Loco

05

It had been a few days since their heart-to-heart at the café, and Chaeryeong still couldn't shake the weight of Y/N's words. Let's figure this out together. She'd been replaying that moment over and over in her mind, as if it were some kind of unspoken promise. But what exactly was she signing up for? What was this between them?

Each day since that conversation, Y/N had been just as warm, just as attentive as before. They'd continued to study together, chat casually between classes, and share small, fleeting moments that made Chaeryeong's heart race. The more time they spent together, the more Chaeryeong could feel the pull between them. The way Y/N would gently touch her arm when she made a joke, the way she would look at Chaeryeong in the hallways like she was the only person in the room.

But with each passing day, the fear started to creep in. Chaeryeong had always been an observer - an outsider to the drama and chaos of high school. She had spent years floating under the radar, watching other people fall in and out of love, never allowing herself to get too close to anyone. And now, it felt like she was standing on the edge of something that could either be beautiful or completely break her.

The weekend after their conversation, Y/N had sent another text, a simple invitation.

Y/N:
Want to go to the movies? There's a new film playing at the theater. I heard it's good, and I could really use someone to go with.

It was like Y/N was pulling her in, slowly but surely, and Chaeryeong didn't know how much longer she could resist.

-

The night of the movie, Chaeryeong tried to act calm, tried to be normal, but her heart was anything but. She wore a shirt and cargo pants, hoping to look casual but still cute. The truth was, every time Y/N invited her out, her stomach would twist in a knot, a mixture of excitement and anxiety. This wasn't just about hanging out anymore. This was something else.

When Chaeryeong arrived at the theater, Y/N was already waiting outside, leaning against the brick wall, her phone in hand. She was wearing a simple oversized sweater and baggy jeans, but the way she stood, so effortlessly cool, made Chaeryeong's heart race.

"Hey," Y/N said, flashing a grin when she saw Chaeryeong. "You made it! I was starting to think you were gonna bail."

Chaeryeong smiled nervously, adjusting the strap of her bag. "Sorry, I was just... thinking about what snacks to get."

Y/N raised an eyebrow. "The real question is: are you a popcorn or nachos person?"

"Popcorn," Chaeryeong replied, trying to relax. "Definitely popcorn."

Y/N laughed softly and started walking toward the ticket booth. "Good choice. I think we're gonna get along just fine, then."

-

The movie was a blur. Chaeryeong tried to focus on the plot, but all she could think about was Y/N sitting next to her, her shoulder brushing against Chaeryeong's every time she reached for her drink. Y/N's presence was so overwhelming, it made it hard to concentrate on anything else. Every time they laughed at something in the movie, Y/N's smile would linger, and Chaeryeong couldn't help but feel like Y/N was smiling just a little bit more when she looked at her.

During the movie's most intense scene, Chaeryeong felt Y/N's hand brush against hers. She froze, her breath caught in her throat. For a moment, it felt like the world around them had stopped. The tension was so thick between them, Chaeryeong could feel it in her chest, her heart hammering in her ears.

Y/N didn't pull away. In fact, she let her hand linger there for a second, almost as if she were waiting for Chaeryeong to do something - anything.

Chaeryeong's mind raced. Should she take Y/N's hand? Should she pull away? Every nerve in her body screamed for her to move, to close the distance, but fear held her back. What if this wasn't what Y/N wanted? What if she was just being nice? What if she didn't mean any of this the way Chaeryeong did?

Before Chaeryeong could make up her mind, the scene on the screen shifted, and Y/N pulled her hand away, settling back into her seat as if nothing had happened.

The rest of the movie passed in a daze. Chaeryeong couldn't focus on anything, her mind running in circles as she tried to figure out what to do with the feelings that were building up inside of her. Every time she stole a glance at Y/N, her heart skipped a beat.

By the time the credits rolled, Chaeryeong was a bundle of nerves. She followed Y/N out of the theater, both of them chatting lightly about the movie, but Chaeryeong couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them. Y/N was so close, too close, but she wasn't pulling away either.

"Do you want to grab some coffee?" Y/N asked as they stood outside the theater, the cool night air wrapping around them. "I know a place nearby. It's open late."

Chaeryeong nodded before she could even think. "Sure."

-

They walked in comfortable silence, the only sound between them the soft tap of their shoes against the pavement. Chaeryeong was hyper-aware of every little detail: the way Y/N's hair caught in the streetlights, the way she glanced at Chaeryeong every now and then, as if checking if she was still there.

When they reached the coffee shop, Y/N led the way inside. They ordered their drinks, and then Y/N guided Chaeryeong to a quiet corner, away from the small crowd of people talking and laughing.

"I'm glad you came tonight," Y/N said, taking a sip of her latte. "It's been fun. I don't usually get to do stuff like this, you know?"

Chaeryeong felt a little warmth spread through her chest. "Me neither. I don't really hang out much, either."

Y/N smiled at her. "I can tell. You're a little... reserved, I guess? But it's cool. I like it." She leaned back in her chair, studying Chaeryeong with an intensity that made Chaeryeong's pulse race. "You're different. I like that about you."

Chaeryeong's heart skipped a beat. "I'm different?"

"Yeah," Y/N said softly. "I don't know how to explain it. You're... not like the others. You don't try to be something you're not."

Chaeryeong felt a flush of heat rise to her cheeks. She had no idea how to respond to that. But Y/N didn't give her a chance to speak.

"You make me feel like I can be myself," Y/N continued, her voice low and a little hesitant. "And that's... rare. You're rare, Chaeryeong."

It was like everything in the room faded away. The noise from the coffee shop, the hum of the late-night chatter, the clink of cups, all of it disappeared, leaving just the two of them in their little bubble. Chaeryeong could feel her pulse pounding in her ears. Her mouth went dry.

For a moment, they just stared at each other, the weight of Y/N's words settling between them. Chaeryeong wanted to say something, wanted to tell Y/N how much those words meant, how much she had been waiting to hear something like that.

But before she could, Y/N reached across the table, her hand gently resting over Chaeryeong's. The touch was light, almost tentative, but it was enough to send a jolt of electricity through Chaeryeong's body.

Her breath caught. "Y/N..."

Y/N smiled, a soft, almost shy expression that made Chaeryeong's heart do a somersault. "I know this is all kind of new," Y/N said quietly. "But I just... I need you to know that I'm not playing games. I really like you, Chaeryeong."

Chaeryeong's world tilted on its axis. She felt like she was drowning in the feelings rushing through her. Y/N liked her. Y/N liked her.

"I like you too," Chaeryeong whispered, her voice barely audible.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Chaeryeong allowed herself to fall - without holding back.