Knew You Were Trouble | KAZUJIN

Chapter 13: Sisterly help

Yunjin stood at her locker, spinning the combination dial absentmindedly. Her mind was still clouded with thoughts of Kazuha—the way she had looked at her at the party, the way she had shut Yunjin down with that calm, unyielding demeanor that Yunjin couldn't shake off. Her hands stilled, and she let out a sigh, her shoulders sagging under the weight of everything she didn't know how to fix.

Just then, Kazuha walked down the hall, her laughter ringing out as she chatted with a few classmates. She was bright, glowing with an energy that made Yunjin's chest ache. Their eyes met briefly, and Yunjin couldn't help but give a small, hopeful smile. But Kazuha just nodded politely and kept walking, her laughter fading as she disappeared into the crowd.

Yunjin clenched her jaw, feeling the sting of rejection all over again. Why was she always one step behind when it came to Kazuha? Determined not to let her emotions get the better of her, she slammed her locker shut, took a deep breath, and headed off to class.

Later that afternoon, Kazuha sat with Sakura at one of the picnic tables outside, textbooks spread out between them as they pretended to study. In reality, the session had turned into a long conversation about the drama unfolding among their friends.

"So," Kazuha said, leaning her chin in her palm. "What's up with Chaewon lately? I feel like she's been extra smiley, and I know you'd know why."

Sakura's eyes lit up with amusement, and she set her highlighter down. "Oh, you noticed?" she teased. "Our dear Chaewon has a little crush."

Kazuha's eyebrows shot up, a grin breaking out on her face. "Wait, seriously? Chaewon? Who's the lucky person?"

Sakura leaned in conspiratorially. "You didn't hear it from me, but her name is Minju. She's that girl with the long hair and the quiet, graceful vibe."

Kazuha's mouth fell open. "Minju? The one who always volunteers in class and helps everyone with their notes? I didn't even know Chaewon liked anyone!"

Sakura laughed. "It's adorable, right? She's been blushing every time Minju is around. I even had to give her a pep talk to go up and say hello the other day."

Kazuha shook her head, a fond smile playing on her lips. "That's so cute. I'm happy for Chaewon. She deserves something good." A thoughtful pause followed, and she looked back at Sakura. "It's funny... everyone's got their own thing going on, and here I am, trying to sort out my mess with Yunjin."

Sakura reached over to give Kazuha's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You'll figure it out. And hey, maybe some of Chaewon's luck will rub off on you."

Kazuha laughed, a sound that felt lighter and more genuine than it had in days. "I hope so. I really do."

The two of them fell into a comfortable silence, the sunlight filtering through the trees and casting golden patterns on their textbooks. Despite all the chaos and confusion, Kazuha felt grateful for friends like Sakura—friends who kept her grounded even when everything else felt like it was spinning out of control.

Yunjin sat on the edge of her bed, the soft glow of the desk lamp casting shadows across her room. She stared at the wall, her mind swirling with a storm of emotions she couldn't quite sort out. Anger, disappointment, and a deep, gnawing regret all fought for dominance.

"Stupid," she muttered to herself, clenching her fists. "How could I mess everything up so badly?"

Her room was scattered with remnants of her popularity: framed photos with her teammates, basketball trophies gleaming on a shelf, and a worn-out varsity jacket slung over her chair. Yet, tonight, none of it felt like it mattered. All those achievements felt shallow compared to the way she had made Kazuha look at her—with coldness and indifference instead of warmth.