Choice 1
Yuchan held Yujin especially dear. He'd had countless chances to claim her body, and even now it wouldn't be hard at all. Still, he was biding his time. Waiting for the moment when she shone in her most beautiful form, so he could savor her fully. In a way, it was a special treatment that could even be called love.
On the first of May, a special three-day event took place in the massive parking lot of KINTEX. A night market utilizing the absurdly spacious lot. From evening until late into the night, food stalls, bars, and assorted shops gathered, focusing more on eats and drinks than daily necessities. Visitors spanned all ages—students, families out for fun, tourists from abroad, couples. With little else to do in Ilsan, locals and folks from nearby areas swarmed the place.
The vendors, setting up like street food carts, were mostly from nearby shops. The festive vibe loosened wallets and offered prime promotion, drawing every business from the bustling streets. Even Yuchan, human as he was, felt his mood lift in the touristy atmosphere. Beside him walked Yujin and Seohyun. He'd casually suggested it as the academy day wound down. Seohyun couldn't refuse. Yujin, who hadn't shown up at the counseling room much lately, was thrilled to tag along to the parking lot. It had been nearly half a month since he'd seen her alone. After her mother had kicked up a fuss, prying eyes had made things awkward. More students shot meaningful glances in the hallways. Thanks to his built-up reputation, it was curiosity rather than negativity, but annoyances were annoyances. He'd tucked away his quiet rage at Miyoung for now. He'd collect it all eventually.
"Whoa, Teacher, this is my first night market. If I'd known it was this fun, I would've come way sooner."
"Good thing I brought you, then."
Bright lights dangled like lanterns along the rows of stalls. Yujin, cheeks puffed out like a hamster from a buttery potato, scanned around excitedly. Seohyun, tense and wary beside her, kept stealing glances at Yuchan, clearly on edge about what he might pull next.
"Huh? They have a Viking ride over there. Can I go on it, Teacher?"
"Go ahead."
Scattered amid the market were amusements—darts, goldfish scooping, shooting galleries, claw machines. Yujin had her eye on a small Viking ship loaded on a truck, the kind kids rode for a thousand won a pop. Her eyes sparkled as she grabbed Seohyun's arm.
"Seohyun, come ride with me! It's weird going alone."
"You know I get motion sick on those. I'll wait—hurry back."
Seohyun flicked a glance at Yuchan and declined. Yujin pouted, started to ask Yuchan, then shuffled off alone toward the ride. She'd come out on short notice for this sudden night market invite, but Yujin being here too? Back when she'd first met Yuchan, it was through Yujin—the one she'd confessed her crush to. But now that she knew his true face, just seeing him hover near the adorable, beautiful Yujin set her nerves on fire. He wasn't the type to settle for one catch. A gluttonous incarnation who'd shove anything edible into his mouth. Anyone could see he had his eye on Yujin.
The moment Yujin was out of earshot, Seohyun spoke up.
"Don't you dare touch Yujin."
Raw killing intent laced her words. Naturally, Yuchan scoffed inwardly. Ever since he'd started bedding Nayae, the two girls had taken to comforting each other daily. The first step was always the hardest. Having deliberately pushed them over that line, it was inevitable Seohyun would fall for Nayae. And that trigger was reshaping Seohyun's Black Box bit by bit.
Originally, Seohyun's Black Box had been a green cosmos grafted onto a phlox stem stuck in a clear glass bottle—a sign of how dependent she was on Yujin. But now? The phlox stem stretching into the bottle was shrinking day by day. Instead, a baby salmon swam in the water-filled jar like an aquarium. Seohyun was starting to embrace Nayae over Yujin. Though Yujin remained her precious friend, no doubt.
"If you touch Yujin, I won't stay quiet."
Her sharp glare and empty threat were classic Seohyun ploy—provoking him to redirect his focus onto her. Even if it meant punishment for insolence, it'd be hers alone. Better to sate his lust with her body and steal his attention from Yujin. Yuchan, reading her to the end, stroked her cheek. He liked her noble sacrifice for her friend. Seohyun flinched, expecting harsh words instead.
He was still keeping their relationship airtight from Yujin. What excuse would he spin if she saw this?
"Yujin likes me. Even without me chasing, time will have her spreading her legs for me. It's just a matter of when. What could you do then? Grab her and spill all the truths?"
She couldn't. That would endanger Nayae. So what was he showing her by dragging her here?
"What do you want? You already have my body. Do whatever."
"You're right—I can do anything to you anytime. Like strip right here, and you would."
Seohyun's voice cracked with fury. His smirking retort ground her teeth in humiliation. Still, she pressed for his true intent. It looked like avoiding alone time with Yujin, but there were easier ways—other students, Nayae even. He chose her for a reason, she figured. No lengthy explanations needed; she cut to the chase. Yuchan smiled. Quick on the uptake—that's why sharp kids were hard to hate.
"You want to protect Yujin?"
"No matter what."
"No matter what? Can you stand by that?"
"...Of course."
Did it need saying? She'd stake her life for that friend. Seohyun's eyes widened at his follow-up.
"You're... a real fucking bastard..."
"You can't protect everything in your grasp. Answer?"
No escape from his cruel proposal. If it was the only way to shield Yujin, she'd obey.
2.
How lonely had she been without even a moment alone with Teacher? Yujin was overjoyed. Coming to the night market she'd always wanted to try, with him no less. Sure, a cozy date would've been ideal, but Seohyun tagging along made sense. She knew her mom had put Teacher through hell. With crowds like this, academy kids were bound to be mixed in. Camouflage was smart to dodge later gossip.
She hopped off the Viking ride, regressing to childhood glee. What was fun as a kid still thrilled. Her screams and cheers must've tickled the operator pink—he extended the ride longer than usual. Fixing her wind-tossed hair, Yujin hurried back guiltily, sorry for making them wait.
Weaving carefully through the rowdy throng, she searched for Yuchan.
"Huh? Where'd they go?"
No sign of them where Seohyun said they'd wait. With so many people, maybe she missed him? But no—his tall frame and build should've stood out. Bathroom break maybe? Not wanting paths to cross, she waited patiently. But time dragged, and no Yuchan.
"Should I call?"
Mom checked her phone, so she kept deleting records anyway. As she pulled it out, her motion froze. Something caught her eye. Her gaze locked on the parking lot's edge, under the street trees—more precisely, on the two shadows there.
She rubbed her eyes, thinking it a mistake. Dodging the hazy lights, in the dim tree shade: Seohyun and Yuchan. Seohyun clung to his neck in a deep kiss. Yuchan held her waist, gladly tangling tongues. No surprise or hesitation—just familiar, languid intimacy. Yujin's heart plummeted.
What? Am I dreaming?
She staggered forward like a sleepwalker, bumping shoulders, shoving through. She wanted to flee, vanish forever alone. But to the last, she trusted Seohyun. Trusted Yuchan. She'd confessed her love to both. He'd said wait just a bit. They couldn't be kissing. Fierce denial stole her judgment.
"Seohyun..."
Less than twenty steps away now. Seohyun pinned Yuchan to the tree, kissing fiercer. She whipped around at Yujin's soft call, startled. Ash-gray waves clung to her cheek. Her lithe figure, eyes melting from kiss-heat. Yujin's best friend of fifteen years, Han Seohyun.
"Oh, Yujin... when'd you get here?"
Her awkward smile looked vile, alien.
"What're you two doing?"
Her soul floated free. Her dazed voice felt like a third-person view. Just nights ago, dinner with Seohyun—Yuchan the endless topic. Her whiny crush confessions, pleas for one hug. How laughable, pathetic to Seohyun, who'd already kissed him.
Yujin's eyes shifted to Yuchan. Unlike Seohyun's feigned fluster, he stood arms crossed, staring blankly. No kindness, no warmth—just cold, experimental detachment, devoid of humanity.
"Why're you looking at me like that?"
"Why're you two kissing? Teacher and... Seohyun... together...?"
Betrayal, resentment, shame—emotions too vast for words surged. Her throat burned like swallowing fire.
"Explain... Seohyun..."
"Yujin... it's not what it looks like..."
She'd been the fool. Thinking Yuchan called Seohyun as cover for them. Imagining he craved cozy time with her too. Wrong. All delusion. The one he truly wanted was Seohyun.
Now it all connected. Yuchan finding her a roommate when stalker woes hit—stranger Seohyun. Continuing "counseling" meets post-resolution. Seohyun's stiff reactions to Yujin's Yuchan boasts. Dodging him as topic. That arm-in-arm walk at the cafe. Why so late to see?
If only sooner—no fool she'd made of herself.
"Haha..."
"Yujin... let me explain. The truth is, I..."
Hollow laugh escaped.
"What a moron."
Seeing Seohyun fidget made anger boil. Fine for Teacher, but you? You're not supposed to.
"Just hear me out."
"Let go!"
Yujin harshly shook off Seohyun's grabbing arm and turned. She wiped stupid tears with her sleeve. The frozen spring night air chilled endlessly.
"Thanks for everything, Seohyun. Don't contact me anymore."
With that, Yujin vanished into the night streets.