Chương 29: The Twin's Bond
I noticed the group first. Three students from Jia's arts department: a lanky boy with a perpetually smug smirk, a girl with meticulously styled hair, and another whose snide remarks could cut through glass. They circled Jia's table like vultures, their hushed whispers too loud to ignore.
"Is that another one of your 'creative' outfits, Jia?" the girl with styled hair sneered, loud enough for half the room to hear. Jia, dressed in a bold mix of colors and patterns that only she could pull off, paused mid-bite. Her smile faltered, but only for a second.
"If by creative, you mean something you couldn't dream of wearing, then yes," Jia shot back, her tone light but her grip tightening around her chopsticks.
The lanky boy snorted. "Right, because walking around like a failed art project is such a statement."
My chest tightened. I was already halfway out of my seat when the cafeteria door slammed open. All heads turned, and there he was.
Riku.
Jia's twin brother strode in like a storm in human form. His tall frame and sharp features made him an imposing presence, and the fierce look in his eyes was enough to silence the room. His gaze locked on Jia and then shifted to the trio around her.
"Hey," Riku called out, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. The bullies froze. "Is there a reason you're crowding my sister?"
The styled-hair girl stammered, "We were just talking…"
"Didn't look like talking to me." Riku stepped closer, his presence swallowing the space. "Looks more like you're trying to make yourselves feel bigger by putting someone else down. How pathetic is that?"
The lanky boy tried to muster some bravado. "It's not your business."
"Oh, but it is," Riku said, his voice low and dangerous. "Because she's my sister. And if you have something to say to her, you'll say it to me first."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. The snide girl opened her mouth, probably to hurl another insult, but Riku's sharp glare silenced her.
"I… we were just joking," she muttered.
"Joking?" Riku's lips curved into a humorless smile. "Funny. I don't hear anyone laughing." He took another step forward, towering over them. "Now, leave. Before I decide to show you what a real joke looks like."
They didn't need to be told twice. With mumbled excuses and forced smiles, the trio scattered, leaving their trays behind in their haste. The tension in the cafeteria eased, replaced by a ripple of murmurs.
Riku turned to Jia, his expression softening. "You okay?"
Jia, ever the defiant one, rolled her eyes but smiled. "I could've handled it, you know."
"Sure you could," Riku replied, ruffling her hair in a way that made her swat at him. "But that's what I'm here for."
From my seat, I watched the scene unfold, a mix of relief and admiration swirling within me. Riku's fierce protectiveness reminded me of Minjae's quiet strength—a quality that made me feel both comforted and cared for.
As the twins left the cafeteria together, Riku still teasing Jia about her outfit, I smiled to myself. Maybe I didn't need to jump in this time. Jia had her brother, and he was more than enough to handle her battles.
But still, I made a mental note to keep an eye out. Because even with someone as strong as Riku around, Jia was my friend. And I'd never let her face anything alone.
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