𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Date?

Yeri tugged at her pink cardigan nervously, glancing at herself in the mirror for the hundredth time. She smoothed down the white skirt that fell just above her knees and adjusted her collar for what felt like the thousandth time. Her heart drummed unevenly in her chest, a mix of nervous anticipation and uncertainty clouding her thoughts. Why was she this nervous? It wasn't like she hadn't spent time with anyone before. But the thought of sitting across from Park Sunjae, one of the most admired boys in school, made her stomach churn.

Her eyes drifted to the bed where her phone sat. She sighed, grabbing her bag and slipping the phone inside. She had never been to a casual meet-up like this before—at least not with anyone outside of Ningning, Sunoo, or Jake.

Jake.

She froze in her tracks for a moment, his name echoing in her mind. Why did he keep popping up when she was supposed to be focused on something else? It wasn't fair. Shaking her head, she pushed the thought of him aside and opened the front door.

The cool air of the late afternoon greeted her as she stepped outside, a gentle breeze lifting strands of her hair. Her fingers played with the strap of her bag as she made her way to the café, her heart skipping a beat every now and then. What was it about Park Sunjae that had her feeling this way? Maybe it was the way he carried himself—his kind smile, his gentle demeanor, his attentive nature.

When she finally reached the café, the warm smell of coffee and baked goods wrapped around her like a comforting hug. She paused at the entrance, her gaze sweeping the room until it landed on him.

Park Sunjae sat by the window, his profile outlined by the soft golden sunlight streaming through the glass. He looked calm and peaceful, his fingers wrapped around a mug as he glanced out the window. For a moment, Yeri just stared, her breath catching in her throat.

It felt like stepping into a daydream.

"Yeri," Sunjae said warmly as she approached the table, standing up and offering her a smile. "I'm glad you came."

"Oh, of course," she replied, her voice a little higher than usual as she sat down. She clutched her bag on her lap, unsure of what to do with her hands.

He gestured to the menu in front of her. "Order whatever you'd like. It's on me."

"Thanks," she murmured, scanning the menu even though she wasn't sure she could eat anything with how tightly her stomach was tied in knots.

Sunjae's easygoing smile and gentle conversation helped her relax a little as the minutes ticked by. He asked her about school, her hobbies, her plans for the Jeju trip. He listened intently, nodding at the right moments and making her feel like the center of his attention.

For a while, Yeri felt... okay. Almost comfortable, even.

Meanwhile, Jake was pacing his bedroom like he'd throw up any minute.

"You're going to wear a hole in the floor," Sunoo teased, sprawled out on Jake's bed with a lazy grin.

"She's meeting Park Sunjae," Jake muttered, more to himself than anyone else. His mind lingering back to the message ningning had sent him, notifying him of the meet up.

"And?" Sunoo pressed, raising an eyebrow.

"And I don't like it," Jake snapped, stopping in his tracks. "Why would she want to hang out with him, anyway?"

"Because he's Park Sunjae," Jungwon said matter of factly from where he was scrolling on his phone. "Perfect grades, perfect smile, perfect—"

Jake glared at him. "I get it."

Sunoo sat up, looking far too entertained. "So, what are we going to do about it?"

"We're going to the café," Jake declared, grabbing his jacket.

Jungwon groaned, throwing his head back. "This is so unnecessary."

But despite his protests, both Sunoo and Jungwon followed him out the door.

When they reached the café, Jake's heart sank the moment he saw her. Yeri was sitting at a table by the window, laughing softly at something Sunjae had said. Her pink cardigan made her look soft, almost ethereal, and Jake hated how natural she seemed with Sunjae.

He felt Sunoo nudge him. "Well? Are we going in, or are we just going to stand here?"

Jake didn't respond, pushing open the door with a little too much force. The bell above the door jingled loudly, and Yeri's head snapped up in surprise.

Her face lit up when she saw them, her confusion melting into a soft smile. "Oh, hey! What are you guys doing here?"

Jake forced a smile, walking over. "Just... in the area."

Sunoo grinned. "What a coincidence, huh?"

Sunjae's expression remained calm, but his eyes flickered toward Jake with a hint of something that could be mistaken for annoyance. "We were just catching up," he said softly.

"Mind if we join you?" Jake asked, not waiting for a response before pulling out a chair next to Yeri.

Sunjae's jaw tightened, but he said nothing as Sunoo and Jungwon sat down as well. Yeri, oblivious to the growing tension, started chatting with Sunoo, her laughter light as they joked around.

Jake, however, couldn't focus. His eyes kept drifting to Sunjae, who sat across from him with a polite but stiff smile. The tension between them was obvious, and it took everything in Jake not to glare outright at his stupid face.

As the evening wore on, the group eventually decided to call it a night. When they stepped outside, Sunjae immediately turned to Yeri.

"Let me walk you home," he offered, his tone confident.

But Jake was quicker. "She lives across from me," he said casually, stepping closer to Yeri. "I'll walk her."

Sunjae hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly, but Yeri smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Sunjae. I'll see you tomorrow." She was glad Jake had offered.

Jake didn't miss the way Sunjae's jaw ticked as he walked away, a small satisfied smirk sat on his plump lips.

The walk home was quiet at first, the night air cool and crisp. Yeri clutched her bag, her thoughts swirling as she tried to process the strange tension she had felt at the café. Did they not like each other? Why did he offer to sit with them then?

Jake walked beside her, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. "Did you have fun?" he asked suddenly, his voice breaking the silence.

She glanced at him, startled. "Yeah. Sunjae's really nice."

"Guess so," Jake muttered, his tone hard to read.

When they reached her house, Yeri turned to thank him. But before she could say a word, Jake stepped closer. He reached out, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, his touch lingering for just a moment. He took in her features, imprinting them into his mind.

"Goodnight, Yeri," he said softly, his voice warm and low.

Yeri froze, her heart hammering in her chest. His words from before echoed in her mind— Goodnight, pretty.

Her cheeks flushed, the memory making her head spin as Jake took a step back, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"See you tomorrow," he added, his gaze lingering on her for a second longer before he turned and walked away.

Yeri stood there for a moment, staring after him. Her hand slowly rose to touch the spot where his fingers had brushed against her hair, her cheeks still burning as she whispered to herself, "Goodnight."