Chapter 8

Matching Sujeong’s low, calm tone, Ihyun slowly exhaled. He knew how twisted this whole situation was. But there was nothing he could do. He just had to keep Sumin hidden from Sujeong at all costs… But how long could he realistically keep it up? Ihyun’s chest felt heavy, suffocated by the endless, invisible leash around his neck. Sticking to his math competition excuse, Ihyun told Sujeong he was heading to the teachers’ office. Sujeong stared intently at his face for a moment before nodding, soon blending seamlessly back into the swarm of friends surrounding his desk. A bitter sense of unfairness washed over Ihyun—why couldn’t he have a single old friend when Sujeong was constantly surrounded by people?—but he swallowed