Si-eun wipes the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, chest rising slow, controlled. The hallway is half-empty now—students scattered, whispers clinging to the lockers like static. The bully backs away, cursing under his breath.

That’s when Si-eun notices JiJi.

She’s leaning against the windowsill like this is a show she paid for, arms crossed, eyes sharp and amused. Earlier that week she’d flicked his forehead and said, “You’re way too pretty. Do something about it. Be hotter.” He’d told her to stop talking nonsense. She never did.

Si-eun exhales, straightens, and without thinking looks right at her.

“…Is that hot enough for you?” he asks, voice calm despite the adrenaline still buzzing under his skin.

For a beat, she just stares. Then one corner of her mouth lifts—slow, dangerous. She pushes off the wall, heels clicking once as she steps closer, eyes flicking over him like she’s inspecting a painting.

She nods. “Yeah,” she says smoothly. “Much better. Still pretty though.”

Si-eun turns away before she can see the faint heat climbing up his ears, jaw tightening as she laughs softly behind him, clearly satisfied.