Chapter 8: A Dangerous Game

The problem with Heeseung and Karina was that they weren't just idols in the same industry.

They were two people who thrived on competition. Two people who didn't know how to back down. Two people who-whether they wanted to admit it or not-were drawn to each other in ways that didn't make sense.

And it was starting to become obvious.

M Countdown - Backstage

Karina was adjusting her in-ear monitors when she felt it again-that undeniable presence she was starting to recognize without even looking.

She turned, and sure enough, there he was.

Lee Heeseung, leaning against the dressing room doorframe like he had all the time in the world, watching her with that same infuriating smirk.

Karina exhaled. "What now?"

Heeseung shrugged. "Nothing. Just wondering how long you're going to keep pretending you don't enjoy this."

She narrowed her eyes. "Enjoy what?"

"This," Heeseung gestured vaguely between them. "The rivalry. The banter. The fact that every time we're in the same room, everyone around us holds their breath because they don't know if we're about to fight or-"

He stopped himself, the smirk widening just a little.

Karina crossed her arms. "Or what?"

Heeseung tilted his head slightly. "You tell me."

Karina felt her pulse spike-but she wasn't about to let him know that. Instead, she scoffed, turning back to the mirror. "You really think everything is some kind of game, don't you?"

Heeseung chuckled, stepping closer-not too close, but close enough. "Only when the game is fun."

Karina met his gaze through the mirror. "And what happens when someone wins?"

A pause. A flicker of something unreadable in Heeseung's eyes.

Then, he leaned in just enough to lower his voice. "Who says we aren't both losing already?"

Before Karina could even process what he meant, a staff member called Heeseung's name from down the hall.

He stepped back, flashing her one last glance before walking away-leaving Karina staring at her reflection, her heart pounding for reasons she didn't want to acknowledge.

Because whether she liked it or not, Heeseung was right.

Whatever this was, whatever they were doing to each other-

Neither of them was winning. Not yet.