My Love, My Rival

Roadside Tensions

Ryuu Hana stood by the side of a dusty road, her arms crossed, her scowl as fierce as the setting sun glaring down on the hills. She tapped her foot impatiently, the rhythmic beat kicking up little puffs of dust around her boots. The late-afternoon light stretched shadows long and lean, but the promised wagon was nowhere in sight.

“I swear,” she muttered, shifting the weight of her bags. “If that wagon doesn’t show up soon, I’ll start walking. Or screaming. Maybe both.”

“You could always try being patient,” a voice cut in from behind her, smooth and maddeningly amused.

Ryuu jumped, spinning around to find Lee Siwoo leaning against a wooden post, his ever-present smirk firmly in place. His dark hair was windswept, his expression entirely too pleased with himself.

“Good gods, Siwoo! Do you have to sneak up on me like that?” Ryuu snapped, clutching her chest as her heart raced.

He tilted his head as if considering the question. “Sneak? No, I just walk like a normal person. It’s not my fault you’re always so... unaware.”

Ryuu glared, the sharpness in her eyes enough to make lesser men quiver. Siwoo, however, seemed immune. He chuckled softly, pushing off the post to stand beside her.

“I’d apologize,” he added, “but let’s be honest—you’re funnier when you’re angry.”

“Funny?” she echoed, her voice rising with indignation. “I am not funny. You’re just insufferable.”

“Frequently told,” he said, brushing imaginary dust from his jacket. “But if it’s any consolation, I’m only here to make sure you don’t combust from frustration before the wagon arrives. Not that it will.”

Ryuu’s hands twitched at her sides, tempted to swat at him. But before she could form a retort, the sound of wooden wheels against gravel caught their attention. She whipped her head around, eyes narrowing at the approaching wagon.

“Finally,” she muttered, squaring her shoulders as it drew closer.

The driver—a wiry man with a scruffy beard—slowed his horses and offered a polite nod. Ryuu stepped forward, relief flooding her features.

“Excuse me, sir—”

“Sorry, miss,” the driver interrupted, shaking his head. “Can’t take you. Full up—got a pregnant lady inside, and no room for extra passengers.”

Ryuu’s jaw dropped. “A pregnant lady? Again?!”

Siwoo leaned closer, his voice low enough to be infuriatingly smug. “You should’ve brought a baby along. Seems to be the golden ticket.”

“Do you ever stop talking?” Ryuu hissed, her glare snapping back to the driver. But the wagon was already rumbling away, leaving her and her bags behind.

Siwoo leaned back against the post, crossing his arms. “Well, that was entertaining.”

“For you, maybe,” Ryuu muttered, readjusting her bags. “But I’m not giving up. The next wagon is mine.”

Siwoo’s grin widened. “Bold of you to assume there’ll be a next one.”

Minutes later, another wagon appeared—this one sleeker, with polished wood and gilded trim that caught the fading sunlight. Ryuu’s eyes lit up, her irritation melting just enough to let hope sneak in.

“Looks promising,” Siwoo commented, a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

The wagon slowed to a halt, and the driver—a burly man with a thick mustache—eyed them both with suspicion. “This here’s a private wagon,” he said gruffly. “Ain’t takin’ strays.”

Ryuu’s hope crumbled instantly. “Private?” she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief.

Before she could launch into an argument, a voice from inside the wagon stopped her cold.

“Five gold coins,” the voice said, rich and smooth with an undercurrent of authority.

Ryuu squinted as the curtain on the wagon’s window shifted, revealing sharp eyes and an elegant smirk. Neo Syn sat languidly inside, his dark hair framing his face like the hero of a tragic tale—or perhaps the villain.

“For five gold, you’re welcome to join me,” Neo continued, his tone polite but faintly mocking. “Otherwise, the road is free of charge.”

Ryuu stared at him, her irritation bubbling to the surface once more. “Five gold? For a ride? You’re seriously charging me to sit in a wagon you’re not even driving?”

Neo’s smirk deepened. “I don’t see another option for you. Unless, of course, you prefer walking?”

Ryuu opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, Siwoo stepped forward, pulling a small pouch from his pocket. With a casual air, he handed ten gold coins to the driver.

“Wait—what are you doing?!” Ryuu demanded, her voice tinged with disbelief.

“Being practical,” Siwoo said simply, gesturing toward the wagon. “You coming or not?”

Still fuming, Ryuu climbed into the wagon, muttering curses under her breath. Siwoo followed, settling in beside her with the ease of someone who knew exactly how to get under her skin.

Neo observed them with mild amusement, his gaze flicking between the two. “Well,” he said, pouring himself a glass of wine from an ornate bottle, “this just got a lot more interesting.”

Ryuu crossed her arms, refusing to look at either man. Siwoo, on the other hand, leaned back with a grin, clearly enjoying the tension.

“Would either of you care for some champagne?” Neo asked, holding up the bottle with an elegant flourish.

“No,” Ryuu snapped, her voice sharp. “I’m not falling for whatever game this is.”

Neo raised an eyebrow, pouring himself a glass anyway. “Suit yourself. But it’s already paid for, courtesy of your generous companion.”

Siwoo snatched a glass before Neo could take a sip, raising it in a mock toast. “Don’t mind if I do.”

Ryuu glared at them both, the temptation of the sparkling wine gnawing at her resolve. Finally, she sighed heavily. “Fine. Pour me some.”

Neo handed her a glass with a faint smile. “I knew you’d come around.”

As she sipped, the tension in her shoulders began to ease. For a moment, the steady rhythm of the wagon wheels and the warmth of the wine lulled her into a rare sense of calm.

“So,” Neo began, his tone casual but laced with curiosity. “Ryuu Hana. Lee Siwoo. Quite the pairing.”

Ryuu arched an eyebrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Neo swirled his wine thoughtfully. “The Ryuu and Lee clans are famously at odds. Yet here you are, sharing a wagon like old friends.”

Siwoo chuckled softly, his grin widening. “Old friends? That’s generous.”

“Generous, indeed,” Neo said, his smirk sharpening. “Or perhaps... there’s something more?”

Ryuu nearly choked on her wine, her face flushing as she coughed. “What the hell are you talking about?!”

Siwoo, meanwhile, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself. “Go on, Neo. This is getting good.”

Neo leaned back, his gaze never leaving Ryuu. “It’s just an observation. The way you bicker, the way you look at each other... Classic signs of something deeper.”

“Something deeper?” Ryuu repeated, her voice rising. “The only thing deeper is the hole I’d like to throw you into.”

Siwoo laughed outright at that, his shoulders shaking as he tried—and failed—to contain his amusement. “You know, he’s got a point, Hana. You do get worked up pretty easily around me.”

“That’s because you’re infuriating!” Ryuu shot back, her cheeks burning.

Neo raised his glass in a mock toast. “Denial is always entertaining. Please, don’t stop on my account.”

Ryuu huffed, crossing her arms as she turned away from them both. Siwoo leaned closer, his grin practically splitting his face.

“Relax, Hana,” he said, his tone teasing. “You’re funnier when you’re mad.”

The wagon rolled on, the tension thick in the air but laced with an undercurrent of humor. Ryuu stared out the window, her mind racing with a mix of irritation and something she refused to name.

And beside her, Siwoo watched her with quiet amusement, the faintest trace of something softer flickering behind his smirk.