By the time lunch rolled around, her nerves were frayed. She walked through the crowded cafeteria carrying her tray, the low hum of gossip rising the moment she stepped inside.
Her fake friends waved her over, their smiles too wide, their whispers too loud. She slid into her usual seat, head down, mask fixed in place.
But then Kai entered.
The room shifted. Conversations paused, girls straightened, eyes followed him as if gravity itself bent around him. He didn't acknowledge any of it. His dark gaze scanned the room once, landing on her like a spotlight, before he moved toward a table.
Not his table. Hers.
Her fake friends froze. One of them let out a nervous giggle, whispering, "Oh my god, is he—" before shutting up instantly when Kai dropped into the empty seat across from her.
He leaned back casually, hands in his pockets, like he belonged there. Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The whispers around them exploded.
Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. She stared at her food, refusing to meet his eyes, but it didn't matter. She could feel him watching her.
"Not hungry?" Kai asked, his voice calm, low, enough to cut through the noise.
Her fake friends blinked, clearly hanging onto every word, every movement. She forced herself to pick up a fork. "I'm fine," she muttered.
"Liar."
The word was soft, sharp, meant for her alone. Her hand trembled as she set the fork down.
Her friends looked between them, confused, curious, uneasy. One of them finally broke the silence with a forced laugh. "Soo… Kai, why are you sitting here?"
Kai didn't even glance at them. His eyes stayed locked on her. "Because I want to."
The table fell silent. Her friends exchanged looks, half-shocked, half-envious.
Her chest felt tight, heat rushing to her cheeks. She wanted to disappear, to sink into the floor. And yet, beneath the panic, something stirred—an unfamiliar warmth curling in her chest.
Kai's gaze softened, just for a second, before he leaned back again, unbothered by the stares.
And she realized with a sinking feeling—he wasn't going anywhere.