It All Started With A Creepy Mail ⚊ Yang Jungwon [#4]

✗ twenty two ✗

⚊ chapter twenty two

The room was filled with the usual chaos, everyone talking over one another as we prepared for the night. I had been busy helping Jay collect some of the trash from the food we'd already devoured, trying to keep the space somewhat organized.

The noise and energy were comforting in a way, the kind of buzz that always seemed to follow our group around.

Across the room, I could see Sunghoon practically wrestling with Ni-ki, trying to protect Jake's food from his sneaky hands.

"Hands off, Ni-ki!" Sunghoon snapped, slapping his hand away for what felt like the hundredth time.

"You've got your own food, eat that!" he added, his eyes narrowing.

Ni-ki finally backed off, though not without grumbling about how he just wanted a taste. I couldn't help but smile at the exchange-it was typical of Ni-ki to push boundaries like that.

On the other side of the room, Minji had somehow managed to pull all the girls together.

She was giggling as she introduced Eunjoo to Jillian. I noticed how Jillian seemed a bit shy, her usual confidence muted by the new faces and the lively atmosphere.

But Eunjoo, being Eunjoo, wasn't about to let her stay that way.

"That's not an option here," Eunjoo said with a playful yet firm tone. "Especially not in a group full of loud people like us."

She gestured towards Minji, who was cracking jokes that had Sunhee, Kiara, and Rei laughing so hard they were clutching their sides.

Rei, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, added, "Oh, you think this is loud? Just wait until you meet my girlfriend, Liz. She's the loudest of us all!"

The girls burst into another fit of giggles, imagining the lively energy Liz would bring to the already chaotic group.

Jillian smiled shyly, clearly overwhelmed but starting to feel more comfortable as the girls continued to draw her into their circle.

Eunjoo gave her a reassuring pat on the back. "See? No escaping the loudness, but you'll get used to it. And trust me, you'll love it."

I found myself staring at Jillian again, drawn to the way she listened intently to the conversation around her, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

I didn't realize how long I had been staring until Ni-ki, who had apparently given up on stealing Jake's food, nudged me hard in the ribs.

"Stop staring and open the door, lover boy," Ni-ki teased, smirking as he pointed towards the doorbell that had just rung.

Embarrassed, I snapped out of my daze. I was thankful that Jillian was too distracted by Sunhee gushing over Gru Junior on the TV to notice me being caught.

I hurried to the door, eager for a distraction from my embarrassment. When I opened it, I was greeted by Jake-and to my surprise, he wasn't alone.

Behind Jake stood a girl with bright red hair, looking around the room with wide eyes. I recognized her immediately-Cassidy, Jake's soon-to-be stepsister. She seemed a little nervous but managed a small, sheepish smile as she stepped inside.

I let them in quietly, trying not to draw too much attention. But in a group like ours, attention was impossible to avoid.

It didn't take long before someone noticed.

Sunghoon, who was in the middle of enjoying his tiramisu, suddenly choked on it, his eyes wide in shock. At the same time, Jay, who had been sipping on his coke, nearly spat it out when he saw who had just walked in.