"you always put jeno first. i hate that."

── .✦

Popularity. There are two kinds of people in class 11-2: the cold prince, Lee Jeno, and the sunshine prince, Lee Haechan.

Haechan is approachable, warm, and funny. Jeno, on the other hand, is his complete opposite—awkward, cold, and distant. Despite their differences, the three of you—Haechan, Jeno, and yourself—have always been best friends. But lately, things have felt... strained.

It was the final day of sports week, and the school bazaar was in full swing. Your class booth was bustling, with Haechan drawing in crowds like a magnet. However, the absence of Jeno had everyone on edge.

"Where is he?" Haechan grumbled, his patience clearly wearing thin. He paced back and forth, his frustration bubbling over. "He's supposed to be here, not wandering off whenever he feels like it!"

You leaned against the edge of the table, trying to remain calm. "Haechan, you know Jeno. He probably just needed a moment. It's not a big deal."

"A moment?" Haechan stopped pacing and turned to you, his voice sharper than usual. "Why do you always defend him? He's not a kid who needs you to baby him! You're the class president, not his personal cheerleader."

His words hit harder than you expected, and you blinked, taken aback. "Haechan, that's not fair—"

"Fair?" Haechan interrupted, his voice rising. "You're always paying attention to him! Every time he messes up, you're there to cover for him. What about me, huh? Do I have to screw up to get you to notice me?"

The class fell silent, all eyes on the two of you. Your face burned, unsure how to respond. Before you could say anything, another voice cut through the tension.

"That's enough."

Jeno had returned. He stood at the edge of the booth, his cold gaze fixed on Haechan. The air seemed to shift as he stepped forward, placing himself between the two of you.

"Haechan," Jeno said in a low, even tone, "don't talk to her like that."

Haechan scoffed, stepping closer to him. "Oh, great. Now you show up. Where were you when we needed you? Huh?"

Jeno didn't flinch. "That's none of your business."

"None of my—" Haechan stopped himself, exhaling sharply as he ran a hand through his hair. "You know what? I'm done. I don't want to do this anymore."

He turned on his heel and stormed off toward the changing room.

You hesitated, torn between staying and following him. Jeno noticed and gave you a small nod, almost as if granting permission. "Go. He needs you more than I do right now."

Swallowing the lump in your throat, you nodded and quickly followed Haechan.

At changing rooms, Haechan was pacing angrily, muttering under his breath. When you stepped inside, he turned sharply toward you, his expression still furious.

"What do you want?" he snapped.

"I want to talk," you said firmly, closing the door behind you.

"Well, I don't," Haechan shot back. "Go back to your precious Jeno."

You flinched at his tone but didn't back down. "Haechan, why are you so mad at me? What did I do?"

Haechan let out a bitter laugh. "What did you do? You're always defending him! Always! Even when he's the one messing up, you act like he's perfect. And then you come running after me like I'm the bad guy!"

"I'm not saying you're the bad guy!" you exclaimed, your voice cracking slightly. "I'm just trying to understand why you're so angry. Is it really about Jeno, or is it about something else?"

Haechan stopped pacing, his jaw tightening. "You want to know why I'm angry? Fine. I'm tired, okay? Tired of always being the second choice. No matter what I do, your attention is always on him."

You froze, his words cutting deep. "Haechan... you're my best friend. You know that."

"Yeah," he said bitterly, his voice trembling slightly. "But I feel like you and Jeno are something else, and I'm just the third wheel—"

Before he could finish, you stepped forward and hugged him tightly. His body stiffened in shock, and his eyes widened.

"Haechan," you whispered, your voice trembling. "You're not a third wheel. You're important to me."

He stayed still for a moment before his arms slowly moved to return the hug. His voice was quieter when he finally spoke. "Then why does it feel like I'm always the one left behind?"

You pulled away slightly, your heart aching at the vulnerability in his expression. "I'm sorry. I never meant to make you feel that way. I just... I didn't realize."

Haechan looked away, his jaw tightening again as he stepped back. "I don't know if that's enough anymore."

His words hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and you felt the sting of tears in your eyes. Before you could respond, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving you alone with the echo of his footsteps.

You returned to the booth, your shoulders slumped and your head low. The bustling energy of the bazaar felt distant, muffled by the storm raging in your mind. Jeno noticed you immediately, his brows furrowing in concern as he stepped toward you.

"How is he?" he asked gently, his voice careful.

You hesitated, struggling to find the words. "He... he feels something between us—"

Before you could finish, Jeno's expression shifted, and his voice dropped. "Did he find out? About us?"

The question hung heavily in the air, and before you could answer, Jeno pulled you into a hug. His arms wrapped around you protectively, his warmth contrasting with the chill in your chest.

"I'm sorry," Jeno murmured into your hair. "I'm sorry I put you in this situation."

Unbeknownst to you, Haechan stood at a distance, watching the two of you. His heart clenched painfully, and he felt the burn of tears threaten to rise. His hands curled into fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. The sight of you in Jeno's arms was enough to shatter whatever fragile hope he'd been holding onto.

Haechan turned away, his vision blurred and his heart heavy. As he walked away from the booth, the noise of the bazaar faded into the background, leaving him alone with the ache of unspoken words and a friendship he feared was slipping away forever.

the end.