𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Hinting Game

Yeri stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, toothbrush dangling from her mouth. Was that too much? she thought, replaying her comment to Jake the day before. Her cheeks burned at the memory, but a small, mischievous smile crept across her face.

She spat out the toothpaste and leaned forward, gripping the edge of the sink. "Okay, Yeri. Just keep it subtle. Don't overthink it. You're not... evil, just clever," she murmured to herself.

Her phone buzzed on the counter, and she picked it up to see a message from Ningning.

Ningning: Morning, mastermind. Did you wreck his nerves yet?

: Not wrecked, but... shook, maybe?

Ningning: Love that for you Keep it going.
Ningning: but if he does something wrong i know a guy who can handle him.

: This is why you're not allowed to encourage me.

Yeri bit her lip, stifling a laugh. Ningning's confidence in her plan gave her a small boost of courage, but as she slipped on her backpack, her shy side tugged at her again. She had always been reserved, and this whole "hint-dropping" thing felt like treading new waters—both thrilling and terrifying.

___

"Why do I feel like I'm being watched?" Jake muttered, glancing nervously across the cafeteria.

Sunoo rolled his eyes. "Because you're paranoid. You've been acting like Yeri's out to get you."

"She might be!" Jake hissed, gripping his tray. He scanned the room until his eyes landed on Yeri and Ningning at a table near the window. She wasn't even looking at him, but his stomach still twisted.

"Oh my gosh," Heeseung groaned, dropping into the seat next to Jake. "You're so obvious it hurts. She's probably sitting there enjoying her lunch, and you're over here sweating bullets like she's the mafia."

"Maybe she is the mafia," Niki said with a smirk. "A cookie-baking mafia boss."

Jake glared at him. "Not helping."

Jay leaned forward, resting his chin on his palm. "Okay, so worst-case scenario: she finds out you're the rude neighbor. What's she going to do? Give you a strongly worded lecture?"

"Or poison your cookies," Sunghoon added, deadpan.

"Guys!" Jake snapped, his voice louder than intended. A few heads turned his way, and he quickly sank lower in his seat. "I'm serious. She made that comment yesterday, and it was too specific. What if she knows?"

"She doesn't know," Sunoo said, picking at his fries. "If she did, she would've already confronted you."

"Unless..." Heeseung raised a finger dramatically. "She's playing the long game. Dropping hints to watch you squirm."

Jake groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I hate all of you."

The bell rang, signaling the end of the period, and Jake stepped into the hallway, his mind still buzzing from his friends' relentless teasing. He wasn't paying attention until he almost collided with someone coming out of the classroom.

"Are you ok?" Yeri said softly, her voice catching him off guard.

"Oh, uh... sorry," Jake stammered, stepping back quickly.

Yeri tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "No worries. It's always good to watch where you're going. Or, you know... double check things before they happen."

Jake froze. There it was again—a comment that sounded innocent but felt loaded. He stared at her, trying to gauge if she meant anything by it, but her expression remained unreadable.

Yeri gave him a quick nod before walking away, leaving Jake rooted to the spot. His thoughts spiraled. Double-check? Is that about the package thing? Does she know?!

Behind him, Sunghoon appeared out of nowhere, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Dude, you're standing in the middle of the hallway like a lost puppy. What happened?"

Jake turned, wide-eyed. "She said something weird again. She knows, doesn't she?"

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. "Or she's just being nice and you're overthinking."

"I'm not overthinking!" Jake insisted, though his voice cracked slightly.

"Sure," Sunghoon said with a smirk. "Keep telling yourself that."

___

"So... you think he got the hint?" Ningning asked, walking beside Yeri with her usual spring in her step.

Yeri shrugged, clutching the strap of her bag. "I think so. He looked... flustered."

"Flustered is good," Ningning said approvingly. "What's the next step, evil mastermind?"

"I don't know..." Yeri trailed off, kicking at a pebble on the sidewalk. "I don't want to overdo it. He already looks like he's about to implode."

Ningning laughed. "Yeah, he does look like the type to overthink. Maybe you should throw in one more comment tomorrow, just to keep him on his toes."

Yeri smiled shyly. "Maybe."

As they reached her house, Yeri waved goodbye and walked up the driveway, her mind swirling with plans. The idea of teasing Jake was starting to feel less nerve-wracking and more... fun.

And maybe, just maybe, she'd learn how far she could push before he figured it out.