Book 1, Chapter 13
𝖴𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖡𝗎𝗌
Jisu was taken aback by how quickly time had flown by. Sitting on the long couch, she gazed out the window, where the sky had darkened to a rich shade of orange as dusk approached.
“Yuna, are you hungry? I’ll whip up something if you are,” Chaeryeong offered to the youngest, her voice drawing Jisu’s attention. She glanced over and caught the shared smile between the two, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“Anything, dulzuㅡum... eonni, hehe. I’m not fussy,” Yuna responded, almost slipping and calling Chaeryeong dulzura in front of Jisu. Jisu knew the meaning of the word in English, and it piqued her curiosity. Though they had only been hanging out for two months, Yuna and Chaeryeong seemed to have formed a bond remarkably fast.
Jisu wasn’t sure how to feel about it. She had been preoccupied with Ryujin lately, feeling guilty for neglecting opportunities to bond with her best friend. But at least Yuna was spending time with Chaeryeong.
Jisu was at Chaeryeong’s place, having accepted the latter’s invitation to catch up. They both missed the other’s company, but the reunion had taken an unexpected turn with Yuna’s surprise appearance at the door. Now, Jisu found herself watching her best friend lavish attention on their younger visitor.
Not that she was jealous. Well, maybe just a little.
She glanced at Yuna, her eyes narrowing in thought. There was something about the bond that seemed to be forming between her and Chaeryeong. Only she and Mrs. Choi had ever been free to enter Chaeryeong’s home without hesitation. And now Yuna had seemingly joined that exclusive club?
“Planning my mental demise, Jisu eonni?” Yuna teased, catching Jisu’s evaluative stare.
Raising an eyebrow, Jisu replied dryly, “Was it that obvious?”
Yuna gestured to her own face, a silent acknowledgment of the scowl that had betrayed Jisu’s thoughts.
“In any case,” Jisu began, startling Yuna with her sudden proximity, “Do you have feelings for my best friend?”
“H-Huh?!” Yuna’s response came out as a flustered stutter, and Jisu couldn’t help but find it amusing. She observed Yuna’s unease and fidgeting fingers with interest.
“That’s ridiculous, eonni. Why would you even think that?”
“Just a yes or no, Shin Yuna,” Jisu insisted, unfazed.
“No.”
Jisu blinked at the rapid response. She had been certain there was something between Yuna and Chaeryeong, especially with the romantic energy radiating from the younger girl.
Guess she’ll have to find another way to get to the truth.
“Hm, that’s a relief then,” Jisu said casually. “Someone’s been pestering me to set him up with Chaeryeong. Might as well give it a shot, right?”
Yuna’s brows furrowed in irritation. “You agreed to set her up with a stranger?”
And there it wasㅡthe spark of jealousy.
“Remember, you were once an outsider too. Doesn’t seem much different to me,” Jisu teased.
Yuna pressed her lips together, clearly holding back words, her restraint evident as she did her best to avoid disrespecting Jisu. That was the last thing she wanted.
“So...” Jisu slung an arm around Yuna’s shoulders, her voice light. “Got a thing for my best friend, or what?”
Yuna exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair in agitation. “Seriously?”
“Going once, going twice...”
“Yes, alright! Yes!” Yuna blurted out in exasperation, and Jisu’s grin widened, victorious.
“Hey, Chaeryeong!”
Yuna’s face turned bright red, her hands covering her face in horror. “No, eonni, please!” she pleaded, but Jisu only chuckled, reveling in her best friend’s distress.
“What’s up, Jisu eonni?”
Yuna slowly turned her back to Chaeryeong, still hiding her face with her hands as she tried to shield herself from the inevitable.
“Someone’s got a crush on you!” Jisu announced, a teasing gleam in her eyes.
Chaeryeong glanced at Yuna, her expression confused. “...Who?”
“I’m so done...” Yuna muttered under her breath, sinking lower into her seat.
“Shin Yuna,” Jisu said with a dramatic flourish.
Yuna’s face burned with mortification, her whole body tensing at the sound of her name.
“Yuna... likes me?”
Chaeryeong’s voice wavered with uncertainty, and Yuna slowly lifted her head, offering an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, eonni!” she said, her voice soft. She stood up and bowed deeply, a gesture that took Jisu by surprise. She had never realized Yuna harbored those feelings.
“Yuna-yah...”
“Chaeryeong eonni...?” Yuna straightened but kept her eyes lowered, unwilling to meet Chaeryeong’s gaze.
“You have feelings for me?”
“I... do. I’m terribly sorry, I understand it’s not ideal here and maybe you’re straightㅡ”
“I’m not,” Chaeryeong cut her off quickly, her voice betraying a rare uncertainty, confusion coloring her features. “Yuna--”
“You don’t have to do anything about how I feel! We can still be friends!” Yuna blurted out nervously, bowing again in a deep apology.
Chaeryeong approached her slowly, gently lifting her up by the arms, stopping her from bowing any further. As Yuna straightened, Chaeryeong leaned forward and kissed her forehead softly. “I feel the same... But let’s figure things out in due time, okay?”
Yuna gazed at her in awe, captivated by the tender gesture. She cradled Chaeryeong’s cheeks gently, and Chaeryeong instinctively leaned into her touch. With a soft, affectionate smile, Yuna whispered, “In the future, mi dulzura.”
YOU ARE READING
Roses and Thorns (Jinlia)
FanfictionIn a world that seemed straight out of a film, Jisu found herself caught in a delicate yet dangerous dance of love. Ryujin entered her life like a rose, beautiful yet fragile, wrapped in the uncertainty of chance. Both women were marked by the scars...
