Soul in the System: Chanjin

A Rival's Challenge

The week dragged on after the practice incident. Chan felt the stares of his classmates more acutely than ever, the whispers louder, more insistent. While Hyunjin did his best to brush them off, Chan couldn't shake the feeling that his secret was hanging by a thread. To make matters worse, Hyejin's vague comments continued to plant seeds of doubt that Chan couldn't entirely ignore.

But the worst was yet to come.

It started innocently enough. A new student joined their school—a transfer from another district. His name was Jae, and from the moment he walked into their shared homeroom, Hyunjin seemed to recognize him.

"Jae," Hyunjin muttered, his tone neutral but guarded.

"You know him?" Chan asked, glancing at Hyunjin.

Hyunjin sighed, crossing his arms. "We went to middle school together. He was... persistent, to say the least."

"Persistent?"

Hyunjin's lips quirked into a wry smile. "Let's just say he had a bit of a crush on me."

Before Chan could respond, Jae spotted them from across the room and approached, his confident stride and easy grin immediately setting Chan on edge.

"Hyunjin," Jae said, his voice warm. "It's been a while."

"Jae," Hyunjin replied, his tone polite but distant.

Jae's gaze shifted to Chan, his expression curious. "And you are?"

"Chan," Chan said simply, his voice calm but firm. "Hyunjin's boyfriend."

Jae's eyebrows raised slightly, his smile never faltering. "Boyfriend, huh? Well, good for you, Hyunjin. You've always had a way of surprising people."

Chan didn't miss the way Jae's tone hinted at something beneath the surface—a challenge, perhaps, or even a hint of doubt. He didn't like it, but he kept his composure. Beside him, Hyunjin was clearly uncomfortable, though he masked it well.

"Jae," Hyunjin said, cutting the conversation short. "We have class. Excuse us."

Without another word, Hyunjin grabbed Chan's hand and pulled him toward their seats. As they sat down, Chan couldn't help but glance back at Jae, who was now chatting easily with a group of students, his gaze occasionally flicking toward them.

"He's going to be trouble, isn't he?" Chan asked quietly.

Hyunjin sighed, leaning back in his seat. "You have no idea."

Over the next few days, Jae made his presence known. He quickly integrated himself into their friend group, his charm and wit making him hard to dislike. Even Felix and Jeongin, who were notoriously loyal to Hyunjin, seemed to warm up to him. But Chan wasn't so easily swayed.

It wasn't just that Jae was friendly. It was the way he lingered around Hyunjin, finding excuses to talk to him, asking about his interests, his plans, his dreams. The familiarity grated on Chan, though he did his best to hide it.

Hyunjin, for his part, seemed to handle Jae's attention with practiced ease, brushing off his comments and redirecting the conversation whenever it got too personal. But Chan could see the cracks. He could see the way Hyunjin tensed whenever Jae got too close, the way he avoided meeting Chan's eyes afterward.

"You're not jealous, are you?" Felix teased one afternoon as they sat in the cafeteria.

Chan glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "No."

Felix smirked. "You're a terrible liar, superstar. Don't worry. Hyunjin's not going anywhere. He's just... dealing with old baggage."

"Old baggage that's trying to get back in," Chan muttered, his gaze flicking to where Hyunjin and Jae were talking near the vending machines.

Felix's smile softened, and he patted Chan's shoulder. "Trust him. Hyunjin's stronger than he looks."

Chan nodded, but the knot in his chest remained.

It all came to a head during a late afternoon football practice. Hyunjin had stayed behind after cheerleading practice to wait for Chan, sitting on the bleachers with Felix and Jeongin. Jae, for whatever reason, was also there, chatting animatedly with Hyunjin while the others looked on.

Chan couldn't focus. His usual precision and calmness on the field faltered, his mind distracted by the sight of Jae leaning in too close, laughing at something Hyunjin said. He felt a surge of something unfamiliar—jealousy, sharp and burning, clawing at his chest.

When practice ended, Chan approached the bleachers, his movements brisk. Hyunjin looked up, his smile faltering when he saw the tension in Chan's expression.

"Hey," Hyunjin began, but before he could say more, Jae stood and clapped him on the shoulder.

"You've got a good one here, Hyunjin," Jae said, his tone light but pointed. "I can see why you'd settle down."

The words hit Chan like a blow, but he kept his composure. Barely. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, his voice calm but with an edge that made Hyunjin and the others glance nervously between them.

Jae shrugged, his smile infuriatingly casual. "Nothing. Just an observation."

Chan stepped closer, his towering presence unmistakable. "If you have something to say, say it."

"Chan," Hyunjin said softly, placing a hand on his arm. "It's not worth it."

But Chan's gaze didn't waver. "I don't like the way you talk to him," he said, his voice low but steady. "Or about him."

Jae's smile finally slipped, replaced by something colder. "And what are you going to do about it?"

For a moment, the tension was so thick it felt like the entire world had gone still. Then Hyunjin stepped between them, his eyes blazing. "Enough," he said sharply. "Jae, stop. Chan's right—you're out of line."

Jae's expression darkened, but he held up his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. No need to get worked up. I'll back off."

He turned and walked away, but the damage was done. Chan's hands were clenched into fists, his breathing unsteady as he tried to calm the storm raging inside him.

"Chan," Hyunjin said gently, placing both hands on his arms. "Hey. Look at me."

Chan's gaze softened as he met Hyunjin's eyes. "I'm sorry," he murmured. "I just... I couldn't stand the way he was treating you."

Hyunjin smiled, his hands sliding down to take Chan's. "You don't need to apologize. You stood up for me. That means everything."

Chan exhaled slowly, the tension easing from his shoulders. "I just don't want to lose you."

"You won't," Hyunjin said firmly. "You never will."

That evening, as they sat together on Hyunjin's couch, the weight of the day slowly lifted. Hyunjin rested his head on Chan's shoulder, his voice soft as he said, "You're the only one I want, you know. Jae... he's the past. You're my present. My future."

Chan looked down at him, his chest swelling with warmth. "I believe you."

"Good," Hyunjin murmured. "Because I plan on sticking around."

Chan smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to Hyunjin's forehead. "So do I."

And in that moment, surrounded by the quiet comfort of each other's presence, the doubts and tension faded away, leaving only the certainty of their connection.