accident

⋆ 𐙚 ̊.CHAPTER 24✶⋆.˚

🇽​​🇴​, ​🇪​​🇻​​🇪​​🇱​​🇾​​🇳

It was finally performance day. The entire campus buzzed with excitement, and the main hall was filled with the hum of chatter, the rustling of hanboks, and the soft clinks of traditional accessories.

In the makeup room, Evelyn sat in front of a mirror, her delicate hanbok draping around her like a soft waterfall. The pastel shades complimented her complexion, and her hair was pinned up neatly, small floral ornaments tucked into the twists. Her cheeks were dotted with the traditional round patches of lip crayon, giving her that flushed, youthful look. The soft pink hue blended perfectly with her lips, where the tint sat more prominently in the center, creating that classic, delicate effect.

She was carefully fixing her eyeliner when the door squeaked open.

"Hey! Guys aren't allowed here!" Yuri called out without even glancing up.

But the room grew unusually silent, and Evelyn noticed the sudden shift in energy. She looked up to find every girl's eyes wide, some with mouths slightly agape.

Standing there, in all his casual yet painfully handsome glory, was Kavin—a bouquet of vibrant flowers in his hand. His dark hair was slightly tousled, his glasses slipping low on his nose, and that trademark bunny smile stretched wide.

The girls couldn't hold back anymore and squealed, Madison's voice easily the loudest.

Evelyn blinked in surprise before breaking into a grin. "Kavin? What are you doing here?"

He strolled inside confidently, ignoring the dozens of eyes glued to him, and stopped right in front of Evelyn.

"For you," he said, offering the bouquet, the soft fragrance of fresh lilies and daisies filling the air. "All the best for your performance. You've got this, lil champ!"

Evelyn chuckled at his playful tone. She always saw Kavin as an older brother, and moments like these made her feel genuinely cared for. She took the bouquet gently. "Well, thank you, P'Kavin. I'll break a leg for sure!"

Kavin's smile grew even wider, his bunny teeth showing adorably. "That's my girl," he winked before turning around and leaving the room, but not before the girls let out another wave of dreamy sighs.

The moment the door shut, the room erupted.

"Who was that, Evie?!" Eunice asked, leaning in.

Evelyn waved them off. "He's an exchange student from Thailand. He's like a brother to me."

"Oh sure he is," Eunice smirked, not buying it.

Madison, who had barely recovered from Kavin's appearance, crossed her arms. "He better be."

The teasing continued, but Evelyn's mind started to drift. She glanced at the door, her fingers unconsciously fidgeting with the bouquet's ribbon. The person she was actually waiting for hadn't shown up.

Where was Minho?

She had expected him to show up. He was always there when it mattered—even if he pretended he didn't care.

"He'll come," she told herself. "He has to."

The backstage was buzzing as the girls lined up, ready to go on stage in their elegant hanboks. Their faces were painted with soft, traditional makeup, and the bright stage lights shone through the curtains. Evelyn adjusted the ribbons on her sleeves but noticed something out of place—Yuri and Kitty were in the corner, whisper-arguing in harsh tones.

Evelyn squinted. What's going on?

Kitty's face was red, her eyes glossy as if tears threatened to spill, while Yuri stood firm, her jaw clenched in frustration.

Evelyn took a step forward, about to interfere, but before she could, Eunice spoke up behind her.

"What are all these fireworks for?" she asked, pointing at the pyrotechnics crew setting up side-stage.

"Oh, those are for my K-pop dance later," Madison replied casually, flipping her hair.

Evelyn, trying to lighten her own nerves, smirked and added, "What are you gonna dance to? Fire by BTS? Fireworks by ATEEZ? Or wait—Boombayah?"

Madison snickered. "Boombayah is tempting, but nah."

The casual chatter helped distract Evelyn—for a second. But her heart was racing, not just from the tense atmosphere but also because of what was coming next.

The soft opening notes of their fan dance music started playing.

"It's time!" Yuri called out, her voice cracking a little, though she tried to mask it.

Evelyn inhaled deeply as they all took their positions on stage. The crowd beyond the lights looked like a blurred sea of faces, which only made her heart beat faster. She could barely hold her fan steady.

Her mind flashed back to kindergarten—the first time she had ever stepped on stage. She remembered the moment vividly: dancing happily, twirling too fast, and falling flat on her face. The laughter from the crowd had echoed around her like a nightmare. But not everyone had laughed.

"Evie, are you okay?"

A tiny Minho had come running towards her, helping her up, brushing dirt off her little dress with his tiny hands. Even then, he had been her shield.

Now, standing here, years later, Evelyn felt that same knot of panic build up in her chest.

She tried focusing on the choreography—the sweeping motions of the fan, the twirls—but her eyes flicked again to Kitty and Yuri. They were still out of sync, stiff and distracted by whatever argument they had before. It was ruining the energy, and Evelyn's stomach twisted with unease.

Before she could fix it, chaos erupted.

BOOM!

The fireworks—set for Madison's performance—suddenly exploded early. The sparks burst too close to the stage.

Screams echoed.

The girls scattered—Eunice, Madison, Yuri, and Kitty all leapt off the stage, trying to avoid the falling sparks. Evelyn turned to run too, but she felt a sharp pull.

Her hanbok's hem was snagged on something.

No, no, no.

She tugged frantically, but it wouldn't come loose. Then—

A sharp sizzle filled her ears, followed by the acrid smell of burning fabric. A stray spark had caught the edge of her hanbok. The flame spread fast, licking up the delicate material.

Evelyn's panic skyrocketed. Her chest tightened, her vision blurred with tears. Her breathing came in sharp gasps. She clutched at the fabric, trying to pat the flames out with her sleeves, but it only made it worse. The heat was too much—her mind spiraled into panic.

And then—

A blur of movement.

Strong arms grabbed her, yanking her free just as she felt her knees buckle.

She was about to hit the ground when someone caught her.

"Evie! I got you!"

Her tear-filled eyes met his. Minho.

She could barely process it, but there he was, wild-eyed with panic, pulling off his jacket and throwing it over the flames engulfing her hanbok. He pressed it hard, suffocating the fire until the fabric stopped smoking.

Her whole body trembled, but his voice grounded her.

"It's done, Evie. Don't worry. I'm here. It's alright. Just breathe, okay?"

His hands gripped hers tightly. She looked at their intertwined fingers—her own shaking, while his stayed firm, steady.

"You came," she managed to whisper through the panic, her voice barely audible.

Minho's eyes softened, but he didn't let go. "Of course I did."

The flood of emotions overwhelmed her. She slumped forward, resting her head against his shoulder, feeling his heartbeat racing just as fast as hers. The tears finally fell, but this time not out of panic—out of relief.

She had held it together for so long—dealing with family issues, stage fears, and all the pressure—but here, in this moment, she didn't have to.

Because Minho was here.

He always had been.

And that's when it hit her.

It wasn't just gratitude. It wasn't just friendship.

She liked him.

Maybe she always had. Since kindergarten, when little Minho had helped her up off that stage floor. Since all the sarcastic banter, the late-night talks, the fights, and the moments like this—when he showed up exactly when she needed him most.

Her heart raced, not from fear, but from the overwhelming realization.

She loved Minho.

The dorm room was eerily quiet except for the hum of the table lamp. Minho gently placed Evelyn on the bed, her body still trembling from the shock. Her face was pale, eyes shut tight, her breathing shallow.

"Evie?" he whispered, brushing a loose strand of hair off her forehead. No response.

He sighed, moving quickly but carefully. Her hanbok was singed and torn. Without overthinking, he grabbed her pajamas from her closet—her favorite soft ones with tiny crescent moons printed on them. Working gently, he slipped her into the comfy clothes, trying his best to respect her space even though she was unconscious.

After tucking her in, he fetched a glass of water and a protein bar, placing them on her bedside table.

"Wake up, Raven. It's over—you're safe now," he murmured, shaking her cheek lightly.

Evelyn shifted a little, mumbling something under her breath. Her eyes fluttered open but immediately squinted.

"The lights!" she whined, covering her face with her palm.

"What lights?" Minho asked, puzzled.

"It's too bright," she muttered.

Minho quickly got up and turned off the main lights, leaving only the soft glow of the table lamp. He sat back down beside her.

Evelyn finally sat up, groggy but more aware. Her eyes fell on her pajamas. For a beat, there was silence as her brain processed what she was wearing.

Then, like an alarm going off—

"WHAT THE FREAK, MEANHOE?! HOW THE HELL AM I IN MY PAJAMAS RIGHT NOW? WHO CHANGED MY CLOTHES?!"

She let out a squeal, pulling the comforter over herself and covering her body with her arms.

Minho raised his hands in defense, looking way too casual.

"C'mon, Raven. It's not like I never saw you before, and you clearly needed help. I saved you—you can't hit me now."

Evelyn's jaw dropped. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'VE SEEN ME BEFORE?!"

He leaned back lazily on his hands, smirking. "Ahh, remember? We used to swim at my house when we were kids."

"WE WERE THREE YEARS OLD, MINHO!"

"So what?" he teased, his grin widening.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 'SO WHAT'?" She was flustered, her cheeks burning, partly from embarrassment and partly from... something else she didn't want to admit.

Minho chuckled softly, clearly enjoying this. "Evelyn, stop getting so worked up. It's not like I'm a stranger."

"YOU-", she opened her mouth to retaliate, but no words came out. She stared at him, her heart racing for reasons she didn't fully understand—or maybe did but refused to acknowledge.

The room felt warmer now, but not from the lamp. It was the way Minho was looking at her. Soft, intense eyes focused entirely on her.

The air between them grew heavier, and Evelyn found herself drawn in, noticing every detail—how his dark hair fell over his forehead, how his eyes had this sparkle when he smiled. She gulped.

What are you doing, Eve? He's your friend. A friend who annoys the hell out of you, her mind screamed.

But her heart? Yeah, that was singing a different tune.

The silence stretched too long, the weight of unsaid words filling the space.

Her mouth moved before her brain could stop it.

"How do you do that?"

Minho blinked, breaking the trance. "Do what?"

"Not blink," she mumbled, her voice softer now.

He chuckled, leaning in slightly. "How can I blink when you're literally sitting twenty centimeters away from me?"

ruka:

a lovely short chapter for my loves. i know yall secretly liked this the most. (smirks)