Chapter 4: Cherry Bomb
1056 Words
“I wanted peace. I got a pop star with commitment issues and lipstick shaped like trouble.”
– Katienne Vale
SCENE 1: Campus Idol, Unleashed
The following day, the university was buzzing with one name:
“Cherry’s back.”
In the cafeteria, students gathered near the entrance, peeking and whispering. Phones flashed. Excited screams erupted like fangirls at a K-pop concert.
Katienne raised a brow as he carried his lunch tray toward his usual corner.
“Did BTS enroll or something?”
Before Dax could answer, the crowd split like the Red Sea.
And in walked Cherry.
Real name: Celeste Rivière.
Known to fans as “Cherry” local pop idol, ex-child star, and walking chaos with legs for days and a reputation for making boys cry.
She had pink streaks in her ponytail, heart-shaped earrings, and a crop top that violated at least three campus dress codes. Her eyes locked onto Katienne like a heat-seeking missile.
“Oh no,” he muttered.
“Oh YES,” Dax grinned. “Cherry remembers you?”
SCENE 1.1: Cafeteria Shockwave
People practically scrambled to make way. One guy dropped his tray. A girl shrieked, “That’s her! That’s Cherry!”
Someone fainted. Or pretended to. Hard to tell.
Katienne had the sudden urge to hide under a table.
SCENE 2: History in the Air
Cherry sauntered straight to Katienne’s table.
“Fancy seeing you again, Vale.”
Katienne blinked. “We’ve met?”
“Mmm.” She leaned in. “You tutored me in high school. Remember? You said I was hopeless at algebra, but cute enough to pass.”
“I… said that?”
“Don’t worry. I forgive you.”
Smack.
She kissed him.
On the cheek. Loud and smirky.
Everyone gasped.
Katienne short-circuited.
“Just marking my territory,” she whispered. “For now.”
And walked off.
SCENE 2.1: Catastrophic Clout
Dax was wheezing. "You just got marked like a lab experiment."
Katienne blinked. “I feel like I should sue… or shower.”
“Dude. You’re going viral. Like, Cherry just soft-launched you.”
Katienne groaned and sank lower in his chair.
SCENE 3: Liora’s Reaction
Liora wasn’t the jealous type. Not publicly.
But when Katienne entered the dorm that evening, she was already waiting, sitting at her desk, legs crossed, a pencil tapping rhythmically against her notebook like a judge waiting to sentence someone.
“You’re trending,” she said without looking up.
“I’m what?”
“#CherryKiss. Third on the student feed.”
“You checked?”
“The whole class saw it. Including Professor Hae Jin. She asked if you’re dating an idol now.”
“And what did you say?”
“That I was considering strangling you in your sleep.”
Katienne flopped onto his bed dramatically.
“I swear, I have no idea why she kissed me.”
Liora finally turned to face him.
“Really? No idea? You didn’t flirt with her? Compliment her?”
“I called her hopeless.”
“Huh. So that does work.”
“Should I try it on you next?”
“Try, and you’ll be hopeless too, in a coma.”
He chuckled.
She didn’t.
But… there was a faint twitch of a smirk.
SCENE 3.1: Feed Refresh & Fury
Liora picked up her phone again and refreshed the campus feed. More photos. More likes.
Katienne’s face next to Cherry’s. Filters. Heart emojis.
One comment read: “They’d make the cutest idol x nerd couple!”
Liora muttered, “Kill me.”
SCENE 4: Cherry’s Visit
That night, around 10 PM, a knock echoed on their dorm door.
Liora opened it, and instantly regretted it.
“Hi~ Is Katienne home?”
Cherry, in a hoodie and shorts, holding bubble tea and a phone with an open map showing D302.
“Who gave you our dorm number?”
“Your RA. I told her I was his study partner.” Cherry winked.
“We’re not accepting guests after 9.”
“Oh, I’m not a guest. I’m his unfinished business.”
Before Liora could strangle her, Katienne appeared behind her, rubbing his eyes.
“...Cherry?”
“Hi, tutor boy. I brought tea.”
“Why?”
“To say thanks. For letting me kiss you earlier.”
“Letting you?? I had no say in that-”
“Exactly. It was adorable.”
Liora sighed hard enough to power a wind turbine.
“You have five minutes,” she snapped. “And no more kissing.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?”
“It’s homicide.”
SCENE 4.1: The Longest Five Minutes
Katienne and Cherry sat awkwardly on opposite ends of his bed. She sipped her tea like a queen. He stared at the floor.
Liora stood with her arms crossed, monitoring like a security guard.
Cherry waved a peace sign. “Bye, roomie. Don’t wait up.”
Liora: “You wish.”
SCENE 5: Midnight Conflict
Cherry left eventually, but not before giving Katienne a teasing wink and whispering:
“Call me. We have so much chemistry, it’s illegal in 12 countries.”
As the door shut, Katienne turned to find Liora glaring at him like a sword ready to be drawn.
“You’re going to flirt your way into a lawsuit,” she said.
“Hey, I didn’t do anything.”
“But you enjoyed it.”
“Is that a problem?”
“Only if you plan on dating the next girl who kisses you.”
“…And if I don’t?”
“Then you’re stupid.”
Silence.
“Liora…”
“What.”
“If someone kissed you, would you kill them?”
“Depends on their technique.”
Katienne’s heart hiccupped.
“Noted.”
She paused.
“Why do you ask?”
“No reason,” he said with a sly smile. “Just wondering if I’m still on the kill list.”
SCENE 5.1: Sleepy Thoughts & Sassy Goodnight
Katienne crawled into bed and stared at the ceiling.
From the other side of the room, Liora muttered:
“Next time someone kisses you, duck.”
He grinned into his pillow.
“Noted. But only if it’s not you.”
“Sleep before I actually strangle you.”
He laughed.
It was the most fun he’d had getting threatened all day.
- Writer
