Chapter 1: Whispers in the Hallway

The air in the school hallway crackled with the usual afternoon buzz – the clatter of lockers, the shrieks of laughter, the thrum of teenage energy. Shin leaned against a row of lockers, feigning interest in a poster advertising the upcoming school play, but his eyes were scanning the crowd. He was waiting for Xander.

Xander, with his infectious grin and easygoing charm, was the sun in Shin's orbit. Had been, ever since they were kids building forts in their backyards and sharing secrets under the summer stars. But lately, the warmth of that sun had felt… distant. A shadow had fallen across it, a chill that Shin couldn't quite explain.

He spotted Xander near the water fountain, deep in conversation with Ethan. Ethan, Xander’s closest confidante, always seemed to be privy to Xander's inner thoughts. Shin’s stomach clenched. He told himself it was just friendly jealousy, the kind you feel for a sibling or a close friend. But deep down, a darker emdark hair. “I don’t know. What if I mess it up? What if he says no?”

A bitter taste rose in Shin’s throat. He clenched his jaw, digging his nails into the palm of his hand. He won’t say no, Shin thought fiercely. Not to Xander. Xander was charming, funny, kind. Everyone liked Xander. Especially him.

“Just be yourself,” Ethan said. “He already likes you, Xander. Just go for it.”

Xander grinned, a genuine, radiant smile that made Shin’s heart ache. “Thanks, Ethan. You’re the best.”

As Xander turned to walk away, his eyes met Shin’s. The smile faltered for a fraction of a second, replaced by a flicker of something unreadable. Then, it was back, the easygoing mask firmly in place.

“Hey, Shin. What’s up?”

“Just… waiting for you,” Shin replied, his voice carefully neutral. He forced a smile, trying to mimic Xander’s effortless charm. “You heading to the library?”

“Yeah, Ethan and I were just talking about… some stuff,” Xander said, a slight flush rising on his cheeks.

“Cool,”Shin said, his eyes flicking to Ethan, who gave him a brief, polite nod before walking away. Some stuff. Shin’s mind replayed their conversation, dissecting every word, every nuance. He. Him. Likes me back. The words echoed in his head, a discordant melody that grated on his nerves.

As they walked towards the library, Shin’s mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Jealousy, possessiveness, confusion. He wanted to reach out, to grab Xander’s hand, to pull him close and tell him… what? Tell him that he was being stupid? Tell him that he was making a mistake? Tell him that… he was the one Xander should be with?

He couldn’t. Not yet. He needed a plan. He needed to understand who he was, this person who had captured Xander’s attention. And then… he would make sure that he was no longer a threat. Shin’s smile widened, a predatory glint hidden beneath the surface. The game had just begun.

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