The school hallway buzzed with the usual noise of students milling about between classes—some laughing in groups, others hurriedly walking to their next destination, and a few sitting on the edges of lockers, exchanging notes or jokes. But in the midst of it all, Chiquita stood, almost as if suspended in a moment all her own. She was talking with a girl she’d never seen before, a new face in the crowd who had apparently taken an interest in the band.
Her bandmates had long given up trying to shield her from the attention that came with being the most popular member of Baemon. It was inevitable. Chiquita had a way about her—effortless and magnetic. And it wasn’t just her talent; it was the way she carried herself, the warmth in her smile that left everyone around her craving more of her presence. But today, there was something different in the way she was speaking with this girl—flirty, teasing, yet undeniably distant. Her usual smile was absent, replaced by a cool indifference.
Chiquita had never truly been one for shallow flings, but tonight—tonight she just needed to forget. She needed to feel something, anything, to mask the ache in her chest that had been growing since Ahyeon’s cruel words had sliced through her heart. So, when the girl leaned in closer, her fingers brushing lightly over Chiquita’s arm, Chiquita didn't pull away. Instead, she let the moment linger, the possibility of something new, something easy.
It wasn’t long before the girl’s lips found hers.
The kiss was quick—brief, even—but enough to catch the attention of anyone nearby. Whispers immediately filled the air, as some students stopped to gawk, others laughing behind their hands. The girl pulled away with a satisfied smirk, a flicker of pride in her eyes, while Chiquita remained still, her heart pounding in her chest.
But before she could fully process what had just happened, she caught the unmistakable figure standing at the end of the hallway.
Ahyeon.
It was like time slowed as their gazes locked. Ahyeon was standing there, frozen, her face unreadable. Her eyes flickered with something—something that Chiquita couldn’t place, something dark and unfamiliar. It was a fleeting moment, but in those few seconds, the entire hallway seemed to disappear, leaving only the two of them standing across from each other.
Chiquita’s stomach twisted, her chest tightening with a mixture of guilt and something else—something sharper, something that felt like… fear?
The girl beside her, unaware of the tension, grinned, glancing back at Chiquita before slipping away into the crowd. But Chiquita’s gaze remained fixed on Ahyeon, her heartbeat thudding louder than anything else.
Ahyeon didn’t move for what felt like an eternity. She just stood there, staring at Chiquita, her lips pressed into a thin line, her expression impossible to read. Chiquita’s breath hitched, as if she could feel the weight of every unspoken word between them.
Finally, Ahyeon stepped forward, her steps deliberate and slow. Chiquita braced herself, trying to steady her racing thoughts, but no amount of preparation could prepare her for the coldness that radiated from Ahyeon’s every movement.
“Having fun?” Ahyeon’s voice was flat, her tone distant, almost bored. The words cut deeper than any sharp remark had before.
Chiquita swallowed, trying to keep her voice steady. “What do you mean?”
Ahyeon’s gaze flicked down to Chiquita’s lips, then back up to her eyes, her expression unreadable. The silence that stretched between them was suffocating, and Chiquita could feel her pulse quicken under Ahyeon’s scrutiny.
“I saw everything,” Ahyeon said, her voice clipped, like she was forcing each word out through clenched teeth.
Chiquita forced a smile, masking the twinge of hurt she felt. “You don’t need to worry about it. I’m just having some fun.”
Ahyeon’s eyes narrowed slightly, her lips tightening into a firm line. But then, her gaze softened, the fleeting moment of vulnerability gone as quickly as it came. “Do whatever you want,” she said, though there was an edge to her voice that suggested she hadn’t quite fully let go of the feeling gnawing at her.
Chiquita couldn’t help it. A small part of her wanted to laugh at how absurd it was—how much she had been waiting for Ahyeon’s attention, for her acknowledgment, and yet here she was, brushing her off as if it didn’t matter. But that small part of her was quickly drowned out by the weight of everything she’d been holding inside, by the sting of rejection that still felt raw in her chest.
“You know, Ahyeon,” Chiquita said, her tone cool, her words carefully chosen. “Maybe it’s time you stop pretending that you care.”
Ahyeon’s eyes flashed, a spark of something darker flickering in them. But instead of responding, she turned on her heel, walking away without another word.
Chiquita watched her go, her heart sinking with each step Ahyeon took away from her. And as Ahyeon disappeared around the corner, Chiquita’s hand balled into a fist at her side, nails digging into her palm. She knew that Ahyeon’s dismissal wasn’t just a rejection of the kiss—it was rejection of her. All of her.
For a moment, Chiquita stood there, torn between two feelings: anger and emptiness. But she pushed them both down, forcing herself to walk away with her head held high. She couldn’t let anyone see how much Ahyeon’s words had hurt her. Not anymore.
As she walked back into the practice room, her bandmates greeted her casually, but there was a quiet tension in the air—something unspoken, but felt by all. Chiquita forced herself to smile, nodding in greeting as she picked up her guitar.
But even as she strummed the strings, her thoughts kept drifting back to the hallway, to the look in Ahyeon’s eyes. For the first time, something like jealousy had surfaced, bubbling to the surface as if it couldn’t be contained.
It was a feeling Chiquita wasn’t used to seeing in Ahyeon—not aimed at her, at least. And it left her wondering what it meant, what it might mean for the future of whatever it was between them.
But for now, Chiquita pushed the thoughts away. She couldn’t afford to dwell on them—not when she had her own façade to maintain. Not when she couldn’t afford to show any weakness.
The feeling lingered, though, like a storm waiting to break.
But for now, Chiquita would let the storm pass. At least, that’s what she told herself.
YOU ARE READING
Tangled Strings
FanfictionChiquita is Baemon's shining star, loved by many-but the only one she wants doesn't care for her. Her obsession with Ahyeon only deepens, despite repeated rejections.
