𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Nothing Good Happens After Midnight

The hum of excitement hadn't left since dinner. Their room still smelled faintly of sugar and sea breeze as Yeri sat cross-legged on the bed, folding a hoodie she was probably never going to wear. Across from her, Ningning was sprawled out, legs dangling off the edge, babbling without pause.

"I mean—Jake literally cut Sunjae off every time he tried to talk to you," she grinned, kicking her feet. "Like, at this point just write her name across your forehead, bro. It's tragic."

Yeri shook her head, cheeks warm. "You're overthinking... He was probably just—" Theres no way Jake liked... her.

"—jealous," Ningning finished with a wicked smirk. "And not to mention he gave you his shirt yesterday!"

Yeri's about to mumble a quiet protest when Ningning's phone buzzed on the nightstand. The glow of the screen cast strange shadows against the ceiling as she reached for it.

Her brows rose. "Oh?"

Yeri blinked. "What is it?"

Ningning turned the screen dramatically. A message, plain and mysterious : 
"Party. Rooftop. Midnight."

Yeri's stomach plummeted. "No way."

"Yes way." Ningning was already sitting up. "This is it. The unspoken, unwritten rule of all school trips. The forbidden party." She said drsmitcslly as if she'd just found her life's purpose.

Yeri's lips parted, horrified. "What if we get caught? What if this is a setup? What if this is actually a—"

"Yeri. You're spiraling. Again," Ningning said with a fond eye roll, already rifling through her suitcase. "Wear that dress. The cute one. You'll thank me later."

Yeri watched her best friend in disbelief. But an hour later—against every anxious fiber in her body—she was standing on the rooftop, lights flashing, music pulsing, and regret already bubbling at the base of her throat.

She gripped her phone like a lifeline, sticking to Ningning's side like glue until—

"Sunoo's there! I'll be back, okay? Don't look so scared, you look adorable!" Ningning chirped, disappearing into the crowd before Yeri could blink.

She was alone.

The wind was stronger up here, tousling her hair, making her feel like she was hovering just slightly outside her body. Everyone around her looked like they belonged. She didn't. Not really.

She found herself wandering toward the balcony, escaping the haze of bodies and bass, letting her hands rest on the cool railing. Below, the city lights blinked like stars that had decided to descend.

And then—

"Hey."

She turned, startled. Sunjae was there, drink in hand, eyes soft. "Didn't think I'd find you out here."

"I didn't mean to come," she admitted quietly, voice barely above the wind. "Ningning dragged me."

Sunjae chuckled, taking a step closer. "You always let her drag you into things?"

She gave a small smile. "Sometimes." Correction, all the time.

He tilted his head, taking her in like she was some kind of fragile artwork. "You look really pretty tonight, Yeri."

She blinked, caught off guard. Before she could respond, someone behind them laughed too loudly. A drink spilled. The music shifted to something deeper, heavier. She flinched.

Sunjae noticed. "Hey. Are you okay?"

Her eyes welled. She didn't mean for them to. But there it was—sudden, unexplainable overwhelm washing over her. She shook her head, wiping her eyes quickly. "I—I don't know. I just..."

"Too much?"

She nodded.

He set his drink aside and opened his arms a little. "C'mere."

She hesitated, just for a second. Then she stepped forward, pressing her face into his shoulder as she tried to steady her breathing. It wasn't romantic. It wasn't calculated. It just...was.

He whispered something—some dumb joke or soft reassurance—she couldn't even remember what it was. But it made her laugh through the sniffles, and she wiped her cheeks, offering a small smile.

That's when Jake walked in.

He hadn't been looking for Sunjae.

He'd been looking for her.

And Soojin—smirking as always—had whispered, "They're together. I saw them head that way. They're pretty close, you know." 

And he believed her.

So now he stood there, watching Yeri—his Yeri, or the girl he wished was—with her face tucked into Sunjae's shoulder, smiling, laughing through her tears. Her fingers briefly brushed his arm as she pulled away, and Sunjae tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. His fingers brushing against her waist.

It looked like a kiss. They were Kissing.

He felt it—sharp, bitter—somewhere between his ribs. A twist. A burn.

He turned around.

Soojin was right behind him.

He walked past her. She followed. They disappeared down the staircase.

___

He didn't remember what she said, not really. Something about how Yeri would always pick someone like Sunjae over him. Something about how Jake was just too obvious. Something cruel—but it made sense in the moment.

He wasn't thinking. He was spiraling.

And when Soojin leaned in, he didn't stop her. He let her lips meet his. She kissed him like she'd been waiting for the moment to ruin something. He let her. He imagined her. The possibility of hus pianist kissing him instead.

Just for a second.

And that's when he heard the voice.

"Jake?"

He pulled away.

Yeri stood at the top of the stairs, her eyes wide, her lips parted in silent horror.

She had come to find him. To tell him something. Something she had to confess. It was eating her whole.

But it was too late.

Soojin smirked behind him. Jake reached forward like he could undo what had just happened.

"Yeri—"

She turned. And ran.

His hand dropped.

He was so, so fucked.