Tethered by Rivalry | Eunwoo

9

The days that followed your thesis defense were a whirlwind of anticipation and celebration. You watched as Eunwoo prepared for his own thesis defense, feeling a mix of pride and anxiety for him. He had put in just as much hard work as you had, and you knew how important this was for him.

When the day finally came, Eunwoo walked out of the defense room with a wide grin plastered on his face. “I did it!” he exclaimed, the relief evident in his voice. You rushed over to congratulate him, throwing your arms around him in excitement. The two of you shared a moment of pure joy, the kind that felt like everything was finally falling into place.

That evening, the college threw a party to celebrate the success of all the graduating students. The venue was buzzing with energy—students laughing, music pulsing through the air, and the clinking of glasses filled with drinks. As you entered, the atmosphere swept you up in its enthusiasm.

You and Eunwoo found yourselves mingling with friends, toasting to the end of an era and the bright futures ahead. The drinks flowed freely, and soon enough, you felt the warm buzz of tipsiness creeping in. Laughter filled the air, and as the night wore on, the barrier between rivalry and something deeper began to blur even more.

You caught glimpses of Eunwoo throughout the night—his laughter infectious, his smile lighting up the room. It was hard not to be drawn to him, especially with the alcohol loosening your inhibitions. As the music shifted to a slower beat, you found yourselves gravitating toward each other more than before. The playful nudges turned into lingering touches, his hand brushing against yours as he leaned in to share a joke.

“Just one more drink,” he said, grinning as he pulled you to the bar, ordering a round for the both of you. You laughed at his antics, feeling more emboldened with every sip. With each passing moment, the space between you seemed to shrink, the tension from before morphing into an undeniable chemistry.

Before you knew it, you were leaning against a wall in a quieter corner of the venue, a warm flush spreading across your cheeks. Eunwoo was close, too close, his breath mingling with yours as he teased you about your earlier nervousness. His playful banter faded, and all that was left was a charged silence.

Then, in an impulsive moment, he brushed a strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering at the nape of your neck. It sent a shiver down your spine, and the world around you faded away. You could see the shift in his gaze—the way his eyes darkened with intent, the breath hitching in his throat as he leaned in closer.

In a heartbeat, his lips were on yours. The kiss was soft at first, hesitant, but it quickly ignited into something more passionate. It felt like every moment of tension and unspoken words had finally come to fruition in this single act. Your heart raced as you kissed him back, hands finding their way to his shoulders, pulling him closer as you melted into the moment.

The sounds of the party faded into a distant hum, and it was just the two of you, lost in a world of your own making. Time felt suspended as you explored the feelings you had kept hidden for so long, your bodies moving instinctively together.

But just as the kiss deepened, you pulled back, breathless and wide-eyed. The reality of what you were doing rushed back in, the panic of what this meant swirling in your mind. This wasn’t just a kiss between friends; it was a bold leap into unknown territory.

Eunwoo looked at you, his expression a mix of surprise and exhilaration. “Wow,” he breathed, still close enough that you could feel the heat radiating from him. “That was… unexpected.”

“Yeah,” you managed, still trying to catch your breath. “Maybe we should… uhm, talk about this.”

But inside, you were terrified. The rivalry, the friendship, the tension—it all felt so fragile now, and you worried that crossing this line would change everything. Yet, a part of you couldn’t ignore how right it felt to finally give in to your feelings.

As the party continued around you, the two of you stood in that quiet corner, silently acknowledging that this moment was just the beginning of something new, something that could alter the course of your relationship forever.