off limits ✧ zb1 applyfic

✧ sixty eight

Jiyeon had been looking at her watch the entire day, waiting for sweet freedom. Today was her last day of college before break, and finally, she would be able to slack off — or rather, focus entirely on writing. As soon as her classes had ended, she'd run to find Hyunjin and Hiroto, who seemed to share her feelings about this long awaited break. In fact, they were so enthusiastic about it they were already planning hangouts for the three of them, as they made their way through the crowded hallways.

"How about the amusement park?" Hiroto suggested, holding onto one of his backpack's straps. "It's a classic for a reason."

Hyunjin sauntered, hardly able to contain her energy. "That seems fun! But I'll do you one better. We could get on a plane to Paris and have fun in the city of love!"

Paris did sound fun, but to be completely honest, it seemed like more of a couple's vacation than a friends trip. That was to say, Jiyeon wouldn’t exactly mind going to Paris with Jiwoong. Maybe that could happen in the future. She was sure the atmosphere there would inspire her to write the most romantic of scenes.

"Cause honestly, I need some love," Hyunjin grumbled, a little lower.

Hiroto let out a wry chuckle as he shook his head. "We all do."

"Well..." Jiyeon started, before she realized the risky terrain she was walking into.

Like clockwork, her two friends whipped their heads in her direction, theirs eyes wide as saucers. But before they could bombard her with questions, someone had entered the fray. And not just anyone.

Coming from the other direction, Jiwoong had immediately spotted her in the crowd, and had wasted no time running towards her. There was the biggest, silliest grin on his face, and Jiyeon found herself melting at the sight. Paris with Jiwoong sure sounded good, but any city they were in together became the city of love to her. She was so relieved to see him with such a happy expression, because these days, he seemed to be a little down. To think that she may be the cause of such a good mood... Well, Jiyeon was starting to get a bit of an ego. And a whole lot of butterflies in her stomach.

"Hey babe," he greeted her, seemingly not caring about her friends' presence.

And when he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her cheek, Jiyeon felt herself flinch. She couldn’t even enjoy the sweet gesture — instead, she immediately turned to Hiroto and Hyunjin. The two of them looked like they'd seen a ghost, jaws dropped and eyes threatening to pop out of their sockets. Oh, goodness, she really should have told them earlier. But then again, she couldn’t exactly have expected Jiwoong to suddenly act so chivalrous and romantic in front of them.

"What the..."

"Um, uh, Jiwoong and I are dating again!" she blurted out in panic, so loud she was sure everyone in the corridor had heard her. God, she was terrible at this.

All of a sudden, Jiwoong went red with embarrassment. "Oh my god. I'm sorry, I— I thought you'd told them already."

"It's fine," she reassured him, waving his worries away. Then, she turned to her friends with a pinched expression. "It is fine, right?"

The both of them stayed frozen for a minute, during which Jiyeon couldn’t help but second guess herself. They'd offered her their support the last time they'd talked about Jiwoong. But were they really okay with it? After all, she was having a hard time getting Yujin to accept it fully. She already had her plate far too full to deal with her friends' disapproval too...

Finally, Hiroto shook his head slowly, a wry smile on his face. "Wow, okay, I guess some of us already have love. Guess we'll be going on that trip to Paris just you and I, eh, Hyunjin?"