"Hey—I said, what are you doing here?"
Hannah's voice sliced through the quiet hallway, sharp and pointed. Arms folded tight across her chest, she glared at Levi with an intensity that could shatter glass. Her tone was more than annoyed—it was accusatory, defensive, like a fuse had already been lit.
Levi took a step closer, his tone matching hers in volume but edged with something deeper—disappointment.
"That should be my line."
Hannah blinked, caught off guard for a beat, but quickly recovered. "...What?"
"I mean you!" Levi threw a hand toward her like he was pointing out a traitor. His voice rose with frustration, incredulous. "How could you join this club when I practically begged you to join ours?!"
His words hit the air with the weight of betrayal, like her decision had somehow upended his whole worldview.
She narrowed her eyes. "What are you even talking about? Me? Joining?" She scoffed, voice laced with dismissal. "Guess you don't know me at all. If I say no, I mean it. Always."
She turned on her heel, brushing past him with enough force to nearly shoulder-check him.
Levi stood frozen for a second, his face contorted in disbelief. The audacity…?
"Don't lie!" he blurted, spinning around to follow her. "I saw you—doing some romantic skit with that girl!"
His arms flailed dramatically like he was reenacting a courtroom betrayal.
Hannah snapped her head back toward him, eyes deadpan, voice flat. "Can't you tell I was teaching her?" The sarcasm dripped from every word. She turned again, walking faster.
But Levi wasn't done. His stubborn streak kicked in—loud, insistent, and completely immune to social cues. He kept pace behind her, clumsy but determined.
Harin followed at a more measured distance, observing like a quiet spectator at a drama-filled play, popcorn in hand—figuratively, at least.
The Theater Club door cracked open behind them, curious members peeking out like nosy neighbors. Half amused. Half intrigued. All waiting for the climax.
Hannah moved quicker, eyes locked on the hallway exit. But Levi's longer strides easily caught up. His breath was uneven, either from frustration or effort—or both.
Then, without warning, she stopped.
Levi and Harin almost collided into her, their momentum cut short like a skipping record.
She turned slowly. No longer just annoyed—but wound tight. Her eyes were storms ready to break. Her voice came low, quiet, and deliberate.
"Will you shut your yapping already?"
The words landed heavy, each one heavier than the last. "I already told you—I didn't join. I'm just helping them. Like I helped your club."
Silence. Tense and lingering.
Levi's mouth opened but nothing came out. Harin's expression flickered—surprised, then contemplative.
Hannah didn't look at them. Her gaze was distant now, pulled toward something they couldn't see. She let out a small sigh, soft and brittle.
"…Now leave me alone."
Her voice cracked—not with volume, but with weight. Fragile. Honest.
She turned and walked away—not storming, not angry. Just tired. Like her body was carrying more than it should.
Harin watched her go, his expression unreadable. But something about the way she moved—how stiff her shoulders were—made something ache deep in his chest.
She keeps saying she's just helping. But why does it always seem like she's the one who needs help the most?
Levi exhaled beside him, still processing. "Oh... she mad mad…" he muttered, mostly to himself.
But even he knew that wasn't the real problem. She hadn't exploded. She hadn't snapped. And that's what unsettled him.
He shrugged, almost to shake the feeling off. "Yeah, uh… maybe we bother her next time."
Harin's voice came quieter, unusually serious. "You shouldn't."
Levi turned, surprised by the sharpness in Harin's tone.
But only for a second. Then, with typical bravado, Levi smirked. "Hm~ I'll consider it."
Harin sighed. Levi never considered anything seriously... unless it came with food or consequences.
---
Alone now, Hannah's footsteps echoed down the corridor. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if something inside her was slowly crumbling.
Her mind was a whirlwind of tangled thoughts. She whispered scripture under her breath—soft, repetitive, like a fragile shield she was desperately trying to hold up.
She turned the corner absentmindedly, lost in thought—
BUMP—!
The impact jolted her, sending her stumbling backward. Before she could fall, a steady arm caught her at the waist, anchoring her.
She looked up, startled.
A girl. Wavy hair. Bright eyes. Pretty.
...Familiar?
They stared at each other, both frozen. But the girl's expression stayed calm, gently amused.
Hannah steadied herself and quickly brushed the girl's hand away. "S-sorry. I wasn't looking."
The girl didn't respond right away. She just kept watching her, something warm in her gaze.
Hannah turned to leave, eager to escape the awkward moment—
Fingers brushed her wrist.
She looked back, surprised.
"You... you're Hannah, right?"
Hannah blinked, confused. "...Eh?"
The girl giggled. "Oh! So I am right."
"I've been wanting to meet you," she said brightly, her tone sincere but cheerful.
Hannah narrowed her eyes, skeptical. "Why?"
As if realizing how odd that sounded, the girl laughed again. "Ah—sorry! You don't know me. That's fair."
"Who are you… Miss?"
"Junia! My name's Junia~"
Hannah's eyes widened. Her breath caught.
"J-Junia...?"
"The real Junia?!??"
Junia tilted her head, smiling. "I heard you thought Harin was me."
Hannah's response was stiff. "Yes. I did."
"He's pretty good, huh?"
A small scoff escaped Hannah, the hint of a smile threatening to form. "...Yeah."
Junia suddenly took Hannah's hands in both of hers, eyes sparkling. "Oh! By the way—thank you!"
Hannah stiffened, not used to sudden touches, but she didn't pull away. Just smiled politely. "It was nothing."
"No—it wasn't!" Junia beamed. "Our club's gotten so much better because of you!"
Hannah blinked, surprised by the sincerity. Her walls faltered slightly.
Junia's voice softened. "Honestly... when I first heard about you, I thought they were exaggerating. You know, about the scary eyes and sharp tongue? But now I get it."
Hannah raised an eyebrow. "Scary...?"
Junia grinned. "In a cool way."
Hannah sighed, pulling her hands back gently. "Wonderful. I'm the school's monster coach now."
Junia laughed. "Monster coach. I like that."
Something about her was oddly comforting. Her presence didn't feel forced—it felt familiar. Like they were pieces of the same broken thing.
Hannah felt that weight creep back into her chest, but shoved it down.
Then Junia looked away, thoughtful. "So... what made you help them? You don't seem like the club-joining type."
"I didn't."
Junia raised an eyebrow.
"I didn't join," Hannah clarified. "I just helped."
Junia studied her for a moment. Then smiled faintly.
"So... you're the temporary type."
Hannah hesitated, her voice quieter now, as if speaking more to herself than to Junia.
"…No. I'm just careful where I stay."
Junia's smile faded for a moment, replaced by something softer, something understanding. The moment between them stretched, unspoken, but not awkward. Just… still.
After a moment, Junia stepped back, her smile returning, brighter now. "Well, however temporary you think it was, you made a difference. So… thank you. Really."
She turned to leave, heading toward the Drama room, her energy still vibrant.
Hannah stood there longer than she'd meant to, her chest still tight, her mind buzzing.
But then Junia spun back toward her, catching Hannah's attention with a sudden enthusiasm.
"Oh! I forgot!"
Hannah turned to face her, raising an eyebrow.
"We're preparing for the Club Showcase—and I want you to watch our practice tomorrow! Tell us what you think?"
Hannah paused, considering. The thought of it wasn't so bad. "Will you come?" Junia asked, her voice filled with quiet hope.
Hannah nodded, a small but genuine smile tugging at her lips as she answered, "Yes, I will."
And as she turned to leave, her steps a little lighter than before, Junia watched her go, surprised by the smile she'd received.
"Maybe," she thought,
"this scary girl isn't scary at all."