Dive // Jaeyi x Seulgi

Chapter 2

Then, one day, she had said, "There's a group. A place where people talk."

Jaeyi had scoffed. "Yeah? And what do they talk about?"

"The things that are hard to say."

She hadn't gone, not at first. But Ahjumma never pressed. She just smiled, leaving the door open, until Jaeyi found herself stepping through it one night, unsure why she was even there.

Now, she sat in that circle, listening but silent.

Ahjumma ladled soup into bowls as the group wrapped up for the night, handing Jaeyi one without a word. This was their routine. No pressure, no expectations—just warmth when Jaeyi was willing to accept it.

Jaeyi took a sip, letting the heat settle in her chest. Maybe she'd never say a word in this group. Maybe she'd keep coming anyway.

Beyond the walls, the storm raged. Inside, the warmth stayed.

-

Rain streaked against the car windows, blurring the passing scenery into smears of gray and green. The wipers scraped back and forth in a steady rhythm, barely keeping up with the downpour.

Kyung groaned from the passenger seat, arms crossed. "Ya, Yeri-a, we shouldn't have come. Look at this! It's pouring like hell—must be a storm! Are you sure the shoot's still happening?"

Yeri, lounging in the backseat beside Seulgi, barely spared him a glance. "It'll pass."

Seulgi wasn't listening. Her eyes were fixed outside, watching as the roads became more and more familiar. The street signs, the old convenience store on the corner, the turnoff leading to—

Her grip on her hoodie tightened.

"Do you even know where we're going?" she asked, voice even, but something uneasy curled in her stomach.

Kyung scoffed. "Of course. We're following Yeri's directions."

Yeri, still scrolling through her phone, smirked. "Obviously."

Seulgi wasn't convinced. They were close. Too close.

And with the storm rolling in, it felt like something was pulling her back.

The storm had not dissipated. Rain pelted the pavement in relentless sheets, and the wind howled through the empty streets. Jaeyi pulled her hoodie tighter around her face, head down as she stepped out of the community center. Her skateboard dangled from one hand, the other shoved into her pocket. The cold bit through her sleeves, but she welcomed the sting—it kept her grounded.

The streetlights flickered against the downpour as she set her board down, stepping onto it with practiced ease. The roads were slick, but she knew how to navigate them. She always did. With a push, she was off, gliding through the storm like a shadow cutting through the rain.

A few miles away, Seulgi climbed out of the car, squinting through the blurred glow of neon signs and headlights. The rain drummed against the pavement, pooling in the dips of the parking lot. Kyung grumbled beside her, shaking water from his jacket.

"Ya, Yeri-a," Kyung huffed. "It's raining like hell. Are you sure you're getting paid for this?"

Yeri barely glanced up from her phone. "Of course," she said, unconcerned.

Seulgi barely heard them. Her eyes were fixed on the street beyond the store. A lone figure skated past, their all-black outfit blending into the night, hood drawn low. Something about them—about the way they moved—made her breath hitch.

Kyung nudged her. "Seulgi, what do you want? Tteokbokki? Kimbap?"

She turned back for only a second.

When she looked again, the figure was gone.

-

Inside the convenience store, Yeri popped a gum into her mouth, chewing lazily as she browsed the shelves. The storm rattled against the windows, but she barely noticed. Her eyes drifted across the store—then paused.

A girl stood near the register, fingers tapping impatiently against the counter. There was something familiar about her. Yeri tilted her head, trying to place her.

What was her name again?

She was about to ask when the girl suddenly grabbed her things and turned away, moving like she was in a hurry. Too much of a hurry.

Her foot caught on the wet floor.

With a startled gasp, she stumbled forward, crashing to her knees.

Before she could react, Seulgi was there, instinct kicking in as she reached down. "Are you okay?"

The girl looked up, her eyes wide. Recognition flashed in them, sharp and fleeting—then panic.

She scrambled to her feet, not even bothering to pick up her wallet. In the next second, she bolted out the door, disappearing into the rain.

Seulgi stood frozen, staring after her. Then, slowly, she looked down.

The wallet lay at her feet.

Seulgi crouched down, picking up the wallet with careful fingers. The rain drummed against the store's awning outside, but inside, everything else seemed to quiet.

She hesitated for a second before flipping it open.

An old school ID peeked out from one of the sleeves. The edges were frayed, the colors slightly faded, but the name was still legible.

Chaehwa High School.

Her breath hitched.

She pulled the ID out, staring at the photo. The girl in it was younger, her hair different, but Seulgi knew ethat face.

Her fingers tensed as she dug further, slipping out a neatly tucked business card. She turned it over, her pulse spiking.

Jaeyi's dad.

Seulgi's heart slammed against her ribs.

She snapped her head up, scanning the store, the windows, the streets beyond. The girl had vanished into the storm.

Without thinking, she shoved the wallet into her pocket and ran outside.

What the hell was going on?