Hana didn't delete the message.
She stared at it for a long time, her phone resting in her trembling hands.
Don't go to the festival planning meeting tomorrow.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
She should listen.
She knew she should.
But every time she thought about not going, another thought followed right behind it.
Min-jae will be there.
And somehow, that mattered more than her fear.
The next morning, Hana arrived at school with a knot in her chest.
She kept looking over her shoulder, half-expecting someone to be watching her. The hallway felt longer than usual. Louder. Too open.
When she reached the student council room, the door was already open.
Min-jae was inside.
He looked up the moment she stepped in.
"Hana."
The relief in his voice was subtle—but it was there.
"You came," he said.
She nodded. "I did."
He studied her face carefully. "Are you okay?"
She hesitated.
"I… think so."
That wasn't a lie. But it wasn't the truth either.
Min-jae didn't press her. Instead, he gestured toward a chair beside him.
"Sit," he said gently. "The meeting will start soon."
As Hana sat down, she noticed how close they were. Close enough that she could hear the quiet rhythm of his breathing. Close enough that the tension from the past few days softened just a little.
For a moment, she felt safe.
The meeting began like any other.
Plans. Budgets. Assignments.
Hana took notes, occasionally glancing at Min-jae when she wasn't sure about something. Each time, he noticed. Each time, he gave her a small nod of reassurance.
But then Yuri arrived.
She entered the room like she belonged there—confident, calm, smiling.
"Hana," Yuri said pleasantly. "I didn't expect to see you today."
Hana stiffened. "I'm assigned to help."
Yuri's eyes flicked briefly to Min-jae.
"Of course," she said. "How thoughtful."
Min-jae's expression darkened slightly. "Let's continue."
As the meeting went on, Yuri spoke often. Too often.
She suggested ideas that placed Hana alone.
Tasks that would separate her from Min-jae.
Schedules that kept her late.
Min-jae corrected some of them. Quietly. Firmly.
"No," he said at one point. "Hana will work with me."
Yuri's smile froze for half a second.
"Is that necessary?" she asked.
"Yes," Min-jae replied.
The room went silent.
Hana's heart raced.
After the meeting ended, the others left one by one.
Soon, only Hana and Min-jae remained.
She gathered her things slowly, her thoughts spinning.
"Hana," Min-jae said.
She looked up.
"Why did you come today?" he asked.
Her fingers tightened around her notebook. "Because… I wanted to."
He stepped closer.
"That's not the whole reason," he said softly.
Her breath caught.
She looked down. "I got a message last night."
His expression sharpened. "What kind of message?"
"One telling me not to come."
Silence.
Min-jae's jaw tightened. "Did Yuri send it?"
"I don't know," Hana admitted. "But it felt… intentional."
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"I was afraid of this," he murmured.
Hana looked at him. "Afraid of what?"
He met her eyes.
"That you'd get pulled into something you don't deserve."
Her chest ached.
"Then why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked quietly.
"Because," he said, voice low, "I didn't want you to leave."
The words hung between them.
Hana's heart skipped.
"I won't," she said before she could stop herself.
He froze.
"Hana—"
"I'm scared," she admitted. "But I don't want to run away just because someone tells me to."
Min-jae looked at her like she'd just said something precious.
Something dangerous.
"Then stay close to me," he said. "Promise."
She nodded. "I promise."
That evening, Hana walked home with her phone clutched tightly in her hand.
No new messages.
No footsteps behind her.
Still, she didn't relax.
When she reached her house, she paused at the gate.
Her phone buzzed.
Her heart jumped.
Unknown number:
So you didn't listen.
Hana's breath caught.
Another message appeared.
That means you chose him.
Her fingers shook.
Then one final message came through.
Choices have consequences.
Hana looked up slowly.
Across the street, a figure stood beneath a streetlight.
Watching.
Not hiding.
Waiting.
And for the first time, Hana understood—
This wasn't just about jealousy.
It was about control.
And she had just stepped into the middle of it.