Chapter 10: "Jealousy and Warnings"

Over the next few days, Jae-ho and Arak’s friendship blossomed. 

They spent time together during breaks, laughing and talking. Jae-ho found Arak easy to get along with, but there was a subtle tension in the air that Jae-ho couldn’t place.

Arson, on the other hand, was growing increasingly agitated. He noticed Jae-ho spending more and more time with Arak, and every time he saw them together, his expression would harden. The jealousy that had been simmering beneath the surface was now starting to boil over.

One evening, after school, Jae-ho returned home, exhausted but happy. He found Arson sitting in the living room, his face unreadable. 

“Hey, what’s up with you? You’ve been acting weird lately,” Jae-ho teased, sitting next to him.

Arson clenched his fists, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Who was that guy? Arak? Why are you always with him?"

Jae-ho was taken aback. "What? He’s just a friend. Why are you so worked up about it?"

Arson stood up abruptly, his voice growing cold. "I don’t trust him. Stay away from him."

Jae-ho frowned, confused by Arson’s sudden outburst. "You’re overreacting, Arson. He’s not a bad guy."

Arson turned to face Jae-ho, his eyes filled with an emotion Jae-ho had never seen before—fear, anger, and something else he couldn’t name. "Just promise me you won’t trust him too much."

Jae-ho, trying to lighten the mood, shrugged. "Okay, okay. I promise." He smiled, but Arson wasn’t convinced.

Later that night, as they lay in bed, Jae-ho, as usual, hugged Arson tightly from behind, wrapping his arms around his waist. 

“You’re overthinking things. Let’s just sleep,” Jae-ho whispered, already half-asleep.

But Arson, still troubled, couldn’t sleep. The growing closeness between Jae-ho and Arak worried him deeply. Something about Arak didn’t sit right with him, and Arson was determined to find out what it was.

 

To be continued...