when the stars align | sim jaeyun

34.

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The days that followed felt like a whirlwind, but in the best way possible. The awkwardness between us had melted away, and we were finally settling into something that felt more like... us. There was no more pretending, no more games, just two people who had found something in each other that was worth holding onto.

I had expected everything to be complicated, but it wasn't. Jake and I talked more, spent more time together, and for the first time in a long while, I wasn't worried about what might happen next.

But even as things between us started to settle, I knew there were still things we needed to face. The history between us—the hurt, the confusion—wasn't something that could just disappear overnight. But I was ready for it. I was ready to take this step with Jake, whatever that meant.

We had our first official date not long after, and it was simple—dinner at a small restaurant, just the two of us. No big gestures, no over-the-top plans. Just time spent together, laughing, talking, and sharing the kind of moments I had always longed for.

And as we walked home that night, hand in hand, I realized that maybe this was it. Maybe this was the beginning of something I had never expected. Something real, something lasting.

Maybe we had both been waiting for this moment. And now, it was ours.

-

The days were moving faster than I would have liked. Graduation was approaching, and I was starting to feel the weight of it all. My time in high school, with all the chaos and drama, was coming to an end. But amidst all of it, there was one constant: Jake.

We were officially together now, and honestly, I still couldn't believe it. I had spent so much time trying to figure out who Jake really was and what he wanted from me, but now that we were together, it felt like we were on the same page for once. No more secrets, no more games. Just us.

It was a sunny afternoon when Jake and I decided to skip the last few periods of the day. We met in the courtyard of the school, the breeze ruffling our hair as we walked side by side. He was holding my hand again, the way he always did now, and I couldn't help but smile at how natural it felt.

"Where are we going?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Jake grinned mischievously. "Somewhere fun."

We walked for a while, just talking about random things—school, our plans for after graduation, and even some embarrassing stories from when we were younger. The laughter we shared felt effortless, and I realized how much I had missed being around him in this way. Not the tension-filled, "we're enemies" way, but just... us.

After a few minutes, we arrived at the park near our school. It wasn't far from the campus, but it was quiet and peaceful, a perfect escape from the pressures of high school life. We sat on a bench near the lake, just watching the ducks swim by, and I rested my head on Jake's shoulder.

"I don't think I've ever really had time to appreciate the simple things," I said softly, looking out at the water. "Everything's always been so... busy. And now, with graduation coming, I feel like I'm about to lose all of this."

Jake chuckled, his fingers gently brushing through my hair. "I get what you mean. But hey, you'll always have the memories, right?"

I nodded, closing my eyes. "Yeah. I guess so."

-——————————————————————————

only a few chapters left of this book😖😖
i'm genuinely so sad bro

tysm for all the support on my first book everrrr<3
i love seeing all the comments, funny or supportive

anyways— the first chapter my new book 'eclipsed' is out!!
i would love it if you could check it out:)

thank you!