Jungeun clenched the letter in her hand.
Her knuckles turning white against the crumpled paper as her stomach twisted as she read the final words again.
"Your scholarship has been revoked due to financial difficulties in the funding program. We regret to inform you that you will no longer be able to continue your studies under our sponsorship."
She kept rereading and rereading the letter, trying to convince herself that she was just dreaming.
But the more she kept reading, it the more reality kept hitting her.
The only thing she had been working hard for her whole life, was gone in an instant.
Choi Jungeun was born to a family of merchants. She was born of everything she had ever wished, so she worked hard and got a scholarship at Iz Academy, hoping for a better future.
She had fought against the odds, rising to the top of her class despite the sneers and whispers behind her back. But none of that mattered now.
Without money, she had nothing. No home, no education, no future.
And that was how she found herself standing at the grand iron gates of the Yoon estate, the paper in her hands now different but just as damning.
A contract.
—
Jungeun stood before the large mahogany desk, her hands clasped behind her back to hide how tightly she was gripping her own fingers.
Mr. Yoon, Jiyoon’s father, sat across from her, skimming through a stack of documents with an obvious air of disinterest.
The room smelled of old books and freshly painted walls, Jungeun hated how small she felt standing there.
Finally, without looking up, Mr. Yoon spoke.
"You wanted to discuss your contract."
Jungeun straightened. "Yes, sir."
Prior the scholarship incident, Jungeun immediately went in finding a job that could keep her afloat, and help with her unexplainably high fees.
She came across a high paying position in the Yoon’s estate. It was a personal maid position and without even thinking twice, she took her chances and applied.
If it meant her getting a jaw dropping amount of money, she wouldn’t wanna risk losing her chances.
Jungeun’s future self would later regret that.
Mr. Yoon flipped another page. "You're lucky to be here, you know. Most girls in your position would kill for a place in this household."
Jungeun forced herself to remain composed. "I appreciate the opportunity, sir. But my contract states that I am to work for a set period in exchange for a stable wage. However, the terms regarding my release are.. vague."
That made Mr. Yoon look up. His sharp gaze pinned her in place. "Are you already thinking of leaving?"
Jungeun swallowed. "Not at this moment, sir. But I’d like to know where I stand. If I choose to leave, will I be free to do so?"
Mr. Yoon leaned back in his chair, studying her as if she were a puzzle he didn’t particularly care to solve. "Why does it matter? You have no other prospects, do you?"
Jungeun mentally cursed this old man, biting back her tongue to prevent her from saying something she might regret.
She sighed, "That’s not the point. I’d like clarity."
A slow smile spread across his lips. "Ah. You’re a smart one."
She held his gaze. "I try to be."
Mr. Yoon chuckled. "The contract ensures your position here. But if you wish to leave, you may, assuming, of course, that your debt to this household is repaid."
Jungeun stiffened. "Debt?"
He gestured vaguely. "The cost of your food, your housing, your living, all of it is covered by us. If you wish to break your contract early, you’ll have to pay that back."
Jungeun's stomach turned.
This was a trap. She wasn’t just a maid. She was going to be made bound to them.
She pressed her lips together. "And how much would that be?"
Mr. Yoon’s smile widened. "More than you can afford."
Oh how Jungeun wished she could tear that annoying smile off his face.
Jungeun kept her face blank, even as frustration burned in her chest. She had come for answers, and now she had them. She wasn’t leaving anytime soon.
She fought to keep her voice steady. "And how about my assignment? Will I remain in the main household?"
Mr. Yoon chuckled. "No. You will be under my daughter’s service exclusively."
Her blood ran cold. "Jiyoon?"
Jungeun had known of Jiyoon for years.
Everyone did.
Jiyoon was the kind of person who stood out wherever she went, not just because of her family’s wealth but because she demanded attention.
Whether it was her sharp tongue, the way she carried herself like the world owed her something, or the fact that she was the leader of Izna, the most infamous band among the campus, Jiyoon was impossible to ignore.
Jungeun hated her guts.
He nodded. "Your main duty is to tend to her needs, whatever they may be. You will handle her errands, clean her quarters, and be available at her request. If she requires something, you provide it. If she calls, you answer."
Jungeun felt something burn in her chest, something between rage and disbelief. "Is that all?"
He tilted his head, amused by her reaction.
"You will not leave her service unless she releases you, nor will you be reassigned elsewhere in the household. As far as this contract is concerned, you belong to her."
Jungeun inhaled sharply through her nose, suppressing the urge to snap.
"I understand."
She turned to leave, but Mr. Yoon’s voice stopped her.
"You remind me of someone, you know."
Jungeun stopped and turned to look back. "Who?"
His smirk deepened. "My daughter."
Jungeun said nothing as she walked out, but her hands were shaking. This time she actually almost ripped out his mouth. The last thing she wanted was being compared to Jiyoon.
She had thought losing her scholarship was the worst thing that had ever happened to her.
She was wrong.
—
“You belong to her”
Jungeun scoffed at the remembrance of his words.
If it wasn’t for the money, she would’ve not wasted anymore time and rejected his offer.
She sighed, the events of the day finally weighing down on her.
She was grateful that she got a job that paid high. That alone could cover her rent and school fees. She could also help her family with that amount.
The down side? She had to work for Yoon Jiyoon.
Jungeun had spent most of her academic life watching Jiyoon from the sidelines, rolling her eyes whenever people fawned over her or when Izna stormed the halls like they owned the place.
Jungeun had been one of the few students who got a scholar at their prestigious university who hadn’t come from money.
She had worked herself to the bone to be there, while people like Jiyoon had waltzed through life without a care.
Jungeun had never spoken to Jiyoon, and Jiyoon had certainly never noticed her.
But Jungeun had seen enough.
She had seen Jiyoon throwing extravagant parties in the courtyard when exams were approaching, laughing as students groaned in frustration.
She had seen her mocking professors when she got bored, skipping classes whenever she pleased, knowing her last name would protect her. She had seen Jiyoon flaunting her power, living in excess, as if the world was hers to do with as she pleased.
Jungeun prayed and prayed that Jiyoon wouldn’t make her job hell on earth.
—
Jungeun stood stiffly in the grand hall of the Yoon estate, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.
She had never set foot inside the actual mansion before, just in Mr. Yoon’s office. but she wasn’t surprised by the sheer extravagance of it.
Golden chandeliers, imported silk curtains, polished marble floors. It was exactly what she had expected from Jiyoon’s family.
Jungeun’s mouth went agape. Everything in this house was shining. Expensive portraits were put up on the walls and countless vinyls were displayed, which she assumed Jiyoon owned.
The head maid barely looked at her before telling her to report to the young miss’s quarters.
Jungeun already knew who that was.
And so, she found herself standing before Jiyoon’s door, heart pounding with something that was not quite fear but not quite anger either.
She took a deep breath and knocked.
A sharp, irritated voice answered. "What?"
Jungeun internally scoffed and gritted her teeth before pushing open the door.
Jiyoon was sprawled on a velvet chaise, her long black hair falling over one shoulder. She had a guitar in her lap, lazily strumming a few notes. Music sheets and discarded clothing were scattered across the room, a mess of luxury.
Jiyoon didn’t even glance up. "Did I ask for anything?"
Jungeun forced her voice to remain even. "I was assigned to serve you, Miss Yoon."
Jiyoon finally looked at her, her dark eyes scanning Jungeun like she was nothing more than furniture. There wasn’t even a flicker of recognition in her expression.
Of course, she didn’t remember her.
Jungeun had spent years seeing Jiyoon, but to Jiyoon, she had never even existed.
"Great," Jiyoon muttered, setting her guitar aside. "Another maid. Just don’t be annoying."
Jungeun clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palm. The urge to punch Jiyoon face getting stronger.
This was going to be unbearable.
—
From the very first day, it was clear that Jungeun and Jiyoon would never get along.
Jungeun despised everything about Jiyoon. The laziness, the entitlement, the way she expected everyone to serve her without question.
"Clean this up," Jiyoon would say, kicking off her boots and leaving them wherever they fell.
Jungeun would bite her tongue so hard she thought it might bleed.
"Why do you look so angry all the time?" Jiyoon asked once, tilting her head like Jungeun was some kind of puzzle.
Jungeun had wanted to scream.
But she never said a word.
Not until one afternoon, when she found Jiyoon lounging in the courtyard with Izna.
Jungeun had been carrying a tray of tea when she overheard them laughing.
"Did you hear? That scholarship girl lost her scholar. Our school is sometimes an ass. Is she gonna drop out? Heard she couldn’t afford it.”
Jungeun froze.
The girl with bangs, who Jungeun recognizes as Koko, said it. Jungeun thought she was the least arrogant member, oh how wrong she was.
They were laughing about her, about how she had lost everything. Her grip on the tray tightened.
And Jiyoon?
She just chuckled, strumming her guitar. "Shame," she said. "But I guess it’s not meant for some people."
The words hit Jungeun harder than they should have.
Without thinking, she slammed the tray down on the table, making the cups rattle. The band went silent, staring at her with raised eyebrows.
Jiyoon looked up annoyed, “Whats your problem?”
Jungeun’s hands were shaking. She knew she shouldn’t speak, knew that maids weren’t supposed to talk back. But she couldn’t stop herself.
"Not everyone has the luxury of wasting their life like you do," she snapped.
Jiyoon blinked, as if surprised that Jungeun had spoken.
Then—
Laughter.
"Oh my god," Koko wheezed, gripping Jeemin’s arm. "No one has ever talked back to you like that."
"Did you hear the venom in her voice?" Jeemin grinned. "Feisty.”
Saebi smirked, grabbing a drink and chugging it. "You two argue like theres no tomorrow, becareful, my parents started like that."
“I see the vision.” Koko added, looking at the two back and forth.
Jungeun turned to glare at Jiyoon, expecting her to roll her eyes or snap back, but—
Jiyoon was just watching her.
Amused. Interested, even.
"Is that so?" Jiyoon mused, tapping a rhythm against her guitar.
"It’s kind of cute, actually," Koko continued, her grin widening. "Jungeun’s all fiery and serious, and Jiyoon’s just a pain in the ass—"
"Excuse you," Jiyoon cut in.
"But it works!" Jeemin insisted. "Jungeun’s the only one who talks back to you and doesn’t get fired. You keep her around for a reason."
Saebi raised an eyebrow. "And you have to admit, Jiyoon, you’re kind of obsessed with annoying her."
Jungeun opened her mouth to argue, but Koko leaned forward, eyes twinkling. "So, Jiyoon. When’s the wedding?"
Now Jungeun actually scoffs.
“You’ll attend my grave first before attending our “supposed” wedding.”
“Damn Jiyoon, better luck next time.” Koko teased and patted her shoulders.
Jiyoon sighed, setting down her guitar. "You’re all insufferable."
"You didn’t deny it, though," Saebi pointed out.
Jungeun shot Jiyoon a sharp glare. "Say something."
Jiyoon smirked. "What? They’re not wrong about me finding you interesting."
Jungeun clenched her fists. "I’d rather die."
Koko burst into laughter. "See? Married couple behaviour”
Jeemin wiped a fake tear. “Jiyoonie is finally entering her serious stages of relationship. Its been awhile since—“
But before Jeemin could continue, Jiyoon swatted her mouth.
“Say it and no one catching a glimpse of you anymore.” She threatened.
Saebi chuckled. "This is the most fun we’ve had in weeks."
Jungeun inhaled deeply, willing herself not to throw the entire tea tray at them.
Jiyoon just leaned back, watching her with that annoying, knowing smirk.
Jungeun hated her.
And the worst part?
Jiyoon knew it.
—
Jungeun stood in the middle of Jiyoon’s disaster zone of a bedroom, gripping a laundry basket so tightly her knuckles turned white.
The room looked like a crime scene, except the only crime committed here was Jiyoon’s absolute lack of respect for order.
Clothes were strewn everywhere.
Draped over chairs, tangled in sheets, a jacket hanging off the chandelier like a corpse. A single shoe sat in the middle of the floor, as if it had been carefully placed there just to trip her. Jungeun exhaled slowly, forcing herself to stay calm.
She would not give Jiyoon the satisfaction.
She cleared her throat. "What the hell is this."
Jiyoon, lounging on her bed like royalty, barely glanced up from her notebook. "A mess, obviously."
Jungeun’s eye twitched. "This wasn’t here yesterday."
Jiyoon hummed. "Yeah, well, I had a bit of a wardrobe crisis."
Jungeun took in the utter destruction of the room, the sheer carnage of fabric and accessories thrown around like a tornado had personally chosen this room to destroy.
"A wardrobe crisis," Jungeun repeated, unamused.
"Mhm~." Jiyoon lazily flipped a page, her smirk growing. "I couldn’t decide what to wear, so I tried everything on."
Jungeun threw the laundry basket onto the floor with a loud thud.
"Everything?" she asked, voice unnervingly even.
Jiyoon grinned, looking completely unbothered. "I was thorough."
Jungeun’s fists clenched at her sides. "You did this on purpose."
Jiyoon gasped dramatically, clutching her chest like she was personally offended. "You wound me, Jungeun. Why would I ever do such a thing?"
Jungeun narrowed her eyes. "Because you’re an insufferable brat who thinks tormenting me is a fun little game."
Jiyoon propped her chin up on one hand, watching her like a cat cornering a mouse. "Is it working?"
Jungeun inhaled deeply. "If I kill you, do I get fired?"
"Most likely," Jiyoon replied smoothly, still smirking. "But, hey, at least you’d be free."
Jungeun hated that she was right. "You are without a doubt, the worst person I’ve ever met."
"Aw." Jiyoon’s smirk widened. "You say the sweetest things."
Jungeun could feel her patience wearing thin, could feel the frustration curling inside her like a pressure cooker ready to explode.
But of course, she would not let Jiyoon win.
Jungeun straightened, lifting her chin. "Fine."
Jiyoon raised an eyebrow. "Fine?"
Jungeun smirked, though the fire in her eyes was anything but friendly. "If you want a war, Yoon Jiyoon, then you’ll get one."
Jiyoon sat up slightly, finally setting her notebook aside. For the first time, Jungeun saw something different in her expression, not just amusement, but interest.
"Is that a challenge?"
Jungeun crossed her arms. "You’ll see soon enough."
Jiyoon tilted her head, looking almost delighted. "You know," she mused, "I think I just might enjoy this."
Jungeun turned on her heel, heading for the door before she could say something she’d regret.
But just as she reached for the handle, Jiyoon’s voice stopped her.
"Oh, and Jungeun?"
Jungeun didn’t turn around, but she could already hear the smugness in Jiyoon’s tone.
"Be a dear and sort my closet too, will you? I think I want to reorganize my outfits by color. Or maybe by mood. I haven’t decided yet."
Jungeun’s almost ripped the doorknob and threw it on Jiyoon’s face.
—
The garden was eerily quiet at night.
The wind barely rustled the leaves, and the soft glow of the outdoor lanterns cast long, wavering shadows across the trimmed hedges and stone pathways.
The air smelled faintly of damp grass and the remnants of winter flowers, a reminder that spring was creeping in.
She hated working outside, but it was the only place where she could get a moment of peace. Izna had been particularly loud in the common room, and she’d rather drown herself in this pool than sit through another hour of their nonsense.
Jungeun exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. The candle beside her flickered slightly, the wind teasing its small flame.
Her eyes burned from exhaustion, her muscles stiff from sitting too long.
She needed to finish this.
Another fifteen minutes. Maybe twenty.
And then she could finally—
A twig snapped behind her.
Jungeun froze.
Her fingers curled around her pencil, body tensing. She knew that sound, the unmistakable crunch of shoes stepping over loose gravel.
Someone was watching her.
Slowly, carefully, she turned her head, only to find nothing but shadows behind her.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She wasn’t scared. Of course, she wasn’t scared.
Just uneasy.
Shaking her head, Jungeun forced herself to refocus on her work. She had better things to do than freak out over
"You’re working too hard, you know."
Jungeun jumped.
The voice was right behind her, low and teasing, and before she could think, she lurched backward, chair scraping against the stone patio.
Her foot caught on the edge of the table.
A second later, she was falling. The cold shock of water swallowed her whole.
For a brief, horrifying moment, she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t see anything but darkness and flickering candlelight above the water’s surface. The chill rushed up her spine, stealing the air from her lungs.
And then—
A hand grabbed hers. Instinct kicked in before logic did, and Jungeun latched on.
Jiyoon yelled.
And then they were both crashing into the pool.
Water splashed violently over the edges, soaking the stone pavement. The candlelight wavered dangerously as Jungeun surfaced first, gasping for air.
A second later, Jiyoon broke through the water, coughing and spluttering.
"What the hell—"
"What the hell?!" Jungeun snapped, shoving her wet hair out of her face. "Not only are you killing my sanity, are you planning to kill me early too?!"
Jiyoon wiped water from her eyes, blinking at her in disbelief.
"I was standing! This is my house too you know, and if its anyone who’s trying to kill anyone, it’s you! You pulled me in too." Jiyoon scoffed.
"I was the one who got pushed in!" Jungeun shot back.
Jiyoon’s lips curled into a smirk, because of course she was enjoying this. "I didn’t push you, you just got scared."
Jungeun shoved water at her face. "Shut up!"
Jiyoon laughed. Actually laughed, like Jungeun hadn’t just dragged her into a freezing pool in the middle of the night.
Jungeun gritted her teeth. "What were you even doing sneaking up on me?"
Jiyoon shrugged, floating back slightly, her drenched clothes clinging to her. "I was curious."
"Curious about what? Me dying from a heart attack?" Jungeun said rolling her eyes.
Jiyoon didn’t say anything. She just tilted her head, studying her.
The way Jungeun’s soaked clothes clung to her form, her black shirt turning slightly sheer from the water. The way her lightish brown hair, usually neat with bangs and tied back, now framed her face in wet strands, dripping down onto her bare shoulders.
Jungeun looked beautiful and she was just realizing.
She was always sharp, always on guard, always ready to fight her at any given moment.
But here, under the soft glow of the garden lanterns, her skin glistening with water, the ripples of the pool catching the moonlight around her.
She looked different.
Softer.
Jungeun scowled, noticing the way Jiyoon had gone quiet. "What?"
Jiyoon blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Nothing."
Jungeun narrowed her eyes. "No, what was that? You were staring at me weirdo.”
"Was not."
"Are too."
"Maybe I was appreciating the fact that you finally shut up for a second." Jiyoon quickly excused.
Jungeun rolled her eyes and turned away, grumbling under her breath. "Unbelievable."
She started swimming toward the edge of the pool, her arms feeling heavier than usual from the weight of her soaked clothing.
Jiyoon followed, though at a much more leisurely pace, still looking far too entertained by this whole situation.
Jungeun reached the stone edge first and hoisted herself up, arms trembling slightly from the effort. Water poured off of her as she pulled herself out of the pool, soaking the pavement.
Jiyoon leaned back in the water, still floating lazily. "Aren’t you gonna help me up?"
Jungeun gave her a flat look. "Do I look like your servant?"
Jiyoon grinned. "Yes, you are actually."
Jungeun shoved her foot into the water, splashing Jiyoon in the face.
Jiyoon spluttered. "You little—"
"Oops," Jungeun deadpanned.
Jiyoon scowled but finally pushed herself toward the edge, gripping the stone. Jungeun turned away, squeezing water out of her shirt. Her hands were shaking slightly from the cold, but she ignored it.
She ignored the way her heart was still pounding.
Not from the fall nor from the water.
But from the way Jiyoon looked at her, something shifted during that moment. Jungeun refuses to acknowledge that.
‘Jungeun, snap out of it. You don’t like her. Yes, you dont.’
She kept convincing herself, shaking her head.
Jiyoon finally moved forward and effortlessly pulled herself up, droplets cascading down her sharp jawline as she shook out her wet hair.
Jungeun should have looked away. She didn’t.
Jiyoon caught her staring.
The younger immediately averted her gaze, pretending to squeeze the water from her sleeves.
She heard a low chuckle.
“What?” Jungeun snapped, glaring.
Jiyoon smirked, tilting her head. “Nothing.”
Jungeun climbed out of the pool, shivering slightly as the night air met her soaked clothes. She turned to glare at Jiyoon. “You owe me a dry set of clothes.”
Jiyoon raised an eyebrow. “You’re my maid. Shouldn’t you be the one doing laundry?”
Jungeun’s nostrils flared. “You dragged me into this mess!”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure you dragged me in.”
Jungeun let out a frustrated groan. “You are the worst person alive.”
Jiyoon smirked, stepping closer. “Oh I know.”
Jungeun looked at her and scoffed, about to say something, but found herself distracted by how close Jiyoon suddenly was.
The scent of her clean and subtly floral, filled Jungeun’s senses. Jungeun swallowed, cursing the way her heart betrayed her with an unsteady beat.
Jiyoon seemed to notice because her smirk softened into a soft smile. Her eyes flickered down for a split second before she leaned in, just enough for Jungeun to feel her breath against her cheek.
Jungeun tensed.
She wouldn’t back down.
Jiyoon’s voice was lower when she spoke. “You’re blushing.”
Jungeun scoffed, pushing past her with more force than necessary. “Am not.”
Jiyoon chuckled. “Are too!”
Jungeun stomped away toward the mansion, ignoring the warmth crawling up her spine.
—
Jungeun hated school mornings.
And specifically, she hated school mornings with Jiyoon.
Every single day, at Iz Academy, Jiyoon would always have some shenanigan up her sleeve.
Today was no different.
“Hold this,” Jiyoon said, shoving her heavy books into Jungeun’s arms without so much as a glance.
Jungeun barely caught them in time, the weight nearly knocking her off balance. She gritted her teeth. “Are your arms broken?”
Jiyoon smirked, walking ahead without answering. Jungeun scowled and trudged behind her, forced to follow like some overworked assistant.
It had been a little over 2 months since she’d started working as Jiyoon’s maid, and somehow, the humiliation had seeped into their school life too.
Apparently, Jiyoon thought being a personal maid extended beyond the mansion’s walls.
Jungeun would have fought back harder if she wasn’t desperate. If she didn’t need this job to keep herself afloat.
“Jiyoon, I swear to god—”
“Oh, by the way.” Jiyoon stopped suddenly, causing Jungeun to nearly slam into her back. The girl turned around, tilting her head with faux innocence.
“Can you grab me a drink from the vending machine? I’m feeling parched.”
Jungeun let out a sharp breath through her nose. “You have two perfectly working legs.”
“Do I?” Jiyoon lifted her leg slightly, twisting her foot in a dramatic display. “Hmm. I don’t know, Jungeun, my ankle’s feeling a little weak today. What if I collapse on my way?”
Jungeun almost smacked the books on her head.
Behind them, neither of them noticed the small group lurking around the corner.
Jiyoon’s bandmates, whispering and giggling amongst themselves.
“She’s really messing with her today,” Koko snickered.
“Should we do it?” Jeemin asked, eyes glinting with mischief.
“Absolutely.”
Unaware of the scheme brewing behind them, Jungeun let out a long, suffering sigh before stomping off toward the vending machine.
She aggressively jammed coins into the slot, muttering curses under her breath.
”Please give me fucking strength to go through today.”
By the time she returned with drink in hand, Jiyoon was already leaning against a classroom door, waiting.
“Took you long enough.”
Jungeun shoved the drink against Jiyoon’s chest. “Choke on it.”
Jiyoon only laughed, popping the tab open with a satisfied click. “Your customer service needs serious work.”
Jungeun crossed her arms. “You’re not my customer. You’re a brat who abuses power.”
Jiyoon took a slow sip, her gaze flickering over Jungeun with amusement. “And yet, you keep listening.”
Jungeun opened her mouth, ready to argue, but before she could, a sudden force shoved them forward.
The classroom door swung open, and Jungeun stumbled inside, bumping straight into Jiyoon.
“What the fu—“
Before they could react, the door slammed shut behind them.
A distinct click echoed in the silence.
Jungeun whipped around, reaching for the handle, but it wouldn’t budge.
Locked.
Through the small window, she saw Jiyoon’s bandmates grinning like maniacs, one of them twirling the key in their fingers before saluting mockingly.
“See you lovebirds later!” Saebi called before they all scattered down the hallway, laughing.
Jungeun felt her blood pressure skyrocket. “Those little—”
Jiyoon, still standing behind her, exhaled sharply. “Great. Just great.”
Jungeun spun around, eyes blazing. “This is your fault!”
Jiyoon blinked. “How is this my fault?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Jungeun said mockingly. “Maybe because your little band of idiots is obsessed with you? Maybe because you keep humiliating me, and now they think we have some kind of—”
She cut herself off, shaking her head aggressively. The thought of it making her shiver. “You know what? I don’t even want to say it.”
Jiyoon smirked. “Say it.”
Jungeun’s glare sharpened. “No.”
Jiyoon took a slow step forward. “You think they’re doing this because they think we’re... what?”
Jungeun stepped back instinctively, suddenly feeling cornered despite the wide space. “Shut up.”
Jiyoon tilted her head. “Come on, feisty one. Say it.”
Jungeun’s jaw clenched.
Jiyoon took another step. Jungeun stepped back again. This time, her back hit the teacher’s desk.
Jiyoon leaned forward slightly, placing her hands on either side of Jungeun, caging her in.
Jungeun’s breath hitched.
For the first time since they were locked in, silence settled between them. The air in the room felt different.
Jungeun was acutely aware of how close Jiyoon was, how the scent of her shampoo lingered in the air.
“You’re blushing.” Jiyoon amusedly voiced out.
This situation was like deja vu for them all over again. Except it’s not in the backyard anymore. They were in an enclosed space, alone.
Jungeun just rolled her eyes. “Oh I don’t know, maybe because someone is pushing me up against a desk.”
Jiyoon chucked, “Touche.”
Jungeun tried to push her away, but Jiyoon didn’t budge. “Move.”
“Make me.”
Jungeun’s frustration morphed even more.
Jiyoon was too close for her liking, too warm, her presence suffocating in a way that made Jungeun’s stomach twist.
It was infuriating.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Jungeun muttered.
Jiyoon hummed thoughtfully. “Maybe a little.”
Jungeun clenched her fists. “You’re insufferable.”
“And yet, you’re still standing here.”
Jungeun pushed against Jiyoon’s chest, trying to break the tension, but the move backfired. Instead of stepping away, Jiyoon grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
Jungeun froze. The touch burned more than it should have.
Jiyoon’s smirk softened just slightly. “You’re really easy to rile up.”
Jungeun swallowed hard. “And you’re so fucking annoying, did you know that?”
Jiyoon tilted her head, gaze flickering to Jungeun’s lips before meeting her eyes again. “Really now?”
And as Jiyoon kept looking at her like shes the only thing she sees, she knows she needed to get out.
Jungeun yanked her wrist free, stepping to the side and putting distance between them. She turned toward the door, kicking it in frustration. “I swear, if I ever get my hands on your dumb bandmates—”
Jiyoon let out a low chuckle, still watching her. “You’re cute when you’re mad.”
Jungeun snapped her head toward her. “Shut up.”
Minutes stretched into what felt like hours before the doorknob finally rattled.
Jungeun spun around just in time to see one of Jiyoon’s bandmates peeking in. “Had fun?”
Jungeun stormed past them without a word.
Jiyoon lingered at the doorway, glancing back at Jungeun’s retreating figure, heart beating fast.
“So…”
Jiyoon barely to look at them. “So what?”
Koko smirked. “Had fun being locked up with Jungeun?”
Jiyoon rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You dumbasses are responsible for that.”
“Guilty,” Jeemin admitted with a grin. “But the real question is… did something happen?”
Jiyoon finally opened the drink taking a sip, unfazed. “Nothing happened.”
Koko raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because you two looked very close when we peaked through that door.”
Saebi leaned in, voice dripping with curiosity. “Jiyoon, be honest. Are you finally moving on from Fuko?”
The name made Jiyoon pause for half a second.
Fuko. Her ex.
The person who had once occupied so much space in her life, only to leave a hole behind. It wasn’t that she hadn’t moved on, it was just that some wounds took longer to fade.
But Fuko wasn’t the problem here.
Jungeun was.
Jungeun, who constantly challenged her. Jungeun, who got under her skin more than anyone ever had. Jungeun, whose flushed face and sharp glare from earlier were still burned into Jiyoon’s mind.
Jiyoon clicked her tongue, annoyed at herself. “You’re all being ridiculous.”
Jeemin smirked. “Are we? Because it really seems like you’re starting to like her.”
Jiyoon shot them a glare. “I don’t like her.”
Koko let out a laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Sure. Whatever you say.”
Saebi nudged her with an all knowing grin. “Your actions say opposite.”
Jiyoon huffed, standing up. “I’m leaving.”
“Running away, you mean,” Jeemin teased.
Jiyoon ignored them, walking off with her usual confidence, but her mind was a mess.
Because for the first time, she wasn’t entirely sure they were wrong.
—
Jungeun was used to Jiyoon being annoying.
It was now a constant in her daily life, like the sun rising, the earth spinning, and her never ending suffering as Jiyoon’s so called “personal maid.”
Today though, was different.
Jiyoon hadn’t said a word to her all morning.
No sarcastic remarks. No unnecessary orders. No smug glances.
At first, Jungeun thought she should be relieved. Maybe even grateful. But as the day stretched on, that relief twisted into disappointment.
She noticed she was off during breakfast, when Jiyoon barely touched her food and only mumbled something when Saebi asked if she was okay.
Then, at school, Jiyoon hadn’t gone out of her way to bother her. Not a single ridiculous request, no dramatic sighs demanding Jungeun to carry her books or fetch her water.
Jungeun told herself she shouldn’t care.
But she did.
And it annoyed her to no end.
By lunchtime, Jiyoon had disappeared completely. Jungeun overheard Koko mentioning to the others that Jiyoon went home early because she “wasn’t feeling great.”
Jungeun frowned. Wasn’t feeling great?
She exhaled sharply, shaking off the weird feeling settling in her chest.
Whatever. Jiyoon was probably fine.
That’s what she told herself as she skipped the rest of the day and headed straight to Jiyoon’s mansion.
The house was eerily quiet when Jungeun stepped inside.
She’d gotten used to the place after living here for months now, but it still felt strange sometimes. The halls were too big, the ceilings too high, and the silence too heavy, especially now.
Jungeun hesitated at the bottom of the grand staircase.
Maybe she was overreacting. Maybe Jiyoon was just being dramatic and would be perfectly fine, lying in bed, scrolling on her phone, waiting for someone to bring her food like a spoiled princess.
Yeah. That was probably it.
Still, her feet carried her up the stairs.
Jungeun stopped in front of Jiyoon’s bedroom door. She knocked once, then twice. No answer.
She huffed. “Jiyoon?”
Silence.
She tested the doorknob, it was unlocked. Slowly, she pushed the door open and peeked inside.
Jiyoon was curled up in bed, blankets tangled around her, her usually neat hair a mess against the pillow.
The room was dim, curtains drawn to block out the afternoon sun. Jungeun stepped inside cautiously, closing the door behind her.
“Hey,” she called softly.
Jiyoon didn’t respond.
Jungeun frowned, stepping closer. She could hear Jiyoon’s breathing, uneven and slightly strained.
“Jiyoon,” she tried again, a little louder this time.
Jiyoon stirred, her brows furrowing as she slowly blinked awake. Her eyes, usually sharp with mischief or irritation, were dazed and unfocused.
Jungeun thought she looked absolutely adorable.
“Jungeun?” Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.
Jungeun sighed. “Idiot. You really are sick.”
Jiyoon frowned but didn’t have the energy to argue. Jungeun pressed the back of her hand against Jiyoon’s forehead, and her eyes widened at the heat.
“You’re burning up,” she muttered. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
Jiyoon exhaled tiredly. “Didn’t feel like dealing with people.”
Jungeun rolled her eyes. “You are people.”
Jiyoon let out a weak, breathy chuckle, but it quickly turned into a cough. Jungeun sighed and straightened up.
“Stay here,” she said, as if Jiyoon had the energy to go anywhere.
She left the room, making her way to the kitchen.
It felt weird, moving through the mansion without being ordered around. Usually, if she was in here, it was because Jiyoon was demanding something ridiculous.
Now, she was here because she wanted to be.
That realization made her pause for a second, but she quickly shook it off.
“She’s sick. That’s all. This doesn’t mean anything.”
Still, she found herself searching the cupboards, grabbing ingredients for porridge. She wasn’t the best cook, but she knew enough to make something edible.
When the porridge was done, Jungeun carried it upstairs carefully, balancing the tray as she re-entered Jiyoon’s room.
Jiyoon was half asleep again, her face buried in her pillow.
Jungeun set the tray down on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Hey,” she said, nudging Jiyoon’s shoulder lightly.
Jiyoon groaned.
“Come on,” Jungeun insisted. “You need to eat.”
Jiyoon turned her head slightly, peering at the bowl of porridge with tired eyes. “Did you poison it?”
Jungeun rolled her eyes. “Yeah, because I totally skipped school just to come here and kill you.”
Jiyoon managed a small smirk. “Confirmed. You’re obsessed with me.”
Jungeun’s face heated up. “Do you never shut up? Just eat.”
Jiyoon chuckled weakly but sat up with Jungeun’s help.
She took the bowl, and for once, she didn’t complain. She just ate quietly, occasionally glancing at Jungeun as if trying to figure something out.
Jungeun ignored it, busying herself with adjusting Jiyoon’s blankets.
Once Jiyoon finished, Jungeun set the bowl aside and handed her some medicine with a glass of water.
Jiyoon took it without argument, which was yet another sign that she really wasn’t feeling well.
Jungeun sighed. “Seriously, why didn’t you just tell someone? Your friends were worried, too.”
Jiyoon shrugged slightly, resting her head back against the pillow. “Didn’t want to bother anyone.”
Jungeun scoffed. “You bother me all the time.”
Jiyoon smirked faintly. “Yeah. But that’s fun.”
Jungeun shook her head. “You’re impossible.”
For a moment, silence settled between them.
Jungeun sat at the edge of the bed, watching as Jiyoon’s breathing steadied, her fever slowly breaking. She didn’t realize how long she’d been sitting there until she felt Jiyoon’s gaze on her.
“What?” Jungeun asked, raising an eyebrow.
Jiyoon’s eyes, still a little hazy from the fever, studied her. ”Nothing. I just didn’t think you’d stay.”
Jungeun blinked.
Something in the way Jiyoon said it made her chest feel strangely tight.
”Well,” she muttered, looking away, “someone has to make sure you don’t die.”
Jiyoon hummed, a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Thanks, I’m usually alone when I get sick. Appa is too busy at work, so no one took care of me” she murmured.
Jungeun softened at the revelation. Underneath all of that tough bravado is after all, just a little girl
“Yeah. Whatever.” And this time Jungeun’s smile was genuine.
Jiyoon mirrored back the smile and slowly closed her eyes.
Jungeun had planned to leave once Jiyoon fell asleep. She’d done what she came for, made sure Jiyoon ate, took her medicine, and wasn’t dying.
That was enough. Or at least, it should’ve been.
But as she stood up, Jiyoon’s voice, hoarse and drowsy, stopped her.
Jiyoon opened her eyes slowly, “Stay..”
Jungeun turned, raising an eyebrow. “What?”
Jiyoon shifted under the blankets, looking up at Jungeun. “Just stay. For the night.”
Jungeun raised her brows. “Why?”
Jiyoon blinked at her, looking like a lost puppy. “Because I feel like crap, and I don’t wanna be alone.”
Jungeun hesitated.
If this were any other day, she would’ve laughed in Jiyoon’s face and left just to be petty. But tonight was different.
Jiyoon was sick. And for once, she wasn’t being insufferable.
“Fine,” Jungeun muttered, rubbing the back of her neck.
Jiyoon’s lips curled slightly, content.
Jungeun grabbed an extra blanket from the closet and made her way next to Jiyoon’s bed on the florr, but Jiyoon gave her an unimpressed look.
“Don’t be stupid,” she murmured. She patted the empty space beside her. “Come sleep here.”
Jungeun stiffened. “In your bed?”
“Unless you wanna freeze on the floor.”
Jungeun clicked her tongue. “Whatever.”
Still, she sighed and slid under the covers, making sure to keep her distance. The bed was ridiculously big, yet somehow, it still felt too small now.
Jungeun lay on the bed, back facing Jiyoon, stiff and awkward, staring at the ceiling.
It wasn’t weird, she told herself. It was just one night.
But then Jiyoon moved.
She shifted closer, hesitating only for a moment before resting her chin against Jungeun’s shoulder. Jungeun tensed at the warmth seeping through her shirt.
“Relax,” Jiyoon mumbled, voice thick with sleep.
Jungeun scoffed. “Easy for you to say.”
Jiyoon hummed, sounding half conscious. Then, before Jungeun could process it, Jiyoon’s arm wrapped around her waist, pulling herself closer.
Jungeun’s breath hitched. “What are you—”
“You’re warm,” Jiyoon muttered, her body pressing into Jungeun’s back. “Let me do this for a bit.”
Jungeun felt her heartbeat stutter.
Her first instinct was to push Jiyoon away. Tease her. Make some sarcastic remark about how clingy she was being. But she didn’t.
Instead, she found herself exhaling softly, her muscles slowly relaxing.
With a quiet sigh, she let herself lean into the embrace.
Just a little.
Jungeun rested her arms on top of Jiyoon’s that was placed above her own stomach. Jiyoon let out a satisfied hum, her breathing slowing.
Jungeun swallowed, trying to ignore how natural this felt. This didn’t mean anything. It was just because Jiyoon was sick.
Yeah that was all.
But as Jiyoon’s fingers curled slightly against the fabric of Jungeun’s shirt, holding onto her just a bit tighter, Jungeun found herself tightening her grip in return.
Neither of them said anything.
But neither of them let go.
And even after sleep finally took them, their arms remained tangled together, closer than they had ever been before.
The next morning, neither of them mentioned it. They both knew something between them had shifted
And neither of them could pretend otherwise.
—
Jiyoon sighed, staring blankly at the notebook in front of her.
The lined pages remained empty, the pen in her hand useless as her brain refused to cooperate.
She was supposed to be writing a new song for her band. Supposed to be.
But after spending half an hour just staring at the page, she was beginning to think her talent had evaporated along with her fever.
“Wow,” Jungeun’s voice cut through the silence. She entered the room with a tray of snacks and juice. “I’ve never seen you look this stupid before.”
Jiyoon sighed, not even bothering to glare at her.
Jungeun smirked, plopping down on the couch beside her. “You’re still sick, aren’t you?”
Jiyoon rolled her eyes. “No. My brain is just not working.”
Jungeun hummed, leaning forward to peek at the blank notebook. “Yeah, I can see that.”
Jiyoon clicked her tongue, pushing the book away as she slumped into the couch. “I need to write something. Anything.”
Jungeun tilted her head. “Deadline?”
Jiyoon exhaled. “Kind of. Koko wants something by next week. And I know I can do it, but every time I try, my mind just stops.”
Jungeun nodded slowly. “Maybe you’re overthinking it.”
Jiyoon sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Maybe.”
For once, Jungeun didn’t tease her.
Instead, she leaned back into the couch, getting comfortable. “Well, no point in forcing it. Maybe you just need a break.”
Jiyoon scoffed. “I just took a break.”
“Yeah, but that was from being sick,” Jungeun pointed out. “Not from stressing over lyrics.”
Jiyoon frowned. “I don’t like leaving things unfinished.”
Jungeun shrugged. “Then don’t think of it as unfinished. Just paused.”
Jiyoon sighed again, but she didn’t argue.
Instead, she let herself relax, letting her head rest against the couch cushion.
Jungeun stretched, glancing around the room before her eyes landed on something.
Jiyoon’s guitar.
An idea crossed Jungeun’s mind.
“Can I try it?”
Jiyoon blinked, following her gaze. “You play?”
Jungeun snorted. “No. But I could.”
Jiyoon raised an eyebrow. “You could.”
Jungeun shrugged. “How hard can it be?”
Jiyoon stared at her for a moment before shaking her head. “Fine. Go ahead. Let’s see how naturally talented you are.”
Jungeun grinned, grabbing the guitar and settling it on her lap.
She adjusted her hold, her fingers hovering over the strings.
Jiyoon watched in mild amusement. “Do you even know how to hold it properly?”
Jungeun ignored her, experimentally strumming the strings. A dissonant, horrible sound filled the air.
Jiyoon winced.
Jungeun frowned. “That wasn’t right.”
“No kidding.”
Jungeun adjusted her fingers, trying again. Another off key sound rang out.
Jiyoon bit back a smile. “Wow. I think my ears are bleeding.”
“Shut up,” Jungeun muttered, trying again.
Still bad.
Jiyoon chuckled. “So much for naturally talented.”
Jungeun huffed. “It’s harder than it looks.”
Jiyoon rolled her eyes. “Oh? You mean it takes effort to be good at something? Who would’ve thought?”
Jungeun shot her a look. “Are you enjoying this?”
“A little,” Jiyoon admitted.
Jungeun scoffed but kept trying, strumming different strings, pressing random frets.
Jiyoon watched, arms crossed, amusement flickering in her tired eyes.
Eventually, Jungeun managed to pluck something that almost sounded like an actual note.
She lit up. “Hey. That wasn’t terrible.”
Jiyoon chuckled. “Yeah. You’ve officially upgraded from ‘ear splitting’ to ‘mildly painful.’”
Jungeun smirked. “Progress.”
Jiyoon rolled her eyes but found herself smiling despite everything.
For a while, Jungeun kept at it, messing with the guitar while Jiyoon sat beside her, occasionally giving pointers.
Eventually, Jungeun sighed, setting the guitar aside. “Alright. I admit it. This is harder than it looks.”
Jiyoon smirked. “Told you.”
Jungeun stretched, glancing at her. “Feeling any less stressed now?”
Jiyoon blinked.
She hadn’t realized it, but she was feeling better.
Her shoulders weren’t as tense. The frustration that had been clouding her thoughts had settled.
She sighed, leaning her head back. “Yeah. A little.”
Jungeun nodded in satisfaction. “See? Told you breaks are useful.”
Jiyoon hummed. “Guess you’re not completely useless, then.”
Jungeun scoffed, nudging her arm. “You’re welcome. Anyway, I’m gonna get back to my work.”
And as Jungeun walked out the door, Jiyoon knew exactly what her next song was gonna be about.
—
The music room was buzzing with energy.
Jiyoon and her band had been rehearsing for almost an hour, locked into the rhythm of their latest song. The sound of drums, bass, and electric guitar filled the space, echoing through the walls.
Jungeun stood outside, leaning against the doorframe, watching.
She wasn’t sure why she stayed. She could’ve just gone back to her room at Jiyoon’s mansion. She didn’t need to be here.
But something kept her rooted in place, arms crossed, eyes flicking to Jiyoon every few seconds.
She hated to admit it, but she liked watching her like this
confident, lost in the music, completely in her element.
Oh how her past self would’ve hated to see this side of her coming.
The song reached its final notes, the last strum of the guitar fading into silence.
“That,” Jiyoon exhaled, running a hand through her hair, “was clean.”
Koko grinned, cracking her knuckles. “We’re on fire.”
Saebi wiped sweat from her forehead. “Damn right.”
Jeemin just nodded in satisfaction.
Jungeun didn’t want to admit, but they were good.
Before anyone could say anything, the door to the music room swung open.
Jungeun expected a teacher. Maybe another student.
Jiyoon, who had been relaxed just seconds ago, stiffened, fingers tightening around her guitar.
The girl standing in the doorway had dark hair, sharp features, and an effortless coolness about her, like she belonged on stage, not in some school hallway.
But what stood out the most was the look she gave Jiyoon.
Familiar. Like she had every right to walk in and take up space in Jiyoon’s world.
“Fuko?” Jiyoon’s voice was almost hesitant.
Jungeun’s brows furrowed. Who the hell is Fuko?
“Jiyoon.” The girl smiled. “It’s been a while.”
Jungeun didn’t miss the way Jiyoon shifted her weight, suddenly uneasy.
“I didn’t know you were back,” Jiyoon said, voice guarded.
“Just landed this morning,” Fuko replied smoothly, stepping further into the room. “Thought I’d drop by.”
Jungeun’s stomach twisted. Who was she?
She turned to Jiyoon’s friends. “Who’s that?” Koko raised an eyebrow. “That’s Fuko.”
Jungeun exhaled sharply. “Yeah, I got that much. Who is she?”
Saebi smirked knowingly. “Jiyoon’s ex.”
Jungeun’s entire body went rigid.
“Ah..” She said trying to sound unfazed.
Jeemin nodded. “They were a thing before Fuko moved to Japan.”
Something in Jungeun’s chest tightened.
She turned back to Jiyoon and Fuko, watching the way Jiyoon’s expression softened just a little. The way Fuko looked at her, like she still had a place in Jiyoon’s life.
Jungeun hated it.
She hated how Fuko stood so casually, as if she still belonged here. She hated how Jiyoon seemed caught off guard, like she cared that Fuko was back. She hated that she cared about any of this.
Koko nudged her side. “Why do you look pissed?”
Jungeun scoffed, crossing her arms. “I don’t.”
Saebi chuckled. “You so do.”
Jungeun ignored them, eyes still locked on Jiyoon and Fuko.
Fuko tilted her head. “You’ve still got the same band.”
Jiyoon exhaled, recovering from her initial shock. “Yeah. We’ve been working hard.”
Fuko nodded approvingly. “That’s good. You always took this seriously.”
Something about the way she said it made Jungeun grit her teeth.
She didn’t even know this girl, and yet she already couldn’t stand her.
Jungeun was used to feeling irritated by Jiyoon. They were constantly at each other’s throats. So why did she feel like this?
She hated this feeling.
Jungeun suddenly felt like she didn’t belong in this room anymore.
Without thinking, she turned on her heel and stormed out.
She didn’t care where she was going, she just needed to get out.
She heard Koko call after her, but she ignored it, footsteps heavy as she marched down the hallway.
She didn’t even know why she was so pissed.
Jiyoon barely had time to process what was happening before Jungeun suddenly turned on her heel and stormed out of the music room.
Jiyoon blinked in confusion. “What’s her deal?”
Koko, Saebi, and Jeemin exchanged glances.
Jeemin just shrugged. “Don’t know.”
Koko stretched her arms behind her head. “She looked kinda pissed, though.”
Jiyoon frowned. “Pissed about what?”
Saebi tapped her drumsticks against the edge of a chair. “Ask her. One second she was watching rehearsal, the next, she just left. Maybe she went to do something.”
Jiyoon ran a hand through her hair, feeling an odd sense of unease settle in her stomach. “Im literally her job, why would she go home or leave without telling me?”
Jungeun wasn’t the type to leave without throwing some sarcastic remark over her shoulder. If anything, she lived to argue with Jiyoon.
But this time, she hadn’t even looked back.
Jiyoon exhaled, shaking her head. “Whatever. She’s probably just being dramatic.”
Koko smirked. “Maybe.”
Jiyoon ignored the pointed look Koko gave her and turned back to Fuko. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about her being here after all this time, but for now, she pushed the thought of Jungeun aside.
—
Never mind she couldn’t push the thought of Jungeun aside.
Jiyoon wasn’t used to being ignored. Especially not by Jungeun.
Ever since they started living under the same roof, Jungeun had never hesitated to snap back, glare at her, or roll her eyes whenever Jiyoon teased her.
It was their thing, their own weird, messed up rhythm of bickering, arguing, and occasionally not hating each other.
But tonight? Jungeun wasn’t fighting back.
She wasn’t even looking at Jiyoon.
Jiyoon sat cross legged on Jungeun’s bed, swinging her legs obnoxiously while Jungeun sat at her desk, pretending to focus on some notes.
“You’re being weird,” Jiyoon announced.
Jungeun didn’t react.
Jiyoon smirked. “Are you ignoring me? That’s cute.”
No response.
She grabbed a pillow and tossed it at Jungeun’s back. “Earth to Jungeun?”
Jungeun sighed, her grip on the pen tightening. She turned the page in her notebook as if Jiyoon’s entire existence wasn’t annoying her right now.
That only fueled Jiyoon’s need to pester her more.
“Okay, now I’m concerned,” Jiyoon continued, her voice taking on an overly dramatic lilt. “Did I do something? Did I hurt your feelings? If you keep ignoring me im gonna steal a kiss—“
Jungeun’s jaw tensed. “Jiyoon.”
Oh? A reaction?
Jiyoon grinned. “So you can hear me when i mentioned the word “kiss”.”
Jungeun finally turned, leveling her with a tired, unamused look, though she was a bit red. “I’m trying to work.”
Jiyoon scoffed. “Yeah, and I’m trying to get you to stop being weird.”
“I’m not being weird.”
“Yes, you are.”
Jungeun turned back to her notes, effectively ending the conversation.
Jiyoon narrowed her eyes.
Fine. If Jungeun was going to ignore her, then she’d make it impossible for her to do so.
She slid off the bed and loomed over Jungeun’s shoulder, close enough to invade her space. “What are you working on?”
Jungeun stiffened. “Nothing you’d understand.”
“Ouch,” Jiyoon said, grinning. “You wound me.”
Jungeun sighed and leaned forward, resting her forehead on her palm. “Why are you like this?”
“Like what?” Jiyoon teased, propping her chin on Jungeun’s shoulder.
Jungeun jerked away instantly, standing up so fast her chair nearly tipped over. “That’s it. I’m going to bed.”
Jiyoon blinked. “You didn’t even finish your—”
“Good night,” Jungeun muttered, grabbing her pillow and marching toward the door.
Jiyoon raised a brow. “Uh. Isn’t this your room, where are you going?”
Jungeun groaned, clearly done with her, and turned around.
She climbed into bed and pulled the blanket over her head, effectively blocking Jiyoon out.
Jiyoon stared. Was she really that mad? She just stood there, scratching her head.
She hesitated for a second before stepping closer. “Hey…”
No response.
Jiyoon bit her lip. She had no idea why Jungeun was acting like this, and for some reason, that really got under her skin.
She stood there for a moment longer, watching Jungeun’s still figure under the blanket. Then, finally, with a small sigh, she turned off the light and left the room.
Later that night, Jiyoon lay in her own bed, staring at the ceiling.
The silence was loud.
Her mind wouldn’t shut up.
Jungeun never ignored her like that. Jungeun always had something to say, always pushed back. But tonight, she seemed distant.
And it bothered her more than it should have.
She thought about the way Jungeun’s jaw clenched when she spoke, the way her eyes flickered when Jiyoon got too close. The way her voice sounded tighter than usual, like she was holding something back.
Why did that make her heart race?
Jiyoon groaned and pressed a pillow over her face. This was so stupid.
But no matter how hard she tried to push the thought away, it stayed.
She cared.
Too much.
More than she should.
She thought about the past few months Jungeun’s been living there, working for her. The way she bit her lip as a habit, the wat her eyes turn to crescents when she smiles, the way she retorts back with no fear. All of the small details she didn’t even know, she had noticed.
Holy shit liked Jungeun and she had no idea what to do about it.
Her chest felt tight, her thoughts spiraling between denial and acceptance, between panic and something dangerously close to excitement. Its been years since she felt like that
So, instead of dealing with it, she reached for her notebook.
If she couldn’t say it, if she couldn’t even fully admit it to herself, then maybe she could write it.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked up her pen.
And then, without overthinking, she let the words flow.
—
Jungeun wasn’t avoiding Jiyoon.
She wasn’t.
If anything, she was just giving her space. That’s what she told herself, at least.
It had nothing to do with Fuko coming back. Nothing to do with the way Jiyoon had looked at her earlier thay day.
It wasn’t like she cared. Who was she anyway right?
Jungeun rolled onto her side, pressing her face into her pillow.
The whole thing was stupid. Jiyoon could talk to whoever she wanted. Fuko had been her ex, after all. If she wanted to get back together with her, that wasn’t Jungeun’s problem.
So why was she acting like it was?
Why had she started avoiding Jiyoon right after that?
She scoffed, flipping onto her back. She wasn’t avoiding her. She was just busy.
Too busy to deal with Jiyoon’s teasing. Too busy to deal with the way Jiyoon always invaded her space. Too busy to deal with the way her chest tightened every time she saw her.
That was all.
Right?
Jungeun shut her eyes.
Liar.
Because if that was true, then why was she still thinking about it?
Why did her stomach churn every time she replayed the scene of Jiyoon smiling at Fuko, standing close to her, talking to her like they still had something left between them?
Jungeun gritted her teeth.
It wasn’t jealousy. It couldn’t be. She refused to let it be.
So instead of dealing with it, she told herself the same thing over and over.
She shot her eyes open as realization hit her like a truck. She indeed likes Jiyoon. She has never intended for this to happen. She was just supposed to be her personal maid only.
Stupid Jiyoon who has that cute hidden smile. Stupid Jiyoon who looks so good while playing the guitar. Stupid Jiyoon who has a charming personality underneath all of that image.
Jungeun is fucked for life and she knows it.
Shes fucked because she has fallen for Jiyoon.
—
Jungeun was definitely not thinking about it.
Not thinking about how everything felt different now.
Not thinking about how Jiyoon’s voice had started sticking to her ribs like a melody she couldn’t shake.
Not thinking about how, after days of awkward distance, they were suddenly back to normal, except not really.
Because nothing felt normal anymore.
Jungeun still rolled her eyes when Jiyoon made annoying remarks. She still threw cushions at her when she got too smug. She still acted unfazed when Jiyoon leaned in too close, even though her pulse spiked every time.
She still pretended that nothing had changed.
But it had.
And Jungeun wasn’t sure if she was doing a good job hiding it.
Because sometimes, she caught Jiyoon looking at her for a beat too long.
And sometimes, Jungeun couldn’t help but look back.
She wasn’t sure when they started gravitating toward each other without meaning to.
At breakfast, their elbows bumped at the table more than usual. At school, Jiyoon started walking her to class and waiting for her without saying why. At night, Jungeun found herself pausing at Jiyoon’s door, tempted to knock for no reason at all.
They weren’t talking about it, no. But both of them knew that something was happening, they just didn’t know how to approach it.
And Jungeun wasn’t sure if she should stop it, or let it keep going.
She also thought that Jiyoon was being undoubtedly weird.
Jiyoon would casually drape herself across the couch next to her, closer than necessary. Her fingers also lingered when she handed Jungeun things. She seemed more distracted than usual, like something was always on her mind.
Jungeun was trying to act normal.
But it was so hard when Jiyoon kept making it difficult.
“Hey,” Jiyoon said one evening, flipping through a notebook.
Jungeun glanced up from her homework. “What?”
Jiyoon twirled a pen between her fingers, looking oddly thoughtful. “If someone were to… I don’t know, write about you, what do you think they’d say?”
Jungeun frowned. “What kind of question is that?”
“I don’t know.” Jiyoon absentmindedly said. “Just curious.”
Jungeun squinted at her. “Why? Are you writing something about me?”
Jiyoon immediately shut her notebook. “What? No.”
Jungeun raised an eyebrow. “You’re a terrible liar.” She teased even more.
Jiyoon grinned. “And you’re terribly nosy.”
Jungeun huffed, but her chest felt warm.
She had no idea that, in that very notebook, Jiyoon had already written pages about her.
Somehow every song Jiyoon wrote somehow became about Jungeun.
At first, it was unintentional, just stray thoughts that bled into her lyrics. But the more time she spent around Jungeun, the more it kept happening.
The sharp edges of her words. The softness beneath them. The way she got so easily frustrated but still cared, even when she didn’t say it.
Jungeun was in her head all the time now and Jiyoon didn’t know how to get her out.
So she stopped trying. She let it happen.
Late at night, she scribbled words onto a page, each line undeniably about her. And when her band’s competition started getting closer, she realized, she wanted to say it through a song.
She wanted Jungeun to know. Even if she wasn’t ready to say it out loud yet.
As the days passed, Jungeun and Jiyoon fell into a new rhythm. One that neither of them acknowledged, but both of them felt.
Jungeun noticed how comfortable it had become, too comfortable. What once had been continuous banter, turned into warmth that had bloomed
Jiyoon would automatically steal a piece of her food without asking. Jungeun started keeping extra drinks in her bag because she knew Jiyoon would take them. They sometimes stayed up, watching a movie and sometimes would fall asleep side by side.
None of that was casual anymore and they both knew that.
—
“Whats the deal between you and Jungeun?” Saebi casually asked, and Koko raised her brow at Jiyoon.
Jeemin added, “You two have been closer than usual lately.”
Jiyoon was contemplating on whether to lie or be honest, but in the end she decided to go for the latter.
“I like her.”
Silence.
“We know”
“Yeah, we know.”
“Tell us something new.”
All the three girls simultaneously said. Jiyoon’s whole face started turning red.
“About time you admitted, we were the ones melting instead of her, when you would stare at her like shes your only world.” Koko chuckled.
“I don’t know how it began, but she filled the hole that Fuko left in me. I know shes my personal maid, but I don’t care anymore. Shes more than that to me girls.” Jiyoon said honestly.
“Aw, my child is all grown up now.” Jeemin stood up, and ruffled Jiyoon’s hair.
“Do that once again and your hand is gone.”
Jeemin rolled her eyes. “Tch.”
“Anyways, I have a plan, and you guys better help me.”
—
One night, Jungeun finally asked.
“What are you working on all the time?”
Jiyoon looked up from her notebook. “What?”
“You’re always writing something,” Jungeun said, squinting at her. “And you keep hiding here in your room. What are you up to?”
Jiyoon smirked. “Are you that interested in me?”
Jungeun rolled her eyes, but her ears felt hot. “Forget I asked.”
Jiyoon laughed. “Relax. It’s just band stuff.”
Jungeun blinked. “Band stuff?”
Jiyoon nodded. “We have a competition coming up.”
Jungeun didn’t know that which was weird. Because normally, Jiyoon wouldn’t shut up about her band.
But this time, she had kept it to herself.
“Cool,” Jungeun said casually, crossing her arms. “So why are you being all secretive about it?”
Jiyoon’s grin faltered for a split second before she shrugged. “No reason.”
“You’ll find out either way.” She added
Jungeun raised her brow, “Meaning?”
Jiyoon didn’t say anything and stood up to go to her desk, grabbing something from the table. She went and sat beside Jungeun, handing her an envelope.
Jiyoon kept it in front of her face and Jungeun just stared at it.
“Open it. It’s for you.”
Jungeun didn’t say anything and took the envelope. She took out the content and saw a ticket for a front row seat for the upcoming band competition.
“Watch me perform okay? I’ll be expecting you.”
Jiyoon said while avoiding her gaze.
“Aww, are you asking me out?” Jungeun teased.
“In which world did I say—“ But before she could complete her sentence,
Jungeun kissed her cheek.
“Of course i’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.” Jungeun said and quickly ran out.
Jiyoon sat starstruck. She touched her cheek and unknowingly smiled.
—
“In the car cruising around with you
And my baby you know that I got you
Hit the road I'm taking off with you
Not in a hurry theres something about you”
Jiyoon sang the first verse while showing her most genuine smile to Jungeun.
Jungeun felt like the air had been knocked out of her.
“Leave the car at the valet
Cash only
Check me in pop the champagne
Dom Pérignon
Pour me a glass she’s got good taste
So good
Take off our clothes by the fireplace
Sexy, yeah”
Jiyoon’s voice, low and steady, carried through the venue, wrapping around her like a melody Jungeun could never escape from.
Her leather jacket slipping off slightly. Her hands effortlessly strumming the guitar. Her presence mentally killing Jungeun inside.
Jiyoon looked so fucking hot, she was about to lose control.
“She looks just like a dream
The prettiest girl I've ever seen
From the cover of a magazine”
Now it felt like it was only the two of them in that auditorium. The weight of the lyrics hitting Jungeun.
This wasn’t just a song. It was a confession.
Jiyoon stood on stage, guitar in her hands, eyes shining under the lights. And for the first time, Jungeun saw everything.
Every moment they had spent together. From the moment they had met until their recent moments. Jiyoon was the person she never knew she’d been looking for her whole life
Jiyoon liked her too.
And as the song came to its end, the audience erupted in cheers, but Jiyoon’s gaze didn’t waver.
She was still looking at Jungeun. Like she was waiting.
Then, microphone still in hand, Jiyoon did something insane.
“I have something to say,” she said, her voice clear over the noise.
Jungeun’s breath caught.
Jiyoon smirked, but there was something nervous underneath it.
“I just sang a whole song about it, but I think I should make it obvious, don’t you all think?”
The audience laughed, but Jungeun could barely hear them over the pounding in her chest.
Jiyoon ran a hand through her hair. “Jungeun.”
Jungeun froze. Jiyoon was saying her name. On stage. In front of everyone.
“Be my girlfriend?” Jiyoon said.
The crowd went wild.
Jungeun’s face burned. Jiyoon just asked her out. On stage. In front of a whole audience. And the worst part? She was grinning like an idiot.
She didn’t even think have to think twice and nodded.
The cheers got louder, but all Jungeun could see was Jiyoon’s smile.
The moment they got home, Jungeun threw a pillow at Jiyoon’s face.
“What the hell was that?” she demanded.
Jiyoon, still laughing, dodged. “What?”
“You confessed to me. On stage. In front of everyone.”
Jiyoon smirked, leaning against the couch. “And? You said yes.”
Jungeun opened her mouth. Closed it. She did say yes. She groaned, covering her face. “You’re so annoying.”
Jiyoon grinned. “And yet, here you are, officially dating me.”
Jungeun smiled, the thought sent a wave of warmth through her chest.
Jiyoon stretched, looking smug. “Since it’s our first day as an official couple, we should do something.”
Jungeun raised an eyebrow. “Like what?”
Jiyoon shrugged. “A date.”
Jungeun blinked and Jiyoon laughed at her reaction. “Don’t look so surprised. What, did you think I’d just confess and go to sleep?”
Jiyoon rolled her eyes. “Come on, let’s make it simple. Just a date here at home. Something chill.”
It turned out Jiyoon’s idea of a date was ordering takeout, grabbing some blankets, and putting on a random movie they both barely paid attention to.
Jungeun didn’t mind. If anything, she preferred it. Something about the quiet felt nice. It felt natural, like how they had been doing the past few weeks, the only difference was they are official now.
Jungeun sat in between Jungeun’s leg, her back to Jiyoon’s front.
The glow of the screen flickered in the dim room, but Jungeun wasn’t watching. She was too aware of how Jiyoon’s arms tightly wrapped around her waist.
“You’re not even watching,” Jiyoon commented, smirking.
Jungeun’s head snapped toward the screen. “I am.”
“You’re not.”
“I am.”
“What just happened, then?”
Jungeun had no idea and Jiyoon just laughed.
Scowling, Jungeun slapped her thigh lightly. “Shut up.”
Jiyoon grinned but didn’t say anything else.
The movie played on, filling the silence between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was the kind of quiet Jungeun could settle into.
She didn’t feel the need to say anything, and neither did Jiyoon. They just sat there, so close that Jungeun could feel Jiyoon’s breath on her neck.
She liked this. More than she wanted to admit.
Then, Jiyoon shifted beside her.
Jungeun turned to her side, only to find Jiyoon already looking at her. They stared at each other, waiting for either one to make a move. Instinctively, Jungeun’s gaze dropped lower to her lips.
Jiyoon hesitated, then leaned in slightly.
Jungeun’s pulse skyrocketed.
The space between them was so small now. She felt Jiyoon’s hold on her waist tighten.
“May I?” Jiyoon asked softly.
Jungeun’s heart stopped.
Jiyoon was asking. She could barely think, but she didn’t need to. She already knew the answer so she nodded.
Next thing she knew, Jiyoon’s lips were on hers.
It was slow, gentle, like she was savoring the moment. Jungeun melted into it, letting her eyes flutter shut, letting herself get lost in the warmth of it. She didn’t know what she had expected, but this was perfect.
Jiyoon pulled away first, just barely, lingering close enough that Jungeun could still feel the ghost of her breath against her lips.
“Guess that makes it official,” Jiyoon murmured, smirking and kissed her forehead.
Jungeun rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t fight the smile tugging at her lips.
Yeah.
It was official.
And maybe, for the first time, Jungeun was completely okay with that. Because after everything, this was exactly where she wanted to be. With Jiyoon.
And that was all that mattered.