THE LOVE TRIANGLE CHRONICLES

The following morning, Aya awoke with a sense of unease. The previous day's encounter with Ren still lingered in her mind. She had spent the night thinking about the strange mixture of excitement and guilt she felt. Her friendship with Hikaru was everything to her; he had been her rock since they were kids. But with every passing moment, she found herself more drawn to Ren. His unpredictability, his ability to make her feel alive—it was something she had never experienced before.

But it didn't make the situation any less complicated.

Aya met Hikaru at their usual spot before school. He smiled brightly, as always, his eyes full of warmth and affection. His presence was comforting, a constant in her life, but as they walked to class together, Aya couldn't shake the guilt gnawing at her.

"Hey, Aya," Hikaru said, his voice filled with concern as they sat down in their first class. "Are you okay? You seem a little off today."

Aya tried to smile, but it felt forced. "I'm fine. Just… a little tired, I guess."

Hikaru narrowed his eyes slightly, but he didn't press further. Instead, he smiled again. "You've been pushing yourself a lot lately. Don't forget to take care of yourself."

Aya nodded, grateful for his concern but feeling the weight of her secret pressing down on her. She didn't know how long she could keep lying to him.

The rest of the school day passed in a blur. Every time Aya saw Hikaru, she felt a pang of guilt in her chest. She loved him, in her own way. But every time she thought of Ren, she felt a pull that was impossible to ignore. They were so different—Hikaru, the steady, dependable friend, and Ren, the chaotic, mysterious force that stirred something deep inside her.

At lunch, Aya knew she had to go to the rooftop. It had become a strange ritual—a place where she could escape her responsibilities, her expectations, and just be herself. But the moment she stepped onto the rooftop, she froze.

Ren wasn't alone.

A girl with bright blonde hair and a confident smile stood beside him, laughing at something he had said. Aya felt a sudden pang of jealousy, but she quickly masked it with a cool expression. She had no right to feel that way, right?

"Well, well, if it isn't our favorite quiet girl," Ren said, his smirk widening as he saw Aya. The girl beside him glanced at Aya with a curious expression.

"Aya, right?" she asked, her voice light and friendly. "I'm Mika. I didn't know Ren had a friend like you."

Aya forced a smile, though inside, she was unsettled by the easy familiarity between the two. "Yeah, I guess we're friends," she said, her voice a little shakier than she intended.

Ren gave Aya a knowing look, as if he could see through her. "Mika's new here. She's cool, though. You should hang out with us sometime."

Aya nodded, though her mind was already elsewhere. She wasn't sure why, but seeing Ren with someone else—especially someone so confident and outgoing—brought a sense of unease she hadn't expected. She wasn't sure if it was jealousy or just the realization that she was beginning to care about him more than she had allowed herself to admit.

"I should probably go," Aya said, her voice quieter than usual. "I'll see you around."

Ren's gaze lingered on her as she turned to leave. "You're leaving already?" His voice was softer this time, almost like a challenge. "You're not afraid of staying longer, are you?"

Aya hesitated, feeling the weight of his words. She couldn't explain it, but something in his tone made her heart race. She knew she should leave, but there was something magnetic about him that made her want to stay.

But the thought of Hikaru—of the trust they shared—kept her grounded.

"I'll think about it," Aya replied, the words automatic, and without looking back, she hurried down the stairs and out of the rooftop door. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts as she made her way back to class.

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Later That Day

As the bell rang and school ended, Aya found herself waiting near the gates, hoping to see Hikaru so she could push the lingering thoughts of Ren aside. But as she glanced around the corner, her eyes caught sight of him talking with a group of classmates, laughing, completely unaware of the turmoil inside her.

She could see the difference between Hikaru's bright, warm smile and the way Ren's smile made her feel—wild, unpredictable, and a little reckless.

Aya wanted to talk to Hikaru, to tell him everything. But she couldn't bring herself to. Not yet. Not when the path ahead seemed so tangled and uncertain.

She turned away from the school gates and headed toward the place she had come to know as a refuge—the rooftop. This time, she wouldn't hesitate.

Ren was there, waiting, his back leaned against the railing as he looked out over the city. The moment he saw her, his smirk returned, and his eyes held that familiar glint of mischief. "I thought you'd come back."

Aya stepped forward slowly, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't stop herself now, not when everything inside her urged her forward.

"Why are you always here?" she asked, her voice quieter than usual. "What's so special about this place?"

Ren glanced over at her, his expression unreadable. "It's where I can escape."

Aya took a deep breath. "From what?" she asked softly.

Ren turned his full attention to her now, his eyes focused, intense. "From everything I don't want to deal with."

Aya's heart skipped a beat. She didn't know why, but the weight of his words made her feel like she was slowly losing control of everything she had carefully built.

"I don't know if I can keep doing this," Aya whispered, more to herself than to him.

Ren stepped closer, closing the distance between them. "Doing what?" he asked, his voice low.

Aya looked up at him, her emotions swirling inside her, unsure of how much longer she could hold onto the life she had known. "Pretending like I don't feel anything."

Ren's eyes softened, just for a moment, before he reached out and gently touched her arm. "Then stop pretending."

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