My scream was muffled by a rough hand clamping over my mouth, and before I could react, I was shoved hard against a wall.
“Mmhh—mm! You—fucker!” I hissed as soon as my mouth was freed.
“Surprise,” Yichen sang, his voice dripping with a sinister edge.
The room was well-lit, the daylight streaming in through the windows, but it did little to settle my nerves. My eyes darted around, scanning for anything I could use as a weapon. Something about him felt off—dangerous—and I had a gut feeling I might need to defend myself.
“So?” he drawled.
“So what?” I shot back, trying to mask my unease. I already had a guess about what he wanted, but I wasn’t about to entertain his games. Whatever answers I needed, I’d rather get them from Niki.
I moved to sidestep him, but Yichen was faster.
“You thought I’d let you leave so easily?” he sneered, grabbing my arm and twisting it painfully. The next thing I knew, I was shoved back against the wall again, the impact rattling through my spine.
I froze as he moved to lock the door. A bad sign. My heart thudded painfully in my chest as I scanned the room again, desperately searching for an exit or anything I could use to defend myself. Then it hit me—my phone.
“Yes,” I thought, feeling a flicker of hope.
“And obviously,” he continued, pacing the room like a predator, “it’s my duty to inform you about your boyfriend—”
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I cut in sharply, trying to keep him distracted.
He kept talking, spewing venom I hardly registered as my hand moved quickly to fish my phone out of my pocket. Turning away slightly, I managed to dial Jinni’s number and prayed she’d pick up.
“Prepare yourself,” Yichen said suddenly, his tone dropping ominously.
Before I could react, he snatched the phone from my hands. My heart sank as I saw him inspect it, his expression darkening.
“Give it back!” I reached for it, but he shoved me back again, his strength far greater than mine.
“Oh, Chaewon,” he taunted, holding the phone out of reach. “If you knew anything about me, you wouldn’t have tried such a pathetic escape plan.”
With a sudden, violent motion, he raised the phone high and smashed it against the ground.
“Because next time, it won’t be your phone I throw—it’ll be you.”
I bent down, my trembling hands reaching for the shattered remnants of my phone. Anger and fear churned in my chest.
“Fuck you,” I spat, my voice shaky but defiant.
Yichen didn’t take kindly to that. In a flash, he grabbed my wrist again, his grip like a vice.
“Just leave me alone!” I yelled, finally meeting his eyes. A chill ran down my spine at the malice in his gaze. For the first time, real fear settled in my chest.
“What’s the matter?” he mocked. “Cat got your smart mouth?”
He released my wrist suddenly, taking a step back. But his smirk didn’t waver—it only made me feel more trapped.
“You think you’re so clever, don’t you?” he said, his tone softer now, almost conversational. It was disarming, and I hated how much it threw me off.
“I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” I snapped, folding my arms in an attempt to shield myself.
“You really don’t, do you?” He let out a dry laugh. “Dense as ever, Chaewon.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Your boyfriend,” he said, his tone mocking.
“For the last time, he’s not my boyfriend!”
“But you like him, don’t you?” Yichen’s words hit like a slap, catching me off guard.
I opened my mouth to respond but faltered, my silence giving him all the confirmation he needed.
“You’re so stupid, Chaewon,” he sneered, shaking his head in mock pity. “It was a bet. To break you and Sunwoo. And guess what? He did it. The guy you’ve fallen for—it was all part of his plan.”
My heart stopped. The world seemed to tilt on its axis, and my breath hitched painfully.
“Chaewon!”
The door burst open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang. Niki and Jinni stood frozen in the doorway, their faces painted with shock.
Behind them, a few students gathered, drawn by the commotion. The air in the room was heavy, the silence punctuated only by the faint whispers of the onlookers.
But I couldn’t handle any of it.
I ran.
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late update- (my exams are over so hopefully i'll update more often)
