i saw her
jaeyi remembers seeing the girl who was now wearing a red uniform at the hospital. there were documents about her in her father's drawer, so of course was curious about her. in the last few weeks she tried in every way to get closer but the girl wouldn't let her, so thought it was better to leave her alone. would just give the new uniform to seulgi and leave her alone, that was the plan. she was not a stalker.
"what are you doing?" seulgi's voice took her out of her thoughts. jaeyi was on the terrace sitting on the edge of the railing.
"clearing my head." muttered, swinging the legs without looking at the girl.
"it's dangerous." the girl murmured, seeming to be closer and indeed she was, but jaeyi tried not to think about it "get down from there."
"i'm not the kind of person who would throw herself off a building, i'm too pretty for that." the younger girl murmured, still without turning around "i left some school uniform for you in your closet, i hope they fit. it is not appropriate to wear the old uniform, they will think it is an affront."
"how was i supposed to know i couldn't? they didn't give me a pamphlet or anything when they transferred me." seulgi said indignantly making jaeyi laugh.
"yeah.. you get the point." jay muttered, turning around and getting off the railing "happy?" asked, an ironic smile playing on her lips. she approached seulgi, keeping a cautious distance, as if afraid to startle her "you seem tense. relax, i'm not going to push you."
seulgi crossed the arms, her gaze fixed on jaeyi "i wasn't thinking about that. i just don't understand why you care so much about my uniform. it's none of your business."
"maybe i care about you," jaeyi murmured, her voice lower than intended. she looked away, blushing slightly. "or maybe i just want to keep you from getting into trouble. the rules.. and people here are.. complicated."
"complicated how?" seulgi asked, curiosity overcoming her distrust "and why do you have an extra uniform? is that normal?"
jaeyi hesitated, weighing her words "it's not normal but i have my reasons and as for the rules.. let's just say some people here take tradition very seriously. you old uniform is a symbol, and wearing it incorrectly can be interpreted as a challenge."
"a challenge to whom?" seulgi frowned, confused "and what kind of tradition requires a specific uniform?"
jaeyi sighed, knowing she couldn't avoid the questions much longer "it's complicated" repeated "but i promise to explain everything.. at the right time. now, take the uniform. it suits you."
jaeyi gave her the key to where the uniform was kept, her fingers brushing the other girl's. the tension in the air was palpable, but there was also a spark of curiosity and perhaps even interest.
"why are you doing this?" seulgi asked, her voice soft p for what seemed like the first time with the other girl "why do you care?"
jaeyi took a step back, the ironic smile returning to her face "let's just say i have my reasons and maybe, just maybe, i like a good mystery." she turned away, leaving seulgi with the key and a whirlwind of questions. the afternoon breeze ruffled her hair, and jaeyi wondered if she had just dug herself deeper into the mystery that drew her to seulgi.