˚⊱🪷⊰˚ 🀢 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𓈓 𝓕𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 by ℬ𝐭𝐬

Seung Tae was pissed.

After days of watching Kyung-jun stick to Nakyung like glue, laughing, teasing, and being her oh-so-perfect buddy, he had enough.

If she was going to act like she didn't care, he'd make sure she did.

And his plan?

Kim Minji.

The sweet, quiet girl who just happened to be Kyung-jun's partner for the school project.

And more importantly?

Kyung-jun was protective over her.

Perfect.

It started small.

In the middle of class, Seung Tae suddenly leaned over Minji's desk, flashing his usual lazy smirk.

"Minji-ah," he purred, "what do you think? Should we partner up for the next project?"

Minji, who had never been this close to him before, turned bright red.

Kyung-jun, who was sitting right next to her, stiffened.

Nakyung, from across the room, narrowed her eyes.

What the hell was he doing?

Minji glanced at Kyung-jun, clearly flustered.

"Oh, um... I already have a partner...?"

Seung Tae chuckled. "Pity."

He reached out, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

The entire class gasped.

Kyung-jun's chair scraped against the floor.

Nakyung gripped her pen so hard it almost snapped.

That. Smug. Bastard.

The moment lunch rolled around, Nakyung stormed up to Seung Tae's table.

His friends immediately sensed danger and wisely shut up.

She slammed her hands on the table, leaning in close.

"What the hell are you playing at?"

Seung Tae, completely unfazed, took a slow sip of his drink.

"What do you mean?"

She scoffed. "Minji? Really?"

He smirked. "Why? Jealous?"

Her eye twitched. "As if."

"Then why do you care?"

She had no answer.

And that pissed her off more.

From the side, Kyung-jun wasn't amused either.

He watched with crossed arms, jaw clenched.

Mina, meanwhile, was eating popcorn.

"I swear," she said, "this is better than any K-drama I've ever watched."

Later that day, as Nakyung sat in class, pretending to focus, her mind kept wandering back to Seung Tae.

The way he leaned into Minji.

The way he smirked when he knew she was watching.

And worst of all—

the way it actually bothered her.

Damn it.

It wasn't just a one-time thing.

Oh no.

Seung Tae was committed.

Every chance he got, he flirted with Minji.

Smirking. Whispering. Brushing his hand against hers "accidentally."

And Minji? Poor, oblivious Minji.

She wasn't used to attention like this.

She stammered, blushed, looked helplessly at Kyung-jun every time.

But Kyung-jun?

He was losing it.

And so was Nakyung.

It reached a boiling point at lunch.

Seung Tae leaned against Minji's seat, resting his chin on his palm, voice smooth and teasing.

"You're really cute, you know that?"

Minji turned red. "Ah... um..."

"I think I finally figured out my type."

He let his eyes flicker to Nakyung—just for a second—before turning back to Minji.

"I prefer soft, sweet girls."

His smirk deepened. "Not loud, arrogant ones who act like they run the world."

Silence.

The entire cafeteria went dead.

Nakyung's blood boiled.

Kyung-jun's chair screeched as he stood up.

His jaw clenched, his fists curled.

"Minji's not for guys like you." His voice was dangerously low.

Minji's eyes widened. "K-Kyung-jun—"

Seung Tae simply tilted his head, unfazed.

"Oh? And what kind of guys is she for?"

Kyung-jun grabbed Seung Tae by the collar.

"Guys who actually care about her, not bastards who use her for their petty games."

Seung Tae grinned, despite the threat.

"Touchy, aren't we?"

Nakyung had had enough.

She slammed her tray onto the table, standing up so fast her chair nearly tipped over.

Her sharp, fiery gaze locked onto Seung Tae.

"You really think this is funny?"

His smirk never wavered.

"Why do you care, sweetheart?"

Nakyung's breath hitched.

That nickname—

He hadn't used it in a while.

And damn it, he knew what he was doing.

But she wouldn't let him win.

"Because you're pathetic."

She crossed her arms, glaring him down.

"You think acting like this makes you look powerful? It makes you look desperate."

For the first time, his smirk faltered.

Mina, watching the chaos unfold, whistled lowly.

"Damn."

Minji looked utterly lost.

Kyung-jun was still fuming.

Seung Tae?

He just stared at Nakyung, eyes dark, jaw clenched.

And for once, he had nothing to say.

Seung Tae didn't react right away.

He just stood there, jaw tight, hands clenched into fists.

Everyone else was watching like it was a championship match.

And in a way, it was.

A battle of pride.

A battle of who would break first.

Kyung-jun still had Seung Tae's collar gripped tightly in his fist.

"Let go," Seung Tae finally muttered, voice low.

Kyung-jun didn't move.

"I said, let go."

Kyung-jun shoved him back.

Seung Tae stumbled slightly, but his smirk returned just as quickly.

He adjusted his uniform like nothing happened.

"Cute. You're acting like you actually have a chance with her."

Kyung-jun froze.

Nakyung's stomach dropped.

"What?" Kyung-jun's voice was sharp.

Seung Tae turned his head slightly, eyes cutting right through him.

"Don't act like this isn't about her. You're not mad because of Minji."

His smirk widened, but his eyes were cold.

"You're mad because you think I'll take Nakyung from you."

Another silence.

Minji's breath hitched.

Nakyung's heart pounded.

And Kyung-jun?

For the first time—

He had nothing to say.

Mina, who had been watching from the side, finally sighed and stepped between them.

"Okay, okay—enough testosterone for one day."

She looked at Kyung-jun.

"Chill, neighbor boy. Punching my brother won't fix anything."

Then she turned to Seung Tae, arms crossed.

"And you. What kind of game are you playing?"

Seung Tae just shrugged.

"I'm just stating facts."

Nakyung scoffed. "Facts? You wouldn't know a fact if it hit you in the face."

He turned to her, leaning in slightly.

"Oh? Want to test that theory?"

Too close.

Too intense.

Nakyung felt the heat crawl up her neck but refused to back down.

Instead, she narrowed her eyes.

"You act like you don't care, but you're the most pathetic one here."

That—

That finally hit him.

His smirk faltered.

Only for a second.

But Nakyung caught it.

And it made her chest tighten.

Seung Tae finally stepped back.

"Whatever."

He turned on his heel, shoving his hands into his pockets.

His friends hesitated before following.

Minji looked completely lost, but Kyung-jun just stood there, jaw tight, glaring after him.

And Nakyung?

She didn't know why her heart was beating so fast.

Was it anger?

Or something worse?