Manon Bannerman #2 (wlw)

Manon Bannerman had always seemed impossible to read.

To the world, she was the effortlessly cool member of KATSEYE.

The girl with the calm confidence.

The girl who could walk into a room and instantly capture everyone's attention.

The girl everyone admired but few people truly knew.

But you knew her.

You knew the Manon who stole your jackets and never returned them.

The Manon who pretended she didn't want affection but always reached for your hand first.

The Manon who acted unbothered when she was actually feeling everything.

Especially when it came to you.

The problem started after practice.

A new girl had joined the team.

She was nervous.

Quiet.

Still trying to adjust.

You noticed her struggling to find the right studio, so you helped her.

You showed her where to go.

You answered her questions.

You smiled when she thanked you.

Nothing more.

Nothing less.

But Manon noticed.

Of course she did.

"You two looked close."

You looked up from your phone.

"What?"

"The new girl."

You immediately understood.

"Manon..."

"What?"

"You're upset."

"I'm not."

"You are."

She looked away.

"I'm just saying."

"Saying what?"

"That you seemed happier with her than you do with me lately."

Your expression softened.

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"Manon, she's new. She needed help."

"I know."

"Then why are we fighting?"

She went quiet.

Because the real answer wasn't about the new girl.

It was about her.

"I don't like feeling replaceable."

Your heart sank.

"You're not."

"I know you say that."

"Because it's true."

She shook her head.

"I just need time."

And before you could say anything else, she walked away.

You waited.

You gave her space.

You told yourself she would come around.

But hours passed.

Then you checked your phone.

Your messages wouldn't deliver.

You tried again.

Nothing.

You checked Instagram.

Blocked.

Snapchat.

Blocked.

WhatsApp.

Blocked.

Everything.

You stared at your phone.

"Manon..."

You couldn't even be mad.

Because you knew.

She wasn't trying to punish you.

She was trying to protect herself.

The rain started late that night.

Heavy.

Loud.

Almost like the sky was angry too.

You sat on your bed, replaying the argument.

The way her voice sounded.

The way she looked away when she admitted she was hurt.

You knew Manon.

She would rather disappear than admit she was scared.

And you couldn't let her be alone with those thoughts.

So you grabbed your coat.

The storm was brutal.

The wind pushed against you.

Your clothes became soaked within minutes.

Your breathing was shaky from the cold.

You knew this was a bad idea.

Your immune system wasn't exactly strong.

A simple cold always hit you harder than most people.

Manon knew that better than anyone.

She was the person who forced you to rest.

The person who brought you medicine.

The person who scolded you for staying awake too late.

And right now...

She was the person you needed.

Manon was sitting on her couch when she heard the rain.

She had been trying not to think about you.

Trying not to look at old messages.

Trying not to miss you.

Then her phone lit up with a notification.

A camera alert.

She opened it.

And froze.

You.

Outside.

In the storm.

Her heart dropped.

"You're joking."

She immediately stood up.

Because suddenly none of the anger mattered.

Not the jealousy.

Not the argument.

Nothing.

All she could think was:

She's going to get sick.

The door opened.

You looked up.

Manon stood there.

Her face was unreadable.

For a second.

Then she spoke.

"What are you doing?"

stuck in the rain!!!