Etched in the Stars | HUH YUNJIN

2

By the second week of classes, Riverview High was beginning to feel a little less foreign to Sohyun. She knew where her classrooms were now, could make her way through the crowded halls without feeling completely lost, and was starting to recognize a few familiar faces. Still, lunch was the hardest part of the day—the cafeteria buzzed with conversations, groups clustered at tables as if everyone had known each other forever.

Sohyun tried not to mind sitting by herself, telling herself it was only temporary. But each day, she couldn't help glancing around, wondering if she'd ever feel like she really belonged here.

Today, though, she didn't have to wonder for long.

"Sohyun!" Yunjin's voice rang out from across the cafeteria, and Sohyun looked up just in time to see Yunjin waving her over, a grin brightening her face.

Sohyun blinked, half-surprised and half-relieved, then grabbed her tray and made her way over. Yunjin scooted over to make space at her table, which was already crowded with a few other students—Minji and Hanni among them, both of whom she vaguely recognized from her classes.

"Sohyun, right?" Minji said, giving her a friendly smile as she sat down. "Yunjin's been talking about you."

Yunjin rolled her eyes but smirked, nudging Minji. "Don't listen to her. I just thought it'd be nice for you to sit with us." She glanced at Sohyun, her gaze steady but warm. "Hope that's okay?"

Sohyun felt a slight rush of warmth at the welcome. "Yeah, that'd be... really nice. Thank you."

Minji and Hanni quickly included Sohyun in their conversation, making her feel like she'd been part of the group all along. They were both easy to talk to, and Yunjin's energy lit up the table, her laughter contagious and her presence a magnetic pull. Sohyun found herself smiling more than she had in days, even chiming in with a few comments of her own.

As the lunch period went on, Yunjin glanced over at Sohyun now and then, studying the way her shoulders seemed to relax as she laughed, her shyness melting away little by little. There was something calming about her presence that Yunjin hadn't expected, like a quiet, gentle steadiness.

After lunch, as they headed back to class, Yunjin walked beside Sohyun. "So, what do you think? Are we a little less intimidating than we seem?"

Sohyun chuckled, her eyes shining with amusement. "A lot less. Thanks for inviting me. I was starting to feel like a bit of a ghost around here."

"Trust me," Yunjin said with a grin, "I don't think anyone could miss you. And besides, you seem like you're worth getting to know."

A small blush rose to Sohyun's cheeks, and she looked away, unsure of what to say. Yunjin's openness was new to her; it was both disarming and oddly comforting.

They reached the door to Sohyun's next class, and she turned to face Yunjin. "Thanks again," she said softly, sincerity in her gaze. "I... haven't felt this welcome in a while."

Yunjin's usual playfulness softened, and she nodded, her eyes warm. "Anytime. See you around?"

"Yeah," Sohyun replied, smiling as she headed into her classroom, a faint trace of Yunjin's presence lingering with her.

And as Yunjin walked away, she couldn't shake the feeling that somehow, Sohyun was the kind of person she'd been waiting to meet without even knowing it.

The next few days fell into a rhythm. Each lunch period, Sohyun would make her way to Yunjin's table, and each day, she found herself a little more at ease. She'd never been the type to stand out, but Yunjin's group welcomed her like she'd been there all along, and the feeling was new, almost surreal.

Yunjin, on the other hand, found herself watching Sohyun more closely than she meant to. There was something about the quiet confidence Sohyun carried—the way she'd listen to everyone else before speaking, how she'd laugh a little too hard at the group's jokes, almost like she was surprised she was allowed to laugh at all. It was subtle, but Yunjin noticed.

One afternoon after school, as Yunjin was leaving basketball practice, she noticed Sohyun sitting on the bleachers by herself, headphones in, lost in a sketchbook. Yunjin hadn't expected to see her there; she was used to everyone clearing out after the final bell. Curious, Yunjin walked over and waved.

"Hey," she greeted, pulling off her jacket and sitting beside her. "Didn't know you were still around."

Sohyun pulled off her headphones, blinking in surprise. "Oh—hi, Yunjin! I usually wait here for my mom to pick me up after her shift. I guess it just became a habit."

Yunjin glanced at the sketchbook in her lap. "You draw?"

"Yeah, just little things," Sohyun replied, a little shy. "It helps pass the time."

"Can I see?" Yunjin asked, leaning in with genuine interest.

Sohyun hesitated for a moment, then turned the page to show her. It was a sketch of the school's front entrance, capturing the stone steps and old oak tree in the courtyard. The lines were delicate, yet precise, bringing a sense of life to the familiar scenery.

"Wow, Sohyun," Yunjin said, clearly impressed. "This is amazing. You really see things, don't you?"

Sohyun smiled shyly. "Thanks. I guess I've always noticed small details, you know? Makes me feel a little less invisible, I suppose."

Yunjin's heart tugged at the words, and she looked at Sohyun, a soft expression in her eyes. "I don't think you could ever be invisible."

The two sat in silence for a moment, the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow over the gym. Sohyun felt her heart quicken, unsure how to respond to Yunjin's quiet kindness. It had been a long time since someone had noticed her for who she really was.

After a while, Yunjin cleared her throat, breaking the silence. "Hey, if you ever want to, you could come to my basketball games. I mean, no pressure, but it'd be cool to have someone there who's actually, you know... paying attention."

Sohyun chuckled, nodding. "I'd like that."

They stayed there a little longer, trading stories and sharing quiet laughter. For the first time since moving, Sohyun felt a sense of calm—a sense that maybe, just maybe, she was finding her place here. And as Yunjin watched her, she felt something unfamiliar, something she couldn't quite name.