Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 11: Fractured illusions

The campus was alive with the energy of the midterm festival, a blend of laughter, music, and the scent of food wafting through the air. Juhee walked through the throngs of students, her heart heavy despite the celebration surrounding her. She had managed to maintain a façade of normalcy, but inside, she felt like a storm was brewing—emotions colliding and threatening to spill over.

As she wandered through the booths, her thoughts kept drifting to Wonbin. Each time she saw him across the campus, the tension in the air felt almost suffocating. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of confusion for her. She couldn't shake the image of his cold demeanor, yet it intrigued her. What lay beneath that mysterious exterior? What was he hiding?

Lost in thought, she bumped into Karina, who was engrossed in a conversation with some friends. "Juhee! You made it!" Karina exclaimed, pulling her into the lively group.

"Yeah, just needed a break from studying," Juhee replied, trying to sound upbeat.

The group chatted, but Juhee felt detached, her mind wandering back to Wonbin. She caught sight of him standing at a distance, leaning against a railing, observing the festivities. His expression was unreadable, and for a moment, she felt a pull to him—a magnetic force that compelled her to bridge the distance.

"Are you going to talk to him?" Karina asked, suddenly at her side. She had followed Juhee's gaze.

"What? No. I can't," Juhee replied, her heart racing at the mere thought. "It's too complicated."

"Complicated? Or are you just scared?" Karina challenged, her eyes narrowing with concern.

Juhee opened her mouth to protest but found no words. Was it fear? Was it the weight of unexpressed feelings? "I don't know," she admitted finally, feeling exposed.

"Then maybe you need to confront it," Karina urged, her tone softening. "You're not just going to ignore him forever."

Before Juhee could respond, the crowd suddenly erupted in cheers. She turned to see a small stage where a band was preparing to play. The music started, vibrant and electric, filling the air with an infectious energy. It was a welcome distraction, but her gaze kept drifting back to Wonbin.

As the night wore on, Juhee tried to immerse herself in the festivities, but her heart was elsewhere. After what felt like an eternity, she finally made her way to the edge of the crowd, where Wonbin still stood, detached from the chaos around him.

"Are you going to just watch all night?" Juhee blurted out, her voice barely audible over the music.

Wonbin turned to her, surprise flickering across his face before he quickly masked it with indifference. "What do you want, Juhee?"

The sharpness in his tone stung, but she pressed on, unwilling to back down. "You seem to be enjoying the view. Why not join in?"

He raised an eyebrow, his lips twisting into a slight smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes. "And become part of the mindless crowd? No thanks."

Juhee felt a rush of frustration. "Is that all you see? Mindless? We're just trying to have fun."

"Fun? You mean pretending everything is okay while you're all drowning in expectations? That's not fun; it's a façade," he shot back, his voice low but cutting.

His words struck a nerve, and for a moment, Juhee was at a loss. "What do you know about it? You barely know me!" she exclaimed, anger bubbling beneath the surface.

"Maybe I know more than you think," he replied, his tone colder, his gaze unwavering. "You act like you have it all figured out, but we both know that's a lie."

Juhee's heart raced as the tension between them crackled in the air. She wanted to retaliate, to defend herself, but instead, she felt her walls begin to crumble. "You don't know what I'm going through," she whispered, vulnerability seeping into her voice.

"Then tell me," he challenged, stepping closer, his expression shifting from cold detachment to a probing intensity. "But I doubt you can."

The challenge hung heavy between them, and Juhee felt her resolve falter. This wasn't just a simple confrontation; it was a collision of their unresolved feelings. "You think it's easy for me? To juggle everything?" she managed to say, her voice trembling with emotion. "You think I'm not scared?"

"Scared of what? Not living up to your perfect image?" he retorted, his tone sharper than ever.

"Scared of losing everything," Juhee finally admitted, the words spilling from her lips before she could stop them. "My family's expectations, my brother's resentment... and maybe even the chance of understanding you."

For a brief moment, silence enveloped them, the music fading into the background. Juhee's heart pounded in her chest as she met his gaze, searching for some glimmer of understanding. But all she found was that familiar coldness.

"I can't help you with that," Wonbin said, stepping back as if creating distance was his only option. "You need to figure it out for yourself."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Juhee standing amidst the throng of celebrating students. The weight of his words pressed down on her, the truth of her situation hitting her with full force. As she watched him disappear into the crowd, she felt a mix of anger and longing—a fierce ache in her chest that mirrored the uncharted territory of her emotions.

Juhee turned back to the festival, the laughter and music swirling around her like a storm. She knew that the confrontation with Wonbin had only deepened the turmoil within her, and the night suddenly felt less like a celebration and more like a reminder of everything she was trying to escape.