THE REASON IS YOU!

I blink up and see Maya standing in front of me, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. There's no soft smile, no comforting words—just something sharp in her gaze. She sits down beside me, closer than I expect.

MAYA:

"What the hell was that last night?"

SEONGHWA:

(Closing his eyes, sighing) "Maya, I'm not in the mood for this."

MAYA:

"Too bad. You think you can just get wasted, corner Mawang in front of everyone, and make a mess of yourself? What were you thinking?"

SEONGHWA:

(Annoyed) "I wasn't thinking. Clearly."

MAYA:

"Yeah, no kidding. Because if you were, you'd realize that she doesn't care, Seonghwa. She stood there and let you break apart in front of everyone. She didn't say a word. Not one."

SEONGHWA'S POV:

My jaw tightens. I don't want to hear this. I don't want to remember the way Mawang just stared at me, the way she didn't answer my question. But Maya's voice keeps pressing into my head like a needle.

SEONGHWA:

"Mawang isn't—"

MAYA:

"She isn't what? She isn't heartless? Then why does she act like she is? Why does she make you feel like you're the problem every single time?"

SEONGHWA'S POV:

I clench my fists, trying to ignore the way my chest tightens.

SEONGHWA:

"You don't understand, Maya. It's not that simple."

MAYA:

"No, Seonghwa, you don't understand!" (Her voice rises slightly, frustration laced in every word.) "You keep chasing after someone who won't even look back. And it's pathetic to watch."

SEONGHWA'S POV:

Her words hit harder than I expect. Maybe because I've thought the same thing in my weakest moments. Maybe because, deep down, I'm scared she's right.

SEONGHWA:

"I don't need this right now."

MAYA:

"Fine. But sooner or later, you're gonna have to face it. And when you do, don't say I didn't warn you."

(She stands up abruptly, giving me one last look before walking away, leaving me alone with nothing but my own thoughts)

Just as when maya was about to leave, Seonghwa stood up and said in anger

Seonghwa: YOU ARE THE REASON SHE IS IGNORING ME!

Maya: What?!

SEONGHWA:

"We need to talk. Now."

MAYA:

(Annoyed, pulling her wrist back) "Seonghwa, I already said everything I needed to. What more do you want?"

SEONGHWA:

"I want the truth, Maya. No more of your twisted words or mind games. Just tell me—what the hell did you say to Mawang?"

MAYA:

(Smirks, crossing her arms) "Why? Did she finally decide to cut you off completely? About time."

SEONGHWA:

(Anger flaring) "Stop it. Stop pretending like you don't know what I'm talking about. She's been avoiding me ever since you started whispering things in her ear. What did you say?"

MAYA:

(Feigning innocence) "Seonghwa, you're giving me way too much credit. If she's ignoring you, maybe she finally realized you're not worth the headache. Or maybe... she finally listened to me."

SEONGHWA:

(Jaw tightens) "So you admit it. You've been poisoning her against me."

MAYA:

(Shrugging) "I only told her the truth. That maybe, just maybe, she's wasting her time on you. And look—seems like she agreed."

SEONGHWA'S POV:

My fists clench. The way she says it so casually, like she hasn't been ripping us apart from the inside, makes my blood boil. Maya has always had a way with words, bending them to suit her purpose. And Mawang—she's always been the type to overthink, to second-guess herself. Maya knew exactly what she was doing.

SEONGHWA:

(Voice low, dangerous) "You don't get to decide that for her."

MAYA:

(Smirking) "I didn't decide anything, Seonghwa. She did. And you should really ask yourself—why was it so easy for her to walk away from you?"

SEONGHWA:

(Takes a step closer, eyes burning) "No. YOU ARE THE REASON SHE IS AVOIDING ME."

(A tense silence falls between them, the air thick with hostility. Maya meets his gaze, unfazed, but for the first time, there's something unreadable in her expression.)

FADE TO BLACK.

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