Dive // Jaeyi x Seulgi

Chapter 8

The door clicked shut, and Jaeyi waited until the footsteps faded before moving.

The weight of Seulgi's bed pressed against her back as she slid out from underneath, careful not to make a sound. The room was heavy with silence, thick with something unsaid. Seulgi sat on the edge of the bed, her back to Jaeyi, head bowed slightly as she rubbed slow circles into her temples.

Jaeyi straightened, dusting herself off, but Seulgi still didn't move.

She stepped closer. "You're burning up."

Seulgi let out a slow breath, her voice hoarse. "I'm fine."

She wasn't. There was a sluggishness in her movements, a weight pressing down on her shoulders. Her skin was pale, lips slightly chapped, her body still recovering from the freezer incident. She didn't even flinch when Jaeyi sat beside her.

Jaeyi's gaze lingered. "Did you see anything?"

Seulgi shook her head, eyes trained on the floor. "No face. No tracks. Kyung and Hyeri found nothing last night. Just... emptiness." Her fingers curled into the sheets. "But I know someone was there."

Jaeyi stayed silent. She knew.

Seulgi exhaled sharply, turning her head slightly. "You already knew about Haneul, didn't you?"

Her tone wasn't accusing—just tired.

Jaeyi didn't answer immediately. Instead, she reached for Seulgi's wrist, pressing two fingers to her pulse. Checking. Grounding herself.

Seulgi let her. The silence stretched between them, filled only by the faint hum of the city outside.

Finally, Jaeyi spoke. "We need to get out of here."

Seulgi frowned slightly. "You think something else will happen?"

Jaeyi didn't reply right away. Instead, she stood, walking over to the desk where Seulgi's bag rested. Without asking, she picked it up and slung it over her shoulder. Then, she turned back to Seulgi, extending a hand.

"Come with me."

Seulgi hesitated. She should tell Kyung and Hyeri. Should explain. But the exhaustion in her bones weighed her down, and Jaeyi's outstretched hand was steady, certain.

Sighing, she grabbed her phone and quickly typed out a message to their group chat:

Not feeling great. Need to rest for a bit. Don't worry.

She barely waited for a reply before taking Jaeyi's hand.

The warmth of Jaeyi's fingers curled around hers, firm but careful. Without another word, Jaeyi led her toward the door.

By the time they arrived, the sun was high in the sky, casting warm midday light over the small, quiet town. The roads were less crowded, and the scent of home-cooked meals drifted faintly through the air from nearby houses.

Jaeyi's apartment wasn't flashy or expensive—just a small, tucked-away space, blending in with the neighborhood. It wasn't far from where Seulgi had grown up, and the familiarity of the surroundings made something in her chest tighten.

She's been here this whole time.

Seulgi barely had time to process it before Jaeyi unlocked the door and motioned for her to come inside.

Inside, the apartment was simple and lived-in. Nothing personal, no framed pictures or decorations—just the bare essentials.

Jaeyi disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a glass of water and some medicine, pressing them into Seulgi's hands.