Unwanted Roommate | An Ryeji Romance

The Talent Show Preparation

Ryujin stared at the poster pinned to the wall outside the school's music room: Annual Talent Show Auditions – Two Weeks Away! The bold letters seemed to taunt her, as if reminding her that this year, everything was different. Two weeks. That was all the time she and her friends had to perfect their performance. And they had yet to finalize their song choice, let alone start serious rehearsals.

With a sigh, she pushed open the door to the music room, bracing herself for the inevitable chaos inside. Sure enough, her friends were already gathered in a loose circle around Lia, who was strumming a guitar and humming softly. Chaeryeong and Yuna were debating dance moves, while Aeri sat cross-legged on the floor, scrolling through her phone.

"Finally!" Yuna exclaimed when she saw Ryujin walk in. "We thought you were gonna ditch us."

"Yeah, yeah, sorry I'm late." Ryujin waved her hand dismissively. "Let's just get started."

"Wait, where's Yeji?" Lia asked, looking up from her guitar. "Isn't she coming too?"

Ryujin froze, the name sending a jolt of irritation through her. She tried to keep her voice steady. "Why would she come?"

"Well, she said she might stop by," Lia explained with a shrug. "I figured we could use her input, since she's got choir experience and all."

Ryujin's jaw clenched. "We don't need her."

"Relax, Ryujin," Aeri said lightly, not looking up from her phone. "It's just for some advice. You know, to help us polish things up."

"We're fine on our own," Ryujin insisted, a stubborn edge creeping into her tone. "We don't need anyone else."

There was a brief silence, the tension thickening the air. Chaeryeong, always the peacemaker, cleared her throat and offered a tentative smile.

"Let's just focus on picking a song first, okay? We can figure out the rest later."

Reluctantly, Ryujin nodded and moved to sit beside Aeri. Lia started playing the intro to a song they'd been considering—a catchy, upbeat tune with a strong dance beat. As Lia's fingers danced over the strings, the others began humming along, their voices blending together in a sweet harmony that made Ryujin's heart swell with pride. This was what she loved: the synergy of creating something beautiful with her friends.

But halfway through the first verse, the door creaked open, and Ryujin felt her shoulders stiffen.

"Sorry I'm late," Yeji's soft voice floated through the room.

The humming stopped abruptly, and all eyes turned to Yeji. She stood hesitantly in the doorway, one hand clutching the strap of her backpack, the other twisting the hem of her skirt. Her gaze shifted uncertainly between the girls, lingering on Ryujin for a moment before dropping to the floor.

"Hi, Yeji!" Yuna said brightly, breaking the silence. "Come on in! We're just messing around with some songs."

Yeji's eyes flickered with surprise, but she nodded, stepping inside cautiously. Ryujin tried not to watch her too closely, but it was impossible to ignore the way Yeji seemed to shrink under her scrutiny.

"Uh, thanks," Yeji murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to interrupt. I just... wanted to see how it was going."

"We're still deciding on a song," Chaeryeong explained, her tone gentle. "But it's kind of tricky finding something that fits all of our strengths."

"Oh..." Yeji paused, then glanced at Ryujin as if seeking permission to speak. Ryujin looked away, pretending to study the sheet music in her lap.

"Well," Yeji continued cautiously, "maybe I could help? I know a few arrangements that might work."

There it was—that damn politeness again. It grated on Ryujin's nerves like nails on a chalkboard. But before she could voice her objections, Lia jumped in.

"Actually, that would be great!" she said eagerly, her smile wide and genuine. "If you know something we could try, we'd love to hear it."

Yeji's face lit up, a small, hesitant smile forming on her lips. "Really? Um, okay, give me a second."

She set down her bag and pulled out a notebook filled with neatly handwritten music sheets. As she flipped through them, the girls exchanged curious glances. Ryujin stayed silent, arms crossed, her gaze hard and unyielding.

"Here," Yeji said finally, holding up a page. "This is a mashup I arranged for my choir last year. It mixes elements from a pop song and a ballad. The harmonies might work well with your voices, and it has a nice build-up for a strong finale."

Lia's eyes widened as she took the sheet from Yeji and skimmed it. "Wow, this looks... really good."

"Yeah, it's perfect!" Yuna agreed, peering over Lia's shoulder. "Can we try it?"

"Wait a minute," Ryujin interrupted, her voice cold. "We don't even know if it suits our style. Why don't we stick with the songs we were already considering?"

"But we haven't decided on anything yet," Aeri pointed out reasonably. "What's the harm in trying it out?"

Ryujin opened her mouth to argue, but the hopeful look on Lia's face stopped her. She knew her friends respected her opinion, but she could also see how much they wanted to give Yeji a chance. With a frustrated sigh, she threw up her hands.

"Fine. Whatever. Let's try it."

Yeji's face lit up, and she quickly explained the arrangement's nuances—how the first verse should be soft, almost whispered, then gradually build to a powerful chorus. As she spoke, she seemed to transform, the hesitance falling away as she talked about something she was clearly passionate about.

Despite herself, Ryujin found herself listening, caught up in Yeji's enthusiasm. The room filled with the sound of the girls' voices blending together, each harmony fitting seamlessly into the next. They stumbled through the first few attempts, but after a few tries, something clicked.

Their voices intertwined perfectly, creating a rich, layered sound that sent shivers down Ryujin's spine. Even she had to admit—it was good. Better than good. It was amazing.

When they finished, there was a stunned silence. The girls exchanged wide-eyed looks, then burst into spontaneous applause, laughing and cheering.

"That was awesome!" Yuna exclaimed, her eyes sparkling. "I can't believe how great it sounds!"

"Yeah, it's totally different from anything we've done before," Chaeryeong agreed, grinning at Yeji. "You're a genius, Yeji!"

Yeji flushed, ducking her head. "It's nothing, really. I'm just glad it worked out."

Ryujin stayed silent, her emotions churning. The resentment she'd felt earlier was still there, but it was joined by something else—something uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Yeji had come into their world and shaken everything up, pushing Ryujin in ways she hadn't expected. And worst of all... Ryujin couldn't deny that the result was incredible.

"We should definitely use this," Lia said, glancing at Ryujin. "What do you think?"

Ryujin hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Yeah... it's good."

The girls cheered again, and for a moment, even Ryujin's irritation melted away in the warmth of their shared excitement. But as she looked at Yeji, standing there with that small, hopeful smile, Ryujin felt something tighten in her chest.

This was supposed to be her group, her friends, her moment. And now Yeji was a part of it. Whether Ryujin liked it or not.

She forced a smile, but it felt hollow. "Nice job, Yeji," she said stiffly.

"Thanks, Ryujin." Yeji's voice was soft, genuine. "I'm just glad I could help."

And that was the problem, wasn't it? Ryujin didn't want Yeji's help. But it seemed like Yeji was here to stay, at least for now. And Ryujin didn't know how to feel about that.

"Yeah," she muttered, turning away. "Glad to have you."

But as the others continued chatting animatedly, Ryujin couldn't shake the feeling that everything was changing. And she wasn't sure if she could keep up.