Lines Drawn

Arkins stood frozen in the hallway, replaying Melly's words over and over in his head.

"Mind your business, Arkins."

It didn't make sense. Just yesterday, she had been so warm, so close—so undeniably his. But now? Now she was pushing him away as if none of it had ever meant anything.

Had he done something wrong?

Arkins clenched his fists. Maybe the three boys—Kim, Kang and Taemoo—had said something to her. He knew they never liked him hanging around her, always acting like they owned her. Could they have poisoned her mind against him?

There was only one way to find out.

Confrontation

Arkins found them at the basketball court, casually talking as if they hadn't just ruined his day.

"Hey, you three," he called out, his voice laced with irritation.

The boys turned, their expressions shifting the moment they saw who it was.

"What do you want?" Taemoo asked, rolling his eyes.

Arkins crossed his arms. "What did you say to Melly?"

Kang scoffed. "What makes you think we said anything?"

"Because she was fine yesterday. Then she wakes up today and suddenly acts like I don't exist." Arkins stepped closer, his jaw tightening. "So I'll ask again—what did you say?"

Kim, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly chuckled.

"Maybe she just woke up and realized you're not that special."

Arkins' eyes darkened. "Watch it."

Kim smirked, stepping forward until he was face-to-face with Arkins. "Or what? You gonna fight me over her?"

The tension thickened, the air practically crackling between them.

"You're damn right I will," Arkins shot back.

Kim's smirk faltered for a second before his eyes hardened. Then, without warning, he spoke the words that changed everything.

"I love her."

Taemoo and Kang stiffened, looking at Kim in shock.

Arkins' eyes flickered with something dark, something possessive. "Say that again."

Kim didn't hesitate. "I said I love Melly. And I won't let you have her."

Arkins let out a low chuckle, shaking his head as if Kim had just told a joke. Then his expression turned deadly serious. "Melly will be mine forever."

Kim's fist clenched. "Over my dead body."

Arkins grinned. "That can be arranged."

And just like that, the fight exploded.

Kim swung first, his fist barely grazing Arkins' jaw before Arkins retaliated, slamming his shoulder into Kim's chest and sending him stumbling backward. Taemoo and Kang jumped in, and soon the court was a battlefield of shoves, punches, and curses.

Then, suddenly—

"Stop!"

Melly's voice rang out like a gunshot, freezing everyone in place.

She stormed toward them, her eyes blazing with fury. Without hesitation, she stepped between Arkins and Kim, facing Arkins with a look that made his chest tighten.

"What the hell are you doing?" she hissed.

Arkins wiped blood from his lip, his eyes searching hers for something—anything—that told him she still cared. "I was just making something clear," he said.

Melly exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "You need to stay away from my family, Arkins."

Arkins blinked. "Your... family?"

She turned to Kim, Taemoo and Kang then back to him. "Yes. They are my family."

Arkins' heart clenched. "Melly—"

"No," she cut him off. "You keep dragging me into your mess, causing unnecessary drama over something that will never happen."

His breath caught in his throat. "Something that will never happen?"

She lifted her chin. "Yes. Love. Friendship. Us."

Silence fell.

Arkins felt like the air had been knocked out of him.

Melly's gaze was cold, distant—so different from the way she had looked at him before.

She had drawn the line. And this time, she wasn't letting him cross it.

With one last glance at him, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving Arkins standing there, broken and furious.

Because he knew—deep down—this wasn't really what she wanted.

And he would do whatever it took to remind her of that.