Lines We Cross

Chapter 10

Elizabeth's POV

Elizabeth's heart gave a sharp jolt when she saw YN stumble on the uneven pavement. Without thinking, she reached out and caught YN's arm, steadying her. The familiar rush of concern hit her before she had time to analyze it. Her thumb brushed against YN's skin, grounding both of them in that moment. The surprise in YN's eyes when she looked up was unmistakable, but what struck Elizabeth even more was the flicker of something else—jealousy, raw and unguarded.

It was there, just beneath YN's attempt to play it off. Elizabeth could sense it in the way YN's gaze darted toward the woman beside her, the tension in her jaw, the slight hesitation in her voice. The emotion stirred something in Elizabeth that she wasn't entirely prepared to confront. It wasn't as though she'd planned on running into YN tonight, and the evening's company wasn't anything serious. The woman was a colleague, another professor from a different department, who had suggested grabbing a drink to unwind after the busy week. It had been an offer Elizabeth accepted more out of politeness than any genuine attraction. But now, standing there with YN's arm in her grasp, she found herself second-guessing the decision.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Elizabeth asked, her voice steady but carrying a note of concern that felt almost too personal.

"Yeah, I'm fine," YN replied, her tone softening as she steadied herself. "Just—lost my balance for a second."

Elizabeth's grip remained firm a moment longer before she let go, her thumb brushing against YN's arm one last time. "You seem a little unsteady," she said gently, her gaze sweeping over YN's flushed face. "Have you been drinking much tonight?"

"A bit," YN admitted, her voice low, almost apologetic. "Just blowing off some steam after midterms."

Elizabeth's eyes softened, a hint of protectiveness slipping through her controlled demeanor. "I understand," she said, her tone quiet but firm. "Just be careful. It's easy to overdo it."

For a moment, the air between them felt too charged, as though this exchange was more than just a casual encounter. Elizabeth could sense YN's hesitation, the conflict behind her gaze, and that hint of jealousy lingering in the background. It wasn't the first time she'd seen YN's composure slip, but this was different. It felt closer, more vulnerable.

"You should probably head home," Elizabeth added, her voice softening as she tried to gauge YN's reaction. "It's been a long week."

YN glanced back at Maya and Nina, who stood a few paces away, watching the scene with a mix of curiosity and concern. "We're just heading to another party," YN said, but there was a faint uncertainty in her tone. "We're not staying out much longer."

Elizabeth's lips pressed together, her expression briefly tense before softening again. "Just... take care of yourself, YN," she said, the words heavy with an unspoken meaning that lingered between them. "Don't push too hard."

"Right," YN replied, her smile faint and almost resigned. "I'll be fine."

Elizabeth nodded, but as she turned to rejoin her colleague, she couldn't help glancing back at YN one last time. There was a hollowness to the way YN stood there, her shoulders squared as if trying to project strength, but her eyes gave her away. Elizabeth's chest tightened with something she wasn't ready to name. She rejoined her colleague, putting on a polite smile, but the encounter with YN stayed with her, like a persistent whisper at the back of her mind.

———

YN's POV

The first thing YN noticed when she woke up was the pounding in her head—a relentless throb that seemed to echo with every heartbeat. She squinted against the dim light filtering through the curtains, the dryness in her mouth a reminder of how much she'd drunk. As she blinked away the fog of sleep, she became aware of the warm body next to her.

The girl beside her was still asleep, blonde hair splayed across the pillow, the sheets tangled around her bare legs. YN frowned, trying to piece together the previous night. She vaguely remembered the girl from the party—Alex, she thought—but the details were fuzzy, and her name remained just out of reach.

Clothes were scattered across the floor, a haphazard trail leading from the door to the bed. YN's leather jacket was draped over a chair, her jeans tossed near the dresser. She winced as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, her head protesting the sudden movement. She wasn't in the mood for an awkward morning-after conversation, especially not when she could barely recall how they ended up in bed together.

As quietly as possible, she slipped out of bed, grabbed a nearby shirt, and pulled it on. The girl stirred slightly but didn't wake, allowing YN to sneak out of the room and close the door softly behind her. She descended the stairs to the familiar sound of laughter drifting up from the kitchen.

Maya and Nina were seated at the kitchen island, mugs of coffee in hand. When they spotted YN, they exchanged knowing grins.

"Look who decided to join the living," Maya teased, leaning back in her chair. "Good night, I take it?"

YN made a beeline for the coffee pot, pouring herself a mug before slumping into a chair. "Not sure 'good' is the word I'd use," she muttered, bringing the mug to her lips. "My head's killing me."

Nina chuckled, glancing up at the ceiling as if to remind YN of the guest still sleeping upstairs. "Guess you had more than just drinks last night."

"Don't start," YN groaned, rubbing her temple. "I'm not even sure I remember her name."

"That's a first," Maya said, giving YN a mock look of concern. "You're usually better about at least pretending to care about the names."

YN shot her a look. "You're hilarious."

"Come on," Nina prodded, her smirk widening. "At least give us a hint. Did she make the cut for a second round?"

YN shook her head, taking a longer sip of her coffee. "Not looking for anything serious," she replied simply. "And I'm pretty sure she knew that."

Before the banter could continue, the sound of footsteps echoed from the stairs. The girl appeared at the bottom, fully dressed, and glanced between YN and her friends with a tentative smile. "Hey," she said, her tone light but uncertain. "Uh, thanks for last night. It was fun."

"Anytime," YN replied, keeping her tone casual, a polite but distant smile on her face.

The girl hesitated, as if waiting for more, but when YN didn't offer anything else, she gave a small wave. "Okay, well... see you around, I guess."

"Yeah, take care," YN said, turning back to her coffee as the door clicked shut behind the girl.

Once she was gone, Maya raised an eyebrow. "That was kind of cold, even for you."

"It's not like she was looking for a relationship," YN retorted, but the words sounded a bit hollow, even to her.

"Maybe not," Nina said gently. "But there's nothing wrong with being a little friendlier."

YN shrugged, setting down her mug. "It's just easier to keep things simple."

A silence settled over the kitchen, not uncomfortable, but thick with the weight of unspoken thoughts. YN appreciated the teasing, the lightness of their friendship, but there was an emptiness gnawing at the edges of her mind. She thought back to the night before, to the brief but charged moment with Elizabeth. The way Elizabeth had looked at her—as if she genuinely cared—had stirred something she wasn't sure how to handle.

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