Xxx. The Memory Of You

xlii. rain, romance and revelations

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CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO ─ rain, romance and revelations.

❛ but i can't help myself, when you get close to me ❜

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

Sunjae and I sat side by side on his living room couch, dripping with rainwater that soaked into the sofa fabric. The couch was large enough to seat at least four people, and yet we sat close together, soaking up each others' warmth, afraid to let go. One of Sunjae's jackets was now draped over my shoulders. My brain could hardy comprehend anything that was happening. He had found me in the rain and kissed me. I couldn't believe it. It was like a scene straight out of a rom-com movie. My heart pounded against my chest, and the rain and chilly breeze couldn't put out the fire inside me.

Sunjae reached for a towel, his movements unhurried and gentle, as if he were handling something precious. He stepped closer, the warmth of his presence cutting through the chill that clung to my skin. Without a word, he began drying my hair, his touch soft and deliberate. The fabric brushed against my scalp, and I could feel the care behind every motion.

My body froze for a moment, caught off guard by the intimacy of it all. My heart stumbled over its rhythm as I became fixated on him—on the way his eyes held a quiet tenderness, the kind that made it impossible to look away. His damp hair clung to his forehead, and I could see the faint shiver in his frame, but he didn't seem to care. His only focus was on me.

The butterflies in my stomach took flight, their wings fluttering wildly at the realization of how selfless he was. He didn't even think twice about his own discomfort, his own cold. His hands moved with a kind of attentiveness that made my chest tighten, like I'd stumbled into a dream I never wanted to wake up from.

Then he paused. His hands stilled, the towel resting lightly against my head. Slowly, he looked at me, his gaze shifting, as if he'd just realized how close we were—how my eyes hadn't left him for even a second. His expression softened, yet there was a flicker of uncertainty, of awareness that hadn't been there a moment ago.

I felt the heat rising in my cheeks, spreading like wildfire. My breath hitched, and I wondered if he could feel the way my pulse quickened, even though I wasn't sure I could speak. The air between us felt charged, delicate, as if a single word might break whatever spell we'd found ourselves under.

"What's the matter?" he asked softly. His voice rung like the melody of a love song.

"You're so sweet," I breathed out after a few seconds.

His face melted into a smile, showing his adorable dimple and his eyes becoming like crescent moons. My own lips stretched into a smile. All I wanted was to see him happy; No matter who he was with. But now here he was, wrapping his arms around my waist, smiling sweetly at me.

"I cant believe you avoided me for so many days."

"I do feel a bit silly now, thinking back," I giggled out, "But you really gave me a scare. I thought you were going away for good."

"I would have," he confessed, "If it weren't for someone making it impossible for me to go anywhere."

"I didn't realize you were so cheesy."

"So what, you don't like me anymore?" he asked, bringing his face closer to mine.

"I still like you," I answered with a laugh, giving him a short kiss. I watched his face and ears turn red in an instant and I couldn't help but chuckle. He's so cute...

Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening startled the both of us. Before we had any time to process what was happening, Sunjae's dad appeared with a blue cloth bag and an umbrella in his hand. He stood before us, paralyzed in a state of shock. I moved a bit further from Sunjae, trying to increase the distance between us.

"Oh! Eunyoung!" he exclaimed finally, "I see... you both got drenched in the rain! Oh, dear, you must be very cold..." He rattled on.

"I'll get going then!" I got up suddenly, waving an awkward goodbye to both of them.

"Sunjae, I'll- uh, return your jacket! Later..."

Ryu Sunjae's Perspective

I watched as Eunyoung practically bolted out of my house after muttering out an excuse for my dad. Dammit, now I have to explain myself to my dad. Looking at my father's smug smile, I realized he must have put two and two together already.

"I wasn't born yesterday, son," he said, still smiling.

"I know," I gulped.

"I can't say I'm surprised."

"Oh, you're not?"

"Not a bit," he said rather confidently, "You finally got your act together!"

"So," I began, "You're okay with this? With Eunyoung and I-"

"Okay?! Oh, I'm more than okay!" he let out a hearty laugh, "You have my blessing!"

I felt my heart relax and I let out a sigh of relief. I had my father's permission. He was a stubborn man, and it was a huge deal. I just hope Eunyoung's mother is as supportive.

Narrator's Perspective

Eunyoung, her mother and Yumi sat in the living room for dinner while the rain pitter-pattered against the windows. Everyone was eating in silence- as they often did, but tonight, Eunyoung kept smiling to herself every few seconds while still looking down at her plate. Her mom glanced at Yumi, hoping that she would know why Eunyoung was so happy. 

"We gotta get used to this," she said loudly.

Eunyoung looked up at Yumi in confusion, "What?"

"Why is that?" Their mother asked tentatively. 

"You wanna tell her or should I?" Yumi asked Eunyoung.

"Tell her about what?"

"About your boyfriend."

Her mother's eyebrows shot up, "Boyfriend?"

"Oh," Eunyoung realized, "Right. I was going to tell you after things were official... but I guess since Yumi's already spilled the beans... I'll just tell you. I'm dating this guy..."

"Who?"

"Oh, you know," Eunyoung avoided her gaze, looking at the walls behind where her mother was seated, a red tinge appearing on her face, "It's umm... Sunjae. Ryu Sunjae- you know he lives-"

"Oh," her mother exclaimed, pleasantly surprised, "The guy next door? He seemed nice..."

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nana's notes: cute chapter after all the hell i put them thru :P last chapter before my hiatus :( see u in april!

delphi's notes: somebody check my blood sugar this is too sweet-

next chapter: april 1st list of chapters here!

xliii. unfinished business

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CHAPTER FORTY-THREE ─ unfinished business.

❛ i've been looking at you since half past two wanna take this downtown? ❜

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

The moment I opened my eyes, my ears filled with cheery chatter from all directions. Enthusiastic conversations and excited giggles went on all around me. I blinked my eyes rapidly a few times, looking around. Everyone was dressed in orange attire with the Yeonseo University logo. My mind couldn't process anything. Moments ago, I remember being at the hospital where Sunjae died... again. I felt a lump in my throat as I tried to blink back my tears that threatened to spill any second. I looked around frantically in desperate search for the only face I wanted to see at that moment.

Then I found him. My panic ceased for a glorious, fleeting moment while my teary eyes rested on his face. The corners of my lips curled up without me realizing as I saw his resting face. He leaned back on his seat with his eyes closed and features relaxed. He looked as perfect as ever, I thought to myself. The ache in my heart seemed to give way momentarily while my stomach did backflips at this sight. Fluffy hair that cascaded down his forehead just the right way, perfect, pillowy lips...

I snapped myself back to reality. Where was I? On looking around a second time, I finally realized. I was on my university field trip. This realization seemed to form even more questions in my mind. Where was Yumi? Was this my last chance to save Sunjae.

Memories from the future resurfaced as I began to see with a hurtful clarity. The detective had told me in his professional, emotionless tone that the man who was responsible for Sunjae's death, the driver of the truck was none other than Choi Minseok, my father. I knew I was on a train to some countryside location I couldn't quite put my finger on, which meant that I had to maintain composure. I couldn't break down weeping right there no matter how much I wanted to.

It was all so unfair. My dad took everything with him when he left my mom and me. All we had was a shanty apartment that not even he wanted. And now again, here he was, haunting my past, future and my present, taking away my everything.

"Eunyoung!" the girl beside me called out. Turning to look at her, I realized she was Yuri, the one friend I had throughout college who stuck by me through those times. I smiled, feeling nostalgic of my university days, "Did you hear what that guy said?"

"What?"

"God, you are so distracted today!" she observed, sounding slightly concerned, "He said that when two people kiss on the first field trip of Yeonseo University, they always get married later in life! Isn't that insane? Gosh, that's so romantic!"

"That sounds ridiculous!" I chuckled, waving my hand in front of my face, "They just make up stories to entertain us."

"Don't be such a mood-kill!" she said, elbowing me, smiling enthusiastically, "Let's have some fun, yeah?"

"Yeah, of course," I answered her, forcing a smile out of obligation, "We'll have fun for sure."

"Anyone you like from the orientation?" she asked, leaning towards me eagerly.

I went silent for a good couple of seconds, feeling heat rise up my face at the thought of Sunjae.

"Not really," I lied through my teeth, avoiding her gaze and staring out through the window, "Maybe I will once I get to know them better."

Choi Yumi's Perspective

I heaved a sigh. Out of all places, why did I have to end up at m university field trip? I clearly remember it being a disaster. I was a drunken mess and the hangover made me the sickest I had ever been in my life. And this trip was the beginning of four torture-filled years of law school that I loathed. My gaze fell on my neatly folded jacket in my lap. I traced the embroidery that read "Yeonseo University" mindlessly when I noticed the department written below it.

Practical Music

I had to bite back the gasp that nearly escaped my mouth when I realized what it said. How did it suddenly become Practical Music of all things? I had never been so perplexed in my life. Something in the time travel had altered my reality and now I was a Music major. For a moment, it felt like liberation. Like someone had given me the keys to freedom and to happiness. This was my escape. My path to fulfilment. I remembered my lifelong love for music. How I started listening to Eclipse because of it... and now I was here again. Time travelling for the last time, hoping to bring Taesung out of his misery.

I looked around as discretely as I could, scanning the sea of orange-clad freshman and seniors, only looking for a certain someone. The moment I saw his bright smile, my heart threatened to jump out of my chest. My happiness knew no bounds, seeing him laugh with the Eclipse members.

It was undoubtable, my love for Taesung and for music were always intertwined. It was fate all along. Perhaps I had a chance. How silly it was that his beautiful smile was enough to turn me into this foolish optimist? 

Everything reminded me of my mother. How she spent hours in the front yard with her cup of coffee and biscuits writing lyrics endlessly. The various times she would read out poetry to me were all so vivid in my mind. They played in front of my eyes like flashbacks of an old movie tape that was so worn out from watching over and over again. For a moment, I felt contended. That maybe she was watching over me from heaven, feeling proud that I was-perhaps, fulfilling her dream that she couldn't.  

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nana's notes: i'm SO excited for this part of the story. you guys aren't ready🤭

delphi's notes: yumi's confusion is so funny lmfao she's always so lost

next chapter: saturday list of chapters here!

xxxi. second chances

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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE ─ second chances.

❛ cause in this city's barren cold, i still remember the fist fall of snow ❜

Narrator's Perspective

There's nothing like a good meal after a long day of work. Eunyoung and Yumi realized the credibility of this statement as they sat at the dining table in their apartment, munching away to glory, not uttering a word until every crumb of food from their plates had disappeared.

"I don't think we need to wash the dishes now," Yumi piped.

"It's not like we have the energy to do that anyways," Eunyoung replied, leaning back in her chair, sighing.

"Don't you sit on your CEO chair and order people around all day?" Yumi teased.

"Are you kidding?" she exclaimed, slightly offended. Her fatigue seemed to have hindered her ability to detect playful sarcasm, "I've been answering a million calls for the past two days, and all the reporters are dying to know all the details of Sunjae..." she trailed off- the words were too painful to utter, "Anyways, it's as if the whole office is working on the same case. Have you ever seen my eyes this puffy. I'm single-handedly improving the income of all tissue paper manufactures."

"God, forget I ever asked," Yumi muttered, putting her hands up.

"Tell me, how's stuff at our office?" Eunyoung changed the topic swiftly, "Any turbulence?"

"I wouldn't say turbulence," answered Yumi thoughtfully, "But this case I'm on right now is straight out of an Agatha Christie novel. This woman's husband got hit by a bus and he died. It seems so simple, but the woman is insisting that he was murdered. I can't tell you more because of attorney-client confidentiality, but it's completely nuts. Like, they should have given this case to- I don't know, Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes, not me. I swear the woman's on crack or something because I've never met someone so ecstatic in my life. Taesung and I barely sat through the interview-"

"Wait wait what did you just say?" Eunyoung asked, suddenly sitting up straight, trying to make sure she didn't mishear Yumi.

"Huh?" Yumi went quiet suddenly, realizing that this was the first time she mentioned Taesung being on the case with her, "Oh, that's right. Kim Taesung is a cop now. Violent crimes division. Who would've imagined? Not me." She let out an unnatural giggle which definitely didn't sound like something that would come out of a sober person's mouth. 

"Girl, you're blabbering slow down," Eunyoung said, leaning on the table between them, looking straight into Yumi's eyes that were staring intently at the floor, "You're saying that Kim Taesung- high school delinquent became a cop? And he's working with you?  What is this? A badly written rom-com?"

"You think I'm making it up?" Yumi ejaculated defensively.

"I- goodness," Eunyoung sighed, her eyes blinking rapidly as her brain tried to digest all this new information, "After fifteen years. And it hasn't even been fifteen years since..."

Her thoughts trailed away. Her eyes landed on the CD player she moved to the living room in the hope that her heart would ache a little less. But there it was, staring down at her. There were a million different thoughts racing through her mind. How much pain must Yumi be in? Things had happened so fast for her, and she had no time to process the shock fully.

A bone-chilling wind entered through the kitchen window, goosebumps erupting on both of their arms. The world seemed to hold it's breath for a moment and the stillness was almost uncomfortable. Then, it started. It had started snowing, and the snow would soon wrap the whole city in a white, icy blanket; And it was just like the night of the Eclipse concert, starting slowly, then transitioning into a full-fledged storm. It wasn't unlike the news of Sunjae's death, that creeped up on her slowly, hardly believable at first and then becoming increasingly every second that passed. 

Eunyoung's hand reached for Yumi's, holding it tightly, "Are you okay?" the question was barely a whisper, because she knew that neither of them were.

"No."

The clock struck twelve, and the display on the CD player flashed, then showed the numbers 2:00. Then the walls around them melted away as they were flung through space and time once again.

💿

"Excuse me, you two girls!" the teacher's voice hollered through the classroom, "Sleeping in class, both of you sisters! Aren't you the slightest bit ashamed?"

Eunyoung and Yumi jerked awake, looking at each other as if to ask, "Is he talking about us?" Eunyoung's eyes took a quick glance at the calendar in the corner of the room. June 2008. She had to stop the sigh of relief from escaping her mouth. Sunjae was alive, and she had another chance to set things right. 

"Stand up when I'm talking to you!" the teacher's voice boomed as they both stood up abruptly, "Go stand at the back of the class! Sleeping while I'm explaining such important concepts... kids these days," he muttered in annoyance as Yumi and Eunyoung moved to the back of the class as a couple of kids snickered at them; But they couldn't care less. They had more pressing matters on their mind. 

I have to set things right. Yumi thought to herself with determination. Heck, she was ready to accept that she liked the stupid boy. She had to save him; Save him from the misery he would face in the future. She wanted to preserve that spark in his eyes, and she was willing to go to any lengths to do it. Ten days had already passed in this timeline. The clock was ticking, and she understood that she had to work fast.

"Why do we always end up in school when we switch timelines?" Eunyoung hissed in frustration as the bell went off.

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nana's notes: here we go! round two.

delphi's notes: they're motivated again guys.

next chapter: saturday (out now!) list of chapters here!

vii. desperate measures for desperate times

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CHAPTER SEVEN ─ desperate measures for desperate times.

❛ to live for the hope of it all, cancel plans just in case you'd call. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

"I can't believe you left without me this morning," Eunyoung grumbled to Yumi in the cafeteria. When she tried to ask her about it during class, the teacher quickly told her off and she kept her mouth shut for the remaining time.

"Mom told me not to wake you," Yumi explained herself, not batting an eyelid at Eunyoung's accusation, "She saw you asleep on your desk at three in the morning and told me to let you skip school today. You should have gone back to sleep."

"Oh," Eunyoung spoke, her voice became softer as her irritation faded away, "That's so sweet of you two... Thanks."

Yumi gave her a reassuring smile and shrugged, "Don't mention it."

💿

"Hey! Sunjae!" Inhyuk called out to Sunjae in the cafeteria, motioning him to come and sit beside him. Sunjae waved at him, making his way to where Inhyuk sat.

"I didn't see you this morning," Sunjae informed his friend as he took a seat beside him.

"Of course, you didn't," Inhyuk said with a sly smirk, "You were too busy chatting with that pretty girl."

"Don't be ridiculous," Sunjae warned, turning away to hide his flushed face.

"It's alright, I get it," Inhyuk assured him, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder, "What's her name? How do you know her? I've never actually seen you talk to a girl before."

"She interviewed the swim team yesterday," he told him, choosing to ignore his last comment, "I found out she lives above my dad's restaurant."

"Ooh~ so, you guys went home together too?" he cooed.

"There's no need to overreact, it was just a coincidence," Sunjae retorted, feeling heat rush up to his cheeks.

"She's totally my type," Inhyuk told him, "Could you introduce her to me?"

"What?!" his face twisted into a frown, "I can't do that!"

"Why not?!"

"We're not that close yet," he gave a sloppy excuse, "Besides, she's on the school paper, she must be busy. I don't have time to set you up with her, I have my tournament coming up."

"Fine," Inhyuk sulked, "I'll talk to her myself... unless you like her?" He smirked at Sunjae, but at seeing his pink cheeks, his teasing expression twisted into surprise.

"You do!" he exclaimed, his voice full of excitement, "You do like her!"

"Shut up and eat your food!"

💿

"See you at home, then," Eunyoung waved Yumi goodbye as they split up after the end of the school day.

"Bye!"

Eunyoung made her way to the bus stop, dragging her feet along, sighing as she took a seat on one of the benches. 

"Tired?" asked a voice next to her. Startled, she turned to look at the person, smiling on seeing a familiar face, "Oh, it's you."

"Why're you sighing like that?" he questioned her.

"I am kind of tired, now that you mention it," she realized. As if to affirm her suspicion, a yawn escaped her mouth.

"Rough day?"

"No, I didn't sleep much," she told him, "I started working on the interview article and kind of got carried away. That's why I was late this morning. My mom wanted me to sleep in, but a crashing sound woke me up."

Sunjae's lips stretched into a sheepish grin, recalling the incidents of that morning. A parcel had arrived for his dad, which he noticed and decided to bring inside. While attempting to carry them inside, he tripped over his shoelaces and dropped all the boxes, making an obnoxious sound as stainless steel utensils fell out onto the street.

"I'm afraid it was me," Sunjae confessed, "Sorry, I dropped some stuff."

"Oh, don't mind it. I hate skipping school, no matter what the reason is," Eunyoung shrugged it off, "I like the perfect attendance certificate. It's not like you did it on purpose, anyway."

"It was kind of stupid if you ask me," he muttered, "I just tripped and everything fell from my hands."

"Whatever you dropped must have been pretty heavy to make that sound," she observed, "Should you be putting that kind of strain on your shoulder? Does it hurt?"

"Not really," Sunjae's words only rang half true. He could feel a strain on his left shoulder now and then, however, he chose to ignore the fleeting pain, as it would soon subside.

"Maybe you should take it easy," Eunyoung advised gently.

"Maybe," Sunjae's stubbornness rang in Eunyoung's ears as she sulked at his determination to prove he was okay.

"When you're in pain, sometimes admitting that it hurts is harder than enduring the pain in silence," said Eunyoung, looking into his eyes sincerely, "But you feel better after accepting it like a weight's been lifted off your back."

"Why do you worry about me so much?" he asked, his voice laced with genuine curiosity.

"It's because this tournament will be your last!" she blurted out, time stopping around her. As things returned to normal when she went quiet, she looked into Sunjae's eyes, which were full of anticipation.

"I have a gut feeling," she said calmly.

Please hear me out, thought Eunyoung, praying that her words impacted Sunjae enough to change his fate.

💿

Yumi stood at the bus stop, waiting for the bus to arrive. Her eyes darted impatiently from one end of the street to another, wondering when her ride was going to show up. Each passing minute felt like an hour. Her foot tapped on the pavement reflecting her urgency as she glanced anxiously at her watch every few seconds. It was already half an hour past five, and the bus usually arrived at fifteen minutes past five. 

Suddenly, she realised what day it was. It was the day all bus drivers went on strike after four p.m. for god knows what reason. A groan of annoyance escaped her mouth, "How am I supposed to go home now?!"

As if as an answer to her prayers, a red motorcycle screeched to a halt right in front of her. The bike shone in the afternoon sun, and on it sat a boy in a red biker jacket that matched his motorcycle. Taking off his helmet, he revealed his face. 

It was Kim Taesung.

Seeing his messy hair and usual cat-like demeanour caught Yumi off guard as she stumbled a few steps back. Taesung shook his head, fixing a few strands of hair that had gotten stuck in his eyes. "What's wrong?" he asked, tilting his head to the side to look at her annoyed face, which had turned into one of surprise upon seeing him.

"Bus drivers are on strike from four today," Yumi complained, pulling herself together. She asked herself why she always became so shaken up when she saw him. Her mind couldn't answer her question.

Taesung went silent for a few moments, then said, "Get on."

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nayoung's notes: inhyuk being sunjae's wingman as always. taesung showed up at such a convenient time hehe. hope you liked this chapter!

delphi's notes: the last scene gave me a heart attack ngl. stay tuned ^_~

next chapter: saturday! (out now) list of chapters here!

; 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘦 . . .

; 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘰 :: 𝘯𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘴-𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵-𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘢 . . .

im making it look easy

xxvii. dead end

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CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN ─ dead end.

❛ remember when we hit the brakes too soon? twenty stiches in a hospital room ❜

Choi Yumi's Perspective

I dragged my feet across the pavement, walking unwillingly towards the school gate. My hands clutched my backpack tightly as I sighed for the fifth time since I got off the bus. My eyes fixated on the ground while my mind was filled with echoes of what I said to Eunyoung the previous day.

"You're not even my real sister, so why does it matter?!" I had yelled out stupidly. How could I have been so thoughtless? I clearly remember the instant wave of regret that washed over me the next second after those words left my mouth. It was true that Eunyoung had been getting on my nerves. But what I said was completely out of line. We'd been friends our whole lives, and I always considered Eunyoung my sister. My own family abandoned me; my abusive father refused to take care of me after my mom took her own life. Eunyoung's family treated me like their daughter, and this is what I say to her?

"Are you auditioning for the role of a haunted spirit in a horror movie?" piped a familiar voice. I whipped my head around and my tensed shoulders relaxed when I saw it was Taesung, "Because if you are, you're doing an amazing job."

"Hi," I sighed, still half occupied by my thoughts. For a while, we walked in silence, the only sound was that of our footsteps against the road.

"Did your sister totally fire you yesterday?" he asked me.

"She was asleep when I reached home yesterday," said my lifeless voice, "I left early today because I couldn't get myself to face her. I feel like shit."

"That's what you get," he sneered mockingly, "I would have slapped someone across the face if they said that to me."

"You're making me feel a lot better, thanks," Even though my eyebrows were frowning, I couldn't fight the smile tugging at my lips as my heart felt infinitely lighter.

Narrator's Perspective

This particular morning, a strange, still silence hung over the living room. Neither Eunyoung nor her mother spoke a word to each other, and the soft sound of utensils clanking against each other was as loud as ever. Eunyoung's mother pondered over what could possibly be the reason behind Eunyoung's sudden quietness, and Eunyoung's thoughts circled back to Yumi's words no matter how hard she tried to distract herself.

She felt completely pathetic and idiotic, her chest tightening with a wave of disappointment. How had she been so blind? She had always believed that their friendship was built on trust, mutual respect, and a deep sense of loyalty. But now, in the cold light of Yumi's indifference, it was clear she had misread everything. The way Yumi dismissed her concerns, her casual disregard for the years they had spent together, made her stomach churn with a bitter sense of betrayal. She never thought that their bond could hold such little value in Yumi's eyes. To think that something she cherished so deeply had meant so little to her friend was a blow she wasn't prepared for, and the unwelcome realization left her feeling utterly alone. 

"Can I stay home today?" Eunyoung's meek voice asked.

"Why?" countered her mom, the words full of concern, "Are you not feeling well?"

"Yeah, I'm not feeling too great."

Eunyoung's mom took the seat next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Are you an Yumi in a fight?"

Eunyoung's jaw dropped as she exclaimed in shock, "How?!"

Eunyoung's mom smiled knowingly, then chuckling at the disbelief on her daughter's face. "Do all mothers have telepathic abilities or are you special?" she demanded.

"I think it's a Choi family thing," said her mother, "Your grandmother did this all the time, and it drove me nuts."

"Grandma is practically a witch," said Eunyoung, her voice cheerier than before.

"I'm gonna tell her you said that."

"Don't you dare!"

The previously empty living room was now filled with the lively sounds of their giggles. Once the silence returned, Eunyoung's mother held her daughter in a silent embrace, "You can stay home today- as long as you're sure you won't regret it tomorrow."

"We both screwed up," Eunyoung said in a whisper.

"Shhh... I know."

Moms really do have superpowers.

💿

"Oh god, look at the time!" Yumi cried out.

"Are you saying that because you're bored?" asked Taesung, slightly hurt, "It's only been an hour."

"No, I'm serious, look at the time," she said, pointing to the clock.

"Oh my god it's already 8?!" he exclaimed, a hint of disappointment showing through his tone. He turned to look at Yumi, and that's when he realized how close they were sitting. Soon, the living room was filled with the soft sound of their breath. Their eyes met, continuing to stare at each other for god knows how long. Yumi could feel her face getting warmer as her grip on the guitar tightened. Taesung's arm lightly brushed hers, and for a split second it was as if sparks went off and they both pulled away hastily. 

Taesung stood up abruptly, clearing his throat in a way that was so obviously fake that even a deaf person could see through his mediocre acting attempt. Yumi placed the guitar on its place on the wall and began gathering her stuff, desperately trying to ignore the thumping of her heart.

Choi Yumi's Perspective

The engine of Taesung's motorcycle hummed beneath me as we sped down the quiet streets. I tightened my grip around his waist, feeling the warmth of his body through his jacket. The wind rushed past, lifting my hair and tossing it wildly behind me, the cool breeze tickling my neck and cheeks. It felt exhilarating, the way the air seemed to carry all my thoughts away, but at the same time, my heart pounded louder than the engine.

I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, partly from the wind but mostly from the way my chest was pressed against his back. The closeness was overwhelming, making me acutely aware of every little movement—how his muscles tensed as he steered, how his scent mixed with the fresh night air. I lowered my head, burying my face against his shoulder to hide my embarrassment, hoping he didn't notice how stiff I was with nerves.

I wasn't used to this—being so close to him, feeling every shift of his body under my hands. Every time the bike turned a corner, I clung a little tighter, my heart fluttering, both from the thrill of the ride and from the proximity I wasn't sure how to handle.

"Are you sure this is alright?" I asked him when I realized that we were both without helmets.

"Yeah, it's short distance," he said on a whim, but his carefree tone did nothing to ease my anxieties. I felt a pit in my stomach, like my gut was trying to tell me something. Or maybe I was just hungry.

Suddenly, there was a whirring noise and I lifted my head to see where it was coming from. My eyes landed on a white taxi, driving in the wrong direction, charging straight towards us. "Taesung, Taesung look-" I must have screamed in his ear. The bright, white headlights seemed to be blinding me as I squinted, then it was as if the world began spinning. There was barely any sensation in my body. The last thing I felt was my head hitting the pavement and a splash of red as the world around me disappeared.

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nana's notes: karma bit yumi's ass

delphi's notes: moral of the story; Always trust your gut!

next chapter: saturday (out now!) list of chapters here!

xxxii. your embrace

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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO ─ your embrace.

❛ now i need someone to hold be my fire in the cold ❜

Choi Yumi's Perspective

"The kitten's grown."

The moment those words left my mouth, I wanted to slap myself really hard. I had been waiting outside the Jagam High Music Club for what felt like an eternity. Each passing minute felt endless, but I endured through my impatience because I wanted to see Kim Taesung. I wanted to sincerely apologize for every thoughtless word I said to him. And when I finally spotted him feeding the kitten on the sidewalk, looking just as gorgeous as ever, all I could say was "The kitten's grown?" I had never acted more stupid in my life

He turned to look at me, and his eyebrows raised in curiosity seemed to fall and his expression changed. His eyes look blank and lifeless, reminding my of the future that I had recently witnessed. He focused his gaze on the ground, as if he was trying to distract himself.

"Oh, it's you."

His words seemed to break my heart in a split second. My mind recalled all the moments I had spent with him in the past. His witty remarks, his humor that was slightly rude, were all vivid in front of my eyes. But now, all that was gone, replaced by a grim, cold boy that I barely recognized. That side of him that only I seemed to know had disappeared, and it was all my fault.

He stood up, facing me now, and my stupid heart began hammering against my chest.

"I- I wanted to say... that I'm sorry," I mumbled out. Another internal slap. That sounded completely insincere. Like someone had forced me to apologize. What was wrong with me? Where had all my communication skills gone off to?

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

I pushed the door as I entered the swimming pool area as quietly as I possibly could. Immediately, the smell of chlorine hit my nose and the still, cool air that hung over the entire room sent a shiver down my spine. I closed the door behind me, making barely a sound as my eyes scanned my surroundings. There was a wall on my right, and a door on my left leading to a locker room. All the windows had been closed and the only source of illumination was from some dim lights put up on the walls.

I had run into Inhyuk while I was about to meet Sunjae at his house, who told me that Sunjae had gone to the swimming pool because he apparently "left something there." The statement brought an inexplicable anxious feeling that tightened my chest and I came to the school swimming pool as quickly as I could.

A soft sobbing sound fell upon my ears that grew louder as I moved towards the source of the sound. Then I saw him. Sunjae. He was sitting right at the edge of the swimming pool. legs crossed and his head in his hands, crying softly. My raised eyebrows and curious eyes morphed into a face of unwelcome realization. My heart seemed to crack and shatter the longer I watched him. Swimming was everything to him. And all of a sudden, he had to quit. When I thought about the amount of pain he must have been in, it made me want to scream and curse at his fate. I felt that same tightening feeling in my chest as I approached him slowly, mindful of the wet floor.

Ryu Sunjae's Perspective

I felt a pair of arms gently wrap around my shoulders. The action was sudden, unexpected; Especially because no one was around when I checked; But strangely, instead of resisting, I found myself melting into the embrace. A part of me knew. That it was her. With hesitation, I lifted my head, my face wet with tears as I heaved another sob and looked at Eunyoung's face that seemed to reflect the pain I felt inside.

"Eunyoung," I breathed out, my sobbing stopping momentarily, "I was-"

"You don't have to explain," she assured me, her own voice sounding choked, as if she was holding back tears. She was kneeling on the wet floor behind me, her arms clinging onto me, as if she was afraid to let go. All my pain seemed to suddenly disappear in that moment as my face began feeling warmer and butterflies seemed to take flight in my stomach. Her touch sent chills down my spine every single time.

She closed her eyes tightly, as tears spilled out of her eyes. With each drop that cascaded down her cheeks, I felt my heart break. She pulled away and sat facing me while trying to blink away the tears in her eyes. "Sunjae, I," her voice faded away as she tried to compose herself before speaking again. As her hand reached up to caress my face, I felt my heart skip a beat. Choi Eunyoung what are you doing to me?

"I never want you to be in pain. It hurts to see you like this, Sunjae. You never have to feel like you need to bottle up your feelings. Because I'm here for you. And I always will be."

The moment she said those words, I couldn't help but pull her into another embrace and burst into tears. My arms wrapped tightly around her waist as I sobbed into the nape of her neck. I felt the surprise in her body, but instead of pushing me away, her hands rested lightly on my head, caressing my hair with a kind of care I had never felt before. I didn't know how much I needed to hear those words, because they seemed to reassure me in ways that I had never felt before.

Then, at the perfect time to ruin the moment, there was a crashing sound outside. Both of us jumped severely as we slipped because of the wet floor and plunged into the pool that was barely inches away from us. The second that the cold water hit my body, soaking all my clothes, I felt my hands reaching for Eunyoung, who was struggling. I held her shoulders tightly as she steadied herself. My eyes scanned her as I asked frantically, "Are you alright? You aren't hurt or anything are you?"

Her widened eyes seemed to stare at me for a few moments before answering, "No... I'm just a little shaken," her nose crinkled up, "And I think some water went up my nose."

I chuckled at her adorable expression. She's just too cute, I found myself thinking.

"Let's get out of here?"

"You don't have to ask me twice."

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nana's notes: i came up with this cute idea during a lecture btw my brain never take s a break <3 also someone needs to check on yumi, like is she okay??

delphi's notes: aw they fell in the pool. *ERROR* yumi's communications not found ⚠️

next chapter: friday (out now) list of chapters here!

.˳⁺ ♱ i feel like i might sink and drown and die. . . (+☠️)

like the moodboard? it's a teaser for an upcoming fanfic! make sure u follow me and stay tuned! thank you, bye!! <33

⁺　ׂ　　⋆　 t-t-touch me, and you'll never be alone ☆

xvi. my fragile heart

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

CHAPTER SIXTEEN ─ my fragile heart.

❛ and i'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

Yumi and Eunyoung stood on the sidewalk, awaiting the arrival of the bus. It seemed like a regular weekday morning to the naked eye, but there was something about them that seemed odd. Eunyoung's face appeared swollen─ especially her eyes; They had a faint red tint and traces of dried tears lingered on her cheeks.

"I heard you last night," said Yumi quietly, "Crying in your room?"

"You must have misheard," Eunyoung's gaze fixed on the ground, "Because I wasn't crying."

Yumi reached for Eunyoung's hand, gripping it tightly. Her sudden action surprised Eunyoung as she looked up at Yumi. "It's going to be okay," Yumi whispered, letting go of her hand gently.

💿

"Here," Taesung mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. He thrust his hand towards Yumi, the ice cream carton almost falling from his sweaty grip.

Yumi's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's this?"

"Ice cream," he blurted out, forcing a casual tone that sounded more like a croak. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs, a stark contrast to the coolness of the ice cream carton. Every fibre of his being screamed "awkward," yet he persevered.

Yumi's gaze flicked between the proffered carton and his face, a flicker of amusement dancing in her eyes. Hesitantly, she reached out and took the ice cream, her fingers brushing against his briefly. "Thanks," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

A wave of relief washed over Taesung, so suddenly that it almost left him breathless. "You're welcome," he managed, his voice a little steadier now. He fumbled in his pocket, the crinkling sound echoing in the sudden silence, before pulling out another carton.

Yumi stared at his face unblinkingly as he took a bite of the ice cream. 

"You know, you look like a cat."

Taesung's heart lurched in his chest, a sudden skip that made him catch his breath. Her words echoed in his ears, instantly transporting him back to a conversation just a few days ago. The memory flickered to life─ He asked her if she liked cats, and Yumi's smile, the way her eyes crinkled at the corners, the casualness of her words: "I love them."

At that moment, it had seemed like a harmless comment, a shared interest. But now, with the way she spoke it again, a different meaning seemed to shimmer just beneath the surface. Was it just his imagination, or was there a hint of vulnerability, a subtle invitation in her voice? His pulse quickened, a knot of anticipation tightening in his stomach. Could she be hinting at something more? Or was he reading too much into it all?

Ryu Sunjae's Perspective

"Eunyoung, I like you."

My initial smile on seeing Eunyoung at the bus stop faded away as those words in someone's voice─ not his own, fell upon my ears. My eyebrows shot up in a moment of surprise, feeling an ache in my heart while I anticipated her reply.

Eunyoung stood staring at Jihoon's face in shock, too stunned to speak. "Why aren't you saying anything?" he inquired impatiently. My fists clenched, my fingernails digging into my palms as I resisted his urge to step in and intervene.

"Jihoon─" he interrupted her, "I really like you, Eunyoung. Ever since we first met. Will you be my girlfriend?"

A crowd of students had gathered around them, gasping and hooting at his bold confession while i stood watching them from afar, becoming increasingly irritable by the second. Eunyoung's eyebrows furrowed, "I can't go out with you."

There was a murmur of disappointment from the crowd. "Why not?" Jihoon demanded.

I took a step forward, unable to control myself any longer. However, I found myself stopping in my tracks upon hearing Eunyoung's reply, "Because I don't want to." her tone sounded calm, yet cold and firm.

"I don't get it!"

"Listen!" Eunyoung snapped, taking a menacing step towards Jihoon, "I've told you countless times to keep your distance and stay in your lane. I'm going to say this once and for all─ I would rather gauge my eyes out with a spatula than date you. If you come near me one more time, I'm going to file a restraining order against you, I swear to god!"

A smile surfaced on my face. Jihoon took a step back, his ego hurt by her harsh comments. He scoffed arrogantly, shooing the crowd away as he glared at her angrily.

The bus arrived, hissing to a stop. "I didn't expect this from you," Jihoon grumbled.

"I have to go," she said sharply, stepping onto the bus.

I approached the bus, stealing a quick glance at the boy nearby. With a deliberate nudge of my shoulder against his, I trailed behind Eunyoung as we boarded the bus.

I took a seat next to Eunyoung, who was staring out the window, the annoyance still evident on her face. She whipped around to look at me. Her irritation seemed to melt away on seeing me, the corners of her eyes crinkling and her lips stretching into a smile, "Sunjae!" she exclaimed, "How are you doing? I spoke to Inhyuk yesterday, he said you weren't feeling too well."

"I'm much better now," I assured her, my heart skipping a beat on hearing the worry in her voice, "My dad and I have patched things up, and we discussed a date for the surgery with the doctor."

"That's great to hear," she said, relieved, "When's your surgery? I'll make sure to visit you."

"This Saturday," I answered, feeling my face getting warmer, "It's kind of soon, but the doctor thought it was a good idea."

Her lips stretched into a sympathetic smile and I could feel her sincerity as her gaze softened. 

"Good luck, Sunjae. I'm praying the surgery goes well."

There it was again; The melody of her voice, as soft as the summer breeze, echoing in my mind as soon as the sound hit my ears. I had forgotten how to breathe, mesmerized by the girl in front of me. All she had to do was exist, and I would fall for her a little harder every passing second. I could feel myself beaming from ear to ear, mumbling a thank you that could never express my feelings for her. I suddenly became conscious of my behaviours. Was I being too forward? A fake cough, a terrible attempt at concealing my elation escaped my lips. 

"By the way," I sloppily attempted to change the subject, "Who's that guy who asked you out? Do you know him well?"

"You saw that, huh?" she said, smiling in embarrassment, "Not exactly; He used to follow me around. I told him to back off, but he just wouldn't listen. I kind of exploded at him earlier."

"That was a pretty strong insult," I said, chuckling. My happiness knew no bounds on knowing that she didn't like him. 

"You think I was too harsh?" she asked doubtfully.

"I think you put him in his place," I smiled wider, "What type of guys do you like? Do you not like it when they're clingy?"

"Him being clingy wasn't the issue. He was a total douchebag and flirts with everyone. He wasn't exactly the best person you want to be with," said Eunyoung, then looking up at me, "I think I would like someone who's warm-hearted─ someone who doesn't see me as a status symbol. Someone who makes me feel loved."

Sunjae was lost for words. A tiny glimmer of hope bloomed in his heart─ that maybe, just maybe, he stood a chance.

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nayoung's notes: it's been sixteen chapters and the only one who can accept the fact that they're in love is sunjae lmfao. hope you liked the chapter!

delphi's notes: gauge your eyes out with a spatula is crazyy. pop off ig.

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!