mistakes, i can't help it | jinlia

Chapter 10: Space

Ryujin's disgusting when she's in love," Yuna says, nonchalant expression not matching the tone in her voice as she settles next to Lia on the bleachers.

Lia's stunned– shocked that Ryujin's is even the topic of the conversation. Her forehead scrunches as she frowns, confused, "Why do you say that?"

"Because," Yuna huffs, watching as Yeji and the rest of the squad gather ideas, "She looks like she'd give up everything to keep them happy."

Lia frowns deeper, even more confused at the nonchalance of Yuna's expression, and follows Yuna's gaze to the animated Yeji suggesting various ideas, "How is that disgusting?"

"It's not."

The squad looks cheerful being led by Yeji. Yeji's the less uptight one between the two captains– an obvious fact to people even outside of the squad. She keeps the squad motivated and pumping, always determined and always looking at the bright side of things. It's something many people admire about Yeji, past her silly demeanour– her ability to keep people happy.

"Then what is it?"

Lia shifts her gaze to see that Yuna's still staring blankly at the rest of the squad, head resting on her palm as she says, more casually than she should sound, "It's disgusting. How she says she's not in love with you, but would do that for you anyway."

Lia's silence earns Yuna's attention— she knows she's hit a sore spot. Yuna's gaze meets Lia's, and Yuna smiles a little, perhaps to soothe the pain, though Lia doubts it, "It's almost like she's always been in love with you."

Lia's attention is diverted by the loud laughter of the entire squad, with Yeji being the source of the joke. There's an ache that settles in her bones– somewhere in her joints and she feels herself stiffening as she mutters, in an achingly strained voice, "She's not."

Lia could feel Yuna's gaze shifting too, settling on Yeji and the others as she hums, "I know."

A silence falls between them, and Lia's mind is reeling so fast she doesn't catch that Yeji's done. Yuna gets up, and she gives Lia a smile, "If there's anyone Ryujin would give Yeji's love up for, it's you."

Yuna halts mid-step and turns, and Lia is thrown off by the maturity Yuna is exuding– the semi-concerned look in her eyes and the tone of her voice. Lia feels her world tilting out of place, and she wants to stop the world before it completely turns over.

(The Earth is round, but Lia feels like she might fall off the edge anyway.)

"And, well, if anything," Yuna says, "She's happiest when you're happy."

(Lia doesn't know how to tell her it goes both ways.)

~

"The world feels too noisy to live in sometimes."

Lia snickers, "You're surrounded by cheerleaders, Yeji and Yuna. What else is there to expect?"

Ryujin chuckles, taking Lia's hand and running her own fingertips along Lia's fingers, "You know that's not what I mean."

Lia smiles, resting her head on Ryujin's shoulder as the sun sets. The sky is brushed with orange and red paint, as it blends with the kind of blue Ryujin's car is in the sky. She feels Ryujin gently rubbing at her fingertips, and she shuts her eyes, "I know."

Ryujin's eyes are fixed on the sunset as she distractedly fiddles with Lia's fingers, massaging the tips of it and her knuckles. There's a silence that comfortably wraps around them, but Ryujin can sense that Lia has a question she'd like to ask. Something about the noise.

"I bring you along because you don't add noise to the world," Ryujin says, and Lia's eyes open, "Well, you do. It's just— your noise is good. It's good. You're good."