Wishlist [txtzy#1]

Wishlist-48(never really mine)

Chaeryeong sat at the dining table, her gaze darting between the others as they ate breakfast. Though the conversation was casual, the atmosphere felt heavier than usual. She could feel the lingering stares—especially Jisung's—burning into her.

Taehyun, on the other hand, was unfazed. He leaned back in his chair, exuding confidence as he sipped his coffee. Every now and then, he'd shoot Chaeryeong a small smirk that made her fidget in her seat.

NingNing was the first to break the silence. "Sooo... you guys seemed pretty cozy in the kitchen this morning," she teased, her eyes flicking between the two.

Chaeryeong nearly choked on her orange juice. "W-we were just making breakfast," she stammered, her voice a pitch higher than normal.

"Sure," Shuhua said, dragging out the word with a sly grin. "Because everyone giggles while flipping pancakes."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Chaeryeong said quickly, avoiding everyone's gaze.

"Right," Jay added with a smirk. "And that hand on her waist earlier? Totally normal for cooking buddies."

Chaeryeong's face turned scarlet as she whipped her head toward Taehyun, who simply shrugged, entirely unfazed.

"I was helping," he said nonchalantly, as though it was the most innocent thing in the world.

"Helping," Jisung muttered under his breath, his tone sharp enough to cut through steel.

The room went silent for a beat, the tension between him and Taehyun palpable.

Taehyun didn't even flinch. Instead, he set his mug down slowly, his movements deliberate. "Got something to say, Jisung?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with challenge.

Chaeryeong froze, her stomach twisting into knots. She glanced nervously between the two boys, desperately trying to think of a way to diffuse the situation.

Jisung's jaw tightened. "No," he said curtly, shoving his chair back as he stood. "I'm not hungry."

The others watched in stunned silence as he walked out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

"Well, that was dramatic," Jay said, breaking the silence with a low whistle.

Chaeryeong's heart sank. Guilt churned in her chest as she stared down at her plate, her appetite gone.

Taehyun leaned toward her slightly, his voice low so only she could hear. "Don't worry about him," he said, his tone gentle yet firm.

She looked up at him, uncertainty clouding her eyes. "But—"

"I said don't worry," he repeated, his gaze steady and reassuring.

Chaeryeong bit her lip, nodding reluctantly. She knew this wasn't over—not by a long shot.

Scene: Confrontations and Confessions

Later that evening, Chaeryeong found herself wandering the garden outside the villa, the cool breeze doing little to calm her restless mind. She wrapped her arms around herself, staring up at the night sky, the stars blurred by her swirling thoughts.

"You shouldn't be out here alone," a voice said, startling her.

She turned to see Jisung standing a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes carried a storm of emotions she couldn't quite place.

"I needed some air," she said softly, unsure of how to navigate this conversation.

He nodded, stepping closer. "Can we talk?"

Chaeryeong hesitated before nodding. "Okay."

There was a long pause as Jisung struggled to find the right words. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh. "I need to know, Chaeryeong. What's going on between you and Taehyun?"

Her breath caught, and she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. "I... I don't know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't know?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Chaeryeong, I've been patient. I've been supportive. But seeing you with him—it's killing me."

"Jisung..."

He shook his head, cutting her off. "I like you, okay? I've liked you for a long time. And I thought... I thought I had a chance. But now, I don't even know where I stand with you."

Chaeryeong felt her throat tighten as she tried to process his words. She cared about Jisung—he was one of her closest friends—but her feelings for Taehyun... they were different. Complicated. Overwhelming.

"I'm sorry," she said finally, her voice cracking. "I never meant to hurt you."

Jisung's shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him. "So, it's him, then?"

She didn't respond, her silence speaking volumes.

Jisung let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I should've seen this coming," he said, his voice hollow. "You were never really mine to lose, were you?"

Before she could say anything, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone under the stars, her heart heavy with regret.