THE BET 🦋

XXV.

My head was suddenly empty. I didn't know what to do or what to say, the only thing I knew for sure was that a disaster was coming that I couldn't prevent in any way and that everyone would see. I looked at Bitna in a panic, but she was wearing a very similar expression to me, so I didn't get much help from her.
Tae-jin approached first, a warm smile on his face. In his hands, he held a beautiful bouquet of flowers – a gesture that made my heart flutter.
Before I could fully absorb the moment, Jae-eon stepped forward with a small box in his hands.
I was interested in what might be hidden in it, but at the same time I was afraid of what it might bring me. After all, the two of us have a slightly more complicated relationship and I didn't want everyone to know about it. I was embarrassed by this whole situation and I didn't really know how to behave so as not to reveal more than I wanted to.
The tension between Jae-eon and Tae-jin was palpable. I could sense their competitive spirits clashing, and it made my heart ache.
As the rest of the group congratulated me, I glanced at Jae-eon and Tae-jin, who were both looking at me with expressions of anger and frustration. Their eyes locked in a silent battle, each vying for my attention. I felt like a prize they were fighting over, and it made me uncomfortable.
Before I could say more, Jae-eon approached, a scowl on his face. "Nabi, you were great up there," he said, but there was a hint of bitterness in his voice.
He was still holding the small box in his hands and I fixed my gaze on it. He noticed it. Maybe he was waiting for me to ask about it, but I didn't want to do it.
Tae-jin, not to be outdone, stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder. "You were amazing, Nabi. Your voice is truly something special."
When he finished, he handed me a bouquet. The flowers smelled wonderful.
"Thank you Tae-Jin, I really appreciate it. They are beautiful," I said and smiled at him. He was obviously very pleased with my reaction because he looked at Jae-eon and smirked.
"You're welcome Nabi, everything for you."
Their passive-aggressive compliments only added to my discomfort. I knew they were both just trying to get a reaction
out of each other, but it left me feeling like a pawn in their game.
I saw Jae-eon frowning at Tae-jin's hand on my shoulder, so I shook it off as quickly as possible. At the same time, because I didn't feel comfortable and I didn't want others to think something, and at the same time because I didn't want to upset Jae-eon. Weird...
I didn't want to upset Jae-eon?
Where did it come from?
At one point, Jae-eon tried to take me aside for a private conversation, but Tae-jin was quick to intervene.
"Nabi, we need to discuss something. Can you come with me?"
I felt like a ping-pong ball being tossed back and forth between them, and I couldn't take it anymore.
"Stop!" I finally exclaimed, feeling my frustration bubbling over. "This needs to stop. I can't handle this anymore."
Both of them looked surprised by my outburst, and for a moment, the stage was silent. Bitna and the others watched with wide eyes, not knowing what to say.
"I'm not some prize for you both to fight over," I continued, my voice shaking with emotion. "I'm a person with my own feelings, and I won't be treated like some object you can win or lose."
With these words, I left the stage.

I went to the tent as soon as possible because I didn't want to look or talk to anyone. I couldn't believe that this whole scene took place in front of the students and teachers. I don't like being the center of attention and this was the exact opposite of that. After a little while, Bitna also came to me.
"I mean, I guess I'm not sure exactly what happened out there, but it was definitely... interesting."
"Interesting isn't exactly the word I'd like to hear, but it's still better than 'total disaster'," I said.
"You were absent from the announcement of the results. According to my expectation, Jae-eon's class won, but I think we were right behind them," said Bitna.
"Do you think everyone saw what happened on stage?" I asked with my head in my hands.
"Would you rather hear the better version with a lie and comfort for you, or would you rather hear the truth?" Bitna asked with a sorry look on her face.
That pretty much said it all for me. Not only was I now trapped in a kind of love triangle because of those two, but everyone knows about it.
Great.
"But come on... believe me, it's not that bad, it will be over in a while and no one will really notice..." Bitna tried to comfort me.
"Well, I don't know, I'm not even in the mood for a barbecue party right now," I said dejectedly.
"Nabi... I'm definitely not going to let you sit here all evening alone, I think you forgot who you were talking to. We'll have fun together and you'll forget the last few hours and it'll be as if they never happened."
I knew it wouldn't take long for her to convince me and she was probably right. Going there and enjoying it at least a little was better than sitting here all alone with my thoughts.
I slowly followed Bitna towards the campfire. On the one hand, I was embarrassed to show myself in front of people because of today's event on stage, but it was our last day and I wanted to enjoy it.
We found a place near Gyun-hyuk. Bitna sat down and automatically pressed a kiss to his cheek and smiled at him. And he smiled back at her. It warmed my heart to see my two friends happy and I rejoiced with them.
I slowly looked around. Even when we were walking here, I could feel the stares of all the people around me on my back. Now I could see them whispering and I can't say that I don't mind. Bitna noticed where I was looking.
"Don't you have anything to do? Take care of yourselves," she told them, glaring at them. Of course they immediately turned around because there are few who can handle Bitna's gaze.
I sighed. I knew that today's events would cause a wave of questions and strange looks, but I did not think that it would be to such an extent. I slowly scanned the rest of the crowd until my eyes met his. Jae-eon just sat there and I swear he was staring right into my soul. I had never seen this look on him before and I didn't know what to think about it.
I was snapped out of my thoughts by a hand landing on my shoulder and a very familiar voice speaking to me.
"Nabi, do you have a moment? I think we should talk," Tae-jin told me.
I noticed that a few people from the neighborhood looked up at us and immediately a wave of whispers arose. I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath because I hated being the center of attention.
"I don't know if this is a good idea Tae-jin, everyone is watching. What happened on stage today was more than enough, don't you think?"
"Please Nabi, it will only be a moment. I really need to tell you something."
He didn't have to say anything. I knew exactly what he wanted to tell me and I think that made it all the worse. I didn't really consider Tae-jin more than a friend, even though that status was debatable after the events of the past few months.
"It will be better if I stay with my friends, let's leave it for another time please," I told him, trying to put on a nice smile.
"Nabi, it's really necessary," he told me, grabbing my shoulder to pull me away.
At that time, everyone turned to us and the surrounding conversations died down. This was truly my social death.
"I...," I didn't even have time to finish when another voice spoke from behind me.
"She told you she didn't want to. Leave her alone," Jae-eon snapped at him and I saw him slowly approaching in our direction. This did not bode well and I was already afraid of how it would turn out.
"Stop worrying about us, I said I need to talk to her. Get out," Tae-jin said, already quite angry, and started pulling me towards the forest, away from the barbecue.
Suddenly I felt a firm grip on my other hand. Sensing more resistance than the one from me, Tae-jin turned in my direction to see Jae-eon holding me, a murderous look on his face.
"Can't you give her a break? You know what I mean, so why?" Tae-jin snapped angrily, looking Jae-eon straight in the eyes.
"Isn't it obvious? I fell in love with Nabi."
And I swear that everyone around gasped at that moment.