﹒ ʬʬ ﹒₊﹒✶﹑kissin' And Hope They Caught Us﹏ ﹪

xvi. my fragile heart

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN ─ my fragile heart.

❛ and i'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

Yumi and Eunyoung stood on the sidewalk, awaiting the arrival of the bus. It seemed like a regular weekday morning to the naked eye, but there was something about them that seemed odd. Eunyoung's face appeared swollen─ especially her eyes; They had a faint red tint and traces of dried tears lingered on her cheeks.

"I heard you last night," said Yumi quietly, "Crying in your room?"

"You must have misheard," Eunyoung's gaze fixed on the ground, "Because I wasn't crying."

Yumi reached for Eunyoung's hand, gripping it tightly. Her sudden action surprised Eunyoung as she looked up at Yumi. "It's going to be okay," Yumi whispered, letting go of her hand gently.

💿

"Here," Taesung mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. He thrust his hand towards Yumi, the ice cream carton almost falling from his sweaty grip.

Yumi's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's this?"

"Ice cream," he blurted out, forcing a casual tone that sounded more like a croak. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs, a stark contrast to the coolness of the ice cream carton. Every fibre of his being screamed "awkward," yet he persevered.

Yumi's gaze flicked between the proffered carton and his face, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. Hesitantly, she reached out and took the ice cream, her fingers brushing against his briefly. "Thanks," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

A wave of relief washed over Taesung, so suddenly that it almost left him breathless. "You're welcome," he managed, his voice a little steadier now. He fumbled in his pocket, the crinkling sound echoing in the sudden silence, before pulling out another carton.

Yumi stared at his face unblinkingly as he took a bite of the ice cream. 

"You know, you look like a cat."

Taesung's heart lurched in his chest, a sudden skip that made him catch his breath. Her words echoed in his ears, instantly transporting him back to a conversation just a few days ago. The memory flickered to life─ He asked her if she liked cats, and Yumi's smile, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners, the casualness of her words: "I love them."

At that moment, it had seemed like a harmless comment, a shared interest. But now, with the way she spoke it again, a different meaning seemed to shimmer just beneath the surface. Was it just his imagination, or was there a hint of vulnerability, a subtle invitation in her voice? His pulse quickened, a knot of anticipation tightening in his stomach. Could she be hinting at something more? Or was he reading too much into it all?

Ryu Sunjae's Perspective

"Eunyoung, I like you."

My initial smile on seeing Eunyoung at the bus stop faded away as those words in someone's voice─ not his own, fell upon my ears. My eyebrows shot up in a moment of surprise, feeling an ache in my heart while I anticipated her reply.

Eunyoung stood staring at Jihoon's face in shock, too stunned to speak. "Why aren't you saying anything?" he inquired impatiently. My fists clenched, my fingernails digging into my palms as I resisted his urge to step in and intervene.

"Jihoon─" he interrupted her, "I really like you, Eunyoung. Ever since we first met. Will you be my girlfriend?"

A crowd of students had gathered around them, gasping and hooting at his bold confession while i stood watching them from afar, becoming increasingly irritable by the second. Eunyoung's eyebrows furrowed, "I can't go out with you."

There was a murmur of disappointment from the crowd. "Why not?" Jihoon demanded.

I took a step forward, unable to control myself any longer. However, I found myself stopping in my tracks upon hearing Eunyoung's reply, "Because I don't want to." her tone sounded calm, yet cold and firm.

"I don't get it!"

"Listen!" Eunyoung snapped, taking a menacing step towards Jihoon, "I've told you countless times to keep your distance and stay in your lane. I'm going to say this once and for all─ I would rather gauge my eyes out with a spatula than date you. If you come near me one more time, I'm going to file a restraining order against you, I swear to god!"

A smile surfaced on my face. Jihoon took a step back, his ego hurt by her harsh comments. He scoffed arrogantly, shooing the crowd away as he glared at her angrily.

The bus arrived, hissing to a stop. "I didn't expect this from you," Jihoon grumbled.

"I have to go," she said sharply, stepping onto the bus.

I approached the bus, stealing a quick glance at the boy nearby. With a deliberate nudge of my shoulder against his, I trailed behind Eunyoung as we boarded the bus.

I took a seat next to Eunyoung, who was staring out the window, the annoyance still evident on her face. She whipped around to look at me. Her irritation seemed to melt away on seeing me, the corners of her eyes crinkling and her lips stretching into a smile, "Sunjae!" she exclaimed, "How are you doing? I spoke to Inhyuk yesterday, he said you weren't feeling too well."

"I'm much better now," I assured her, my heart skipping a beat on hearing the worry in her voice, "My dad and I have patched things up, and we discussed a date for the surgery with the doctor."

"That's great to hear," she said, relieved, "When's your surgery? I'll make sure to visit you."

"This Saturday," I answered, feeling my face getting warmer, "It's kind of soon, but the doctor thought it was a good idea."

Her lips stretched into a sympathetic smile and I could feel her sincerity as her gaze softened. 

"Good luck, Sunjae. I'm praying the surgery goes well."

There it was again; The melody of her voice, as soft as the summer breeze, echoing in my mind as soon as the sound hit my ears. I had forgotten how to breathe, mesmerized by the girl in front of me. All she had to do was exist, and I would fall for her a little harder every passing second. I could feel myself beaming from ear to ear, mumbling a thank you that could never express my feelings for her. I suddenly became conscious of my behaviours. Was I being too forward? A fake cough, a terrible attempt at concealing my elation escaped my lips. 

"By the way," I sloppily attempted to change the subject, "Who's that guy who asked you out? Do you know him well?"

"You saw that, huh?" she said, smiling in embarrassment, "Not exactly; He used to follow me around. I told him to back off, but he just wouldn't listen. I kind of exploded at him earlier."

"That was a pretty strong insult," I said, chuckling. My happiness knew no bounds on knowing that she didn't like him. 

"You think I was too harsh?" she asked doubtfully.

"I think you put him in his place," I smiled wider, "What type of guys do you like? Do you not like it when they're clingy?"

"Him being clingy wasn't the issue. He was a total douchebag and flirts with everyone. He wasn't exactly the best person you want to be with," said Eunyoung, then looking up at me, "I think I would like someone who's warm-hearted─ someone who doesn't see me as a status symbol. Someone who makes me feel loved."

Sunjae was lost for words. A tiny glimmer of hope bloomed in his heart─ that maybe, just maybe, he stood a chance.

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nayoung's notes: it's been sixteen chapters and the only one who can accept the fact that they're in love is sunjae lmfao. hope you liked the chapter!

delphi's notes: gauge your eyes out with a spatula is crazyy. pop off ig.

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

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CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE ─ expect the unexpected.

❛ and it feels like the start of a movie i've seen before, but you're not here ❜

Ryu Sunjae's Perspective

I practically ran down the stairs, my heartbeat drumming on inside my chest as I felt a new kind of giddy excitement to meet Eunyoung. I had always felt incredibly happy at the thought of her, but this was different. With all that had happened yesterday, it felt like all the puzzle pieces fit perfectly and we were together at last. Everything in my life seemed to lead me here, to Eunyoung.

To my disappointment, on descending the last stair, instead of seeing Eunyoung's smiling face greet me, I saw her sister, Yumi waiting impatiently. Before I could speak, she turned around suddenly, making me jump a little. She was glaring at me with a kind of resentment and disgust that made me feel sick. I took a step back, cowering before her.

"You know, I wanted to be happy about you and Eunyoung," she said menacingly, "But now I'm thinking that you're all kinds of trouble."

"What did I do?" I asked, furrowing my brows in confusion.

"Last night, you guys must have had your rom-com moment in the rain," she started, "But now Eunyoung is lying in bed with a 100 degree fever."

"What?!" I yelled way too loudly, my eyes widening and my heartbeat quickening, "Eunyoung is sick?!" It made me mad. Guilt seemed to be gnawing at my heart as I realized it was my fault. Before I could get a response from Yumi, whose rage had been replaced by surprise at my exaggerated reaction, I began running to Eunyoung's front door.

"I wouldn't go in if I were you," Yumi said. I stopped in my tracks. She continued, "Mom's been up all night taking care of her and her opinion of you is not exactly favorable."

Narrator's Perspective

By the time Sunjae and Yumi had reached school, there was a strange awkwardness between them since Eunyoung wasn't there to play the mutual friend. But when Yumi considered the situation in her mind and concluded that it would be a lot worse if Eunyoung had been with them, because then it would have been Yumi third wheeling with a couple who was so obnoxiously sweet she would have vomited. So, she sat there with Sunjae, feeling grateful for the awkward air that had settled between them.

"So, are you in the school play?" Sunjae asked her out of politeness. He had begun to get a little restless because of the silence. He had imagined his bus ride to college a lot differently. He thought it would be romantic with Eunyoung next to him. But instead he was forced to deal with Yumi; He knew by instinct that she was just tolerating him because of Eunyoung, and honestly he felt the same way.

"No, I'm not," she said without looking at him, "I don't even want to get into all this festival nonsense. I'm the last person to do a thing like a school play. And they chose a Shakespeare play? Forget it."

You ask a simple question... Sunjae sighed internally, "I just thought you would audition- you know, since your boyfriend is in the play."

I guess Eunyoung hasn't told him... This made Yumi feel a little at peace; The fact that Eunyoung was guarding her secret well was a comforting thought.

"Do I seem like the kind of person to humiliate myself on stage because my boyfriend i decided to do it?" she asked formidably.

"I guess not," Sunjae said, giving up on making pleasantries, "I gotta go anyways." He practically ran away from her.

💿

The auditorium was filled with playful banter and friendly conversations. The cast of the Shakespearean play As You Like It that had been casted so far were gathered there for the very first practice. The actors crowded the stage, discussing their roles and reading their scripts. The director and writers responsible for translating the play into Korean occupied a table with various sheets of paper stacked and a microphone to maintain some order.

"Excuse me ! Everybody! May I have your attention please?" asked the girl who was given the role of director. The chaos settled down, slowly but surely, "Thank you. Is everybody here? Or is someone missing?"

"Eunyoung isn't here," Sunjae answered promptly. His comment was followed with some girls eyeing him and whispering among themselves.

"Oh my gosh!"

"Do they like each other or what?"

"I swear there's something going on since the field trip!"

Sunjae wondered if he was being too obvious but chose to ignore the gossip.

"What's her character?" asked the director, looking down at her list of participants.

"Rosalind," he answered. He could hear more whispers.

"Rosalind?!" she repeated, taken aback, "Our Rosalind is absent? Why on earth would she miss the first rehearsal?"

"Uh, she's down with fever!" Sunjae told her, "Pretty bad, actually- hundred degrees. Her sister told me." He ignored the giggling that followed his rather enthusiastic answer.

"Oh, dear," said the director a little calmer than before, "Well, tell her to take care, then. And tell her that absenteeism will not be tolerated except for health related reasons. I'll let her off the hook this one time."

Sunjae heaved a sigh of relief. The writer sitting next to the director whispered something in her ear. Her eyes went wide, "She's one of the writers too? That is... unfortunate."

"Could you be any more obvious?" Taesung sneered.

"Shut up," he snapped, "At least she's in the play."

"Ouch," Taesung said defensively, "Damn, Sunjae didn't think you were stingy like that."

"By the way," began the director, addressing Sunjae, "What's your character?"

"Orlando," he answered plainly.

"Good," the director smiled. The students began hooting and screaming with excitement.

"Okay, settle down," said the writer. He took the microphone from the director, "We don't have an actress for the role of Celia. Does anyone have any suggestions? Anybody wishing to audition?"

A lightbulb suddenly lit up in Taesung's head, "I know someone who could play the role."

"Do they have a name?"

"Uh, yes," he answered, the palms of his hands feeling sweaty, "Choi Yumi from the Practical Music Department." Once again, people began ooh-ing and ahh-ing. 

"Bring her to rehearsal tomorrow to audition," said the writer in a matter-of-fact tone. Taesung smiled ever so slightly. Now he would get to spend some time with her...

"Okay, so since we don't have Rosalind or Celia, we can start with act one, scene one..."

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nana's notes: yumi is literally ready to fight sunjae

delphi's notes: don't mess with yumi

xxii. you and me and awkward silence

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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO ─ you and me and awkward silence.

❛ don't you notice how i get quiet when there's no one else around? ❜

Narrator's Perspective

"Why are you all standing like that?" Taesung asked his friends who stood on the other side of the safety door of his house.

Taesung's birthday had arrived at last, and his friends' plan of throwing him a surprise party had fallen into place. Yumi stood at the front- against her will, for Inhyuk had pushed her ahead while everyone fumbled. The Eclipse members and Sunjae held balloons in their hands, and Yumi held the box containing the cake and a small paper bag.

All she could do was stare at his face as he repeated his question impatiently. Realising Yumi wasn't responding, Inhyuk jumped in and exclaimed, "Happy birthday! Did you think we'd forget?!"

A slow smile appeared on Taesung's face as he chuckled in disbelief. His hand reached for the doorknob, which he pushed open. The party was not a large one- the members of Eclipse, Sunjae and Yumi, but it was a meaningful one. They entered his house one by one, as Taesung stepped aside to make way. While everyone else dispersed, putting up the balloons, Yumi stood frozen before him, staring blankly, "Happy birthday," she uttered quietly.

Taesung stood motionless for a brief moment, admiring the girl in front of him. Her voice sounded like music in his ears. His eyes remained fixed on her, unable to pull away. She was dressed in a baby blue dress that hovered above her knees. The dress was sleeveless, drawing attention to her graceful arms, and it boasted a sweetheart neckline that framed her collarbone beautifully.

"Thanks," he smiled, "I'm glad you're here, piano girl."

There it was again. That nickname. Yumi thought to herself, clearing her throat. It took all the willpower in her not to misinterpret his words. What did he really mean? Plus it was really hard to focus with him standing right in front of her. She couldn't bring herself to look away from him. He was dressed in a simple monochromatic outfit- black jeans and a plain white t-shirt, and it was evident that he wasn't expecting company. Yet, there she was, staring. She moved past him, placing the cake on the coffee table in front of the couch.

"Is that for me?" he snapped her out of her thoughts, gesturing to the bag dangling from her wrist. 

"Huh?" she blurted out, "Oh, right! I got you a little something."

"What is it?" he asked as he peeked into the bag after she handed it to him. 

"Look at it later!" she spoke more urgently than she intended to. Taesung's face twisted into a confused frown, setting the bag aside for time being. His suspicion was evident through his expression, and Yumi realized that she had pretty much shot herself in the foot. A blush surfaced on her face from embarassment as she moved to where everyone else was standing.

Why am I even here? She wondered. She barely knew these people. Yet a part of her wanted to be there for him. How heartbreaking was it that his parents couldn't be there for their only son's birthday? Yumi wondered if what she felt for him was pity or something more? Yumi pushed the thought away, refusing to explore it further. It was too terrifying, too soon. She prayed she'd never have to confront those feelings.

Choi Yumi's Perspective

It was as if  I had zoned out for the entire duration of the party. I think this was my fatal flaw. I spent to much time thinking. I never took action. I just sat and thought. And thought. And thought some more until even I was afraid of my thoughts. Before I knew it, everyone had left, leaving me alone with Taesung. The thought made me want to dig a hole in the ground and bury my head in it. I told myself that since I was the only one there, I should help clean up the mess. Yet, in the back of my mind, I knew that every moment spent with him was special.

"You don't have to stay," he remarked, breaking the awkward silence that previously filled the room, "It's getting late."

"Are you kicking me out?" I asked with a hint of hostility in my voice, "I want to help."

"Who am I to argue with you?" asked to no one in particular.

We worked in silence, neither of us knowing how to start another conversation. I realised what a horrifying thing it was to be alone with my thoughts- especially with him around. Why was I behaving like this? It's not like I'm a teenage girl- I mean, I am, but I'm not at the same time. Half of me wished I could go back to my time and everything would be normal. I would be working at a miserable law firm, just like I studied for; But there was another part of me that kept stealing glances at Taesung as we picked up the trash from the wooden floors. 

What the hell is wrong with me?!

After we finished picking up the confetti and remains of the balloons (that had been popped by our small yet lively party), we stood in the living room, which had now become devoid of any evidence that it was full of liveliness a while ago.  My gaze wandered around the room and I stood completely still as if my feet were rooted to the ground. My eyes finally fixed on the green guitar placed against the wall. It was as if I was hypnotized by it as I took an unconscious step towards it.

"Do you like it?" he asked, as I tore my eyes away.

"What?"

"Do you like the guitar?" he repeated himself, the corners of his lips tugging at a smile. 

"Ummm," I stuttered, "I... I guess so? It's a nice guitar."

"Do you play?"

"No."

"Do you want to?"

I suddenly found myself unable to answer his seemingly simple question. I froze there, my stubborn voice refusing to speak. The truth is, that I felt drawn to the guitar. It was something new and exciting. I took another look at it; It was as if it had been calling my name this whole time.

"I can teach you if you like," he offered, and I thought he might have observed the manner in which I was staring at his guitar.

"Right now?" I said with too much enthusiasm. I bit my lip- was it too much?

"I mean, if you really want to," he stammered out, taken aback by my sudden display of eagerness.

I glanced at the clock, "It's already 9 o' clock," I observed.

"You're right. I should let you go home," he realized, "We can meet after music club practice tomorrow. If that's okay with you?"

"But it closes at 5," I frowned, "Where will we go?"

He thought about it for a brief moment, "How 'bout you come here?" I felt heat rise up my cheeks, "Here?" I asked, trying to figure out if I misheard him.

"My dad is usually not at home, so we won't have any disturbance," he explained.

"Sure," I agreed, trying my best to sound nonchalant.

It was almost as if I was breathless. What do I call this feeling?

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nana's notes: the tension between yumi and the guitar-

delphi's notes: something is brewing...

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

xiv. the space between us

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

CHAPTER FOURTEEN ─ the space between us.

❛ our secret moments in a crowded room, they got no idea 'bout me and you. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

Sunjae and Eunyoung sat silently in Eunyoung's living room, the sound of occasional hiccups or sobs breaking the silence. She reached for his clenched hand, gently squeezing it as an acknowledgement of the agony that he felt as if to say, "I'm here for you."

"How did you know?" Sunjae asked quietly, trying to conceal the spark he felt at her touch, "That I got hurt."

"I realized you never showed up the the bus stop, so I asked your friend," she answered, "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" he countered, "Even though we haven't known each other for long, you've been here for me like a pillar of support. You always seem to say the right thing at the right time. I feel comfortable with you. You've got nothing to be sorry for. In fact, I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have listened to your advice."

His words seemed to melt her heart like ice cream on a sunny day as her face began to feel warm, "It's not your fault, Sunjae. I should have tried harder."

"No," he said firmly, taking both her hands as she gazed into his glassy eyes, "You tried to warn me, but I was too stubborn. You can't possibly blame yourself for what happened to me. Maybe fate has other plans for me."

His words echoed in her mind; all she could do was sit and stare at him because she was the only one who knew what destiny had in store for him.

Their eyes locked as both of them desired to look nowhere but at each other. The air seemed to grow heavy with words they had been holding back since their first meeting. Eunyoung's breathing became slow and the sound pierced through the silence. As she continued to stare at his perfect face, her gaze shifted from his pillowy, soft lips to his eyes, moist from crying, then fixed on his lips, unable to look away. Sunjae, slowly, in a moment of realization, became aware of where Eunyoung was looking. Eunyoung's breath hitched ever so slightly as he leaned towards her, the action filled with hesitation. Their lips were a whisper apart, a secret yearning about to be fulfilled.

The doorknob rattling filled the air as they pulled away abruptly. Sunjae let go of his grip on Eunyoung's hands, startled at the rude interruption. Both their eyes began blinking rapidly, looking everywhere but at each other. 

As Yumi entered the room she stopped in her tracks, trying to make sense of what they were doing. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What are you two─ have you been crying? What happened?" Her voice was now laced with worry, oblivious to what she had walked in on.

"It's nothing," Eunyoung said sharply. A hiccup escaped her mouth as she sloppily tried to cover up the situation. 

"I'll leave you two alone," said Yumi, although as she walked to her room, her eyes seemed to convey a message to Eunyoung, as if to say You're telling me everything later.

Sunjae and Eunyoung were left alone once again and the silence felt louder than ever. Tension filled the room as she avoided his gaze. A tangled web of emotions and unspoken desires hung heavy in the air, a barrier that was both thrilling and terrifying.

💿

The newspaper room of Jagam High School was usually a lively place to be. The place always buzzed with heated discussions and the sound of busy fingers typing. However, at this moment only Hyejin and Yerin sat lazily in their designated chairs, gazing out at the bright summer day through the single, huge window in front of them. Yerin's cellphone buzzed, breaking the silence.

"Hey, look Mrs. Hong just messaged," she told her friend, who peeked into her phone, curious as to what their teacher had said, "The meeting is shifted to tomorrow."

Hyejin groaned, "The one day we show up early the meeting gets cancelled. Great."

"It's so unfair," Yerin grumbled.

"By the way, did you hear from Jiwoo? How's she doing?" Hyejin asked after a few moments of silence.

"I spoke to her yesterday," answered Yerin, "She's supposed to be discharged from the hospital this weekend. I can't believe she got chicken pox; It must have been so painful."

"Who wrote her article about the swim team?" Hyejin inquired.

"Don't you remember the teacher praising Eunyoung about─ oh yeah, you weren't there," she realized suddenly, "Do you know Choi Eunyoung?"

"Yeah, of course I do," she answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world, "She's probably the prettiest in our grade─ or maybe in our whole school."

"Well, she's the one who wrote the article," Yerin said, "She wrote it well, honestly. All the teachers like her."

"The people in my class said that Jiwoon sunbae likes her," she remembered suddenly, "He tried to get close to her and stuff last year. They're saying he's planning on confessing his feelings to her."

"Really?" Hyejin exclaimed, "I saw her with Ryu Sunjae on the bus the other day─ I thought they're going out. He kept her head on his shoulder and all. It seemed kind of serious if you ask me."

"No way!" Yerin remarked, shocked, "She's like─ really pretty, though. She and Sunjae would look good with each other. I've heard she's kind of reserved, so I don't think she would go out with someone for fun. I know so many people who tried to speak to her, but she gave them the cold shoulder and was really formal."

"Ugh, I hate girls like that. They always turn out to be so bitchy," she grumbled, "She has a sister who she's close with; but I don't think she has many friends. It's so high-and-mighty of her."

"Have you ever spoken to her?"

"Can't say I have."

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nayoung's notes: the first scene of this chapter is literally just a product of my intrusive thoughts lmao. i randomly came up with it and ended up keeping it. hope you liked it!

delphi's notes: yumi's got no idea what she walked in on 🫢

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

xlii. rain, romance and revelations

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO ─ rain, romance and revelations.

❛ but i can't help myself, when you get close to me ❜

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

Sunjae and I sat side by side on his living room couch, dripping with rainwater that soaked into the sofa fabric. The couch was large enough to seat at least four people, and yet we sat close together, soaking up each others' warmth, afraid to let go. One of Sunjae's jackets was now draped over my shoulders. My brain could hardy comprehend anything that was happening. He had found me in the rain and kissed me. I couldn't believe it. It was like a scene straight out of a rom-com movie. My heart pounded against my chest, and the rain and chilly breeze couldn't put out the fire inside me.

Sunjae reached for a towel, his movements unhurried and gentle, as if he were handling something precious. He stepped closer, the warmth of his presence cutting through the chill that clung to my skin. Without a word, he began drying my hair, his touch soft and deliberate. The fabric brushed against my scalp, and I could feel the care behind every motion.

My body froze for a moment, caught off guard by the intimacy of it all. My heart stumbled over its rhythm as I became fixated on him—on the way his eyes held a quiet tenderness, the kind that made it impossible to look away. His damp hair clung to his forehead, and I could see the faint shiver in his frame, but he didn't seem to care. His only focus was on me.

The butterflies in my stomach took flight, their wings fluttering wildly at the realization of how selfless he was. He didn't even think twice about his own discomfort, his own cold. His hands moved with a kind of attentiveness that made my chest tighten, like I'd stumbled into a dream I never wanted to wake up from.

Then he paused. His hands stilled, the towel resting lightly against my head. Slowly, he looked at me, his gaze shifting, as if he'd just realized how close we were—how my eyes hadn't left him for even a second. His expression softened, yet there was a flicker of uncertainty, of awareness that hadn't been there a moment ago.

I felt the heat rising in my cheeks, spreading like wildfire. My breath hitched, and I wondered if he could feel the way my pulse quickened, even though I wasn't sure I could speak. The air between us felt charged, delicate, as if a single word might break whatever spell we'd found ourselves under.

"What's the matter?" he asked softly. His voice rung like the melody of a love song.

"You're so sweet," I breathed out after a few seconds.

His face melted into a smile, showing his adorable dimple and his eyes becoming like crescent moons. My own lips stretched into a smile. All I wanted was to see him happy; No matter who he was with. But now here he was, wrapping his arms around my waist, smiling sweetly at me.

"I cant believe you avoided me for so many days."

"I do feel a bit silly now, thinking back," I giggled out, "But you really gave me a scare. I thought you were going away for good."

"I would have," he confessed, "If it weren't for someone making it impossible for me to go anywhere."

"I didn't realize you were so cheesy."

"So what, you don't like me anymore?" he asked, bringing his face closer to mine.

"I still like you," I answered with a laugh, giving him a short kiss. I watched his face and ears turn red in an instant and I couldn't help but chuckle. He's so cute...

Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening startled the both of us. Before we had any time to process what was happening, Sunjae's dad appeared with a blue cloth bag and an umbrella in his hand. He stood before us, paralyzed in a state of shock. I moved a bit further from Sunjae, trying to increase the distance between us.

"Oh! Eunyoung!" he exclaimed finally, "I see... you both got drenched in the rain! Oh, dear, you must be very cold..." He rattled on.

"I'll get going then!" I got up suddenly, waving an awkward goodbye to both of them.

"Sunjae, I'll- uh, return your jacket! Later..."

Ryu Sunjae's Perspective

I watched as Eunyoung practically bolted out of my house after muttering out an excuse for my dad. Dammit, now I have to explain myself to my dad. Looking at my father's smug smile, I realized he must have put two and two together already.

"I wasn't born yesterday, son," he said, still smiling.

"I know," I gulped.

"I can't say I'm surprised."

"Oh, you're not?"

"Not a bit," he said rather confidently, "You finally got your act together!"

"So," I began, "You're okay with this? With Eunyoung and I-"

"Okay?! Oh, I'm more than okay!" he let out a hearty laugh, "You have my blessing!"

I felt my heart relax and I let out a sigh of relief. I had my father's permission. He was a stubborn man, and it was a huge deal. I just hope Eunyoung's mother is as supportive.

Narrator's Perspective

Eunyoung, her mother and Yumi sat in the living room for dinner while the rain pitter-pattered against the windows. Everyone was eating in silence- as they often did, but tonight, Eunyoung kept smiling to herself every few seconds while still looking down at her plate. Her mom glanced at Yumi, hoping that she would know why Eunyoung was so happy. 

"We gotta get used to this," she said loudly.

Eunyoung looked up at Yumi in confusion, "What?"

"Why is that?" Their mother asked tentatively. 

"You wanna tell her or should I?" Yumi asked Eunyoung.

"Tell her about what?"

"About your boyfriend."

Her mother's eyebrows shot up, "Boyfriend?"

"Oh," Eunyoung realized, "Right. I was going to tell you after things were official... but I guess since Yumi's already spilled the beans... I'll just tell you. I'm dating this guy..."

"Who?"

"Oh, you know," Eunyoung avoided her gaze, looking at the walls behind where her mother was seated, a red tinge appearing on her face, "It's umm... Sunjae. Ryu Sunjae- you know he lives-"

"Oh," her mother exclaimed, pleasantly surprised, "The guy next door? He seemed nice..."

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nana's notes: cute chapter after all the hell i put them thru :P last chapter before my hiatus :( see u in april!

delphi's notes: somebody check my blood sugar this is too sweet-

next chapter: april 1st list of chapters here!

( 🥂. ) let the only flashing lights be the tower at midnight . . .

xviii. the anatomy of a smile

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ─ the anatomy of a smile.

❛ but i see sparks fly whenever you smile. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

"Oh! Eunyoung!" Inhyuk called out when he spotted Eunyoung on her way to school.

"Hmm?" she turned to look at him, "Oh, it's you. Hi."

"Hey," he began, "I visited Sunjae yesterday. He went on about today's school paper. He practically begged me to bring it for him. The fellow who distributes the papers in our class is a real ass. He won't give me any extra papers. Can you do me a favour and help me out? I have no idea why he's so hell bent on getting it."

A small smile surfaced on Eunyoung's face. He remembers.

"I'll bring it to him after school, don't worry," she assured him. Inhyuk cocked his head to the side in confusion. He seemed to be the only one left in the dark.

The previous evening

"Sunjae?" Eunyoung called out to him, knocking on the open hospital room door. None of the other patients seemed to be there, and Sunjae sat in solitude on his bed, staring blankly out of the window.

"Eunyoung?" his head whipped around sharply. A small smile surfaced on his face slowly. The despair in his eyes was very much evident despite his efforts to put up a brave front.

She returned his smile with the same sorrow in her eyes. She took a seat on the chair next to him, "How are you feeling?"

"Honestly?" he started, the smile fading from his face, "Not great. They said I won't be able to continue swimming."

I know. Eunyoung thought to herself. Each time she was faced with that reality, she could feel an ache in her heart. The lump in her throat left her speechless. Her hand reached forward to clutch Sunjae's, which seemed so huge in comparison. Sunjae's breath hitched at her sudden movement. The colour seemed to return to his face as he felt warmth blooming in his cheeks.

"I'm sorry," is all Eunyoung could muster out, "I'm sorry for coming late, I'm sorry you have to go through this."

"It's not your fault," Sunjae whispered.

A spark of warmth glimmered in the sterile hospital room, igniting a new kind of fire in them both. The silence conveyed feelings that neither of them could dare to put into words.

💿

Spotting Taesung exiting the music room before her, Yumi called out to him, evident excitement in her voice, "Taesung!" She approached him as he turned quickly to look at her. 

"Piano girl?"

"How original," she frowned.

"Why did you call out to me?" he asked her.

"Oh yeah," Yumi remembered, "The kitten let me pet it the other day!"

"Really?" he chuckled. He found her excitement strangely endearing. Yumi always seemed to be frowning or her eyebrows would be raised and her eyes would be wide with confusion. She had often stared at him blankly, making it impossible to guess what was on her mind. But her face lit up when she smiled. There was a glimmer in her eyes, and a soft redness on her cheeks. Taesung's heart pounded against his chest.

"I was right, wasn't I?" he said, trying way too hard to act cool. 

Could she tell I'm bluffing? Does she have any clue about the effect she has on me?

💿

The white walls of Sunjae's hospital room seemed a little less oppressive today. A sliver of sunlight snuck through the blinds, painting a warm rectangle across his lap. Sunjae, propped up against pillows, traced the lines of a sports magazine with a listless finger. The events unfolding on the pages held little interest for him. His own future in swimming felt like a deflated balloon, limp and useless.

A soft knock at the door startled him. Before he could answer, the door creaked open, revealing Eunyoung. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were clouded with worry. She clutched a neatly folded newspaper to her chest.

"Hey," Sunjae managed, a weak smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at school?"

Eunyoung shuffled closer, her gaze flitting between him and his father, who sat perched on a visitor's chair, a newspaper propped up in front of him. A hint of a blush crept up her neck.

"Actually, I brought you something," she mumbled, extending the newspaper towards him.

Sunjae's father chuckled, lowering his own paper. "He's been yapping about your article all morning. Took you long enough!" His tone was light, but Sunjae detected a playful jab in his words.

"I'm just glad someone's eager to read what I wrote."

Sunjae carefully unfolded the newspaper, his heart skipping a beat as he saw the headline: "Setting the Pace: A New Season for the Jagam High Swim Team" with his own team photo splashed right below it.

He scanned the article, his eyes widening with each paragraph. Eunyoung's words painted a vivid picture of the team, their dedication, and their unwavering spirit. He felt a forgotten spark ignite within him, a flicker of pride for his team and the sport he still loved.

"This is..." he stammered, searching for the right words. "This is amazing, Eunyoung! You captured everything perfectly. I could practically smell the chlorine."

A genuine smile bloomed on Eunyoung's face, chasing away the worry in her eyes. "Really? I'm glad you like it. Everyone misses you so much." Especially me.

"Maybe you can take some advice from Eunyoung," his dad advised Sunjae, a teasing smile forming on his face, "You never know! You might become a famous writer like her."

Sunjae swatted his father's arm playfully, a laugh escaping his lips for the first time since the surgery. "Don't listen to him, Eunyoung. He's just jealous he can't write like you."

The room, for a brief moment, was filled with a warmth that had nothing to do with the sunlight peering in through the window. It was the warmth of shared passion and perhaps, the beginning of a new kind of hope.

💿

"Sportsmanship is not just about good manners; it's about creating a positive environment where everyone can thrive. It's about fostering a love for the sport that goes beyond individual accolades, and it fills me with pride to know that the swimming team of Jagam High School navigates the triumphs and challenges of this season with this very sportsmanship as their guiding principle." Yumi read out from the newspaper in her hand.

Eunyoung's mother put down her chopsticks and clapped enthusiastically. A smile formed on Eunyoung's face as Yumi too joined in the applause. "We're so proud of you, Eunyoung!" said her mom.

"You do this every time I write something," said Eunyoung, embarrassed as she hid her face in her hands.

"It's because everything you write is so profoundly eloquent that Shakespeare would start shaking in his grave," replied Yumi dramatically.

"She's right, Eunyoung," their mom piped in, "At this rate you're going to become the CEO of a big news firm."

Eunyoung and Yumi exchanged glances, smiling at the fact that she had just predicted the future that only they knew about.

"Don't count your chickens," Eunyoung shrugged.

"You never know," said Yumi, grinning.

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nayoung's notes: rare occasion where sunjae's dad doesn't embarrass his son.

delphi's notes: the best part of this chapter is how eunyoung's mom suddenly becomes a fortune teller.

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

It's my 1 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

omg 😭 i cant believe its been a year!!

viii. heartbeat

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

CHAPTER EIGHT ─ heartbeat.

❛ no proof, one touch, but you felt enough. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

"Huh?"

"Get on the bike," Taesung repeated. Yumi stood completely still for a few moments before asking him again, "Are you sure? Is it safe?"

"Sure, it is," he answered, chuckling at her inquiry, "The offer expires in ten seconds, think fast." He then began counting down from ten to one. Thinking that this was her only option to get home at a reasonable time, she quickly hopped onto his bike, his countdown sounding like a ticking bomb ready to explode any moment.

"Welcome aboard," he announced in a mocking formal tone, "Hold on tight."

Yumi awkwardly pinched one side of his jacket. "It's okay, don't be shy," he assured on seeing her hesitation, "You've never been on a motorcycle, have you?" Yumi slowly shook her head.

He gripped her wrist tightly and without any prior warning. Yumi's eyebrows flicked up in surprise at the sudden urgency. Without waiting for a response, he gently but firmly pulled her closer, guiding her arms to wrap securely around his torso. The movement was swift, ensuring her safety before she even realized the need for it.

"Stay like this until I stop, okay?" Taesung instructed. Yumi's throat had gone completely dry, the ability to speak evaporating into the afternoon heat. He turned his head on hearing no answer. She simply nodded at him.

"Okay, I'll take that as a yes," just after he said this, the engine made a loud, unpleasant growling sound as he twisted the throttle, "I'm just praying you don't have motion sickness."

💿

A soft tapping sound on the pavement sounded in the narrow lane through which Sunjae and Eunyoung journeyed from the bus stop to their homes. At first, awkwardness prevailed as Sunjae's eyes rapidly darted from here to there, wondering what he should say next. On the other hand, Eunyoung's gaze was fixated on the path, her blank face masking the countless thoughts racing through her head.

Like a rude awakening, the sound of a motorcycle engine pierced through the air, shattering the silence and peacefulness of their walk. Without a moment's hesitation, Sunjae's hand clamped onto Eunyoung's wrist, pulling her to the side gently yet firmly as the bike zoomed past them, the smell of gasoline lingering in the air. Her breath hitched, and the pace of the motorcycle as well as Sunjae's prompt reaction sent her heart racing. With her back against Sunjae's torso, she let out a sigh of relief, "Thanks for"

Her voice failed her as she looked up at Sunjae's face, their eyes meeting for a split second before they realised how close they were. The two pulled away with flushed cheeks, "Thanks for that," said Eunyoung with a hint of awkwardness in her voice.

"Don't mention it," Sunjae spoke with a smile.

"That's so dangerous," Eunyoung commented attempting to divert the conversation, "I think they were wearing our school uniform."

"Yeah, I noticed that," Sunjae nodded in agreement, "I think I've seen that guy before."

"You have?" asked Eunyoung as they resumed walking.

"I'm not sure where..."

💿

"Thanks for dropping me off," Yumi said to Taesung as she got off the bike.

"No worries," he replied, smiling after removing his helmet. An awkward silence followed it since neither of them could think of anything to say.

"I guess... I'll see you around?" Yumi attempted to break the silence.

"Yeah, sure. I should get going, then."

"You can go ahead, then," she replied politely, "Just one thing before you go─ don't talk to anyone on your way back."

"Okay," he said in confusion. 

"Hey! It's you!" a voice accused. As the two turned to look at the person, Eunyoung stood before them, "You too were the ones on the bike?!"

Yumi avoided her gaze, looking at the ground, while Taesung stood staring at Eunyoung, oblivious to the cause of her agitation. 

"Yeah, why?" he asked. It was as if a cloud of misfortune had started following Yumi everywhere. She sighed in an attempt to rationalize with Eunyoung, "Look, he was just dropping me off. The bus strike is today, remember?" Eunyoung's expression momentarily softened, "That's right," she realized.

Turning to Taesung, regaining her composure, she said, "Thanks for dropping her off; But don't ever drive like that again, I'm warning you─ especially when Yumi's with you.

"Got it," Taesung gulped, "Sorry about that." With a bow, he hurriedly departed with his motorcycle, wanting to run away as soon as he could.

Once the sound of the obnoxious engine revving sounded in the air, Eunyoung turned to Yumi, who was trying to sneak into their home without her sister noticing, "Where are you scurrying off to? Where did you meet this delinquent anyway?! Don't you dare hide from me!"

"He's in Inhyuk's band, actually," Yumi informed her.

"Really?" the harshness in her voice subsided, "No wonder he was kicked out. He doesn't seem like too great of a guy."

"You don't even know him," Yumi defended him, not understanding why she did so.

"And you do?" Eunyoung retorted.

"This is stupid, let's not fight," Yumi diverted the topic, "Let's be friends again."

"Fine," Eunyoung said, trying to stifle her smile.

Entering their house, Eunyoung noticed the blue umbrella sitting by the door. Her gaze lingered on it and she called out to Yumi, "Listen! I'm going to return Sunjae's umbrella. I'll be back soon!"

"Okay~" Yumi yelled back from her room.

Skipping down the flight of stairs, two at a time, she made her way to Sunjae's house. Not long after her short journey, she was faced with a blue gate. Her fingers reached out to ring the doorbell. Clutching the umbrella, patiently waiting for someone to open the door. Sunjae's father emerged from the front door, advancing to the outer gate. Smiling on seeing Eunyoung, the iron gate swung open as he unlatched it, "Oh, it's you! Tell me, what brings you here?"

"I just wanted to return the umbrella I borrowed the other day. Sorry for not bringing it back sooner; It completely slipped my mind."

"Oh, don't worry about it," he waved his hand in front of his face, as if to fan away Eunyoung's apology, "He's gone to the swimming pool just now; I'll return it to him once he reaches home. Thank you for bringing it back, dear."

"Oh, that's alright. It wasn't a big deal," she smiled appreciatively. Turning back to go home, she was attacked by a sudden heavy downpour, which caught her off guard. 

"He'll need the umbrella while coming back," Sunjae's dad thought out loud, mostly to himself.

"I'll give it to him," Eunyoung offered generously.

"Are you sure?" he asked to confirm, but he had already handed her the umbrella, "Thanks a lot!" He said, running off into his house.

So, Eunyoung was off toward the school swimming pool.

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nayoung's notes: eunyoung's animosity towards taesung has begun 👀 i just love wonyoung's expression in the header. that's her judging taesung. hope you liked this chapter!

delphi's notes: eunyoung the original knight in shining armour. the long legs make her work easier.

next chapter: friday! (out now) list of chapters here!

xlii. piercing through my soul

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO ─ piercing through my soul.

❛ i wanna hold you just for a while

and die with a smile ❜

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

The chatter and buzz in the interview room rekindled after the cameraman's "Cut!" People switching off all the extra studio lights, packing up their things and chatting with each other. The tense atmosphere that previously hung over the room while the filming was ongoing was replaced with a new friendliness and lightheartedness. Words of encouragement and several people saying "Good job!" seemed to raise everyone's spirits. 

I heaved a quiet sigh the moment the cameras were out. During the interview, I felt as if I had been holding my breath the whole time. Never in my career of doing interviews for famous, influential personalities had I ever felt so nervous. At the same time, I knew I was obviously holding myself back. Every cell in my body wanted to drop all formalities and throw my arms around him and tell him how glad I was to see him. 

His experience writing 'Sonaki' was something that pricked me from inside. His words constantly echoed inside my mind. He met her on a rainy day. It was dangerously similar to how I met Sunjae. A part of me- the hopeful part, wanted to believe desperately that it was me. Despite wanting to hold onto the hope, an anxious and worried voice inside me told me not to get excited over it. It was too good to be true. Him writing a poetic masterpiece about his first love who was none other than me? It sounded impossible. I was also afraid. Afraid of being wrong after thinking it was about me. At the end of the day, I'm nothing more than his fan. And to him, all he's going to remember me is as a distant memory from his teenage years.

I gave in to all my temptations as I stole a glance at Sunjae, sitting across from me rummaging through his bag and talking about something or the other with his manager. I nearly smiled seeing his relaxed posture and radiant glow. Something about him had changed in the best way possible. He looked happy, and that was enough for my heart to be content. For a split second, our eyes met and I tore away forcefully and unnaturally, probably making a fool out of myself. It was too much. Seeing him again uprooted so many repressed feelings.

Soon, he was telling his manager to go on without him and saying that he would be out soon. Watching his manager leave the room, I found myself thinking- Am I really going to be here alone with him? It hadn't even been that long since I'd last seen him, yet my heart pounded in my ears like a thousand drums.

"Hey," he began once he was sure everyone was gone. I nearly jumped out of my skin hearing his voice, "It's been a while, huh? How've you been?"

"Hi," I answered with a small smile. So he remembers me... "Yeah, it's been ages. I've been good. How 'bout you? How's everything?"

"Good, you know. Life's full of surprises," he answered, smiling.

"That's nice to know; You...look... good- like you've been well," I stuttered like an idiot, "This is awkward, isn't it?"

"Yeah," he agreed, sounding disappointed, "It's been too long, I guess."

"Yeah."

An uncomfortable silence filled the air as we both looked here and there, thinking hard about what to say next. It seemed like both of us had a hundred thoughts racing through our minds, but no words nor courage to express them.

"You don't have any like... illness or anything lately, do you?" I asked slowly, afraid of the answer.

"No, not at all," he answered, sounding confused.

"I read some of the articles you wrote," he said after a few more moments of silence.

"About Eclipse?" I asked, sounding a bit too eager.

"Yeah," he replied, fidgeting with his clothes, "And other things. Your writing's as good as ever."

"Thanks," I cracked a real smile, "Should we go? Your manager must be waiting."

"Yeah."

We made our way through the door and into the elevator. I had never realized that our building elevator had no mirror. Or music. I stared at the ground, soaking in all the silence between us. The awkwardness sent a chill down my spine. I wanted to do something. I wanted to tell him that I missed him. But that would make things even more awkward and I would die of embarrassment.

Gosh, were elevator rides here always so insufferable?

The elevator finally stopped at the ground floor after what felt like a million years, and we exited the building, still completely quiet. Standing on the pavement looking onto the highway, I looked up at Sunjae, who was already looking. My face felt hot as I forgot what I was about to say.

"So this is it?" he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

"We should keep in touch this time," I blurted out too quickly. Why was I so jittery? "You can get my number from your manager."

"Yeah, let's do that," he said with a smile, finally showing his beautiful dimples. I returned his smile, feeling my heart swell up at the very sight of a happy Sunjae.

"My manager's car is over there across the street," he said, looking at the black car parked on the other side of the road, "I'll see you?"

"You will," I said with conviction, the smile never leaving my face.

I watched as the made his way across the zebra crossing, going further away, but in that moment, he felt the closest that evening. The soft glow of the streetlamp and the dim starlight seemed to give me a glimmer of hope. That this was the beginning of something new. Something special. Then, as if to throw water over all my happiness, I loud crashing sounded, like a huge truck suddenly stopping. My eyes went wide as my body seemed to freeze from shock. I felt my blood go cold.

Time seemed to splinter into fragments, each one more agonizing than the last, as I watched the massive, green truck barrel forward, unstoppable. There was a horrid screeching of brakes, but it was too late—the impact was thunderous, like the world cracking open right before my eyes. Sunjae's body collided with the force of the vehicle, a sickening blur of motion as he was thrown to the ground, his form limp and unmoving.

A piercing cry escaped my throat, one I barely recognized as my own. My chest constricted, an unbearable ache tearing through me as if the impact had shattered not only him but every part of me, too. For a brief, surreal moment, I couldn't move; I was paralyzed, bound by the horror of what I'd just witnessed, by the helplessness sinking like iron into my bones.

I stumbled forward, heart hammering wildly, tears blurring my vision as I rushed toward him. "Sunjae!" I cried, my voice trembling, desperate. My knees hit the ground beside him, the unforgiving pavement scraping through the fabric of my jeans, but I barely registered the sting. All I could see was his stillness, his face pale and serene in a way that frightened me more than any amount of pain ever could.

A sob broke free, raw and guttural, as I reached for his hand, cold and heavy in mine. Memories flooded my mind—his laughter, his warmth, the look in his eyes when he talked about the future, a future I suddenly couldn't see. It was slipping from me, unraveling like sand through my fingers, and I was powerless to stop it. The sight of him lying there, broken, filled me with a heartbreak so deep I felt hollowed out from within. I could feel my heart shattering, piece by piece, each shard lodging painfully within me.

"Please...please, Sunjae," I whispered, voice breaking as I clutched his hand, unable to stop my tears. The world had collapsed around us, reduced to this one horrible moment, to the unbearable thought of losing him.

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nana's notes: sunjae's death breaks me in every timeline.

delphi's notes: here we go again.

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!