Hearts Entwined || PpoToz

CHAPTER 26

NO ONE POV

Days turned into weeks, and a subtle shift began to unfold between Yooyeon and Seoyeon, something neither of them could fully articulate but both felt nonetheless. Jiyoung continued to seek Yooyeon's help with her assignments, and soon it became routine. They would meet in the library after classes or find a quiet corner in the cafeteria to "study." Occasionally, they even ended up in a random spot around the school, wherever they could find some peace.

Yooyeon, ever helpful and oblivious to anything beyond academics, agreed without a second thought each time Jiyoung asked. To her, it was just another way to practice and reinforce what she already knew. However, Jiyoung’s intentions were far from purely academic. As they went over notes and concepts, Jiyoung would occasionally drop subtle pick-up lines, her voice light and teasing.

"You're really good at explaining things, Yooyeon. I could listen to you all day," Jiyoung would say with a soft smile.

Or, "You must be a magician, because every time I look at you, everyone else disappears."

Yooyeon, ever the polite one, would smile and chuckle at Jiyoung's attempts, but she never really took them to heart. For her, it was all part of the friendly interaction, nothing more. Jiyoung, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying their time together more and more.

Seoyeon, however, wasn't enjoying it at all. Every time Jiyoung and Yooyeon "studied," it seemed to happen when Seoyeon was nearby, as if fate had a cruel sense of humor. She would catch snippets of their conversation, the casual flirting disguised as study sessions, and it gnawed at her in a way she couldn’t quite explain. The playful rivalry that had once defined their relationship was beginning to feel lopsided.

In class, the dynamic shifted as well. Seoyeon was the only one who remained active, eagerly participating and answering questions. Meanwhile, Yooyeon, who was usually just as competitive, became more withdrawn. She focused on her notebook, her mind occupied with how to best teach Jiyoung, sometimes even drafting out lesson plans instead of engaging in class discussions.

The final straw for Seoyeon came when Yooyeon, clearly frustrated with how to make a particular concept clearer, leaned over and asked, "Seoyeon, do you think explaining it this way would make sense? Or should I try something different?"

Seoyeon’s reply was curt, her tone cool. "Yeah, sure," she muttered, not even looking up from her own notes. The sting of watching Yooyeon so focused on someone else was more than she cared to admit, and her usually sharp responses had dulled into brief, almost dismissive, answers.

Yooyeon noticed the change, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. She chalked it up to Seoyeon being absorbed in her own work or maybe just a bad day. Either way, she didn't press further.

The days continued like this, the once constant back-and-forth between Seoyeon and Yooyeon now a shadow of its former self. Seoyeon couldn't help but feel a twinge of something—annoyance? Jealousy?—every time she saw Jiyoung and Yooyeon together, but she refused to acknowledge it. Instead, she poured all her energy into her studies, determined to outshine Yooyeon, even if her rival seemed distracted.

Yet, despite the distance growing between them, neither Seoyeon nor Yooyeon realized that something deeper was simmering beneath the surface, slowly but surely changing the way they saw each other. The rivalry was still there, but the reasons behind it were becoming more complicated with each passing day.

•••

Lunchtime arrived, and the usual spot where Yooyeon, Seoyeon, and their friends gathered was abuzz with conversation. Today, however, the group was one member short. Sohyun, noticing the absence, looked around the table and then turned to Seoyeon.

“Seoyeon, did you see Yooyeon before coming here?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Seoyeon barely glanced up from her tray, her answer clipped and dismissive. “No.”

The abruptness of her reply caused the others to exchange glances, a silent communication passing between them. Nakyoung, ever the perceptive one, caught on quickly. She smiled to herself, reading more into Seoyeon’s response than the others might have. But she chose to keep quiet, watching the dynamics unfold.

Just as the group began to settle into the lull of lunchtime chatter, Mayu, who had been scanning the area, suddenly perked up. “Hey, there’s Yooyeon unnie!”

Everyone turned to see Yooyeon hurrying toward them, an apologetic expression on her face. She quickly dropped into the empty seat next to Nakyoung, her breath slightly ragged from the rush.

“Sorry I’m late” Yooyeon said, trying to catch her breath. “Got caught up with something.”

Seoyeon, who had been pretending to focus on her meal, scoffed quietly under her breath. She didn’t have to guess what had held Yooyeon up—it was probably another one of those "study sessions" with Jiyoung. The thought of Yooyeon spending so much time with her gnawed at Seoyeon more than she cared to admit.

Yooyeon, despite her preoccupation with her own thoughts, wasn’t oblivious to Seoyeon’s reaction. She turned to her, her brow furrowing slightly. “What’s with the attitude, Seoyeon? Did I do something wrong?”

Seoyeon didn’t meet Yooyeon’s gaze. Instead, she turned to Yubin and Mayu, forcing a smile and starting a conversation with them as if Yooyeon hadn’t spoken at all. “So, Yubin, Mayu, how’s that new project going?”

Yooyeon’s eyes narrowed slightly in irritation. Seoyeon’s refusal to engage with her felt like a slap in the face. Usually, their banter was the highlight of their lunchtime, but now Seoyeon was brushing her off, and it stung more than Yooyeon expected. She clenched her jaw, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

The rest of the group noticed the tension between the two, but no one said anything. Nakyoung watched with quiet amusement, already guessing the undercurrents that neither Seoyeon nor Yooyeon seemed fully aware of. Sohyun, on the other hand, looked concerned, sensing that something had shifted between her friends but unsure how to address it.

As the conversation at the table continued, with Seoyeon pointedly ignoring Yooyeon, the atmosphere grew slightly strained. Yooyeon, her usual bright demeanor dimmed by Seoyeon’s cold shoulder, found herself retreating into her thoughts. She couldn’t understand why Seoyeon was acting this way—had she really done something wrong, or was this just another phase in their complicated rivalry?

Lunch continued, but the lively energy that usually defined their group was notably absent. Even as Seoyeon laughed and talked with Yubin and Mayu, her mind kept drifting back to Yooyeon, who was now unusually quiet.

The rest of the lunch period passed uneventfully, but the tension between Seoyeon and Yooyeon hung in the air, unspoken but palpable. Seoyeon’s frustration and Yooyeon’s confusion were two sides of the same coin, but neither of them could see it yet. Their friends could only watch and wait, hoping the two would work it out, even if it meant more bickering and arguments.

For now, though, the once inseparable pair found themselves at odds, with neither willing to bridge the growing distance between them.