Hana tried not to think about it.
She tried to act normal.
She tried to pretend that the way Min-jae looked at her in the hallway didn't make her heart flutter.
But it was hard.
Every time she saw him, she felt like her chest was about to burst.
And today was worse.
Because today, she wasn't the only one noticing.
The student council room was quiet.
Too quiet.
Hana sat at the desk, organizing files, while Min-jae worked silently across from her.
Seo Yuri was not there today.
But Hana could feel her presence.
It was like a shadow.
Like a cold breeze that didn't belong in a warm room.
Hana tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting.
Why is Min-jae always so calm?
Why does he always seem to know what I need?
Why do I feel like I'm the only one who can see him like this?
Then she heard the soft sound of a door opening.
And her heart stopped.
Yuri walked in.
She smiled at Min-jae.
Then she turned her gaze to Hana.
"Ah, so you're still here," Yuri said sweetly.
Hana forced a smile. "Yes, ma'am."
Yuri walked closer.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, but her smile never changed.
"You're working hard," she said. "Good."
Hana nodded. "Thank you."
Yuri's gaze moved to Min-jae.
"And you," she said, "you should take better care of your assistant."
Min-jae looked at her calmly. "She's fine."
Yuri's smile widened.
"Of course she is," she said, her voice soft but sharp. "But I don't want her to be… distracted."
Hana's stomach twisted.
"Distracted?" she repeated.
Yuri looked directly at Hana.
"You're working with Min-jae," she said. "It's only natural to develop feelings."
Hana's cheeks heated up.
"I don't—" she started, but Yuri interrupted.
"Oh, I know you don't understand yet," Yuri said, smiling. "But you will."
Hana didn't like the way Yuri said that.
She didn't like the way she sounded like she owned Min-jae.
She didn't like the way she looked at him like he was hers.
That evening, Hana stayed late.
She was finishing a task Min-jae had given her.
The room was empty except for them.
The lights were dim.
The air was quiet.
Hana's heart was pounding.
She could hear her own breath.
Min-jae sat across from her, working silently.
"Done?" he asked softly.
Hana nodded. "Yes."
He stood up.
"Good job."
Hana smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest.
Then she heard something outside the window.
A voice.
A soft, familiar voice.
"Hana."
She turned.
Standing outside the student council room was Yuri.
She was holding a phone.
And she looked… happy.
As if she was waiting for this moment.
Yuri stepped inside.
"Good evening," she said, smiling.
Min-jae's expression stayed calm.
But Hana noticed the way his shoulders stiffened.
"Yuri," he said quietly. "What are you doing here?"
Yuri looked at Hana.
"Just checking on my favorite people," she said.
Hana felt her heart beat faster.
Yuri's eyes were locked on her.
Then Yuri leaned closer to Min-jae.
Her face was almost touching his.
"Hana," she whispered, "I think you should know something."
Hana's throat went dry.
"What?" she asked.
Yuri smiled.
"I don't like sharing."
Hana's heart dropped.
Min-jae's eyes flashed with something Hana had never seen before.
Something dark.
Something protective.
Something that made Hana's heart twist.
Then Yuri stepped back and left.
Min-jae turned to Hana.
"Hana," he said softly, "go home."
Hana blinked. "W-Why?"
He looked at her, and his voice was gentle but firm.
"Because you're not safe here."
Hana's breath caught.
"Not safe?"
Min-jae's gaze was steady.
"Yuri isn't just the vice president," he said quietly. "She's someone who wants what she can't have."
Hana's eyes widened.
"But she doesn't have you," Hana whispered.
Min-jae's face softened.
Then his eyes hardened.
"Not yet," he said.
Hana felt her heart drop.
She didn't understand.
But she felt the tension in the air.
She felt the danger.
She felt the truth.
Yuri wanted Min-jae.
And she would do anything to take him.
That night, as Hana walked home, she felt someone following her.
She turned quickly.
But no one was there.
She shook her head, trying to calm herself.
Then her phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
Unknown number:
You're not supposed to be with him.
Hana's hands shook.
She looked up at the dark street.
And in the shadows, she saw a figure watching her.
A figure with a smile.
A smile that looked too familiar.
And Hana realized—
She wasn't safe.
Not at all.