If you asked Woo Seulgi the craziest thing to ever happen in her life, you would probably expect her to say that it was when she got lost at a beach as a child and ending up in an orphanage where she had to fight every day to survive for an entire month until her parents found her again.
If you had asked her that a week ago, that was probably what she would have answered, too. Life can't get crazier than that, after all…
That was until she transferred into Chaehwa Girls High School.
How wrong she was.
Seulgi had expected it to be new. Her father had just gotten a promotion that was one of the higher positions in the academe, and it gave her a window of opportunity to further her studies and fulfill her dream of entering a medical school.
It was her one-way ticket to a fresh start. She was determined from the moment she set foot into the institution that from that day on, she would finally turn her life around.
And this time, she had one goal. And that was to pass the college entrance exam with flying colors!
Her plan was simple: Stay quiet. Study. Be discreet. Study. Feed her goldfish. Study. Look out for herself, avoid drugs and alcohol, and most importantly, study.
She was so determined to study that she hung a Dory poster in her room with the words "just keep studying" the night before the first day of school, silently vowing to repeat that in her head every night before she slept.
Entering the school's function hall, Seulgi was greeted with a buzz from different conversations of people attending the orientation. Standing at the very end of the long line of bleachers, she clutched her bag tightly and scanned the area, looking for a particular spot where she could sit.
Her eyes darted to the stage, and that's when she locked eyes with probably the most beautiful woman she had ever laid eyes on. A jolt of spark ignited in her whole body. It was as if she was stricken by lightning, only it was fleeting, no more than a flash. But it's as if everything in life finally clicked into place.
The surroundings blurred, and time seemed to stop. Seulgi's head was reeling. A storm of thoughts raged within her mind until she heard it... a faint sound of a voice echoed in her skull. It was soft, dreamy, a siren song that resembled everything that is right in the world.
"Girl of my dreams..."
It took her seconds to finally register what the voice conveyed.
Snapping out of her trance, Seulgi shook her head and turned on her heels, too embarrassed and confused about what had just happened. She could feel her face getting hot as she walked out of the place.
Her brows furrowed as she thought about those words. Girl of my dreams. Maybe she needs to take it easy with the energy drinks. Was that her mind playing tricks on her? Since when did the voice in her head sound different?
She hissed and gently tapped her cheeks to erase the growing thoughts in her head. She was probably just tripping.
Yoo Jaeyi has always wondered if there was a world where angels and demons exist in real time, one where you can just enter a café and casually see an angel sipping her favorite coffee while flipping a newspaper, and it'd be the most normal thing in the world.
If that world existed, maybe she wouldn't be so shaken about the girl she keeps constantly seeing in her dreams. This girl who lives in her mind every night, haunting her like a ghost, a pretty one. She wouldn't mind being haunted by a pretty face, if only she knew who that pretty face was or how her brain conjured her in the first place.
The dreams are hazy. They weren't always sharp, more like looking at pictures through foggy glass.
Sometimes, she was a brave knight. Her armor was heavy, and the air smelled like smoke and fire. She'd ride her horse into a big fight, her sword shining, to save a princess. Other nights, she'd float in space, an astronaut in a big, white suit. Stars twinkled all around, and the universe was quiet. She'd look through her helmet, searching for a girl. The girl wasn't lost, but she was far away, like a tiny light in a huge, dark room. Then there were the strange ones. She might be a painter, mixing bright colors to make a picture of a girl with flowers in her hair. Or she'd be a singer, singing a song about a girl she'd never met.
Each dream was like a little story, with twists and turns. Some were scary, some were sweet, but they were all soft in their own way. One thing stayed the same: a girl was always there. A girl with eyes that seemed to hold all the secrets of her dreams, and a smile that felt like coming home.
She's not crazy. But in all honesty, she has grown attached to this girl. She just looked so beautiful. A perplexing mystery with boba eyes, dimples, and a sweet smile. If things were different, Jaeyi might even shoot her shot.
But for now? She's her little secret. The girl of her dreams...
So you could only imagine her shock when that very same girl walked through the doors of Chaehwa's function hall. She felt as if all the air had been knocked out of her body.
Then, as if drawn by an invisible thread, the girl's gaze locked onto hers. Jaeyi's mind went utterly blank. It's her. She's real.
"Girl of my dreams..." The words echoed in her mind, a stunned whisper.
It really was her. In the flesh. She looked even more ethereal in person.
Jaeyi didn't know how long she stood there. But when her mysterious girl suddenly vanished, she snapped back to reality and ran toward her friends. The girl with the bob haircut opened her mouth to speak, but Jaeyi cut her off, her voice a frantic plea.
"Quick! One of you slap me in the face!" she said quickly, flailing her arms.
Her long-haired friend raised an eyebrow in confusion, while the other shrugged and granted her request, hissing afterward and cursing under her breath from the sting.
Jaeyi's head snapped to the right, the force of the blow sending a jolt through her entire being. A gasp escaped one of the girls' lips, hands moving to her mouth in shock.
A moment of silence filled the room.
"Kyung..." Yeri, the long-haired friend, began, her voice low. "I think you should start running."
Yeri began to nudge Kyung, as Jaeyi's shoulders trembled. Their eyes widened and they braced for the worst, when laughter suddenly erupted from Jaeyi's slumped body.
She slowly raised her head, cheeks still red from the impact, her laughter still bubbling up.
"I think she's lost it. You slapped her too hard!" Long hair mused, and lightly hit Kyung's shoulder.
"Hey, stop! She asked for it!" Kyung retorted, shielding herself with her arms from the other girl's attacks.
"Both of you cut it out and answer my question." Jaeyi finally said, calming down from her slap-induced euphoria. "I'm not dreaming, right?"
Kyung raised her hand in an attempt to smack her again, but Yeri dragged her arm down.
"Jaeyi, you're not dreaming. What's going on? Are you sick?" Yeri raised a hand to her forehead, checking for any signs of fever. Jaeyi just chuckled in response, adjusting her tie.
"No. In fact, I've never felt better."
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
As soon as Seulgi found a vacant seat in her new classroom, she quickly organized her things and laid them on her table. She checked the clock and figured there were still 15 minutes before class started, so to kill time, she took out her textbook and began studying the materials.
She was so engrossed in her reading that she hadn't noticed someone had already occupied the seat beside her.
"She even looks cuter up close."
(｡· v ·｡) ???
"What?" Seulgi's head snapped to the right, her eyes colliding with the very girl who had haunted her thoughts since the orientation. Her breath caught in her throat, and she instinctively averted her gaze, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
"Hm?" the girl tilted her head, a playful curiosity in her eyes.
"S-sorry. I-I thought you said something," Seulgi mumbled, her fingers fumbling with the edge of her textbook. What was that? Was I imagining things?
The other girl's smile grew wider. "I'm Yoo Jaeyi."
This seemed to pique Seulgi's interest, because she looked at her again, this time in a more collected manner. Seulgi offered a small nod and a bow.
"Nice to meet you."
It came out calmer than expected, but Seulgi was actually a bundle of nerves inside. She didn't even realize that she hadn't given her name in return. Before Jaeyi could speak again, the teacher arrived.
"I'll get your name one way or another, pretty girl."
"What was that?"
Jaeyi whipped her head in her direction. "What was what?"
"Did you… did you say something just now?"
"No...?" Jaeyi mused, a little confused. Seulgi, on the other hand, was even more confused. She could have sworn she just heard the other girl say something.
The teacher's voice filled the room.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the frantic flutter in her chest. Leaning slightly, she whispered, "Woo Seulgi. I'm Woo Seulgi.”
"Woo Seulgi," the other girl whispered back. "What a pretty name."
"T-thanks."
"What?"
"Huh?" ∘ ∘ ∘ ( °ヮ° ) ?
They exchanged a bewildered glance, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. Jaeyi was about to speak again when—
"Do you two have something to share with the class?"
The teacher's voice rang through the classroom, heads turning to face them. Seulgi's breath hitched—great! So much for being discreet! A moment later, she felt Jaeyi's left hand land on hers, sending sparks throughout her body.
She watched as the other girl flashed her million-dollar smile at the entire class. Jaeyi's smile, bright and confident, swept across the room. She bowed her head and spoke in a sweet tone, "I'm sorry, everyone. I was just asking Seulgi about something. Please continue."
The teacher, thankfully, moved on, and Jaeyi's fingers squeezed gently, a silent reassurance.”
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
The end of the first period came painstakingly slow, and Seulgi had never been so confused in her entire life. She really needed to stop drinking those vitamins her mom kept making her drink. Not only did she keep hearing Yoo Jaeyi's voice, but it was also starting to bother her that Jaeyi kept glancing in her direction, as if she wanted to devour her whole.
Wait, I don't owe her anything, right? I don't remember borrowing money from her... I JUST MET HER TODAY!
Her mind spiraled, trying to figure out what could possibly make Yoo Jaeyi so interested in her.
Meanwhile, Jaeyi was having the time of her life. She looked at Seulgi as if she were an angel who had come straight down from heaven to answer all her prayers. She still couldn't believe it! The girl of her dreams was actually real, and she was sitting right beside her!
Her lips twitched upward as she stole another glance at Seulgi's direction. She observed how Seulgi took occasional gulps, her eyes a little wide like a baby deer caught in headlights, and her lips. Gosh, her lips.
"I wonder what her lips taste like..."
At that very moment, Seulgi erupted in a fit of coughing, clutching her chest, seemingly choking on thin air.
Jaeyi rushed to help, concern etched on her face. She grabbed the smaller girl's shoulder, her other hand landing on her back and rubbing soothing circles. The contact made her stomach twist in a good way, but she wasn't going to admit that to anyone.
"Seulgi-ah, are you okay?" Seulgi, hunched over her desk, just nodded in response and shakily removed Jaeyi's hands from her body, as if her touch physically hurt her. This made Jaeyi frown a little. She just wanted to be of service to her angel.
"I-I'm okay. It's nothing."
A little unsatisfied with that response, Jaeyi pouted and rested her chin on her palm. "Well, do you need anything?"
"No, but thank you..."
"No? Not even me?" As if on cue, Seulgi inhaled sharply. Jaeyi watched as she loosened her tie a little so she could breathe properly. Seeing this unfold right before her eyes, Jaeyi felt her heart drum faster in her ribs. Now it was her turn to grip her chest. "Damn it, Woo Seulgi. You might not know this yet, but I'm going to make you mine."
With that, the bell rang, and before she knew it, Seulgi practically bolted, legs a little wobbly, and tripping a little on the doorframe on her way out. Jaeyi and the rest of the class watched the spectacle unfold. Curious glances and whispers followed Seulgi's hasty exit but one stern look from Jaeyi was enough to silence them.
Seulgi felt like she had finally gone crazy. Everyone was noticing her change in behavior. She had been frantic for the past three weeks.
This was impossible. Her mind had never been this occupied before. It felt like something had taken over her brain, more specifically, someone. She couldn't stop thinking about Yoo Jaeyi. She could NOT be anywhere near that girl. Everything Jaeyi did seemed to affect her in some way.
Her heart always beat fast when Jaeyi was around. Whenever she smiled at her, her head just went blank. She didn't even have to do anything! It was like her mere existence was enough to drive her on edge.
The craziest part was that she couldn't even tell anyone! Like, how do you even begin to tell someone that you kept hearing the voice of a girl you met just a few weeks ago?
Seulgi took a deep breath to calm herself. If she thought much further about this, she was afraid she was really going to snap. She needed a break.
Determined to end this crisis, she made a silent promise to avoid Yoo Jaeyi as much as she could that day. That girl's mind was RELENTLESS.
With a determined sigh, she finally made it to her classroom. She was about to open the door when someone already beat her to it. Standing on the opposite side was none other than Yoo Jaeyi.
Well, fuck.
"Good morning, Seulgi-ah!" The tall girl mused, flashing her a bright smile. "You look so beautiful today."
Seulgi could already feel the heat rising to her face. She bit the inside of her cheek and offered a strained smile.
"Hi... uhh, excuse me," was all she managed to say, and she quickly walked past the other girl.
Jaeyi knitted her eyebrows in confusion, her gaze following Seulgi as she made a beeline toward Yeri's desk. She felt something in her chest tighten, having no choice but to sit at her and Seulgi's desk and watch them interact.
Meanwhile, Seulgi was subtly pleading with Yeri if she could sit beside her for a while. The other girl tilted her head in amusement. No one had ever tried not sitting with Yoo Jaeyi. Normally, people would have fought tooth and nail to be in Seulgi's place.
Yet here she was, asking if she could sit with Yeri just so she could avoid the walking trigger that is Yoo Jaeyi.
"You have good taste, Seulgi."
"Sorry?"
"Do you like me?" Yeri teased, holding Seulgi's hand. Seulgi just blinked at her in response.
Somewhere in the classroom, they heard something snap.
"How dare you touch what's mine."
When Seulgi turned to look in Jaeyi's direction, she was already looking at Yeri's hand on hers, the pencil she was holding already torn in two. Seulgi gulped hard and reluctantly dropped Yeri's hand.
Watching this exchange, Yeri laughed, having way too much fun being pressed into this situation.
"Choi Kyung, go sit with Jaeyi for a while. Seulgi and I are going to work on something this week. I need her with me."
Kyung, completely oblivious to what had just happened, finally looked up from the book she was reading.
"What? Are you kicking me out of our seats? No way!"
Seulgi tapped her foot on the floor as she watched Yeri whisper something into Kyung's ear. Not long after, and with a frustrated sigh, Kyung finally got up and transferred to Jaeyi's side.
Seulgi could feel Jaeyi's burning gaze at the back of her head. She felt bad doing this, but she really needed to breathe.
Jaeyi is seething. Seulgi's absence was a torment. Not having Seulgi by her side was sending waves of frustration through her core. It wasn't helping that Yeri was blatantly flirting with her. HER GIRL.
As if sensing her discomfort, Yeri leaned close to Seulgi, whispering in her ear, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Jaeyi's eye twitched, gripping the side of her desk so hard her knuckles turned white.
"I AM GOING TO BURN YOUR HOUSE DOWN, SHAVE YOUR HEAD, AND FEED YOU TO THE SHARKS, JOO YERI‼"
She was startled when Seulgi suddenly jumped in her seat and covered her ears, wincing so hard her eyes tightly closed.
"Seulgi?" As if hearing her thoughts, Seulgi turned to look at her, eyes silently pleading her for an end to the mental onslaught.
Her mouth hung open.
"Wait..."
Seulgi had reached her limit. This was no use. Her ears rang from the sudden outburst, giving her a severe whiplash from the intensity of Jaeyi's internal crash out. Whatever it was, it had to stop.
With a blank expression, she stood up and walked toward Jaeyi's direction, snatching her wrist and dragging her out of the classroom.
"Seulgi-ah..."
"Stop talking."
"Damn, that's hot. Whatever you say, pretty girl."
She felt Seulgi's grip tighten on her wrist. Before she knew it, Seulgi was shoving her inside a very cramped storage room.
"Fuck... are we going to..."
"Jaeyi-ah," Seulgi pleaded, putting her arms on either side of Jaeyi's head. This made the taller girl's heart hammer in her chest.
"At least take me to dinner first."
Seulgi's other hand traveled to Jaeyi's shoulder, gripping it lightly.
"S-Seulgi, don't you think we're going a little bit too fast?"
Seulgi chuckled sarcastically at her remarks.
"That is somehow worse than your thoughts..." she mumbled. "Jaeyi-ah. Please calm down..." Seulgi looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Then come back to me," Jaeyi negotiated. "Your place is with me. You're mine alone."
"You know I can still hear you, right?" Seulgi deadpanned.
Jaeyi released a breath. So she really could read her mind. Her suspicions were right all along.
"O-oh."
"This is the best day of my life!! Wait no, I can't let her know that. I gotta impress her. QUICK, THINK OF SOMETHING COOL! Uhh... Chihuahuas riding a hotdog! Shit. Wait, can you hear this?! Does this—"
Seulgi interrupted her thoughts by crashing her lips onto hers. Jaeyi's eyes widened but immediately softened, leaning into Seulgi's mouth.
For once since the day they met, Seulgi's mind was clear. Jaeyi went radio silent. She only realized the gravity of the situation when she felt the taller girl wrap her arms around her waist, deepening the kiss. Seulgi felt her insides burn. She gasped into Jaeyi's mouth and pinned her further against the wall. The taller girl groaned, and Seulgi muffled it by pressing their lips tighter. Her head spun, her legs trembled, but she couldn't stop kissing her.
She realized how much she craved this. Jaeyi's constant mental presence, invading her mind and her every waking thoughts, the disorientation, it all felt right in this moment.
They only stopped when the need for air got too intense. They gasped into each other's mouths, their proximity still close. Jaeyi gave her a soft kiss, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.
"Well, that's one way to shut me up."
"Jaeyi-aaah," Seulgi whined, earning a throaty laugh from the taller girl.
"Maybe if we tried hard enough, Seulgi could eventually get me pregnant," Jaeyi wondered thoughtlessly.
Beside her, Seulgi coughed out the water she was drinking, some of it pouring out of her nose. Kyung quickly rushed to her aid, patting her back while Yeri handed her tissues.
Jaeyi pushed Kyung out of the way, cupping Seulgi's face in her hands. "Seulgi, are you okay?" Seulgi nodded and pursed her lips. "Please take it easy..."
Jaeyi couldn't help but pull a toothy grin. "I'm sorry. Do you want to come over tonight? Our daughter misses you," She poked Seulgi's cheek, her pout bordering on theatrical.
"Wow. She really is a different kind of crazy. Seriously, it's just a doll. It's not that serious. Also, didn't she already spend the night at your place?" Kyung rambled, adjusting her glasses and dusting her skirt.
Yeri gasped and slapped her arm, quickly covering their baby doll's ears. "HEY CHOI KYUNG! How could you say that in front of our child?!" She exclaimed dramatically.
"You should file a divorce,” Jaeyi advised. “She's a useless wife,"
Kyung scoffed. "AND SEULGI'S ANY BETTER? SHE LITERALLY DROPPED YOUR 'DAUGHTER' YESTERDAY!" using air quotes on the 'daughter' part.
Jaeyi gasped and stood up, crossing her arms.
"This bitch..."
"KEEP MY WIFE'S NAME OUT OF YOUR TRASH MOUTH!"
Seulgi, her head throbbing, massaged her temples. Why me? Why do I have to be here? She reached out and tugged Jaeyi back down. "Jaeyi, please. I'm coming over tonight.”
This caught Jaeyi's attention, immediately snaking her arms around Seulgi's shoulder, "Really?"
"We're totally having twins." Seulgi dropped her fork upon hearing that and sent a warning stare towards Jaeyi.
Yeri smirked, picking up their baby doll and cradling it in her arms. "You should've just picked me to be the mother of your child. She's trapping you in this marriage for real."
Jaeyi shot her a glare, to which Yeri giggled in response.
"I'll have you know, I'm a good wife and mother. Right, Seulgi?"
"The project is to take care of a doll. No one said anything about marriage and motherhood."
"AND NO ONE ASKED FOR YOUR OPINION, CHOI KYUNG."
Tired of all the noise, Seulgi finally sighed and stood up to leave.
One. Just one peaceful meal. That's all I ask.
Seulgi had recently learned that the best way to temporarily silence Jaeyi's mental chatter and her actual mouth was by kissing her. This had become one of their routines, much to the Jaeyi's unabashed delight—and if Seulgi's being honest, hers as well, because kissing Jaeyi was actually quite nice. Not that she'd never admit that in a million years. Do not, under any circumstances, tell Jaeyi.
Sometimes Seulgi would wonder if Jaeyi was just doing it on purpose. She was. But if Seulgi ever noticed, she said nothing about it.
And so, for the fifth time that day, they found themselves sequestered in the science lab, Jaeyi perched on Seulgi's lap like a smug queen on her throne. Her arms were draped around Seulgi’s neck, stroking it gently as they explored each other's mouths. Seulgi held Jaeyi in place, her free hand cupping the other's jaw and guiding it to the side, her mouth moving from Jaeyi's lips down to her jawline.
Jaeyi pressed on Seulgi's neck, biting the inside of her cheeks to suppress a moan trying to escape her delicate lips.
Seulgi was about to bite down on a sensitive spot when they heard a jarring intrusion of someone rattling the doorknob.
Startled, Seulgi gasped, eyes wide, and in flurry of panic, accidentally pushed Jaeyi off her lap, knocking a few things off the counter down with the girl. The drop made a loud thud on the floor.
Just then, the door swung open, revealing a confused Jo Ara. Her eyebrows raised in confusion.
Her features softened when she saw Jaeyi plopped on the hardwood floor, rubbing her hips, and a shock-stricken Seulgi sitting on a stool chair just gaping at her like a goldfish.
"What in the actual–" she muttered before rushing to help Jaeyi up. "What happened here? Hey, Woo Seulgi! You lousy bumpkin, did you just push Jaeyi?!" She added, pointing an accusatory finger at Seulgi.
Ignoring the graphic display of torture happening in Jaeyi's head from that comment, Seulgi shook her head and slowly approached the girl, her face painted with concern. "J-Jaeyi-ah. Are you okay? I am so sorry I—"
Jaeyi cut her off by placing a finger on her mouth, giggling as she traced the outline of her lips "I'm okay. No need to be sorry. It was just an accident."
"I'm still here, guys..." Ara interjected, sending them both bored looks. They were so wrapped up in each other that they inadvertently forgot she was still in the room with them.
Jaeyi exhaled and flashed her a sweet smile. "Sorry, what brings you here?" Jaeyi asked, straightening Seulgi's collar. "I was just helping Seulgi with the lit paper and accidentally tripped on something."
The intruder shot them a suspicious look.
"Teacher Go asked me to get some equipment for the fair..." she answered slowly, her face contorting into a frown. "Wait… we already passed that lit paper last week... and this is the science lab."
😃❓️ . . .
"Damn it..." Seulgi face-palmed.
A strange, hollow silence echoed in Seulgi's skull. It had been a while since the last time she had felt alone in her head. She knew she should be happy that, for the longest time, the only thoughts she needed to worry about were her own. She was finally at peace... So why did it feel like a major part of her was missing? She had been so used to having Jaeyi by her side, with her unfiltered thoughts, that now that she was gone, Seulgi felt there was a gaping hole in her chest. A hole that only Jaeyi could fill.
"Seulgi, you really need to chill," Kyung deadpanned, interrupting Seulgi's growing reverie. "Gripping that alien toy thingy to death isn't going to magically summon Jaeyi." Seulgi frowned and put the toy on her desk. She hadn't realized she had been gripping it so tightly.
"You miss her already," Yeri teased. "It's barely been a day."
They hadn't seen each other since the school day began. Although Jaeyi had sent her a lengthy text message apologizing and complaining about how she couldn't make it to their classroom to greet her good morning because of the tasks they needed to do for the school fair, Seulgi still felt a bit disappointed having to arrive without Jaeyi's smiling face and consistent naughty comments about her body being the first thing to greet her.
Seulgi blew a whispy strand of hair away from her face and huffed.
"I don't miss her." Lie.
Yeri and Kyung just exchanged knowing glances as they watched the small girl hug Jaeyi's bag, her head sinking onto the cool surface of her desk.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Seulgi waited patiently by the school garden. The place, bathed in the fading amber light, felt charged with anticipation.
Jaeyi had just sent her a text telling her how much she missed her and that they were already done for the day, making her available for the rest of the evening. Seulgi had a hard time getting rid of the shit-eating grin plastered on her face upon reading that. This is so unlike me…
Seulgi, a bundle of barely contained energy, played with the straps of her bag and rocked back and forth, staring at the darkening sky. It had been more than 12 hours since the last time she saw Jaeyi, and this meet-up was really making her stomach churn with excitement.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she caught a glimpse of a tall figure with black hair walking towards her direction. She grinned from ear to ear and jogged like a little kid to meet her halfway when she noticed that Jaeyi was not alone.
She stopped in her tracks as her expression shifted. Her brow furrowed delicately, a hint of unease in her soft expression.
Jaeyi and her unknown companion finally arrived in front of her.
"Seulgi-ah!" Jaeyi mused, a bit too ecstatic, reaching out to hug her. "I missed you so much! Let's not get separated that long again," she exclaimed, a pout tugging at her lips. Seulgi had to restrain herself from kissing it away. Instead, she smiled and wrapped her arms around the taller girl's waist, gripping her a bit tighter than she intended.
They only broke apart when Jaeyi's companion cleared her throat.
Refusing to let her go just yet, Seulgi held Jaeyi's hand and not-so-subtly pulled her to her side like a selfish kid gatekeeping her precious toy.
The other girl, flashed Seulgi a knowing smirk.
Jaeyi, completely oblivious to the growing tension in front of her, giggled and waved her free hand.
"Sorry about that. Seulgi, this is Jennie. She's a senior. She helped me a lot today."
Jennie looked at her for a moment and shifted her attention back to Seulgi, extending her left hand for a handshake.
"Hi, I'm Jennie," she introduced. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Typical Jennie, always so charming." Seulgi's face hardened. Her hold on Jaeyi's hand becoming tighter. Jaeyi, still oblivious, just squeezed her hand in return.
"Seulgi." Forcing a smile. She shook Jennie's hand, a brief, sharp clasp.
Jaeyi let their hands go—much to Seulgi's distaste—and clasped her hands together. "We've done a lot today. Do you want to join us for dinner?"
Jennie stared straight into Seulgi's eyes, a playful glint in her eyes before speaking.
"I would love to..."
Seulgi balled her hands into fists, and Jennie chuckled, sensing the obvious jealousy of the smaller girl.
"Unfortunately, I have somewhere to be. I just wanted to make sure you got here safely." She opened her arms, a silent invitation for a hug, but Seulgi, in a swift, possessive move, draped her arms over Jaeyi's shoulders.
The look was almost comical, seeing how Seulgi had to stand on her tiptoes just to reach Jaeyi's shoulders. Jaeyi had to crouch a little to match Seulgi's height.
Jaeyi was tense because Seulgi's face was so close to hers that she could hear her uneven breathing.
"Fuck my life..."
Gaining a bit of confidence, Seulgi smirked and brushed a strand of Jaeyi's hair with her finger. She shot Jennie a sharp look.
"Thank you for your help, but I'll take it from here," Seulgi announced, her voice a low, husky rumble. Her eyes, dark and intense, bored into Jaeyi's. "I always take care of what's mine.”
"SWEET BABY JESUS AND THE GROWN ONE TOO‼️"
Amused with the whole ordeal, Jennie finally let go of the laugh she had been holding, and nodded understandingly. She decided that she was already satisfied with how much she managed to tick off the smaller girl. It was also a bonus to see THE Yoo Jaeyi flustered. She made a mental note to tell her girlfriend about it later.
"Alright, I'll leave you two to it then." With a final wink, she finally turned and retreated.
"..."
"..."
"W-wanna stop by the janitor's clos—" Jaeyi had no time to finish her sentence because Seulgi was already dragging her back inside the building.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Jaeyi pulled over just outside Seulgi's house, instantly taking her hand as she stepped out.
It was late when they reached the place. The neighborhood was empty. The moon blazed overhead, painting the streets in a silver glow. Only the faint hum of flickering streetlights broke the silence.
After one last lingering squeeze, Jaeyi reluctantly released Seulgi's hand and pulled her into a warm embrace. She nestled her chin on Seulgi's shoulder, inhaling her familiar scent, and buried her face in the curve of her neck.
Seulgi giggled, returning the hug, and tilted her head back to press a soft kiss to Jaeyi's forehead. She held her close, tracing soothing circles on her back.
"I wish you'd just come home with me tonight."
Seulgi chuckled at the thought echoing in Jaeyi's mind. Jaeyi tightened her hold, burying her face deeper, a hint of playful embarrassment in her muffled voice. "Stop eavesdropping on my thoughts.”
"You know I can't do that," Seulgi chuckled. "You're practically tethered to me."
Jaeyi pulled away, a teasing smirk on her face. "I think you just like me that much." Seulgi rolled her eyes, her smile never leaving her face.
"Says the girl who literally dreams about me every night."
Jaeyi's expression softened, her gaze tracing the delicate lines of Seulgi's face. One hand gently caressed Seulgi's jawline, sending a shiver down her spine.
"It took me forever to find you..." she paused, her eyes locking onto Seulgi's lips, "I'm never letting you go."
Seulgi's knees felt weak, a flutter of butterflies erupting in her stomach. Jaeyi leaned in, and Seulgi closed her eyes, anticipating the kiss, when a series of beeps shattered the moment.
Their heads whipped toward the car, the window rolling down, revealing an irritated Choi Kyung hunched over in the backseat. She pressed the horn twice and yelled,
"HOW LONG ARE YOU TWO GOING TO STAND THERE HUGGING EACH OTHER?!"
"This motherf—!@#$"
Jaeyi groaned and marched toward her car, about to give Choi Kyung a piece of her mind when Seulgi gently pulled her back.
"Jaeyi-ah, just let it go. I'll see you tomorrow."
Jaeyi sighed in frustration and nodded.
"Fine..."
"Dream of me," Seulgi teased, opening the car door for her.
Jaeyi slid into the seat. "I dream of you even with my eyes open. You can count on it." Jaeyi teased back. "I had fun tonight."
Seulgi closed the door as Jaeyi settled in.
"Drive safe! Oh, and," she leaned into the window, giving Jaeyi a quick, playful kiss before darting toward her house.
Jaeyi watched her disappear inside, a contented smile spreading across her face before finally driving off.
"Mind you, you were doing all that in the middle of the sidewalk."
She scoffed, dismissing the snide comment.
She caught Choi Kyung's arms crossed in the rearview mirror, with a peacefully sleeping Yeri beside her, and rolled her eyes.
"Jealous much..."
"Isn't it crazy how we manage to fall in love in every universe?" Jaeyi mused, gazing at the ceiling, her mind replaying the dream where they were flirting on live television.
She was sprawled across her bed, bored out of her mind, stubbornly ignoring the textbooks scattered around her.
Seulgi hummed in response, "I think it's even crazier that I was an actress in that one. Your dreams are weird."
Jaeyi gasped, turning to face Seulgi. "BUT YOU WERE SO PRETTY!" She exclaimed, "I'd be your number one fan for sure." She nodded earnestly.
"It's better this way, though. At least I get to have you for myself."
This earned a warm smile from Seulgi. "I wouldn't have it any other way, either."
Jaeyi's lips pulled upward, smirking. "Did you know that we are a pair of slippers in another universe?" Seulgi laughed and lightly hit her arm.
"You're also my wife in one..." Jaeyi muttered, putting her hand on her chin, a distant look on her face, already picturing their wedding in her head.
"I'm totally going to wife her up. Maybe I can trick her into signing a marriage contract one of these days..."
Still deep in thought, she didn't notice the pillow hurtling toward her face, letting out a whine as she saw Seulgi's amused grin.
"You don't have to trick me into signing anything," Seulgi confessed, sitting up on the bed and cleaning up her things. "I'm already your girlfriend, so technically we're halfway there," she added casually.
Moments passed, filled with utter silence.
Even Jaeyi's mental chatter stopped. Seulgi furrowed her eyebrows and raised her head to look at Jaeyi, her sudden silence confusing her.
"Jaeyi-ah..." she ventured cautiously. Jaeyi stared back, utterly dumbfounded.
"Say that again?"
"J-Jaeyi-ah...?" Seulgi repeated, raising her eyebrows. Jaeyi shook her head and quickly dove in front of Seulgi, startling her.
"No, no. What you said before that— you're my what?"
Seulgi felt her ears go red, but confusion still shimmered in her eyes. "That I'm your girlfriend?" Jaeyi's face froze as her jaw dropped.
"W-what... are you....?" She stammered, finding it hard to find the words. "IS SHE ASKING ME TO BE HER GIRLFRIEND?!" Seulgi winced at the sudden outburst, clutching her ears a little, still confused at what was happening.
"What do you mean?"
"What do YOU mean?!"
"..."
"..."
(,,•᷄ࡇ•᷅ ,,)?
"... I thought we were already dating?"
"WE ARE?!"
"Wait, we're not???!" Seulgi sprang from the bed, throwing her hands up in bewildered caution. Her mind was reeling from this revelation.
If she doesn't think we're together, THEN WHAT THE HELL HAVE WE BEEN DOING THESE PAST MONTHS?
"I-I'm going," Seulgi announced, hastily gathering her things. She was about to bolt for the door when Jaeyi seized her wrist, pulling her back onto the bed.
Seulgi’s face burned, a furious blush creeping up her neck. What did Jaeyi mean? Was she just playing with her feelings? They'd been doing things that only couples did for the past few months. Were those for nothing? Had she misread everything?
The thought sent a cold dread through her. Seulgi's head spun the more she thought about this jarring revelation. She had never been in a relationship before; it was utterly foolish of her to think of them as anything more than friends.
Her thoughts were only dialed down when she heard Jaeyi's voice again.
“Seulgi-ah…” she murmured, her tone low and gentle, “when did you start thinking we were together?” Her fingers traced the hem of Seulgi’s shirt, a delicate, almost hesitant touch.
Seulgi's eyes widened. She wasn't sure how to respond. The truth was embarrassing for her. She bit her lower lip and mentally prepared her response—not the best choice, because this made Jaeyi's eyes darken, her eyes glued to her lips, as if she were going to devour her alive.
“The day I first kissed you…” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
A wave of relief washed over Jaeyi’s face, softening her features into a tender smile. A loving glint sparked in her eyes, and before Seulgi could react, Jaeyi leaned in, her lips brushing against Seulgi’s cheek.
Kisses trailed down her jaw, a delicate caress, then to her chin, her nose, a flurry of soft touches that left Seulgi breathless. Finally, Jaeyi’s lips found hers.
A playful nip on Seulgi’s lower lip elicited a soft yelp and a nervous giggle. Seulgi tried to pull away, gasping for air, but Jaeyi’s lips followed, relentless, hungry.
"Shall we just get married tomorrow?" Jaeyi murmured against her lips, her voice a husky whisper. Seulgi just gave her a nervous chuckle, her heart palpitating in her chest.
"B-but we have school..." she answered thoughtlessly, her head completely blank. She didn't even know why she said that.
Jaeyi burst into laughter, a warm, infectious sound. Seulgi soon joined her, the tension dissolving into shared giggles. They sat there, wrapped in each other’s arms.
"After school then?" Jaeyi suggested, making Seulgi giggle.
“Hmm… if my schedule permits,” Seulgi teased, finally cupping Jaeyi’s face and kissing her with a newfound passion.
“Fair enough.”