Chapter 5 - A Glimpse Beneath

A Glimpse Beneath

Rain poured over Seoul like the sky was trying to wash something away. The sound echoed across the school courtyard as students rushed indoors, umbrellas up, laughter bouncing off the walls.

Park Y/n didn't laugh.

She stood beneath the covered walkway, watching the droplets dance, lost in her thoughts. Her textbooks were pressed to her chest, her umbrella unopened by her side.

"Y/n!"

Jennie's voice cut through the noise. She jogged up, soaked slightly but smiling.

"Why are you standing here like a rejected drama lead?" she teased. "You'll catch a cold."

Y/n managed a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Better than catching feelings."

Jennie gave her a look. "Don't tell me you and Taehyung are—"

"We're not," she snapped too quickly. "Never will be."

Jennie nodded slowly, knowingly. "Mhm."Later that afternoon, the hallway outside the headmaster's office was silent too silent. Y/n stood still, her father's voice sharp through the closed door.

"I don't care if she's stressed. She needs to be perfect for this merger. She's the heir. My heir."

Her stomach twisted.

The door suddenly opened, and Park Daehun stepped out. He froze slightly at the sight of her.

"Y/n. I didn't know you were waiting."

"I heard everything," she said, her voice steady despite the sting behind her eyes.

He stared at her for a long second. "Good. Then you know what's expected of you."

And just like that, he walked past.

Y/n stood frozen for a moment, gripping her books so tightly her fingers hurt. Her breath came out shaky, her heart heavier than ever.

She turned and fled down the stairs, through the back entrance of the school, into the rain.

Taehyung found her twenty minutes later, curled up in the art room, surrounded by paintbrushes, canvases, and the chaos of color she usually hid from the world.

She didn't hear him come in.

Her blazer was soaked through, her hair plastered to her face. Her breathing was uneven.

"Park Y/n?"

She looked up. "What do you want?"

He didn't answer. He just stepped closer and reached into his bag, pulling out a towel.

"Here."

"I'm fine."

"You're shaking."

She pushed the towel away. "Don't pretend to care."

Taehyung sighed, sitting on the floor across from her.

"I'm not pretending. I just don't know how to show it."

She stared at him, eyes rimmed red.

"Why do you even try?"

He hesitated, then said softly, "Because I saw your father in that hallway too. And I know what it's like... to not be enough for them."

The room went still.

"I'm always enough," she snapped, voice cracking. "I have to be."

"No, you don't," he said. "You just think you do."

She turned away, but not before he saw the tear slide down her cheek.

For the first time, Taehyung didn't smirk. He didn't tease. He just watched her fall apart quietly, beautifully, like someone who had held it in too long.

And he sat there, letting her be imperfect. Just for a while.