The morning after their night together, Seulgi woke up quietly, careful not to wake Jaeyi.
She watched her sleep for a moment, taking in the calm expression on Jaeyi's face, the way her hair spread out across the pillow, soft and messy.
A part of Seulgi wanted to stay, to continue basking in the warmth of their time together, but she knew she had to leave.
Her stepmother would be expecting her back, and as much as Seulgi hated the tension between them, she didn't feel ready to break that bond completely.
She quietly slipped out of bed, pulling on her clothes and grabbing her bag, before leaving the apartment, leaving Jaeyi still peacefully asleep.
When Seulgi walked through the door of her home, she found her stepmother sitting in her room.
The woman's expression was unreadable, but Seulgi could see the worry etched into her features.
She knew her stepmother had noticed the change in her, how Seulgi had been out more, and how often she was spending time with Jaeyi.
Seulgi knew what was coming next.
"Seulgi," her stepmother started, her voice low but stern.
"You've been spending a lot of time with that girl, haven't you? Jaeyi..."
She trailed off, her gaze intense. "You remember what I told you, right?"
Seulgi stiffened, the weight of her stepmother's words pressing down on her.
She didn't want to hear this again, but it was too late.
Her stepmother's tone grew darker as she continued.
"She's just like her father. I've warned you before, don't trust her. She's a monster, Seulgi. Just like her father was. Don't let her destroy you like he did."
The words hit Seulgi like a punch in the gut.
She had heard this before, countless times.
It had always been about Jaeyi's father, the man who had done terrible things and left behind a legacy of pain.
But Seulgi had never seen Jaeyi as her father.
Jaeyi was nothing like him.
"You don't know her," Seulgi snapped, her voice rising.
"Jaeyi is nothing like that monster. She's kind and caring, and she's been there for me. You have no idea what I've been through with her, and you're just-"
"I'm trying to protect you!" Her stepmother's voice cracked, and her eyes filled with frustration. "You think you know her, but she's just using you, Seulgi. You'll end up just like your father. I won't let that happen."
Seulgi's heart pounded in her chest, a mix of anger and hurt swelling up inside her.
The words her stepmother spoke echoed in her mind, but she refused to let them take hold.
She didn't want to believe them.
"You don't understand," Seulgi whispered, shaking her head. "I love her. She's not like him. She's different. She's not going to hurt me."
Her stepmother's eyes darkened with disbelief. "You're so naive, Seulgi. She's dangerous. She'll kill you, just like your father was killed by that monster. She'll ruin everything."
The words hit Seulgi harder than she expected, and without thinking, she turned away from her stepmother.
The anger that had been boiling inside her erupted, and she stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her.
