Hana didn't stop running until the noise of the camp faded behind her.
Her heart was racing.
Her lips still felt warm.
Her mind was chaos.
"Why… why did he do that…?" she whispered to herself.
She pressed her fingers against her lips — then quickly pulled her hand away like she had been burned.
"No… this is wrong," she muttered. "Gemmy likes him… I can't…"
Her thoughts were interrupted.
"Hana?"
She turned.
Nick stood a few steps away, hands in his pockets, watching her carefully.
"You disappeared," he said casually. "Everyone's looking for you."
She forced a smile. "I just needed some air."
Nick didn't reply immediately. He walked closer… slowly… studying her face.
"You were crying," he said softly.
Hana froze.
She turned away. "I'm fine."
Nick sighed lightly and sat on a nearby rock, looking out at the sea.
"You know… you're really bad at lying."
Silence.
The waves crashed gently against the shore. The evening sky was turning orange and purple.
After a long pause, Hana sat beside him.
Neither spoke for a while.
Back at the camp…
Joon-woo stood still, staring at the direction Hana ran.
His jaw tightened.
Then he noticed something.
Nick wasn't around either.
Something cold settled inside his chest.
Without thinking, he started walking toward the beach.
At the shore…
Nick handed Hana a juice bottle.
"Drink," he said. "You look like you're about to faint."
She laughed weakly and took it.
"You're… really kind," she said quietly.
Nick smirked. "Don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain."
She laughed properly this time.
And from a distance…
Joon-woo saw that.
He saw her smiling.
Relaxed. Comfortable. Safe.
With someone else.
His hands slowly clenched into fists.
Nick leaned back on his arms, looking at the sky.
"You know," he said, "people think I don't notice things… but I do."
Hana looked at him. "Notice what?"
He turned his head slightly.
"The way you look at him."
Her breath stopped.
"I— I don't—"
"And the way he looks at you," Nick continued calmly.
Silence.
Heavy. Thick. Unavoidable.
Hana stared at the sand. "You're imagining things."
Nick didn't argue.
Instead, he asked quietly—
"Then why are you hurting?"
She had no answer.
Footsteps approached.
Both turned.
Joon-woo stood there.
His expression was cold… but his eyes were burning.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The air felt tight.
Nick stood up slowly. "You needed something?"
Joon-woo didn't look at him. His eyes were locked on Hana.
"We need to talk."
Hana stood too, nervous. "There's nothing to talk about."
Nick stepped slightly closer to her.
Protective. Calm. Silent.
Joon-woo noticed that.
Something snapped inside him.
"Move," he said to Nick.
Nick raised an eyebrow. "She's not an object you can just drag around."
Joon-woo's voice hardened. "This doesn't concern you."
Nick smiled faintly.
"It does if she looks uncomfortable."
Silence exploded between them.
The sound of waves grew louder… like tension filling the air.
Hana stepped forward quickly.
"Stop it! Both of you!"
They looked at her.
Her voice trembled slightly.
"I don't belong to anyone… so stop acting like this."
She looked at Joon-woo.
Then at Nick.
Her chest rose and fell with emotion.
"I just… want peace."
She turned… and walked back toward the camp alone.
Both boys watched her leave.
Nick spoke first, calm but sharp.
"You hurt her."
Joon-woo replied quietly,
"So why does she look at me… like I matter?"
Nick didn't answer immediately.
Then he said—
"Because feelings don't disappear just because they should."
Joon-woo finally looked at him.
A silent challenge passed between them.
Not anger.
Not hatred.
Something deeper.
A rivalry that had just begun.
Back at the camp, Hana sat near the fire… alone… staring into the flames.
Her heart pulled in two directions.
One boy who shook her world.
One boy who gave her peace.
And she didn't know which one scared her more.