𝖱𝖾𝖻𝖾𝗅 𝖧𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗍, 𝖣𝗂𝖺𝗆𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝖲𝗈𝗎𝗅

ᶜʰᵃᵖᵗᵉʳ ¹³: ᴹⁱˣᵉᵈ ᴱᵐᵒᵗⁱᵒⁿˢ

The cafeteria buzzed with gossip as the aftermath of the earlier scuffle settled. Yeji found herself cornered by Jay, who was leaning against the wall with a cocky smile.

"Thanks for backing me up against Wonyoung," Yeji said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. "I appreciate you stepping in."

Jay feigned sympathy, a playful glint in his eye. "Of course, Yeji. Can't have you getting hurt, right?" He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Besides, we wouldn't want anyone to think you can't handle yourself."

Yeji chuckled, rolling her eyes. "Please. I can handle anyone."

At that moment, Karina approached Heeseung, who was chatting with some friends. "So, what's this I hear about Irene being 'delusional'?" she asked, crossing her arms, her tone sharp.

Heeseung raised an eyebrow. "I just meant she's not seeing things clearly. This whole situation is a mess."

Yeji overheard and burst out laughing. "Wow, that's one way to put it!"

Just then, Hyunjin, who had been nearby, caught wind of the conversation. He exchanged a glance with Jeongin and made his way over. "Did I hear someone say 'delusional' about Irene?"

"Yeah, Heeseung just said she's not seeing things right," Karina replied, a hint of satisfaction in her voice.

Hyunjin's expression darkened. "You might want to tell that to Jeongin. He'll definitely pass it on."

Meanwhile, Jeongin approached Irene, who was still processing the earlier drama. "Hey, um, I just heard something interesting..." he started, hesitating as he gauged her mood.

"What is it?" Irene asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Hyunjin heard Heeseung call you 'delusional,'" Jeongin said carefully.

Irene's heart sank. "What? Why would he say that?" Conflicted feelings churned within her. She had tried to be strong about the situation, but now it felt like a blow to her confidence.

Later, both Wonyoung and Irene found themselves helping Yuna prepare for her date with Jake. As they arranged her hair and outfit, the atmosphere lightened, and they reminisced about their own first dates with Heeseung and Jay.

"Remember the time you and Heeseung went to that arcade?" Wonyoung teased, brushing Yuna's hair back. "You were so nervous!"

"Shut up! You were just as nervous when you went out with Jay," Irene shot back, laughing.

Their laughter echoed in the room, but beneath the surface, both girls felt the weight of their unresolved feelings for their respective crushes.

Meanwhile, Yuna and Jake were out on their date, getting to know each other better. The chemistry was undeniable, and as they strolled through the park, Jake leaned in, planting a soft kiss on Yuna's lips.

Yuna's heart raced as she pulled away, eyes wide. "Wow, I didn't expect that!"

"Neither did I," Jake admitted, a shy smile breaking across his face. "But I'm glad I did."

Later, Yuna couldn't contain her excitement and immediately spilled the details into the girls' group chat. "Just kissed Jake! Officially his girl now!"

The responses flooded in. "OMG, Yuna! So happy for you!" "You two are adorable!"

Wonyoung and Irene shared a knowing smile, their hearts a mix of happiness for Yuna and longing for their own situations.

Back with the boys, Jake was animatedly telling the guys about his date. "And then we kissed! It was awesome!" he exclaimed, grinning widely.

"Wow, you're such a simp," Heeseung teased, but there was a glimmer of genuine happiness in his eyes.

Jay listened quietly, his mind drifting back to his own experiences. He recalled the excitement of asking Wonyoung out, while Heeseung feeling the weight of missed opportunities with Irene. "You know, I remember when I told you guys about Wonyoung... "I never even got to that point with Irene," heeseung muttered, a hint of regret coloring his voice.

"Things change, guys" Sunghoon said, shrugging. "You never know what might happen at prom."

But as the boys bantered and the girls celebrated, the tension of the unresolved feelings lingered in the air, creating an intricate tapestry of emotions that would come to a head on prom night. With secrets and sentiments swirling, everyone was left to wonder how the night would unfold and who would end up with whom when the dust finally settled.