CROSS-CHECKED (VSOO)

16

Jisoo

The morning sun felt warmer than usual, almost too bright as it streamed through my window. I tugged on my Silverridge cheer uniform, the crisp red and white fabric fitting snug against me. Today was supposed to be exciting. A new chapter. The day we'd welcome the Crestridge cheer team to campus.

Alisha had been buzzing about it for days. New routines, new stunts, new friends—it was everything she lived for as captain. Me? I just wanted to get through the day without tripping over my own feet.

I tied my hair into a high ponytail, smoothing down the flyaways as my reflection stared back at me. My face looked calm, but my stomach churned. Something felt... off. I couldn't explain it. Just nerves, I told myself. Just another day.

When I arrived at the gym, the Silverridge cheer team was already lined up in neat rows, red skirts swishing, pom-poms flashing under the fluorescent lights. Alisha stood at the front, clipboard in hand, her voice firm and commanding as usual.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!" she called, her tone sharp but confident. "Today's important. We're setting the tone for how Silverridge welcomes Crestridge. I don't care if they're rivals or strangers—we show class. We show skill. We show unity."

The gym doors opened, and in walked the Crestridge cheer team. Their navy and silver uniforms gleamed, their energy high but nervous. The two teams clapped for each other, polite smiles exchanged.

That's when I noticed her.

A girl near the back, petite frame, soft doe eyes, jet-black hair flowing over her shoulders. She looked... shy, almost hesitant, as though the noise and attention were too much.

"Hi," I said, stepping toward her once the commotion settled. "I'm Jisoo."

Her eyes lit up with recognition. "Luna," she said quietly, bowing her head slightly in greeting. Her accent was familiar, her Korean soft and gentle against her tongue.

A warmth bloomed in my chest. Finally, someone I could talk to who felt... familiar. Minji was shy but sweet, and we clicked instantly, exchanging a few words about routines, practice, and how nerve-wracking it was to suddenly train with strangers. She was gorgeous too, her smile delicate like glass, her aura comforting.

Before we could say more, a loud announcement echoed through the gym.

"All teams, report to the main assembly hall!"

The hockey team.

My chest tightened.

We walked together, Luna and I, while Alisha darted off toward Coach for last-minute captain duties. The gymnasium was buzzing when we arrived, the bleachers packed with cheerleaders and hockey players from both schools. Red, silver, blue, and black blurred together into a sea of colors.

I sat near the middle, Luna slipping in beside me. My hands fidgeted with the hem of my skirt as I watched the assembly unfold.

The principal spoke first, his voice booming about "unity" and "teamwork" and how this was history in the making—two rival schools becoming one team for Nationals. His words echoed, but my mind was far away, drifting into unease.

The hockey introductions began.

Both teams stood at the far end of the court, lined up in their uniforms. The Silverridge red clashed with the Crestridge navy, a battle of colors that made my throat dry. But soon, they'd all wear the same jersey. One team. One face to the world.

One lie.

My eyes scanned the Silverridge side first.

And then he walked out.

Kim Taehyung.

Silverridge's captain.

He carried himself like he owned the room, shoulders broad, chin tilted up, that familiar smirk tugging at his lips. Confidence bled off him in waves, his stride controlled and deliberate. His dark eyes burned with something sharp, something that made my pulse skip.

For one second, just one—my heart faltered. My breath hitched. His smirk was cocky, his presence fierce, and I hated how it made my chest flutter.

I forced myself to look away.

Then came the Crestridge side.

One by one, names were called. Applause filled the gym, feet stomping, cheers echoing. Luna clapped politely. I barely noticed.

Until I heard the name.

"Park Jeongsong. Crestridge Captain."

My world shattered.

My body froze, every muscle locking in place. My palms slipped against the bleachers, suddenly clammy.

And when he walked out, the air was ripped from my lungs.

Jay.

My Jay.

The boy I once loved so fiercely it consumed me. The boy I gave my entire self to—body, heart, soul. The boy who left me shattered, bleeding, hollow.

My eyes widened, vision tunneling until it was only him. His tall frame, the way his uniform clung to him, the easy confidence in his stride. That familiar smirk—God, that smirk—that used to make my knees weak.

But now it gutted me.

My hands trembled uncontrollably, my fingers gripping the edge of the seat. Tears pricked my eyes, hot and merciless, spilling before I could stop them. I ducked my head, wiping them quickly, hoping no one noticed.

What the hell was he doing here?

How could he be here?

Jay was my past. A past I buried the moment I transferred to Silverridge. A past that haunted me in nightmares but one I swore I'd never face again. I thought I'd escaped him, escaped us.

But here he was.

On my campus. In my gym. Wearing that jersey with pride as if he hadn't destroyed me.

My stomach twisted. Memories flooded in—two years of love, laughter, kisses stolen behind the bleachers, whispered promises at midnight, his hand holding mine like it was forever.

And then—two years of lies. Of betrayal. Of him breaking me into pieces so small I couldn't breathe without bleeding.

I wanted to scream. To run. To disappear.

Instead, I sat frozen, silent tears streaking down my cheeks as I forced my body not to shake.

Jay. My ex. The boy who broke me. The boy who now hated me, just as much as I hated him.

And now, he was here.

Not just here—leading Crestridge. Meaning I'd see him every single day. In the halls. At games. At practices.

The past I ran from had just walked into my present.

And I had no escape.