opposites attract. | myung jaehyun

EIGHTEEN

Nabi's heart twisted as she watched Nakyung chatting animatedly with Jaehyun. The way Nakyung's eyes sparkled with excitement made Nabi's stomach churn with guilt. She knew it was wrong to feel this way, to wish that Jaehyun's attention was on her instead. After all, Nakyung had been open about her feelings for Jaehyun, and as a best friend, Nabi should be supportive. But the pang of jealousy that tightened her chest refused to be ignored.

She sighed and tried to shake off the uncomfortable emotions. She needed to focus. The Sports Week was just around the corner, and there was still so much to do. Nabi turned away from the scene, deciding to check on the materials for the event. As she moved to grab the ropes, her gaze unintentionally drifted back to where Jaehyun and Nakyung stood. That's when she saw Hanbin, standing off to the side, his expression betraying a similar turmoil. His eyes were locked onto the pair, and the intensity of his jealousy was almost palpable.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, Nabi saw a flicker of surprise in Hanbin's gaze, as if he hadn't expected her to catch him in such a vulnerable state. The shock on his face mirrored the confusion in her own heart. She quickly looked away, pretending not to notice, and busied herself with arranging the ropes on the table. Her hands moved mechanically, trying to distract herself from the storm brewing inside her.

The student council office was buzzing with activity, students bustling around with last-minute preparations. But despite the chaos, Nabi felt an unsettling stillness between her and Hanbin. The unspoken tension hung in the air, thick and suffocating. She was about to dive back into her work when a voice broke through her thoughts.

"Shin Nabi," Hanbin's voice was soft, almost hesitant. She turned to find him standing behind her, his usual confident demeanor replaced with something more uncertain.

"Oh, Hanbin," she greeted him, her voice trying to sound casual despite the tension she felt. "What's up?"

"Can we talk?" he asked, his tone serious, almost pleading.

Nabi hesitated for a moment, searching his face for a clue as to what was going on. But all she saw was a mix of emotions that she couldn't quite decipher. "Okay, sure," she agreed, her curiosity piqued.

Hanbin led the way out of the crowded room, and Nabi followed closely behind, her mind racing with possibilities. She could feel the weight of several pairs of eyes on her as they left, but none more so than Jaehyun's.

Jaehyun, who had been mid-sentence with Nakyung, faltered as he watched Hanbin and Nabi leave together. His brows knitted in confusion, and something in his chest tightened. Nakyung noticed the shift in his expression, the way his attention wavered and his words trailed off. She followed his gaze and saw the two figures disappearing through the door. A sad, knowing smile tugged at her lips as she turned back to Jaehyun.

"Jaehyun, be honest with me," she said softly, her voice tinged with a hint of resignation.

He snapped his attention back to her, caught off guard. "What is it?" he asked, trying to mask the uncertainty in his voice.

"You like Shin Nabi, don't you," Nakyung stated, her smile unwavering, though there was a trace of sadness in her eyes.

Jaehyun blinked, taken aback by her directness. "Huh?" was all he could manage, his mind scrambling to process her words.

Nakyung laughed, though the sound was more bittersweet than anything. "I see the way you look at her. Your eyes light up whenever she's around, like she's the only person in the room," she explained, her voice gentle but firm.

Jaehyun couldn't find the words to respond. He hadn't realized how transparent his feelings had become, hadn't noticed that his heart had betrayed him so openly. "Is it that obvious?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.