Yes, Boss | A Ryeji Rivals Romance

Emotional Breakthrough

The days that followed felt like a slow, agonizing unraveling. Yeji and Ryujin kept their distance as much as possible, avoiding any situation where they might be seen alone together. In meetings, they reverted back to the cold professionalism that had once defined their rivalry, but now there was an undercurrent of something unspoken, something that tugged at both of them every time their eyes met.

For Yeji, it was like walking a tightrope. She had to balance her growing feelings for Ryujin with the increasingly intense competition for the presidency, all while keeping up the facade that everything was under control. But deep down, she knew she was anything but in control.

Late one night, after another grueling day at the office, Yeji found herself sitting alone in her apartment, a glass of wine in her hand. The city lights flickered outside her window, but the room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the traffic below. She had been avoiding her feelings for days now, focusing on work, burying herself in the demands of the tour, but it was impossible to ignore the ache that had settled deep in her chest.

She missed Ryujin.

She missed the late-night conversations, the stolen kisses, the way Ryujin made her feel like she didn't have to be perfect all the time. But more than that, she missed the connection they had built—the way Ryujin saw through her defenses, the way she made Yeji feel vulnerable and strong at the same time.

With a frustrated sigh, Yeji set her glass down on the coffee table and ran a hand through her hair. She had always been so good at compartmentalizing her emotions, at keeping her personal life separate from her professional ambitions. But Ryujin had shattered that boundary, and now Yeji didn't know how to rebuild it.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Ryujin's name.

Ryujin: "Are you awake?"

Yeji stared at the message, her fingers hovering over the screen. She knew she shouldn't respond. They had agreed to keep their distance, to cool things down until the rumors died down. But the pull was too strong, and before she could stop herself, she typed a reply.

Yeji: "Yeah. What's up?"

There was a pause, then another message appeared.

Ryujin: "Can I come over?"

Yeji's heart pounded in her chest. She knew this was a bad idea, knew that letting Ryujin into her space would only make things more complicated. But she couldn't bring herself to say no.

Yeji: "Okay."

Less than thirty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Yeji stood, her pulse quickening as she crossed the room to open it. Ryujin stood in the doorway, her expression serious, but there was something vulnerable in her eyes, something that made Yeji's breath catch.

"Hi," Ryujin said softly, stepping inside.

"Hi," Yeji replied, closing the door behind her. The air between them was thick with tension, the kind that had been building for days, and Yeji wasn't sure if she wanted to run from it or give in.

They stood in silence for a moment, neither of them quite knowing what to say. Finally, Ryujin spoke, her voice quiet.

"I couldn't stop thinking about you."

Yeji's chest tightened. She had been trying so hard to keep her emotions in check, to focus on the competition and not get distracted, but the truth was, she hadn't been able to stop thinking about Ryujin either.

"I missed you," Yeji admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ryujin's gaze softened, and she took a step closer, her hand reaching out to gently brush against Yeji's arm. "Then why are we pretending we can do this without each other?"

Yeji swallowed hard, her mind spinning. She had been fighting her feelings for weeks now, telling herself that this was too dangerous, too complicated. But the truth was, she didn't want to keep pretending anymore. She didn't want to keep Ryujin at arm's length.

"I'm scared," Yeji admitted, her voice trembling. "I'm scared of what this could cost us. I'm scared of losing everything I've worked for."

Ryujin's expression softened even more, and she stepped closer, her hands gently cupping Yeji's face. "I'm scared too. But I don't want to lose you either."

Yeji's breath hitched, her heart pounding in her chest as she looked into Ryujin's eyes. There was something raw and real in the way Ryujin was looking at her, something that made Yeji feel like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to jump.

"I don't know how to do this," Yeji whispered, her voice shaky. "I've never let anyone in like this before."

Ryujin's thumbs brushed gently over Yeji's cheeks, her touch soft and reassuring. "Neither have I. But maybe that's why this is worth fighting for."

Yeji's throat tightened, emotion swelling inside her. She had spent so long being careful, being in control, but Ryujin made her want to take a risk, to let herself feel something more than just ambition and success.

Before Yeji could say anything else, Ryujin leaned in and pressed her lips to Yeji's in a soft, tender kiss. The kiss was different this time—slower, more intimate, as if they were both finally letting down their walls and allowing themselves to be vulnerable with each other.

Yeji melted into the kiss, her hands sliding up Ryujin's arms as she pulled her closer. The weight of the world, the pressure of their careers, everything seemed to fall away in that moment, leaving only the two of them, connected in a way that Yeji had never experienced before.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their foreheads resting together as they tried to catch their breath. Ryujin's hands stayed on Yeji's face, her thumbs gently brushing against her skin.

"I don't care about the competition," Ryujin whispered. "I care about you."

Yeji's heart swelled at the words, and for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe—just maybe—this wasn't something she had to fight. Maybe this was something she could embrace, something that could exist alongside her ambition, rather than in opposition to it.

"I care about you too," Yeji whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

They stood there in silence for a moment, the weight of their confessions settling between them. Yeji knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy—that they would have to navigate the complexities of their careers and their relationship with caution. But for the first time, she felt like they could do it. Together.

"I don't want to hide anymore," Yeji said softly, her voice steady. "But we have to be smart. We have to figure out how to make this work."

Ryujin smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "We will. We'll figure it out, Yeji. One step at a time."

Yeji nodded, a sense of calm settling over her. For the first time in weeks, she didn't feel like she was standing on the edge of a precipice, ready to fall. Instead, she felt grounded, secure in the knowledge that Ryujin was standing beside her, ready to face whatever came next.

And for the first time in her life, Yeji allowed herself to let go of the fear, the control, and simply be.

With Ryujin.