at the hideouts

Wenalin’s POV

It was already 9:02 PM.

"Wenalin! Where do you think you're going at this hour?!" My dad voice was firm, his eyes narrowing.

"You're not going out again tonight, are you?" mom added, stepping in front of the door.

I sighed, already slipping my arms through the sleeves of my jacket. My outfit was the same as always—jeans, a simple shirt, and my worn black jacket. Comfort over everything. I tied my shoelaces and avoided their gazes.

"I'll be back before midnight," I mumbled.

"You said that last time! its already late it's not good for a young girl like we'll go out especially in the night ." dad said again, his tone less angry and more tired.

"I'm just going somewhere peaceful. I’m not doing anything bad," I replied, my voice colder than I intended.

Instead, I opened the door, stepped out, and closed it gently behind me.

---

The night air hit my face the moment I walked out of the house. Crisp, cool, and comforting. The streetlights flickered above as I made my way down the quiet roads of our neighborhood. The sound of cicadas buzzed faintly in the background.

By the time I reached the train station, my legs already felt lighter. I knew this route by heart.

The train screeched to a stop, and I stepped inside. As always, the last were nearly empty. I chose a corner seat and stared at my reflection in the window. Cold eyes, tired face, blank expression.

---

When I arrived at our hideout—an abandoned but clean rooftop space on the sixth floor of a quiet building—I pushed open the heavy metal door.

"Eris!" a cheerful voice called. Mark.

No one knew my real name here. That was the rule: No real names, no real identities, no personal details. , code names, and the safety of not being judged. Here, I was Eris, their cold yet trusted leader.

Mark jogged toward me with his usual beaming smile. Tall, pale, always friendly.

"You’re late," Josh said, leaning against the wall with a flirtatious smirk. "I was starting to think you ran off with another guy. Should I be jealous?"

I ignored him.

Ash was sitting alone near the back, reading a thick book under the soft yellow lights strung across the ceiling. He looked up briefly. His face stayed blank, but his eyes lingered on me for a second too long.

"We can start now,"

Around me were familiar faces with unfamiliar names: Zake, Zack, Zacky, Blake, Kookie, and fifteen other members. Most of them wore hoodies or jackets.

---

"Today’s activity," mark announced, pulling out a folded paper from my jacket pocket, "is called 'Fake Relationship'."

A chorus of groans, giggles, and whistles erupted.

"Really?" Zake laughed. " you’re making us play pretend lovers?"

"Sounds fun to us," Mark chimed in, grinning.

"It’s idiotic," Ash muttered from his seat, still reading.

"It’s fun," Zack repeated. "And required."

We explained the rules again.

No real names.

You act like a couple in front of the group.

Private interactions are optional, but public tasks are required.

The game lasts it's depends

No actual confessions allowed this is pretend.

Then the leaders included me gathered to choose the pairs. A mix of logic and chaos followed.

Zake ended up with shanny

Zack and Zacky—who everyone already suspected had feelings for each other—got paired easily, causing a wave of teasing laughter.

Then came the moment everyone was waiting for.

"Who will be Eris’s partner?" someone asked.

Kookie stepped forward. "Me. I volunteer."

There was a pause. A thick, suffocating pause.

"What?" Mark’s voice cracked just a bit.

"Wait, no way—Eris doesn’t get to just say yes to the first guy who raises his hand!" Josh complained, crossing his arms.

Ash didn’t say anything. He just stared, his book forgotten on his lap.

Mark stepped forward. "she can’t. We leaders need to agree.And only the leaders can choose the partners."

Josh nodded. "Exactly. It’s unfair."

Kookie:"But there's no rules that the leader can only choose"

everyone nodded.

mark is going to say something when i interrupt him .

"he's right" I finally said, coldly. " and It’s just a game"

"That’s the problem," Ash said quietly. "It’s not just a game for everyone."

I looked around. Everyone else had gone silent.

I sighed.

"I don’t care who my partner is," I said honestly. "If Kookie volunteered, then fine. I accept."

Mark’s jaw tightened.

Josh clicked his tongue and looked away.

Ash stood and left the circle.

But I didn’t care. I never cared about love. I didn’t even know what I liked.

I was here to lead, to keep them together. The rest was just noise.

Kookie looking directly at me while smiling.

Several heads turned. Mark blinked. Josh scoffed. Ash looked away sharply, gripping the edge of his book tighter.

I kept my face neutral. “That’s fine,” I said, standing up. “I don’t mind.”

Josh frowning. “Seriously? You’re okay with that?”

I met his gaze. “It’s a game.”

Mark hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. “I… guess that settles it.”

Ash muttered something under his breath. Probably a curse.

And just like that, the board began to fill with couple names written in dry-erase marker.

Pairs for Round One:

Eris × Kookie

Zack × Zacky

Black × Cherry

Zake × Nyla

Josh × Bunny

Ash × Iris

Mark × Sora

(…and more to be announced)

I stared at the board, feeling oddly detached. Kookie smiled brightly at me, probably already planning our challenge strategy. But I couldn’t shake the heavy air around the leaders.

I wasn’t dumb.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***