DISGRACE ✴ kim rian

02 ── ᵃᵖᵖᵃˡˡᵉᵈ

ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ

The sun bathed the room in a warm, golden hue as Mi Hee lay sprawled on her bed, utterly engrossed in a romance novel. Her squeals of delight echoed softly as the protagonists shared their first hand-holding moment-a gesture that made her heart flutter.

Clad in an oversized hoodie and casual shorts, her hair an untamed cascade of black silk, she indulged in strawberries dipped in chocolate. To anyone outside her family, this disheveled version of her might have been unrecognizable-easily mistaken for her twin, perhaps, if she had one.

The peaceful ambiance shattered when the door swung open, and her mother stepped in with a faintly exasperated expression.

"Your father's coming home for dinner tonight," her mother declared, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "If you're planning to skip, I hope you have a valid excuse."

Mi Hee's initial annoyance at the intrusion softened slightly. Though her mother's attempts to maintain familial harmony often grated on her nerves, she understood the motivation. Her mother doted on her elder brother, a beacon of pride currently studying in America. Mi Hee, by contrast, often felt like an afterthought.

Later, without much conscious decision, Mi Hee found herself at the racetrack. She had traded her relaxed ensemble for a sleek Prada silk dress-a costume for the world's judgmental gaze.

She arrived in the middle of a conversation, her ears catching the unmistakable tension in Jeong Jae-i's voice.

"Let's just stay friends," Jae-i said with an air of finality. "I won the bet, so keep your word."

Mi Hee watched as Jae-i turned and walked away, her expression unreadable. Despite being the one to end things, there was a trace of melancholy in her demeanor.

For Mi Hee, the scene was almost satisfying. She had long thought Jae-i deserved better than her fake friends and her insufferably arrogant boyfriend, Kim Rian.

As her gaze shifted to Rian, she caught the flicker of emotions crossing his face-first sadness, then simmering anger. His eyes locked onto hers, and despite her desire to smirk at his misery, Mi Hee remained stoic.

Rian's frustration found its outlet as he stormed toward her, his presence radiating a need to dominate.

"If you dare breathe a word about what you saw-" he began, but his words faltered when he noticed the playful curve of her lips.

"With how determined Jae-i looked," she said, her tone laced with mockery, "I doubt I'll need to say a thing. Everyone will know soon enough."

For a moment, Rian was struck silent, blindsided not only by her audacity but by her uncharacteristic wit. Mi Hee, usually cold and detached, had pierced his composure effortlessly.

Anger reignited in him, fueled by her defiance. Yun Mi Hee might have the world at her feet, but she had no right to intrude on his personal affairs.

Driven by a sudden impulse, he grabbed her wrist, pinning it against the nearest wall. His tall frame loomed over hers as he leaned in, his breath brushing against her ear.

"Witch," he hissed, his voice low and venomous.

By the time Mi Hee recovered, she was alone at the racetrack entrance. A mix of emotions coursed through her-shock, disgust, and something she couldn't quite place.

What the hell just happened?

Even more unsettling was the realization that, for all her fury, she couldn't recall recoiling from his touch.

ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ
ʰⁱᵉʳᵃʳᶜʰʸ