THE BET (TripleS mochiz)

5 | nerves

CHAEWON POV-

After Hayeon smiled at Chaewon and invited her to a party, Chaewon's heart skipped a beat. Without thinking, she suddenly ran away but still managed to stammer out an agreement to attend. Once outside the school doors, she stopped to catch her breath, her chest heaving as she turned back to check if Hayeon had followed. Thankfully, she hadn't.

"Why did I run away? Ugh, what's wrong with me?" Chaewon muttered, still panting—though whether it was from the running or the way Hayeon's smile had affected her, she wasn't sure.

Just as her breathing steadied, she felt a presence behind her.

"What are you running away from?" a voice whispered in her ear. Chaewon jumped, spinning around to see Shion standing there with a curious, almost playful look on her face.

"Y-You heard that?" Chaewon stammered, her cheeks flushing as she tried to muster a nervous smile.

Shion chuckled softly and gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "Well, I was on my way home and saw you, so I thought I'd come say hi. But before I could, you started talking to yourself." She scratched the back of her head, grinning slightly as she spoke.

Chaewon's face turned a deeper shade of red as she struggled to find a response. "I-I wasn't talking to myself! I was just... thinking out loud." Her voice trailed off, and she avoided Shion's amused gaze.

"Thinking about what?" Shion pressed, leaning in slightly with an eyebrow raised.

Chaewon's mind raced. There was no way she could admit the truth—not about Hayeon, not about the way her heart fluttered every time she smiled. "Nothing important," she blurted out, waving her hand dismissively. "Just, uh, school stuff. You know, stressful assignments."

"Right..." Shion didn't sound convinced but didn't push further. Instead, she smiled, her expression softening. "Well, if you ever need help with all that 'stressful school stuff,' you can always talk to me." 

Chaewon nodded quickly, eager to shift the topic. "Thanks, Shion. I'll keep that in mind." She glanced down at her feet, her thoughts briefly drifting back to Hayeon. Why did her smile have to be so... disarming?

"You're weird today," Shion said, breaking the silence. "Usually, you're not this jumpy." She stepped back, tilting her head as if studying Chaewon. "Is this about the party?"

Chaewon's head shot up. "How did you—"

"I heard Hayeon asking you," Shion interrupted with a shrug. "I wasn't eavesdropping or anything but you two were just kind of... loud."

"Oh." Chaewon didn't know whether to feel relieved or embarrassed. "Yeah, I guess it's about that."

"Are you going?" Shion asked, her tone more curious than judgmental.

"Y-Yeah, I said I'd go," Chaewon replied hesitantly. Then, after a pause, she added, "I think it'll be fun... probably."

Shion's grin widened. "Good. It's about time you did something fun. Who knows? Maybe you'll make some memories. Plus, I'm going too!" She turned, her hands sliding into her pockets. "Well, I better head home. Don't run off too much before the party, okay?"

"Wait!" Chaewon called out, taking a step toward the girl walking away. Shion stopped and turned around, her expression shifting to mild confusion.

"Yes?" Shion asked, her eyes meeting Chaewon's. But Chaewon quickly looked away, her gaze darting everywhere but at Shion.

"I, um..." Chaewon hesitated, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "I was wondering... could we maybe, uh, go to the party together?" Her words came out in a rush, and she glanced up nervously to see Shion's reaction.