The Pursuit of Shin Ryujin || Ryeji ff

- prologue

Hwang Yeji was in love with Shin Ryujin. This was a fact no one questioned, an undeniable truth to anyone who knew them. Anyone with eyes could see the way Yeji's eyes sparkled at the sight of Ryujin; the way she smiled so sweetly at the smallest idiosyncrasy; the way her hands handled her body as if it were a priceless jewel.

She wasn't anyone special, just an eighteen-year-old bookworm with family problems. Her parents were working for the bare minimum, trying to provide for three children. Yeji went to the most prestigious school in New York on a scholarship, which was where she met Ryujin.

Yeji always had an eye for beauty. In a valley filled with death and despair, she could find hope buried underneath. Maybe that's why she fell so easily for Ryujin: she was a diamond in the rough.

They met when Ryujin was fifteen, a freshman in high school. Yeji remembered the way she tittered through the hallways, enchanting everyone who saw her. Yeji was trapped under her gaze too, but never had the balls to approach her. She never did, actually. It was Ryujin who came to her.

Yeji remembered the moment as clear as day. Ryujin had been tripped by one of the popular girls and Yeji had the girl pinned up against the locker in seconds. The girl was near tears when Yeji felt a hand on shoulder. Looking back, brown eyes met brown for the first time. She remembered Ryujin telling her it was OK, that she was alright. She remembered not knowing what to say, but Ryujin talked enough for the both of them. As Ryujin limped down the hallway to the nurse's office with her, Yeji knew she was a keeper.

It came to no one's surprise when they announced they were dating in Yeji's sophomore year. How could Ryujin turn down someone who loved her so dearly? How could she deny her best friend all the love she could give her? It was a match made in heaven: Yeji, the shy, nerdy girl and Ryujin, America's sweetheart. Sure, there were fools who mocked them, but the love and support seemed to drown out the negativity.

But even the greatest people have their flaws. Yeji always felt like the deadweight in the relationship. While Ryujin had been signed to a major record label by the time she was seventeen,  Yeji was struggling with school and keeping her family afloat during tough times.

It wasn't a good feeling; thinking the one you love would be better off without you. But as Ryujin's popularity sky-rocketed and celebrities began praising her and sending her gifts, Yeji was almost drowning in self-loathing.

But she tried. Oh God, did she try. She worked extra hours to be able to buy Ryujin little gifts - something to remind the girl that she was still there. She supported everything Ryujin did in her music career, no matter if she disagreed with it or not. She did whatever she could to keep the relationship together.

But you know what they say about holding on to something too tightly: in the end, you'll be left bruised and bleeding and it will still slip out of your grasp.

Yeji found this out on Christmas Day, months after her eighteenth birthday. Ryujin had been officially signed over to Lynx Records, and to celebrate, she was hosting a Christmas party for their friends and family. Yeji had bought her a black acoustic guitar, signed by said family and friends, to show her support in her career. If only she had known what was to come that evening.

The night had started off well enough. Everyone was laughing and dancing, singing Christmas carols like fools at times. Ryujin had nearly cried at Yeji's gift, hugging and kissing her profusely. While everyone was mingling, the two lovebirds snuck upstairs for some much needed loving.

Only a few minutes into their fun, Ryujin's phone went off. She hummed against Yeji's mouth, slowly pulling away and turning her attention to her phone. Yeji groaned softly, feeling more irritated than she had in weeks.