seulgi walked through the school gates with a familiar heaviness pressing down on her chest. the days blurred together, each one feeling like a mere repeat of the last, hollow and colorless. the vibrant energy she once had seemed like a distant memory. every step felt heavier than the one before it, as though she was dragging herself through the motions of her own life. there was no spark in her anymore, not since her jaeyi had disappeared. Nothing is the same without her by her side.
it had been weeks since that day at the lake. how she had begged every god to let her jaeyi return into her arms. it had been a blow she wasn’t prepared for, an ending she never saw coming. was she really gone? seulgi’s heart twisted at the thought. there was no closure, no explanation, no body, just silence. hell there wasn't even a funeral. the message that had seemed like a cruel joke at first now sat in her chest like a weight she couldn’t shed. she had tried calling, texting, even searching for her online, but it was as though jaeyi had never existed. everything about her life before felt like a dream. an illusion she could never get back. like someone was erasing her very existence.
seulgi walked to class in a daze, her mind not even registering the people around her. she had stopped talking to kyung and yeri for days. they knew something was wrong, she could feel their eyes on her as she sat in silence, but she couldn’t bring herself to explain. how could I? how do i even say what’s in my heart when I can’t even make sense of it myself?
the bell rang, signaling the start of another class. seulgi took her seat, but she didn’t pay attention to the class at all, exams completely forgotten. all she could think of was jaeyi. what happened to you? where are you?
kyung leaned over, tapping seulgi’s shoulder softly. “hey,” she whispered, concern in her voice. “are you okay? you’ve been out of it lately.”
seulgi turned to look at her friend, forcing a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “yeah, just tired,” she muttered, her voice flat, detached.
kyung frowned but didn’t push it. she knew better than to prod too much. but yeri, ever the more direct one, wouldn’t let it slide. she tilted her head, her dark eyes watching seulgi closely. “seulgi,” she said softly, her voice hesitant but insistent. “it’s about jaeyi, right? we can tell something’s wrong. you’ve been acting like… like part of you disappeared with her.”
seulgi froze at the mention of jaeyi’s name. her throat constricted, and she quickly glanced away, trying to blink back the tears threatening to fall. how could they know? how could they see through her so easily?
“seulgi,” yeri pressed, her voice quieter now. “you loved her, didn’t you?”
the words hit her harder than any physical blow could. a sharp, painful truth settled in her chest. all this time, all this silence, it had been for nothing. the guilt, the regret. it was all pouring out now, whether she wanted it to or not. she swallowed hard, trying to choke back the flood of emotions.
seulgi couldn’t look at them anymore. her gaze was fixed on the desk in front of her, hands shaking as she gripped the edge of the wood. she nodded, barely a whisper escaping her lips. “i... i think i did. i think i do.”
there was a brief silence as kyung and yeri exchanged a glance. they knew. they understood the depth of it. “seulgi,” kyung spoke up, her voice softer now, almost gentle. “we’re here for you, okay? you don’t have to go through this alone.”
seulgi nodded absently, but her mind was elsewhere. how could I have been so blind? why didn’t I just tell her how I felt when I had the chance? regret clawed at her insides, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that she had failed. failed jaeyi, failed herself. failed whatever could have been between the two.
the rest of the day passed in a blur, her mind too clouded to focus on anything. all she could do was go through the motions, pretending that she was okay, that the gaping hole in her chest didn’t exist. when school ended, she walked home, her steps slow and deliberate, each one feeling like it took more effort than the last.
when she arrived home, she collapsed onto her bed, exhausted but unable to escape the thoughts swirling in her mind. she stared blankly at the ceiling, the emptiness inside her threatening to swallow her whole. she wanted to feel something, anything, but all she felt was numb.
then, her phone buzzed. she jolted, startled, and glanced at the screen. it was a message from an unknown number. her heart skipped a beat.
seulgi’s breath caught in her throat. it’s her. it’s really her jaeyi., it has to be.
the message wasn’t much, but attached to it was a picture. a familiar island- one she recognized instantly. wait… her mind raced. its the place where it all started. Where she lost her normal childhood. If her class didnt forget her would she have ever met jaeyi? Would things have turned out differently?she’s there. she’s really there.
the note beneath the picture was simple: come find me. i’m sorry.
seulgi’s heart hammered in her chest. i have to go. i have to see her.
without another thought, she grabbed her jacket, ran out the door, and headed toward the island. the journey was long, and the weight in her chest only grew heavier the closer she got. but the thought of seeing jaeyi again, of finally confronting everything that had been left unsaid, drove her forward.
when she arrived at the island, she stood at the edge of the shore, the sea stretching out before her. everything felt surreal. this can’t be real. she can’t really be here.
she started walking, the sand cold under her feet, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore a distant background to the chaos inside her. the walk to the bridge has been an emotional turmoil. then, she saw her.
jaeyi was there, skateboarding along the edge of the water, her movements fluid and graceful as always. she hadn’t changed. she was still the same jaeyi that seulgi had fallen in love with, the one who had made everything feel right. but is she really here? or is she just imagining things? seulgi’s breath hitched.
jaeyi didn’t notice her at first, lost in her own world. but as soon as she did, she froze, her eyes widening when she saw seulgi standing there, uncertain, almost hesitant. her heart raced in her chest. She immediately jumped off the skateboard, not caring what happened to it.
“seulgi…” jaeyi’s voice was barely a whisper, filled with disbelief and something else, something softer. “you came.”
seulgi didn’t know what to say. she opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come. instead, she stepped forward, her feet carrying her toward jaeyi without thinking. when she reached her, there was a long moment of silence, both of them just looking at each other as if trying to figure out if this was real.
“i’m so sorry,” seulgi whispered, her voice breaking. “i should have been there. i should have told you how i felt.”
jaeyi’s eyes softened, and she took a step closer. “you weren’t there. and neither was I.”
the words hit like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, seulgi couldn’t breathe. the guilt, the regret, it was all too much. she closed the space between them in a heartbeat, her arms wrapping around jaeyi as though she could hold everything together if she just held her close enough. holding her as if she’d disappear again. she buried her face in jaeyi’s shoulder, her heart breaking all over again.
“i thought i lost you,” seulgi murmured, her voice thick with emotion. “i thought i lost you forever.”
jaeyi’s arms wrapped around her in return, her grip tight, desperate, as if she feared that if she let go, seulgi would slip away again. “you didn’t lose me, seulgi. you never will.”
they stood there for a long moment, the world around them forgotten, everything fading into the background except for each other.
seulgi pulled back just enough to look jaeyi in the eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. this is it. this is the moment. She took jaeyis face into her hands gazing into her eyes lovingly. Without a second thought jaeyi leaned into her touch, all too familiar.
“i love you,” seulgi whispered, her voice trembling. “i’ve always loved you. and i’m sorry for never saying it sooner.”
jaeyi’s face softened, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “i love you too, seulgi. i always have.”
seulgi’s chest tightened at the words, and before she could stop herself, she kissed jaeyi- soft, slow. it was everything she had ever wanted, and more. the kiss wasn’t hurried or aggressive, just so soft and gentle. having all the pent up feelings just washed into it. it was the answer to all the questions, the end of the silence, the beginning of something new.
when they finally broke apart, seulgi whispered again, “i love you.”
“i know,” jaeyi said, her voice filled with a soft, broken smile. “and i love you too.”
they stood there for a moment longer, just holding each other, savoring the warmth of each other’s presence, the weight of everything they had lost and found. it wasn’t perfect. it wouldn’t be easy. but for the first time in a long time, seulgi felt like she could breathe again. they had time now. time to make things right. they had a fresh start, together. nothing could tear them apart again, not after knowing how it felt to be apart.
and this time, she wasn’t going to let go f her that easily, not again.