Love Wins All (Chaesoo Fluffs)

15. Unwanted attention

The school cafeteria buzzed with the usual lunchtime chatter as Chaeyoung, Jennie, and Irene sat at their usual table, enjoying a much-needed break from their classes. The trio laughed and chatted, relishing their time together. Chaeyoung appreciated these moments, surrounded by friends who understood her so well.

As they dug into their lunches, a group of guys from another table began to eye them. Jennie noticed first and exchanged a wary glance with Irene. Chaeyoung, absorbed in her conversation with Irene about an upcoming art project, didn't notice the attention they were attracting.

"Here we go," Jennie muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes as the group of guys sauntered over.

Irene sighed. "Just ignore them. They'll get bored and leave."

But the guys didn't seem to get the memo. One of them, a tall boy with a smug grin, stepped forward and leaned over their table, clearly intent on making his presence known.

"Hey there," he said, his eyes lingering on Chaeyoung. "Mind if we join you?"

Chaeyoung looked up, slightly startled. Jennie quickly signed to her, "They want to join us. Just ignore them."

The boy didn't seem to take the hint. He pulled out a chair and sat down next to Chaeyoung, much too close for comfort. Jennie and Irene tensed, their eyes narrowing as they watched him.

"What's your name?" he asked Chaeyoung, leaning in even closer.

Chaeyoung instinctively leaned back, her discomfort evident. She glanced at Jennie, who was glaring at the boy. Jennie responded in a calm but firm voice, "She's not interested. Why don't you go back to your table?"

The boy ignored Jennie's words and wrapped an arm around Chaeyoung's shoulders. "Come on, don't be shy," he said, flashing what he probably thought was a charming smile.

"We're just trying to have some fun."

Chaeyoung felt her heart race with anxiety. She didn't like being touched by strangers, especially in such a forward and disrespectful manner. She tried to pull away, but the boy tightened his grip slightly.

Irene's eyes flashed with anger. "Let go of her," she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.

The boy smirked. "What's the big deal? We're just talking."

Jennie had had enough. She stood up, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "You heard her. Let go of Chaeyoung now, or you'll regret it."

Instead of complying, the boy laughed. "Whoa, calm down. No need to get feisty."

At that moment, Irene's patience snapped. She picked up her soda cup and, without hesitation, dumped the entire contents over the boy's head. The cafeteria fell silent as everyone turned to watch the unfolding scene.

The boy gasped, drenched in sticky soda. He jumped up, his face a mix of shock and anger. "What the hell?" he shouted, glaring at Irene.

Irene stood her ground, her expression unyielding. "I told you to leave her alone. Now get lost."

The boy, dripping with soda, looked around, realizing everyone was watching. His friends snickered behind him, clearly enjoying his humiliation. With a final glare at Irene and Jennie, he muttered something under his breath and stormed off, his friends trailing behind him.

Jennie turned to Chaeyoung, who looked shaken but relieved. "Are you okay?" she signed.

Chaeyoung nodded, taking a deep breath. "Thank you. Both of you."

Irene put a comforting arm around Chaeyoung's shoulders. "Don't mention it. No one gets to treat you like that."

The cafeteria slowly returned to its normal noise level, though there were still curious glances directed their way. Jennie sat back down, her face still flushed with anger. "Some people just don't know how to take a hint."

Chaeyoung smiled weakly. "I'm lucky to have friends like you."

Irene grinned. "Damn right you are. And don't you forget it."

As they resumed their lunch, the tension gradually eased. Chaeyoung felt grateful for her friends' unwavering support. Though the encounter had been unnerving, it also reminded her of the strength they had in their friendship.

Later, when Jisoo and Lisa joined them after their club activities, Jennie and Irene recounted the incident. Lisa burst out laughing at the mental image of the boy soaked in soda, while Jisoo shook her head in admiration.

"Irene, you're my hero," Lisa declared, clapping Irene on the back.

Jisoo, her protective instincts kicking in, looked at Chaeyoung with concern. "Are you okay? I'm sorry we weren't there."

Chaeyoung nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "I'm fine. Jennie and Irene took care of it. But I missed you both."

Jisoo hugged her gently, mindful of Chaeyoung's earlier discomfort. "We missed you too. And next time, we'll make sure those jerks don't even get close."

The group shared a laugh, their bond even stronger after the day's events. No matter the challenges they faced, they knew they had each other's backs, ready to stand up for one another in any situation.