Street Racer || Yang Jungwon

°•♡•° / 24

—— Seori

As Jungwon's arms enveloped me in a comforting embrace, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over me. Despite my earlier misgivings and the guilt gnawing at my conscience, being wrapped in his arms felt like coming home.

I nestled closer to him, seeking solace in his warmth and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. In that moment, all my worries and fears seemed to fade into the background, replaced by a profound sense of peace and contentment.

But beneath the facade of calm, a whirlwind of emotions churned within me. I felt guilty for lying to Jungwon about the real reason I couldn't be reached earlier, but I couldn't bring myself to burden him with the weight of my troubles.

Instead, I chose to bury my concerns deep within the recesses of my mind, hoping that they would fade away with time. After all, what harm could a few rumors do? Surely, they would be forgotten by tomorrow, lost in the endless sea of high school gossip.

Jungwon's chuckle interrupted my thoughts, pulling me back to the present moment. His voice was laced with amusement as he teased me about suddenly being clingy.

I couldn't help but laugh along with him, the tension easing from my shoulders as I leaned into his embrace. "I don't know what you're talking about," I replied playfully, my voice tinged with mock indignation. "I'm always this clingy."

He grinned down at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Is that so?" he teased, his tone light and teasing. "Well, if you're feeling extra clingy today, how about some ramen to cheer you up?"

My stomach rumbled in response to his suggestion, reminding me of just how hungry I was. The thought of indulging in a warm, comforting bowl of ramen sounded like heaven, and I nodded eagerly in agreement.

"Sounds perfect," I replied, my voice filled with excitement. "But only if you make it extra spicy this time."

Jungwon chuckled at my request, his laughter echoing through the room like music to my ears. As we made our way to the kitchen, hand in hand, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude wash over me.

As I perched myself on the kitchen counter, my legs dangling awkwardly beneath me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of childlike glee wash over me. Despite the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders, in that moment, I felt light and carefree, as if all my worries had been cast aside.

Jungwon moved around the kitchen with practiced ease, his movements fluid and confident as he prepared the ingredients for our ramen. The sight of him cooking filled me with a sense of comfort and security, reminding me that no matter what challenges lay ahead, as long as we faced them together, we could overcome anything.

Lost in the simple joy of watching Jungwon work his culinary magic, I soon found myself forgetting about the rumors and gossip swirling around us. In that small, intimate moment, all that mattered was the two of us, sharing a meal together in the warmth of the kitchen.

Before long, the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked ramen filled the air, drawing me out of my reverie and back to reality. With a smile, Jungwon plated the steaming bowls of noodles and broth, setting them down on the table before taking a seat opposite me.

As we dug into our meal, the silence between us was comfortable, filled only with the sound of slurping noodles and contented sighs. With each mouthful, I felt the tension in my shoulders begin to ease, replaced by a sense of peace and contentment.

Despite the chaos and uncertainty swirling around us, in that moment, all that mattered was the simple act of sharing a meal with someone I cared about. And as I glanced across the table at Jungwon, his eyes filled with warmth and affection, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the bond that connected us, stronger than any rumor or gossip could ever tear apart.

As we sat at the table, enjoying our ramen in the comforting warmth of Jungwon's kitchen, he suddenly asked me about my parents. His question caught me off guard, momentarily pulling me out of the bubble of contentment that had enveloped us.

I paused, momentarily lost in thought as memories of my parents flooded my mind. "My dad works as a truck driver," I began, my voice tinged with a hint of nostalgia. "He's only home on the weekends." A pang of longing washed over me as I thought about my father, his absence a constant reminder of the sacrifices he made to provide for our family.

"And my mom," I continued, forcing a smile to mask the sadness in my voice, "she works at a restaurant." I glanced down at my bowl of ramen, suddenly feeling self-conscious under Jungwon's gaze.

But before I could dwell on my thoughts any longer, the sound of the door opening interrupted our conversation, and my mom, Mrs. Cho, stepped inside. Instantly, Jungwon withdrew his hand from mine, a silent agreement passing between us to maintain the facade of friendship in front of my mother.

My mom's presence filled the room with a sense of warmth and familiarity, her smile putting me at ease as she greeted us both. I returned her smile, relieved that she seemed oblivious to the unspoken tension between Jungwon and me.

"Jungwon, it's good to see you," she said warmly, her eyes twinkling with affection. "Are you here to steal Seori away again?" Her words were teasing, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt at the underlying truth behind them.

Jungwon laughed, a genuine smile lighting up his face as he reassured her that he had no such intentions. "Of course not, Mrs. Cho," he replied, his tone light and playful. "Just here for some ramen and good company."

Mrs. Cho chuckled, her laughter filling the room as she made her way over to the kitchen. "Well, you're always welcome here," she said, shooting me a knowing look that made my cheeks flush with embarrassment. "But remember, Seori, Jungwon is just a friend."

I nodded, forcing a smile as I glanced over at Jungwon, silently willing him to play along. "Of course, Mom," I replied, my voice tinged with resignation. "Just friends." But as I spoke the words, a part of me couldn't help but wonder if perhaps there was more to our relationship than either of us were willing to admit.

The air between us felt charged with unspoken words as we continued to eat our ramen in the aftermath of my mom's teasing comments. I couldn't shake the feeling that her words had cast a subtle shadow over the easy camaraderie we usually shared.

Lost in my thoughts, I was startled when Jungwon broke the silence. "We're friends," he began, his voice low and measured, "just as your mom said—with something more, but not official yet."

His words hung in the air, carrying a weight of uncertainty. I looked at him, studying the lines on his face, the way his eyes bore into mine with a mixture of sincerity and something I couldn't quite decipher. It was as if he, too, grappled with the unspoken tension that lingered between us.

Taking a deep breath, I decided to address the elephant in the room. "Yeah," I replied, attempting to keep my tone light, "friends with something more, but not official yet. We're both still figuring it out, right?" I offered him a small smile, hoping to alleviate the gravity of the moment.

Jungwon mirrored my smile, a glint of relief in his eyes. "Exactly," he said, nodding in agreement. "No need to rush things. Let's just enjoy what we have."

I nodded, the weight on my shoulders lifting slightly. His reassurance was a balm to the uncertainty that had crept into our conversation. We continued to eat our ramen, the atmosphere gradually shifting back to the easy banter and laughter that defined our friendship.

As we finished our meal, I couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the understanding that existed between us. While the path ahead remained uncertain, there was a comfort in knowing that we were navigating it together, each step bringing us closer to whatever lay beyond the realm of "just friends."

To be continued...