SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)

You don't have to run from me, Sophia 🫢😟

---

Days turned into weeks.

Sophia threw herself into work, her studies, and anything that could keep her mind from wandering into dangerous territory—into memories she didn’t want to relive.

Lucius was a ghost in her past, a name she refused to acknowledge. Every time her phone buzzed, and his name appeared, she ignored it. Deleted it. Buried it.

It was better this way.

She had worked too hard to be free, to build something of her own. She wasn’t going to let herself be dragged back into his world.

And yet…

There were moments, quiet ones, where she felt something pressing against her chest, something suffocating. At night, when exhaustion finally pulled her into sleep, she dreamed—not of the fights, not of the hurtful words, but of the warmth she had once known.

Then morning would come, and she would remind herself.

It was over.

It had to be.

---

Ji-hyun’s Return

"Annyeonghaseyo (Hello)!"

Sophia blinked as a familiar, high-pitched voice rang through the air. Before she could react, a blur of dark hair and endless energy crashed into her, nearly knocking her off balance.

"Ji-hyun?" Sophia gasped.

Ji-hyun grinned up at her, hugging her tightly. "Unnie! I missed you so much! You have no idea how awful school food is. I nearly died."

Sophia laughed, ruffling the younger girl’s hair. "You’re so dramatic."

"Facts are facts!" Ji-hyun huffed, before her expression softened. "You really haven’t visited. Not even once."

Sophia stiffened, stepping back. "I’ve been… busy."

Ji-hyun’s playful energy faltered. She searched Sophia’s face, eyes narrowing slightly. "It’s because of Oppa, isn’t it?"

Sophia didn’t answer.

Ji-hyun sighed, crossing her arms. "You guys really fought that bad?"

Sophia forced a smile. "It doesn’t matter anymore."

"But it does," Ji-hyun muttered, looking down. "I like you, Unnie. You’re the only one who treats me like a real person and not just Lucius Lee’s little sister."

Sophia’s chest ached, but she pushed the feeling down.

"I’m still here, Ji-hyun," she said gently. "That won’t change."

The younger girl didn’t look convinced, but she dropped the subject. Instead, she looped her arm through Sophia’s. "Then let’s hang out, okay? I refuse to let you work yourself to death."

Sophia rolled her eyes. "You sound like Jisoo and Minji."

"As I should!" Ji-hyun said dramatically. "Speaking of which, can I see the café you work at? I want to judge its aesthetic value."

Sophia groaned but couldn’t help smiling. "You’re ridiculous."

"And proud of it!"

---

Adrian had become an unexpected constant in Sophia’s life.

It had started subtly—small conversations at the library, accidental run-ins at the cafeteria. Then, suddenly, he was everywhere.