—— Seori
As Yeji and I sat in the cafeteria for lunch, the murmurs and whispers of our classmates followed us like a shadow. I tried to ignore the gossip swirling around me, focusing instead on my food and the conversation with Yeji.
But then, to my surprise, a boy from our class approached our table. I recognized him as Daejin, someone who usually kept to himself and rarely interacted with others. His sudden presence at our table caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel suspicious of his intentions.
Daejin's eyes flickered with curiosity as he brought up the rumors surrounding me and Jungwon, his words tinged with uncertainty. "Hey, Seori," he began, his voice hesitant. "I heard some rumors about you and that street racer, Jungwon. Do you really know him?"
I tensed at the mention of Jungwon's name, feeling a surge of unease wash over me. Daejin's question seemed innocent enough, but there was something in his demeanor that set off alarm bells in my mind.
Swallowing hard, I forced myself to remain composed as I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside me. "Yes, I know Jungwon," I confirmed, choosing my words carefully. "But why do you ask?"
Daejin shrugged nonchalantly, but I could see the glint of curiosity in his eyes. "I'm just a fan of street racing, that's all," he replied vaguely. "But are you and Jungwon... you know, dating?"
The question hung in the air between us, heavy with implications. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Daejin's inquiry than met the eye. Was he genuinely curious, or was he probing for information on behalf of someone else?
A sudden thought crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if Daejin was somehow connected to the mysterious love letter I had received earlier. Perhaps Jiyeon had sent him to gather intel on my relationship with Jungwon, or maybe he was the one behind the letter himself.
Pushing aside my suspicions, I mustered a faint smile and shook my head. "No, Jungwon and I are just friends," I replied, hoping to deflect any further probing. "But thanks for asking."
Daejin nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer, and turned to leave. As he walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of my stomach. Something about Daejin's sudden interest in my personal life felt off, and I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of our seemingly ordinary high school existence.
After Daejin left, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. I turned to Yeji, my expression troubled, and voiced my suspicions about him. "Did you see that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the din of the cafeteria. "Daejin is definitely up to something."
Yeji nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed with concern. "Yeah, that was weird," she replied, her voice low. "I wonder what he's really after."
Before we could delve further into our suspicions, my phone buzzed with a new message. I glanced down to see a text from Jungwon, asking if he should pick me up from school.
I hesitated for a moment, torn between the desire to see him and the fear of fueling the gossip swirling around us. In the end, I decided against it, not wanting to draw any more attention to our relationship.
I quickly typed out a response, telling Jungwon that he didn't have to come. It wasn't that I didn't want to see him – far from it – but I couldn't bear the thought of him being subjected to the whispers and stares of our classmates, especially from someone like Jiyeon.
As I hit send, a pang of guilt washed over me. I wished I could explain to Jungwon the real reason behind my decision, but I couldn't bring myself to admit that I was afraid of what others might say about us.
Sighing softly, I tucked my phone back into my pocket, the weight of my decision settling heavily on my shoulders. I knew that keeping Jungwon at arm's length was the right choice for now, but I couldn't shake the feeling of longing that gnawed at my heart. If only things could be different, if only we could be together without fear or judgment. But for now, all I could do was wait and hope that one day, our love would be enough to overcome the obstacles that stood in our way.
ﾟ.+:｡Time skip .+:｡
As Yeji and I walked home from school, the weight of the day's events hung heavy in the air. Despite our attempts to push aside the gossip and rumors swirling around us, the tension was palpable, casting a shadow over our usual banter and laughter.
To lighten the mood, we decided to stop by our favorite bubble tea shop, hoping that a sweet treat would help to ease the stress of the day. As we sipped our drinks and chatted, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease lingering at the back of my mind.
Suddenly, I felt a chill run down my spine as I spotted Jiyeon and her cronies approaching us, their expressions smug and condescending. I braced myself for the inevitable confrontation, steeling myself against the barrage of snide remarks and thinly veiled insults that I knew would follow.
Sure enough, Jiyeon wasted no time in launching into her trademark brand of bitchy interrogation. "So, Seori," she began, her tone dripping with disdain. "Are you meeting up with Jungwon today?"
I fought to keep my composure, refusing to let Jiyeon see how much her words affected me. I couldn't understand why she was suddenly so interested in my personal life, or why she seemed intent on making me feel small and insignificant.
With a forced smile, I shrugged off Jiyeon's question, feigning nonchalance despite the knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach. "Maybe, maybe not," I replied evasively, hoping to deflect her attention away from me.
But Jiyeon was relentless, her eyes narrowing with suspicion as she continued to press for answers. "Come on, Seori," she taunted, her voice laced with malice. "We all know you're just a silly little girl chasing after a street racer. Do you really think he's interested in someone like you?"
Her words cut deep, slicing through the facade of confidence I had tried so hard to maintain. I felt a surge of anger rise within me, but I refused to give Jiyeon the satisfaction of seeing me falter.
Summoning every ounce of courage I had, I met Jiyeon's gaze head-on, my voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside me. "It's none of your business who I choose to spend my time with," I shot back, my words firm and unwavering. "And as for Jungwon, he's more than just a street racer. He's a kind, caring person who sees me for who I am, not just some silly little girl."
Jiyeon's expression darkened at my defiance, but before she could respond, Yeji stepped in, her voice filled with quiet authority. "Let's go, Seori," she said, her hand resting reassuringly on my shoulder. "We don't have time for this nonsense."
With one last withering glare at Jiyeon, I turned on my heel and walked away, refusing to let her petty insults bring me down. As we made our way home, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride swell within me. Despite the challenges and obstacles that lay ahead, I knew that I had the strength and resilience to face them head-on, with Yeji by my side every step of the way.
—— Jungwon
As I lounged around the racing house, the familiar sounds of laughter and banter filled the air, but my mind was elsewhere. Despite my attempts to focus on the present moment, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling of unease that gnawed at the back of my mind.
The whole afternoon had passed without any contact from Seori, and try as I might, I couldn't shake the worry that tugged at my heartstrings. With each passing hour, my concern grew, until finally, I couldn't bear it any longer.
With a sense of determination coursing through my veins, I made the decision to leave the racing house and drive over to Seori's house. The journey felt like an eternity, each passing mile stretching out before me like an endless expanse of uncertainty.
When I finally arrived at Seori's doorstep, I took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for her to answer. Moments later, the door swung open, and there she stood, a look of surprise crossing her features before quickly morphing into relief.
Without a word, she pulled me inside, her movements quick and urgent as she shut the door behind us. I couldn't help but notice the way her hands trembled slightly, betraying the calm facade she tried to maintain.
As I looked into her eyes, the words spilled from my lips before I could stop them. "Seori, why couldn't I reach you?" I asked, my voice laced with concern.
She glanced away, a blush coloring her cheeks as she fidgeted nervously with the hem of her shirt. "Oh, um, I was just... busy with homework," she replied, her voice soft and hesitant. "You know how it is, the teachers always give so much of it."
I wanted to believe her, I truly did, but something about her response felt off. It was as if she was hiding something, keeping me at arm's length with her carefully constructed excuses.
Despite my lingering doubts, I chose to let it go, pushing aside my concerns for the time being. Instead, I wrapped my arms around her in a gentle embrace, pulling her close as if to reassure myself that she was real, that she was here with me.
To be continued...