Dive // Jaeyi x Seulgi

Chapter 2

Seulgi scrolled through her phone, her mind wandering as she watched the unread messages from Kyung and Hyeri.

Kyung: "Busy, barely breathing. You?" Hyeri: "This is a reminder that we all need to touch grass. Let's meet up. My treat."

A small smile tugged at Seulgi's lips. Over the years, the three of them had grown unexpectedly close. Kyung, the ever-dedicated law student, still buried herself in books and had no time for relationships. Hyeri, on the other hand, had fully embraced her modeling career, balancing shoots and travel with a carefree attitude that made everything seem effortless.

Seulgi had been the last to join their circle. And now, she felt like a constant. One of the few things that remained after everything.

She met them later that evening at their usual spot, a cozy café tucked away from the city's chaos. Hyeri was already there. She was, as always, impeccably dressed and had sunglasses on her head, even though the sun had already set. A few minutes later Kyung joined them, and she looked like she had just run away from the library. Her hair was still messy in a bun.

"Finally, all three of us in one place!" Hyeri grinned, stirring her iced coffee. "Seulgi, are you still holed up in the hospital, being all serious and overachieving?"

Seulgi chuckled. "I wouldn't call it overachieving. Just surviving."

Kyung rolled her eyes. "Top of your class and still acting humble. Some things never change."

They caught up, the conversation flowing easily between them. But just as Seulgi was about to excuse herself for the night, Hyeri clapped her hands together.

"Actually, I have a favor to ask."

Kyung raised a skeptical brow. "What kind of favor? If you need a legal loophole to break a contract, I'm charging."

Hyeri laughed. "Nothing that dramatic! I have a shoot coming up, but I need some extra hands on set. It's out of the city, near the coast. Think of it as a short getaway—free lodging, good food, and a chance to relax."

Seulgi hesitated. She had been planning another trip to her hometown during the break, another futile search. But a change of scenery—especially with the two people who kept her sane—didn't sound so bad.

"Alright," she said. "I'm in."

Kyung sighed. "Fine. But if I end up carrying your bags, Hyeri, I swear—"

Hyeri grinned. "You love me too much to complain."

Seulgi laughed, shaking her head at Hyeri's dramatic antics. But deep down, the question gnawed at her—was this trip just another distraction, or was she unknowingly walking closer to the ghost she could never let go of?

The three of them piled into the car, the city fading behind them as they set off toward their destination. Seulgi stared out the window, the blur of the passing scenery doing little to quiet the restless feeling in her chest.

-

The wheels of Jaeyi's skateboard hummed against the pavement as she kicked off, propelling herself forward. The late afternoon sun stretched her shadow across the concrete, long and weightless, like she could disappear into it if she wanted to. This place—the abandoned lot by the beach—was one of the few places that felt like hers.

The sea breeze whipped through her hair as she gained speed, dodging a discarded old traffic cone. She laughed, unexpectedly. Times like these, with the wind brushing against her skin and her heart pounding with excitement at the pace, made her feel alive. Free.

Her phone buzzed in the pocket of her hoodie, and she rolled to a stop, breathless. A message from Ahjumma.

Support group tonight. I made soup. No pressure.