Guarded |Jeemin x Sarang | IZNA

CHAPTER 7

The next morning, Yunah woke up early to prepare breakfast for herself and Jeemin. She had stayed overnight with Jeemin to keep a close eye on her health and make sure she was feeling better.

Yunah gently cracked eggs into a bowl, her gaze lingered on the opened doorway,her eyes fixed on Jeemin, who lay in bed, still fast asleep. She had been struggling for days, and Yunah had been by her side every step of the way.

As she whisked the eggs, the soft sizzle of scrambled eggs filled the air, a comforting sound that usually lifted Jeemin's spirits.

Yunah set a tray with a steaming plate of eggs, toast, and a cup of hot tea beside Jeemin's bed. She sat down beside her and gently stroked her hair. "Good morning, Jeemin. Have breakfast and get ready for school "

Jeemin slowly opened her eyes, dark circles beneath them a testament to the pain that she was feeling. She tried to smile to fool her friend that she was okay, but it faltered. Yunah's heart ached with empathy.

"Hey, it's okay. Just eat a little, so you can get better" Yunah said, helping Jeemin sit up and take a small bite. As they ate in silence, Yunah held Jeemin's hand, offering a comforting presence.

After breakfast, Yunah helped Jeemin get dressed to go to her school after skipping it for two days "Are you sure you'll be okay, Jeemin?" Yunah asked, her brow furrowed with concern as she gazed at her friend. "You can stay home and take some more rest"

Jeemin smiled weakly, her eyes still heavy with sleep. "I'll be fine,I don't want to miss the classes anymore "

Yunah nodded, but her expression remained uncertain. "Okay, but promise me you'll take care of yourself. No pushing yourself too hard."

Jeemin nodded with a soft smile, her voice barely above a whisper. "I promise."

As Jeemin approached the school entrance, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for the day ahead. The bandages on her hand served as a stark reminder of her recent self-harm, a painful coping mechanism for the emotional turmoil she had been experiencing. However, her thoughts were consumed by Sarang and their last encounter, which had ended in tears.

Jeemin had been dreading the possibility of facing Sarang and her friends again, but she was sure that they won't forgive her. As she stood frozen, Sarang and her others friends entered the school through the same gate she was standing before, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Jeemin's gaze drifted to Sarang, who was smiling brightly, a hint of her dimples peeked out, adding to her charming smile.

In that fleeting moment, Jeemin was struck by the realization that she had caused harm to this very person she's now staring at, Jeemin thought Sarang now seemed to be happy without her. Jeemin wanted to look away and go to class. But it was too late. Their eyes met, and Jeemin felt her breath catch in her throat as a pang of pain shot through her chest.

Sarang's smile faltered, her eyes locking onto Jeemin's with a mix of surprise and wariness. The air seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken emotions, as the two girls stood there, suspended in a moment of tense recognition.

Sarang promptly diverted her gaze to avoid her, unaware of Jeemin's injured hands. Conversely, Jiyoon had observed the brief exchange and swiftly intervened, grasping Sarang's hand to guide her into the school. This action was motivated by a desire to protect Sarang from further distress, which Jiyoon attributed to Jeemin's actions.

Upon entering the school, the other friends couldn't help but notice Jeemin's condition, a testament to her internal struggles from afar. Mai, in particular, experienced a pang of sympathy for Jeemin, recognizing that she too was grappling with her own issues. However, Mai's empathy was tempered by the knowledge that Jeemin was the same individual who had caused Sarang significant emotional pain. This moral complexity left Mai uncertain about how to reconcile her feelings.