THE BET (TripleS mochiz)

7 | Avoid

The next day arrived, and Chaewon woke up with her head pounding and her throat parched. Sunlight streamed through the curtains, piercing her eyes. Groaning softly, she sat up and rubbed her eyes, waiting for her vision to sharpen.

Chaewon sat on the edge of her bed, her hands covering her face as fragments of last night's party replayed in her mind. The pounding in her head wasn't just from the hangover; it was the weight of everything that had unfolded. She had left early, overwhelmed by the loud music, the flashing lights, and... the confrontation with Hayeon.

The small argument had left a bitter taste in her mouth, and Shion's lingering glances only added to the tension. She hated the way everything spiraled so quickly, and now she was caught between two people she cared about—in ways she didn't fully understand yet.

Frustrated, she groaned and ran her fingers through her messy hair. Why did it have to turn out like that? Why couldn't she have just stayed calm? The questions swirled in her head as she forced herself to her feet. She needed something to ground herself—something as simple as a bowl of cereal.

Still in her outfit from the night before, Chaewon changed into a oversized hoody and shorts then padded downstairs, the cool marble of the mansion's floors sending a chill through her. She entered the kitchen, the scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted her, along with an unexpected sight. Her father standing by the counter, reading something on his tablet. Chaewon froze for a moment. She had completely forgotten he would be home today. Her heart sank as she realized the state she was in—unshowered, disheveled, and, worst of all, still faintly reeking of alcohol.

"Morning, Chaewon," her father said looking up. "Late night?"

"Uh, yeah..." Chaewon mumbled, trying to keep her distance as she grabbed a bowl and box of cereal. Her hands fumbled as she poured the milk, the tension in the room mounting.

Her father's eyes narrowed as he finally looked at her. His nose wrinkled slightly. "Is that alcohol I smell?"

Chaewon's heart skipped a beat. She looked down at her cereal, avoiding his gaze. "I... um..."

"Chaewon," his voice turned firm, "what's going on? You told me you were going to a sleepover. Were you at a party?"

There was no point in lying now. She sighed and set the spoon down. "Yes. I went to a party."

Her father's expression hardened, disappointment showed clearly through his face "You lied to me?"

"I didn't mean to!" Chaewon said quickly, her voice rising defensively. "I just... I didn't think you'd let me go if I told you the truth."

"You're right, I wouldn't have," he said sharply. "You're sixteen, Chaewon. Do you have any idea how dangerous those kinds of parties can be?"

She flinched at his tone but didn't respond. Her father took a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose as he tried to calm himself.

"And this... Hayeon," he continued. "She's the one who invited you, isn't she?"

Chaewon hesitated, then nodded.

"I don't want you seeing her anymore."

Her eyes widened. "What? You can't just—"

"I can and I will," he interrupted, his voice firm. "Any friend who encourages you to lie and put yourself in situations like that is not someone you should be around."

"It wasn't all her fault she didn't tell me to lie!"Chaewon argued. "I made the choice to go."

"Doesn't matter and that's exactly why I'm stepping in now. Until you show me that you can make better decisions, I have to."

The weight of his words settled heavily on Chaewon's shoulders. She wanted to fight back, to argue that she could handle herself, but deep down, she knew he wasn't entirely wrong. Last night had spiraled out of control in ways she hadn't anticipated, and now she was paying the price.

"Fine" she muttered, grabbing her bowl of cereal and heading toward the door. "But this isn't fair."

"Life rarely is" her father called after her.

Chaewon climbed back upstairs, her appetite gone. Sitting on her bed, she stared at her phone. Messages from both Hayeon and Shion waited for her, but she couldn't bring herself to open them. Her head still throbbed, her emotions a tangled mess. For now, all she could do was let the consequences of last night sink in.

---

By Monday morning, the weekend felt like a blur of frustration and regret. Chaewon walked into school, her bag slung over her shoulder and her mind preoccupied with her father's demand. The hallways were buzzing with life as students chatted and laughed, but Chaewon felt detached, her thoughts elsewhere.

As she turned the corner, she saw Hayeon walking with her group of friends Soomin, Yeonji and Hyerin. Hayeon's laughter faded the moment she noticed Chaewon. Their eyes met briefly, but instead of acknowledging her, Hayeon dropped her gaze and walked past, her head bowed. Chaewon's chest tightened, but she forced herself to keep walking, her footsteps brisk as she put more distance between them.

Art class was no better. Chaewon usually sat next to Hayeon, but today she chose a seat on the opposite side of the room. She busied herself with her sketchbook, refusing to acknowledge Hayeon's presence. The awkward tension in the room was almost suffocating, but Chaewon held her ground, determined to follow through with her father's demand—even if it hurt.

When lunch finally came, Chaewon found a quiet corner of the cafeteria to sit in, hoping to avoid any more confrontations. But Shion and Joobin soon appeared, her tray in hand and a curious look on her face.

"Hey why do you look so down?" Shion questioned

Chaewon didn't answer and continued drinking her milk, Shion took the seat across from her while Joobin sat across from them, For a moment they ate in silence, but Shion's gaze never left Chaewon.

"Okay, spill," Shion said finally. "What's going on? You've been avoiding Hayeon all day, and you look... well, kind of miserable."

"That's true, in art class she changed seats too" Joobin added, a concerned look on her face as she looked at the emotionless girl next to her.

Chaewon sighed, setting her drink down. "It's a long story."

"We've got time," Shion said with a small smile.

Chaewon hesitated, then decided to tell them. "My dad found out about the party. I told him I was going to a sleepover, but he figured it out when I got home... and he's really mad. He told me I can't see Hayeon anymore."

Joobin's brows furrowed. "Wait, seriously? He's banning you from talking to her?"

Chaewon nodded. "He thinks she's a bad influence. And honestly... after everything that happened, I don't even know what to think anymore. It's just... a mess."

Shion reached across the table and gently touched Chaewon's hand. "That's a lot to deal with. I'm sorry. But... do you really think cutting Hayeon off is the right thing to do? Or is it just what your dad wants?"

"I don't know," Chaewon admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Part of me feels like Its wrong, but another part of me thinks maybe my dad's right. Last night was too much. I felt so out of control, and I hate feeling like that."

Shion nodded thoughtfully. "It's okay to feel conflicted. You care about Hayeon, but you also want to do what's best for yourself. Maybe you just need some time to figure things out."

"Yeah we'll always be here if you need us! this is why I dont go to parties" Joobin chimed in letting out a little chuckle.

Chaewon looked up at them, grateful for the understanding in their eyes. "Thanks, guys. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"Anytime," They said with a reassuring smile. "And for the record, you're stronger than you think. Whatever you decide, you'll get through this." Shion added

As the lunch bell rang, Chaewon felt a small weight lift from her chest. For the first time all weekend, she felt like she wasn't entirely alone in this mess.

—-

sorry for the wait Ill upload hayeons pov next