Chapter Text
Jaeyi suspected it was only a matter of time. In fact, she already knew.
Because Woo Seulgi was one of a kind—like a rare planetary spectacle that only happens once every five hundred years.
There wasn’t a single day where she didn’t thank everything above and beyond for having her. Seulgi felt like a heavenly gift made just for her.
So you wouldn’t expect her to play nice when it comes to her. You wouldn’t expect her to share. But the universe had a twisted sense of humor.
When Seulgi first arrived, she went unnoticed. The novelty of a transfer student lasted about a week at most. Few knew her name, and Seulgi seemed fine with it—relieved, even. As if attention were a death sentence.
Jaeyi found this curious. She, by contrast, had never known what it was like to be overlooked. Eyes followed her the moment she entered a room. Over time, she grew numb to it.
She understood, of course—being the daughter of one of the country’s most influential doctors, rich, beautiful, and brilliant. The perfect student. The perfect daughter.
None of it, however, had ever felt like hers.
But Seulgi—Jaeyi realized one chilly morning, watching her—Seulgi shined for herself. The odds were stacked against her, yet there she was. Poised, self-sufficient, impossibly cute with her tongue poking out as she solved a math problem.
Even the sun seemed drawn to her, its light pooling in the one library spot where she always sat.
Her eyes were sharp, posture relaxed but firm. Dark pools of rich chocolate burning in the subtlest of ways. Jaeyi wants to keep that fire burning.
So after knowing all this, she wasn’t really surprised that the world eventually also discovered Woo Seulgi.
Jaeyi just regretted not having more time before more pairs of eyes that weren’t hers landed on Seulgi like dominoes.
It all started on the first day of Legacy Cup Week, a long-standing school tradition where students competed in various assigned categories to determine the best of the best.
The top performers would be recognized as inspirations for future generations, their names recorded as part of the school’s legacy. It all sounded quite serious, but for most, it was more of a well-earned break after weeks—sometimes months—of intense studying for finals.
Stages, booths…a way to keep the competition going in a friendly and chill way.
She didn’t have time to react when it all started.
The only thing she noticed was Seulgi pushing the red panda plushie Jaeyi had just won for her out of the way before storming off, leaving the taller girl momentarily perplexed.
Just a second later, the panicked sounds reached her. The event was organized with multiple stages and performances, and one of them had a large group of people gathered around.
A stage light cable, it seemed, had malfunctioned—perhaps kinked or accidentally yanked off by one of the backstage staff. A sudden spark sent a jolt of electricity near the ground beneath the stage, where some leftover puddles still remained from the rainstorm the night before.
The water began to sizzle, and the crowd backed away in panic. The performers, suddenly realizing the danger, froze, unable to move as the electrical shock threatened to escalate.
Seulgi approached the crowd, her pace calm and authoritative. As if sensing this, the other made made way. After assessing th esitautoion, she starts barking a series of instructions.
”Everyone, listen up! Go back and stay clear of the water. You-“ She started, appointing a random girl. “-You go and tell a teacher alright?
The girl straightened up, nodding furiously. “Y-yes!” Watching her leave for a moment, she signaled the other class instructor she could see on the crowd to close th perimeter and stop more people from approaching.
“Hey, the one on the mic!” She suddenly shouted, cutting through the murmurs and panicked commentaries. Startled, the student looked at her, fear clear in her face. “Can you see a way out through backstage?”
Hesitantly, her eyes darted around. “I think I do b-but…the area is too narrow with the other boots.”
Seulgis eyes furrowed. “Okay, then we need to clear those up. I’ll go and talk with the owners, you all stay put there, alright?” Her voice softens a bit, her reassurance working as the girl seems to ground herself. “Once it’s clear, you move in a line.”
Jaeyi snapped out of her daze when she heard the teachers rushing toward the scene.
Her instincts kicked in, and she quickly redirected them. “Over here, the generator’s malfunctioning,” she called out, pointing toward the electrical box.
“The power technically should be off, but the technician should be here soon enough.”
The teacher, who turned out to be a new substitute, clearly had no idea how to handle the situation.
His nervousness was evident, and his fumbling around only made Jaeyi’s patience wear thin. She rolled her eyes.
“Keep the crowd away from here and make sure no one gets near the water,” she snapped, already scanning the area for a way to help. “I’ll deal with the power.”
She caught sight of a toolbox nearby, tucked away behind a set of stage props. Without missing a beat, she marched over, grabbed it, and popped it open with a swift motion.
The tools were effective, and she immediately set to work on the generator, her hands moving with practiced precision despite the mounting pressure.
“Perhaps all those summer camps I was forced to go to weren’t that bad after all” Jaeyi mumbled to herself with a wry smile.
Jaeyi focused, her hands fast and her mind even faster as she tried to disconnect the generator. In the background, Seulgi’s voice rang out, giving clear, commanding directions.
Jaeyi couldn’t help but admire the way Seulgi managed everything so effortlessly. A tiny smile escaped her without realizing.
As Jaeyi finally tightened the last bolt on the generator, the power finally turned off, the water no longer being electrified. She let out a small sigh of relief.
“Got it,” she muttered under her breath, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead.
At the same time, the path Seulgi had cleared was now fully open, and the last of the performers made their way off the stage. The crowd, though still nervous, had settled down.
Seulgi, who had been helping others get to safety from the stage, noticed Jaeyi near the generator and gave her a small smile of approval.
“Nice work, Jaeyi!” she called over, her tone light, but there was genuine appreciation in her voice.
Jaeyi couldn’t help but grin. Here she was, receiving praise, while Seulgi had been the one to manage everything with flawless precision.
Approaching, Jaeyi helped her off the stage, gripping her waist to gently put her on the ground.
“We do make an excellent team after all. Couldn’t let you have all the fun, princess.”
She high fived herself as she managed to catch a glimpse of Seulgi’s blush, threatening to overtake her cheeks. She smirked, encouraged by the reaction, but any other comment she wanted to give was muffled by the sudden crowd gathering around them.
Well, not them. Seulgi.
She was even pushed away (something that Jaeyi and Kyun later said didn’t happen, and she was just being petty about it).
She was pushed away from her Seulgi.
Jaeyi stood at her, as if she had just been dropped into a foreign planet as she saw how Seulgi was the center of attention. “Seulgi, you were amazing out there!” Someone said.
“Our class president is so cool!”
”Thank you so much Woo Seulgi!”
A stream of praises and impressed remarks fused into a chorus, making Seulgi flush and smile awkwardly, taken off guard by the sudden attention.
Something stirred in Jaeyi’s chest as she saw how Seulgi was now flustered over someone who wasn’t her, how her eyes shyly looked down because of someone who wasn’t her, how her dimple showed because of someone who wasn’t her.
Jaeyi felt her stomach drop as she looked at the sight in front of her—thankful faces, admiring faces, reddened faces. All of them had their eyes trained on Seulgi.
Why are they all looking at her like that?
An ugly sensation that made her almost sick spread through her chest. Something she had no memory of ever experiencing—an oppressive feeling pressing down on her chest.
She wanted to step forward, to reclaim her rightful place next to Seulgi and grab her attention. Remind her that it was her who she was smiling at.
A flicker of irritation sparked when the band leader held her hands in gratitude.
Jaeyi felt too much. It was overwhelming. Did she suddenly get sick? The confusion of it didn't help her dizziness.
As if sensing this, Seulgi's eyes landed on her during a brief instant. A hint of confusion and worry briefly passes though despite the neutral and serene appearance of the taller girl. As if she could see right through her.
If she did, she would be the first.
Somehow, she managed to control the rising anger in her. The dark, slightly twisted side within her that wanted to forcefully remove anyone who got too close to—…
A deep breath. Take a deep breath, Jaeyi.
Seulgi was the evenings hero, everyone felt grateful for her.
It's fine.
They are just discovering how truly amazing Seulgi is.
People will eventually calm down and everything will be like always. She just has to manage to not lose it until then.
***
People did, in fact, not calm down.
What happened in the festival spread like a wildfire. The retelling of just how cool the class president was going from mouth to mouth at a frightening speed.
Just like that, Seulgi went from the lonely transfer student to the school’s idol. And Jaeyi had no choice but to watch as everyone seemed to hover over her.
Like they were just now noticing how beautiful she was. How smart. How kind. How humble. They were seeing Seulgi for the first time all over again. And, as Jaeyi suspected, that kind of attention came with consequences.
She couldn’t even judge them, really. After all, she knew firsthand how lovely the girl was. But now, she wasn’t the only one who got to appreciate it.
She could have managed this. Could, because she hadn’t planned on actually having to fight for Seulgi’s time and attention.
But now, all of a sudden, everyone seemed to “need” the class president’s assistance.
Jaeyi really regretted sabotaging the votes.
This is the third student who has come up to ask some trivial thing already. And it’s not even second period.
“U-um, hi. I’m with the photography department…”
A girl from their year stood hesitantly. Jaeyi barely contained a scoff.
“Ah, yes. The senior in charge, right… Yaewon, was it?” Seulgi said softly, as if remembering everyone’s clubs and departments was just something normal for her.
Ugh. Why does she have to be so thoughtful?
“Yeah.” the girl blurted, clearly impressed. “I’m sorry to interrupt your studies, it’s just that we’re doing a special column for the school newspaper, and we wanted to do… a photography session to go along with the interview. I-if that’s alright with you, of course!” Her hands shot out, flustered.
Seulgi tilted her head like a curious puppy. “A photoshoot? I’m not really familiar with those…”
Yaewon quickly shook her head. “No, don’t worry! It’s not too professional. Just you being there would be perfect.”
Jaeyi, pretending to be deeply focused on her book, huffed under her breath. Perfect, huh?
“Well, if it’s for the school, then…” Seulgi hesitated, glancing at Jaeyi. “Hey, Jaeyi, we’ll study later, okay?” she said softly, grabbing her things.
Jaeyi’s grip on her book tightened, but she forced a bright, almost too-perfect smile.But the tension in the air was undeniable, thick enough to cut through.
“Well, of course! Go save the day, President.”
To anyone else, it sounded like friendly encouragement. But to Seulgi, it was something else entirely. Her back even shivered. Before she could say anything, she was already being dragged away.
A sharp whistle cut through the air as they walked away.
“Damn, Seulgi sure is busy these days,” Yeri observed lazily, sipping her strawberry milk through a straw. Kyung stood nearby, eyeing Jaeyi carefully.
“Aren’t you perceptive?” Jaeyi snarked, flipping a page with a little too much force.
Yeri and Kyung exchanged a knowing look at the sudden shift in attitude. Kyung arched an eyebrow. “You’ll tear off your book at this rate…”
A ripping sound interrupted her.
“Oh. Well, there it is.”
***
Jaeyi was in a sour mood. Her Seulgi-time kept slipping away form her fingers. The school's top student, always at ease, confident and with a laid back vibe that make her look effortless was gone.
Instead of her usual lazy grin and cheeky personality, she sported scowls and cutthroat snippets.
Everyone in the school could feel it in the air. And of course, rumours started to spread about what could have been the reason for such a drastic change on the cool, composed Yoo Jaeyi.
”You could smile, y’know. People are talking, Jaeyi,” Yeri warned quietly as they walked down the hall.
The fourth member in their group was, yet again, noticeably empty.
Jaeyi huffed. “The real concern would be if they weren’t talking.”
Yeri exchanged a look with Kyung before nudging her, wordlessly encouraging her to speak.
Kyung sighed before reluctantly adding, “The thing is… this time, you’re not being seen in a good light.”
Stopping in front of her locker, Jaeyi scowled, amusement laced with something sharp. “Oh, really? Then enlighten me. What have they been saying?”
She could already imagine, but she had no interest in wasting her time on trivial gossip.
“That you’re in a sour mood now that Seulgi’s popularity has increased.” Kyung hesitated before delivering the final blow. “They say you’re jealous for it.”
A genuine laugh escaped her. Well, they were right about one thing at least.
Just not quite the right approach.
As Yeri had said, Seulgi’s popularity had increased. And to Jaeyi’s dismay, it didn’t seem to be fading anytime soon. It was too late. Everyone had discovered Seulgi, and that meant everyone was now trying to take her away from Jaeyi.
She slammed the metal door shut with a sharp, resounding noise. Everyone in the hall seemed to hold their breath at the sound, the echo hanging in the air.
The students around her paused, some curious, most wary.
She didn’t care about them. She never did.
Jaeyi wasn’t supposed to care. After all, everything in her life was predicted, handed to her. She couldn’t remember ever truly wanting anything—neither her popularity nor personal possessions.
Things were just things and people were just people.
But the pit in her chest seemed to expand with the increasing disappearance of Seulgi’s presence. As if the other girl had become something Jaeyi suddenly couldn’t… breathe without.
Seulgi was supposed to be hers, Jaeyi thought bitterly. She had claimed her first—when she saw her, when she spoke with her and heard her voice for the first time. She made it very public.
And yet, people seemed to have forgotten that, daring to disturb their time together.
Now, she couldn’t stop hearing things like, “Sorry, someone needs help,” “I promised the junior that I would—,” or “Let’s hang out later, okay?”
It was driving her insane.
“You okay?” Yeri asked, slightly worried yet amused.
“Just…need some vitamins.” Jaeyi murmured, turning to classe with both fired on her tail.
Kyung chuckled. “If only they had a Seulgi vitamin, am I right?”
Jaeyi shot her a quick, sharp look, though it lacked any real heat. “You’re hilarious,” she hissed, but her tone was dry, almost biting. Kyung put her hands up in a gesture of defeat.
”Damn, even I am starting to miss Seulgi too” She mutters under her breath.
***
Seulgi had been… overwhelmed, to say the least.
Faces she had never really paid attention to before were suddenly always around. People who had once barely spared her a glance now greeted her in the halls, asked for her help, actually wanting to be near her. Inviting her to sit with them or asking for shared contacts or what her MBTI was.
She has met more people this past week than she has had in her entire seventeen years of life.
It 's been exhausting.
A part of her longed to go back to how things were—to when she could slip through the crowd unnoticed, when her world was quiet and predictable. The sudden attention made her uneasy, an instinctual wariness creeping up inside her.
After all, whenever she did get attention from people, it wasn't the good kind.
And yet…
There was a small part of her, buried deep, that couldn’t help but feel something close to happiness. The same part of her that still mourned the five-year-old version of herself, dressed in a princess dress, being forgotten and left behind.
For once, she didn’t feel like an outsider.
But there was one person who had made her feel less alone even before all of this. A person she barely got to see these days.
Spotting Jaeyi at the library with Kyung, Seulgi felt a rare sense of relief. Finally. She adjusted her bag and made her way over.
“Jae—”
A body stepped in front of her, cutting off her path.
“Seulgi! Glad I caught you,” a student beamed, holding up a stack of papers. “We’re putting the final touches on the school play, and we wanted to get your approval on a few things.”
Seulgi resisted the urge to sigh. There was no easy way to get out of this without seeming rude. Instead, she glanced down at the designs and gave a half-hearted nod. “Yeah, these look good.”
By the time she managed to slip away and search for Jaeyi again, she was already gone.
Damn it.
Seulgi tapped her fingers against the strap of her bag, frustration simmering beneath her skin.
If she really thought about it, she could count on one hand the number of times she’d actually spent time with Jaeyi lately. That realization made her… restless.
Which was ridiculous.
She wasn’t the type to get attached. She had learned early on that it was better to keep people at arm’s length before they had the chance to disappoint her. Yet somehow, Jaeyi had become an exception before she even realized it.
She had gotten used to her.
Used to Jaeyi always seeking her out. Used to the way Jaeyi’s gaze would follow her, like she was the only person in the room.
She should feel suffocated by it.
Instead, she missed it.
***
She could tell something was off with the other girl too. She may be able to fool everyone with that nonchalant facade of her, but not Seulgi.
She first fully perceived it when they finally managed to grab a drink and some pastries at a café near the school grounds.
was right next to her, an arm draped over her shoulders, keeping them close—too close.
As if Seulgi was about to be stolen away. And these days, that wasn’t such a crazy thought.
Yet, despite herself, Seulgi felt her face grow warm, suddenly very aware of every point where their bodies touched.
The morning had started off easy enough—the four of them chatting idly while waiting for their orders. But things took a turn the moment Jaeyi’s sharp eyes caught something she didn’t particularly like.
While Seulgi was too busy quietly panicking over their closeness, Jaeyi noticed the way the barista behind the counter was staring. She had received looks like that before. She knew exactly what they meant.
Admiration. Interest. Desire.
It was a look she understood all too well—because she had given Seulgi that same look herself. But the difference was that that boy wasn’t Jaeyi.
Even after they placed their orders and sat down, she couldn’t shake the irritation gnawing at her. Then, when their drinks were finally ready, Seulgi started to rise. “I’ll go get them—”
A firm grip on her waist stopped her.
“No, I’ll go.” Jaeyi said smoothly, her fingers lingering just a second longer than necessary. “You’ve been awfully… busy these days. You must be tired.”
Her smile was all charm, all sweet consideration.
But Kyung and Yeri? They saw right through it.
They snickered, their eyes tracking Jaeyi’s almost predatory stride as she approached the unsuspecting barista. The poor guy’s face fell the moment he realized who was coming to pick up the order.
“Oh wow, I almost feel bad for him,” Yeri laughed.
The two girls, who had a direct view of the encounter, watched as the young man visibly deflated. His posture stiffened, and he stuttered something in response, looking slightly pale.
“Honestly, if you told me he quit after that, I wouldn’t even be surprised,” Kyung mused, shaking her head.
Seulgi, who was seated with her back to the counter, blinked in confusion. “Huh?”
By the time Seulgi managed to turn around, Jaeyi was already making her way back, a victorious little smile tugging at her lips.
“Shameless,” Kyung muttered under her breath, making Yeri stifle a laugh behind her hand.
Seulgi frowned slightly, sensing something had just happened but unsure what. “Everything okay?” she hesitated, glancing between them.
Jaeyi set the drinks down with a satisfied hum. “Of course. Just making sure our orders were correct.”
With that, they all opened the coffees, only for Yeris eyebrows to raise slightly, pointing at Seulgi's drink. “Well, it looks like you have an admirer, Seulgi.”
Seulgi followed her gaze, and her lips parted slightly in surprise.
Among the four drinks, hers was the only one with an extra touch—a carefully crafted heart in the foam.
She blinked, taken aback. “Oh… that’s…”
Jaeyi, who had just been basking in her successful intimidation, visibly stiffened. Her gaze locked onto the latte art like it personally offended her.
Kyung leaned in, ever the instigator. “Huh. Must’ve taken some extra time on that one.”
Yeri nodded, adding more fire to Jaeyis already growing inner storm.. “Real dedication. Kinda sweet, don’t you think?”
Seulgi didn’t miss the way Jaeyi’s jaw tensed, her fingers curling slightly against the table.
Seulgi, ever so observant, hummed at the reaction. A new hypothesis forming in her head.
***
The next few days, Seulgi tested her theory. It wasn’t even really intentional at first. Besides, Jaeyi wasn’t one to share what she was thinking, leaving Seulgi to guess for herself.
The first test was simple enough. During lunch, Seulgi lingered by the cafeteria line, casually chatting with a student council member.
She didn’t move away when, during their conversation, the girl laughed and rested a hand on her shoulder.
Before she knew it, Jaeyi appeared beside her, her expression somber as she caught Seulgi’s hand.
Seulgi held her breath.
“You’re taking too long. You need to eat.”
Without waiting for a response, Jaeyi grabbed Seulgi’s tray, tugging her toward their table without so much as a glance back.
***
Later that day, Seulgi was in the student council room, surrounded by papers, deep in discussion with another member. She was just about to head to Jaeyi—who, as president, had to give the final approval—but it seemed Jaeyi had beaten her to it.
Seulgi could feel her stare burning through the glass door before she even stepped inside. It didn’t help that her body was slightly tilted toward her colleague, their shoulders grazing as they both studied the same clipboard. She was in the middle of a laugh—admittedly exaggerated—when the door snapped open.
Jaeyi made an entrance, as usual.
Without hesitation, she strolled in with the elegance and confidence of someone who owned the place. Technically, with the generous checks her father wrote to the school, she kind of did.
Without a word, she moved behind Seulgi, her arms wrapping around her waist with fluid ease, tugging her ever so slightly back. The touch was subtle but possessive, forcing Seulgi to instinctively shift away from the other student.
chin rested on her shoulder, far too close for what would be considered an acceptable display of friendly affection.
Yet, Seulgi merely held her breath for an instant and said nothing.
“There you are. Missed me?” Jaeyi murmured, almost nuzzling her. Her tone light and casual, though her grip told a completely different story.
Seulgi, aware of the extra pair of eyes on them, hesitated—slightly embarrassed—but still didn’t pull away.
“I was just about to go find you, actually.”
Jaeyi hummed contentedly at that, the sound vibrating against Seulgi’s shoulder, making her ear twitch.
Finally, she turned her gaze to the Class C president, her expression perfectly composed—sharp eyes betraying something far less pleasant.
“Oh, I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” she asked, voice dripping with feigned innocence. A question that didn’t leave room for an answer.
The other girl hesitated. “Well, she was helping me—”
Jaeyi tilted her head, smiling sweetly. “Ah, I see. You know, Seulgi has this habit of assisting those in need. Even when it’s exhausting to pretend interest in tasks that are beneath her level. Isn’t she so nice?”
How someone could land an insult in such a polite way, Seulgi would never fully understand. Jaeyi’s tone was so laced with pretend kindness that it almost made the jab difficult to catch—almost.
“Jaeyi—”
Jaeyi ignored her, her fingers tracing slow, lazy circles on Seulgi’s waist. The motion seemed affectionate, almost absentminded, but Seulgi knew better.
It was deliberate—a subtle act of reprimand born from jealously.
“But don’t worry,” Jaeyi continued smoothly, her fingers now trailing up to Seulgi’s shoulder, light but firm. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t overwork herself on things that aren’t worth her time.”
The other student opened her mouth, as if preparing a response, but then seemed to think better of it.
She hesitated, as though just realizing who she was talking to, before stepping back with an awkward nod, muttering a weak excuse and a quiet apology before quickly leaving.
Jaeyi watched her go, her lips curling into a satisfied smirk.
“Oh” she murmured, feigning concern with an over exaggerated pout, blinking innocently. “Did I say something wrong?”
Seulgi exhaled heavily.
Jaeyi just smiled—this time, something softer, more genuine—as her hands slid up and down to Seulgi’s shoulders, turning her around. The touch was steady, reassuring. And still, unmistakably possessive.
Seulgi huffed, but once again… she didn’t pull away. She never seemed ot do when it came to Yoo Jae.
***
The next day, during PE, Seulgi and Jaeyi were catching their breath after a quick round of basketball.
The usual teasing and taunting within them persisted. “I scored more than you today.” Jaeyi pointed out with a shit eating grin that made Seulgi roll her eyes in fake annoyance.
“Yeah, well, only because you’re taller. You clearly have an advantage.” Seulgi grumbled with no malice.
“And also because you don’t seem to have hand-eye coordination.” Jaeyi smirked, teasing her.
Seulgi scoffed playfully. “Well, I already took first place in the exams. It’s only fair I let you be the top athlete of the school.”
Jaeyi’s eyebrows raised, amusement dancing in her eyes. There was a hint of pride at the girl’s newfound confidence. It looked good on her. “Why, thank you, princess. So humble of you.” She stepped a little closer, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
But, of course, the moment had to be cut short. “Woo Seulgi! You’re next for the circuit!”
Seulgi groaned, stepping away with a playful roll of her eyes. “See you in a second.” Jaeyi just nodded, her eyes following Seulgi as she made her way toward the circuit. Jaeyi was also called to the hoops, and she turned her attention back to the game.
She was about to take her fifth three-pointer when a loud commotion reached her ears. It was enough to pull her attention away from the game, and she instinctively glanced toward the noise.
“Seulgi!” someone shouted. Her nerves ignited with those words, body working faster than her mind as she rushed towards the group.
Instant frustration making a snarl appear on her face as she had to force her way into the crowd. Another thing that was a first for Jaeyi.
Finally, she spotted Seulgi on the ground, clutching her foot with a grimace that made all of Jaeyi’s protectiveness waver.
“Seulgi!”
Jaeyi pushed through the last of the students, who finally seemed to realize who they were blocking.
Surprise flickered across their faces as they hastily stepped aside, watching her with wide eyes.
Seulgi winced, and Jaeyi immediately dropped to her knees beside her. She barely registered the two other students crouched nearby before irritation flared in her chest. They were too close.
Her expression darkened.
Sensing the sudden shift in Jaeyi’s demeanor, the two students kneeled to the ground instinctively straightened, stepping back. All the lessons her father had drilled into her—the importance of maintaining composure, of controlling how others perceived her—vanished in an instant.
Right now, she wasn’t Yoo Jaeyi, the polished, untouchable heir. She was simply someone who hated seeing Seulgi in pain.
“J-Jaeyi-ya… it’s okay,” Seulgi murmured, wincing slightly as she noticed the storm brewing in Jaeyi’s eyes. She reached out, tugging gently at her sports uniform in an attempt to ground her.
Jaeyi’s eyes immediately softened, her hands raising to gently caress Seulgi’s face in concern, checking for any other injuries. “Are you sure?” she asked, her voice quiet, her touch tender.
“I think I just twisted my ankle a bit,” Seulgi replied with a pained wince.
“I can carry you to the infirmary if you want,” a student suggested, but Jaeyi shot them a glare before they could finish.
“No, that won’t be—” Seulgi started to protest, but Jaeyi was already shaking her head.
“Step away. I’ll do it.” Jaeyi declared firmly, no room for discussion, hands already in motion. “Get your arms around my neck.”
“W-what? No, Jaeyi, it’s fine, really—” Seulgi tried to protest, but before she could finish, an embarrassed yelp escaped her as Jaeyi lifted her effortlessly.
Jaeyi was surprisingly strong, and Seulgi couldn’t help but feel flustered. How was she so strong?
Seulgi thought to herself, caught off guard by the action while trying to hide her flustered state.
Sensing all the eyes of the gym on them, Seulgi couldn’t help but to hide into Jaeyis shoulder out of embarrassment as she was taken away.
Still, a brief, satisfied hint of a smile appeared as her theory was more than proven.
Let’s just say that since that day, the rumours have changed.
***
Jaeyi could easily do something about this entire situation. When Seulgi was surrounded by a group of eager classmates at the cafeteria, she could walk over and take her away.
She had the power, the influence, the ability to make sure not a single person would come within two feet of her. She could claim Seulgi, make her her own, just as she always had with everything else.
But when she saw the way Seulgi smiled bashfully yet patiently, helping others or joking around with them, Jaeyi found herself frozen. She couldn’t bring herself to do it.
It was strange, because Jaeyi had never had trouble taking what she wanted.
Something within her—something she didn’t fully understand—was stopping her.
She knew Seulgi’s past—the isolation, the bullying, the feeling of being forgotten.
Now, Seulgi was finally shining, no longer invisible to the world, and Jaeyi found herself unable to tear that away from her.
It wasn’t just Seulgi’s success that confused her—it was the way it made her feel. Jaeyi had always gotten things handed to her, never truly having to fight for anything. She had felt detached, as though life was just a series of things that came and went without her getting emotionally involved.
Until Seulgi.
Seulgi had awakened something in her—a deep want, a desire, a passion she’d never felt before. With a sight, she walked away.
“Well, this is getting depressing,” Yeri sighed, looking over at the scene unfolding. “At first, I enjoyed seeing Jaeyi not getting her way, but now…”
“Now it’s like watching a sad, abandoned puppy,” Kyung added, not looking up from her textbook.
Yeri nodded in agreement. “Yeah, exactly. Should we do something?”
Kyung shrugged, packing up her things with a casual ease. “Eh, they’ll figure it out eventually. Some people…”
She paused, her gaze drifting toward her ever so slowly before looking away. “…just don’t get the hints.”
A moment of silence passed as Yeri furrowed her brows, clearly confused. “What do you mean by—Yah! Wait for me. What do you mean by that…?” She called, hurrying to catch up.
***
After an exhausting day, both girls finally made their way home. Seulgi had stayed behind to help with some paperwork, and Jaeyi—too stubborn to leave without her—had decided to wait.
Normally, the taller girl would just call her driver, but that would be too fast, and it would mean spending less valuable time with Seulgi.
So now, they walked side by side, close enough for their hands to subtly graze at times.
The moon was high, slightly covered by some clouds. The slight lightning created sharp yet soft shadows over her features, like a beautiful halo.
Any other day, she would have commented on it, shameless as always. How could she be anything but open when it came to her?
Yet, the silence remained between them. Jaeyi was still conflicted over her recent discoveries, the weight of her thoughts keeping her uncharacteristically quiet.
Seulgi, in turn, was growing uneasy. She wasn’t used to not having a perky, cocky Yoo Jaeyi by her side. And while their silences never felt awkward before, this one felt forced—like something was holding them both back.
Seulgi, who usually remained passive outside of her academic life, hardened her resolve, pushed by seeing how they were getting closer by the intersection where they usually parted ways.
“…You’re acting weird.”
Jaeyi snapped out of her trance, turning to Seulgi with a slight pout—one that, much to her frustration, softened Seulgi just a little.
“Hm? How so? I haven’t said anything.” The always perfectly composed Yoo Jaeyi replied, her voice effortlessly smooth.
Seulgi scoffed, unimpressed. “Excellent delivery Yoo Jaeyi. But you’re not fooling me. You know what I mean.”
Jaeyi bit her lip before realizing it, quickly shifting her gaze to the street ahead. “…You know, apparently people are saying that I’m jealous of you.” The change of topic was enough to keep Seulgi to continue.
Seulgi chuckled, tilting her head. “Oh? Are you?”
Jaeyi smirked, the teasing edge returning to her voice. “Yeah, as if.” She turned to face Seulgi fully, a mocking grin playing on her lips—but Seulgi wasn’t fooled. “I don’t do jealous, princess. It’s just not my thing.”
Seulgi raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as they reached the street intersection. “You don’t do jealous, huh?”
The sudden confidence in her voice made Jaeyi’s smirk falter just slightly.
“Is that so?” Seulgi stepped closer, her presence suddenly overwhelming.
Jaeyi froze, caught off guard by the shift. Seulgi wasn’t usually like this.
“Then why,” Seulgi continued, voice lower now, “have you been glaring and staring for the past couple of weeks? Throwing passive-aggressive comments here and there?”
“I have not-“
Seulgi outright laughed in her face. “You were literally sending dagger at anyone who even looked in my direction, like they personally offended you. And what about the poor guy at the café?”
Jaeyi scoffed, crossing her arms. “First of all, that guy had it coming. He was completely inappropriate, looking at you like…like that.” Her usually composed expression twisted into something sharper, her lips curling in a barely contained snarl.
As if just remembering the barista’s lingering gaze was enough to set her off all over again.
“And those clingy people?” she continued, stepping closer, using her height to tower over Seulgi. “They’re like leeches. They’d suck you dry if they could.”
It was as if something in Jaeyi finally snapped, like she had unknowingly ripped open a floodgate she hadn’t even realized was there.
No mask. No carefully crafted detachment. Just raw, unfiltered emotion.
Seulgi, momentarily caught off guard, stared up at her. Then, slowly, her gaze softened.
“Well, if I were you… I wouldn’t worry.”
Jaeyi, still bracing herself for an argument, blinked. “…Huh?”
She could see her own reflection in Seulgi’s eyes—face slightly flushed, hair disheveled, her usual poise completely shattered. So this is what it’s like, she thought distantly. To look so… human.
Seulgi smiled, her voice quieter but no less certain.
“After all, there’s only one spot at the top. And it already has our names written on it.”
Jaeyi felt it before she even realized—Seulgi’s lips pressing against her left cheek, dangerously close to the corner of her mouth.
All else ceased to exist. Every single molecule of her being fixated on one undeniable fact: Seulgi just kissed her.
It was sweet, almost innocent.
Jaeyi didn’t dare to move. She held her breath, the same way she did when she sank into the pool, relishing the fleeting stillness of being underwater.
Before she could fully process it, the moment was over.
Seulgi had already stepped away, her confidence now slightly shaken. A faint pink dusted her cheeks as she adjusted her bag, turning before Jaeyi had the chance to regain her composure.
“See you tomorrow, Jaeyi-ya,” Seulgi called, her voice soft, tinged with an uncharacteristic shyness.
Jaeyi didn’t even attempt to recover, didn’t reach for one of her usual witty remarks or charming smiles. For once, she was rendered completely speechless. Nothing could have prepared her for the storm raging inside her.
Instead, she stood there, watching as Seulgi disappeared down the street, the ghost of her lips still teasing her skin.
Jaeyi exhaled, running a hand through her hair as she tilted her head back to the night sky, meeting the sight of the now uncovered full moon.
“Oh… fuck.”