CHAPTER 100: LUNCH WITH BYUN AND SUN

The two girls, Min Seo and Jina, gave uninterested shrugs, their expressions carefully crafted to hide how bored they really were.

Min Seo’s eyes flicked around the noisy cafeteria like she was scanning for something, anything, more interesting than this small gathering of people.

Her gaze settled on the far wall, where the sunlight filtered through a dusty window, and she let out a slow, almost imperceptible sigh. It was like the place was a dull blur, a background noise she could barely stand.

Jina, sitting next to her, wore a half-smile that looked more like a reflex than genuine amusement.

Her lips curled up just slightly, like she was humoring some invisible joke only she knew.

She stared at the table in front of her, fingers drumming softly on the plastic surface, eyes glazed over with boredom.

Sun sat across from them with his arms crossed tightly, a permanent scowl planted on his face. His sharp gaze cut through the room like a knife, silently watching everything but saying nothing.

The atmosphere around the table was thick with tension, like a fog that hung between the soft chatter and laughter echoing through the cafeteria. You could almost reach out and touch the silence pressing in on them.

It was awkward. So awkward it felt like the room was holding its breath, waiting for someone to say something, anything.

Jina was the one who finally broke the silence, her voice smooth and casual like she was tossing a pebble into a still pond. "You know," she said, smirking just a little, "Byun and Jae kinda look like twins."

The words landed like a surprise splash of cold water across the table. Both boys flushed instantly, the heat rushing to their cheeks.

They shot quick, embarrassed glances at each other, their eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and awkwardness.

Byun opened his mouth, probably ready to snap back, but the surprise slowed him down. His usual confidence flickered for a second as the comment settled between them.

Min Seo, still staring off, didn’t catch the joke right away. Her gaze stayed fixed on the distant wall, but then, like the joke finally made its way through her brain, a slow smile crept onto her lips.

It was the kind of smile that said she got the joke, and she approved. She gave a small nod, eyes sparkling with quiet amusement.

Byun was quick to recover, though. With a short laugh that was a little too smooth, he brushed the whole thing aside like it wasn’t worth a second thought.

"Enough about that," he said, shooting a quick glance at Sun. "Are you going to say something, or just keep staring sullenly over there?"

Sun rolled his eyes, a short annoyed sigh escaping him. He didn’t answer. Instead, he picked up his food and began eating wordlessly, the scowl on his face deepening like a permanent fixture.

Before the silence could stretch too long, a burst of lively, bouncy footsteps approached the table. The kind of footsteps that carried a sunny personality, impossible to ignore even in a noisy cafeteria.

Jae immediately recognized the familiar voice, bright and clear, cutting through the chatter. "Sun! Byun!" Princess Yuna’s cheerful greeting rang out as she stopped beside their table, her presence lighting up the area like a sudden beam of sunlight.

Sun’s eyes narrowed immediately, suspicion flashing sharp and unyielding as he stared back at her without saying a word. He didn’t trust her, and his glare said as much.

Byun, on the other hand, smiled warmly, his voice easy and friendly as he greeted her back. "Hey, Yuna. Good to see you."

Min Seo and Jina nodded politely, offering their own quiet greetings. Their eyes flicked between the newcomers and the existing group with a mixture of curiosity and mild judgment, like they were trying to figure out how Yuna’s arrival would shake things up.

Yuna set her tray down on the table with a soft clatter, preparing to settle in beside them. But Sun’s hand shot out suddenly, shaking his head sharply.

"When did you start eating with us?" he asked, low and sharp, his eyes locked onto hers with an unspoken challenge.

Yuna didn’t flinch. Her expression stayed steady, eyebrow raised in a light but clear challenge. "Can’t I eat with my big brother?" she asked, voice light but with a hint of steel beneath the cheerfulness.

Sun’s scowl deepened. "You should go," he said bluntly, cutting through the casual atmosphere like a cold knife.

Byun leaned forward smoothly, trying to calm the brewing storm. "Come on, Sun, just let her eat with us."

Sun shook his head again, this time more vehemently, his posture stiff and unyielding. His face was set, like he’d made up his mind and nothing was going to change it

Byun opened his mouth, clearly about to argue, but before he could get a word out, Yuna scoffed and cut him off. "Don’t worry about it," she said sharply, picking up her tray. "I don’t want to sit with you anyway, Sun."

With that, she turned and left, her footsteps light but echoing through the space as she walked away, leaving a subtle tension hanging like smoke in the air.

Jae watched her go, a small, amused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. The way she left, equal parts frustration and defiance? reminded him just how fiery she could be. She was unpredictable, sure, but always confident in her own skin. That was something he’d never forget.

He shook his head softly, thinking about how much of a wild card she was. Somehow, she carried herself like she owned every room she walked into, even if it meant stirring up trouble.

Sun’s voice broke into his thoughts, cold and pointed like a sharp blade. "You find her amusing?"

Jae looked up, meeting Sun’s icy gaze with a lazy shrug. "I just thought it was funny, that’s all."

Sun let out a low grunt, more annoyed than anything else.

Without missing a beat, Jae gave a mock grunt back, dripping with sarcasm. It was light, teasing, but with an edge, like he was daring Sun to say more

Min Seo and Jina giggled quietly at the exchange, their laughter soft but nervous.

Byun shook his head slightly, hiding a small smile behind his hand. The moment eased the silence just a bit, but things weren’t exactly relaxed.