The ice cream parlour

Eleven.

Almost a month had passed since Yeji and Ryujin started dating and the duo grew so close that Yeji started staying over sometimes. The annual Dance competition was also nearing. Everyone was busy preparing as they were all aiming for first place.

Due to the couple sleeping in the main bedroom, Chaeryeong had to set up a bed using the mattress she found in her house in the study room. Honestly, she didn't mind but Ryujin apologised to her every night before she went to sleep.

Thankfully, she kinda got over the fact that Ryujin and Yeji were dating after a week or two. However, she still felt the pang in her chest whenever she saw them together.

However, day by day, Ryujin and Chaeryeong drifted. The older spend more time with Yeji and would often come back at 10pm. Chaeryeong, on the other hand, would stay back in school to work on her performance and study herself in an attempt to take Ryujin off her mind.

—

It was currently 9:45pm. Chaeryeong was sitting alone in the school library, her books flipped open in front of her while she scribbled more words on her writing pad.

Suddenly, someone sighed and Chaeryeong jumped.

"Miss Lee, you should go home. It's getting really late," the librarian, Mrs Kang sighed.

"Okay! I'll finish this essay first," Chaeryeong replied, oddly cheerful, without looking up.

In five minutes, she had her bag packed and was ready to leave. Mrs Kang told her to be safe and left.

I don't want to go home...

Chaeryeong sighed, sitting down on the swing at the playground near the apartment. She really didn't want to go home to the sight of the couple sitting together on the couch while their foreheads touched, staring intensely at each other.

For a split moment, she thought of staying over at Yena's place. She shook her head at the absurd thought and walked to the lobby of her apartment building.

Slowly, she twisted the doorknob and entered, thankful that the living room was empty. Quietly, she entered her room and took her towel and neatly folded pyjamas and headed to the bathroom.

"Oh, you're home," Ryujin mumbled as she bumped into Chaeryeong in the kitchen.

"Is Yeji-ssi here tonight?" Chaeryeong asked, combing her hair.

"No. She went home for dinner with her family," Ryujin shrugged.

"Why didn't you go with her? You two are literally connected by the hip," The younger snapped.

Ryujin chuckled. "C'mon, lighten up! Do you want to go to a café? I know it's late but..." she trailed off as Chaeryeong glared at her.

"I'm tired," she said.

"Oh... it's okay then! Go sleep early!" Ryujin replied, slightly disappointed as she watched Chaeryeong hurry into her room. Biting her lip, the older knocked on the door and opened it to see Chaeryeong sitting on the mattress with a blank look on her face.

"Hey..." Ryujin sat down beside her and placed an arm around her. "Cheer up. I hate seeing you sad. And since Yeji isn't staying over, you can sleep on the bed," she said.

"You sure?"

"Yeah,"

Chaeryeong got up and headed to the bedroom before falling onto the bed with a sigh. Ryujin grinned and took her spot beside her.

"You're tired, aren't you? I'll turn off the lights and you can go sleep," Ryujin whispered and reached for the switch, turning it off. To her dismay, Chaeryeong turned to her side and buried her face in the blankets as she fell asleep.