BELLA P.O.V

Hey, I'm Bella.

The moment was really tense. My heart was pounding as the nominees for the "Best Leader Category" were announced. I had faith in myself—Allure had come so far, and I worked tirelessly as their leader. But no matter how confident I tried to be, the nerves were still there, fluttering like wild butterflies in my stomach.

"And the winner is..." The host's voice echoed through the hall, heightening the suspense. "Oh? It's been a tie. Well, let's congratulate both Jungwon of Enhypen and Bella of Allure as the winners. Congrats, guys!"

The whole place erupted with cheers and claps, but I could barely hear them. A tie? With him? Of all people? My emotions twisted in a bittersweet knot, but I plastered a smile on my face and stood up, bowing to everyone who congratulated me along the way.

When I finally reached the stage, the moment seemed to stretch out in slow motion. The award was placed in my hands, but what really caught my attention was the familiar pair of eyes across from me—Jungwon. 

His smile mirrored mine—polite, forced, just like the congratulatory words we exchanged.

We both gave our speeches, which felt more like obligations than celebrations. As soon as it was over, I avoided his gaze and walked away, focusing on getting through the rest of the night.

After the show, all the winners gathered for pictures. My group, Allure, was buzzing with pride—we won the "Global Rising Award," and the energy from my members was contagious. Yet, even in that joy, there was a part of me still grappling with the tie.

Then it was time for the picture with Jungwon. We stood side by side, the tension between us as thick as fog. I didn't dare look at him. The camera flashed, and the second it was over, we both turned and walked in opposite directions without even acknowledging each other.

My smile faltered as I made my way to the van. I just wanted to get out of there.

"C'mon, girls," I called, trying to keep the frustration from leaking into my voice.

The girls followed me, still riding high on our win, but as soon as we settled into the van, I couldn't hold it in anymore.

"I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!? A FREAKING TIE?!"

My members erupted in laughter, but I was too annoyed to find the humor in it.

"The tie isn't even the problem. It's him! WHY HIM?!?"

Yui, our maknae, chimed in, not even bothering to look up from her phone. "You know, unnie, I didn't realize you and Jungwon were so in sync. Did you two practice your synchronized frowning, or was that natural?"

That earned another round of laughter, but I just rolled my eyes.

"Oh, come on, Bella." Jihae leaned forward, a teasing smile on her lips. "I saw the way you two exchanged looks during the photo. I swear there was a moment of understanding—like a silent agreement to despise each other."

I looked at her in disbelief. "You've been watching too many dramas, unnie. We didn't exchange anything but cold stares."

Aarya joined in, her amusement evident. "And did you notice how quickly you both skedaddled after the picture? I think I saw a cloud of dust in your wake!"

"Seriously?" I shot back, but they weren't done yet.

Jihae grinned mischievously. "This is the classic 'enemies to lovers' trope. Next thing we know, you two will be starring in a romantic comedy together!"

"Seriously?" I groaned, but deep down, I couldn't help but wonder if she was right. No. Absolutely not. There was no way. Right?

Yui giggled. "But it's so entertaining to imagine! I mean, who wouldn't love to see the drama unfold? The slow-burning tension, the misunderstandings—"

"I have seen how things turn out with this kind of situation," I cut her off, my tone serious. "And I have learned from that."

That shut them up for a moment, but Aarya, always the peacemaker, chimed in. "Uhm... anybody craving BBQ?"

Jihae was quick to agree. "I'll have some."

"Me too," Yui added.

Aarya looked over at me. "Bell, you?"

I sighed and nodded. "Sure."

As the conversation shifted to food, I tried to shake off the lingering frustration. But as much as I wanted to focus on the fun, my mind kept drifting back to Jungwon.

All the memories... all those feelings I once buried deep down. They came flooding back, unbidden, as I thought about our high school days. 

-FLASHBACK-

The tension between Jungwon and me was like an electric charge in the air, crackling whenever our paths crossed. Our rivalry had grown into a legend at school—a fierce battle of wits, grades, and sheer determination. We were the top two students in every class, and neither of us was willing to concede an inch to the other.

I remember the last exam we had, the final showdown in calculus. My pencil moved furiously across the paper as I worked through the last problem, my mind racing to finish in time. I could feel Jungwon's gaze burning into me from across the room, as if he were daring me to make a mistake. But I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction.

He was good—too good. But I refused to be second to him. Not again.

I glanced up and caught him smirking at me, that infuriating look of amusement dancing in his eyes. He always found it funny how seriously I took everything, how intensely I approached every challenge. But he couldn't deny that I was a formidable opponent. We had been at this since freshman year, and every victory tasted sweeter knowing it had been wrestled from each other's grasp.

But this time, I wasn't going to let him win. Not a chance.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam, and I let out a breath I didn't realize I had been holding. I had finished just in time. Gathering my things, I saw Jungwon leaning back in his chair, arms crossed, looking far too smug for my liking.

"Done already?" he asked, his tone dripping with arrogance.

"Just in time," I shot back, matching his icy tone. "Not that you'd understand the concept of cutting it close. You always play it safe."

"Safe or smart?" he retorted, raising an eyebrow. "Guess we'll see who comes out on top this time, won't we?"

"We will," I said, narrowing my eyes at him. "And it won't be you."

As we handed in our exams, the tension between us felt like static electricity. Other students had long since learned to steer clear when Jungwon and I were in competitive mode. Our rivalry wasn't just academic—it was deeply personal.

In the hallway, I could still feel the weight of Jungwon's presence lingering beside me, his shoulder almost brushing against mine as we walked together. It was that usual comfortable silence, but with him, even silence seemed to buzz with unspoken words. We were both heading to our next class, but I could sense that he was just waiting for the perfect moment to tease me. He always did.

As I quickened my pace, hoping to create some distance between us, Jungwon effortlessly matched my stride. Of course, he wouldn't let me get away that easily.

"Afraid to lose?" His voice was laced with that familiar teasing tone that always made my heart skip a beat.

I shot him a sharp glare, trying to keep my cool despite the butterflies fluttering wildly in my stomach. "Afraid you'll finally have to admit you're not as perfect as you think?" I challenged, narrowing my eyes as I tilted my chin up at him. He was so infuriatingly confident, and I wasn't about to let him get the best of me.

Jungwon chuckled, a sound that was far too smooth and calming, like he was completely unfazed. "I'm not the one who's obsessed with being perfect," he shot back, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Neither am I," I replied, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, even though he always managed to get under my skin. "I just don't like losing. Especially not to you."

This wasn't even the end. In fact, it felt like the beginning of something bigger. The school's science fair was one of the biggest events of the year, and Jungwon and I both knew it. We were the fiercest competitors, always pushing each other to do better, always neck and neck. But this year, I was determined to change that.

Standing beside my project display, I meticulously arranged my notes, triple-checking every detail. My project, an innovative approach to sustainable energy, had taken months of research, sleepless nights, and a whole lot of caffeine. But as I looked at it now, it was worth every second. This had to be my best work yet.

Yet, as I glanced across the room, my confidence wavered. There he was—Jungwon. Surrounded by a small crowd, confidently explaining his project with that infuriatingly charming smile that made my heart do flips and my brain scream in frustration.

"What's he up to this time?" I muttered under my breath, trying not to let my eyes linger on him for too long.

His project was about renewable energy sources too, but from a different angle—something about maximizing efficiency through advanced algorithms. I hated to admit it, but it was impressive. And judging by the captivated expressions on the judges' faces, they thought so too.

"Nice turnout."

His voice cut through my thoughts, making me jump. I hadn't even noticed him sneaking up on me, now standing there with his hands in his pockets and that smug grin plastered across his face.

"Thanks," I replied coolly, trying to act like he hadn't startled me. I wasn't about to give him that satisfaction. "I see you're drawing quite the crowd."

He shrugged nonchalantly, though his eyes gleamed with mischief. "What can I say? People appreciate quality work."

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my cool. "We'll see whose work they appreciate more when the results are announced."

Jungwon tilted his head slightly, his expression almost playful. "We will. But I have to say, Bella, you're looking a little tense. Worried about something?"

My eyes narrowed with determination. "Not at all. I'm just focused."

"Good," he replied, sarcasm dripping from his words. "I'd hate for you to lose your edge."

I bit back a sharp retort, knowing that's exactly what he wanted. Instead, I turned back to my display, adjusting a graph with exaggerated precision. But no matter how much I tried to ignore him, I couldn't escape the way my pulse quickened around him. His presence always seemed to challenge me, push my buttons, and make my emotions spiral out of control in the most infuriating way.

He lingered beside me, his gaze sweeping over my project. "Sustainable energy, huh? Bold choice. But it looks like you missed a key calculation here."

He pointed to one of my data points, making my heart skip a beat. For a split second, doubt crept in. Had I really overlooked something so basic? But I quickly regained my composure, letting my expression harden.

"That's not a mistake," I said evenly, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence. "It's a projection based on future trends. Something you might have considered if you weren't so focused on the present."

Jungwon's eyes flickered with surprise before he masked it with a lazy smile. "Well, aren't you clever. Guess we'll see how the judges feel about projections."

I crossed my arms, leaning in slightly with a smirk. "I'm confident they'll appreciate the forward-thinking approach. But don't worry, Jungwon. Maybe next year you'll be able to catch up."

He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You're always so sure of yourself, Bella. But confidence doesn't always equal victory."

"Neither does arrogance," I shot back, my voice sharp with challenge.

For a moment, we stood there, locked in a silent standoff. It was always like this between us—neither of us willing to back down, neither willing to let the other win without a fight. We pushed each other, challenged each other, and though we'd never admit it, we thrived on the competition. There was something exhilarating about it, something that made every encounter between us feel electric.

"Good luck," he finally said, his voice softer, almost teasing. "You're going to need it."

"Same to you," I replied, my smile tight but confident. "But I think I'll be just fine."

As Jungwon walked away, I exhaled slowly, trying to calm the racing thoughts in my mind. The rivalry between us was exhausting, but it was also exhilarating in a way I could never explain. I hated how he made me second-guess myself, how he always seemed to be one step ahead, yet at the same time, I couldn't imagine this competition without him.

The day wore on, and we both continued to present our projects to the judges, stealing glances at each other whenever we could. Neither of us would give the other the satisfaction of seeing us falter, but deep down, we both knew this competition, like every other, would be close.

And honestly, that was exactly how we liked it.