Suhyeon, still gently blowing air on the burn on his hand, looked up at him, sensing something.
"What's happening? Can you tell me?" she asked softly.
He glanced down at her, meeting her gaze.
"Oh, did I not tell you?" he said, sounding almost surprised. "I awakened two days ago. And now I can release mana to create an extra layer around my body. It protects me from things like fire, cold, poison gas.. stuff like that. Pretty cool, right?"
Suhyeon blinked, taken aback.
"Really? You awakened?"
She paused for a moment, processing.
"You can release your mana to form a protective layer..? That means you can control your mana flow already? How?" Her voice rose with genuine curiosity, her eyes wide with confusion and interest.
Jinhwan shrugged casually.
"What do you mean? Of course I can. I couldn't do it at first, but once I felt the flow, just once, I locked into that feeling. Then I kept trying. Again and again. And it stuck."
Suhyeon's mouth fell slightly open.
"No, no, that's not normal! It took me two months to control my mana flow. Most people need at least half a year. If someone's a high-ranker, like an S ranker it might take them a week, maybe. But you figured it out in just one day?"
She leaned closer, her eyes narrowing with suspicion before a playful smile curved on her lips.
"Don't tell me.. are you an S ranker? No, wait, you must be a Z ranker, right?"
She was smiling widely now, waiting for the big reveal.
Jinhwan looked away, eyes scanning the ceiling, the walls, anywhere but her face.
"It's E Minus," he mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Suhyeon stayed frozen for a few seconds, blinking in silence. Then she forced a smile.
"Whatever... these rankings are just numbers. Doesn't mean much," she said, brushing it off. Then, trying to lighten the mood, she added,
"So hey.... wanna go watch a movie together after school?"
Jinhwan shook his head gently.
"Not today. I've got plans to visit Seyoung's house."
"Oh..."
Suhyeon's voice dropped, barely above a whisper.
"Okay."
There was a hint of disappointment in her tone, and though she smiled, it was weak, forced. She looked away, trying to hide the flicker of emotion in her eyes.
Just then, the door swung open.
Seyoung walked in, holding two packs, one of apple juice and the other of chocolate milk. Her expression lit up with a teasing grin.
"Well, well," she said in a sweet, sing-song tone. "Aren't you getting comfy with my boyfriend?"
She strolled over casually and handed the apple juice to Jinhwan, then held out the chocolate milk toward Suhyeon.
"I don't want it," Suhyeon said flatly, her tone was cold and clearly annoyed.
"Oh? It's Jin's treat, not mine," Seyoung replied smoothly as she sat down in the chair beside the bed. "Still don't want it?"
Without another word, Suhyeon snatched the drink from her hand, stabbed the straw into it, and took a long sip, her eyes never leaving Seyoung. The way she looked at her, it was like she could eat her alive.
Seyoung didn't even flinch. She wore that same relaxed smile, like she was used to this kind of stare-down every day.
"Well, school's over," she said, standing up and brushing off her skirt. "Let's go."
Jinhwan sat up, still sipping his juice, then stood and stretched.
"Okay. Let's go."
He turned to Suhyeon, his voice softer.
"Come on, I'll drop you home."
He looked at her, waiting.
Suhyeon's eyes lit up instantly. A warm smile spread across her face as she stood, then without hesitation, clung to his left arm.
She turned her head just enough to glance at Seyoung, flashing her a mischievous smirk.
They walked out of the nurse's office together, passing through clusters of other students lingering in the hall. Their footsteps echoed lightly as they climbed the stairs to the third floor at a slow, unhurried pace.
Once there, they split ways.
Jinhwan turned into the boys' changing room, while Suhyeon and Seyoung entered the girls
Inside, Seyoung made her way to her locker and opened it, pulling out her neatly folded uniform and placing it on the nearby chair. Without hesitation, she peeled off her t-shirt, revealing smooth skin and a fitted black sports bra that hugged her toned frame.
On the other side of the room, Suhyeon retrieved her clothes from her locker. She slipped off her own t-shirt, revealing a modest white bra that covered her breasts completely.
For a brief moment, Suhyeon's gaze dipped settling on Seyoung's breasts.
A faint smirk crept onto her lips.
There was no denying the contrast between them.
Suhyeon's figure was softer, curvier, her shape carried a quiet confidence, and her breasts had a natural fullness that often drew glances without her even trying. It was something she knew, something she had always owned.
Seyoung, by contrast, was athletic, lean and defined, with sharp lines and an air of discipline in the way she moved. Her breasts weren't small but sat just above average, enough to catch attention, though still not quite matching Suhyeon's in volume.
The room was quiet, save for the rustle of fabric and the low hum of the overhead fan. But beneath that stillness… tension simmered.
"You can't win against me here," Suhyeon muttered with a cold smirk. "Just wait, I'll have Jin to myself."
Seyoung rolled her eyes at the comment, unfazed.
"Why don't you just accept defeat, Suhyeon? No matter what you do for Jin, you're just a close friend, his first, and only that. Nothing more."
She reached for her white shirt, slipped it on, and began fastening the buttons with calm precision.
Suhyeon narrowed her eyes, her voice dripping with venom.
"You'll see. I'm better than you, better in every way. I've spent more time with him than you ever could. I know him better than anyone, not even he knows himself the way I do. You? You're just a bitch who seduced him. Once Jin gets bored with you.. I'll be the one by his side."
Her words hung in the air, sharp and cold. She took a slow breath, exhaled, then turned to her locker and began putting on her uniform.
Seyoung didn't react with anger. Her voice remained calm, composed.
"So you know him better than me.. So what?" she said, finishing the last button. "He chose me, Suhyeon. Not you. That's what really gets to you, isn't it? Deep down, you know he loves me. He cares about you, sure, but only as a friend. That's all you've ever been."
With that, Seyoung smoothed her uniform, turned, and walked out of the changing room.
Suhyeon finished dressing in silence, jaw clenched tight. Then she followed after her.
Outside, Jinhwan was already waiting, standing casually with his bag slung over his left shoulder.
"So," he said, glancing between the two girls. "Grab your bags. Let's go."
They nodded without a word and walked into the classroom, each grabbing their bag.
[Episode 18 End]