thirteen

The grey clouds hung low over the campus courtyard, the air thick with leftover rain and the sharp scent of wet pavement. Students milled about, umbrellas dripping and bags slung over their shoulders as the day trudged on.

Y/N adjusted the strap of her bag, her steps quickening as she rounded the corner toward the art building. The unease that had settled in her chest since this morning hadn't let up.

And then, there he was.

Minjae.

Leaning casually against the brick wall, one ankle crossed over the other, arms folded like he'd been waiting there for hours.

"Hey," he called out, pushing off the wall with an easy smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You free now? Thought we could grab coffee or something."

Y/N slowed, but didn't stop walking. "I'm actually busy."

"C'mon, it'll be quick. You've been dodging me for days."

His tone was light, but the edge beneath it made her pulse quicken.

"I've got class," she replied, sidestepping him.

Minjae moved too, casually falling into step beside her. "You always have class. Or projects. Or Seong-je lurking around."

Y/N stiffened. "Minjae—"

"Look, I'm not trying to be annoying. I just think we should talk. Clear the air." His hand ghosted toward her arm, not quite touching, but close enough to make her flinch.

"I said I'm busy." Her voice was firmer now.

Minjae's easy smile cracked, replaced with something cooler, more controlled. "Why're you acting like I'm some stranger? You trusted me—"

Before he could finish, a figure stepped between them.

Seong-je.

His hood was pulled low over his head, hands shoved in his pockets, but his posture was solid, unmoving, a quiet wall between Y/N and Minjae.

"She said no," Seong-je said evenly, eyes locked on Minjae's. "Why do you keep bothering her?"

Minjae's jaw tightened. "Since when do you speak for her?"

"Since she clearly doesn't want you following her around like a stray dog."

Minjae's lip curled. "Funny. Last I checked, you're not her boyfriend anymore. So maybe back off."

Seong-je's gaze sharpened, but his tone stayed quiet, dangerous in its calm. "Doesn't take being her boyfriend to know when someone's making her uncomfortable."

Y/N hovered behind them, heart hammering, the tension palpable enough to suffocate.

Minjae's eyes flicked to her, calculating, then back to Seong-je. "This isn't over."

"Yeah," Seong-je replied, voice low. "I know."

Minjae gave a tight smile that didn't reach his eyes and finally stepped back, hands shoved in his pockets as he melted into the crowd.

Only when he was gone did Seong-je glance over his shoulder at Y/N.

"You okay?" he asked softly.

Y/N's throat felt tight. "Yeah."

But neither of them believed it.

The crowd thinned as Minjae disappeared, but the tightness in Y/N's chest didn't.

Seong-je stood there, hands still shoved in his pockets, his shoulders tense beneath the fabric of his hoodie. The quiet between them stretched, filled with unsaid words and the weight of everything that had happened.

"You didn't have to do that," Y/N said finally, her voice softer than she meant it to be.

His dark eyes flicked to hers. "Yeah, I did."

She opened her mouth to protest, but the fight bled out of her the moment she met his gaze. He wasn't gloating. He wasn't trying to worm his way back in.

He just looked... worried.

"You okay?" he asked, stepping back half a pace, giving her space again.

Y/N exhaled. "I don't know."

They stood there for a long moment, the drizzle settling back into the air, cool and clinging.

"Why does it always feel like I'm stuck in the middle of a fight I didn't pick?" she muttered under her breath.

"Because you are," Seong-je replied, surprisingly blunt. "And I know how that feels."

She shot him a look. "Yeah? You picked your side a long time ago."

His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue.

Y/N adjusted the strap of her bag, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I don't need you fighting my battles for me."

"I know," he said quietly. "But if Minjae keeps pushing? You won't have to fight him alone."

Her heart stuttered in her chest, unsure what to do with that.

She hated that part of her still wanted to believe him.

Later, after class, Y/N sat in the quiet corner of the campus café, fingers curled around a warm mug. Her sketchpad was open in front of her, but the page was still blank.

Jisoo slid into the seat across from her, eyes sharp, phone in hand. "Heard there was drama."

Y/N groaned. "Does everyone know everything around here?"

"It's a small campus," Jisoo deadpanned. "So? You good?"

Y/N hesitated. "Minjae's... persistent."

"Creepy, you mean."

"And Seong-je... he..." She trailed off, unsure how to finish that sentence.

Jisoo raised an eyebrow. "Still wants to play hero, huh?"

"More like... regrets he ever stopped."

Jisoo didn't smile this time. Her gaze softened, but her voice stayed steady. "Just be careful. Regret doesn't erase bad history."

Y/N nodded, curling tighter around her mug.

Her phone buzzed on the table.

Unknown Number: You looked good today. Coffee soon?

Her stomach flipped.

Another message, moments later.

Unknown Number: Or I'll come find you.

The chill settled deep in her chest.

Across the café, Seong-je sat alone by the window, hood down now, his eyes trained on the rain outside.

But it was her reflection in the glass he was really watching.