Kailey's pov
It had been a while since Briana and Jin left to go shopping, and I didn't know what was wrong with me—I felt uneasy. They were just shopping, nothing more. That had nothing to do with me. Yet here I was, sitting by the bonfire with Sister Jeanine and Claine, trying to push away the nagging thoughts swirling in my head. Their lively chatter filled the air, making it even harder for me to focus.
Ever since we arrived, Jin and I hadn't had a moment alone together. Not that he had any obligation to spend time with me, but... Sigh. Why couldn't Jin just glance my way, even for a second? Falling in love really sucked.
"Do you know how annoying Jin is?! That guy gives me nothing but headaches! He's never home—you'd think he was just a boarder or something!" Sister Jeanine ranted, waving a piece of grilled fish in frustration. Her voice carried clear exasperation, but deep down, we all knew she cared about her brother. She just had a peculiar way of showing it.
"You and Jin seem really close, sis Jeanine," Claine teased.
Sister Jeanine nearly choked on her food. We had our own bonfire, separate from the boys—her insistence, though I wasn't sure why. Maybe she still wasn't comfortable around the other JRK members.
"To be honest, I do love my brother," she admitted, recovering from her near choking incident. "But sometimes, I just want to smack him."
I chuckled, finding her honesty refreshing. It was nice hearing more about Jin, even if it was mostly complaints.
"That's true, right, Kai?"
I almost choked on the marshmallow I was eating. Damn! If I kept reacting like this, they'd figure me out for sure!
"Uh... yeah, he's kind of hard to deal with sometimes," I muttered nervously, hoping my voice sounded casual.
"See? Even Kai agrees!" Sister Jeanine said triumphantly before launching into another round of Jin-related grievances.
Strangely, I enjoyed the conversation. Learning more about Jin, even from his sister's complaints, made me feel a bit closer to him. It was funny how love worked that way.
After a while, I excused myself and wandered toward the shoreline. The night sky stretched endlessly above me, the stars twinkling like tiny lanterns. The moon reflected off the gentle waves, casting a silver glow over the water. I wanted to etch this moment into my memory forever.
As I stood there, someone sat beside me and handed me a skewer of barbecue.
"Have you heard the story of the Moon Princess, Kaguya?" Ken's voice broke the silence.
"You mean The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter?" I asked, accepting the food.
He nodded, his gaze fixed on the sky, his expression unreadable.
"I know that one. Why?"
"No reason," he murmured. "The moon always reminds me of that story. It makes me sad."
He paused before continuing, "The Emperor couldn't wait for Princess Kaguya. He threw away the elixir of immortality. But... what if that was her way of asking him to wait? What if she wanted to test his patience before they could be reunited?"
His words carried a weight that settled deep in my chest. Ken was acting differently tonight—more contemplative, more vulnerable.
"To be honest, I've always thought the same thing," I admitted. "The Emperor wasn't patient enough to wait for Kaguya, so they were never reunited. He grew old and died, while she remained alone for eternity."
Ken turned to me with a knowing look. "Don't you think the same thing might happen to you and Jin?"
His words struck me like a bolt of lightning.
"I know you like Jin. I knew from the moment we met at the mall."
I stiffened, my heart pounding. Was I really that obvious? Even Ken had noticed?
"So what?" I muttered, avoiding his gaze. "What are you trying to say?"
"In your case, you're expecting Jin to wait for you to be ready," Ken said gently. "But Jin doesn't even know you want him to wait. He doesn't even know you like him."
I clenched my hands, feeling my defenses crumbling. Ken had a point, and I hated it.
"Unlike Princess Kaguya, who had no choice but to leave, you can be with Jin anytime. All you need is the courage to tell him how you feel."
"But I'm not ready," I whispered. "I don't know how to say it yet."
Ken sighed, staring back at the moon. "You're lucky, Yuzu. Jin has a high chance of liking you back. Meanwhile, I can't even start a conversation with Jeanine."
Wait—Sister Jeanine?!
"You like Jin's sister?!" I blurted out in shock. I thought it was just a joke all this time!
Ken chuckled. "Yeah. So don't waste your chance, Kai. Because if you do... you'll end up watching him slip through your fingers, happy with someone else."
Just the thought of Jin being with someone else sent a sharp, unbearable ache through my chest. I didn't want that. I wanted Jin. I wanted him to be mine.
"That's right, Kai," a familiar voice interrupted, sending a shiver down my spine.
I turned slowly, my gaze locking onto hers.
"You should try your luck before I take him away and keep him to myself."
I froze. A chill ran down my spine as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water over me.
"Would you accept my challenge, Kai?"
I sighed...
"Looks like that makes you my rival now, huh Briana?"
Briana smirked, her confidence unwavering.
A challenge. That's what this was.
My fingers curled into fists as I met her stare head-on. No more running. No more hiding.
Would I accept her challenge?
My heart pounded in my chest, but I already knew my answer.
I would fight for Jin.
___________________________________
*The next day*
Jin's pov
Today is our collaboration training with the other teams. Some members are busy doing their own thing, while Kev, Sis, Ken, and I are watching the others spar.
"What do you think about their improvements? Have they changed much?" I asked my two companions.
"Actually, they're all improving well, especially Jerzey and the twins," Kev noted.
I nodded in agreement. Even though it's only our second day here, their progress is undeniable. They've been growing at an impressive pace.
Right now, we're watching Ryu and Jerzey spar. From what I can see, Ryu is definitely overpowering Jerzey. It makes sense—Ryu is incredibly strong, and their fighting styles are worlds apart. I've seen Jerzey fight before, and he's no pushover. Being a black belt in Judo, he has exceptional skills, but MMA is not his forte, which is why he's struggling.
"What's the matter, Lim? Still holding on? Just say 'Sorry, Master Ryu,' and I might go easy on you!" Ryu taunted, laughing mockingly. Jerzey, clearly irritated, rushed at him with a flurry of punches. But Ryu countered every single one effortlessly.
It was obvious—Jerzey had no chance against Ryu in this kind of setup. That gave me an idea.
"Hey, Ryu! Why don't you fight Jerzey in his game?" I suggested, smirking. Knowing Ryu's arrogant nature, I was certain he wouldn't back down from a challenge.
"Pfft, easy! No matter what, I'll crush this guy!" Ryu boasted, puffing out his chest.
Jerzey grinned, and I knew Ryu had just made a big mistake.
Jerzey handed Ryu a Judo Gi, and soon, the match was on. At first, Ryu tried to rely on brute strength, attempting to overpower Jerzey with sheer force. But Jerzey was a master at using his opponent's weight against them. Within seconds, we were all laughing as Jerzey completely dominated Ryu. He couldn't even last a minute before getting slammed onto the mats.
Ryu gritted his teeth and got up, clearly embarrassed but determined. He charged at Jerzey again, this time attempting to adjust, trying to use speed rather than strength. Jerzey effortlessly redirected his momentum, flipping him over with an ippon-seoi-nage that had Ryu gasping for breath.
"So, Ryu, how's it feel now? Maybe you should say 'Sorry, Master Jerzey' and I might consider going easy on you'" Jerzey mocked, throwing Ryu's words right back at him. Kev, Ken, and Sis burst into laughter beside me.
Ryu's frustration boiled over, and he became reckless. He lunged wildly, but Jerzey anticipated it and executed a perfect osoto-gari, slamming Ryu down hard. The impact echoed through the gym.
"Damn, he really thought he could handle Jerzey in Judo? Even I can't get the upper hand against him!" Ken commented, shaking his head while laughing.
Ryu groaned in defeat, lying flat on the mat, completely spent. "Okay... fine... I get it... Judo's your thing," he admitted breathlessly.
Soon, Kev turned to me, grinning. "Jin, how about we go for two rounds?"
I glanced at him. I had just sparred with Briana yesterday, and my win was purely luck. But sparring with Kev would be an entirely different experience—one I wasn't about to pass up.
"Alright, let's do it."
We found an open space where Kai and Briana had just finished their match. Kai was sitting on a bench, blood on her lip. I handed her a handkerchief, which she took, wiping the blood away.
"Thanks. I'll return this once it's clean," she said with a small smile.
"Who won?" I asked Briana, who was drinking water.
"I did. But she almost got me... if only she didn't get tired first," she admitted, sitting beside Kai.
"Simple MMA rules?" Kev confirmed.
I nodded as we put on our protective gear. Kev set the timer, and we got ready.
The first round started slow, both of us gauging each other. I knew one thing for sure—I had to avoid his right hook at all costs. If he landed one, I'd be done for.
Kev feinted left before lunging in with a quick jab. I dodged and countered with a reverse kick aimed at his head. He barely ducked under it, his reaction speed insane. Seeing an opening, I rushed in. But he was ready—his right hook came flying. I barely blocked it with my left forearm, but the impact left my arm numb. Another hit like that would be a disaster. His fist feels like a fucking boulder! Shit!
Kev smirked. "You felt that, huh?"
I ignored him, focusing on my strategy. I had a height and reach advantage, so I kept my distance, throwing jabs. Kev dodged them all effortlessly. I threw a fake jab, predicting his movement, and aimed a straight punch at him. He blocked it. This isn't going to be easy.
He suddenly closed the gap, delivering a brutal body shot. Pain exploded in my ribs, and I staggered back, gasping. Kev pressed forward, his footwork impeccable. He wasn't just strong—he was calculated.
I forced him into a punch exchange but kept dodging his right hooks. If one of them landed, I'd be kissing the floor.
The first round ended, and Briana handed us both water. I glanced at my forearm—swollen and throbbing. Kev's punches were no joke.
"Last round, Jin! Are you ever going to let me land a right hook?" Kev teased, laughing.
"Kev, do you have some hidden grudge against me?" I asked sarcastically.
"Hah! Idiot! Let's go again!" he laughed.
The second round began, and I immediately went on the offensive. I couldn't let him set up that right hook. I landed five consecutive punches and followed up with another reverse kick to his head. He stumbled back, but before I could capitalize, he countered with a jab, forcing me to step away.
Damn, I was getting tired. I had to finish this quickly. With everything I had left, I charged at him. His right hook was coming—I barely dodged it. His stance was off, so I landed a full-force body blow and finished with a head kick, knocking him down.
I was gasping for air, my body aching, but I had won.
"Good match," Kai said, handing me a towel with a small smile. "Since you did well, I think you deserve a reward."
"Yeah, I do," I muttered, exhausted. I needed food. I needed sleep.
"Well then—" Before I could react, she grabbed me by the nape and kissed me.
My mind short-circuited. Her lips were soft, warm, and utterly intoxicating. The world around us seemed to fade, the exhaustion in my body melting away in an instant. Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, deepening the kiss. I could feel the heat rise to my face, my heart pounding as if I had just run ten rounds instead of two.
When she finally pulled back, she smirked. "Now how's that was a reward?"
I stood there, dazed. Holy shit.
I think that's officially one of the softest—and most mind-blowing—things in the universe.