◟⊹ 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐑 ╱ chapter six

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─ ─ ─ ⊹ ࣪ ˖ something about him !⌇

( real life )

✸ REAL LIFE . . .

as atarah sat on the deserted stretch of beach, the soothing sound of the waves caressing the shore did little to quash the turmoil within her mind. she found herself pondering the implications of her team's lackluster enthusiasm for victory, a predicament that threatened to undermine their collective success.

the absence of company only heightened her contemplation, and the soft, powdery sand beneath her offered a grounding comfort, a stark contrast to the uncertainties weighing on her soul.

at the perception of approaching footsteps, atarah turned to find tory standing behind her; a tense silence hung in the air between them, a gulf created by tory's recent decision to align with the opposing side. the lack of recent communication between them cast a pall over their unexpected encounter.

"hey," tory said softly, settling down next to Atarah on the sun-warmed sand. the gentle breeze, which had been teasing their hair, carried the hint of familiarity between them.

aftera moment's pause, atarah replied flatly, "hey," her response a mixture of surprise and lingering resentment. the silence that followed was palpable, the ebb and flow of the nearby waves providing a poignant backdrop to their uneasy reunion.

"you come here a lot?" tory inquired, breaking the silence. atarah's response was a simple nod. "yeah," she replied quietly, her voice tinged with a hint of introspection. "not every day, but whenever i have something to think about."

tory nodded in understanding, sensing the weight of atarah's words. the two sat in silence for a while, staring out at the vast expanse of sea before them.

the sound of the waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing melody, a stark contrast to the turbulent thoughts that were likely swirling in both their minds.

as tory took in atarah's downcast expression, a pang of concern flashed in her eyes. the familiar girl didn't appear to be her usual bubbly self, her typically radiant energy now replaced by an aura of gloom.

"what's going on, atarah?" tory finally braved to inquire, her voice dripping with genuine worry. "you don't seem like yourself. what's bothering you?"

atarah's gaze flickered towards tory, her expression unreadable. she fidgeted with a strand of her hair, a subtle sign of her inner turmoil. "i'm fine," she mumbled, the lie rolling off her tongue effortlessly. "just..thinking about things, that's all."

tory's eyes narrowed slightly, sensing the evasion in her friend's voice. she tilted her head to one side, studying atarah closely.

"you know you can talk to me, right? whatever's bothering you, you don't have to go through it alone," she said gently, her tone filled with an earnestness that begged for the truth.

there was a sharpness in Atarah's voice as she shot back, "why should i trust you? you left our side, right before the tournament, to join the others." her gaze fixed on tory, filled with a mixture of hurt and betrayal.

"you chose a path that felt right to you, but from my perspective, you abandoned us when we needed you most." the words hung heavy in the air, the truth behind them cutting deep.

atarah's face showed a flash of pain, her eyes reflecting the weight of the trust that had been shattered. tory's expression softened, a pang of guilt evident in her eyes as she absorbed the impact of Atarah's words.

shehad known there would be repercussions for her decision, but hearing the pain in atarah's voice made it real. as the words left atarah's lips, a hint of hurt lingering in her voice, tory's eyes widened in surprise.

"i.." atarah murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "i kissed kwon." for a moment, silence fell between them, the gravity of her confession hanging in the air like a suspended sentence.

tory's response was a mere whisper of surprise. "i must say i wasn't expecting this," she said, a tinge of shock still etched on her face. atarah laughed bitterly, her voice tinged with regret.

"yeah, i messed up bad," she admitted, her tone laced with a hint of pain. "and the kicker? i don't even have feelings for him." a moment of contemplative silence followed, the weight of atarah's revelation settling heavily on them both.

"is there someone you like?" at the question, atarah's expression softened, a hint of vulnerability seeping through.

"yes," she admitted quietly, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. "there is someone i'm starting to have feelings for." tory's gaze remained fixed on her, a mixture of compassion and curiosity. she leaned closer, encouraging atarah to continue.

"the strange part is," atarah continued, her voice barely above a whisper, "i've only known him for two days. and he...." she paused, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes as she considered whether to continue.

"he saw me kiss kwon," she finished, her voice tinged with a tinge of shame. the memory of their recent encounter seemed to linger heavily between them, the weight of regret and uncertainty palpable in the air.

as atarah revealed the details of her recent interaction, tory's expression softened, her eyes reflecting a mix of compassion and understanding. she leaned closer, her focus entirely on her friend, listening intently.

"did he say anything?" tory gently inquired, her voice laced with concern. there was a hint of fear in atarah's voice as she revealed the aftermath of their encounter.

"he was mad," she confessed, the words tinged with a hint of worry. "the final event is approaching, and he wants to confront kwon." tory's expression tightened slightly at the mention of potential conflict. there was a flicker of concern in her eyes as she listened to her friend's worries.

tory gave a soft sigh, her expression tinged with a hint of understanding. "i won't ask you for details about this person," she said, her voice gentle and respectful. "i respect your right to keep it private."

she smiled slightly before continuing, "but you need to have a serious conversation with kwon. be honest with him and make it clear that you don't have feelings for him. it's not fair to either of you otherwise, and i don't want him getting hurt because of a misunderstanding between you two."

atarah nodded slowly, appreciating the wisdom in tory's words. the thought of having that uncomfortable conversation with kwon made her uneasy, but she knew it was the right thing to do.

"you're right," she acknowledged, her voice tinged with determination. "i need to have that talk with him. it's not fair to lead him on when my heart is somewhere else."

her voice trembled as she expressed her gratitude. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over. "thank you, tory," she whispered, her words filled with heartfelt appreciation. "you may be on a different team now, but you'll always be my best friend."

tory smiled gently, sensing the weight of atarah's emotions. "i'm glad i could be here for you," she replied softly. "i know these things have been weighing on your heart, and i'm happy i could help you carry that burden."

as atarah and tory embraced each other in a tight hug, the weight of their conversation still lingering, they were blissfully unaware of another presence nearby.

unbeknownst to them, kwon had come to the beach seeking tory, hoping to train with her. he had been quietly making his way towards them, and as he drew closer, he unwittingly overheard their words.

as his footsteps crunched softly against the sand, he paused, his eyes widening in surprise at what he heard. the realization of atarah's confession and her conflicted feelings washed over him, leaving him feeling a mix of hurt and confusion.

their embrace broken, atarah and tory turned simultaneously, noticing kwon standing behind them, his presence a sudden and unexpected intrusion.

her eyes widened in surprise as they landed on kwon, realization washing over her face. she knew that he had been close enough to overhear their conversation, and there was no denying what he had heard.

kwon's back was to them, his steps resolute as he started walking away, the hurt in his heart palpable. atarah, in a panic, quickly got up from the sand, her voice pleading.

"kwon, wait!" she called out, her tone filled with desperation as she hurried after him. her feet sank into the sand with each step, slowing her down slightly, but her determination to catch up to him outweighed the physical strain.

with each stride, the distance between them shortened, but kwon's pace didn't falter. Atarah's heart pounded in her chest, the weight of the situation and the fear of losing kwon fueling her determination to catch up to him. she couldn't let him walk away without explaining herself, without making things right.

atarah finally caught up to kwon, her fingers gripping his arm tightly as she desperately called out his name. she was slightly out of breath, her chest heaving with each gasp, but her determination was unwavering.

"kwon," she managed between breaths, her gaze locking onto his. "just please let me make things right. i need to explain everything to you."

he stood still, the mixture of pain and confusion still evident in his eyes as he met her gaze. there was a moment of silence, the only sound being the crashing waves against the shore, blending with the erratic beating of atarah's heart.

her heart ached with guilt and remorse as she looked into kwon's eyes, her voice apologetic yet firm. "look," she began, her voice wavering slightly. "i..i'm sorry. i don't have feelings for you. it was all a mistake. that kiss... it was a moment of weakness, a mistake i made."

her gaze met his, the pain evident in her eyes, knowing how much her words would hurt him. she realized the depth of his feelings, but she had to be honest with him.

kwon's question was heavy with an undertone of pain, but his voice was steady as he asked, "You like axel, don't you?" atarah's eyes widened slightly, guilt written all over her face. She didn't deny it, nodding softly.

"yes, i do," she admitted quietly.

kwon acknowledged her words, his expression solemn. "i understand," he replied. "i just need some time." her exhale was shaky, her heart heavy, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "thank you," she whispered softly.

kwon's pain was apparent, yet there was a hint of acceptance in his expression. he had known deep down that her heart belonged to someone else, but hearing her confirmation still stung. still, he tried to remain composed and understanding.

"it's alright," he said quietly. "i just need some time to process everything." atarah nodded silently, her smile fading as she realized the weight of the situation. she had caused him pain, and there was nothing she could do to erase it.

the tension between them was palpable, the gravity of their conversation settling like a heavy cloud. kwon's eyes flickered with hurt, but there was also a sense of resignation. he needed space to work through his feelings, to come to terms with the reality that the person he had developed feelings for didn't return those same feelings.

"i should go," he said quietly, taking a step back. "i'll see you on the mat."

tory chuckled softly beside atarah, wrapping her arm around her friend's neck, jokingly shaking her head. "axel, huh?" she teased. atarah rolled her eyes, a resigned smile playing at the corners of her lips. "yeah, yeah. you know how it is."

tory raised an eyebrow in thought, a smirk on her face. "seriously, though. you think axel's sensei would let his best fighter have a girlfriend?"

"axel needs to choose his own way," Atarah insisted firmly. "not just be controlled by his sensei's decisions." tory chuckled lightly, her arm still wrapped around atarah's shoulder, a hint of playfulness in her tone.

"fair enough," she conceded. "i just can't help but tease you about this whole thing. axel's not exactly known for being the typical relationship type."

atarah's smile widened slightly, a mixture of resignation and hope in her eyes. "i know that. but there's something about him that i can't ignore," she admitted softly.

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wanted to post this chapter the other day but i literally forgot 😭😭 in this story i won't make kwon and zara the "bad character" like they're in the show

i just don't like making negative characters 🚶🏻‍♀️

feeling bad for kwon i think after i finish this book i'm going to make a kwon one 🙏🏼