As I sat there in the café, stealing glances at Jongyun and his friend, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that settled over me like a heavy cloak. They were engrossed in conversation, discussing something I had no inkling about. But what stung the most was the ease with which Jongyun seemed to open up to his new friend. He knew Jongyun's preference for black coffee, his favorite book, things I thought only I knew. And now, seeing them interact so comfortably, it felt like a dagger twisting in my chest.

I couldn't help but wonder what had transpired between them after they exchanged numbers the other day. The thought gnawed at me, churning my insides with a mix of jealousy and frustration. Despite my inner turmoil, I tried to remind myself that I should be happy for Jongyun, glad that he was making a new friend. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake off the feeling of resentment that bubbled up within me.

Every smile Jongyun directed at his friend, every touch, every shared laugh, it all grated on my nerves. I felt like an outsider looking in, watching as someone else took my place beside Jongyun. It was infuriating, maddening even. And as much as I tried to push those feelings aside, they only intensified with each passing moment.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I mustered up the courage to intervene. "Jongyun," I said bluntly, pulling his hand away from the counter, "we'll get late."

"Huh? Oh, yeah, let's go," Jongyun replied, snapping out of his conversation with his friend. He hastily grabbed the brown cover from the counter, shooting a quick apology to Sooyeong before following me out towards the bus stop.

As we walked side by side, the tension between us palpable, I couldn't shake off the lingering feeling of discomfort. What had just transpired in that café felt like a sharp knife against my skin, and I couldn't help but wonder what this feeling was.

As we boarded the bus, the tension between us was tangible, hanging thick in the air like a fog. Jongyun's concerned voice broke through my reverie, nudging my arm gently. "Oi, what's up with you all of a sudden?"

I remained silent, unable to articulate the tumult of emotions swirling inside me. He persisted, calling my name repeatedly until I finally mustered the courage to speak.

"I don't like it," I confessed, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

"Huh?" Jongyun's confusion was evident in his voice, his brow furrowing in puzzlement.

Before I could elaborate, the screech of the bus's tires interrupted our conversation, and the driver's loud honk urged us to hurry aboard. We bowed in unison to the driver before rushing onto the bus, oblivious to the other students clamoring to board behind us.

As we jostled for space in the crowded bus, Jongyun clutched onto my bag like a lifeline, his fingers wrapped tightly around the brown cover containing his coffee. It stung to see him holding onto it so dearly, a stark reminder of the connection he shared with his new friend.

In a moment of frustration and desperation, I pulled him closer to me, guiding his hand to the handrail and intertwining our fingers together. He glanced up at me, his expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity. Despite my inner turmoil, a small smirk tugged at the corners of my lips as I realized Jongyun stood a tad shorter than me. It was a fleeting moment of levity amidst the storm of emotions raging within me.

"Songjae," Jongyun began, his voice tentative as if he wanted to continue our interrupted conversation. I glanced down at him, meeting his gaze briefly before my attention drifted back to the brown cover clutched in his left hand. "So, what were you-" he started to say, but before he could finish, the bus driver hit the brakes with a sudden jolt.

Instinctively, I reached out, gripping Jongyun's shoulders tightly with one hand while my other hand held onto his as he grasped the handrail for support. The driver's angry voice pierced through the chaos, filled with frustration and expletives. "Hey, you! Watch where you're going! Children these days only stare at their phone screens even while walking! Do you want to die? Huh?!"

I swiftly plugged in my earbuds, drowning out the cacophony of the driver's tirade with music. It was my way of maintaining composure, of keeping my cool in front of others. Jongyun remained silent beside me, perhaps sensing that I was in no mood for conversation.

I knew Jongyun's behavior well, how he could oscillate between boldness and timidity depending on the situation. In moments of confrontation, like when Yuri bothered me in class, he could be surprisingly assertive. But now, amidst the crowd and chaos of the bus, he seemed more reserved, more like a timid puppy seeking comfort and reassurance.

As for me, when annoyance gripped me, it colored my perception of everything around me. In those moments, I became the one who was less rational, less composed. It was a dynamic between us, a subtle shift in our roles that emerged when emotions ran high.

The bus screeched to a halt once more, breaking the rhythm of our journey. With a resigned sigh, I watched as Jongyun turned his back to me, his determined stride carrying him towards the exit. Without hesitation, he leaped off the bus with a single bound, his destination clear in his mind. I hurriedly followed suit, unplugging my earbuds in the process.

"W-wait-" I began, but before I could finish, Jongyun silenced me with a soft "Shh."

Ah, there it was - his bolder side, the one that only a few, like Yunjin and myself, had the privilege to witness. I nodded in acknowledgment, falling into step beside him as we made our way towards the gate in silence. The weight of his unspoken command hung heavy in the air, and I dared not disturb it.

Soon, we arrived at the auditorium, the looming structure casting a shadow over us. The silence between us was suffocating, yet I knew better than to break it. When Jongyun was in this mood, his aura exuded a quiet intensity that made even the bravest hesitate to speak.

And so, I remained silent, allowing the tension to linger between us as we approached our destination. Despite the discomfort, I found solace in the familiarity of our dynamic - the unspoken understanding that sometimes, it was better to simply follow Jongyun's lead and wait for the storm to pass.

"Welcome, you beauties~" the club president exclaimed, bounding down the steps to greet us with open arms. Jongyun deftly lifted his right arm, saving the coffee from any mishaps as we exchanged hugs. With practiced ease, we transitioned into character, slipping seamlessly into our roles for today's scene. But as we stood there, surrounded by the bustling energy of the club, I couldn't shake the unease that gnawed at me from within.

"What do you want to talk about?" I inquired slowly, staying in character but feeling the weight of our recent conversation pressing down on me.

Jongyun's gaze bore into mine, his expression serious as he leaned in closer. "Look, if you keep being weird with me, it'll never work. Tell me, why did you say that?"

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat as I struggled to articulate the turmoil raging inside me. "Say what?" I stalled, hoping to buy myself some time.

"The thing about you hating it!" Jongyun pressed, his tone firm yet tinged with concern.

My resolve crumbled under his unwavering gaze, and the words spilled out before I could stop them, breaking out of character. "Because!" I exclaimed, unable to contain the torrent of emotions bubbling to the surface. "I just don't like the fact that you have a friend now."

Stop. Don't say anything more. You're not in character anymore. Stop yourself, Songjae! I admonished myself silently, but my mind and mouth seemed to have a will of their own.

Jongyun blinked, his expression unreadable as he processed my outburst. The weight of everyone's eyes on me only added to my discomfort as I continued to ramble, my words fueled by pent-up frustration and jealousy. "It's weird that you opened up to him! I thought you'd never do that to anyone. Although I know that time might come. I didn't want it to come so soon..."

Before I could dig myself into an even deeper hole, the president's voice cut through the tension. "Cut. Songjae, that was a good adlib," he praised, though there was a hint of concern in his tone. "But towards the end, it veered a little off script. Let's stick to the adlib in the beginning and expand on the script from there, okay?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of embarrassment settle over me like a heavy cloak. "Can we take a break?" Jongyun interjected almost immediately, his voice soft yet decisive. The president shrugged in acquiescence. "Sure, we'll get the makeup ready then."

Jongyun and I exchanged a silent glance, a silent agreement passing between us as we retreated from the spotlight, seeking refuge in the quiet sanctuary of a much-needed break.

Retreating backstage, I sank against the door, feeling the weight of embarrassment and frustration pressing down on me like a suffocating blanket. With a heavy sigh, I pulled my legs to my chest, burying my face in my hands in a feeble attempt to hide my shame.

"Songjae, what's wrong?" Jongyun's voice cut through the silence, filled with genuine concern.

"I'm embarrassed, of course," I mumbled, my voice muffled by my hands.

"Huh. What was that anyway?" he prodded gently, his curiosity evident in his tone.

"Nothing... just me being stupid," I muttered, unwilling to confront the whirlwind of emotions raging inside me.

"Tell me, Songjae," Jongyun persisted, his voice soft but insistent.

I remained silent, unable to find the words to articulate the storm of feelings churning inside me.

"You were talking about Sooyeong and me," he stated matter-of-factly. I looked up immediately, caught off guard by his astuteness. His gaze met mine briefly before he slid down to sit beside me, his presence comforting yet unnerving at the same time.

"Hit a nail?" he asked gently, his voice barely above a whisper.

I nodded in response, feeling a lump forming in my throat as I struggled to put my jumbled thoughts into words. "You know, Jongyun," I began hesitantly, "like I said, I don't like it. I don't like that you talk to him, smile at him, laugh with him. The fact that he knows everything about you... I don't like any of it. And the worst part is, I feel horrible. I feel horrible that I'm not happy about you making friends..."

As I poured out my conflicted emotions to him, Jongyun remained silent, his stoic demeanor unchanged. He didn't look at me, didn't offer any reassurance or comfort. And in that moment, the weight of my insecurities felt heavier than ever, as if I was drowning in a sea of my own making.