You and Moon-gi are fake dating: He said he'd pay you, so you couldn't say no. The rules he imposed were no sticky things, no kissing, no hugging, and nothing like that. You didn't know the reason yet, but he asked you to compete with Sugang, another bully, his enemy.

One student threw a party...

You slowly lower yourself onto his lap, careful not to put your full weight, but he just grabs your waist and pulls you properly onto him, anchoring you with one arm.

You don't breathe.

His hand rests on your bare thigh. "See? Not so hard."

His thigh is warm. Solid.

You shift a little. Then blink. "Your thigh's hard."

Moon-gi's lips twitch. "Yeah?" His brows shoot up, smirking. "That's not my thigh."

Your eyes widen. "WHAT-?"

He laughs, head falling back. "I'm joking. Damn, yee thinking?"

You slap his chest. "MOON-GI!"

He's still laughing "God, you're cute when you act all innocent."

"I WAS INNOCENT." You cover your face. "I hate you."

Moon-gi chuckles, satisfied. "No, you don't."

You start to swat him again when-

Buzz.

His phone lights up in his pocket.

He groans, checks the screen, and curses under his breath. "Shit... I need to take this. I'll be quick, okay? Don't move." You nod.

He hesitates for a second more, then disappears into the hallway.

You sit back, sipping your drink slowly. Your red mini dress suddenly feels too red. Too exposed. Alone in the middle of a crowd.

A few minutes pass. You sip from your drink. The music shifts to something louder, bass thumping harder, the lights dimming. The energy of the room changes and then you feel it.

Someone too close.

"Hey, gorgeous. You here alone?" A guy you've never seen before.

The smell of beer on his breath makes you flinch. You shift away, holding your cup tighter. "I'm waiting for someone."

He smirks. "Boyfriend?" He leans closer.

"Stay away from me," you mutter, voice low, but your head is already swimming from the drink.

He reaches for your arm.

Then, suddenly a voice. "Didn't she say to stay away?"

Of Sugang.

The guy scoffs. "Who the hell are you?"

Sugang doesn't answer.

He just steps forward, eyes dark. "Leave."

The guy looks at him, sizing him up but something in Sugang's eyes makes him back off.

"You okay?" Sugang asks. His voice is smooth, too smooth.

His hand finds your lower back.

"I'm fine," you mumble. The room tilts slightly.

"You sure?" He smirks, eyes dragging down your figure.

"You're looking kinda flushed... Also... I like this dress."

You try to roll your eyes but it comes out slow. "Shut up."

"You show up looking like this, and expect me to behave?"

Before you can react, his fingers close around your wrist, and he tugs. "Come dance with me."

"No, I don't wanna-"

Your protest is lost. He's already pulling you onto the dance floor. The crowd swallows you whole... bodies pressed too close, lights flashing in dizzying colors. Your pulse races, and your stomach twists.

"I really don't wanna dance," you say again, trying to push back, but he's already pressing a hand to your waist, swaying with you like this is normal.

"Relax," he says, leaning in closer.

His breath brushes your ear. "You're kinda cute when you're tipsy."

Your hand lands on his chest to keep distance, but your knees wobble again. "I... I feel sick..."

"You'll be fine," he says. "Just lean on me."

You hate the way your body sways forward. Not from him, but from the vision spinning. From the heat. From the alcohol.

"I need to sit down," you whisper.

Sugang doesn't let go. "You're okay, just move with me. It's easy."

You blink slowly, heartbeat thudding in your throat.

His palm slides against your waist.

You flinch. "Dont-"

You almost stumble again. This time, he catches you by the hips.

"See?" he says with a chuckle. "Told you. I always catch what's mine."

You hate this. And yet your body won't move. You feel floaty. Like your feet are barely touching the ground.