Between Two Hearts • yeonjun × hoshi

25: Creeping

The weekend crept in quickly, and with a sense of excitement, I decided to spend my entire Saturday with Yeji. We kicked off the day with a trip to the movie theater to watch a horror flick, then we decided to grab a meal at a cozy restaurant.

As we exited the movie theater, our hearts still racing from the scares on the big screen, Yeji turned to me and said, "That movie was intense, wasn't it?"

I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it really got my heart pounding. I can't believe I let you talk me into watching it."

Yeji chuckled, "Well, it's more fun watching these kinds of movies with a friend."

Over lunch, Yeji's curiosity got the better of her. She leaned in and asked, "Ara, can I ask you something? There's this rumor going around that you and Hoshi are in a relationship. Is that true?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, even though Yeji believed it might be true. "Yeji, it's just a rumor. Hoshi and I are great friends, nothing more."

Yeji looked skeptical, but she dropped the subject. "Alright, if you say so."

As we continued our meal, the conversation naturally shifted to Yeonjun. I noticed a sudden change in Yeji's behavior, but I kept my observations to myself. Something about her shift in attitude was suspicious, but I didn't want to confront her about it just yet.

The day with Yeji was wonderful, and I genuinely enjoyed our time together. We shared laughs, talked about everything and nothing, and the worries of the world seemed to disappear for a while.

But as the day came to a close, I couldn't help but be suspicious of both Yeji and Yeonjun's behavior. There was something going on, and I had a feeling I was missing a piece of the puzzle.

***

As I lay in bed, the quiet of the night was suddenly shattered by a suspicious noise coming from outside my bedroom window. Fear gripped me, and I strained to hear any movement. Slowly, I rose from my bed, my heart pounding in my chest. Cautiously, I crept toward the window and peered outside.

To my shock, I spotted someone creeping around in front of my window. Panic surged through me, but it transformed into something different when I recognized the figure. It was Yeonjun. My fear gave way to curiosity, and I watched him closely.

Yeonjun, sensing my gaze, paused in his movements and locked eyes with me. He signaled for me to let him in, his hand gesturing for silence. Reluctantly, I nodded and made my way downstairs, my steps as quiet as possible.

I opened the front door and let Yeonjun in, and we ascended the stairs to my bedroom in silence. The old excitement I used to feel around him had dimmed, but I couldn't deny that there was still a part of me that loved him.

As we settled in my room, Yeonjun finally broke the silence. "Ara, I'm sorry for the way I've been acting lately. I didn't want to hurt you."

I regarded him with a mixture of emotions. "You've been so distant. What happened?"

Yeonjun sighed, his gaze intense. "I've been going through some personal issues, and I didn't want to burden you. I thought distancing myself was the right thing to do."

I nodded, understanding the weight of his words. "You should have talked to me, Yeonjun. We've been through so much together."

His eyes softened, and he reached out to hold my hand. "I know, Ara, and I'm truly sorry."

We reminisced about the night of the party at the Botanical Garden, the laughter we shared, and the moments that felt like a dream. It was a bittersweet recollection.

Then, out of nowhere, Yeonjun asked, "Ara, I heard a rumor about you and Hoshi. Is there anything between you two?"

I met his eyes, and my heart raced. "Yeonjun, there's nothing more than friendship between us. That's just a baseless rumor."

He seemed to search my eyes for the truth, and I hoped he would believe me. Our past was a complicated one, but I was ready to move forward, even if it meant navigating the unexpected.

Eventually, exhaustion overcame both of us, and we fell asleep side by side on my bed, leaving behind a world of unanswered questions and unresolved feelings.