when the stars align | sim jaeyun

27.

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The day of the festival finally arrived, and the atmosphere at school was filled with excitement. Everywhere I looked, students were bustling around, setting up their booths, making final touches on their costumes, and practicing their routines. I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride as I walked through the hallways. The café was ready, the decorations perfect, and the food menu was set. Everything was about to come together.

Yunjin and Yuna joined me in the final preparations, and we spent the morning running around, making sure everything was perfect. The anticipation in the air was palpable. We were about to show off the hard work of weeks of planning, and I was eager for it all to finally come to fruition. But as the clock ticked down to the start of the festival, I found myself feeling oddly nervous.

"You alright?" Yunjin asked, noticing the way I kept glancing around.

"I'm just... I don't know," I said, glancing out at the crowded hallway. "It's a lot of pressure. What if something goes wrong?"

"You're overthinking it," Yuna said, her voice calm and reassuring. "Everything's fine. We've prepared for this."

I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. But despite their reassurances, my mind kept drifting to Jake. He'd been around more lately—helping with the decorations, offering to carry heavy boxes, even making sure the food was organized. His behavior was starting to feel... different. Less distant. Less like the Jake I used to know. And maybe it was that change that made me feel both relieved and anxious at the same time.

The festival officially kicked off, and soon the hallways were filled with students and teachers, moving from one booth to another, enjoying the food, games, and entertainment. Our café was buzzing with customers, and I found myself smiling more than I had in weeks as I served drinks and chatted with the customers. It felt like all the stress of the past few weeks was melting away as the energy of the festival took over.

But no matter how busy I got, I couldn't seem to shake the feeling that Jake was always nearby. I could see him across the room, talking with Sunghoon, his back to me. He glanced over his shoulder, our eyes meeting for just a brief moment. A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at his lips before he turned back to the conversation, but it was enough to make my heart skip a beat.

---

The evening went on, and by the time the festival was in full swing, I found myself taking a brief break in the back room of the café. My feet were sore, and I needed a moment to catch my breath. As I sat down on the bench, I noticed Jake standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with his arms crossed.

"You alright?" he asked, his voice low and surprisingly gentle.

"I'm fine," I said, smiling faintly. "Just tired."

He raised an eyebrow. "You've been working nonstop all day. You're allowed to be tired, you know."

"I know," I said, running a hand through my hair. "I just want everything to go smoothly."

Jake pushed himself off the doorway and walked over to where I was sitting. He paused for a moment, looking down at me, and there was a flicker of something in his eyes. Something I couldn't quite place. Then, without warning, he crouched down next to me and handed me a drink.

"Here," he said. "Take a break. I've got it covered out there."

I blinked in surprise. "You're—letting me take a break?"

He smirked. "Don't get used to it, Park. You're lucky I'm in a good mood tonight."

I couldn't help but laugh, taking the drink from him. As I took a sip, our eyes met, and for the briefest moment, it felt like everything else in the world faded away. It was just the two of us, sitting in the quiet of the back room, surrounded by the hum of the festival outside.

Before I could say anything, Jake stood up and stretched. "You're welcome," he said, his tone still light but with a hint of something softer underneath. "Now, don't take too long. We've got a crowd out there." 

"Yeah, yeah," I said, rolling my eyes. "I'll be right there."

He lingered by the door for a second, glancing back at me with an unreadable expression. "Take care of yourself, alright?" 

"Yeah, I will," I said, offering him a small smile. "Thanks." 

As he left, I couldn't shake the strange feeling in my chest. It wasn't like before—when Jake had been a constant source of irritation in my life. Something was shifting between us, and though I couldn't quite understand what it was, I couldn't deny it was there.

---

The night went on, and by the time the festival started to wind down, the energy in the room was electric. The laughter and music, the clinking of glasses and plates—everything felt alive. As the last few customers trickled out, I stood behind the counter, wiping down the surfaces, my mind still drifting to Jake.

I caught sight of him in the distance, talking to Heeseung and Sunghoon, but this time, he wasn't looking at me. Instead, he was looking down, as if lost in thought. For a moment, I considered walking over to him. But before I could, Yuna appeared at my side, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"You're thinking about him again," she said quietly, a knowing smile on her lips.

I frowned. "What? No, I'm not."

She raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. Sure."

I sighed, leaning against the counter. "It's just... things are different now. He's different."

"Do you like him?" Yuna asked bluntly.

I froze. "What?"

"Do you like him, Jisun?" she repeated, her voice gentle but firm.

I didn't answer immediately. Instead, I stared at the floor, the words caught in my throat. The truth was, I wasn't sure anymore. I used to think I hated Jake. But now, it felt like there was more to it. A complicated mix of emotions I couldn't untangle.

"I... I don't know," I admitted quietly. "Maybe I do."

Yuna smiled softly, her eyes full of understanding. "It's okay, Jisun. Just... take your time. Figure it out."

And as I stood there, looking at Jake from across the room, I realized that maybe—just maybe—everything had changed without me even noticing.

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