I never liked Jinwoo. Something about him just rubbed me the wrong way his smug smile, his effortless charm, the way people seemed to gravitate toward him. It wasn’t just that he was good looking or confident. No, it was the fact that every time I tried to shine, Jiwoo was already standing in the spotlight.

It started in high school. Whether it was sports, academics, or even social circles, Jinwoo and I always found ourselves competing. If I scored the highest on a test, he would somehow beat me the next time. If I showed up with a new style, suddenly, he’d be the one setting trends. It was infuriating.

Then, one night, things escalated. We ran into each other at a party just the two of us, staring at each other through the reflection of a bathroom mirror.