Bump, Set, Kick?

Chapter 14

A/N: Congratulations! If YOU are reading this, then YOU are now a Wrinkly. Welcome to the Wrinklies Club.

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Ryujin's Perspective

"Well, have you talked to her?" Chaeryeong asks.

"Reongchae, I really don't wanna talk about this right now," Ryujin replies.

"Why not? When there's a problem, shouldn't we quickly fix it? What's the point in dragging it out when we know that it will be solved later in the future?"

"... it's... not that easy," Ryujin sighs.

"With that mindset, yeah," Yuna pipes up.

"huff, just give us time. I don't know about her, but I know that I'm not exactly thinking straight. My mind's all clouded and—"

"Yeah, you're anything but straight, that's for sure," Heejin mutters as the rest of the group laughs.

"—and it's best for the both of us to give each other space and time," Ryujin finishes as she rolls her eyes at the rest of them.

"But Ryujinnie, how do you feel?" Lila says, concerned about the wellbeing of her friend that she considers her own sister.

"M—me? I... It doesn't matter. As Chae said, I'm gonna get over it sooner or later, right?" Ryujin mumbles out.

"That is not what I meant! Oh my gosh, Ryujin! Ah, stupid!" Chaeryeong exasperatedly slams her hands on the table and hides her head in them.

Yuna sighs and looks at Ryujin in disappointment before patting Chaeryeong's back. Heejin shrugs and goes back to her food as Lila gives her another motherly, concerned look. She too, gets back to her food, only to notice there's nothing in front of Ryujin.

"Ryujinnie? Where's your foo—"

"Oh!" Minjee gasps, grabbing their attention.

The group looks at Minjee in confusion, even Chaeryeong lifts her head up to question the girl. However, the latter does a quick glance at Ryujin before looking down sheepishly.

"Minjee? What's wrong?" Heejin asks everyone's question.

Minjee might've replied. Minjee might've not replied. Ryujin would never know because she felt it. All her surroundings go silent, her group of friends, the birds chirping, the other students chattering in the other tables. It's as if they're destined. Destined to feel each other's stares. Destined to meet, even in uncomfortable and unfortunate circumstances. Ryujin knows who's staring at her. She knows, yet why is her heart thumping so fast?

Not able to dodge the inevitable, Ryujin turns. To others, it must've been in the span of a few seconds but to the two girls, it felt like everything was in slow motion as their eyes finally make contact.

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Beautiful.

"R—Ryujin."

Sweet.

"H—hi."

Cute.

"I—I didn't know you were sitting here... wait actually that's dumb. This is where we all usually sit during lunch, haha yeah," Yeji's face flushes red in embarrassment.

Adorable.

"Uh, um. I could, you know, leave. If you're uncomfortable. Yeah, that might be best."