Jae had a bad feeling.

The second he stepped into the school gates, something felt… off.

The whispers. The stares. The way people nudged each other when they saw him, like they were waiting for something to happen.

And then—

"Dude. He’s back."

Jae barely had time to process that before the classroom door swung open.

And the first thing he saw?

Kai Lee.

Sitting in his seat.

Next to Ava.

Too close to Ava.

Jae’s fingers clenched around the strap of his bag. What. The. Hell.

Kai had an arm draped lazily over the back of Ava’s chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he whispered something in her ear. She rolled her eyes, but Jae didn’t miss the way her lips curled slightly—like she was amused.

Amused.

The wrong emotion.

Kai finally noticed him.

And grinned.

"Well, well. Look who finally decided to show up."

The tension crackled through the room.

Everyone held their breath.

Ava froze.

Jae didn’t say anything at first.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

He just stared.

Because what the fuck was he looking at?

Kai—his so-called best friend—sitting in his spot, flirting with Ava, looking at him like this was some kind of joke.

Jae’s jaw tightened.

Kai smirked, leaning back in his seat. "Relax, man. I was just keeping Ava company while you were gone."

Silence.

Then—

Jae tilted his head slightly. "Move."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "What?"

Jae stepped closer, voice dangerously low. "Move. Now."

Kai’s smirk faltered for a second—just a second—before he let out a chuckle. "Damn. You’re really this pissed?" He turned to Ava, amused. "Does he always get this jealous?"

Ava didn’t respond.

She could feel the shift in the air, the slow burn of something dangerous unfolding.

Kai grinned. "Chill, Jae. She’s not yours."

The room went silent.

Someone actually gasped.

Jae’s expression didn’t change.

But his eyes?

His eyes darkened to something unreadable.

Slowly, he dropped his bag, his movements calm. Controlled.

And then—

He leaned down, one hand gripping the back of Kai’s chair, his voice so low only Kai could hear.

"Say that again."

Kai’s smirk twitched. "What, that she’s not yours?"

Jae exhaled sharply.

"Yeah," he murmured, his voice eerily soft. "That’s what I thought."

A second later, Kai laughed, holding his hands up in surrender. "Damn, fine. No need to get all murderous on me."

He finally got up, moving to another seat, still grinning like this was a game.

Jae?

He didn’t move.

Didn’t sit down.

Didn’t break eye contact with Kai.

And in that moment, Ava realized something.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

Because Kai had just made the worst mistake of his life.

And Jae?

Jae was not the type to let things go.