𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 - 𝘚. 𝘑𝘢𝘦𝘺𝘶𝘯

Beach Day

The day in Jeju started with golden sunlight pouring through the thin hotel curtains, the scent of ocean breeze sneaking in through the barely cracked window. Yeri stirred in her bed, blissfully unaware of the chaos Ningning was about to unleash

Rise and SHINE, Yeri!" Ningning screeched like she was on her third espresso, throwing herself onto Yeri's bed dramatically. "It's a crime to waste sunshine like this. The beach is calling your name!"

"Tell it to call back later," Yeri mumbled, face,first into her pillow.

Yeri cracked one eye open. "I will literally combust if I wear that bikini."

"You'll look amazing and I will personally fight anyone who stares too long," Ningning said as she tossed the swimsuit at her. "Besides, it's not about them. It's about you feeling cute."

"I don't feel cute," Yeri muttered as she looked at herself.

Ningning marched over and grabbed her hand. "Then I'll make you. You're coming to the beach if I have to drag you in a towel like you're a burrito."

Yeri sighed, knowing full well she'd already lost. She eventually emerged from the bathroom wrapped tightly in a towel, clutching it like a life jacket.

As they walked toward the others by the hotel lobby, they passed Jake, who looked up from a cooler he was rummaging through. His eyes met hers for barely a second before flicking away.

"Oh," he said awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck. "Um... you're not... cold?" Well, it was summer here in Jeju.

Yeri blinked. "I'm fine."

He hesitated, then tugged at the hem of his shirt before pulling it off. It was soft and worn and smelled vaguely like laundry detergent and sea breeeze. Yeri blinked amd quickly diverted her eyes away, she was determined to look everywhere but at him.

"Here," Jake said, holding it out with both hands. "If you want. I mean—you don't have to. Just... thought maybe. You know. Comfort."

The tips of his ears were turning pink.

Yeri took it silently, her fingers brushing his. "Thanks."

He nodded like he'd just defused a bomb. "Cool. Okay. I'll, uh, go check on Sunoo before he sets something on fire."

As he walked off, Yeri stood there for a second, staring at the shirt in her hands.

It was just a shirt.

But it made her feel weirdly... seen.

The beach was loud and chaotic in the best way. Waves crashed in the distance. Sunoo was blasting music from a waterproof speaker. Karina and Giselle were taking selfies like it was their full time job. Niki was already knee deep in the ocean, screaming something about jellyfish and how he was going to die.

Yeri sat on a beach mat, legs curled underneath her, sipping from a pineapple cup. The shirt Jake gave her covered her just enough to feel safe, but she still felt the occasional sting of eyes—especially Soojin's. She was lounging under an umbrella like she was so,e model, sunglasses perched on her head, throwing glances in Jake's direction more than once.

Yeri hugged her knees closer.

But then Jake dropped down next to her, plopped a grape into his mouth, and whispered, "Hey. Want to come into the water?"

"I'm good here."

"You sure? Niki's already trying to dunk Heeseung. It's wild out there."

"I'll drown."

"You're taller than Sunoo."

"I'll still drown."

Jake tilted his head at her with a soft, teasing smile. "I'll make sure you don't."

Her stomach flipped, and before she could answer, Niki came charging up like a madman. "YERI. WATER. NOW."

"Wait—no—" she squealed as he scooped her up with terrifying ease, ignoring her protests.

"I don't wanna be part of this—Niki—let me go!" she laughed, flailing as he carried her toward the shoreline like a prize.

Jake was already wading into the water, shaking his head with a grin. "Niki, she said no."

"She's laughing. That's consent."

Yeri gasped, water splashing up to her calves as Niki plopped her into the ocean unceremoniously. She flailed toward Jake in panic—whether to yell at him or save herself, she didn't know—but Jake caught her with steady hands, his grip warm and firm around her waist.

"I got you," he said, barely above a whisper.

They were close—too close. His hands rested against her sides, his hair wet and sticking to his forehead, eyes twinkling with mischief. Water droplets glistened on his lashes. She couldn't breathe.

"You okay?" he asked, suddenly softer.

She nodded, barely.

Then someone splashed them—probably Sunoo—and chaos erupted. Laughter, water flying everywhere, Ningning shrieking dramatically as she dodged attckas. Jake kept a hand on Yeri's wrist like a lifeline the whole time, helping her duck under waves and dragging her back when she stumbled.

At one point, she splashed him in the face.

Jake blinked, water dripping down his nose.

"Oh, you're dead."

"No—Jake—NO—"

He lunged, sending them both tumbling backwards into the shallow water, both laughing, breathless. When they sat up, sand in their hair and cheeks flushed, their eyes met. It lingered—just a beat too long. Yeri's breath hitched. He looked at her like she was something fragile he didn't want to break.

She quickly looked away.

But Jake didn't.

By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm amber glow over the beach, the bonfire was already crackling. Someone had dragged out a speaker, mellow music playing softly under the sound of the waves. People huddled close, wrapped in towels and oversized shirts, cheeks pink from sun and laughter.

Yeri sat beside Jake near the fire, their knees brushing occasionally. He offered her roasted marshmallows, one perfectly golden, the other... slightly on fire.

"I made this one with love," he said, holding up the burnt one.

"You made it with trauma," she laughed.

As the fire danced in their eyes, there was something quieter about the way they sat together now. The space between them had shrunk—not physically, but emotionally. Their laughter had a softness to it. Their silence didn't feel awkward anymore.

Jake nudged her gently with his shoulder. "Today was fun."

Yeri nodded. "Yeah. I didn't expect it to be."

"You looked like you were having the time of your life screaming in the water."

"I was screaming because of you."

Jake smirked. "Still counts."

A breeze blew past, and she instinctively pulled her borrowed shirt tighter around her. Jake noticed.

"Do you regret coming?" he asked suddenly, his voice lower now, more careful.

Yeri looked at him, surprised. "What?"

"To Jeju. With everyone. Being... here."

She shook her head. "No. I think I needed this."

Jake's eyes didn't leave her. "Me too."

Something about the way he said it made her breath hitch.

From a little farther off, Soojin sat in a cluster of students, pretending to be invested in Sunjae's story. But her gaze flickered to the fire—and to Jake, who was now gently brushing sand off the hem of Yeri's towel like it was the most natural thing in the world.

The soft way he smiled at her.

The way Yeri didn't even seem to notice.

The way they looked like they belonged to some secret little universe no one else was invited into.

And that was when Soojin knew:
She had to remind Yeri that nothing good stays.