chapter 7

Chapter 7: Cracks in the wall

The following days were a blur for Eeunsoo. He told himself it didn't matter, that whatever feelings had surfaced when Ah-Yumi fell asleep in his room were nothing but a fleeting moment of weakness.

He avoided her where he could. When they did cross paths, he kept his responses curt, his tone sharp enough to keep her at a distance.

But Ah-Yumi wasn't one to back down easily.

"You're being weird," she said bluntly, cornering him in the library one afternoon.

"I'm always like this," Eeunsoo replied, not looking up from his book.

"No, this is new. You're acting like I set your house on fire or something." She crossed her arms, her tone dripping with mock offense. "Which, for the record, I haven't. Yet."

"Maybe you should take that as a compliment," he muttered, flipping a page. "I'm giving you space."

She scoffed, leaning on the table between them. "Since when have I ever asked for space? Come on, what's your deal?"

Eeunsoo finally looked up, his cold gaze meeting hers. "Nothing's wrong. Stop imagining things."

Her brow furrowed, and for a moment, she looked almost concerned. "You're lying. What, did I accidentally hit some deep nerve when I stole your bed the other day?"

His jaw tightened at the memory. He could still see the way her hair had fallen across her face, the steady rhythm of her breathing…

"Don't flatter yourself," he said sharply, snapping his book shut.

Ah-Yumi blinked, startled by the edge in his voice. Then, she narrowed her eyes, her confidence returning in full force. "Oh, so we're playing the cold and distant card? Fine. I'll bite." She leaned closer, her smirk sharp. "What's the matter, Eeunsoo? Afraid I'll figure you out?"

"There's nothing to figure out," he bit back, rising to his feet.

"Really?" she challenged, standing as well. "Because from where I'm standing, you're running scared. And honestly, it's kinda funny."

He froze, her words cutting deeper than he expected. "I'm not scared of anything."

"Sure you're not," she said with a shrug, turning to leave. "Keep telling yourself that, mystery man."

As she walked away, her confidence radiating off her like a shield, Eeunsoo felt his carefully constructed walls start to crack.

She was impossible. Loud, stubborn, and utterly infuriating.

And yet…

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, dragging a hand through his hair.

---

That Evening

Back in his room, Eeunsoo sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the ceiling. The memory of her smirk, her piercing eyes, lingered in his mind like an echo he couldn't shake.

What was it about her that left him so off-balance? He prided himself on being unshakable, unreadable, untouchable.

But Ah-Yumi?

She was chaos in human form, and he hated that she made him feel anything.

He let out a frustrated sigh,