Beneath the Surface ( Asa and Chiquita )

Asa's Escape

Meanwhile, Asa's feet carried her through the streets of Seoul, though she didn't have any clear destination in mind. She wasn't sure where she was going, but the further she walked, the lighter her head felt. The further she walked, the more distant Chiquita's cruel words seemed to become.

She didn't want to go back to the campus. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.

She couldn't believe it—how easily Chiquita had toyed with her emotions. How easily she had convinced her that their friendship had been real. How she had played her, just as Ahyeon had wanted. Asa's heart ached, and it was a bitter, raw feeling.

Why did I fall for it? Asa asked herself. Why was I so stupid?

She felt ashamed, humiliated. She had trusted Chiquita with everything—her hopes of fitting in, her desire for connection, her fragile heart. And in return, Chiquita had used her to win a bet.

Asa's throat tightened, but she swallowed the tears that threatened to spill. She refused to let herself break down in public. She had to be strong. She couldn't let anyone see her hurt.

But despite her attempts to hold herself together, it was impossible to stop the sinking feeling in her chest. Every step she took away from the campus, the further she felt from the world she had tried to be a part of. She had never asked for any of this. She had only wanted to study, to find a place where she belonged. And now it felt like she didn't belong anywhere—not even to herself.

She found herself at the edge of a quiet park, the low hum of the city background music blending with the rustling of trees. She sat on a bench, trying to catch her breath, trying to calm the storm inside of her.

But it was hard. It was hard because all she could think about was Chiquita. The way she had looked at her, the way she had smiled and laughed like everything had been some kind of joke. And it was hard to admit it, but even now, she still felt something for Chiquita. Despite everything.