Roses and Thorns (Jinlia)

𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲 | her personal space

Book 1, Chapter 12
Her Personal Space

WITH EACH critical point the professor highlighted, Jisu's pen danced across her notebook, capturing every essential detail of the two-hour lecture. As the session wrapped up with a cordial goodbye from the lecturer, the familiar post-class ritual began.

“Jisu, got all that?” The inevitable query came her way, a question she's grown accustomed to, though it occasionally wears her thin.

“Yep,” she replied, her smile unwavering.

“But how exactly?” It wasn't just the first classmate; another voice chimed in, revealing a shared confusion among her peers. “Honestly, his teaching style goes right over my head too,” another classmate admitted, moving closer. Soon, Jisu found herself at the center of a growing circle, inadvertently shielding Ryujin from view.

“Hold up, everyone,” Jisu interjected with a laugh, urging for some order. “Let's make some space, okay?” Her request was met with immediate action, easing the congestion. Jisu couldn't help but worry for Ryujin, who loathed being in crowded spaces. She knew Ryujin was probably struggling to keep her cool amidst the throng of students now separating them.

“Just ignore him,” she advised, sparking a wave of shock among her peers. “Hold on, don't jump to conclusions!” she quickly clarified, laughing off their misunderstanding. “Here's the real deal: tune out his voice and skip his verbal explanations. Instead, zero in on whatever he's jotting down on the board. Let the written words guide you, not his confusing talk.” Jisu laid out her study strategy with confidence, ready to wrap up her impromptu advice session. Then, a lightbulb moment had her snapping her fingers in realization. “Oh, and keep an ear out for those golden nuggets of info he drops,” she added, her tip session closing with her trademark dazzling smile. Her classmates showered her with praise and appreciative pats on the back and head before dispersing from the room.

Breaking the silence, Ryujin ventured a question. “Have you always been this way?”

“Been what way?” Jisu echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion at Ryujin's query.

“That way,” Ryujin motioned towards the door, “Friendly and bubbly.”

“Yeah, it's just part of my nature,” Jisu replied with a casual shrug. “By the way, I'm sorry about earlier. That whole scene is pretty much the norm around here.”

“Honestly, I almost clocked the guy in front of me earlier,” Ryujin confessed, her gaze fixed solely on Jisu, who blinked in surprise at the revelation. “He was too close to my personal space.”

“Glad you held back,” Jisu replied with a nervous chuckle.

“Yeah, didn't want to blow our cover,” Ryujin agreed. “And I wouldn't want to tarnish your reputation either.”

Jisu resisted the urge to tease Ryujin, appreciating the concern beneath her cold exterior.

“Let's grab something to eat,” Jisu suggested, rising to her feet.

“Let's head off-campus. I'm tired of the university food,” Ryujin declared.

“But there are more people out there,” Jisu pointed out.

“So what? I've got you with me.”

Those last five words caught Jisu off guard.

As they walked, Jisu's mind raced. Ryujin's willingness to leave the safety of campus, despite the crowds, spoke volumes. But before Jisu could press for an explanation, Ryujin spoke up.

“You keep me grounded, in a way. I feel comfortable with you. With you around, I can handle anything. So hurry up, I'm starving,” Ryujin's words left Jisu stunned, a curious warmth spreading through her chest.

“On it, Miss Shin,” Jisu replied, quickening her pace to match Ryujin's stride, her mind buzzing with newfound understanding.

──⇌••⇋──

Jisu glanced around the restaurant Ryujin had chosen, struck by its blend of sophistication and homeliness. She hadn't been aware of this hidden gem before, likely due to her packed schedule.

At the moment, Ryujin was up at the counter placing their orders, having firmly decided to treat Jisu to lunchㅡa proposal Jisu accepted without resistance to avoid any playful squabbles.

“Jisu?” Her attention was drawn upward as Yeji appeared before her, her trademark smile lighting up her features.

“Hey there!” Jisu greeted warmly in response.

Taking a seat opposite her, Yeji quipped, “Still looking fabulous, I see,” earning a chuckle from Jisu. “Are you flying solo today?”

“Not at all. My friend is currently sorting out our orders,” Jisu replied with a smile, before turning the question back to Yeji, “And what brings you here?”

“I've heard great things about this place, so I thought I'd check it out myself,” Yeji shared, her hand finding Jisu's on the tabletop. With a hint of apprehension in her voice, she ventured, “Would you, maybe, like to go out with me sometime?”

Jisu's eyebrows lifted in surprise, “You mean, like a da--”

“Absolutely not. She's not going on a date with you. Not now, not ever,” Ryujin cut in, her tone icy and sharp, causing Jisu's heart to thump wildly with unease. Yeji's gaze snapped up to Ryujin, confusion and annoyance flaring in her eyes at the unexpected interruption.

“Excuse me?” Yeji snapped back, clearly irked by Ryujin's intrusion into her moment with Jisu. Jisu watched the exchange between them, her eyes darting back and forth, sensing the tension. She couldn't help but wonder, They're not going to start a scene right here, are they?

“Get lost. We're about to have our lunch,” Ryujin said with a cold edge, prompting a mock laugh from Yeji. The air crackled with tension, and Jisu felt her anxiety spike. The last thing she wanted was to be the epicenter of a brewing storm.

“And since when do you get to order me around?” Yeji retorted, her frustration evident. Ryujin kept her cool, her face a mask of calm. Standing abruptly, Yeji's chair slammed back, her glare locked on Ryujin.

“Um, Yeji? That's actually the friend I was waiting for,” Jisu intervened, hoping to dissolve the standoff. She flashed an apologetic smile, wishing for nothing more than Yeji's graceful exit.

“Fine. Alright,” Yeji said, her gaze lingering on Jisu.

“Thanks, Yeji,” Jisu replied, offering a grateful nod. Without another word, Yeji stormed off, and Jisu exhaled a sigh of relief, grateful the confrontation was over.

“That girl is so stubborn. I want to knock some sense into her,” Ryujin muttered darkly.

“Hey!” Jisu chided. “Let's not entertain violent thoughts, okay?”

“Pardon the interruption,” a waiter said, setting their food down. “Enjoy your meal,” he added, before quickly departing.

“You know, you're quite adorable when you're flustered,” Ryujin observed, leaving Jisu momentarily speechless.

Wait, isn't that line familiar? Jisu wondered to herself.