Loco

03

The days following the study group meeting were a whirlwind for Chaeryeong. She couldn't focus on anything other than the fact that she had spent hours sitting next to Y/N, talking, laughing, and sharing small moments that seemed so trivial to everyone else - but meant everything to her.

It had been a week since that first study session, and every time she thought about it, her heart would race. The way Y/N had protected her from the snide comments from her friend, the way Y/N had noticed her, had given her this warm, intoxicating feeling. For the first time, Chaeryeong felt like she wasn't invisible. She felt seen.

But even though the study sessions had become a routine, Chaeryeong still couldn't shake the nagging sense of unease. The small, subtle moments between her and Y/N, the way their conversations felt like sparks in the air, kept her on edge. She was afraid. Afraid of what she might feel if she let herself get too close. Afraid of what might happen if Y/N ever found out just how much Chaeryeong was falling for her.

It didn't help that every time they spoke, every time their hands brushed by accident, or when Y/N's gaze lingered on her a little too long, it made everything even more complicated. Her heart was a tangled mess of desire and fear. Chaeryeong was falling fast, and she wasn't sure if she was ready to handle it.

-

On Friday afternoon, Chaeryeong walked into the café for their usual study group. She was running late, the stress of a math test clouding her mind, but she'd promised to meet Y/N and the others. As she stepped inside, her eyes immediately sought out the familiar face, and there she was - Y/N, sitting with her usual friends.

Her heart skipped a beat. Y/N was laughing with Yeji, her head thrown back, her eyes sparkling as she spoke. Chaeryeong hesitated in the doorway for a moment, uncertain whether to go in and risk interrupting the moment.

But then Y/N's eyes caught hers. The gaze was immediate, warm, and... gentle. Chaeryeong's breath hitched. Y/N smiled, and in that instant, it felt like the entire room had faded away. There was only Y/N, looking at her as though she'd been waiting for her to arrive.

"Hey," Y/N called, waving her hand. "Over here!"

Chaeryeong's chest tightened as she made her way to the table, heart pounding with every step. The group parted slightly, making room for her to sit beside Y/N, but before she could sit down, Y/N reached out and gently pulled the chair out for her, her fingers brushing against Chaeryeong's hand in the process.

Chaeryeong froze, a jolt of electricity running through her at the accidental touch. It was enough to make her light-headed. But she couldn't let herself react, couldn't let her feelings take over. She took a deep breath, forcing a smile, and sat down.

"Thanks," she said quietly, trying to keep her voice steady, even though it felt like her entire body was trembling.

Y/N gave her a warm smile in return, completely unaware of how deeply Chaeryeong's heart was racing. "Of course. You're always welcome here." Her tone was light and playful, but there was something behind her words, something that made Chaeryeong's stomach flutter.

The conversation flowed around her as it always did - light, easy, and full of laughter. Chaeryeong did her best to focus on the work, but the pull of Y/N beside her was too strong. She could feel the heat of her presence, the subtle way Y/N's leg brushed against hers under the table, making her pulse spike.

At one point, Y/N leaned over to look at Chaeryeong's notes. "Your handwriting's really neat," Y/N remarked, her breath warm against Chaeryeong's ear. "You're a perfectionist, aren't you?"

Chaeryeong felt the heat rise in her cheeks. "I just like things to be... organized," she murmured, avoiding Y/N's gaze as her heart hammered in her chest.

Y/N chuckled softly, the sound sending a thrill through Chaeryeong. "I like that. I could use a little more organization in my life."

Chaeryeong couldn't help but glance at Y/N then, surprised by the sudden vulnerability in her voice. It was a fleeting moment, but it felt significant, like a small crack in Y/N's flawless façade.

Their eyes met, and for a second, the world outside their small bubble of space seemed to blur. Chaeryeong's thoughts went quiet, her heart stopping in its frantic beat. She was getting in too deep - too close.

Y/N's gaze lingered for a moment longer, as if she was considering something, before she turned back to the group, pulling Chaeryeong out of the trance she hadn't even realized she was in.

-

Later that evening, as Chaeryeong made her way home, her thoughts were still swirling. Her mind replayed the moments in the café - Y/N's smile, the way her voice had softened when she spoke to her, how Y/N had made a point to sit next to her. She couldn't help but wonder if maybe... maybe Y/N was starting to see her, too. But at the same time, a gnawing sense of insecurity clawed at her. She was an outsider, a nobody compared to Y/N's world. What did someone like Y/N see in someone like her?

As she walked through the quiet streets of her neighborhood, her phone buzzed in her pocket. Chaeryeong pulled it out, her fingers trembling when she saw the name.

Y/N

Her heart skipped a beat. She quickly unlocked her phone and opened the message.

Y/N:
Hey, just wanted to say thanks for helping out with the notes today. You're really smart, Chaeryeong. Don't be so modest about it. I'm glad you're part of the group.

Chaeryeong's breath caught in her throat. Was this really happening? Was Y/N really texting her?

Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment, unsure of what to say. After what felt like an eternity, she finally typed out a response.

Chaeryeong:
Thank you, Y/N. It means a lot. I'm happy to be here.

She stared at her phone for a moment, her heart still racing. After a few seconds, Y/N's reply popped up.

Y/N:
Good. You're not just a quiet face in the back anymore. You belong here, Chaeryeong. :)

The smiley face at the end made Chaeryeong's chest tighten. She stared at the words for a long moment, feeling like she was walking in a dream.

It was almost too much to handle. Y/N had said it. She wasn't just a quiet, invisible girl anymore. She was part of something. She was part of Y/N's world.

But the excitement that surged through her was tinged with something darker. She was starting to get too close to the edge. She was starting to fall.

And there was no turning back now.