—— Seori
The next day, I descended the stairs into the kitchen, my eyes still heavy with sleep as I rubbed them and let out a sleepy yawn. The familiar scent of breakfast lingered in the air. I noticed my dad, back from his long-haul truck driving work, sitting at the table. He was only home on weekends.
Taking a seat, I greeted my mom with a mumbled "Good morning." The fatigue from the night before still clung to me as I asked, "How did I get home last night?"
My mom, busy preparing breakfast, turned to face me with a warm smile. "Jungwon brought you home, sweetheart," she answered, her tone carrying a mixture of fondness and gratitude.
My dad, looking a bit puzzled, chimed in, "Jungwon? Who's that?"
I chuckled, realizing that my mysterious nighttime chauffeur wasn't someone my dad was familiar with. "Oh, he's just a friend. We hung out last night, and I guess I fell asleep. Jungwon is a really nice guy," I explained, hoping to reassure my dad.
He raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "A friend, huh? Well, as long as he's treating you right," he remarked, his voice a blend of protectiveness and fatherly concern.
I nodded, appreciating my dad's care. "Yeah, he's just a friend," I reassured him, the events of the night before still a bit hazy in my mind.
As we sat down for breakfast, the morning sunlight filtering through the kitchen window, I couldn't help but wonder about the Bad Boy Racer who had taken on the role of my unexpected guardian.
Later that day, I arranged to meet Yeji at a cozy bubble tea shop. The sweet aroma of tea and the soft chatter of customers surrounded us as we settled into our seats. I took a sip of my drink, the tapioca pearls popping against my tongue.
Leaning forward, I looked at Yeji with a conspiratorial smile. "Hey, Yeji, there's this street race tonight that Jungwon and his friends are participating in. I was wondering if you'd like to come with me," I suggested, a twinkle of excitement in my eyes.
Yeji raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Street race? Sounds adventurous. Sure, I'm in. Why not?" she replied, a playful glint in her eyes matching my own.
As we continued chatting, I couldn't help but steer the conversation toward Jake. "Speaking of adventures, what do you think about Jake?" I asked, curious to hear her thoughts.
Yeji pondered for a moment, her gaze fixed on her drink. "Jake, huh? He's interesting, a bit on the daring side. I've noticed he's got his eyes on me, though," she admitted, a smirk playing on her lips.
I chuckled, remembering Jungwon's warnings about Jake's interest in Yeji. "Yeah, he does seem to have that kind of personality. Just be cautious, you know?" I advised, my tone carrying a hint of concern.
Yeji laughed, waving off my concern. "Don't worry, Seori. I can handle myself. If he's looking for an adventure, he might be barking up the wrong tree with me," she remarked, a confident gleam in her eyes.
As we sipped our bubble tea, the conversation with Yeji flowed seamlessly. She leaned in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "So, spill it, Seori. How was your midnight drive with Jungwon?" she asked, a mischievous grin playing on her lips.
A fond smile crossed my face as I recounted the night's escapades. "Well, we started at McDonald's for ice cream. Then, he took me on a drive through the city before hitting the highway. You won't believe the speed of street racing until you experience it," I shared, the memory of the exhilarating ride lingering.
Yeji chuckled, clearly intrigued. "Sounds thrilling. What happened next?"
I continued, "After the highway, we ended up at this peaceful spot by the river. That's where the real adventure kicked in. I tripped over a blanket, and Jungwon, being the attentive guy he is, caught me before I hit the ground."
Her eyes widened with amusement. "Smooth move. What happened after that?"
"I was cold, so he gave me his hoodie. The thing is, it looked more like a dress on me," I confessed, a playful grin spreading across my face. "He even called me cute."
Yeji burst into laughter, clearly enjoying the narrative. "Cute, huh? I can totally picture it. What else?"
"He playfully pulled the hood over my head and tied it up. According to him, I looked even cuter," I added, rolling my eyes at the memory. "Oh, and then he gave me a piggyback ride along the riverbank. Just a typical night with the Bad Boy Racer," I concluded, shaking my head in disbelief.
Yeji's laughter subsided into a warm smile. "Seori, you're living in a K-drama. It's like a romantic movie scene."
I chuckled, realizing the cinematic quality of the night. "It does feel a bit surreal, doesn't it? But Jungwon is just a friend, nothing more."
Yeji raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in her eyes. "A friend who gives piggyback rides and calls you cute? Interesting."
Blushing, I playfully nudged her. "Well, yeah, but it's not like that. We're just having fun, you know?"
Yeji leaned back, grinning. "Sure, Seori. Whatever you say. But I've got a feeling this story is just getting started."
As we finished our bubble tea, the anticipation of the upcoming street race mixed with the lingering echoes of the midnight drive.
As evening draped the city in hues of twilight, Yeji and I walked towards the street race venue, the anticipation palpable in the air. My eyes scanned the surroundings, seeking out familiar faces in the gathering crowd. There, in the distance, I spotted Jungwon in the hut, a place that held memories of my first encounter with the street racing crew.
A playful smirk graced my lips as I nudged Yeji. "Remember that hut?" I whispered, pointing in its direction.
Her eyes widened with recognition. "Oh, the babysitting hut," she replied, a knowing glint in her eyes.
We approached the hut but hesitated at the entrance, realizing Jungwon was engaged in conversation with Sunghoon and others. Curiosity got the better of us, and we decided to eavesdrop on their exchange.
Jungwon's voice carried excitement as he recounted the details of our midnight drive. "So, we went to McDonald's for ice cream, drove through the city, hit the highway, and ended up by the river. You won't believe what happened there," he shared with a tone that hinted at both mischief and fondness.
Yeji and I exchanged amused glances, our ears tuned into their conversation.
Sunghoon chimed in, "And what about the blanket? Did she trip again?"
Jungwon chuckled, confirming our suspicions. "Yeah, she did. But this time, I caught her before she fell. Then, I gave her my hoodie. She looked adorable in it, like a little kid."
Yeji stifled a laugh, clearly entertained by the unfolding tale.
Niki, another member of their group, teased, "So, is this a date, Jungwon?"
Jungwon scoffed, his tone playful yet defensive. "No, it's not a date. We're just friends hanging out. Besides, she's 16."
Listening to their banter, I couldn't help but smile. The dynamics of our friendship were becoming a topic of conversation among Jungwon's friends. It was both amusing and slightly perplexing.
Yeji leaned in, whispering, "Seems like you've become the talk of the racing crew."
I rolled my eyes, sharing in the amusement. "Just friends, Yeji. Let's see how they interpret it."
As the banter continued, the street race venue buzzed with energy, and I realized that the Ramen Queen and the Bad Boy Racer were stepping into a world where friendships intertwined with the adrenaline-fueled rhythms of the racing scene.
Our attempt at discreet eavesdropping took an unexpected turn when Jake, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, snuck up on us. The sudden appearance of his silhouette sent a chill down our spines, and our startled yelps echoed through the evening air.
As our laughter subsided, we exchanged nervous glances, realizing that our commotion hadn't gone unnoticed. Jungwon, Sunghoon, and the others turned their attention toward us, their curious gazes questioning the source of the unexpected noise.
Caught in the act, Yeji and I shared an awkward glance before reluctantly making our way inside the hut. The creaking door marked our entrance, drawing Jungwon's attention as he raised an eyebrow inquiringly.
Yeji and I exchanged a sheepish smile, attempting to play off the situation as casually as possible. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of embarrassment as I approached Jungwon.
"Hey, Jungwon," I greeted, my tone casual, but the faint blush on my cheeks betrayed a hint of self-consciousness.
Jungwon's lips curled into a bemused smile. "What were you two up to outside?" he asked, his eyes dancing with curiosity.
Yeji and I exchanged a quick glance, trying to come up with a plausible excuse. Yeji shrugged nonchalantly. "Just checking out the vibes before the race, you know?" she chimed in, a playful glimmer in her eyes.
Jungwon chuckled, seemingly entertained by our antics. "Vibes, huh? Well, it's always lively around here," he remarked, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than usual.
As we settled inside the hut, the air carried a mix of playful banter and unspoken tensions.
To be continued...