Seojoon tried to focus on anything but the lingering image of Azalea walking with Taehwan. The idea of them together didn't make sense. Taehwan wasn't the type to be friendly without an ulterior motive, and Azalea wasn't the kind of person to entertain someone like him—or so Seojoon thought.
The day passed in a blur, and by the time classes ended, Seojoon found himself lingering by the school gates, hoping to catch Azalea before she left. His stomach twisted with unease. He needed answers, but he didn't want to come across as overly protective or accusatory.
Minutes passed before he spotted her, her bag slung over her shoulder as she walked toward the exit. Gathering his courage, Seojoon stepped forward.
"Azalea," he called out, his voice firm but not harsh.
She stopped, turning to face him. Her expression was unreadable, a mix of surprise and something else—guilt, maybe?
"Seojoon," she said, her voice soft. "What's up?"
"I need to ask you something," he began, trying to steady his nerves. "I saw you with Taehwan earlier. What was that about?"
Azalea's eyes widened slightly before she quickly composed herself. "Oh, that? It's nothing. He just wanted to talk."
"Talk?" Seojoon repeated, his brows furrowing. "Taehwan doesn't just 'talk.' What did he want?"
Azalea hesitated, her gaze dropping to the ground. "He… he apologized."
Seojoon blinked, caught off guard. "Apologized? For what?"
"For everything," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "For the fight, for causing trouble. He said he wanted to make amends."
Seojoon stared at her, struggling to believe her words. "And you believed him?"
Azalea sighed, looking up at him with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "I don't know, Seojoon. Maybe I wanted to believe him. People can change, right?"
"Taehwan doesn't change," Seojoon said, his tone sharper than he intended. "He's not the kind of guy who just decides to be a better person."
Azalea's expression hardened. "And how would you know? Have you ever given him a chance?"
Seojoon stepped back, her words hitting harder than he expected. He opened his mouth to argue, but no words came.
"Look," Azalea continued, her voice softening, "I'm not saying he's suddenly a saint. But if there's even a small chance that he means it, shouldn't we at least hear him out?"
Seojoon clenched his fists, torn between his instincts and her logic. He wanted to protect Azalea, to shield her from getting hurt, but he also knew he couldn't control her decisions.
"Just… be careful, okay?" he finally said, his voice heavy with concern.
Azalea smiled faintly, a hint of warmth returning to her eyes. "I will. Thanks, Seojoon."
As she walked away, Seojoon watched her go, the unease in his chest refusing to subside.
That evening, Seojoon decided to clear his head with a workout. He headed to the gym, hoping the physical exertion would help him process his swirling emotions. As he pushed himself through sets of weights and sprints, his mind kept drifting back to Azalea and Taehwan.
Just as he was finishing up, his phone buzzed with a message.
Minjun: "Hey, you free? Something's going on at school."
Seojoon frowned, quickly typing back.
Seojoon: "What do you mean?"
Minjun: "I saw Taehwan and his crew hanging around after hours. Thought you might want to know."
Seojoon's jaw tightened. He grabbed his bag and headed out, a mix of dread and determination fueling his steps.
By the time he reached the school, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the campus in shadows. Seojoon moved quietly, his ears tuned to any sounds that might give away Taehwan's location.
It didn't take long to find them. In the courtyard, under the dim glow of a flickering streetlight, Taehwan and his lackeys stood in a loose circle. And in the center, facing them with a defiant look, was Azalea.
Seojoon's blood ran cold. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the tension.
"Taehwan!"
The group turned, their expressions shifting from smug to startled.
"Well, if it isn't the hero," Taehwan sneered, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes.
"What are you doing here, Seojoon?" Azalea asked, her voice a mix of surprise and relief.
"I could ask you the same thing," Seojoon shot back, his gaze never leaving Taehwan. "What do you want with her?"
Taehwan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, tough guy. We were just talking."
"It didn't look like just talking," Seojoon said, stepping closer.
Azalea moved to stand beside Seojoon, her earlier confidence wavering. "He said he needed to explain something… but I think I made a mistake coming here."
"You think?" Seojoon muttered under his breath before glaring at Taehwan. "This ends now. Leave her alone."
Taehwan's smirk faltered, but he quickly covered it up with bravado. "Or what? You'll fight us again? You got lucky last time, Seojoon."
"Try me," Seojoon said, his voice low and steady.
For a moment, the tension hung thick in the air. Then Taehwan huffed, signaling to his lackeys.
"Let's go," he muttered, brushing past Seojoon with a glare.
As they disappeared into the night, Seojoon turned to Azalea.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice softening.
She nodded, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "I didn't know who else to call. I thought… maybe he really wanted to apologize."
Seojoon sighed, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Next time, call me first, okay?"
Azalea smiled faintly, her voice trembling. "Okay. Thanks, Seojoon."
As they walked away from the empty school, Seojoon couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something bigger. Taehwan wasn't the type to give up easily, and Seojoon knew he'd have to be ready for whatever came next.