JIAH POV
"Mind your business," he says coolly. "Baek Jiho."
What the fuck???
That is my first coherent thought. Loud. Violent. Echoing.
I stare at Enhyeok's side profile, at the way his jaw barely moves when he speaks, like he didn't just drop a verbal grenade in the middle of the hallway. My arm is still in his grip, fingers wrapped around my wrist like I'm a misbehaving object he refuses to put down.
Is he serious right now?
Jiho doesn't laugh this time.
The hallway feels smaller suddenly. Too bright. Too quiet. Even the sink water feels loud behind us, dripping like it's judging the situation.
Jiho looks at Enhyeok. Enhyeok looks back.
No words. Just that weird, heavy eye-contact thing guys do when they're measuring something invisible. Ego. Territory. I don't know. I hate it.
Jiho straightens a little. Not aggressive. Just firm. "I am doing my business, Enhyeok. I said I'll take her to the nurse."
My heart does that stupid thing again. Because of course it does. Because Jiho saying my name like that still messes with my brain chemistry.
Enhyeok's lips curve. Just slightly.
"Oh?" he says.
That's it. Just one syllable. And somehow it pisses me off more than the swearing earlier.
I nudge Enhyeok with my elbow, subtle but urgent, and mouth, let go.
He doesn't even glance at me.
My jaw tightens. Fine. Louder then.
I look up at him and mouth again, sharper this time. What's your problem? Let go, you bastard.
This time, he looks.
Really looks.
His eyes meet mine and hold there, steady and unreadable. No anger. No jealousy. Just this calm, unmovable presence that makes my chest feel weirdly tight, like I'm the one being unreasonable for wanting him to release me.
It lasts one second too long.
Then he lets go.
Just like that.
His hand drops from my wrist, the warmth gone so suddenly it almost throws me off balance. I stumble half a step forward and Jiho immediately reaches out, careful, not grabbing, just hovering like he's asking permission with his body language.
Enhyeok doesn't say anything else.
He turns around, already pulling his gloves off, already done with this whole thing. His back is straight, shoulders relaxed, like none of this mattered. Like I didn't matter.
He walks back toward the lab doors without looking back.
The door swings open. Closes.
Gone.
I blink.
Jiho exhales, the tension melting out of his shoulders. He smiles, small but real, and yeah—it hits. Of course it does. I hate that it does.
"Come on," he says gently. "Let's get you to the nurse."
I nod, suddenly very aware of how exposed my arm feels without Enhyeok's grip there. Which is stupid. It's just a hand. I wanted him to let go. I got what I wanted.
Jiho walks beside me, matching my pace. Not pulling. Not rushing. Victorious in that quiet way that makes my stomach flutter.
I sneak a glance back once.
The lab door stays shut.
ENHYEOK POV
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Are you fucking insane, Enhyeok?
That's the first thing that hits me the second the lab door closes behind me.
The hallway noise cuts off. The air changes. My hand still feels warm, like my brain hasn't caught up to the fact that I let go. I walk without looking back because if I do, I'll lose my grip on whatever logic I had left.
Why did I do that?
No. Wrong question.
Why did I say it like that?
Mind your business. Baek Jiho.
I drag my gloves off, fingers flexing, jaw tight. It wasn't about Seo Jiah. Not like that. I don't suddenly care. I don't suddenly want to play hero. This isn't some stupid jealousy thing people would love to label it as.
It's Jiho.
It's always been Jiho.
The way he rejected her. Calm. Polite. Public. Over and over again. Like feelings are homework you can return untouched and still get praised for being "nice about it." He never meant to hurt her, sure. But intent doesn't erase humiliation.
You don't get to stand there now with concern on your face like you didn't watch her bleed pride in front of half the school.
That's what pissed me off.
Not her. Him.
And yeah, I said I'd take her to the nurse because it was my fault. Because I was holding the bottle. Because I should've moved faster. That part is simple. Clean. Logical.
She made it messy.
Of course she did.
Fighting me. Swearing. Trying to yank away just to go with him. Like pain suddenly doesn't matter if Baek Jiho offers his hand.
Stupid.
I slow when I reach the lab door, exhaling through my nose before pushing it open.
The noise crashes back in. Clinking glass. Low chatter. Ms. Kim talking about safety protocols like nothing happened.
She looks up. "Where's Seo Jiah?"
Every head turns to me.
"At the nurse's office," I say evenly.
That's it. No details. No emotion.
I go back to my station, re-gloving, checking the setup like my hands weren't shaking five minutes ago. Taehyung watches me from the corner of his eye but doesn't say anything. Smart.
Haerin does.
"Why did you leave her alone?" she asks quietly, brows knit. "You should've gone with her."
I pause for half a second.
"She went with Baek Jiho," I say.
The air shifts.
Taehyung's head snaps up. "With Jiho?"
I hum. Noncommittal. Accurate.
Haerin's face changes instantly. Her worry dissolves into something bright and excited, like she just got spoilers confirmed. She bites her lip, smiling, and I already regret saying anything.
Taehyung leans closer to me and whispers, "Then Jiho must be starting to catch feelings for Jiah."
I measure the liquid carefully before answering.
"I think so," I say.
Because logically, that's what it looks like. People don't step in like that for no reason. They don't hover, don't offer help, don't look conflicted unless something's shifted.
Good for her.
I focus back on the experiment. Adjust the clamp. Note the color change.
Cold. Controlled. Back where I belong.
Whatever that was outside?
Doesn't matter.
I don't feel anything.
And that's exactly how it should be.
_________________
JIAH POV
The nurse wraps my arm like she's packaging fragile glass, layers and layers, and I keep nodding like I'm listening even though my heart is beating so loud it's embarrassing. The sting fades into this warm throb, manageable. Not nothing, but not enough to ruin the moment.
Jiho stands near the door, hands in his pockets, rocking on his heels like he's waiting for a bus. He glances over every few seconds. Not obvious. Just enough.
I hop off the bed and flex my fingers. "I'm good," I say. "I swear my skin just wanted attention."
He laughs. Actually laughs. Soft, surprised, like it slipped out. "You're… fine joking?"
"Always," I say. "Pain builds character or whatever."
We step into the hallway together. The nurse tells us to be careful. Jiho thanks her. Of course he does. The hallway smells like disinfectant and afternoon sun through windows, and my heart starts acting stupid again. Fast. Loud. Like it's trying to escape my ribcage.
This feels nice. Too nice. The kind of nice that makes you want to punch something just in case it disappears.
We walk side by side, slow, matching steps without trying. My arm swings a little too much. I notice. I don't fix it.
Jiho breaks the silence. "Why did Enhyeok act like that earlier?"
I almost trip.
I laugh, awkward and automatic. "Him? Oh. Nothing. No particular reason." I wave my good hand. "He's just… like that. Kinda crazy, that's all."
Jiho hums, thoughtful. "It was my first time seeing him like that. It was… scary. Surprising, though."
"Right?" I say quickly. "Surprising. He's usually allergic to emotions."
Jiho chuckles again, quieter this time. Then he looks at me, really looks, head tilted like he's about to ask something dangerous.
"Do you think he likes you?"
I freeze so hard my soul disconnects from my body.
"No way," I blurt, way too loud, echoing down the hallway.
Jiho's eyebrows shoot up.
I cringe. "I mean—no. No way he likes me." I laugh again, smaller, rushed. "Maybe he hates me. That's more realistic. And he already has a girlfriend. Actually. It's Areum. You know that."
Jiho smiles, amused. "Yeah. I know. I was just teasing you."
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "God. Don't do that."
We reach the stairs. He slows, walking backward a step. "Does it hurt now?"
I glance at my arm, wrapped and slightly ridiculous. "No. It's fine. Honestly."
"Good." He smiles, warm and easy, like this is normal. Like we do this all the time.
"Jiah"
I stop.
"Yes?"
Then, casual. Too casual.
"Do you wanna go to an amusement park with me?"
I stop.
Amusement park?
With Jiho?
JIHO?
A date?