Chapter 5

Event Planning Society – Creative Wing, First Official Session

The first meeting was nothing short of a mess in motion.

Moodboards were slapped onto cork walls, color palettes debated like politics, and someone was hot-gluing glitter onto foam letters in the corner like their life depended on it.

Ray had somehow been handed a sketchbook and two gel pens before he even sat down.

"This is sabotage," he muttered.

"You've got steady hands," Mirae replied, already flipping through concept sheets. "Use them."

"You're using me."

"You're not denying it."

Yoi flopped into a seat across from them,

chewing on her pen cap. "Do we get extra credit if no one burns out?"

"I think we get survival badges," Mirae said, scribbling notes.

Across the room, Noah stood over a table, explaining theme variations. His sleeves were rolled up, his tone casual, but his eyes—those sharp, foxlike eyes—lingered too long on Mirae.

Ray noticed. He always noticed.

"So, this year's Fall Gala needs a full rebrand," Noah said. "Theme's getting updated—something cinematic. Dreamlike. Think ethereal but clean."

"Think vague," Ren added from the back. "We don't know either."

Yeol laughed under his breath as he helped roll out a lighting rig plan. Yoi glanced his way once, just long enough to be caught, and then immediately turned back to her notes.

Mirae raised a hand. "Do we pitch ideas individually or in teams?"

Noah smiled. "Teams. Pair off, mix years, mix skills."

Ray's jaw ticked.

Ren clapped his hands. "Let's spice it up. First-years pair with us. You don't get to be comfortable here."

"Democracy's dead," Ray whispered.

Mirae smirked. "Long live chaos."

And just like that, the pairings were thrown down.

No time to complain—sheets were handed, assignments shouted over music, and the timer started.

Thirty minutes to pitch a concept.

Ray leaned toward Mirae as they were pulled to opposite ends of the room. "You okay?"

"I can handle him," she replied. But her eyes flickered. "Can you handle Ren?"

"I'll survive. Maybe."

Later that Evening – Outside the Club Hall

The session finally ended in chaotic applause and leftover paper scraps.

Mirae, Ray, and Yoi barely made it three steps outside when Noah called out, "You're not running off that fast."

"We just did three hours of unpaid labor," Ray said.

Ren grinned. "That's why you're getting dinner."

Yoi blinked. "Wait—what?"

Noah stepped beside Mirae again, too smoothly. "We take our first-years out after the first planning meet. It's tradition."

"You never mentioned that," Mirae said.

"You never asked."

Yeol joined them, handing a hoodie to Yoi—hers, apparently forgotten on a chair. She took it, eyes narrowing slightly.

Ray leaned close to Mirae. "We don't have to go. Say the word."

She hesitated—then met his gaze. "It's fine. Let's just see where this goes."

He held her eyes a moment longer than he should have. "I'll be watching."

"Always are."

Noah cleared his throat with a smirk. "Ready?"

Six students. Two years. Endless rumors. And one tightly wound thread of confusion no one wanted to tug too soon.

Ramen Spot + Karaoke Bar – After Club Hangout

The ramen place they ended up in was small, the kind with mismatched stools and handwritten menu boards that smelled like comfort and late-night cravings.

"I can already feel my GPA thanking me," Ray said, cracking his knuckles before diving into his bowl.

Mirae rolled her eyes. "Your GPA is beyond help. This is for your Soul."

She leaned over and stole one of his Tempura pieces without even blinking.

Ray stared at the empty plate. "You—you just—"

"Too slow, Ray."

"Wow."

Ren raised a brow from across the table. "You two always eat like this?"

"They eat like a couple, that's what they eat like," Yoi said around a mouthful of noodles.

Mirae smiled, unfazed. "What, jealous?"

"Please," Ray added, dramatically leaning against Mirae's shoulder. "Who wouldn't want this tragic romance built on ramen and emotional trauma?"

She shoved him off gently but grinned the whole time.

Noah watched them from the opposite end, his chopsticks paused mid-air. His gaze was sharp, but unreadable. "You two always this... close?"

Ray blinked, then gave a slow, teasing smile. "Only when there's food involved."

Mirae sipped her broth like she hadn't heard a thing. But there was a softness to her expression, like this kind of back-and-forth was stitched into her bones.

Yoi leaned into Yeol's side. "You're awfully quiet."

He smirked. "I don't interrupt when people are writing poetry with their flirting."

"Gross."

Scene: Karaoke Bar – One Hour Later

"—And now," Ren announced, holding the mic like a dramatic MC, "we witness the downfall of dignity!"

The lights blinked neon. The screen lit up. Mirae and Ray stood side by side on stage, Mirae laughing as Ray fumbled through the menu.

"What are we singing?" she asked.

Ray gave her a lopsided grin. "Something that'll ruin our image."

"We had an image?"

"True."

They launched into a ridiculous, upbeat pop song—complete with bad dancing and fake heartbreak. Mirae pulled Ray into a twirl; he nearly tripped over a mic cord. Laughter echoed through the small room, loud and bright.

Even Noah cracked a smile. Ren filmed half of it on his phone, already typing a caption.

They came off stage, breathless and red-faced.

"You two are Menace." Yoi laughed

Ray threw an arm around Mirae casually. "We aim to please."

But there was a second—just a flicker—where Mirae leaned into him, the kind of lean that wasn't for show. The kind you do when someone feels at home.

Ray dropped onto the couch dramatically, pointing at the mic like it betrayed him.

"No," he declared. "You tricked me into singing a song that had a rap bridge. I don't rap."

Mirae smirked, half-curled against the armrest. "You committed. The dance moves were unnecessary, though."

"That was raw art."

"Please," Yoi cut in, flipping her hair and stealing the mic. "You had stage fright in high school. And now you're out here doing interpretive heartbreak dances? Evolution."

Ray narrowed his eyes. "I'm surrounded by traitors."

Mirae leaned forward, grabbed a tambourine, and passed it to Yoi. "We need backup. We're doing the trio anthem."

"What's the anthem?" Ren asked.

Ray answered with a wink. "You'll know when you hear it."

Three minutes later, the screen was flashing lyrics from a late 2000s classic, and the booth was erupting with chaotic energy. Mirae took lead vocals, Ray harmonized—badly—and Yoi, despite her complaints, was surprisingly on beat with the tambourine, even throwing in backup vocals between snorts of laughter.

Outside their little trio, the third-years watched.

Noah leaned forward slightly, elbow on his knee, lips pressed together. Ren tilted his head, unreadable, but his fingers tapped the couch edge like a metronome, matching Mirae's rhythm.

Yeol gave a low whistle. "Those three... they're on another wavelength."

"They've got chemistry," Noah said, voice too casual.

"Yeah," Ren replied, eyes on Ray. "Too much chemistry."

Neither elaborated. Neither had to.

---

After the song ended, Mirae dropped onto the seat between Ray and Yoi, breathless, cheeks flushed with laughter. Ray passed her a cold drink without a word—just like he always did.

Yoi leaned on her side, head bumping Mirae's shoulder. "I'm adopting you two. I refuse to be left out of this madness."

"We're a set," Mirae said. "Buy one, get two disasters free."

Ray grinned, but there was a flicker in his gaze—subtle, softer—when Mirae leaned against him just slightly too long before sitting up again.

They didn't notice the way Ren looked away.

Or the brief silence from Noah.

---

In that booth full of terrible singing and even worse dancing, something shimmered—something too warm to ignore, but too tangled to name yet.

And outside the booth... the confusion was only just beginning.

Campus Grounds – Lunchtime, The Usual Chaos

"Ray, I swear, if you don't stop adding extra chili flakes, I will end you," Yoi said, holding her sandwich hostage.

He leaned in, taking a bite from her sandwich unbothered. "You love the chaos. Admit it."

"I love my stomach not burning alive."

Mirae snorted, mouth full of fries. "Just drink your iced Americano like a real drama heroine and pretend you're suffering nobly."

Yoi threw a napkin at her. "You both bully me."

"'Cause we love you, girl.." Mirae smirked

Ray handed them drinks casually,

"RAY!!! You idiot... you've ruined the taste," Mirae chased Ray as she tasted the drink full of chilies. While Yoi choked on the drink.

They were sprawled under the shaded part of the quad, students passing by, some glancing over with amusement—or maybe awe. The way they moved, laughed, and bickered—it was obvious. This wasn't just friendship. This was familiarly entangled, with layers no one else could decode.

Nearby, from the art department benches, Noah glanced up from his sketchpad. His eyes lingered. Not on one of them, but on all three—like a riddle he couldn't solve.

Ren, on the other hand, leaned against a tree, arms crossed, watching from a distance, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"They do act like they're invincible," he muttered under his breath.

Outside the Library – Late Afternoon Shift

As they walked across campus later that day, things took a sudden turn.

A group of second-years—loud, brash, clearly trying to impress someone—blocked the walkway.

"Hey," one of them called, eyeing Mirae with that cocky tone. "You're the one always glued to that guy's side?"

Ray immediately stepped forward. "You lost or just stupid?"

"Chill," another smirked. "We just thought the girls might want some real company."

Yoi raised a brow. "Are you offering yourselves? Brave."

Mirae cracked her knuckles. "Tempting. But I already have a daily dose of headache."

Ray grinned sideways at her. "Flattered."

"Wasn't talking about you."

Before things escalated, there was a new voice behind them.

"Is there a problem here?"

Noah.

Ren appeared beside him, looking unimpressed. "You're trying to pick fights with first-years?"

The second-years laughed it off quickly, muttering and backing off—but not before one of them muttered under his breath, "Didn't think she'd be the feisty type."

Mirae turned.

"What did you say?"

Ray caught her wrist, gently, grounding. "Not worth it."

Yoi just flipped them off with a lazy grin. "Try harder next time."

Afterward – In the Club Room

"You guys alright?" Noah asked, leaning on the table, voice unusually sincere.

Ray shrugged. "You think we're that easy to break?"

Ren tilted his head at Mirae. "You fight like you mean it."

"I fight like I don't have time for idiots."

That earned a low whistle from Ren and a slight smirk from Noah.

And as the trio settled into their usual corner—Ray leaning back, Mirae sketching idly on a napkin, Yoi humming a pop tune—the third-years exchanged a glance.

They'd meant to step in and play savior.

But instead, they found themselves standing at the edge of something much more powerful—a trio that didn't need saving, just watching.

And perhaps... pulling apart.

Club Room – Event Planning Session Begins

The whiteboard was already cluttered with Post-its and quick sketches from Noah's hand. Ren sat cross-legged on the table, absently spinning a marker between his fingers while observing the noisy energy that had taken over the room.

The trio had arrived late—as usual—bursting in with Yoi, dramatically claiming she'd nearly "lost her soul to a vending machine."

Ray flopped into a chair, nodding toward the board. "Are we pretending to plan again or doing something this time?"

"You say that like you don't enjoy bossing everyone around with color-coded timetables," Mirae chimed in, settling beside him.

"I just like making you all suffer through my productivity."

Noah's voice cut in, calm and clipped. "We'll split the teams for the orientation event. First-years can brainstorm theme ideas. We want something... bold this time."

Ren gestured lazily at the trio. "I'm putting these three in one group. They think too loudly anyway."

Yoi grinned. "Loud thoughts are how masterpieces are born."

Later That Evening – Post-Meeting Chaos

As the sun dipped outside the windows, most of the club members had cleared out, but the trio stayed back at their corner, laptops open and snacks scattered like battlefield remnants.

Yoi stretched, typing furiously, headphones half-on. "This assignment is soul-crushing. I'd rather write an essay in interpretive dance."

"You probably could," Mirae muttered, not looking up from her screen.

Ray pushed a cup of bubble tea across the table toward her. "Drink before your brain combusts."

"Romantic," she deadpanned, but the soft smile betrayed her tone.

Ren was still lingering, back against the far wall, phone in hand, but eyes quietly trained on the three of them. Noah sat at the front of the room, feigning interest in his sketchbook but visibly distracted.

The trio moved like a magnetic field. Mirae leaned into Ray's shoulder briefly while adjusting her laptop. Yoi flicked cookie crumbs at both of them and muttered, "Get a room." Ray shot her a mock glare. Mirae giggled.

The room smelled like highlighters and exhaustion, but it felt strangely... warm.

Noah glanced toward them again, eyes lingering longer than necessary on Mirae—on the way she absently toyed with Ray's hoodie string while staring at her code. On the way, Ray didn't pull back.

Ren leaned close and said, low enough for only Noah to hear, "They don't even notice how obvious they are."

Noah didn't respond. He didn't have to. The slight twitch at the corner of his mouth said enough.

Final Moment – Lights Dimmed

"Okay," Mirae groaned, closing her laptop. "I can't think anymore."

Ray stood and stretched, then reached for her bag wordlessly.

"I'm capable, you know," she said, arching a brow.

He smirked. "Yeah. But it's more fun when you let me pretend you're not."

Yoi made a gagging noise. "Can you flirt less and walk me to the station?"

"Fine," Mirae sighed, bumping her head into Ray's shoulder as they exited.

Ren and Noah stood in the now-empty room, watching the trio disappear through the door.

"They're dangerous," Ren muttered.

Noah didn't look away. "Yeah," he said softly. "They don't even know it yet."

Walk Home – Quiet Streets, Loud Thoughts

The club building's automatic doors slid closed behind them with a hiss. The street was quiet, lamplit, the air tinged with the faint warmth of a late-summer evening.

Yoi was mid-rant. "—and then Professor Arin just casually assigns a 2,000-word reflection on a poem that had four lines. I swear they want us to suffer artistically."

Ray stifled a laugh as he adjusted Mirae's bag on his shoulder. "You? Suffer? Never thought I'd hear that."

Mirae gave her a playful shove. "You'll still ace it. Don't act like you're not a literary assassin."

Yoi smirked. "I prefer language ninja, thank you."

As they reached the corner convenience store, they spotted a tall figure leaning against the wall, sipping from a cold can of coffee. He straightened up when he saw them.

"Yeol?" Yoi blinked, surprised.

"Was just passing by," he said, voice even, eyes casually scanning the trio. "Saw you all dragging your feet. Thought you could use a ride."

Ray narrowed his eyes slightly. "You always pass by this exact spot when we're heading out?"

Yeol smirked. "Coincidences happen."

Yoi stepped forward, arms crossed. "We're fine. But thanks for the concern."

He nodded toward her, then glanced at Mirae and Ray. "You three look like you just finished a startup pitch, not a club meeting."

"Feels about the same," Mirae muttered, brushing her hair back. "Except no one funds you. They just give you more work."

Ray watched Yeol carefully, a slight tension settling in his jaw. Mirae, oblivious or pretending to be, looked away toward the quiet street beyond.

"You know," Yeol said conversationally, "it's refreshing to see first-years who enjoy each other's company. Most I've met are either too cool or too competitive."

"We're a package deal," Ray said smoothly. "Buy one, suffer three."

Yoi and Mirae both laughed, bumping shoulders with him in sync.

Yeol's gaze lingered a little longer on the trio than necessary. "Must be nice."

Short Ride Home – Yeol's Car

Despite their earlier protests, the trio eventually piled into Yeol's car, Mirae calling shotgun with an innocent smile that earned Ray a brief moment of sulk.

Yoi tossed her backpack into the trunk and claimed the backseat with Ray. "You look way too pouty for someone who just got a free ride."

"I was promised the front seat all semester," Ray muttered.

"You were never promised anything," Mirae said sweetly, buckling in. "You assumed."

Yeol chuckled lowly, tapping the steering wheel. "You three are exhausting. In a strangely... addictive way."

From the back, Ray rested his chin on the headrest and looked at Mirae. "That means he likes us."

"Of course he does," she said without turning. "We're the highlight of this campus."

Yoi flicked his ear. "Speak for yourself. I'm the highlight."

Scene Close – Unspoken Things

When they reached their dorms, Yeol lingered behind, eyes still on the trio as they playfully bickered their way to the front steps.

Yoi turned at the last second. "Thanks again. For the ride."

Yeol nodded once. "See you in the next meeting."

And as he drove off, the streetlamp glinting off his rear-view mirror, he cast one last look at the trio—tight-knit, chaotic, and completely unaware of the chaos they were stirring in everyone around them.

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