Being with Jaeyi, even in the smallest ways, made her feel like there was no pressure, no expectations.
Just two people sharing space in the quiet hum of the car, each lost in their own thoughts.
A few minutes passed in comfortable silence before Seulgi spoke again, breaking the rhythm. "Why are you doing this, Jaeyi?"
Jaeyi glanced at her briefly, the question catching her off guard for a moment.
"Doing what?" she asked, her voice suddenly serious.
Seulgi hesitated, unsure if she wanted to ask the question at all.
But it hung there between them, heavy with unspoken words. "I don't know. You've been... different lately. Like you're trying to... make up for something."
Jaeyi's smile softened, and she kept her eyes on the road this time, her hands steady on the wheel. "I guess you could say that. I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of. But I'm here now, and I want to show you... I want to show you that I'm trying to be better."
Seulgi felt her breath catch in her throat, but she didn't know what to say to that.
Instead, she gave a small nod, feeling a strange mixture of emotions swirl inside her.
There was still so much she didn't understand, so much that was left unsaid between them.
But she was willing to let it be enough.
The car slowed as they neared the university campus, and Jaeyi pulled into the parking lot.
She turned to Seulgi with a small, teasing grin. "Well, this is your stop, Miss Seulgi. Have a nice day at school."
Seulgi reached for the door handle but paused, looking back at Jaeyi.
"Thanks," she said softly, her voice unexpectedly sincere.
Jaeyi's expression softened, and for a moment, there was a quiet understanding between them, something unspoken, but felt deeply.
"Anytime," Jaeyi said, her voice almost a whisper. "I'll see you later, okay?"
Seulgi smiled faintly before stepping out of the car. "Yeah. Later."
Kyung and Yeri arrived on campus just as Seulgi got out of Jaeyi's car, watching the scene unfold in front of their eyes.
Jaeyi was smiling softly at Seulgi, her eyes lingering for just a moment longer than necessary before Seulgi turned and walked toward the entrance of the campus.
Yeri, always quick to catch on, smirked and took a long drag from her vape.
She blew out a cloud of smoke and nudged Kyung with her elbow.
"Well, well, well, looks like we're witnessing the sequel to that very dramatic love story we've been following, huh?"
Kyung rolled her eyes, looking away from Yeri and staring at Seulgi as she disappeared into the building.
"What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to act like she didn't notice the way her heart fluttered at the sight of them together.
"Oh please, don't act like you're not just as curious as I am," Yeri teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
She took another puff from her vape. "I mean, it's pretty obvious, right? They're totally into each other. You see the way Jaeyi was looking at her?"
Kyung's eyes flickered back to Yeri, narrowing slightly. "And what about you? Still trying to smoke your lungs away?"
Yeri paused, raising an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
CHAPTER 11: JUST A RIDE
Start from the beginning
