Jisu didn’t have to second guess. She knew this art style very well, the shadowing; every stroke reminded her of someone.
This was Ryujin’s drawing — or Joanne. the pen name that’s she’s using.
She needed a pen name, after all “Joanne” was now WEBTOON's top selling artist.
Jisu was just looking for a new GL Manhwa to read when she came across Ryujin’s comic.
Not finding the strength to put her phone down, Jisu scrolled chapter after chapter fully invested in the plot — yes the plot not just because it was quite a steamy *ahem smut* manhwa.
Jisu, whose face is now red as tomato finally managed to drop her phone when she eventually caught up to the latest update. The story is currently on hiatus, and ended on a cliffhanger where the main character just confessed her feelings to her childhood friend.
Her eyes shut. Still internalizing Ryujin’s drawings, every pose, every panel now drilled into her brain.
“..I need to find out what happens next!”
She sighed heavily as she closed the incognito tab. — yes incognito because no one really knew about her special reading habits, and she has a reputation of an honor student to uphold.
Jisu knew Ryujin’s art style, because they practically grew up together and are in an art club in school which Jisu only joined to spend more time with Ryujin. But she never imagined that Ryujin could make stories like that.
Lying on her bed, it eventually dawned on her that she just read her classmate, best friend and crush’s smut comic. Was it like reading a diary? Should she feel guilty? Well, she did pay a lot of coins just to be able to read everything fast and not wait for the free versions.
Part of her wants to confront and confirm if it was really Ryujin who made that comic, but another part is also ashamed of even opening about her special hobby.
Jisu almost jumped, when her phone suddenly rang.
“Ryujin?”
“YOU READ GL MANHWA??” Ryujin’s voice was filled with panic as she seemed to be out of breath.
“Wai— what? HOW DID YOU KNOW?” Jisu now mirrored Ryujin’s panic.
“I know you’re user StrawberryLia. And you left a comment ‘WTH Ryujin why is it on a cliffhanger?? I need to know what happens next.’ — you just exposed my name!"
“Wait! I did?” Jisu was so engrossed in the story earlier that she forgot about anonymity.
“Oh god I did. I’m sorry I will delete that now —bye”
“No wait—"
Ryujin was left with a beeping sound as Jisu already dropped the call.
Not that it matters, because she was already on her way to Jisu’s apartment. Her mind was all over the place. Being exposed as a webtoon artist was actually the least of her concern.
The thing is, the characters were based on her and Jisu. Of course it was a bit more— more romanticized, or how Ryujin likes to see things when she’s with the older.
Finally arriving at Jisu’s place, she gathers the courage to ring the doorbell but Jisu beat her to it by opening the door quickly.
“My room. Now.”
There was silence in the room. Ryujin was unsure if Jisu read anything inappropriate — well it was, but Ryujin wasn’t sure if Jisu found any similarities from their real life interactions in the comic.
“So..” Jisu finally spoke up. “You’re a webtoon artist.”
“And you’re a fan on GL manhwa”
Touché.
“I like to read all forms of literature, and I’m very open-minded.”
“Open-minded..right…” Ryujin smirked. “Well now that it’s out. W-What do you think about it?”
Jisu rolled her eyes. “To start, I’m a bit pissed at the protagonist, that it took her that many chapter to finally confess, they’re already friends with benefits. Why was it so hard to say she caught feelings! UGH god the slow burn.”
Ryujin was left in awe. So Jisu didn’t figure anything out. With all the tension gone, she laughed at the older’s comments.
“Stop laughing!” Jisu slapped Ryujin’s arm. “Now that you’re here, tell me what happens next!”
“I can’t.”
“Don’t be so stingy! I won’t spoil it for anyone else. I promise!”
Ryujin gulped. “It’s not that I can’t. It’s because I don’t really know what happens next either.”
“What do you mean you don’t know? Just make the love interest accept her feelings. I swear if you make this an angsty story I will stop talking to you.” Jisu was starting to get frustrated when she saw Ryujin blushing and couldn’t look at her.
Then it clicked. The scenarios, that’s why she was easily drawn to the plot, it was familiar..relatable. It was everything she wanted to happen between her and Ryujin in real life.
“..Ryujin..did you..”
“Yeah about that….” Ryujin scratched the back of her head, and took a deep breath.
“We’ve been best friends for years, and I didn’t really have the courage to tell you that I was in love with you, then I got into this webtoon gig. When I was thinking of a story, all I could ever think about was you.”
“I wasn’t really planning on making that part yet, but my editor was pressuring me on a confession scene. But the fact that I haven’t actually confessed to you yet, well I got into a block so—"
“I like you too, Ryujin. There.”
The younger had to blink twice. “What? What are you—"
“I’ve been in love with you for a long time, since your drawings were made of sticks and now you’re this famous artist…and I can’t believe how much we’ve been missing out by living in our fantasies. Jisu held back a tear. “But I love you, Ryujin I really—"
Ryujin silenced Jisu with her lips. “You’ve always been my number 1 fan. I love you so much.”
“Now can you finish the next chapter?” Jisu asked sheepishly.
“Well, I need a little bit more inspiration and time AND why are you taking off your clothes..” Ryujin could barely finish her sentence when Jisu threw her top.
“Giving you inspiration.” Jisu smiled seductively. “Now go draw me like your manhwa.”
****
Wah. Finally managed to write something. This was really unplanned. Hope it was good enough though.
Also freaking roman numeral chapter titles. My sleep deprived brain had to google what's the roman numeral for 14.
Anway...Thoughts?
