TENACITY

Chapter 16 — Subtle Sparks

After the sports event, students kept talking about Alicia’s amazing performance. Some praised her speed, others her coordination.

But Min-ho couldn’t focus on what anyone else was saying.

All he could think about was her.

The way she had celebrated the score with Jae-hyun. The way her curls had bounced in the sunlight. The scent of her hair.

Even now, as he walked through the campus courtyard, he found himself unconsciously following her path.

Alicia was sitting under the cherry blossom trees with Min-ji, reviewing notes for an upcoming project.

Jae-hyun appeared shortly after, strolling toward them with that confident grin he always wore.

“Mind if I join?” he asked, sliding onto the bench next to Alicia.

Min-ho, a few steps away, froze briefly.

He didn’t want to stare. He didn’t want to care. But his eyes betrayed him.

Alicia laughed at something Jae-hyun said. Light. Effortless.

Min-ho’s chest tightened.

Why does it bother me so much when she laughs at him and not me?

He shook his head, forcing himself to look away.

Jae-hyun, of course, noticed everything.

The way Min-ho’s jaw tightened when Alicia leaned slightly closer to Jae-hyun. The small shift in his posture.

He leaned back on the bench, studying the scene.

Interesting. Very interesting.

If Min-ho was already reacting like this… maybe this could be entertaining.

“Don’t you think you’re going to mess up the calculations?” Jae-hyun teased Alicia, pointing at her notebook.

“I don’t think so,” she said, smirking.

Jae-hyun grinned. “Oh really? Then prove it.”

Min-ho felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to step in and correct her.

But instead, he stayed silent, feeling the sting of jealousy he didn’t want to admit.

Later, as the group walked to their next class, Alicia fumbled with her books.

Before she could drop them, Min-ho stepped in quietly, catching them with ease.

“Thanks,” she said softly, looking up at him.

Min-ho’s heart skipped a beat.

“You’re welcome,” he muttered, his voice low, almost rough with something he didn’t understand himself.

Jae-hyun noticed the small exchange.

There it is.

He smirked. This was going to be even more fun than he imagined.

The next day, the same routine continued.

Alicia studied in the library, sipping her strawberry drink.

Min-ho appeared quietly beside her, settling into the chair he seemed to reserve for himself.

Every so often, he would glance at her hair, inhale the soft scent, adjust the light falling across her notes so she could see better.

Alicia noticed the subtle gestures—how he pushed her books closer when she leaned in, how he silently refilled her drink, how he looked at her whenever she laughed at something small.

He really cares, she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips.

Meanwhile, Jae-hyun leaned against a nearby table, smirking to himself.

That evening, as the courtyard emptied and the sun set, Alicia and Min-ji walked side by side.

“I think Min-ho is… changing,” Min-ji whispered.

“What do you mean?” Alicia asked.

“Just… he’s always around now. And he seems… different when he’s with you. Protective. Obsessed, even.”

Alicia blushed slightly.

“I… I didn’t notice.”

Min-ji grinned. “Oh, you will. You’ll notice everything eventually.”

Across campus, Jae-hyun watched them disappear into the sunset.

A slow smile spread across his face.

So far, everything was going exactly how he wanted.

And now, he would start nudging Min-ho