The halls of the university were bustling with students, all of them moving between classes, but in one corner of the building, there was a certain tension brewing. Heeseung, walking casually down the hallway with his backpack slung over one shoulder, caught sight of Sunoo and Jay walking side by side, laughing about something. They seemed so natural together, their heads tilted toward each other as they shared a private joke. For a brief moment, Heeseung felt a strange twist in his chest, something between irritation and jealousy.
He wasn’t used to seeing Sunoo like this—at least, not with anyone else. They were rivals in a way. Heeseung and Sunoo had always been the top of their class, constantly competing for grades, attention, and even the praise from their professors. But it wasn’t just that. It was the way Sunoo seemed to shine when Heeseung was around, his confidence, his attitude, the way he was always just a little too good at getting under Heeseung’s skin.
And now, Sunoo was walking with Jay, one of their mutual friends. Heeseung’s brow furrowed as he took a deep breath. He should have known this would happen eventually. They’d always been close, but lately, Jay had been spending more time with Sunoo, making Heeseung feel as if he were being edged out of the picture. That wasn’t something Heeseung would just stand by and let happen.
As he approached them, he made his move. He took a few steps forward, deliberately stepping into the space between them, blocking the hallway. The grin on his face was all too familiar—half-smirk, half-challenge. “Hey, Sunoo,” he said, his voice light, but the underlying edge was clear. “I didn’t know you were hanging out with Jay now. What’s going on here?”
Sunoo blinked in surprise at Heeseung's sudden appearance, but his usual sassy demeanor kicked in. “Oh, look who decided to show up,” Sunoo teased, not bothering to hide his amusement. “You think you own the hallway now or something?”
Heeseung’s gaze flicked over to Jay, who was standing slightly behind Sunoo, his expression neutral, but his posture straightening. “I didn’t realize Jay needed an escort to class,” Heeseung remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “You usually walk alone, don’t you?”
Jay, usually the calm one in the group, stood his ground. He stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at Heeseung. “What’s your problem, Heeseung?” he asked, his tone serious. “Sunoo and I are just talking. You don’t have to make a scene every time we’re together.”
Heeseung smirked, clearly not backing down. “I’m not making a scene, Jay. I’m just saying that Sunoo’s attention shouldn’t be spread so thin. He knows where it belongs.” His gaze flicked back to Sunoo, a silent challenge in his eyes. “Right, Sunoo?”
Sunoo raised an eyebrow, his voice sharp as he retorted, “Heeseung, you don’t own me, you know. You might think you’re the only one who deserves my attention, but that’s not how things work. Jay’s my friend. We’re just talking. Get over it.”
Jay, not one to let Heeseung’s challenge slide, took a step closer to him, his confidence growing. “Yeah, get over it. I’m allowed to talk to my friends without worrying about you. Sunoo’s not a prize you get to keep all to yourself.”
For a moment, the air was thick with tension, both of them standing tall, challenging each other. Sunoo, standing between them, looked from one to the other, his expression a mix of amusement and exasperation.
“Heeseung, seriously,” Sunoo said with a sigh, stepping forward and gently pushing Heeseung aside. “You’re being ridiculous. No one owns my attention, least of all you. I’m not some competition you can win by being the loudest in the room.”
Heeseung stepped back slightly, taken aback by Sunoo’s words. For a moment, he seemed to lose his cool, his usual cocky smile faltering. He looked down at the floor before meeting Sunoo’s eyes again. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he muttered, his voice softening. “I just... don’t want to see you with anyone else, okay?”
