𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Friend Request

The sunlight filtered through Yeri's curtains, casting soft patterns across her room as she sat on the floor, surrounded by piles of neatly folded clothes. Her suitcase lay open on her bed, waiting to be filled with the new outfits she and Ningning had picked out the day before. She reached for the last bag, pulling out its contents one by one—a light cardigan, a sundress, and then... the blue bikini.

Yeri froze, her fingers tightening around the fabric as her face flushed. Ningning had insisted she buy it, swearing up and down that she'd look "absolutely stunning." Yeri had caved under her friend's enthusiasm, but now, holding the tiny piece of clothing, she couldn't help but feel self conscious.

With a quick shake of her head, she shoved the bikini into the bottom of her suitcase, covering it with a stack of safer options—cardigans and her frilly skirts. Just as she zipped up the side pocket, a burst of laughter outside her window made her jump.

Her gaze snapped upward, and there they were—Jake and his friends, walking down the street. Jake's smile was easy, his head thrown back as he laughed at something Heeseung said. Yeri's heart gave an involuntary lurch as she watched him, the sun catching in his messy hair and casting a glow that made him look almost... unreal.

She shook her head, scolding herself. What are you doing? she thought, tearing her eyes away from the window. She'd never done this before—watching someone like this, feeling her stomach twist over a simple laugh or a fleeting glance. What was so special about him?

The sharp buzz of her phone pulled her out of her thoughts. She grabbed it off her nightstand, the screen lighting up with a notification: Friend request from PxrkSunjae_6.

Yeri blinked in surprise. Her account was practically deserted, something she rarely used and only shared with close friends. How had he even found her? She hesitated for a moment before tapping the notification, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened the app.

A message awaited her in her DMs.

Sunjae: "Hey, are you free later? I was thinking we could meet up at Cafe xx."

Her cheeks flushed as she read the message, her heart pounding. Park Sunjae—the vice president of the student council, one of the most admired boys in school—wanted to meet her? Park Sunjae was the type of boy whom every girl dreamed of. He had perfect grades, a kind smile and unreal visuals. It almost seemed like he'd walked out of a novel with the way he'd act.

Yeri bit her lip, chewing nervously as she stared at the message. She couldn't figure out why he of all people would take an interest in her. But the thought of declining felt worse than the anxiety bubbling up in her chest.

Her fingers hovered over the screen before she finally typed a reply.

Yeri: "Sure. What time?"

She hit send and tossed her phone onto the bed, falling back against the mattress with a soft groan. Her mind was a storm of confusion—between Jake and his stupid smile, and now Sunjae and his sudden interest in her.

The sound of another laugh drifted in through her window. She turned her head, stealing one last glance at Jake as he disappeared around the corner with his friends.

Her chest felt heavy. She didn't understand this—any of it. She wished it were Jake who'd sent that message instead.

___

i'm sorry for the short chapter ;)