[No-Ah]
The next morning came quietly.
Sunlight filtered through the classroom windows in soft, golden streaks, settling across desks and chairs like it belonged there—like everything was exactly as it should be. Voices filled the room in low murmurs, pages turning, chairs scraping lightly against the floor.
Normal.
Everything felt painfully normal.
No-Ah sat at her desk, a book open in front of her, her eyes fixed on the same line she had read three times already.
The words blurred together, meaningless, slipping past her without leaving anything behind.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the edge of the page.
Once.
Twice.
Then stilled.
A faint crease formed between her brows.
"…Why am I even thinking about that?"
It had been nothing.
Just a random stranger.
Just a moment.
And yet—
for some reason, it lingered.
The feeling of it.
The memory of it.
The way his head tilted slightly under her hand—
No-Ah shut her book a little harder than necessary.
"…Ridiculous." she sighed.
She leaned back slightly, exhaling under her breath, trying to shake it off.
It didn't matter.
None of it did.
It was just something that happened.
Something small.
Something she would forget.
Eventually.
At least Yun-Ra's not bothering me now.
"NO-AH!"
The classroom door slammed open.
Speak of the devil.
Yun-Ra burst in like a hurricane, eyes sparkling, phone already in hand.
No-Ah didn't even look up.
"…Too early," she muttered.
"NO, IT'S NOT—THIS IS IMPORTANT."
That got her attention.
No-Ah sighed, finally lifting her gaze. "If this is about Kei again—"
"It is about Kei."
"…Of course it is."
Yun-Ra practically dragged a chair over, dropping into the seat beside her with zero dignity.
"You are NOT ready for this."
"I never am when it comes to you." No-Ah countered back.
"Just shut up and watch."
Before No-Ah could protest, the phone was already in front of her face.
A video.
Grainy. Shaky. Definitely taken by someone hiding behind a corner.
"…What am I even looking at—"
"Just WATCH."
No-Ah exhaled, reluctantly focusing.
At first, it was just a back alley.
Dark.
Quiet.
Then—
movement.
A figure stepped into frame.
It looked like a man.
Tall.
Black hoodie.
Head slightly lowered.
Something about the posture— No-Ah's fingers stilled on the desk.
...wait.
Three other guys followed.
Louder.
Aggressive.
Even through the muffled audio, their tone was clear.
They were mocking someone.
"…fans like that are pathetic—"
"—he's not even that good—"
"—people worship him for no reason—"
No... they were mocking a fandom.
The video shook slightly.
Then suddenly—
the hooded figure moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
A punch.
Clean.
Direct.
One guy staggered back.
Another lunged forward—
blocked.
Countered.
Dropped.
No-Ah's eyes widened slightly at how the movements made by the figure weren't messy.
They were controlled.
Precise.
Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
"See?! SEE?!" Yun-Ra grabbed her arm, practically vibrating.
"He took on like, THREE guys because they insulted his fans!"
No-Ah didn't respond.
Her gaze stayed locked on the screen.
The angle shifted for a split second—
just enough for a glimpse of his face.
Bruised, lip slightly cut.
Something in her chest tightened.
"…That's him," Yun-Ra whispered dramatically. "Kei."
No-Ah's expression didn't change.
Didn't move.
"…so?" she said flatly.
Yun-Ra froze. "SO?! Are you serious, No-Ah??" She gripped her chest as if she'd been betrayed.
"He got into a fight," No-Ah shrugged lightly. "People do that."
"FOR HIS FANS."
"…still a fight."
Yun-Ra stared at her like she had just committed a crime.
"You have NO emotions."
"I have plenty. Just not for this."
But her fingers— were gripping the edge of the desk slightly tighter.
Yun-Ra squinted.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"…you're acting weird."
"I always act like this."
"No, you don't."
"Yes, I do."
Before Yun-Ra could interrogate her further, No-Ah reached over and pushed the phone back.
"Anyway, shouldn't you be happy? Your idol is trending."
"Oh, I AM."
And just like that, Yun-Ra's attention snapped right back to her phone.
"Wait—there's more."
No-Ah internally groaned.
Of course there was.
Yun-Ra shoved the screen back again.
This time— an article.
Big headline.
"Rising Star Kei Involved in Street Altercation—Injuries Raise Questions"
No-Ah's eyes flicked across the screen despite herself.
"…read this part," Yun-Ra insisted, scrolling.
"Witnesses reported visible injuries on Kei following the incident, including cuts and bruising. However, less than 24 hours later, sources claim that the injuries appeared to have been treated with surprising care, leading fans to speculate about a 'mysterious helper'—"
No-Ah's heart skipped a beat.
Just once.
Despite attempts to investigate nearby hospitals and clinics, no record of Kei's name was found, leaving fans questioning just who had taken care of him—and why it was being kept hidden."
"…people online are going CRAZY," Yun-Ra continued, grinning.
"They're like 'WHO TOOK CARE OF HIM??' 'WHO TOUCHED HIS FACE??' 'IS HE HIDING A GIRLFRIEND??'"
No-Ah blinked.
Slowly.
Then scoffed.
"People have too much time."
"EXACTLY. So?? What do you think?"
"I think," No-Ah said calmly, "that whoever helped him probably just didn't want someone bleeding out in an alley."
Yun-Ra leaned in.
Eyes narrowing.
"…that sounded personal."
"It's called common sense."
"Mmhm."
Silence.
A very loud silence.
Yun-Ra's gaze didn't leave her.
"…what? You're getting too close."
"You're DEFINITELY hiding something."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You ARE."
No-Ah clicked her pen.
Once.
Twice.
"…even if I was," she said flatly, "why would I help him of all people?"
Yun-Ra gasped.
"OH MY GOD—YOU DIDN'T—"
"I DIDN'T." the words slipped out of her mouth a little too fast.
Way too fast.
Yun-Ra froze.
Then slowly—
very slowly—
a grin spread across her face.
"Oh. My. God."
"No."
"You TOTALLY DID."
"I said I didn't."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You're a terrible liar."
"I'm an excellent liar."
"You just panicked."
"I did not panic."
"You panicked."
"I—"
No-Ah stopped.
Clenched her jaw slightly.
"…you're annoying."
"And you helped Kei."
"I did NOT."
But her ears—
were slightly red.
Yun-Ra leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a victorious smile.
"I'm watching you."
"Don't."
"Oh, I will."
No-Ah looked away.
Out the window.
Anywhere but at Yun-Ra.
Her fingers unconsciously brushed against her own chin—
just for a second.
Then she quickly dropped her hand.
"…ridiculous," she muttered.
But the image—
of a bruised face under dim light—
didn't leave.
Not even a little.
☆☆☆