Whispers of the Heart

IX. An Unexpected Rival

The beginning of the semester brought with it a flurry of new faces and opportunities. Vivi found herself caught up in the whirlwind of classes and social events, trying to balance her studies with her blossoming friendships. Among these new acquaintances was Lucas, a charismatic transfer student who had quickly integrated himself into their group.

One afternoon, Vivi sat in the university courtyard with Mika and their friends, enjoying the warmth of the autumn sun. Niko and Riki were engaged in a lively debate about the latest sports event, while Vivi absentmindedly flipped through her textbook, her mind wandering.

"So, Vivi," Niko interrupted suddenly, turning to her with a mischievous grin, "what do you think of Lucas? He seems to have taken a liking to you."

Vivi blinked, caught off guard by Niko's comment. "Lucas? Oh, um, he's nice. Friendly."

Riki nudged Niko playfully. "More than friendly, I'd say. He's been hanging around you quite a bit."

Vivi felt her cheeks warm slightly. "Has he? I haven't really noticed."

Mika shot Vivi a knowing look, her voice gentle. "You've been spending a lot of time together lately. He seems to enjoy your company."

Vivi shrugged nonchalantly, though she couldn't deny the subtle flattery of Lucas's attention. "I guess so. He's easy to talk to."

Niko chuckled knowingly. "That's code for 'I kinda like him too.'"

Vivi laughed nervously, shaking her head. "No, it's not like that. We're just friends."

As the conversation turned to other topics, Vivi couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at her. Lucas had indeed been attentive and charming, qualities that both intrigued and unsettled her. But amidst the growing camaraderie with Lucas, Vivi found herself missing Sunoo's presence more than ever.

Later that week, Vivi sat with Lucas in the university library, their textbooks open in front of them as they studied for an upcoming exam. Lucas leaned closer, pointing to a passage in Vivi's textbook as he explained a complex theory. Vivi listened attentively, impressed by his knowledge and enthusiasm.

"So, what do you think?" Lucas asked, glancing at Vivi with a smile. "Does that make sense?"

Vivi nodded, grateful for Lucas's help. "Yeah, I think so. Thanks for explaining it."

Lucas grinned, his gaze lingering on Vivi's face for a moment longer than necessary. "Anytime, Vivi. I'm glad we got to study together."

Vivi smiled back, feeling a flutter of warmth in her chest. Lucas had a way of making even the most mundane tasks enjoyable. But as she glanced around the library, Vivi couldn't help but notice Sunoo's absence. He had mentioned having an extra study session that afternoon, but Vivi couldn't shake the disappointment that tugged at her heart.

Later that evening, Vivi sat in her dorm room, her thoughts consumed by the events of the past few days. Lucas had been on her mind more than she cared to admit, his presence sparking a newfound excitement within her. But amidst the rush of conflicting emotions, one question remained unanswered—what did Sunoo think about all of this?

Just as Vivi was about to text Sunoo, her phone buzzed with a message from him.

Sunoo: Hey Vivi, sorry I couldn't make it to lunch today. How was your day?

Vivi hesitated, unsure how to respond. Should she tell Sunoo about Lucas? Or would it only complicate things further?

Vivi: It was okay. Lucas joined us for lunch.

Almost immediately, Sunoo replied.

Sunoo: Lucas? Is he the new guy everyone's been talking about?

Vivi's heart raced at Sunoo's question. Did he suspect something? Did he feel threatened by Lucas's presence?

Vivi: Yeah, he's new. Seems nice.

Sunoo's next message came quickly.

Sunoo: Did you have fun?

Vivi bit her lip, torn between honesty and the fear of upsetting Sunoo.

Vivi: Yeah, it was fine.

Sunoo's response was immediate.

Sunoo: That's good.

Vivi sighed softly, the weight of her unspoken thoughts pressing down on her. She wanted to talk to Sunoo, to share her feelings and ease the growing tension between them. But a part of her feared the consequences of speaking too soon.

The next day, Vivi found herself in the library with Sunoo, studying for an upcoming exam. The air between them crackled with unspoken words, their shared silence a testament to the growing distance between them.

As they worked through practice problems together, Vivi stole glances at Sunoo when she thought he wasn't looking. His brow furrowed in concentration, his lips pursed in a slight frown as he scribbled notes in the margin of his textbook.

Finally, unable to bear the silence any longer, Vivi cleared her throat nervously. "Sunoo, can we talk?"

Sunoo looked up from his textbook, surprise flickering across his features. "Sure, Vivi. What's on your mind?"

Vivi hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap. "It's about Lucas."

Sunoo's expression tightened imperceptibly, his eyes searching Vivi's face. "Lucas?"

Vivi nodded slowly, her voice trembling slightly. "Yeah. He's been... around a lot lately. And I'm not sure how I feel about it."

Sunoo's jaw clenched visibly, his gaze dropping to the table between them. "I've noticed."

Vivi's heart sank at Sunoo's admission, guilt twisting in her chest. "I'm sorry, Sunoo. I didn't mean to make things awkward between us."

Sunoo shook his head quickly, his gaze meeting Vivi's with unwavering intensity. "No, Vivi. It's not your fault. I just... I care about you. A lot."

Vivi's breath caught in her throat at Sunoo's confession, her pulse thundering in her ears. "Sunoo..."

Sunoo looked away "I don't want you to hang out with people that might harm you"

Vivi looked at Sunoo confused "Lucas isn't like that, I'm sure of it. But I will try my best to avoid him if any of that happens."

Sunoo turned back to Vivi and smiled warmly. 

They spent the rest of their free time at the library, studying together. Vivi realised that Sunoo never meant any bad for her, he just wanted to protect her.... to prevent things from repeating themselves.

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