chp. 6
A week had passed already, Yeji felt absolutely drained from all the interactions with the purple-haired Shin.
She knew that a lot of people from her school would kill to be in her spot, but she begged to differ.
The girl was annoying, that was only an understatement. The way Ryujin loved to drag Yeji anywhere she wanted to go without warning, the smooth tongue she had that could cause girls' heart attacks, her need to strike a conversation if it went silent for too long, the way she always waited outside her class right when the bell rang just so they could visit the library or have lunch together. And lastly, those annoying whisker dimples.
Yeji hated it.
Kind of.
One night, as Yeji was doing her nightly routine, preparing herself for bed, her phone had rung.
It was a rare occurrence, as her phone was always dry due to her lack of friends and social media presence. Therefore, she slowly walked to her phone with confusion, but sighed out of relief once she read the caller ID.
"Jimin? Why are you calling?" She said into the phone, putting it on speaker before walking back into the bathroom.
"Hi! Can you accompany me to somewhere?"
"...Right now?" Yeji took a glance at the time. "It's nine, Jiminie."
"It's um... It's for my mental health! I'll even pick you up... please?"
This late? What could she possibly be doing for her mental health? Meditating?
"It's too late, I'd get in trouble if my parents find out that I'm out." Yeji answered as she brushed her teeth, her mouth beginning to foam with toothpaste.
"I will sneak you out then, I know your address."
"...Is it really that important?" Yeji mumbled. The day was already exhausting enough at school, and she just wanted to sleep.
"Yes! Please~" The other girl started to whine on the other line, causing the brunette to roll her eyes.
"Fine, but you gotta hurry. I have to get back home before eleven or else my ass is getting beat." Yeji spat out her toothpaste and cleaned her toothbrush before throwing it back into its holder, checking herself in the mirror.
"Yay! I'll be there in ten!"
"Drive safely."
Then the call ended.
Yeji hurried out of her bathroom, throwing on an oversized white sweater that had bold words in the front, plus some light blue jeans. She was too lazy to apply anything to her face as it was already dark outside, nobody else would see her and she was simply too lazy to care about what other people thought of her bareface.
Adjusting her black hat on her hat, she checked the time with one glance.
Jimin should be here now.
Furtively walking out of her room, she slid across the floor with her socks, that way it wouldn't make any noise - at least she hoped it didn't. Yeji reached the front door in no time, opening the door swiftly and stepping outside. The cool night air brushed against her skin, causing a shiver to run down her spine. She closed the door behind her, making sure it clicked softly to avoid waking her parents.
As Yeji stood there, waiting for Jimin's arrival, she couldn't help but wonder what could be so important that Jimin had to drag her out at this hour. She had known Jimin for a long time, and they shared a close friendship, but this request seemed out of the ordinary.
Just as she was about to contemplate further, the sound of a car approaching caught her attention. The vehicle slowed down, and a familiar black sedan pulled up in front of her house. The window rolled down, revealing Jimin's face with a mischievous smile.
"Get in, Yeji! We're going on an adventure!" Jimin exclaimed, leaning over to open the passenger door.
Yeji hesitated for a moment, considering the consequences of sneaking out and breaking her curfew. But something in Jimin's eyes sparked her curiosity, and she found herself giving in to the thrill of the unknown.
"All right, but make it quick," Yeji said, sliding into the car and buckling her seatbelt. She cast a quick glance at her house, half-expecting her parents to burst out any moment and catch her in the act.
Jimin revved the engine, and the car sped off into the night, the familiar streets becoming a blur as they drove away from the city lights. Yeji's anticipation grew with each passing minute, her mind racing with questions about their destination.
After a calming ride, they pulled up in the driveway of a lit up house, one that Yeji knew wasn't Jimin's. Confusion rose within her, but before she could interrogate her best friend, she was already dragged out of the car.
"Jimin, what are-"
"No questions! I heard Minjeong is attending this party and I wanted to talk to her," Jimin beamed, her eyes sparkling in excitement as she pulled the brunette up to the front steps.
Yeji shot her a look in disbelief, "You dragged me out just for me to be your wing woman? Jimin!" She exclaimed, trying to wiggle her wrist out of the girl's grasp.
"Don't worry," the older girl looked at her before knocking on the door. "Ryujin is here too!"
"What?" Yeji's face scrunched in fear, confusion, and betrayal at the same time. When she was about to turn on her heel and run away, the door swung open.
Great.
"Yeji?" Ryujin gaped, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the sight of Yeji standing beside Jimin. The corners of her lips curled into a playful smile, revealing those infamous whisker dimples that Yeji had come to both resent and secretly find endearing.
Yeji's heart skipped a beat at the sight of Ryujin, her mind flooding with conflicting emotions. On one hand, she was annoyed by Ryujin's persistent advances and the way she invaded her personal space. On the other hand, there was an undeniable chemistry between them, a magnetic pull that kept drawing Yeji back into Ryujin's orbit.
"Surprised to see me?" Ryujin teased, her voice laced with a hint of amusement. "Didn't expect to find you here."
Yeji crossed her arms and tried to put on a nonchalant facade, despite her racing heart. "Well, I didn't expect to be dragged to a party without my consent."
Jimin chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Oh, come on, Yeji! It'll be fun, I promise. And who knows, you might even enjoy Ryujin's company tonight."
Yeji shot Jimin a glare, but the playful twinkle in Jimin's eyes made it clear that she had orchestrated this meeting with a purpose in mind. Resigned to her fate, Yeji sighed and relented.
"Fine, I'll stay for a little while," she muttered, casting a wary glance at Ryujin. "But don't expect me to join in any of your flirting games."
Ryujin smirked, stepping closer to Yeji, their proximity sending a jolt of electricity through the air. "Oh, I don't need games to get your attention, Yeji. I'm just naturally irresistible."
Yeji rolled her eyes, her cheeks tinged with a blush she hoped went unnoticed. The two girls entered the house together, joining the lively atmosphere of the party. Music thumped in the background, laughter echoed through the rooms, and the air buzzed with youthful energy.
As the night progressed, Yeji found herself becoming more comfortable in the midst of the crowd. She struck up conversations with familiar faces, such as Chaeryeong, the friendly class president, and Jisu, the charismatic student council president. Seungmin, the soft-spoken boy with a warm smile, easily drew her into amusing anecdotes, and Ningning's wit kept her entertained throughout the evening.
The presence of her newfound friends eased the initial tension she had felt, and Yeji couldn't deny that the party was beginning to grow on her. She even found herself sharing a laugh or two with Ryujin, their banter flowing effortlessly.
Meanwhile, Jimin had managed to locate Minjeong, the girl she had a crush on, and the two of them disappeared into the crowd, leaving Yeji to navigate the party on her own.
As Yeji made her way through the party, she couldn't help but notice the curious glances and occasional flirtatious advances from other partygoers. It seemed that her presence had attracted some attention, and she felt a mix of discomfort and annoyance at the unwanted advances.
However, as soon as someone approached a little too boldly, Ryujin appeared by Yeji's side, her eyes narrowed and a protective aura emanating from her. She placed a possessive arm around Yeji's shoulders, subtly claiming her presence.
"Back off," Ryujin warned, her voice firm and confident. "She's with me."
The intruders hesitated, taken aback by Ryujin's assertiveness. They exchanged uncertain glances before retreating, realizing that Yeji was under Ryujin's protection.
Yeji blinked in surprise, not expecting Ryujin to step in and defend her. She glanced up at Ryujin, her eyes filled with both gratitude and curiosity.
"Why did you do that?" Yeji asked, her voice laced with genuine confusion.
Ryujin shrugged, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "You're my friend, Yeji. I've got your back. Plus, I can't have anyone stealing my favorite sparring partner."
Yeji's cheeks flushed at the unexpected compliment, and she found herself smiling back at Ryujin. In that moment, she realized that beneath Ryujin's playful and occasionally irritating exterior, there was a genuine care and protectiveness that she hadn't fully recognized before.
She wasn't sure if she liked it, though.
There were still rumours that went around the school regarding their close friendship, some people even assumed that the two were dating.
Which was... unacceptable. Yeji would never date someone like Ryujin.
At least she hoped.
︶꒦꒷♡꒷꒦︶