when the stars align | sim jaeyun

19.

-

The morning was cool, the kind of crisp air that made everything feel fresh and new. But despite the beauty of Jeju, I couldn't shake the feeling that things weren't right.

We were in the middle of another group activity—this time, a hike up one of the island's famous cliffs. Everyone was in good spirits, laughing and chatting, except for me. Every time I turned my head, I saw Jake, his usual stoic expression in place, but the way he kept glancing at me... it didn't feel like it used to.

I couldn't ignore the unease that churned in my stomach every time our eyes met. It felt like something was about to happen—like we were standing on the edge of something that neither of us could control.

Yuna nudged me, breaking me out of my thoughts. "You okay, Jisun?"

I forced a smile. "Yeah. Just thinking."

"About Jake?" Yuna raised an eyebrow.

I froze. "What? No. Why would I be thinking about him?"

Yuna gave me a knowing look. "You two are like walking contradictions. I swear, I can feel the tension between you even when you're not saying anything."

I sighed, feeling the weight of her words. She wasn't wrong. But I couldn't tell her the truth, not when I didn't even know what was going on myself.

Jake and I used to be close. We used to talk about everything, laugh at the dumbest jokes, and share little moments that felt like the world was smaller when we were together. But now... now I couldn't even hold a conversation with him without feeling like there was a wall between us.

It wasn't fair.

---

By the time we reached the top of the cliff, I was exhausted, but it was a good kind of exhaustion. The view from up here was breathtaking—the ocean stretching out for miles, the sound of the wind rustling through the trees, the sunlight filtering through the clouds.

It was the kind of view you could lose yourself in.

And I did. I let the beauty of the place distract me from everything else—the awkwardness with Jake, the unresolved tension that seemed to follow us everywhere. I stood there for a while, just breathing it all in, not wanting to think about anything for a moment.

But then I felt a presence beside me.

I turned my head, and there he was—Jake, standing next to me, looking out at the horizon.

"Nice view," I said quietly, trying to sound casual.

Jake didn't answer at first. He just stared ahead, his hands shoved in his jacket pockets. "Yeah."

For a moment, we were both silent, the only sound the wind in the trees and the distant crash of waves against the rocks below.

"I don't get it," I said finally, breaking the silence. "What happened, Jake? Why did you change?"

He didn't respond immediately, and I almost thought he wasn't going to. But then he let out a deep breath. "I don't want to talk about it."

I frowned. "You can't just keep ignoring it. You can't keep avoiding me."

Jake turned to look at me, his eyes sharp, and for a brief second, I thought I saw something—guilt? Regret? But it was gone just as quickly as it appeared.

"Maybe I can," he said. "Maybe it's easier that way."

His words stung, more than I wanted to admit. But there was something in his voice that told me it wasn't as simple as he was making it out to be.

Before I could respond, Sunghoon called out from behind us, and Jake quickly turned away.

I watched him walk back to the group, my heart sinking. He had always been so close, and now—now I couldn't even get him to look at me without feeling like I was a stranger.

---

The hike ended with everyone gathering back at the base, heading toward a small café nearby for lunch. But the moment I stepped away from the group, I found myself walking alone down a narrow path, away from the crowd.

I needed space. I needed to think.

It wasn't long before I felt the familiar presence behind me.

"Jisun."

I stopped but didn't turn around. I could tell it was Jake by the tone of his voice, low and hesitant.

"What do you want, Jake?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

There was a pause, and then Jake stepped beside me, his footsteps slow. "I didn't mean what I said earlier," he murmured.

I didn't look at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I don't want it to be this way," he admitted. "I just—"

But he stopped himself, clearly unsure of what to say.

I turned to face him, the tension thick between us. "What do you want, Jake?" I repeated, my voice quieter this time.

His eyes locked onto mine, and for the first time in a long time, I saw something raw there—something I couldn't ignore. "I don't know," he whispered. "I don't know anymore."

I didn't know how to respond. So I said nothing.

We stood there for a long moment, neither of us speaking, just staring at each other. The world around us seemed to fade, leaving only the two of us standing in the middle of it all, unsure of where we were headed.

---