ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇʟᴏɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ || ʏᴀɴɢ ᴊᴜɴɢᴡᴏɴ [✔️]

⁀➷ SPECIAL CHAPTER - 03

Years Before...

The trio had been inseparable since middle school-Jungwon, Jia, and Niki. They were so close that people often joked about them being three peas in a pod, though the pod itself was more complicated than anyone could see.

"Ji ! Over here!" Jungwon's voice carried across the crowded courtyard as he waved her down. He stood by the campus fountain, Niki leaning casually against its edge, his hands in his pockets.

"You're late," Niki remarked as Jia approached, though his tone was light, his lips quirked in that familiar teasing smirk.

"Blame Professor Kim," Jia replied with a playful roll of her eyes. "She wanted to discuss my final project."

"Bet it's another one of your 'statement pieces,'" Jungwon teased, nudging her shoulder.

Jia shot him a mock glare. "It's not just a statement piece. It's-"

"Groundbreaking, revolutionary, once-in-a-generation," Niki interrupted, smirking. "We know."

Jia huffed, crossing her arms, but the small smile tugging at her lips betrayed her amusement.

"You're just jealous you don't have an ounce of my creativity," she retorted, poking Niki in the chest.

"Touché," Niki said, holding his hands up in mock surrender.

"Alright, let's grab coffee before this giant monkey boy finds another way to insult me," Jia announced, leading the way toward the campus café.

Later, as they reached the café, the three settled into their usual spot by the window. Jungwon and Niki dove into a heated debate about some business lecture, while Jia quietly sipped her coffee, her eyes occasionally drifting to Jungwon.

"What do you think, Ji?" Jungwon asked suddenly, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Huh? About what?" she asked, blinking.

"About taking risks. Would you go all in on something even if there's a chance you might fail?"

Jia paused, her gaze meeting his. "Depends on how much it means to you."

Jungwon nodded, thoughtful. "Yeah. Like, if it's something-or someone-you really care about, it'd be worth it, right?"

Jia smiled faintly. "I think so."

"Exactly!" Jungwon grinned, leaning back in his chair. "Like with Seeun."

Her smile froze for a split second before she recovered. "Seeun?"

"Yeah," Jungwon said, his cheeks tinged pink. "She's... I don't know. There's something about her."

Jia tried to laugh it off, her voice a little too high-pitched. "Well, she's nice. And really talented."

"Right?" Jungwon leaned forward, energized. "She's so creative, and she always has the coolest ideas. I mean, have you seen her sketches?"