𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Spiraling

Jake

Jake didn't consider himself a pessimist. Really, he didn't. But he was starting to think the universe just didn't want him to talk to Yeri. Because all week—all week—it was like she'd gone invisible on him. Or more accurately, completely uninterested.

He'd show up early to class, thinking maybe he'd catch her before she settled into her seat by the window. The one she always seemed to gravitate toward like a shy sunflower. Except, every morning, she was already there, scribbling away in her notebook like she hadn't slept in days. She never looked up when he walked by. Never met his eyes. And Jake tried to play it cool, even if the rejection stabbed him right in his ego.

He showed up at the library during break, fully prepared to pretend he needed help with English Lit or some other nonsense. Because honestly, Jake wasn't dumb. He could read. But if he had to fake struggling with analyzing metaphors just to get her to talk to him, then so be it.

Except, she wasn't there either. Just some random junior hogging her usual seat, who looked at Jake like he'd walked into the wrong classroom.

Jake practically tore his hair out trying to get answers. Ningning was no help—she just gave him this cryptic grin like she knew something he didn't. Sunoo, meanwhile, kept saying stuff like, "Maybe she's just busy," or, "Maybe you're just not that important."

Helpful. So. Freaking. Helpful.

By Friday, Jake was a wreck. His mind kept replaying the scene from the party over and over—Soojin pulling Yeri aside with that smile of hers that was about as genuine as the designer bags half their classmates carried. And Yeri's face when she'd left—defeated was the only word for it. Like she'd stepped on a puddle wearing new shoes.

He had tried to ask Soojin what she'd said to Yeri, but she just blinked at him with her classic, wide-eyed "Who, me?" act. If she hadn't been a girl, he would've punted her into next week.

Now, he was lying flat on his back on his bed, phone pressed against his ear as he complained to Heeseung.

"I think she hates me," Jake groaned, covering his face with his arm like it could somehow shield him from reality.

"Dude, no offense, but she's probably just avoiding you because you're acting like a stalker," Heeseung said bluntly.

"I'm not acting like a stalker."

"Oh, really? So the fact you memorized her schedule like a creepy obsessed serial killer means what exactly?"

Jake grumbled something unintelligible under his breath.

"Look, if she's ignoring you, she probably has a good reason," Sunghoon added, his voice sounding distant through the phone. "Or she's just busy."

"Yeah. Busy hating me," Jake mumbled.

Heeseung snorted. "Stop being dramatic."

"But she's... different. Like, really different. And I hate it."

Heeseung sighed. "Maybe she's just tired or something. People have lives, Jake. Not everything revolves around you."

Jake wanted to argue, but what would he even say? That Yeri should make time for him? Yeah, no. He sounded pathetic even in his own head.

He managed to get through the rest of the day without imploding. Barely. And that night, he crashed onto his bed, fully intending to sleep through the entire weekend if it meant not having to think about Yeri's indifferent gaze and clipped replies.

But then, Saturday morning, a package showed up at his doorstep. The universe's twisted way of giving him an opportunity.

He'd been over to her place once, so clearly he wasn't a stranger. And if he just happened to run into her while delivering her misplaced package, well, that was just a convenient coincidence, right?