Jaeyun's gaze locked onto Jungwon's, who was still attempting to intervene. With a deep breath, he finally relented with a sigh. "Fine, I apologize for calling you a man whore. Happy now?"
Heeseung's grip loosened slightly, his expression softening...
The library hummed with the soft murmur of students, the shuffle of pages, and the occasional tap of a keyboard. Jake settled into an unoccupied seat at a study table, spreading out his textbooks and notes with determination. He was focused on making the most of his study session, even if it meant ignoring the presence of the person who had just taken the seat across from him – Heeseung.
Heeseung's intense dark brown eyes locked onto Jake's with a hint of challenge. His lips curled into a smug smile, one that ignited a spark of irritation within Jake. He clenched his jaw, determined not to let Heeseung's antics get to him, and forced his attention back to his notes.
"Didn't expect to find you here, of all places," Heeseung commented, his tone edged with amusement.
Jake resisted the urge to roll his eyes and tightened his grip on his pen. "Just trying to study. I'm sure you have other ways to spend your time."
Heeseung leaned back in his chair, his grin unyielding. "Well, not all of us excel at playing the perfect student, Jaeyun-ah."
Jake's fingers twitched, but he reminded himself that engaging with Heeseung was a recipe for disaster. He pressed his pen against his notes, focusing on the material before him.
"Don't worry, I won't interrupt your diligent work," Heeseung continued, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jake clenched his teeth, refusing to let Heeseung's taunts break his concentration. He knew all too well the history of their interactions – heated arguments, snide comments, and bickering that seemed impossible to escape.
"Save your remarks, Lee," Jake retorted, his tone frosty. "I'm here to study, not engage in your little games."
Heeseung's chuckle grated on Jake's nerves, but he forced himself to remain composed. "Fine by me. But if you start spewing nonsense, don't be surprised when I counter it."
Jake shot Heeseung a glare, his resolve to focus on his work strengthening. As time passed, the tension between them grew, each movement and sound feeling like a note in their unspoken battle.
The library's population dwindled, students leaving one by one. Jake's frustration with Heeseung's presence began to chip away at his concentration, making it challenging to absorb the material. He contemplated moving to another table, but he was determined not to let Heeseung force him away.
Finally, as the library's closing announcement echoed through the room, Heeseung stood up, stretching his arms above his head. "Time to call it a night."
Jake remained silent, his eyes fixed on his notes. He wouldn't give Heeseung the satisfaction of knowing how much his presence affected him.
"Until next time, Sim," Heeseung said with a smirk before walking away.
As the library emptied and Jake gathered his belongings, a sense of weariness washed over him. He knew that encounters with Heeseung were unavoidable, given their shared classes and extracurricular activities. For now, he was content with keeping his distance and not allowing Heeseung to rattle him – at least not more than he already had.
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