>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

"Nayeon!! Do you see him? He looks cute right?" a ten-year-old Seunghee eagerly tells her during P.E. class. She's sitting with her at a corner in the school gym.

Seunghee is pointing at the boy playing basketball, their classmate. Nayeon, also ten years old, pouts at her and sulks. Seunghee faces her worried.

"Why, what's wrong Nayeon?"

"It's not fair. I liked him first. I just didn't tell you."

Seunghee smiles at her friend and hugs her. "What are you saying? It's not like he's exclusive for me? We can like him together."

She lets go saying, "Really?" her face lightening up at her response.

"Yeah, why not?" she smiles genuinely at her.

She hugs her tightly and tells her, "Thank you Seunghee!"

Seunghee is all smiles at her, her closest friend for four years.

Nayeon opens her eyes and lifts her hand over her forehead. She has just woken up from the nostalgic dream that happened in fourth grade. The first time she and Seunghee had a crush on the same boy. It wasn't Jeonghan. However, it feels the same. Right now, she's ashamed and guilty of betraying her closest friend. But she doesn't want to turn back. In fact, she doesn't know how to anymore. Her longing for him is greater than her friendship with her. It's completely messed up, she knows. When they, Seunghee and Jeonghan, love each other. But if she doesn't give it her all, she might end up regretting even more. Even if they all have to go all through this mess because of her, it will leave her no regrets in the future.

She covers her eyes with the back of her hand and murmurs, "I'm sorry Seunghee..."

She'll be on her final move soon. It'll be the end of their friendship whether she succeeds or not. But it's the best path for her. For the serenity of her brittle heart.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

It's only a few minutes after their instrument class and Seunghee, Jeonghan, Jisoo and Seungcheol are chilling out in the room for a while.

"Are you done with your preparations?" Seunghee asks the three.

Jisoo replies, "My group mates are taking it easy. Maybe they'll rush it up after midterms."

"I don't care. If they don't wanna play, I'll do it myself. We'll do it right Jisoo?" Seungcheol assures.

"Yeah, it's probably better than group work," Jisoo answers.

"Can I just be in your group? I don't really like our concept. It's pretty lame," Jeonghan complains to Seunghee.

"Tell that to your group leader, not to me," Seunghee tells him.

"Ah, I'll just take a walk guys. You coming Jisoo?" Seungcheol asks.

"Yah, sure," Jisoo replies.

The two guys stand up and pace out of the room, leaving the lovers alone at their seats.

Jeonghan scans his notes and hums something. It sounds new, Seunghee presumes it's the song he's writing with Nayeon and puts a hard expression on her face.

"Is that the song?" she inquires.

"Yeah. It only lacks the bridge part. But it's gonna be all good after a few days," he answers.

"Are you meeting Nayeon in the library again today?"

"Hm..." he nods at her.

She looks down on her phone and types something with a hint of evident annoyance showing up. Jeonghan have been noticing that she hasn't been meeting with Nayeon this past week. And her expression or tone when talking about her seems a bit aloof. Unlike her previous perky feel every time she shares things about her, she's turned a bit apathetic now.

"Is there a problem?"

"What problem?"

"With Nayeon."

"Nothing. Why should I have a problem with her?"

"Your face shows you do."

"I don't. She's my friend and you're my boyfriend. There's nothing wrong about it."

He chuckles somehow, "I get it. You're jealous."

"Agh, I'm not! I don't have to be."

"Yah, and why would you? You're the one who set this up, don't you remember?"

"I do, and I told you I'm not jealous okay? So just drop it."

"Alright, alright! I give up. You're not. End of story."

"Yah, end of story."

But she's still on bad mood. He only shuts up because he doesn't want to make the matter worse. He will be in a bad position if she continuously feels that way and he doesn't want that. He just has to finish the song with Nayeon out of courtesy. That way they can go back to their normal routines. And for him to get his distance back from Nayeon.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Seungcheol is the type who gives up easily once rejected. But this time, it's different. He doesn't care about that now. Everything turned around the moment she appeared in his life. Like in a split second, she has him in the palm of her hands. He doesn't admit it, but he's really head over heels in love with this girl. Since that night at the spring inn, thoughts surge in his mind only to please her, only to make her recognize him, only to win her heart.

So persistently, even if she pushes him away again for the third time, or for the fourth time, or for the nth time over and over again, he will come to her, until he wins her over. That's his resolved. And he'll put it into action.

He tails her again after his last class. He knows about her schedule somehow. Her second to the last class for the day has just ended. And there he is, waiting for her to pass him by at the corridors. He knows she'll see him right away cuz he's the first one she'll see the moment she goes out of the front door. And she does. But she sneers at him and get past him in a hurry.

"You again? When will you lay off?" she irritably utters.

"I'm sorry, I'm persistent so I think you just have to bear with me."

"I don't have to."

She walks away from him but he follows her. He's acting like a puppy now. The confident, arrogant Seungcheol slowly fading away. All because of this girl.

"Hey. I just want to hang out. Like that first night. Didn't you enjoy my company? You had a nice time didn't you?"

"I didn't." She stops on her tracks and faces him head on right now. With a straight and heartless face, she tells him. "I never did enjoy a single second being with you. I was just being nice because you're Seunghee's friend. But I don't ever wanna hang out with you again. You're wasting my time. I don't need to be friends with someone like you."

She's so annoyed at him she had to be the harshest person she can be in front of him. She's so focused in getting Jeonghan that she has no time playing with someone like him.

He's taken aback. Never did any girl told him off as cruelly as she did. He doesn't even know how to react.

"Well, I'm sorry. But I'm glad I'm Seunghee's friend you get to be pleasant with me even for a moment there."

She can't believe he still has the nerve to talk positively back at her after what she said. He's one tough guy to deal with. She sighs and turns her back at him.

"Don't you follow me again. Or I'll report you for nuisance."

She walks away and he doesn't go after her anymore. Somehow, his pride takes over for a while. He'll do anything to win her, but maybe he needs a little break for the mean time. Now that she's this unyielding to him, maybe he needs to give her some time to refresh.

He sighs as he stares at her go. It still stings though but he won't give up. Eventually, he'll take over her comfort zone. He believes in it.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

It still irritates Seunghee. Every time Nayeon and Jeonghan talks about anything at all, it makes her tick. She doesn't want to let this jealousy invade her system. She doesn't want Nayeon to think that she's being judgmental when she hasn't really done anything wrong. She berates herself for thinking too much when it comes to Jeonghan for the first time. Not with her friend, she trusts her and she knows she can't betray her. There's no reason for her to be this cynical.

But Jeonghan is thinking otherwise. Maybe there really is something about Nayeon that Seunghee has to be wary of. He can tell himself, that girl is up to something. And it's probably no good.

On the other hand, Nayeon is decided. It's been two months she came here. She hasn't proven anything. Not a thing at all. Aside from Seungcheol showing up more often than usual in front of her, she hasn't reached Jeonghan at all. He's all about Seunghee and it sucks. Her self-esteem is faltering and downgrading fast. She didn't come here to get beaten. She came here to win him. No matter what or when or how. It's time for her final act.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

It's the last day for Nayeon and Jeonghan's work on the song. During the end of fourth period, she sends him a message after class. She wants him to go into one of the practice booths for their final rehearsal. Her message states, I got permission to use one the practice booths. Can you come to practice room 303 at fifth period? I wish we could finalize the song today. Btw, I told Seunghee so she knows about it. He's in his class with Jisoo and Seungcheol. And he notes that she said in her message that she told Seunghee about it. So he probably don't have to tell her himself. Seunghee is at her other class and it's at the other building.

"I'll go ahead guys. We're at the finishing touches of the song. I think Nayeon's going for the win. She's finally serious about this," Jeonghan utters.

"We're not gonna fall back with that challenge," Seungcheol answers.

"Watch out for us on D-day," Jisoo adds.

"Yah, whatever guys. See yah," Jeonghan bids and walks away.

Jeonghan calmly paces his way out of the room not knowing of the peril awaiting him.

When Jeonghan is out of the view, Seungcheol displays a very big frown on his face. Jisoo pats him on the shoulder to soothe him. Seems like Jisoo is the only one who knows about Seungcheol's situation.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Meanwhile, Seunghee feels uneasy. She's still in her class and it ends a few more minutes later. Then she receives a sms from Nayeon. She reads it silently and it says, "-Will you come to the practice room 303 after your class? There's something I wanna show you.-" Seunghee gladly replies her, wondering what that something is, "-Sure. I'll be there.-" Clueless of the surprise, Seunghee brushes away her uneasiness and look forward to meeting Nayeon later.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

Jeonghan finally reaches the room, opens the door and finds Nayeon standing by the window, with a blanket all over her body, covering her from head to toe.

"Nayeon?" he asks as he comes in and closing the door.

Nayeon turns to him and simply smiles at him, innocently. "Jeonghan, you're early. It's perfect."

Jeonghan places down his things and goes over her, pondering why she has the blanket, "Why do you have that? The blanket. What's the matter?"

She laughs nervously for once, "Just my concentration technique."

"Really? I never thought you have this strange side. But setting that aside why don't we start now?"

He attempts to go over the piano when Nayeon grabs his arms and steps closer to him. He's stunned instantly.

"What are you doing Nayeon?"

"I like you Jeonghan."

She stares directly into his eyes not batting an eyelash when she says that. Her face is so serious it can kill. But Jeonghan has to take a step back. This is what he doesn't want to happen.

"Is this part of your concentration too?" he chuckles and takes her hands off him.

But Nayeon doesn't let go, she follows his steps and gazes at him making Jeonghan feel uncomfortable. And then suddenly, she tiptoes, grabs his face and kisses him. He's too shocked to react but he manages to hold her arms and shove her away, still caring not to hurt her. But instead of moving her, she doesn't budge. She drops the blanket and what comes to view is something mind-boggling. She's almost naked, only in her underwear. It's a desperate move. And a despicable one too. It's something he never expected.

Jeonghan is startled that he stumbles and she drops on top of him. If that is not enough tension, at that same time, the door opens and someone walks in. Jeonghan's troubles boost big time. He wishes it isn't true. The person who walks in is Seunghee and she just witnessed something she shouldn't have. Nayeon is all over Jeonghan in her underwear sealing his lips with a kiss, with his hands on her arms.

>>>>>>>>>><<<<<<<<<<

To be continued...

(16.06.21)