NOW PLAYING: BBB BY PURPLE KISS

“Try a bad behavior, bad behavior
Bad be–, bad be–, behavior (La-la-la)
Bad behavior, bad behavior
Bad taste, best yum, like caviar.”

✦ ⎯⎯ㅤִㅤ୭ ୨♡୧ ৎㅤִ  ⎯⎯ ✦

The rest of the day mostly went by without a hitch. Today was the last school day before the exam crackdown on Monday. Everyone was frantically trying to condense as much knowledge as they could, in this stuffy room, there was one place Yu-ri refused to look at, the left side in the corner, Kang Daesung's seat. Yuri's cheeks burned, she couldn't get that vivid picture out of her head. It almost felt obscene. His lips, her lips, apocalypse.

His lips felt so soft, with a light scent of rose. Despite mentally cursing herself for not maintaining composure - she couldn't deny it, she enjoyed it. Not in the way you're thinking! Get your head out of the gutter! She craved physical touch, it was her love language so to speak. That one fleeting touch from Daesung was electrifying. It burned, it scorched, it reignited a flame within her that had been stumped out long ago. Her cold exterior was often a forefront guarding her most vulnerable asset, her heart. Fear of being taken advantage of again, she locked it away...but... would Daesung be the key to her lock?

Yu-ri shook her head, trying to shake away any stupid thoughts. No. She couldn't, she couldn't rely on anyone else anymore, she was too much of a burden. Whilst in her mental prison, something tapped her shoulder, snapping her back to reality. It was Hana's pen.

“Hey - your cheeks are red, are you okay?” she asked concerned, tapping her pen on the paper trying to solve the never ending maths equations that seemed like labyrinths.

Yu-ri forced a weak smile, the corners of her lips barely managing to curve upwards. “Just…overheating. This room is like a sauna.” She fanned herself dramatically with the edge of her notebook, hoping to distract Hana from the crimson tide rising in her cheeks.

Hana raised a sceptical eyebrow, her gaze sharp and knowing. “A sauna where everyone else is shivering? Come on, spill.” She leaned closer, the scent of her strawberry lip gloss filling the small space between them. “Did something happen with…you know…Daesung?” She lowered her voice to a stage whisper, glancing around the room as if afraid of being overheard by the very textbooks the students were pretending to study. The fluorescent lights hummed above them, a constant, buzzing soundtrack to their hushed conversation.

Yu-ri’s cheeks burned even brighter, the heat radiating from them like a miniature sun. “Nothing happened. I told you, it was an accident.” She hated lying to Hana, her best friend, but the truth felt too…personal, too vulnerable, like exposing a raw nerve to the cold air. Besides, it was an accident, right? A fleeting, unexpected moment that meant absolutely nothing. At least, that's what she was trying to convince herself.

Hana wasn’t convinced. Not in the slightest. “An accident you’re thinking about hard enough to turn into a human tomato? Sounds like a pretty intense accident.” She nudged Yu-ri with her elbow, a playful jab that belied the seriousness in her eyes. “Details! Did he finally confess his undying love while serenading you with a ukulele? Did you two finally realize you were meant to be together, destined for a lifetime of matching sweaters and synchronized smiles? Is there a wedding in the works? Because I call bridesmaid!”

“Hana!” Yu-ri hissed, her voice barely audible above the rustling of papers and the occasional cough. She glanced nervously towards Jiyong, who was across the room, seemingly absorbed in his textbook, but his shoulders were tense, his jaw tight. She couldn’t shake the feeling he was eavesdropping, his senses somehow heightened to their clandestine conversation. “Lower your voice. And no, nothing like that happened. It was…just a kiss. A stupid, meaningless kiss.” She regretted the words as soon as they left her mouth, tasting like ash on her tongue. Meaningless? It had felt anything but meaningless to her. It had felt like…everything. A spark, a flicker, a brief but undeniable connection that had left her reeling.

Hana’s eyes widened, two bright saucers of excitement. “Just a kiss?! Yu-ri, that’s huge! Especially with Daesung! He's like, puppy sunshine, always smiling, always offering to carry your books. Did you kiss back? What did it feel like? Was it like fireworks? Or more like…soft rain on a summer night?” She leaned closer, her anticipation palpable.

Yu-ri groaned internally, burying her face in her hands for a moment. This was exactly what she was afraid of. The endless questions, the relentless teasing, the inevitable dissection of something she didn’t even understand herself. “Hana, I really don’t want to talk about it.” She peeked through her fingers at Jiyong, who still hadn’t looked up, but his knuckles were white as he gripped his textbook.

Before Hana could press further, turning their study session into a full-blown interrogation, a loud thump sounded from the front of the room, shattering the fragile peace. Everyone turned to see Jiyong standing by the whiteboard, his textbook having apparently slipped from his grasp and crashed to the floor with a resounding thud. He glared at the textbook as if it had personally offended him, betrayed him in some unspeakable way. Then, with a visible effort, he bent down to pick it up, his movements jerky and uncoordinated, a stark contrast to his usual effortless grace.

“Clumsy as always, Jiyong,” someone snickered from the back of the room, the words laced with a familiar blend of envy and amusement.

Jiyong shot them a glare that could curdle milk, his eyes flashing with an intensity that silenced the room. The air crackled with unspoken tension. Then, with a forced calmness, he returned to his seat, slamming his textbook down on the desk with unnecessary force, the sound echoing through the silent room. Yu-ri frowned, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach. Jiyong was usually so composed, so effortlessly cool. He seemed…agitated. Disturbed.

Yu-ri chewed on the end of her pen, the familiar scent of plastic doing little to soothe the whirlwind in her mind. The quadratic equation swam before her eyes, a jumbled mess of symbols that held no meaning. Daesung. His name echoed in the silence of her thoughts, each syllable a tiny drumbeat against her ribs. His empty desk, usually a beacon of his quiet intensity, was now a mocking void in the corner of the classroom.

Was he avoiding her? The question burned in her throat like acid. Had she misread the signals? Had she been too forward? The memory of their kiss during the ice cream date flashed through her mind, a blurry kaleidoscope of thrill and fear. Did he regret it? Did he think she was too eager, too…available? The thought was mortifying, sending a fresh wave of heat rushing to her cheeks. Worst of all, did he think she liked him? The mere consideration of it made her stomach perform acrobatics, a dizzying mix of nausea and anticipation.

Suddenly, a sharp sting snapped her back to reality. She gasped, instinctively clutching her arm. Jiyong loomed beside her desk, his usually playful eyes narrowed, a black pen clutched in his fist. His face was a mask of carefully controlled…something. She couldn't quite decipher it.

“What was that for?” she demanded, rubbing the reddening patch on her arm. The pain was a welcome distraction from her turbulent thoughts.

“You were drooling on your textbook,” he said, his voice flat, devoid of its usual teasing lilt. “Thought I’d remind you that there are more important things to think about than…whatever you’re dreaming about.” He punctuated the sentence with a pointed glance toward Daesung's vacant desk.

Yu-ri scoffed, her temper flaring. “I wasn’t drooling. And it’s none of your business what I’m thinking about.”

Jiyong’s lips, usually quick to curve into a smile, twisted into a sardonic smirk. “Oh, I think it is my business. We’re supposed to be studying, remember? Finals are next week. And you’re clearly not concentrating. Your brain is a million miles away, probably orbiting some…other planet.” He leaned closer, the scent of his cologne, a spicy sandalwood, filling her nostrils. His voice dropped to a low murmur, a deliberate attempt to fluster her. “Unless you’re finding math particularly…stimulating today?”

Yu-ri rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the shiver that ran down her spine at his proximity. “Go away, Jiyong. You’re distracting me.”

“Am I now?” he said, his eyes glinting with amusement, a flicker of his usual self returning. He reached out with an infuriatingly casual air and flipped to a random page in her textbook. “Let’s see…differential equations. Not exactly the stuff of romance, is it?”

“Just leave me alone,” Yu-ri snapped, snatching her textbook back, her fingers trembling slightly. The image of Daesung’s lips, soft and tentative against hers, flashed through her mind, and she felt her cheeks flush again. Dammit. She couldn't control her reaction.

Jiyong seemed to notice the subtle shift in her demeanor, the telltale bloom of color on her cheeks. His smile faded, the teasing light in his eyes extinguished. His expression became unreadable, a mixture of confusion, concern, and something else she couldn't quite name.

“You okay, Yu-ri?” he asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft, lacking its usual edge. “You seem…off. Distracted. Like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

Yu-ri bristled at his uncharacteristic display of empathy. “I’m fine. Just tired. Didn’t sleep well.”

“Right,” Jiyong said, his voice laced with scepticism, his eyes boring into her. He hesitated for a moment, his jaw flexing, as if he wanted to say something more, something important, then seemed to change his mind, clamping down on whatever impulse had spurred him. He glanced at Daesung's desk again. “Just…focus on studying, okay? Don’t want you falling behind.” He gave her a quick, almost awkward pat on the shoulder, his touch fleeting and hesitant, then turned and walked back to his seat, his movements surprisingly stiff.

Yu-ri stared after him, bewildered. What was that all about? Jiyong, being…nice? Empathetic? It was almost unsettling. He was usually the one stirring the pot, not offering unsolicited concern.

As if summoned by her thoughts, a small paper airplane, constructed from notebook paper and bearing the telltale signs of hasty construction, landed with a gentle flutter on her desk. She unfolded it, her fingers trembling, to reveal a hastily scribbled note written in familiar, slightly messy handwriting: "Meet me by the staircase after class? – D."

Her heart skipped a beat, a wild, erratic rhythm that threatened to escape her chest. Daesung. He wanted to talk. A wave of panic, sharp and cold, washed over her, momentarily eclipsing the elation. What was she going to say? What did he want? Was he going to apologize? Explain? Or…or was he going to tell her he wanted to forget it ever happened?

She glanced across the room, almost involuntarily, at Jiyong, who was now pointedly ignoring her, pretending to be engrossed in his textbook. But she noticed the tension in his shoulders, the rigidity of his posture. His jaw was clenched, the muscles working beneath his skin, and his knuckles were white as he gripped his pen. He looked…angry. No, not just angry. Something more complex, more layered. Jealous?

The thought was absurd, almost laughable. Jiyong, jealous of Daesung? It was ridiculous. They were friends, rivals, maybe, but not… rivals for her affection. Jiyong had never shown any romantic interest in her. He teased her, annoyed her, challenged her, but never…desired her.

But…what if?

The possibilities swirled in her mind, a dizzying vortex of confusion and intrigue. Daesung's note, now crumpled in her sweaty palm, felt like a heavy weight, anchoring her to a decision she wasn't sure she was ready to make. Whatever Daesung had to say, whatever transpired after class, her carefully constructed world was about to be irrevocably altered. The comfortable predictability of her daily routine was teetering on the edge of chaos, threatening to spill over into something messy and complicated.

The shrill ring of the bell sliced through the tension, signaling the end of class and, it seemed, the end of her peace of mind. A collective sigh of relief, the universal sound of students liberated, swept through the room as chairs scraped against the floor and backpacks were slung over shoulders. Yu-ri hesitated, her hand hovering over the worn cover of her textbook. Should she go? Should she feign ignorance, pretend the note never existed, and vanish into the anonymity of the departing crowd? The coward's way out beckoned, promising a return to the familiar, but a nagging curiosity, a forbidden thrill, held her rooted to the spot.

The thought of seeing Daesung, of facing him and the raw vulnerability he’d exposed in her, filled her with a conflicting mix of dread and undeniable excitement. Logic dictated that she shut things down, establish clear boundaries, and firmly declare the kiss a momentary lapse in judgment, an insignificant blip on the radar of her life. But... a rebellious whisper echoed within her, questioning her own certainty. What if she didn't want to? What if she craved the chaos, the uncertainty, the forbidden fruit of something more?

She risked a glance at Jiyong. He was watching her now, his dark eyes intense and unreadable, boring into her with unsettling scrutiny. He knew. He had to know, didn’t he? The air between them felt thick with unspoken accusations and a heavy weight of betrayal. How much did he suspect? And, more importantly, how would he react?

With a deep, fortifying breath, Yu-ri grabbed her bag, the leather digging into her shoulder as she forced herself towards the door. She ignored Jiyong’s piercing gaze and the frantic flutter of butterflies erupting in her stomach. She had a rendezvous with a secluded stairwell, and a conversation that held the potential to dismantle everything she thought she knew about herself and the tangled web of relationships surrounding her.

She slipped out of the classroom, melting into the stream of students flowing towards the exits, her heart pounding a frantic rhythm against her ribs. As she rounded the corner leading to the seldom-used staircase, she saw him.

Daesung was leaning casually against the cold metal railing, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his jeans, a nervous, hopeful smile playing on his lips. The afternoon light caught the gold flecks in his eyes, and in that moment, he looked even more disarmingly handsome than she remembered. The memory of his lips on hers, the unexpected warmth of his touch, flooded back with startling intensity.

He saw her and his smile widened, radiating a warmth that both comforted and unnerved her. "Yu-ri! Hey."

"Daesung," she managed, her voice barely a whisper, betraying the turmoil raging within her. “What did you want to talk about?”

Daesung shifted uncomfortably, the carefree façade faltering slightly. He took a deep breath, the air whistling softly through his teeth. “About…the other day. The…kiss.” He looked at her expectantly, searching her face for any sign of encouragement or rejection.

Yu-ri crossed her arms, trying to project an air of nonchalance she desperately didn't feel. Her knuckles were white where she gripped her elbows. “Yes, the kiss. The…accidental, meaningless kiss.” The words felt hollow and false, even to her own ears.

Daesung’s smile faltered further, his hopeful expression dimming with a hint of disappointment. “It wasn’t meaningless to me.”

Yu-ri’s breath caught in her throat, a sharp pain tightening her chest. “W-what do you mean?”

Daesung took a hesitant step closer, closing the physical gap between them, his eyes searching hers with an intensity that made her feel exposed and vulnerable. “I mean…I liked it. A lot.” He confessed, his voice laced with a sincerity that resonated deep within her.

The air crackled with unspoken tension, thick with anticipation and the daunting weight of potential consequences. Yu-ri’s mind was racing, a chaotic jumble of conflicting thoughts and emotions. She knew she should say something, anything, to diffuse the situation, to shut him down before he could say anything else that might further complicate things. But the words wouldn’t come, trapped in the vortex of her own internal conflict.

“Yu-ri,” Daesung said softly, his voice a gentle caress that sent shivers down her spine. He reached out, his hand hovering for a moment before gently taking hers. His touch was warm and reassuring, sending a jolt of electricity through her. “I know you’re probably freaked out, and I know you don’t like showing your emotions, or letting people in, but…I think there could be something between us. Something real.”

Yu-ri’s heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat echoing in her ears. She wanted to pull away, to break the connection, to run and hide from the overwhelming emotions churning within her. But she couldn’t. She was frozen, paralyzed by his gaze, by his touch, by the undeniable pull she felt towards him, a magnetic force she couldn’t explain or resist.

He leaned in, his face drawing closer, and she didn't flinch. A strange sense of inevitability washed over her. A part of her, the rebellious, reckless part, craved this, this connection, this forbidden touch. Is this okay? she wondered frantically. How does she really feel? Was she simply reacting, or was this a genuine desire bubbling to the surface?

And then, he kissed her.

This time, it wasn’t accidental, a fleeting, impulsive moment born of shared adrenaline. It wasn’t a tentative brush of lips, a hesitant exploration. This was a deliberate, intentional kiss, a declaration of intent. His lips were soft and warm against hers, and his hand tightened around hers, pulling her closer, erasing the remaining space between them.

Yu-ri hesitated for a fraction of a second, her mind screaming a desperate warning, urging her to stop, to pull away before she crossed a line she couldn't uncross. But then something inside her snapped, a dam breaking, releasing a torrent of pent-up emotions. She closed her eyes, surrendering to the moment, and kissed him back.

The kiss was electric, a jolt of pure, raw energy that sent shivers down her spine. It was a spark igniting a long-dormant flame, awakening a hunger she hadn't realized she possessed. The world around them faded away, the sterile hallway dissolving into a hazy blur, and all that mattered was the feeling of his lips on hers, the warmth of his body pressed against hers, the intoxicating scent of his cologne filling her senses.

It was a symphony of sensations, of heat and sweetness and a desperate longing she had kept buried for so long, a yearning for connection she had meticulously suppressed. She savored the moment, losing herself in the kiss, forgetting about the upcoming exams, about Jiyong and his unsettling gaze, about the intricate web of loyalties and expectations that bound her. She forgot about everything except the man in front of her and the undeniable chemistry that crackled between them.

The kiss deepened, his hand cupping her cheek, his thumb gently caressing her skin, drawing her further into the intoxicating spell. But just as she was about to completely surrender, just as the world threatened to dissolve entirely, she pulled back, a sudden wave of clarity washing over her, jolting her back to reality. She pushed him away, breaking the spell, creating a small but significant distance between them.

After what felt like an eternity, they broke apart, both breathless and flushed, their eyes wide with a mixture of shock, exhilaration, and perhaps a hint of regret. Yu-ri stared at Daesung, her mind reeling, her thoughts scattered like leaves in a storm. What had she just done? What did it mean?

Daesung smiled, a hopeful, almost vulnerable expression on his face, his eyes shining with anticipation. “So…where do we go from here?” He asked, his voice laced with a cautious optimism, unaware of the impending storm.

Before Yu-ri could answer, before she could even begin to formulate a coherent thought, a voice shattered the fragile bubble of their intimacy, cutting through the silence like a shard of glass.

"I wouldn't sneak and snog my rival's friends, especially if you're planning on passing the exams, Yu-ri."

Yu-ri and Daesung spun around, their bodies snapping to attention like marionettes whose strings had been pulled. Standing at the top of the staircase, bathed in the harsh fluorescent light, was Jiyong. His arms were crossed tightly over his chest, his expression a mask of cold fury, his eyes narrowed to slits. His gaze was fixed on them, burning with an intensity that made Yu-ri’s blood run cold, a silent promise of retribution hanging in the air. The carefully constructed façade of indifference had crumbled, revealing the raw, possessive anger simmering beneath the surface.

——————————

CHAPTER BY ; SEOIN & JAY

WORDS COUNT !
3,560