𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

New Girl

The day started like any other. Yeri slipped into her seat by the window, her go-to spot for blending into the background. She liked it there—the soft morning light streaming in through the glass, the way it let her daydream about anything but the buzzing chaos of the classroom.

But then, the door opened, and everything shifted.

She walked in.

The girl—no, the new girl—was the kind of person you couldn't help but notice. She had long, glossy black hair that caught the light with every step she took, perfectly done makeup, and an aura so confident it made Yeri's palms clammy just watching her.

"Good morning," she said, her voice calm and easy, like she was greeting her adoring fans rather than a room full of strangers. She bowed to the teacher and then to the students, her smile oh so graceful.

The classroom fell into a murmur. Yeri caught snippets of conversation:

"She's so pretty."
"Do you think she's a model?"
"Look at her shoes—they're designer!"

Yeri shifted in her seat, shrinking slightly as the girl scanned the room, her sharp eyes taking in everything. There was something about her that made Yeri feel... small.

"She looks exhausting," Ningning whispered, leaning over with a smirk. "Like, she's probably one of those girls who says 'Not to be rude, but...' and then proceeds to be totally rude every five minutes into a conversation."

Yeri didn't respond. She was too busy watching the new girl make her way to the front of the room, where she introduced herself to the teacher with a charming smile.

And then, it happened.

"Jake!" the girl's voice rang out suddenly, full of delight.

Yeri's head snapped up. Jake, who had just walked in, froze mid-step. His backpack hung loosely over one shoulder, his brows furrowing as he registered the person calling his name.

"Soojin?" Jake said, sounding more confused than anything.

Yeri's stomach twisted. Soojin? Soojin.

The girl—Soojin—practically lit up, her smile so wide it could have blinded someone. "You do remember me!" she gushed, walking right up to him like they were the leads in a drama and the rest of the class were just extras.

Yeri watched as Jake scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh, yeah. Of course."

She didn't miss the way Soojin playfully swatted his arm, the way she leaned in just a little too close.

The classroom buzzed even louder now, whispers flying back and forth:

"Wait, how does she know him?"
"Are they friends? they look so cute together"

Yeri's grip on her pen tightened. She didn't know why she felt this... pang. It wasn't jealousy. It couldn't be. It was just... unsettling. Watching Soojin laugh so easily with Jake, watching how everyone seemed to orbit around her, made Yeri feel like she was fading into the background more than ever.

___

By lunchtime, Soojin had firmly established herself as the center of the universe—or at least the cafeteria. She sat at one of the larger tables, surrounded by people who were clearly hanging on to her every word.

Yeri sat with Ningning at their usual corner table, picking at her rice and trying not to stare too much. But it was impossible not to notice Soojin, especially when she kept tossing her hair like she was in a shampoo commercial.

"She's too much," Ningning muttered, stabbing her chopsticks into her lunch. "Like, okay, we get it. You're pretty and mysterious. Congratulations."

Yeri forced a weak smile. She wished she could share Ningning's lighthearted annoyance, but all she felt was... out of place.

"She's so confident," Yeri murmured, almost to herself. "It's like she knows exactly what to say, all the time."

Ningning raised an eyebrow. "I think the word you're looking for is attention seeking . She probably stares at herself in the mirror for hours practicing lines like, 'Jake, it's been ages!'" Ningning's impersonation was spot on, exaggerated hand gestures and all.

Yeri laughed quietly, but her chest still felt heavy. She didn't know why she was so bothered. It wasn't like Jake was her anything. She barely even knew him, really. And yet, seeing him smile—albeit awkwardly—at Soojin made her stomach twist in ways she didn't understand. Did he enjoy her presence?

"She's really pretty," Yeri admitted softly, her voice almost lost in the chatter of the cafeteria.

Ningning snorted. "Yeah, and you're not a toad, Yeri. Relax."

But Yeri couldn't relax. No matter how much Ningning tried to brush it off, the truth was glaringly obvious: Soojin was the kind of girl who could walk into any room and own it. Yeri, on the other hand, always felt like she was trying to disappear.

___

After school, Yeri was walking down the hallway when she heard footsteps behind her.

"Yeri!"

She turned, her heart skipping a beat as she saw Jake jogging toward her.

"Hi," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He smiled, that same boyish, slightly awkward smile that made her chest flutter in ways she wished it wouldn't. "Hey, I just wanted to check... Are you okay? You seemed kinda quiet today."

Yeri blinked. "Oh, um... I'm always quiet."

Jake chuckled softly, running a hand through his hair. "Yeah, but today felt different."

Her cheeks warmed, and she didn't know what to say. She wasn't used to this—being noticed, being asked about.

But before she could respond, Soojin appeared out of nowhere, her voice cutting through the moment like a blade.

"There you are, Jake!" she said brightly, sliding up beside him. "I've been looking for you everywhere."

Jake's smile faltered. "Oh, hey, Soojin."

"Let's walk home together," she said, looping her arm through his without waiting for a response. "Just like old times."

Jake glanced at Yeri, his expression almost apologetic. "Uh, I'll see you tomorrow, Yeri?"

Yeri nodded quickly, stepping back as Soojin pulled Jake away. She stood there for a moment, watching them disappear down the hallway, her heart sinking even though she had no right to feel that way.

She didn't know why she felt so... upset. It wasn't like Jake owed her anything. But as she walked home alone, her mind kept replaying the way Soojin had so easily stepped into his world, the way she seemed to fit so effortlessly in a place Yeri could never imagine herself.

And for the first time in a long time, Yeri hated how invisible she felt.