Thanks everyone for the support enjoy

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Hairi's first day back at school after the weekend was unusually tense. It is because of having Jiwon in the picture again felt like walking on eggshells. She wants nothing to do with him not after what happened. In her previous timeline, he was her fiancé, a man she once trusted with her heart before his betrayal shattered her into a million pieces. Now, he was just another high school student in this strange new reality, a cruel twist of fate she had yet to figure out.

In the original timeline, she and Jiwon transferred together to the same school, but for some reason he is here. Hairi does not want to make the same mistake of letting Jiwon be in her life in this timeline, thinking she could avoid him and keep her distance. She hoped their lives could somehow run parallel without intersecting. But Jiwon had other ideas.

She remembered she was in the new school with him and we became close in the original timeline. Maybe I change the timeline so that he never transfers with me at the same time. Maybe this is my price of changing the past, or maybe we were met to be closer than friends.

"Hairi," his familiar voice called from down the hallway, instantly sending a shiver down her spine.

Hairi walked straight into the classroom and moved toward her desk while pretending not to hear him. Sliding into her seat, she buried her head in her notebook, scribbling random lines of poetry she had no intention of finishing. Maybe if she looked busy, he'd get the hint and leave her alone. Just maybe.

But the sound of approaching footsteps crushed that hope.

"Hairi," Jiwon said again, now standing right beside her desk.

It was him. Past him where he is still innocent, just an 18-year-old boy. He was the same as ever, but I can't get that he betrayed me in the future.

Curiosity brought together the few students at the front who gazed in their direction, and now the heavy stares rested on her.

Inwardly sighing, Hairi pasted on a polite smile as she looked up. "What is it, Jiwon?".

"I thought we could talk," he said, his voice low and earnest, the traditional way it used to be when he wanted something from her.

The pen pressure gave in as Hairi tightened her grip on it. The last thing she needed was a confrontation with that guy, much more so with an audience. She looked around, and succumbed to raised eyebrows and murmurs. "Jiwon you want to talk to me, this place people are staring?" she replied, her tone clipped.

Jiwon looked at her, his eyes searching into hers. "Then meet me after school," he suggested, his tone making it clear he wouldn't take no for an answer.

Hairi nodded reluctantly, but Jiwon had just turned away when she had decided that there would be no meeting with him after the last bell rang.

While dodging Jiwon at every chance, Hairi spent the rest of the day on high alert. By lunchtime, she was feeling a little defeated.

"Who's that guy you keep having to avoid?" Sehun asked through a mouthful of sandwich, sitting with him at the cafeteria.

"No one," Hairi said quickly to avoid diving into the tangled mess of her past with Jiwon.

Sehun raised an eyebrow. "Don't look like no one." He's staring at her again. Hairi groaned, fighting the urge to turn and look. "Let's just go eat at the rooftop. Please."

Sehun laughed, but they went to their usual spot on the rooftop. The open air and gentle breeze breathed in some much-needed calm.

"You know," Sehun began, leaning against the railing, "if you want me to 'accidentally' spill juice on that guy, just say the word."

Hairi burst out laughing. "As tempting as that sounds, I think I'll manage."

The final bell rang, signalling the end of the school day, and Hairi moved quickly to gather her things. She wanted to slip out unnoticed, but as soon as she stepped into the hallway, there he was.

"Hairi," Jiwon said, his tall frame blocking her path.

She cursed under her breath, gripping the strap of her bag. "Jiwon, I don't have time-"

"Why are you avoiding me?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

Hairi felt a surge of frustration bubbling up. "I'm not avoiding you," she lied.

"You've been dodging me all day," he said, stepping closer, his tone laced with irritation.

"Maybe that's because I don't have anything to say to you, Jiwon," Hairi snapped, her voice firmer now. "We're not friends. Whatever you're trying to do, just stop."

His face fell, and for a moment, Hairi almost felt guilty. But then she remembered the sting of his betrayal in the other timeline, and her resolve hardened.

Before Jiwon could respond, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Hairi, everything okay here?"

Hairi turned to see Sehun walking toward them, his calm yet protective presence instantly putting her at ease.

"Everything's fine," Hairi said quickly, grateful for the interruption.

Sehun stopped beside her, hands casually tucked into his pockets, but his sharp gaze flickered between her and Jiwon. "Doesn't look fine," he said, lightness in his tone, yet an undercurrent of steel running underneath.

Jiwon raised an eyebrow, his attention shifting to Sehun. "And you are?"

"Sehun," he replied simply, voice even but firm.

Hairi watched as Jiwon sized Sehun up, his expression unreadable.

"Well," Jiwon said finally, his voice taut, "this doesn't concern you."

Sehun shrugged, his posture loose but unmovable. "Maybe not. But if Hairi doesn't want to talk to you, I think you should respect that."

Hairi's heart stuttered at the quiet protectiveness in Sehun's tone, her chest suddenly filled with a wave of warmth in the face of all the tension.

Jiwon's jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he turned back to Hairi, his expression hard to read. "We'll talk later," he said before walking away.

As soon as he disappeared around the corner, Hairi let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.

"Thanks," she said, looking up at Sehun.

"Anytime," he replied, his gaze softening. "You okay?"

She nodded, her pulse still racing. "Yeah. I'm fine."

"Good," Sehun replied, his lips quirking into a small smile. "But if he bothers you again, let me know."

Hairi smiled back, tension easing from her shoulders. "I will."

They started off together, the awkwardness of the moment melting into a comfortable silence.

"You didn't have to do that, you know," Hairi said after a while. "Step in, I mean."

Sehun just looked at her, his eyes warm with emotion, and said, "I know. But I wanted to."

At that, Hairi's cheeks turned light pink, and she quickly looked away, a small smile tugging at her lips. For the first time that day, she felt a sense of peace, a reminder that no matter how complicated her life had become, she wasn't facing it alone.

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