The door opened slightly anyway Dadi's familiar presence filling the room.
Dadi didn't speak at first. She simply walked in, sat beside Ling, and waited.
Ling finally turned her face, eyes red, lashes wet.
"What if she chooses him?" Ling asked quietly. No arrogance. No attitude. Just raw fear.
"What if one day she looks at him the way she used to look at me… before everything broke?"
Dadi sighed softly and placed a hand over Ling's clenched fist.
"Then you will feel pain," Dadi said honestly. "And if it happens, it will be because you hurt her first."
Ling's eyes burned.
"I know," she said hoarsely. "That's what scares me."
She sat up abruptly, wiping her face with the back of her hand.
"I can fight the world," Ling said, voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "But I don't know how to fight the idea of losing her… to someone who didn't break her."
Silence stretched.
Dadi finally said, "Rhea letting someone close doesn't mean she has replaced you."
Ling let out a bitter laugh.
"Then why does it feel like I'm already being pushed out?"
She stood and walked to the window, looking down at the city lights, jaw tight, shoulders tense.
"If he becomes irreplaceable," Ling said slowly, almost to herself, "then I become nothing but a wound."
Her reflection stared back at her in the glass strong, feared, admired… and terrified.
For the first time, Ling Kwong wasn't afraid of losing a fight.
She was afraid of losing her place.
Rhea stood near the window of her room, arms crossed tightly around herself. The city lights outside were blurred, not because of distance, but because her eyes were burning. Her jaw was clenched, chest rising unevenly.
Roin leaned against the doorframe, watching her carefully.
"Rhea… you've been quiet since we came back." Roin (low voice)
She didn't turn.
"Tomorrow at university… stay close to me."
Roin straightened, surprised.
"Close? As in…?"
Rhea finally turned, eyes cold, guarded.
"As in too close. People should misunderstand. Especially her."
Roin frowned. "Ling?"
Rhea's lips twitched not a smile, more like restrained fury. "She thinks I don't care. She thinks I moved on. Fine. I'll let her believe it."
Roin hesitated. "But… you know she's already unstable. Won't this—"
"I didn't ask for advice." said Rhea.
Silence fell heavy.
At that moment, Kane stood at the partially open door. She had heard everything.
"That's actually a good plan."
Rhea stiffened. "Mom?"
Kane walked in, arms folded. "If Ling believes you're replacing her, she'll stop chasing you. You wanted space, didn't you?"
Rhea swallowed. "I'm not replacing her. I'm doing this so she understands what she lost."
Kane shook her head slowly. "You already told me you wouldn't go back to her. So don't confuse yourself now."
Rhea's voice cracked despite herself. "She hurt me first."
Kane stepped closer. "And now you'll hurt her back by pretending. Do it properly, Rhea. No hesitation. No guilt."
Rhea looked down, fingers curling into her palm. "I just want her to feel… even a fraction of what I felt."
Kane nodded once. "Then pretend until Ling leaves you alone."
Rhea opened her mouth to say something but Kane raised a hand, stopping her.
"No more explanations. You chose this." said Kane.
Kane left the room.
Rhea sank onto the edge of the bed, breathing shaky.
"No. Tomorrow don't hold back."
Rhea turned away again, whispering to herself— "You wanted distance, Ling… now choke on it."
Rhea and Roin came next day to university together.
The moment they stepped inside the main corridor, whispers ignited like fire. Everyone noticed it not because Rhea usually walked with someone, but because she never held anyone.
Her fingers were wrapped tightly around Roin's wrist.
Ling, who had been leaning against the pillar with her squad, straightened instantly.
Her smile died.
Ling took one step forward instinctively.
"Rhea—"
Rhea didn't even slow down.
She tightened her grip on Roin and walked past Ling as if she was air.
Ling turned sharply, disbelief flashing across her face.
"Rhea, stop."
Rhea stopped but didn't turn.
Roin felt her grip tremble slightly, but her voice came out cold.
"Keep walking."
They walked again.
That was when Ling felt it not anger, not rage fear.
Rowen muttered under his breath, "She's doing it on purpose."
Rina stayed silent. She already knew.
Rhea deliberately chose the front row.
She pulled the chair beside her out for Roin herself.
Ling entered a minute later.
Her eyes locked instantly on that chair.
Occupied.
She stood there longer than necessary, jaw clenched, then walked to the back and sat alone something she never did.
Professor started the lecture.
Rhea leaned closer to Roin, just enough.
"You're too stiff," she whispered. "Relax."
Ling's pen snapped in half.
She didn't look at them again, but every laugh, every whisper, every inch of closeness carved into her chest.
Rhea's pen slipped from her fingers and rolled across the floor.
Before anyone could react, both Ling and Roin bent down at the same time.
Rhea saw it.
She kicked the pen deliberately, sharply towards Roin's side.
Ling froze mid-movement.
Roin picked it up, unaware of the war happening inches away, and gently placed it on Rhea's desk.
"Here." Roin said.
Rhea didn't look at Ling even once.
She took the pen from Roin, her fingers brushing his on purpose.
"Thanks." said Rhea.
Ling straightened slowly.
Her hand stayed clenched for a second too long before she forced herself to sit back properly.
Her eyes shimmered.
She didn't blink.
She refused to blink.
Rowen, sitting a row behind, noticed it immediately.
Jian noticed too.
Rina's jaw tightened.
Ling kept staring at the board, but the words blurred.
So this is how it feels, she thought.
Not anger. Not rage.
This… quiet tearing.
Rhea leaned closer to Roin closer than necessary.
Roin hesitated. "Rhea… people are looking."
"Let them."
Ling's fingers trembled.
She clenched them under the desk, nails digging into her palm.
Ling didn't turn.
Ling didn't interrupt.
Ling didn't taunt.
That scared everyone more than her anger ever did.
The professor cleared his throat. "Miss Kwong, you seem distracted today."
Ling stood up calmly. "No, sir."
Her voice was steady. Too steady.
"Then answer this." Professor.
He asked a question.
Ling answered it flawlessly without hesitation, without emotion.
She sat back down.
Rhea watched her from the corner of her eye.
For a split second, guilt flickered.
She crushed it immediately.
No. She deserves this.
Ling finally glanced sideways.
Their eyes met.
Just once.
Ling didn't look jealous.
Ling didn't look angry.
She looked… hurt.
And that was worse. "So this is your choice."
Rhea heard it.
She stiffened but didn't respond.
Instead, she leaned even closer to Roin, resting her elbow against his arm.
Roin tensed. "Rhea, stop—"
"Did I ask?"
Ling looked away.
Her throat tightened.
Her chest felt too heavy.
If I react, she wins.
If I don't… I lose her anyway.
The lecture ended.
Chairs scraped.
Students stood.
Ling didn't move immediately.
Rhea stood up first, grabbed her bag, and pulled Roin with her by the wrist, walking past Ling without a single glance.
Roin looked back once.
Ling was still seated.
Still.
Silent.
Rina rushed to Ling's side the moment the hall cleared. "Say something. Break a chair. Do something."
Ling shook her head slowly. "No."
Rowen swallowed.
"I don't like this version of you."
Ling let out a hollow laugh. "Neither does she."
She finally stood up.
Her legs felt weak but she walked straight.
No tears fell.
Not yet.
But everyone knew—
This silence was the calm before something dangerous.
———
The door slammed shut behind Ling.
She locked it, leaned her forehead against the cold metal, and for the first time that day her control cracked.
Her breath shook.
Her hands trembled.
"So… this is how it feels," she whispered bitterly. "Being replaced."
She slid down the door and sat on the floor, elbows on knees, fingers tangled in her hair.
"I fainted… and you didn't come."
A broken laugh escaped her. "But you bend down for him. You kick the pen toward him."
Her eyes burned. Tears spilled anyway.
"Am I really that easy to erase, Rhea?"
She punched the floor once, not hard just enough to feel something.
"I promised not to get angry," she muttered. "I promised I'd earn you back."
Her voice cracked.
"But how do you fight when the person you love is helping someone else take your place?"
She wiped her face harshly, stood up, stared at herself in the mirror.
The confident, arrogant Ling Kwong looked back but her eyes were red, hollow.
"Pull yourself together," she told her reflection. "Crying won't stop her."
She took a deep breath, straightened her jacket, unlocked the door—
—and froze.
Rhea was standing outside.
Not angry.
Not shouting.
Just standing there.
Ling's heart dropped.
For a second, neither spoke.
Ling looked away first.
"So," she said flatly, voice controlled with effort, "you came to make sure I saw that little pen act properly?"
Rhea's jaw tightened. "Don't twist things."
Ling laughed softly, without humor. "I don't need to. You're doing it yourself."
Rhea stepped closer. "You think I don't know what you're feeling?"
Ling snapped her head up. "Do you?"
Her eyes were glossy but fierce.
"Do you know what it feels like to watch the person you love choose someone else right in front of you?"
Rhea's fingers curled into fists.
"You don't get to act like the victim," Rhea said sharply. "Not after everything."
Ling's control finally slipped.
"I fainted, Rhea."
Silence.
"I collapsed. I didn't eat. I didn't sleep. I pushed myself until my body gave up."
Her voice dropped. "And you walked away."
Rhea looked away.
Ling stepped closer, stopping inches away.
"Why pretend I don't matter?" she asked, pain raw now. "Why hold his wrist? Why push me out every single time?"
Rhea's eyes flashed. "Because I'm angry."
Ling exhaled shakily. "I know."
"Because you hurt me."
"I know."
"Because I don't want to forgive you so easily."
Ling nodded slowly. "I know that too."
Then, softer—
"But are you really okay with losing me?"
That hit.
Rhea's breath caught for half a second just a fraction too long.
Ling saw it.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Or are you just trying to see how far you can push me before I break?"
Rhea clenched her jaw. "Go back to class."
Ling didn't move.
"Answer me," she said.
Rhea forced cold into her voice. "Stay in your limits, Ling."
Ling stepped back.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she nodded once.
"Fine."
She turned away, shoulders stiff.
As she walked off, she said quietly, without looking back—
"Just remember this, Miss Attitude."
Rhea stopped.
"If I really leave… I won't come back again."
Ling disappeared down the corridor.
Rhea stood there alone, chest tight, nails digging into her palms.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Roin:
You okay?
She typed back:
Sit in front. Don't follow me.
She slipped the phone into her pocket, leaned against the wall, eyes burning.
"I hate you," she whispered—
not sure anymore if she meant Ling… or herself.