Next Morning – School Entrance
Jiho had a sixth sense for impending disaster.
This morning, that sense was screaming.
One millisecond after crossing the school gates, a human tornado named Kang Minjae descended.
"JIHOOOOOYA!"
The screech could probably shatter glass.
Before Jiho could activate his fight-or-flight response, a warm hand seized his wrist with the precision of a military operation.
No escape.
Minjae stood there, looking like he'd won some invisible lottery. His smile? Weaponized chaos.
"Good morning, baby," he purred, waggling his eyebrows with maximum dramatics.
Jiho's brain short-circuited. "W-WHAT?!"
"What?" Minjae tilted his head, eyes sparkling with pure, unfiltered mischief. "We're dating, aren't we?"
"We are NOT—" Jiho started to protest.
"Hmm?" Minjae leaned closer, cupping his ear dramatically. "What was that? I can't hear you over how cute you look when you're flustered."
Dating.
Fake dating.
EXTREMELY fake dating.
Across the courtyard, a familiar voice erupted like a volcanic explosion.
"OH MY GOD, DID HE JUST CALL YOU 'BABY'?!"
Seungwoo. Professional chaos enabler.
Minjae, completely unbothered, casually draped himself over Jiho like a human blanket. His arm wrapped around Jiho's shoulder with surgical precision, leaning in close enough that Jiho could count his eyelashes.
"Aw, are you shy?" Minjae teased, squeezing Jiho's shoulder and punctuating each word with maximum theatrical flair.
"I'm not shy," Jiho hissed through gritted teeth. "I'm plotting your murder."
"That's so romantic," Minjae replied with a dreamy sigh. "I love it when you talk dirty to me."
"That wasn't—" Jiho's face turned scarlet. "You're impossible!"
Jiho's survival instincts kicked in. Murder was definitely an option. Specifically, murdering one Kang Minjae.
Seungwoo's face fell instantly. "Seriously?! I can't believe this... This is a disaster."
"Why is it a disaster?" Minjae called out to Seungwoo, still clinging to Jiho. "Are you jealous?"
"NO!" Seungwoo shouted back. "I'm traumatized!"
"I will end you," Jiho muttered under his breath, directing the threat at Minjae.
"Promises, promises," Minjae whispered back with a wink.
And then because the universe was a cruel, unforgiving place Minjae struck.
With the precision of a seasoned actor and the audacity of a born menace, he leaned in, his lips brushing against Jiho's cheek in a featherlight kiss.
Soft. Warm. Infuriatingly gentle.
Jiho felt the exact moment his brain short-circuited. His breath hitched. His body tensed. His heart—traitorous and completely unhelpful—slammed against his ribs as if trying to break free.
"Minjae," Jiho whispered, his voice barely audible. "What are you doing?"
"Acting natural," Minjae replied softly, his breath warm against Jiho's skin. "Isn't that what we agreed on?"
Minjae pulled back just an inch, just enough to meet Jiho's wide, horrified eyes. His own gaze gleamed with mischief, but there was something else too—something dangerously soft, something that made Jiho's skin burn where Minjae's lips had just been.
"You are so cute," Minjae murmured, voice lower now, teasing yet almost affectionate. His head tilted slightly, as if savoring Jiho's reaction.
"Stop saying that," Jiho managed to choke out.
"Why? It's true." Minjae's thumb brushed against Jiho's wrist where he was still holding him. "Your ears are turning red."
Jiho couldn't move.
His ears roared with the sound of Seungwoo's shriek.
The whispers. The gasps. The entire school watching.
And Minjae?
Minjae looked like he had just found his new favorite hobby driving Han Jiho to the brink of insanity.
"This is just the beginning," Minjae whispered, so quiet only Jiho could hear. "Hope you're ready."
Jiho was going to kill him.
…Right after he figured out how to start breathing again.
---
After School – The Corridor of Confrontation
The final bell rang, and Jiho was exhausted.
He just wanted to go home, take a long shower, and erase Minjae from his brain.
As he walked down the corridor, rubbing his temples—
"Hey! Han Jiho!"
Jiho heard the voice.
But he didn't look back.
Instead, he kept walking.
Big mistake.
A few seconds later—
BANG!
Jiho was shoved against the wall.
Hard.
A strong hand grabbed his shoulder. Another one pressed against his neck.
Jiho sucked in a sharp breath.
Three boys.
The school's worst bullies.
And the one pinning him?
Jang Hyunwoo.
Tall, broad-shouldered, and mean as hell.
Hyunwoo clicked his tongue, tilting his head. "Oh dear, Han Jiho, did you just ignore me?"
Jiho clenched his fists. He wasn't scared.
He was tired.
He was so damn tired.
So this time instead of staying quiet—
He glared right at Hyunwoo and muttered, "No, I did it on purpose."
Silence.
Hyunwoo's eyes widened just slightly—before dark amusement flickered across his face.
"Oh? Did you really, now?"
"Yeah," Jiho said, his voice steady despite the hand on his throat. "I don't have time for whatever this is."
"You don't have time?" One of Hyunwoo's friends laughed. "Listen to this guy."
Jiho swallowed, feeling the pressure on his neck increase slightly.
Hyunwoo leaned in, their faces just inches apart. His lips curled.
"You're really confident, huh? You're a cocky little brat, aren't you?" His voice dropped lower. "Maybe I should teach you a lesson."
"Go ahead," Jiho said quietly, meeting his gaze. "But you'll have to explain to everyone why you're picking on someone half your size."
"Half my size?" Hyunwoo's grip tightened. "You've got a mouth on you."
"It's called having a backbone," Jiho replied. "You should try it sometime."
Jiho didn't look away.
But his eyes burned.
Tears of frustration.
Tears of anger.
Because no matter how much he wanted to fight back—
He couldn't.
He couldn't even protect himself.
Hyunwoo's fingers twitched slightly on Jiho's neck, his gaze locked on Jiho's face.
And for a split second—
Just a split second—
There was hesitation.
Because Hyunwoo was thinking something strange.
How is a boy this beautiful even real?
He was stunned. Jiho wasn't just cute—he was breathtaking. More delicate, more striking than anyone Hyunwoo had ever seen. The way his long lashes trembled, the way his soft lips parted slightly in defiance—Hyunwoo almost forgot what he was doing.
I get it now, Kang Minjae. This kid—he's special, isn't he?
"You know what?" Hyunwoo said suddenly, his voice strangely quiet. "I think I understand the appeal now."
"What?" Jiho blinked, confused by the sudden change in tone.
Hyunwoo smirked. "I see, I see how it is."
He loosened his grip on Jiho's shoulder slightly, but his dark eyes stayed locked on him.
"Alright then," he whispered, his fingers brushing against Jiho's skin. "I'll make sure you never ignore me again."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jiho asked, but his voice came out smaller than he intended.
"You'll find out," Hyunwoo replied, stepping back just enough to let Jiho breathe properly. "See you around, Jiho-ya."
Jiho sucked in a breath.
He was in trouble.
Big trouble.
---