IRON FISTS || Axel Kovacevic

V - Tides Of Tension

chapter 5: Tides Of Tension

Jisoo walked slowly, her footsteps muffled by the soft hum of the building around her. She had wandered through the venue, trying to shake off the tension from earlier and the prickling sting of Zara's words. It wasn't that she cared about what the other girl said—she didn't. She could take an insult and throw one right back, and most of the time, that was enough for her. But Zara's tone, the way she'd looked at her, had a way of crawling under her skin, making her feel... less than. She hated that.

The aquarium was a welcome distraction, the cool, calming blue of the water and the slow, rhythmic movement of the fish offering a brief moment of peace. She wandered through the long hallways of tanks, letting the neon lights from the exhibits cast a soft glow around her. The sound of water trickling and the occasional bubble popping from the tanks was strangely soothing.

She stopped in front of the largest tank, a massive glass wall full of a vivid, swirling school of fish. They darted in and out of view, their synchronized movements mesmerizing. The sharks glided through the background, massive and imposing, their movements slow, deliberate. Jisoo felt a strange kinship with them—powerful and solitary, but still trapped in a glass box.

Her reflection in the tank's surface stared back at her, her face cool and detached, like she had nothing to lose. It was the look she often wore, the one she'd perfected over the years, even when the storm of thoughts and emotions churned behind her eyes.

She could hear her own breath as it evened out, each inhale and exhale a reminder of just how tightly she kept herself together.

Her mind wandered to the earlier moments—Zara's words still echoing in her mind. "He would never go for someone like you."

She scoffed, wondering how the hell Zara got the impression that Jisoo was interested in her opponent.

Jisoo clenched her jaw and shook her head.

She glanced at her reflection again. Get a grip, Jisoo.

The sound of footsteps broke her out of her thoughts. Before she could react, a body bumped into hers, knocking her slightly off balance.

"Sorry," came a flustered voice from behind her.

She turned sharply, eyes narrowing as she prepared to snap at whoever it was.

And there he was—Axel.

Her stomach dropped for a split second, surprise flashing across her face. He looked equally startled, his eyes wide for a fraction of a second before he masked it with that ever-present nonchalance.

Jisoo's lips twisted into a tight frown. She couldn't help herself. She'd been lost in thought, and now here he was, standing right in front of her, invading her space yet again.

"Watch where you're going," she said, her voice clipped.

Axel raised an eyebrow, looking at her as if she was the one who had done something wrong. "I just said sorry."

"And I just said to watch where you're going," she snapped back, her tone sharp.

He studied her for a moment, but there was no sign of real emotion on his face. No apology. No irritation. Just that blank, unreadable look.

"I didn't realize this was a minefield," he said, his voice deadpan.

"Maybe if you opened your eyes once in a while, you wouldn't keep walking into people," she shot back, crossing her arms.

Axel shrugged casually, not bothered in the slightest. "Guess I'm just not as observant as you."

Jisoo's jaw tightened. Why was he so damn calm? She didn't care if he bumped into her, but for some reason, everything about this encounter was setting her on edge.