⋆ 𐙚 ̊.CHAPTER 15 ✶⋆.˚

🇽​​🇴​, ​🇪​​🇻​​🇪​​🇱​​🇾​​🇳

Minho groaned as he stepped out of his room, shirtless, running a hand through his messy hair. The humidifier misted cool steam against his face as he moved toward the kitchen, half-asleep. But then, he froze.

Evelyn was there, sitting on the counter with her usual cup of tea, her legs lazily swinging back and forth. Her hair was slightly tousled from sleep, and she was wearing one of those oversized shirts that barely grazed her thighs.

She looked up, eyes still drowsy, and groggily muttered, "Ew. Put a shirt on, you monkey, will you?"

Minho smirked, leaning against the counter, unbothered. "Not my fault you can't handle this." He gestured vaguely at his toned abs, flexing just a little.

Evelyn scoffed, rolling her eyes, but there was the faintest hint of pink dusting her cheeks. She looked away, took a sip of her tea, and then—suddenly—hopped off the counter.

Minho barely had time to react before she was standing right in front of him, close enough that he could smell the faint traces of vanilla from her shampoo.

"You're right," she murmured, tilting her head slightly.

Minho swallowed, caught off guard by the shift in her tone. "Uh—what?"

"I can't handle it."

Before he could process her words, she leaned in, her lips brushing against the shell of his ear as she whispered, "You're too bloody hot, Minho."

Minho barely had time to react before she jumped on him, her arms looping around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist.

His reflexes kicked in immediately—he caught her effortlessly, hands gripping the backs of her thighs, holding her against him like she weighed nothing. His breath hitched as their faces hovered inches apart, her warm breath fanning against his lips.

Evelyn's gaze flickered down to his mouth, and for a split second, he was sure she was going to kiss him.

He leaned in—

And then—

"AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Minho jolted awake, his heart pounding as he sat up in bed, drenched in sweat.

What. The. Actual. Hell.

His breathing was erratic, his skin still tingling, and worst of all—he could still feel the ghost of Evelyn's body pressed against his.

"No, no, no, no," Minho muttered to himself, running a hand down his face. "What was that?!"

This was bad.

This was really, really bad.

Because if his subconscious was creating dreams like that...

Then he was officially screwed.

Evelyn, Kitty, and Q strolled across the school grounds, their feet crunching against fallen leaves as the autumn breeze swept past them. Kitty was animatedly recounting her conversation with Professor Finnerty from the night before, her expression a mix of frustration and disbelief.

"So, there I was," Kitty said, waving her hands for emphasis, "about to tell Finnerty that he might be my stepbrother when bam—he drops the bomb that Professor Lee is his dad."

Evelyn almost tripped over her own feet. "Wait, what?"

"Yeah," Kitty nodded, eyes wide. "Which means my mom and Professor Lee might have—" She shuddered. "Nope. Nope. Not thinking about that."

Q winced. "That's something you need therapy for."

"Tell me about it," Kitty muttered before continuing. "Anyway, this morning, I tried to talk to him about it again, you know, to suggest we help each other figure things out. But he completely shut me down."

Evelyn frowned. "What did he say?"

Kitty sighed. "He told me, not everybody is on my timetable, and I'm happy with my dad—the one who adopted me. I love him. So let's not jump into things, Kitty." She mimicked his voice with air quotes, then groaned. "I get where he's coming from, but I know there's more to this, and he won't even try to look into it."

Q shook his head. "Okay, how about we forget all the Alex-and-family-drama for now and focus on something way more important?"

Kitty raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"

"Like what you two are going to wear for Minho's Madness Party tonight." Q smirked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Evelyn's chest tightened at the mention of his name, but she quickly masked it with indifference. "I'm not going."

"Yeah, me neither," Kitty added. "Not really in the mood."

Q dramatically placed a hand on his chest. "You guys seriously want to sit in your rooms and sulk instead of coming to the party of the year?"

"I'm not sulking," Evelyn said defensively, crossing her arms.

Q rolled his eyes. "Evelyn, be real. You've been all moody and broody since Chuseok, and we all know why."

Evelyn tensed. "It's not because of—"

Q held up a hand. "Ah, ah, ah! No denial. Look, I'm not saying this is a fix for all your problems, but just for one night—one night—forget Minho, forget whatever's making your head ache, and just have fun."

Evelyn hesitated, the thought of Minho stirring something deep inside her. Did she really want to spend the night overthinking everything again?

Q turned to Kitty next. "And you? What if you go as someone new for the night? Someone who doesn't have to stress about family mysteries. Someone who—oh, I don't know—might even have her first kiss?"

Kitty's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

Q grinned. "Come on, Kitty. A new outfit, a new vibe, a new you. You never know what might happen."

Kitty bit her lip, clearly torn.

Q linked arms with both of them. "You both need this. And lucky for you, you have me—your fashionable best friend—to make sure you look hot while doing it."

Evelyn sighed, glancing at Kitty, who looked just as unsure.

But then Q gave them his puppy dog eyes.

"Fine," Evelyn finally said. "But if it sucks, I'm leaving."

Q cheered. "That's the spirit!"

Kitty groaned. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret this?"

"Because you're overthinking," Q sang as he dragged them toward their dorm. "Now, let's make you two irresistible."

(evelyn's outfit)

The music pulsed through the grand house as the party buzzed with life, a mix of neon lights and glittering outfits making the night feel electric. Kitty and Evelyn stepped through the entrance, their heels clicking against the polished floor as they descended the staircase.

Kitty, in a sleek black mini bodycon dress, exuded confidence. The thigh-high boots elongated her legs, and her straightened hair framed her face perfectly. Evelyn, beside her, looked just as stunning in her black mini dress with delicate white puffed sleeves. The black gloves on her hands added an extra touch of elegance, and the fishnets paired with her shiny heels made her stand out even more. The final touch—a black bow in her softly curled hair—made her look effortlessly enchanting.

Their eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Q, and their faces lit up upon spotting him with Florian. The two boys were deep in conversation, standing close together, their natural chemistry evident.

"They look so cute together," Kitty whispered with a small smile.

Meanwhile, across the room, Minho sat comfortably on a velvet couch, deep in conversation with Dae. He was relaxed, casually sipping his drink, until something—or rather, someone—caught his eye.

The back of a girl in black. A girl who exuded elegance and mystery.

His lips curled into a flirtatious smirk.

Without a second thought, he rose from his seat, smoothing down his suit jacket as he moved toward her, ready to work his charm. Maybe she could be his date tonight—after all, a party like this called for a little fun.

As the girl reached Q and turned around, Minho finally got a full view of her face.

And that's when the world stopped.

Evelyn.

His breath hitched. His smirk faded. The teasing pickup line that had formed on his tongue vanished.

His dream flashed before his eyes. Her lips, her voice whispering against his ear, the way she had melted against him in his arms—

Minho shut his eyes for a brief second, shaking off the memory before it could consume him completely. When he opened them again, Evelyn was smiling, the soft dimples on her cheeks making something twist deep in his stomach.

She looked unreal.

He had seen her in different outfits before, sure. But this? This was dangerous.

Before he could dwell on it too long, his attention was yanked away by an unfortunate sight.

A guy in athleisure strolled past him, completely oblivious to the fashion crime he had just committed.

Minho scoffed, muttering under his breath, "I need to inform the guards about the dress code, seriously."

The music pulsed through the room, the bass vibrating under their feet as the party reached its peak. Kitty, Evelyn, Q, and Florian stood together, their drinks in hand, taking in the scene.

"You both look amazing," Q said, grinning as he eyed Evelyn and Kitty. "I knew you two were going to blow everyone's minds tonight."

Kitty was about to respond, but her face fell when her eyes landed on a familiar figure.

"Dae's here," she muttered, her fingers tightening around her glass.

Evelyn and Q exchanged looks, but before they could say anything, Kitty quickly shook her head and plastered on a determined smile. "Nope, I'm here to find a new boy to kiss." With that, she grabbed Q's drink and took a sip.

"Uh, you know there's no alcohol in these, right?" Q said, raising a brow. "Mocktails only. Underage drinking in Korea? Huge no-no. People get canceled for that."

Kitty blinked. "What? No liquid courage?"

"Lucky for me, I'm French," Florian chimed in, smirking as he pulled out a flask from his pocket and poured some into Kitty's glass.

Kitty took another sip and let out a dramatic sigh. "Much better."

The group laughed before eventually going their separate ways. Kitty disappeared into the crowd, Q and Florian went off together, and Evelyn found herself gravitating toward the dance floor.

The music was intoxicating, and she let herself get lost in it, moving with the rhythm. The flashing lights, the beat, the energy of the party—it all felt like an escape.

A deep voice pulled her out of her trance.

"Can I have this dance?"

Evelyn turned to see a guy—tall, sharp features, confident smirk. He was hot.

"Why not?" she replied with a smirk of her own.

They started moving together, their bodies falling into an easy rhythm. "Lim Jaebum," he introduced himself smoothly.

"Evelyn," she replied, placing her arms around his neck.

His hands settled on her waist—low, almost too low. But Evelyn didn't care. Or maybe she just didn't notice. Because despite her best efforts, despite the fun she was supposed to be having, her mind kept wandering elsewhere.

Minho.

She hated that even now, even with a gorgeous guy holding her close, Minho still lingered in the back of her mind.

"Raven?"

Her body tensed instantly. She knew that voice.

Turning her head, her eyes met Minho's. He stood there on the edge of the dance floor, his usual cocky expression absent. Instead, there was something unreadable in his gaze.

Evelyn rolled her eyes, masking the strange tightness in her chest.

"What do you want, Minho?" she asked coolly, arching a brow.

Minho's eyes flickered to Jaebum, then back to her. His jaw clenched slightly. "Seriously?" he scoffed. "This guy?"

"Oh, fuck off, Minho," Evelyn snapped. "Just let me enjoy my night."

But Minho didn't move. He just stood there, unmoving, looking like he had every intention of ruining her fun.

That was enough for her. Evelyn grabbed Jaebum's arm and pulled him toward the other side of the party, disappearing into the crowd. She didn't stop until Minho was completely out of sight.

Minho just stood there, his jaw tightening as he watched Evelyn disappear into the crowd, her hand still wrapped around Jaebum's. She didn't even glance back.

His fingers curled into fists. He didn't know why it bothered him so much—why the sight of her, with him, made his chest feel tight. It's none of my business. He told himself that, but it didn't stop the way his stomach churned.

Meanwhile, Evelyn had pulled Jaebum toward a quieter corner of the party, away from the suffocating presence of Minho. They found a couch, and she plopped down with a grin, drink in hand.

Jaebum sat beside her, his body angled toward hers. "So, you know Minho personally?" he asked, leaning in slightly.

Evelyn groaned, rolling her eyes. "Can we not talk about him?" she muttered before taking another sip of her drink—the one Florian had generously spiked. The warmth spread through her, numbing the emotions she wasn't ready to confront.

Jaebum chuckled. "Fair enough. Let's talk about us then."

Evelyn smirked, playing along. "Now you're talking."

Jaebum's lips curled up as he studied her. "You look almost too cute for this, but I'm not about to say no to a pretty girl." His voice was smooth, easy.

Then, without hesitation, his hand slid onto her thigh.

Evelyn's body stiffened.

It wasn't that it was entirely unexpected, but something about it—about him—felt off. She had been playing the game all night, pretending, smiling, trying to drown out whatever was clawing at her insides. But suddenly, the haze of alcohol wasn't enough to ignore the discomfort creeping up her spine.

She shifted slightly, pretending to adjust her position, hoping he'd take the hint.

He didn't.

Evelyn let out a small, forced laugh, trying to keep things light as she carefully removed Jaebum's hand from her thigh. "Woah, slow down there," she said with a teasing lilt, though there was an undeniable edge to her voice.

Jaebum raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Come on, we're just having fun, aren't we?" His hand twitched as if he might try again.

Evelyn's stomach twisted. Maybe she had been reckless tonight—maybe trying to forget Minho by throwing herself at the first guy who looked her way wasn't the best idea. But she wasn't about to let this guy push her into something she wasn't comfortable with.

She sat up straighter, setting her drink down with a decisive clink. "Look, you're cute and all, but I think I need some air."

Jaebum sighed dramatically, leaning back against the couch. "Suit yourself." He didn't try to stop her, but the look in his eyes as she stood up sent a chill down her spine.

Evelyn didn't waste another second. She turned on her heel and wove through the crowd, her breath uneven. The alcohol made everything feel a little hazy, but she needed to clear her head.

She pushed open the balcony doors and stepped outside, the cool night air hitting her like a splash of reality. She gripped the railing, inhaling deeply.

"Raven."

She froze.

Of course.

Of course he was here.

With Madison in his arms.

It looked like she had just interrupted their kiss.

Madison's hands were resting on Minho's chest, her perfectly manicured fingers clutching onto his shirt as she let out another light laugh. Minho, however, had gone completely still. His gaze locked onto Evelyn's, his expression unreadable.

Evelyn felt something burn deep inside her. She told herself it was just the alcohol, just the remnants of Jaebum's unwelcome touch, just the overwhelming night. But her clenched jaw and the way her fingers dug into the railing told a different story.

"Oops," she said flatly, tilting her head. "Didn't mean to interrupt."

Madison turned to look at her, slightly annoyed but still composed. "Oh, Evelyn! Didn't see you there." Her voice was sugary sweet, but there was an unmistakable glint in her eyes. "Minho and I were just—"

"Yeah, I see what you were just," Evelyn cut in, crossing her arms. She refused to look at Minho.

Madison smirked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know, you're welcome to find someone too, Evelyn. No need to spend the night sulking."

Evelyn let out a dry laugh, finally glancing at Minho. He was still staring at her, silent, tense.

Madison turned back to Minho, clearly uninterested in whatever silent exchange was happening. "So, where were we?" she purred, reaching up to touch his jaw.

Something snapped in Evelyn at the sight.

She had no right to be mad. No right to feel this way. But the ache in her chest was impossible to ignore.

She forced a smirk, ignoring the way her throat tightened. "Don't let me stop you, Minho," she said, emphasizing his name like it was something bitter on her tongue. "Looks like you're having the time of your life."

And with that, she turned sharply on her heel, slamming the balcony door behind her.

She didn't stop walking, didn't care where she was going—she just needed to get out of there. Away from the suffocating feeling in her chest. Away from Minho.

ruka:

hehe fun chapter right? personally I don't like this at all. both of them are idiots running away from their problems. but its not a story if there's no drama so here I am!