Strings Attached ➤ Jay

|| Strings Pulled Tighter

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Fame Is A Gun -

⋆𐙚₊˚"You got a front row seat and I
I got a taste of the glamorous life"⋆˚˖ ࣪

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If there was one thing I should've known by now, it was that Minhee and Nari would never let me live anything down. Ever.

Especially if it involved a boy.

Sunday had been loud enough with their constant commentary, but Monday morning bled into Tuesday, and suddenly, it was like my whole friend group had turned into a panel of gossip columnists dissecting my life under a microscope.

"You didn't tell us Jay has dimples," Nari said, whispering like she was revealing national secrets, though her eyes sparkled with mischief behind her round glasses. "Dimples, Byeol. Dimples. That's an automatic +10 on the scale."

"He's rich," Minhee added, propping her chin on her hand, her silver hair gleaming under the Echo Room's dim lights. "Rich and hot. I'd sell my soul for a guy like that."

"You'd sell your soul for a free shot of tequila," I deadpanned, sipping my iced coffee.

"True," Minhee said without hesitation, smirking.

But then, of course, Nari leaned in like she was plotting a murder. "Tell us more about the way he looked at you last night."

I nearly choked. "What way?"

"The way where it seemed like he wanted to eat you alive," Minhee supplied casually, taking a long drag from her straw. "And then maybe steal your guitar and disappear into the night. A real gentleman thief."

Jinwoo, cleaning mugs behind the bar, let out the kind of laugh that immediately made me regret having friends at all. "Man, Byeol, if I didn't know better, I'd think you had a fan club already forming."

I shot him a glare. "Wipe harder, bartender."

He just smirked, flipping the rag over his shoulder. "Can't wipe away the truth, sweetheart."

I groaned, burying my face in my arms on the table, but Nari patted my back sweetly. "We're just saying, he's... interesting. And you could use some fun. Not, like, serious fun, but, you know... fun."

"I don't need fun," I mumbled into my sleeve.

"Everyone needs fun," Minhee said, waggling her eyebrows. "And he looks like the type who'd definitely provide it."

"Stop making it sound like you're selling me a product," I snapped, though my ears were burning.

Jinwoo leaned on the counter, grinning. "I dunno, Byeol. Could be worse. Could be that one guy who kept showing up with harmonicas trying to 'jam' with you."

I sat up immediately. "Don't ever bring him up again."

Nari dissolved into giggles, Minhee was practically choking, and Jinwoo looked way too proud of himself. My so-called friends.

By Wednesday, I thought maybe — just maybe — the Jay teasing would die down.

I was wrong.

So wrong.

Because when I walked into the shop, coffee in hand, hair messy and still faintly smelling of last night's stage lights, Jay was already there. Leaning against the counter, perfectly put together as usual, a tailored dark coat and his hair just slightly ruffled like he'd stepped out of a photoshoot.

"Morning," he said, his voice smooth like he already owned the place.

I blinked. "Why are you here early?"

"Why are you here early?" He tilted his head, smirking.

"I work here," I snapped.

"So do I," he said, flashing those damn dimples like he knew exactly what Nari had been saying about them.

I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly saw my brain. I went to set my coffee down, and that's when I noticed he was holding something. My stomach dropped.

The guitar case.

My guitar case.

"What the—" I lunged, snatching it from him immediately. "What are you doing?"

Jay raised his hands like I'd pulled a weapon on him, laughing. "Relax. I didn't even open it. I was just wondering what you'd do if I touched it."

"Die," I said flatly. "That's what you'd do."

He grinned wider. "Noted. But come on, Byeol. Let me hold it just once. I won't drop it."

"You won't ever hold it," I said, clutching the case like it was my child.

"Harsh," he said, though his tone was almost playful. "What's the point of having something beautiful if no one else gets to admire it?"

My mouth opened and closed. "Did you just compare my guitar to... what, a museum artifact?"

"Or maybe a crown jewel," he said smoothly, shrugging. "Depends on the angle."

I was this close to throwing the nearest stack of Elvis records at him.

Instead, I shoved past him to stash my guitar behind the counter. "You're insufferable."

"You like that about me," he shot back instantly.

I froze. He was smirking again, leaning far too close for my personal sanity. The worst part was, my stupid brain decided to replay Minhee's comment from two nights ago — about him looking like he wanted to eat me alive.

I cleared my throat. "In what universe?"

"In this one." He winked. Actually winked.

I smacked him in the chest with the rolled-up Help Wanted sign I still hadn't taken down. "Get back to alphabetizing vinyl, Romeo."

As he laughed, striding off toward the shelves, I told myself I didn't notice how good his cologne smelled or how warm his chest had felt under that coat.

I absolutely didn't.

...Probably.

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A/N: i love byeol so much