Not Just Academic Rivals || Yang Jungwon x Female Reader

♡Chapter 12♡

— Minji's POV —

I glanced at Jia's empty bed at night as I thought hard. This afternoon, I was walking around when I saw the bunggeoppang I gave Riki in Hanbin's hands. When I asked him about it, he said that Riki gave it to him, and he doesn't know why.

To think of it, the only thing separating me from Riki is actually Jia. He likes her, and that's why his admiration for me melted away. How clićhe. And Jia hugged Riki back without hesitation. Also, I have been wanting to take more drastic approaches to make Riki fall in love with me, but Jia always tells me that I shouldn't. She makes sure I don't do anything to anyone.

"She's not my mom." I muttered under my breath. "And I'm older. Neither does she have the right to tell me what to do. Why do I ask her for advice anyways?"

Jia is who everyone likes. Even if she's poor. And broke. Just because she is nice and pretty? Plus, Riki is like, a billionaire. Not being that person, but the type of person Riki is, doesn't seem like the type to marry or date someone with a family background like hers.

Suddenly a realization popped into my head. He. Doesn't. Know.

He doesn't know about her family background, that's why! Well, one way or another, I have to expose her. But hey, I'm not hurting Jia in the process, she's still my friend. And she's too innocent for all this. So, I will make things less brutal. Instead of being so mean and exposing it to everyone, I can just act like I'm concerned, and tell Riki about it. Maybe then he will go away from her. First, I need to distance myself from her.

I smirked slightly, chuckling lightly.

How genius I am.

* * *

— Riki's POV —

I whistled, walking around and waiting for Jungwon to get here. We're supposed to meet ten minutes ago, but he seems to be preoccupied with school stuff.

Suddenly, a shorter figure's shadow emerged from behind the glass.

"Hey Riki!" The voice called out.

Oh. It's Minji.

"Hey Minji." I answered.

"Have you heard?" She worriedly asked, going down the stairs. "It's about Jia!"

My attention fully averted to Minji at the mention of Jia. "What happened?"

"Are you close to Jia?" She asked.

"Well, I'm not sure. Maybe?"

"Do you know about her situation? She and her mother are in huge debt." She whispered.

I knew that. But I acted like I didn't. "Oh really?"

"Yeah. I'm worried for her. She might need to drop out. She told me that if Jungwon beats her again two more times, she'll be getting expelled because she doesn't have enough money. She works a part-time job, remember? Well yeah, it's to pay for her tuition's extra fees and her mother's hospital bills. Her father and mother are in bad terms. Very bad, they fight all the time. You know, as Jia's best friend, I'm worried that she will have a hard time." Minji pouted sadly.

"You're rich right?" I asked simply.

Minji looked up at me, confused. "Yeah?"

"Then help her pay for her tuition's extra fees and her mother's hospital bills. You don't need ti spread the word. If you are worried, you would be doing what you could do, instead of telling others. Keep that in mind, Kim Minji."

I walked away coldly, anger bubbling in my veins. Does she think she can just tell everyone about Jia's financial and personal status? Who does she think she is?