when the stars align | sim jaeyun

15.

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It was an ordinary Friday when it happened. Our homeroom teacher, Mrs. Kim, stood in front of the class with a bright smile on her face, holding a stack of papers.

"Alright, class!" she said cheerfully. "I have some exciting news for you all. We're going on a school trip to Jeju Island next month!"

The room immediately filled with murmurs of excitement. Everyone started talking at once, speculating about what they'd do on the trip, how long they'd be gone, and who they would room with.

I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. A three-day trip to Jeju sounded like the perfect opportunity to get away from everything in Seoul. The trip would be a welcome break from the usual grind, even if it meant spending a few days trapped on an island with Jake.

Mrs. Kim continued, "The trip will take place in about two weeks. We'll be leaving after school on a Thursday and coming back on Sunday night. This will be your chance to relax and bond with your classmates."

The words "bond with your classmates" seemed to hit me hard. I could already feel the tension building at the thought of spending three days around Jake. What was I supposed to do? Pretend everything was fine when I knew it wasn't?

As the teacher went over the details of the trip, I glanced over at Jake. He was talking to Heeseung, his usual smirk in place. But for a split second, I swore I saw something else in his eyes—a flicker of something unspoken. It was gone before I could think much about it, but it left me feeling uneasy.

As the bell rang and we filed out of the classroom, Yunjin linked her arm with mine. "We need to start planning outfits for Jeju," she said, her eyes sparkling. 

"Outfits?" I echoed, laughing. "It's a school trip, not a fashion show." 

"Every trip is a fashion show if you try hard enough," Yunjin quipped. 

"She's right," Yuna agreed, falling into step beside us. "What if we meet cute guys on the island?" 

Niki, who had been eavesdropping from a few steps behind, snorted. "As if you don't already scare away every guy within a ten-mile radius." 

Yuna whipped around to glare at him. "Excuse me?" 

I laughed as they bickered all the way to the cafeteria. For the first time in days, I felt a little lighter. 

---

After school, Yuna and Yunjin were excitedly discussing the trip. I was trying to listen, but my mind kept wandering back to the same question: Why was Jake still being so distant? Why had he become like this? 

"Are you planning to room with us on the trip?" Yuna asked, looking at me with a grin. 

"Yeah, of course," I replied, though the idea of being in such close quarters with Jake made me feel more uneasy than excited. 

Yunjin, ever the perceptive one, seemed to catch onto my discomfort. "You're thinking about Jake, aren't you?" 

I gave her a look. "What do you mean?" 

She smirked. "Don't act like you're not. You've been weird about him for a while now." 

I bit my lip, not knowing how to answer her. It wasn't like I could tell her I was still trying to figure out how I felt about him—especially not when he was still treating me like the enemy. 

---

jake's pov.

I could tell Jisun was avoiding me. It was the same as it always was. We'd have these moments, brief and fleeting, where it seemed like things could be normal again, but every time I tried to say something, she pulled away. 

It was easier that way, though, wasn't it? Easier to just keep her at arm's length, to keep pretending everything was fine. 

But that didn't stop the feeling that gnawed at me when I saw her. I couldn't shake it. 

And now, the trip. Three days in Jeju. I could already imagine how awkward it was going to be. I'd have to see her every day, forced to interact with her, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could pretend I didn't care. 

But maybe that was the point. Maybe I had to stop pretending. 

---

jisun's pov.

The days leading up to the trip felt like they were dragging on forever. I was busy with schoolwork, hanging out with Yuna and Yunjin, and trying my best not to think about Jake. But, of course, it was hard not to notice him. We barely talked anymore, but I still felt his presence like a weight on my chest whenever I saw him.

---

The next week dragged by, but in the back of my mind, the Jeju trip loomed large. We were all getting our permission slips signed, packing our bags, and trying to figure out room assignments. 

The night before the trip, I found myself unable to sleep. I was still thinking about the awkwardness that would unfold once we were on that island together. 

Would things stay the same? Would the tension between Jake and me grow worse? Or maybe—just maybe—things could change. 

But even as I thought about that, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that maybe I was just fooling myself.

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i'm so sorry for all the pov changes😭 i'm still trying to figure out how to figure this all out