when the stars align | sim jaeyun

33.

We fell into a comfortable silence, but it wasn't awkward. It was the kind of silence you share with someone you trust. I looked at Jake, watching as he fiddled with the hem of his jacket, and for the first time in a long time, I felt... okay.

And maybe, just maybe, I was starting to believe that what we had wasn't just a phase, that this thing between us could turn into something real.

But only time would tell.

---

It had been a few days since Jake had shown up at my house, and things between us had shifted. There was still a part of me that hesitated, a part of me that held back just in case everything fell apart. But with each day that passed, the more I realized that I didn't want to hold back anymore. Jake wasn't perfect, and neither was I, but together, we felt... right.

The air had turned colder, the kind of chill that signaled the coming of winter. It was a Saturday afternoon, and I was at the library near my house, buried in my books. I had a ton of homework to catch up on, and I was determined to get through it. But then, just as I was about to dive into a problem set, I felt a familiar presence next to me.

Jake slid onto the couch, sitting right next to me, a soft grin on his face, as if he knew I was avoiding him.

"You're always buried in your books," he teased, his voice low but playful. "You need a break."

I looked up at him, surprised by his sudden appearance, but I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips. "You know, I really do have a lot of work to do."

"You could take a break for, what... ten minutes?" he asked, scooting closer.

I eyed him for a second, wondering what he was up to. But the more I looked at him, the more I realized I didn't really care. I wanted to be around him, even if just for a few minutes.

"Alright, ten minutes," I agreed, setting my books aside.

Jake's eyes lit up, and he leaned back in his chair, clearly satisfied. "Good choice."

For a while, we didn't talk about anything deep. We just sat there, chatting about random things—what we planned to do after graduation, the upcoming school festival, and even a few jokes at the expense of some of our classmates. The tension I'd been holding onto started to slip away, piece by piece, and for the first time in a long while, I didn't feel like I had to guard myself around him.

But it was then, in that small, cozy library, that something between us finally clicked. It wasn't some grand declaration or a dramatic gesture. It wasn't the perfect moment or the perfect words. It was simply Jake leaning in, his gaze soft, and the way he said my name, "Jisun..."

His voice sent a shiver down my spine. I looked at him, meeting his eyes for the first time in what felt like forever, and something in my chest tightened. This wasn't like before, this wasn't just teasing or pretending—it was something real.

"I've been thinking," he started, his tone quieter now, "about how things have been between us. And... I don't want to keep playing this back and forth game. I'm tired of it. I just want to be with you, Jisun."

The words caught me off guard, but they didn't feel like a surprise. More like something I had been expecting, deep down. It was like I had known it all along, but hearing him say it out loud made it real.

I swallowed hard, not sure what to say at first. My heart was racing, and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck. "Jake..."

Before I could finish, he leaned in closer, placing his hands on my waist and closing the distance between us. I slowly wrapped my hands around his neck and kissed back. His touch was enough to make me forget everything else in the world. I looked up at him, meeting his eyes, and for the first time, I wasn't nervous. I wasn't second-guessing myself.

"I know we've been through a lot," he said softly, "but I want to be with you. No more games. Just us."

I nodded, unable to speak at first, but my heart was pounding so loudly in my ears that I couldn't deny what I felt. I wanted this too. More than I was willing to admit.

With a small smile, I finally spoke, my voice barely above a whisper, "Okay."

Jake's face softened, and without another word, he reached for me again, his lips pressing gently against mine. The kiss was slow, tentative, but it held so much meaning. It wasn't the kiss of two people still figuring things out. It was a kiss of acceptance, of being together, finally.

When we pulled away, we were both breathless. Jake grinned, that familiar cocky smile back in place, but there was something different about it now. It wasn't the same old teasing grin. It was real.

"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked, his voice low and teasing again.

I smiled, shaking my head. "No. It wasn't bad at all."

---