my eyes at him. Drama wasn’t my thing, and I hated being the center of attention, especially with so many eyes watching.
Sunwoo froze, seemingly torn between stepping back or speaking up, while Niki kept his gaze locked on him, unflinching and intense.
“Look at me,” Niki commanded, his voice soft but firm.
My eyes snapped to his, and I was instantly caught off guard. His gaze, though piercing, softened as it met mine, sending a wave of unease down my spine. It was a strange mix of emotions—comforting yet disarming.
“Let’s go,” I said abruptly, grabbing Niki’s hand. Without waiting for a response, I interlocked our fingers and began dragging him away. The tension in the air was too thick, and I needed to get him out of there before things escalated further.
I quickly sent a message to Jinni, pleading with her to take care of our bags for now. There wasn’t time to explain, and I had bigger things to deal with.
“Stop, Chaewon,” Niki finally spoke after a stretch of silence, his tone quieter now, almost questioning.
But I didn’t stop. The break was about to end, and I needed to put some distance between us and the crowd before we could have a real conversation. Confused but cooperative, Niki allowed himself to be dragged along until we reached the back gate.
“Climb over,” I ordered, trying to sound firm.
He raised a brow at me, skepticism evident in his expression. Instead of complying, he took a step closer, his movements deliberate and slow.
I instinctively backed away until my shoulders met the cold metal of the gate behind me. My pulse quickened as he leaned in, his height looming over mine. His hands came up, resting on either side of my head, effectively caging me in.
“W-what—” My voice faltered as he bent down, bringing his face level with mine.
He was close. Too close. The faint warmth of his breath brushed against my neck, and my mind betrayed me, replaying the memory of our last hug—the one I thought I’d buried.
“Chaewon,” he murmured, his tone dropping into something huskier, more intimate. His lips barely grazed my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.
“You don’t give me commands, sweetheart,” he whispered, each word deliberate and laced with amusement.
I swallowed hard, feeling my soul leave my body for a moment. What just happened?
Before I could react, Niki had already climbed over the gate, landing gracefully on the other side.
“Not coming?” he called back, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
I snapped out of my daze, the reality of the situation hitting me like a bucket of cold water. Without a word, I steeled myself and climbed over, determined not to let him have the upper hand again.
Niki might’ve thought he was in control, but this wasn’t over—not by a long shot.
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