Love Next Door

19

The letter

The late afternoon sun was warm, casting a golden glow over the busy streets as Yeji and Lia walked side by side, arms loaded with shopping bags. Yeji held up a delicate floral dress, admiring the fabric under the sunlight.

"What do you think ? Too much ?" she asked, twirling a little so the hem of the dress fluttered around her legs.

Lia grinned, leaning back to get a better view. "Are you kidding ? You look gorgeous in that. You should buy it."

Yeji blushed, smiling shyly as she placed the dress back in the bag. "I don't know... I feel like it's too... I don't know, flowery ?"

Lia waved a hand dismissively. "Trust me, you'll make flowers jealous. Plus, you deserve a day to just spoil yourself after everything with Greip."

Yeji let out a sigh, her eyes softening at the mention of the incident. "Yeah, I guess. Today's been fun though. Thanks for dragging me out."

Lia's eyes twinkled mischievously. "Are you kidding ? If I didn't get you out, I was ready to break into your place and kidnap you for a day of shopping. There's no way I'm letting you mope around."

The two of them exchanged playful looks before Lia spotted a nearby café. "Let's take a break. We've earned it."

They entered the cozy café, with its soft pastel walls and the smell of freshly brewed coffee in the air. The place was filled with light chatter and the occasional clinking of ceramic cups. They picked a table near the window, dropping their bags with a heavy thud onto the chairs. After ordering their drinks, Lia leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands, watching Yeji with a curious expression.

"So, do you think you've figured out what's next for you ?" Lia asked softly, her tone losing some of its usual teasing edge.

Yeji blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity of the question. She hesitated, biting her lip as she stirred her coffee absentmindedly. "Maybe... I've been thinking about it, but I'm not sure yet."

Lia's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Oh ? What is it ? Come on, you can't just leave me hanging like that !"

Yeji smiled, a little bashful. "I can't tell you yet. It's not... fully formed. I need to be sure before I say anything."

Lia groaned in exaggerated frustration. "Ugh, the suspense is killing me !"

Yeji laughed, shaking her head. "You'll find out soon enough."

As the two friends continued chatting, lighthearted banter mixing with deeper conversations, the bond between them felt stronger than ever. They teased each other, made jokes about the people they saw walking by, and shared the kind of easy friendship that only years of closeness could create.

—

Meanwhile, Ryujin sat in her office, hunched over her desk, completely absorbed in her work. The day had been long and exhausting. She and her team were deep into discussions about the stadium project, throwing around ideas and building on each other's thoughts. Hours had passed since lunch, and Ryujin hadn't even noticed until her stomach growled loudly.

Karina, seated nearby, raised an eyebrow. "You skipped lunch, didn't you ?"

Ryujin glanced at her, sheepish. "Yeah... I just got caught up in everything."