Street Racer || Yang Jungwon

°•♡•° / 23

—— Seori

As Yeji and I sat in the cafeteria for lunch, the murmurs and whispers of our classmates followed us like a shadow. I tried to ignore the gossip swirling around me, focusing instead on my food and the conversation with Yeji.

But then, to my surprise, a boy from our class approached our table. I recognized him as Daejin, someone who usually kept to himself and rarely interacted with others. His sudden presence at our table caught me off guard, and I couldn't help but feel suspicious of his intentions.

Daejin's eyes flickered with curiosity as he brought up the rumors surrounding me and Jungwon, his words tinged with uncertainty. "Hey, Seori," he began, his voice hesitant. "I heard some rumors about you and that street racer, Jungwon. Do you really know him?"

I tensed at the mention of Jungwon's name, feeling a surge of unease wash over me. Daejin's question seemed innocent enough, but there was something in his demeanor that set off alarm bells in my mind.

Swallowing hard, I forced myself to remain composed as I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil swirling inside me. "Yes, I know Jungwon," I confirmed, choosing my words carefully. "But why do you ask?"

Daejin shrugged nonchalantly, but I could see the glint of curiosity in his eyes. "I'm just a fan of street racing, that's all," he replied vaguely. "But are you and Jungwon... you know, dating?"

The question hung in the air between us, heavy with implications. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Daejin's inquiry than met the eye. Was he genuinely curious, or was he probing for information on behalf of someone else?

A sudden thought crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if Daejin was somehow connected to the mysterious love letter I had received earlier. Perhaps Jiyeon had sent him to gather intel on my relationship with Jungwon, or maybe he was the one behind the letter himself.

Pushing aside my suspicions, I mustered a faint smile and shook my head. "No, Jungwon and I are just friends," I replied, hoping to deflect any further probing. "But thanks for asking."

Daejin nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer, and turned to leave. As he walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of my stomach. Something about Daejin's sudden interest in my personal life felt off, and I couldn't help but wonder what other secrets lay hidden beneath the surface of our seemingly ordinary high school existence.

After Daejin left, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. I turned to Yeji, my expression troubled, and voiced my suspicions about him. "Did you see that?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the din of the cafeteria. "Daejin is definitely up to something."

Yeji nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed with concern. "Yeah, that was weird," she replied, her voice low. "I wonder what he's really after."

Before we could delve further into our suspicions, my phone buzzed with a new message. I glanced down to see a text from Jungwon, asking if he should pick me up from school.

I hesitated for a moment, torn between the desire to see him and the fear of fueling the gossip swirling around us. In the end, I decided against it, not wanting to draw any more attention to our relationship.

I quickly typed out a response, telling Jungwon that he didn't have to come. It wasn't that I didn't want to see him – far from it – but I couldn't bear the thought of him being subjected to the whispers and stares of our classmates, especially from someone like Jiyeon.

As I hit send, a pang of guilt washed over me. I wished I could explain to Jungwon the real reason behind my decision, but I couldn't bring myself to admit that I was afraid of what others might say about us.