Hearts Entwined || PpoToz

CHAPTER 8

NO ONE POV

The bell signaling the end of lunch echoed through the halls as students slowly trickled back into the classroom. Seoyeon slid into her seat beside Yooyeon, feeling the lingering buzz from their quick lunch break. The sun was still high outside, casting a warm glow through the windows, but inside, the atmosphere was charged with the usual undercurrent of competition between the two seatmates.

Yooyeon, as usual, appeared calm and collected, already focused on her notes. Seoyeon, on the other hand, was brimming with anticipation. She glanced sideways at Yooyeon, noting how she seemed completely at ease, even though Seoyeon knew what was coming.

Mr. Kim entered the room, clapping his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Alright, everyone, let’s shake off that post-lunch drowsiness with a little challenge,” he said, smiling.

The room fell silent, and the students perked up, sensing something interesting. “Seoyeon, Yooyeon, would you both come up to the board and solve a math problem for us?”

Seoyeon’s heart skipped a beat. She had been waiting for an opportunity like this all day. She could feel the competitive fire ignite within her as she stood up and made her way to the front of the class, Yooyeon walking beside her. Though they shared a desk, their rivalry was well-known, and Seoyeon was determined to come out on top this time.

Mr. Kim quickly scrawled a complex equation on the board, the kind that would challenge even the brightest students. Seoyeon barely glanced at it before her mind started working, racing through possible solutions. She could feel Yooyeon beside her, as steady and composed as always, and it only made Seoyeon more eager to prove herself.

“Begin,” Mr. Kim said simply, stepping back.

Seoyeon’s hand flew to the board, her thoughts coming together in a flurry of calculations. She could feel the pressure mounting, the silent challenge between her and Yooyeon intensifying. Every scrape of chalk felt like a beat in a race, each second ticking away as they worked side by side.

But unlike Seoyeon, who was fully immersed in the competition, Yooyeon remained calm, working at her usual, measured pace. Her face showed no sign of stress or urgency, and that only fueled Seoyeon’s determination. She wanted to be the first to finish, to finally outshine her rival.

Suddenly, Seoyeon reached the solution. She stepped back from the board, her heart pounding with triumph. “I’m done!” she announced, unable to keep the satisfaction out of her voice.

The class turned to look, murmuring softly among themselves. But Yooyeon didn’t even glance at Seoyeon. She finished her work a moment later, her face still the same mask of calm indifference.

Without turning to her rival, Yooyeon quietly said, “Finished.”

Seoyeon’s pulse quickened. She had beaten Yooyeon, at least in speed, and she wanted to savour that victory. “Looks like I’m faster this time,” Seoyeon said, unable to resist a small, triumphant smile.

Yooyeon finally turned to her, her expression unchanging. “You did well,” she replied simply, her voice neutral, almost detached. “It’s just a math problem.”

The words, so casually spoken, deflated some of Seoyeon’s excitement. She had expected a reaction—something more than this calm indifference. As they returned to their seats, Mr. Kim reviewed their work, nodding in approval.

“Both of you did a great job, as always,” he said, smiling at them. “Perfect solutions.”

Seoyeon sat down, feeling a mix of emotions. She had won, but the victory felt unexpectedly hollow. Next to her, Yooyeon was already flipping through her notes, her focus back on the next task as if nothing had happened.

For the rest of the afternoon, Seoyeon couldn’t shake the feeling that, despite her win, she hadn’t truly beaten Yooyeon. As the sun dipped lower outside, casting long shadows in the classroom, Seoyeon resolved that this rivalry was far from over. There would be other challenges, and next time, she would aim not just to finish first, but to make Yooyeon truly notice her victory.

The day had slipped into the soft glow of late afternoon as Seoyeon walked home, flanked by Nakyoung and Xinyu. The three friends moved in a comfortable rhythm, their footsteps syncing with the rustle of leaves underfoot. Seoyeon was lost in thought, replaying the events of math class over and over in her mind. The taste of her victory was still fresh, but so was the lingering disappointment that Yooyeon hadn’t seemed to care at all.

“Seoyeon, you were awesome today!” Nakyoung suddenly exclaimed, breaking the silence. She looked at Seoyeon with wide, admiring eyes. “You beat Yooyeon to the finish! I could see it on her face—she wasn’t expecting that.”

Xinyu, who had been quiet, now looked at Seoyeon curiously. “Wait, what happened?” she asked, turning her full attention to Seoyeon. “You beat Yooyeon? When?”

“In math class,” Seoyeon explained, though her tone was less enthusiastic than she’d intended. “Mr. Kim called us both up to solve a problem. I finished first, but…” She hesitated, the frustration from earlier bubbling up again. “She didn’t even care. She just shrugged it off like it was nothing.”

Xinyu’s expression softened with understanding. “And that’s bothering you, isn’t it?” she said gently.

Seoyeon sighed, kicking at a stray pebble on the sidewalk. “I don’t know. I wanted to beat her so badly, but when I did, it didn’t feel like a win at all.”

“Yooyeon’s always like that, though,” Nakyoung said, her voice bright and unbothered. “She’s so calm all the time, like nothing fazes her. But don’t worry, Seoyeon—I bet deep down, she was surprised!”

Seoyeon couldn’t help but smile a little at Nakyoung’s attempt to cheer her up. But the truth was, Yooyeon’s indifference had taken the shine off her victory. She had wanted more than just to win; she had wanted Yooyeon to acknowledge her, to see her as a real competitor.

Xinyu slipped her arm through Seoyeon’s, offering silent support. “Seoyeon, maybe it’s time to let go of trying to beat Yooyeon,” she said softly. “You’re putting too much pressure on yourself. Yooyeon’s calm because she doesn’t see you as a rival—she sees you as just another classmate. You should try doing the same.”

Seoyeon looked at Xinyu, her mind churning. Could she really let go of this rivalry that had driven her for so long? She wasn’t sure. But as she considered Xinyu’s words, she realized that constantly measuring herself against Yooyeon was exhausting. Maybe she needed a break from it all.

“I guess you’re right,” Seoyeon said quietly, though a part of her still resisted. “I’ll try to stop caring so much about what she thinks.”

Nakyoung’s face fell, her earlier excitement fading. “But if you ignore Yooyeon, there won’t be any more rivalry!” she protested, looking at Seoyeon with a pout. “That’s the best part of the school day—watching you two go at it!”

Xinyu laughed softly, shaking her head. “Nakyoung, you really do live for the drama, don’t you?”

“Well, yeah!” Nakyoung replied, her tone lightening again. “It’s fun! Besides, what else am I supposed to do in class?”

Seoyeon couldn’t help but laugh at Nakyoung’s candid honesty. It was just like Nakyoung to see their rivalry as a form of entertainment. But despite Nakyoung’s protests, Seoyeon knew Xinyu was right. She needed to focus on herself, not on constantly trying to outdo Yooyeon.

“Sorry, Nakyoung, but I think I need to take a step back,” Seoyeon said with a small smile. “But don’t worry—knowing me, I’m sure I’ll get pulled back into it eventually.”

Nakyoung’s pout softened into a grin. “Okay, but don’t take too long! I need my daily dose of Seoyeon vs. Yooyeon.”

As they continued their walk, Seoyeon felt a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe ignoring Yooyeon wasn’t the right word, but she could at least try to stop letting Yooyeon’s actions dictate her self-worth. She would listen to Xinyu’s advice, focus on her own goals, and maybe—just maybe—find a way to balance her competitive spirit with a bit more peace of mind.

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Mr.kim=your own imagination