The bottle stopped.
Right on Aaika and Arin.
Cheers exploded around them.
But before they could step forward, one of their friends shouted—
"Wait! There's a condition!"
Everyone laughed.
"No touching allowed!"
Aaika and Arin both froze for a second.
Then glanced at each other.
A little awkward.
A little shy.
"…Fine," Arin said.
Aaika nodded.
The music started.
Soft. Romantic.
They began to move—
Keeping distance.
Not touching.
But somehow—
It felt even more intense.
Their eyes stayed locked.
Every step.
Every turn.
Every breath.
It didn't feel like a game anymore.
It felt… real.
Too real.
For a moment—
The world around them disappeared.
No friends.
No noise.
No mission.
Just—
Him.
And her.
Aaika felt it.
That strange pull again.
Something she couldn't name.
Something she shouldn't feel.
This is wrong.
You're losing focus.
Suddenly—
She broke the moment.
Pretended to lose balance.
She fell—
But before she could hit the ground—
Arin caught her.
His grip tightened instinctively.
But he lost his own balance too.
And the next second—
They both fell.
Silence.
For a moment—
They didn't move.
Arin was hovering slightly above her.
His eyes locked into hers.
Deep.
Unblinking.
Aaika forgot to breathe.
There was something in his eyes.
Not doubt.
Not curiosity.
Something softer.
Something dangerous.
Wish's voice suddenly cut through—
"This is the perfect moment. Come with me."
Aaika blinked.
Reality crashed back.
She quickly pushed Arin away and stood up.
Before she could leave—
Arin grabbed her wrist gently.
"Wait…"
Wish whispered urgently,
"Hold him. I'll go."
Aaika hesitated for a second—
Then nodded slightly.
Wish disappeared.
Aaika stayed.
Standing there.
Trying to act normal.
Trying to ignore her heartbeat.
A few seconds later—
Wish returned.
"It's ready," she said softly.
"Send him to your room."
Aaika took a breath.
Then looked at Arin.
"Arin…"
He stepped closer.
"Yeah?"
She placed a hand lightly on her head.
"My head… it's hurting a lot."
Arin's expression changed instantly.
"What? Since when?"
"Just now… I think I need medicine."
Aaika looked at him.
"My tablet is on the table in my room… can you please get it?"
Arin didn't think twice.
"Of course."
And he turned—
Walking toward her room.
Aaika stood still.
Watching him go.
Her expression slowly changed.
From soft—
To conflicted.
Wish appeared beside her again.
"Now everything depends on that diary."
Aaika looked away.
"This… better work."
But her voice didn't sound confident.
Because deep inside—
For the first time—
She wasn't just worried about the plan failing.Arin quietly entered Aaika's room.
Everything felt… calm.
Too calm.
He walked to the table and picked up the medicine.
But just as he turned—
His eyes fell on something.
A diary.
He stopped.
Brows slightly furrowed.
"Aaika… keeps a diary?" he murmured.
That didn't feel right.
She never seemed like someone who would write her feelings.
For a moment, he just stared at it.
Then shook his head.
"Not my business."
He closed his eyes briefly—
And turned to leave.
Thud.
The diary fell to the floor.
Arin froze.
He turned back slowly.
"I didn't touch it…"
Something felt off.
But curiosity—
Won.
He walked back.
Picked it up.
It was open.
His eyes dropped to the page.
And then—
They stopped.
His name.
Arin.
His heartbeat changed.
"Why… is my name here?"
He hesitated.
This was wrong.
He shouldn't read it.
But something pulled him in.
The room light flickered—
Then turned on.
Arin looked around for a second.
No one.
Then again—
His eyes went back to the page.
And this time—
He read.
"I don't know when it started…
but I feel something when I'm with him."
His breath slowed.
"Arin is different.
He makes me feel safe… something I've never felt before."
A pause.
"I want to stay with him.
Even if it's just as a friend… or maybe something more."
Arin's fingers tightened slightly around the diary.
This…
Was unexpected.
All the small moments flashed in his mind—
Her smile.
Her silence.
The way she looked at him.
The way she stayed.
"Was it all real…?" he whispered.
Outside—
Laughter from the party echoed faintly.
But inside the room—
Everything felt still.
Arin looked at the diary again.
His expression had changed.
Not confusion anymore.
Not suspicion.
Something softer.
Something deeper.
But also—
Something dangerous.
Because now—
He wasn't just questioning her.
He was starting to believe her.
Little did he know—
Those weren't her words.
They were written
By someone else.
Someone watching silently from the shadows.
Wish.
Standing invisible in the corner—
Smiling.
"Hooked," she whispered softly.
Arin closed the diary slowly.
But this time—
He didn't put it back immediately.
He held it for a moment longer.
As if trying to feel the truth through it.
Then—
He placed it carefully on the table.
And walked out.
But he wasn't the same anymore.
Because now—
His heart had stepped forward…
Even if his mind still stood behind.
To be continued…