The next day, Dove, Megan, and Hyejin are sitting in their usual spot at lunch, the hum of chatter and clattering trays filling the air around them. It's a familiar comfort, something Dove can hold onto after yesterday's chaos, but there's still an undercurrent of tension. She notices Hyejin's distracted mood, her fingers nervously tapping on the edge of her tray.
"Something on your mind?" Dove asks, trying to break the silence.
Hyejin looks up quickly, her eyes flicking around the cafeteria like she's searching for something-or someone. And then, almost as if the air shifts, Dove sees the way Hyejin stiffens. She glances over her shoulder, and that's when she spots Kitty, walking toward their table with a look of determination in her eyes.
Hyejin jolts in her seat, eyes widening slightly, and she begins to slide out of her chair, looking like she's about to bolt.
But before she can even get halfway up, Kitty's voice cuts through the noise of the cafeteria.
"Hyejin," she calls, her tone sharp but calm, like she's not going to let her get away. "I need to have a word with you."
Hyejin freezes mid-movement, her hand still gripping the edge of the chair. Dove watches as Hyejin's face tightens, her lips pressed into a thin line. There's something in her eyes-fear? Anxiety? Dove can't quite place it, but it's enough to make her heart skip a beat.
Kitty's standing there now, waiting for Hyejin to respond, her gaze never leaving her. "It's important," she adds, a hint of insistence in her voice.
Megan and Dove exchange a look, both silently wondering if this was about the kiss Hyejin and Kitty shared at the party, but neither one of them says anything. Hyejin's already tense, and neither of them wants to make it worse.
Dove's
Megan and I exchange a glance, and I can tell she's sensing the weight in the air. Neither of us says anything as we stand up and quietly slip away from the table. Hyejin's already turned in on herself, her eyes fixed on Kitty, and I don't want to intrude, so we make our way down the hallway, both of us walking in silence.
I feel a little lighter once we're away from the tense scene, but there's still a knot in my stomach. I don't know why, but it's like my mind can't stop replaying the way Dae always looks at me and the way Dae looked yesterday, the way he was so closed off-but also how, in the quiet, he let me in. How he let me ease his tension without a word.
It was strange, but... right. I'd been feeling something lately... like my heart was gonna explode whenever I saw Dae. But I wasn't sure... I wasn't sure if it was love or just... a stupid little crush.
I take a deep breath, trying to shake it off, but Megan's eyes catch mine, and I know she can tell something's off.
She doesn't wait for me to say anything. she just raises an eyebrow. "What's going on with you and Dae?"
I blink, surprised at the question, but her expression is so casual that I can't help but chuckle a little, though it feels more nervous than anything.
"What do you mean?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light, but I can feel my cheeks heating up.
"You've been weird around him lately." Megan's tone is teasing, but I can hear the curiosity behind it. "You're always looking at him like he's... more than just your friend."
I can feel the heat creeping up my neck, and I turn my eyes to the floor to avoid her gaze. "I don't know," I admit quietly. "It's just... sometimes I feel like he's there for me, you know? Like when I'm around him, it's like-everything else fades away. But then he gets all distant, and I don't know what to think. It's confusing."
Megan doesn't say anything for a moment. she just watches me carefully, her lips pursed. I think she's weighing her words. Finally, she says, "You're into him, aren't you?"
I swallow hard, my heart skipping a beat. "I.... honestly... don't know," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know what it is, but... when I'm with him, it's like... he makes me feel things I didn't know I could feel. But at the same time, he's so closed off, like he doesn't want anyone getting too close."
Megan slows her walk, falling into step beside me, and there's something soft in her gaze. "Dove, sometimes guys don't know how to open up. Especially when they're... well, when they're scared."
I glance up at her, feeling a small weight lift off my shoulders. "But I don't want to force him to open up if he's not ready. I just... don't know how to be around him sometimes."
She smiles, nudging my shoulder with hers. "You don't have to have it all figured out. Just be there for him. And for yourself. Don't overthink it, okay?"
I nod, though I'm not sure I completely believe it. But her words, simple as they are, give me something to hold onto. The truth is, being around Dae makes my heart race in a way I didn't expect. And as much as I want to figure it out, I know I can't rush it. But the feeling's there, and it's real.
And right now, that's enough.
As we round the corner, still deep in conversation, I hear it-Dae's voice, loud and urgent - calling my name.
"Dove!"
I turn just in time to see him sprinting down the hallway toward us, his steps quick, almost frantic. His hair's a little messy, and his face is flushed from running, but there's a sense of urgency in his eyes that makes my heart skip a beat.
Megan must notice it too because she shoots me a curious look, but she doesn't say anything, just watches Dae as he reaches us, winded but determined.
"Dove," he pants again, stopping just in front of me. He looks around, like he's making sure no one else is nearby, before speaking again, his words tumbling out in a rush. "The singing competition... it was supposed to be next week, right? Well, it got rescheduled-" He pauses for a breath, as if he's still trying to catch up with himself. "It's this Saturday."
I blink, processing the information. The competition was a big deal, and it had felt so far off, like we had plenty of time to prepare. But now, with just a few days to get ready, everything changes.
"This Saturday?" I echo, a little breathless myself now. "But that's-"
"I know," Dae interrupts quickly, like he's already anticipating the panic that's building in my chest. "I don't know why they moved it up, but I just found out and wanted to make sure you knew."
I'm silent for a moment, the weight of the announcement settling over me. Saturday... that's so soon. I was barely ready, and now there's so much more pressure.
-ËËââââââââââââââââââââ
Oh gosh... Dove potentially liking Dae? But she seems unsure. Is her heart manipulating her and playing a trick on her again, or is it real?
Omg, also the competition ð