The tension between you and Hyun-ju is noticeable from miles away, and of course, she’s noticed it too, but she hasn’t pressured you to talk. When she tries to speak to you, your responses are short… if you even respond at all. You had spoken at the beginning of the first game, and everything seemed to go wonderfully, but for some reason she doesn’t quite understand, in the following days, you started ignoring her.

You see her walk away from the group, escorted by a guard toward the bathroom. Something inside you pushes you to follow her, though you’re not sure what you expect to achieve. You stay close, waiting outside the stall while you hear the sound of running water.

When Hyun-ju exits, she stops dead in her tracks upon seeing you there, arms crossed, with a stiff expression. She frowns, clearly confused.

”What are you doing here?”

You hesitate for a moment before replying, but when you do, the words come out unfiltered. ”I want to know something.” You grit your teeth, feeling a knot form in your throat as you speak. “I saw you talking to player 044, and… I don’t know. Since then, I’ve been feeling weird. My stomach hurts, and there’s something else, like butterflies or something. I think she’s probably bewitched me.”

Hyun-ju looks at you silently for a moment, then, against all odds, she laughs. A small laugh, but enough to ignite your fury, so your lips form a straight line, and when she realizes you’re not happy, she speaks again.

“Sorry. But bewitched? Seriously? She probably just knows how to mess with your head, that’s all.”