Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 19: Unspoken riddles

The music pulsed through the air, vibrating against Juhee's skin as she stepped into Taeho's apartment. The party was in full swing, a chaotic blend of laughter and chatter. For a brief moment, she felt the exhilaration of being surrounded by friends, but the weight of her earlier argument still lingered in her mind.

As she made her way through the crowd, her eyes caught sight of Wonbin. He stood across the room, a drink in hand, surrounded by a small group of friends. Juhee's heart fluttered at the sight of him, but her excitement quickly turned to irritation when she noticed Minji leaning in closer to him, her laughter ringing out above the music.

"Is she serious?" Juhee muttered under her breath, clenching her jaw. She forced herself to look away, but the image of them together burned in her mind. Wonbin didn't seem interested, but that didn't stop a pang of jealousy from welling up inside her. Why did it bother her so much? They were just friends, after all.

She tried to shake it off and joined Karina and a few others, but her attention kept drifting back to Wonbin. He seemed relaxed, genuinely enjoying the party, and it made her chest tighten. She hated how much she wanted him to notice her, to care.

"Hey, you okay?" Karina asked, nudging her shoulder. "You've been quiet."

"Yeah, I'm fine," Juhee replied too quickly, forcing a smile. "Just tired."

"Right," Karina said skeptically, glancing in Wonbin's direction. "You sure? Because it looks like someone's got their eye on you."

Juhee followed her gaze, only to find Minji leaning closer to Wonbin, whispering something in his ear that made him chuckle. A surge of annoyance bubbled up, and she pushed past her friends.

"Where are you going?" Karina called after her.

"Just... somewhere," Juhee said, not looking back. She needed air, and more importantly, she needed to confront this feeling gnawing at her.

Juhee stepped out onto the balcony, the cool night breeze washing over her. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her head. But just as she thought she had escaped the party's chaos, she heard footsteps behind her.

"Juhee?" It was Wonbin, his voice cutting through the quiet. "What are you doing out here?"

"I just needed some fresh air," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "It's kind of crowded in there."

He leaned against the railing beside her, the faint glow of the city lights illuminating his face. "Yeah, I get that. This place gets wild."

Juhee glanced at him, her heart racing. "You seemed to be having a good time with Minji," she said, unable to keep the edge out of her voice.

Wonbin raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "She's just being friendly. I barely know her."

"Right," Juhee replied, her jealousy flaring up again. "Just friendly."

He shifted, looking out at the view. "What's really bothering you, Juhee?"

"Nothing," she snapped, her emotions getting the better of her. "I'm just tired of all this. Tired of pretending everything is fine."

"Then stop pretending," he said, his tone softening. "You don't have to put on a show for anyone."

Juhee's breath hitched as she turned to face him. "And what if I don't know how? What if I just feel... lost?"

He looked at her, his gaze intense. "You're not lost. You're just figuring things out. We all are."

The tension in the air thickened, and for a moment, Juhee felt like they were the only two people in the world. She took a step closer, the music from the party fading into the background. "Wonbin..."

Before she could finish her thought, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. The gesture sent a jolt of electricity through her. She could feel her heart pounding, the space between them shrinking.

But just then, a loud cheer erupted from inside, snapping her back to reality. Juhee took a step back, shaking her head. "I can't do this right now."

"Why not?" Wonbin asked, his voice low, almost pleading.

Juhee opened her mouth to respond but found herself at a loss for words. The moment felt fragile, teetering on the edge of something she both wanted and feared. "I just... I need to think," she finally said, turning away from him.

"Juhee," he called after her, but she didn't stop. She slipped back inside, her heart racing from the conversation and the almost-kiss that hung in the air like a promise unfulfilled.

Back in the throng of partygoers, Juhee felt disoriented, the earlier jealousy simmering beneath the surface. She had almost crossed a line with Wonbin, and now the weight of her feelings felt heavier than ever.

As the night wore on, she couldn't shake the lingering feeling of what could have been, the unspoken words hanging between them, and the jealousy that threatened to consume her.