Breaking Point ➨ Sim Jaeyun

𝟐.

Stella's pov:

"Hell, I'm so damn tired I could literally fall asleep in class." I slouched in my usual seat on the bus, Yunjin beside me and Hanni across the aisle.

"The national games are coming up, and guess what? They've added more training days. As if I wasn't already dead enough. And now they've shortlisted me for band trials, just because I've got experience. Fucking hell."

Yunjin's eyes widened. "Wait—concert band? Aren't you already volleyball captain? There's like, what—ten thousand students on campus? And they want you to do everything? That's so fucked." 

Hanni nodded, frowning. "That's honestly insane."

"They said it'd look good on my portfolio when I graduate or whatever," I muttered, crossing my arms. "But let's be real—they just want someone to make them look good. Their perfect little all-rounder." A few heads turned. Crap. Was I too loud?

Yunjin smirked. "Maybe. But hey, at least your rage is entertaining." I rolled my eyes.

Then Hanni chimed in, too sweetly, "Okay but—enough of this depressing stuff. Found the love of your life yet?" I gave her the flattest side-eye I could muster.  "You're joking, right?" 

Hanni raised her hands like she'd touched a live wire. "Okay, okay. Chill."

I wasn't mad at her, not really. It's just—love? No thanks. Been there, burned that. People don't talk about how hard it is to unlearn trusting someone who ditched you. They say "move on" like it's a button you can press. Those lovey dovey relationships is bullshit anyways.

I looked out the bus window. My reflection stared back — tired, bitter, guarded. And just like that, his voice echoed in my head, as clear as if he were sitting next to me.

"If you weren't so intense all the time, maybe I wouldn't lose feelings for you."

I don't even remember what I said after that. Just how small I felt. How loud the silence got.

"Love?" I scoffed, forcing a smirk. "That shit's dead."

Timeskip

"Honestly, if they add one more role to your list, you should start charging the school," Yunjin said, flipping her hair dramatically as we walked.

"They'd probably ask me to volunteer more," I muttered. "Because apparently burning out makes me a role model."

Hanni laughed. "You're like... terrifyingly efficient. I don't know how you do it."

"Trauma," I said, smirking. That got another laugh.

And then—

He came into view.

Sim Jaeyun.

Leaning against the lockers like the hallway was built for him. Laughing at something his friends said. A dumb kind of laugh — loud and cocky — but the kind that weirdly... lingered.

I didn't want to look at him.

But my eyes did anyway.

He glanced up. And for a second—

He saw me.

Or it felt like he did. Like the noise around us dulled just enough for that stupid, electric second to exist. His mouth twitched like he wanted to smirk. Or maybe he already was. I couldn't tell. All I know is I couldn't look away fast enough.

My heart didn't race, exactly — but it definitely skipped something.

Fuck.

"...Stella?"

Hanni's voice dragged me back.

"What?" "You spaced out." "No, I didn't." "You totally did."

Yunjin's eyes narrowed. "Who were you—"

"No one," I cut in, sharper than I meant. I adjusted my bag strap and walked faster. Because the last time I let myself feel something, it ended with me screaming and him walking away.

I'm not doing that again, especially not for someone like him.