SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)

You've become my everything 🥺.

The sun had barely begun to rise when Sophia stirred from her sleep, her long lashes fluttering against her cheeks.

The cool morning air whispered through the slightly open window, making her shiver beneath the soft silk sheets.

She had always been a light sleeper, but today, an odd sense of anticipation tugged at her, pulling her out of her dreams.

Her mind replayed the events of the past few days—Mr. Lee’s growing protectiveness, the way his golden eyes softened whenever he looked at her, the stolen moments filled with tension and unspoken words.

But today felt different, as if something monumental was about to happen.

With a soft sigh, she turned over and buried her face into the plush pillow. A knock on the door startled her.

"Unnie! Wake up!" Ji-hyun’s excited voice called from the other side. "Come on, you can’t sleep all day!"

Sophia groaned. Ji-hyun had a habit of waking her up early, but today, the younger girl sounded more thrilled than usual. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and stretched, her nightgown slipping off her shoulder slightly before she tugged it back in place.

"Alright, alright, I’m up," she mumbled, voice still laced with sleep.

She swung her legs off the bed, her bare feet meeting the cold floor.

As she walked to the bathroom, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror—her wavy dark hair cascading over her shoulders, her skin glowing despite her grogginess.

After freshening up, she chose a simple yet elegant outfit: a cream-colored blouse and a long flowy skirt.

She hated tight clothes that accentuated her figure too much, preferring comfort over anything flashy.

As she tied her hair into a loose ponytail, Ji-hyun barged in. "Yah, you take too long!"

Sophia chuckled. "You’re just impatient."

Ji-hyun pouted but then grinned. "Did you hear? My school is resuming at the end of the week. That means I’ll finally be a grade 11 student! You have to help me pack!"

Sophia smiled, feeling a pang of nostalgia. She had just finished high school herself, and now Ji-hyun was moving up. "Of course, I’ll help. But I can’t believe it’s happening so soon."

Ji-hyun leaned in closer, a mischievous look in her eyes. "By the way, Oppa has been acting weird since last night."

Sophia’s breath hitched. "Weird how?"

The younger girl smirked. "He’s been staring at his phone like he wants to say something but then changes his mind. And he’s been restless. I think it has something to do with you."

Sophia rolled her eyes, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck. "You’re imagining things."

"Am I?" Ji-hyun sang teasingly before skipping out of the room.

Sophia shook her head with a small laugh before heading downstairs.

Breakfast and Unspoken Tension

The dining hall was lively with morning chatter. Crystal, always the motherly figure, was setting plates while Kai was already helping himself to an extra serving.

Penelope, however, sat stiffly in her seat, her eyes narrowing when she spotted Sophia entering.

Sophia greeted everyone and took a seat beside Ji-hyun. She could feel Penelope’s gaze on her but chose to ignore it.

"Did you sleep well?" Kai asked with a knowing grin.

"Yes," Sophia replied, reaching for a piece of toast. "Why?"