╰┈➤ ❝ [ I only see daylight, daylight, daylight, daylight  ] ❞

"I'M GOING TO START. ARE YOU READY?" Soo-ah asked, her gloved hands hovered over Kim Ji-an's head like she was about to perform surgery instead of dye her hair. Soo-ah was actually a little nervous, feeling like all the pressure was on her, which it was. At first, she had been excited about the idea but now she couldn't help but hesitate. Ji-an's heart gave a nervous flutter, but she managed a smile. What was the worst that could happen?

Before Soo-ah could start, Soo-jin interrupted from behind the mirror. "Shouldn't you, I don't know, be doing this with an actual stylist? A professional?" Her eyes darted between the box of dye and Ji-an's reflection, clearly unsure. She didn't want Ji-an to make a decision she would later on regret.

Kim Ji-an on the other hand, was the calmest out of the whole group, that's what she tried to portray at least. The cherry flavored lollipop on her mouth stained her mouth a crimson color. She removed the lollipop from her mouth. "Oh absolutely, but I want you guys to do it. And if it turns out bad, at least I'll have a new reason to end my misery."

"Don't say that." Rolling her eyes, Soo-jin shot back, lightly smacking the back of her head.

Ji-an pouted, rubbing the spot, but couldn't help chuckling. "It's going to look good. Have some faith. When have one of my plans failed?"

"Fake dating Han Seo-jun didn't exactly work out," Soo-ah muttered. Her eyes widened as soon as the words left her mouth. "Too soon?"

Kim Ji-an's jaw dropped in disbelief. "Just dye my hair!"

From her spot on Ji-an's bed, Jug-yeong chimed in, "If it doesn't work out, we can always ask my mom for help. She knows a lot about that stuff."

Ji-an shot her a grateful smile. Then she turned her attention back to Soo-ah, who was still holding the bottle of dye. "So, are you doing it or no?"

Soo-ah bit her lip, a groan leaving her lips as she caved. "Fine but if it turns out horrible, I don't want the blame to be thrown at me. I was the one pressured into doing it." Shaking the bottle one last time, she began to apply the hair dye with surprising precision, section by section. They had listened to Jug-yeong's advice and sectioned Ji-an's hair into four sections for better application.

"You're all so dramatic." Ji-an teased, pointing her lollipop around while she spoke. She saw Soo-jin's skeptical look through the mirror. "It's not like I'm dying my hair platinum blonde—it's just a light brown."

Soo-jin shrugged, eyeing the box dye warily. "You never know. This stuff could be defective........or Soo-ah could totally screw it pp."

"Hey!" Soo-ah turned to Soo-jin with a piercing glare, not appreciating the vote of confidence. "Then do it yourself Miss Perfect!"

Soo-jin threw the box back on Ji-an's vanity. "I'll pass, but thanks for the offer." She walked over to where Jug-yeong was by the bed and flopped down on the soft mattress. Enjoying the comfort of the material.

Jug-yeong watched Soo-ah work, hoping Ji-an's hair would come out like it was supposed to. A couple of minutes passed, and Soo-ah was applying dye on the last section of hair, when a sudden question formed on Jug-yeong's mind. "Ji-an, the modeling agency knows about this right?"

The question made Ji-an freeze, her reaction making Soo-ah pause on her actions, and Soo-jin who was on the verge of falling asleep, rose from the bed at the silence following Jug-yeong's words.

Ji-an grinned sheepishly, "I might've forgotten?"

"What?!" Soo-ah shouted, her eyes staring in horror at her friend.

"Kim Ji-an!" Soo-jin called out in shock, her sleepiness long gone at her friend's careless behavior.

"Okay, I didn't forget." She admitted. Ji-an would've never forgotten about such an important detail. "I just wanted to feel in control of something. I really want to do this and the chances of them saying no are pretty high, so im better off by asking for forgiveness than asking for permission."

"Great, so now not only do we have to worry about this coming out good, but also about you losing your one and only job." Soo-ah said, as she finished applying the remaining dye. She made sure every strand of hair was coated in the mixture and once that was done, she grabbed a disposable plastic cap and carefully placed it on Ji-an's head. The cap helped as a way for the color to penetrate better as it trapped the heat from the scalp, ending in better color results.

"How long am I supposed to leave this on for?"

"Around 30 to 35 minutes." Jug-yeong responded.

Taking off the dirty gloves, Soo-ah sighed dramatically. She grabbed her phone and set a timer. "There. Fingers crossed you don't end up looking like a disaster."

Smirking, Ji-an turned on her chair to face her friends. "I trust your skills. Mostly."

Soo-jin let out a mocking gasp, collapsing dramatically into Ji-an's bed. "Mostly? After all we've been through, that's how much faith you have in us?"

"Us?" Soo-ah scoffed and threw a pillow at the girl, "All you did was criticize my work. Jug-yeong and I were the only ones helping."

Ji-an laughed, the action causing her nerves to begin fading. Her friends banter and antics helping a lot. "If this goes wrong, I'll blame you guys."

Jug-yeong grinned from the edge of the bed, her phone on her hand as she mindlessly scrolled. "Don't worry, my mom will save you if all else fails. Worst case, you'll just have to wear a hat for a week or two."

Ji-an finished eating the last of her lollipop. She leaned back on her seat, her attention on Jug-yeong. "So, don't think we forgot. How was your date with Hyung-gin?"

Jug-yeong looked up from her phone, her eyes wide and a blush covering her cheeks. "I think it was good. I had fun and he asked me to go on a second date."

Soo-ah raised her eyebrows in excitement. "The date when more than well if he wants a second date."

"Do you want a second date?" Soo-jin asked.

Jug-yeong looked unsure about the question. "I think so?"

Ji-an tilted her head deciding to help the girl with her confusion. "I think you should go on the second date. Get to know him more and see if he's someone you see yourself being with."

"I agree." Soo-ah said. "He's a friend of mine so I know Hyung-gin is a good guy, but just because of that it doesn't mean he's the one for you. So don't feel rushed."

Jug-yeong nodded, deciding to follow her friends' advice. They clearly knew more than her about relationships.

↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷

"I don't know what we were worrying about so much. Your hair turned out beautiful." Soo-ah said for the umpteenth time since they dyed Ji-an's hair the day before.

Jug-yeong nodded, holding out her hand to brush a lock of Ji-an's now light brown hair. "I love the color. It looks like it was done by a professional."

Soo-ah grinned proudly, feeling proud of her accomplishment. "Maybe I should ditch my college plans and become a stylist instead."

"Let's not get too ahead of ourselves now." Soo-jin interjected, giving Soo-ah a gentle pat on her shoulder. "We all know how your impulsive ideas usually end up." Then she turned to Ji-an who was walking beside her. "But seriously, your hair looks beautiful."

Jug-yeong giggled. "I wonder how Han Seo-jun will react once he sees you."

Ji-an almost choked on the iced coffee she was drinking, the words catching her off guard. She hadn't really thought about what his reaction would be. For some reason, she hoped it was a good one. "Why would it matter what he thinks?"

Soo-ah had a knowing look on her face, Soo-jin's expression was harder to spot as she only shrugged, and Jug-yeong simply smiled with an innocent look. Then Soo-ah spoke, her voice turning more serious. "Now that you guys aren't dating, has anyone suspected anything?"

"As far as I know, nobody knows."

Suddenly, Cho-rong's loud voice boomed through the hallway as he appeared in front of them, successfully startling the four girls and making them stop in their tracks. "What? You're not dating Han Seo-jun anymore?! Is that true?!" The boy's words were rushed with surprise, moving almost animatedly which grabbed the attention of others.

Ji-an's eyes were wide, her heart sinking. This was exactly what she wanted to avoid: the eyes of her classmates, filled with curiosity and judgement. She felt the blood rush to her cheeks, at the feeling of being watched by everyone. Sighing heavily, she wanted to curse her bad luck. Finding no point in lying, she admitted the truth with a bit of caution, not knowing what reaction her words would bring. "Um- yeah, we are not together anymore."

The tall boy let out a dramatic wail. A mix of annoyance and frustration was in his voice. "Why do I always find out about this stuff from everyone except Seo-jun?!" He unexpectedly moved forward, pulling Ji-an into a quick hug. It was meant to reassure her, but she felt more embarrassed than anything. His arms squeezed her smaller frame and Ji-an awkwardly patted his back. When he pulled away, he said, "Don't worry, Ji-an. I'll try to fix this!"

"What? No, you don't-" But it was too late, the boy was already gone.

When Ji-an looked around, she felt the weight of dozens of eyes on her. They had clearly heard everything. Could this day get any worse?

↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷

That same day they were all going to present their projects. Kim Ji-an was nervous. Usually, she wasn't bothered by this type of stuff, but now that the everyone knew she and Seo-jun had broken up, rumors spread around like wildfire in less than an hour. Some people speculated that she had only used Han Seo-jun to move on from Lee Su-ho. Others were completely sure she'll be getting back with Su-ho in no time now that she was single again, and then there were the few that thought her break up with Seo-jun was temporary and that they would get back together soon.

All the gossip was beginning to overwhelm her, but she did her best to act unbothered, even if on the inside she wanted to run away. The thought of standing in front of the whole class under their criticizing eyes, sounded terrible. When Kim Ji-an entered the classroom, she made her way to where all the projects had been placed. She didn't pay any mind to the fact Han Seo-jun hadn't arrived yet. She just dismissed it by thinking he was in the bathroom or just like her dreading having to present.

Lee Su-ho was quick to spot the girl when she entered the classroom. He had been one of the first to arrive to the classroom, eager to finish the last details of the project him and Tae-hoon worked on. He had already heard the speculations circulating about them and Seo-jun. He couldn't help but worry about how Jian was handling it. He wished he could help but acting now when the news were fresh might only make everything worse.

When his gaze landed on the girl, his heartbeat quickened. She had dyed her hair a light shade of brown. A small but significant change to her appearance—suiting her in a way that enhanced her pretty features. She looked beautiful as always. Su-ho forced himself to look away, not wanting to draw her attention.

Kim Ji-an's calmness slipped away, when the seconds turned into minutes and there was still no sight of Han Seo-jun. Quickly, Ji-an approached one of Seo-jun's friends. "Hey, have you seen Han Seo-jun?"

The boy shook his head, surprised by the girl's sudden approach. "No, I'm pretty sure he didn't come to school to today."

Ji-an's stomach dropped at his words, and she fought to display her wave of frustration. No way this was happening. She gave him a fake smile as a million of thoughts filled her mind. "Thanks."

She went back to her desk and grabbed her phone. Finding Seo-jun's contact, she texted him. Her fingers hit the screen harder than needed as she gave the boy a piece of her mind.

—Kim Ji-an

You jerk!

Seriously, Han Seo-jun?

You just ditched the presentation without a word? I get that you helped me with the project, but it's pathetic that you couldn't even be bothered to show up. You know I take this stuff seriously, if you didn't want to present at least you could've told me beforehand. But I guess this is my fault for believing you were changing. I don't know why I even bother, you clearly don't care. I swear if I see your face, I'll punch the living hell out of you for doing this to me.

Hitting send, the girl ran a hand through her hair, almost pulling at it as she stared at the project laying on her desk. She began reading through what was supposed to be Seo-jun's part, hoping to get familiar with the information and not make a fool out of herself. A bunch of thoughts filled her mind, ones like, What if I mess up? What if now because of Seo-jun's absence, I get a bad grade?

Ji-an hid her face with her hands, her chest feeling like it would explode. Her stress only increasing when Mr. Han walked into the classroom. He started taking attendance, feeling pleased with the amount of students present. Then he got to Han Seo-jun's name. The man paused, looking up from his computer to search for the boy. When he didn't see him in his assigned seat, Mr. Han turned his attention to Ji-an.

"Han Seo-jun is absent?"

The girl nodded, her foot tapping the floor repeatedly.

Sighing in disappointment, Mr. Han asked, "Would you be okay presenting alone?"

No.

"Yeah." Ji-an responded. Her voice was soft as she attempted to ignore the multiple eyes staring at her. There were soft murmurs that followed after her statement about Seo-jun's absence which became background music to her speeding thoughts. She caught sight of her friends sending reassuring smiles, helping a tad bit with her anxiety.

Mr. Han nodded, giving her a look of sympathy before continuing down the list. The teacher really thought Han Seo-jun was getting better with his school work. He had been observing the boy, and he took notice on how much he was into the project. Not only was he doing what he was supposed to do, but he also helped Kim Ji-an. It didn't make sense for him to miss presentation day after all the effort he placed into the project.

↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷

After the presentation, Ji-an stepped outside, letting the cool breeze wash over her flushed face. She hadn't expected presenting alone to be so nerve-wracking. It shouldn't have been a big deal—she was used to standing on her own. But today felt different. If Seo-jun had been there, she might have even enjoyed it. That thought alone irritated her.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she made her way back into the school. As she wandered down the hallway, the faint sound of music drifted from the chorus room. Just then, Go-woon stepped out, smiling brightly when she spotted her.

"Hey, Ji-an!" The girl grinned, quickly hugging her. "Are you okay? I know you were supposed to present today with Seo-jun."

Kim Ji-an forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just finished it, actually. It was..." she paused, searching for the right word. "Interesting."

Go-woon frowned, picking up on the tension in her voice. "You don't sound fine. Is something up with Seo-jun?"

The girl let out a short laugh. "Other than ditching me, we are fine." Her tone was light, but held an edge to it. "I'm guessing you've heard we aren't together anymore?"

"Yeah, I heard but I didn't want to assume anything until one of you confirmed it." Her voice softened, "I've also seen you two still hanging out, so I thought it was just rumors."

Feeling caught, Ji-an fiddled with her shirt. "It's was mostly because of the project." Even to her own ears, the excuse felt weak. But it was the only reasonable explanation she could offer. Everyone believed their relationship was real, and Ji-an wanted to keep it that way. She didn't want to even think about how people would react if they knew everything was a scheme to make Lee Su-ho jealous. "But telling you the truth, we both agreed on staying as friends so..."

Ji-an trailed off, not knowing what else to say. The words were very familiar, causing her mind to think of Lee Su-ho. They had agreed on staying as friends despite the love they still held for each other. As much as Ji-an wanted to stay close to him, talk about how he's feeling and act like actual friends did, she needed time for herself. Time to figure out how to handle her feelings and not let them get the best of her. Right now, being close to Su-ho only magnified the ache in her heart, and that was the last thing she needed.

Go-woon hesitated, then said carefully, "Well, I wanted to tell you that Seo-jun's been sick for a few days. He didn't even tell me he was skipping today, so I figured he at least let you know, since you had to present alone."

Ji-an froze. Her mind raced. Sick? Why hadn't he said anything? That familiar mix of guilt and concern bubbled up again. "No," she replied slowly, her voice tight. "He didn't tell me anything."

Both emotions were overpowering. Ji-an thought back to what she wrote in the message, feeling like a terrible person for reacting that way. She shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. She should've had more faith in Seo-jun and not immediately assume the worst thing. Was he even okay? Her heart beat loudly in her chest as her worry increased. "Is he okay?"

"He's been having pretty bad fevers. Our mom told him to go to the doctor, but you know how my brother is, he never likes to feel like a burden so he insisted he was fine." She sighed, "Don't worry, I'm sure he'll be okay. He's not that easy to get rid off." The girl joked trying to lighten the mood.

Ji-an's mind was still racing. "Thank you, for letting me know. I'll see you around."

Not wasting any second, the girl made her way to the school's office. One of the perks about being one of the top students, was the favoritism the principal held for them. All she had to do was make up some lame excuse about not feeling well and she was allowed to leave school. She quickly texted her friends letting them know she left school and that she was okay. It was an impulsive decision. She didn't even stop to think about what she was doing. She didn't have a plan either. Just an unshakable urgency. Her feet carried her to the nearest store, the exact one Seo-jun had taken her weeks ago. With a basket in hand, Ji-an stared at the shelves, suddenly feeling lost.

What was she exactly doing?

Instinctively, Ji-an moved around the store, filling the basket with Seo-jun's favorite snacks and drinks. Not knowing exactly what Seo-jun's sickness was, she grabbed a couple of different bottle medicines and some pills. She hoped at least one of them could improve the boy's health. Each item felt like an unspoken apology for the message she had sent earlier. Her guilt for her harsh words resulted in her buying more items than needed but she didn't care. The second the words left Go-woon's mouth an unknown force urged her to spring into action. This wasn't about just him being sick, it was something else she couldn't exactly place at the moment. Something that both frightened and confused her.

With both bags in hand, Kim Ji-an took the bus. On the ride to Seo-jun's house, she tried to not overthink what she had just done. Distracting herself with the music playing on her headphones, faster than she anticipated the bus came to a halt, arriving at the stop closest to Seo-jun's home. Hesitating, the girl stopped in front of the door, wondering how she should go on about the situation. Years had passed since she had last done something like that for Seo-jun. She never thought she'll find herself in that position again. Yet, here she was. Just when her fist was about to collide with the wooden surface, the door opened causing Ji-an to slightly flinch.

"Kim Ji-an?" It was Mi-hyang. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at school?"

Ji-an smiled shyly, "Go-woon told me about Seo-jun's condition, so I bought him some stuff." She raised the bags, showing the woman what she had gotten. "I hope you don't mind my unexpected visit."

"How could I be bothered?" A grateful smile took over the woman's lips. She moved aside to allow Ji-an to come in. "I was just about to leave to go buy a few ingredients I need to make Seo-jun some soup. Now that you're here, I can leave without worrying. I didn't want to leave him alone. Of course, only if you can. I don't want to make you feel forced to stay."

Ji-an immediately shook her head. "No. No. I don't mind staying."

"Thank you, Ji-an. My son is very lucky to have such a sweet girl like you by his side." Ji-an shifted uncomfortably, her guilt now increasing for different reasons. She felt terrible for having lied to the woman about the relationship that did not exist between her and Seo-jun. "I will try to not take long. I only need to buy a couple of things." The woman embraced the girl. "Oh, and the new hair color it's beautiful on you."

Ji-an smiled at the compliment, having forgotten about her new change of appearance. "Thank you!"

"Well, I won't hold you on anymore. Seo-jun had just woken up when I went to his room a few minutes ago so he should be awake." Mi-hyang said, and with a last look of gratitude she closed the door behind her.

Not wanting to startle Seo-jun, Kim Ji-an knocked softly on his bedroom door. After some seconds, that lasted too long in Ji-an's perspective, a soft voice inside the room told her to come in. Slowly, she turned the knob, opening the door just enough to stick her head inside. "Hi, can I come in?"

Seo-jun nodded, he had just been thinking about her, having finished reading the message she had sent him.

Ji-an walked into his room, making sure to close the door behind her as she knew the boy hated when people left his door open. Awkwardly, she stopped in front of his bed. Her eyes observed his appearance as he laid under the sheets. His skin was a lot paler, the dark strands of hair that usually fell gracefully on his forehead were all over the place, his sharp eyes which always held a strong gaze were now a lot softer. He was clearly not in his best shape. Ji-an hadn't seen him like this in a long time. She wasn't used to this vulnerable side of him, which made her heart soften.

"Are you here to punch me?" The boy's voice was groggy, product of his lingering sleepiness and unhealthy condition. He was clearly trying to lighten the mood with his comment but instead of making Ji-an feel better, it made her feel embarrassed for the way she had reacted.

A little ashamed that he had read her message, she avoided his eyes. "No." She placed the bags on the bed right beside him. "I brought you some stuff. Go-woon told me you weren't feeling well."

Ji-an fiddled with her hands, not really knowing what to do while Seo-jun opened the bags. His eyes slightly widened at the amount of things inside, "You got all of this for me?"

"Well-" she stammered. "I didn't know what to get you so I just grabbed a little bit of everything."

Genuinely touched by her gesture, he smiled. He looked through the items, and pulling out one of the snacks, his smile continued to widen. "You got my favorite stuff too. Thank you, sweetheart." There was another item in particular that had grabbed his attention, which he didn't point out. It was the lollipops Ji-an always ate when they were younger, as far as he remembered the girl always had a stack of them in her room. The sight of it made his heart ache with nostalgia.

It was a change, but Ji-an noticed it. Seo-jun's smile slightly faltering at something he had seen inside the bag. She couldn't tell what it was, so she ignored it, thinking it was nothing. Far more worried about the fact her cheeks heated up. She mumbled something about not having to thank her, causing Seo-jun to look up at her. Seeing her awkward stance, Seo-jun patted the empty spot beside him. Ji-an pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, looking a bit uncertain. Figuring, that sitting was better than standing there like a kid would do when they threw up, she placed her backpack on the floor beside the nightstand and gently sat beside Seo-jun.

Clearing her throat, Ji-an spoke, "I'm sorry, about what I said in my message. I didn't know you were sick and I got frustrated when I found out you were absent so..." she trailed off, "I'm sorry."

Seo-jun's forehead creased as he leaned back against his pillow. His last intention was to make Ji-an feel bad. He knew where she was coming from with her message. "You don't have to apologize, sweetheart. I should've let you know that I wasn't going to come today. I just thought I'd be able to make it but I got worse and forgot."

Ji-an nodded, her mind running short on what other words to say. Thankfully, Seo-jun continued speaking, "Did you have to present alone?"

"Yeah, and I hated every second of it." Ji-an narrowed her eyes at the boy. "You better not pull this again cause next time you are getting punched."

Seo-jun's face broke into a smile, a laugh leaving his lips until the nice melody was interrupted by his sudden coughing. Ji-an watched him with a frown. For some reason it really bothered her seeing him like that. She fought the urge to fluff his pillow or adjust his blanket, thinking it might be weird or overstepping, if she did so. "Are you okay?"

The boy hummed, closing his eyes momentarily. He was putting more energy than he actually had. There was a moment of silence as Ji-an allowed Seo-jun to take a moment for himself. He was growing sleepier, his eyelids heavier when he opened them again. The longer she observed him, the stronger her concern grew. Not being able to resist, she fixed the way his pillow was placed, granting him a better——more comfortable position for his head. Then she smoothed out his blanket, making sure he was properly covered.

Seo-jun stared at Ji-an. His hazy mind hadn't allowed him to notice the change earlier. "You dyed your hair."

The girl looked down at her now, light brown hair. She ran her fingers through it, growing a little self-conscious. "I felt like needing a change."

Nodding, Seo-jun looked at her with gentle eyes. She could do anything she wanted, anything, and he'll still think she looked beautiful. He was accustomed seeing her dark brown hair. His mind often associating it with the richness of dark chocolate. But this new color, despite it still being brown, the lightness and warmness of it made her eyes stand out more and her appearance more delicate. Her new hair color resembled honey, just as sweet as her. "I like it. I think it suits you."

Ji-an smiled, feeling relieved for some reason. "Thank you."

Soon, her smile gradually faded as the memory of what happened at school resurfaced in her mind. Ji-an opened her mouth to speak, hesitating a bit as she didn't know if telling Seo-jun what happened was the best thing to do at the moment. He looked so tired and Ji-an didn't want to be a bother. But the longer she thought about it, she knew it was best to just spill the truth before Seo-jun found it by someone else.

"We might be better actors than we thought." Ji-an said. Seo-jun looked at her, waiting for the girl to elaborate. "Cho-rong heard me talking to my friends about you and now the whole school knows we aren't dating anymore. They really think the relationship was real and now there's rumors going around. Some truer than others."

"It had to be Cho-rong." Seo-jun responded, a hint of annoyance in his voice at his friend's nosy behavior. "What are they saying?"

Ji-an shook her head. "Doesn't matter. I'm just letting you know in case someone mentions something, especially your sister. She asked me about it when I saw her today."

Seo-jun's eyebrows slightly furrowed. "Great. Now Go-woon is going to give me an earful. My mom always asks about you, so I'll have to come up with something to tell her." He sighed, growing a little concerned as he looked at Ji-an. "Are you okay? I mean, with people talking about us?"

Shrugging, Ji-an tried to play it off. She didn't want to show how it actually bothered her. It wasn't that she lived off what people thought of her, but she didn't like people speculating things about them that weren't true. It wasn't their business. "I'll be fine. I'm used to it. It's not the first time rumors spread around involving us."

Seo-jun nodded, knowing how much people spoke when their friendship ended. It wasn't an enjoyable experience at all, more so because he was the causative of the situation.

Seojun shifted a little, trying to get more comfortable. "Thanks for letting me know."

His gaze was gentle as his eyes lingered on Ji-an. It warmed his heart knowing she had done all of those stuff for him——leaving school to come visit him, buying medicine and snacks. Everything made his heart ache with longing for her. His left hand that laid on top of the blanket, twitched, the desire of taking a hold of her hand fighting with the more rational side of him that told him not to overwhelm the girl with too many romantic gestures.

"You should rest, Seo-jun." The girl began to stand from the bed. "I'll get going."

"Wait." Seo-jun stopped her, his hand holding hers to prevent her from getting off the bed. He hesitated, his voice above a whisper. "Can you stay a little longer? Please?"

Eyes widening, Ji-an blinked a couple of times, frozen as she contemplated his request. She saw the pleading look in Seo-jun's eyes, causing her expression to soften. Settling back on her spot, she nodded. "Okay."

Seo-jun leaned back against his pillows. A content yet tired exhale leaving his lips. His hand rested close to Ji-an's, enough to feel the warmth of her body close to his. The pair sat in silence. Not awkward but comfortable. Han Seo-jun's vulnerability wasn't something Ji-an was really familiar with. When they were best friends, Seo-jun was never the type to just openly show when he was struggling either emotionally or physically. He always acted like he was fine, but like any human, every once in a while this side of him show up, and it never failed to make Ji-an wonder how much he actually hid behind his tough exterior.

Gradually, Seo-jun began drifting off, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier. Ji-an listened to his soft breathing until it even out. Slowly, and with careful movements, she stood up from the bed. She did her best to prevent any harsh sounds as she grabbed the bags she brought. The girl placed them on Seo-jun's desk, then she grabbed her backpack from the floor. Looking at Seo-jun one last time, she smoothed out his blanket, worried he'll grow cold if he wasn't properly covered. Silently, she left the boy's room, feeling a small sense of peace that he was okay.

She thought about how she acted when she found out he was sick. The fact had worried her more than she liked to admit. Se-yeon's death left a mark. You never know when you'll lose someone. It can happen so suddenly. Ji-an hadn't thought about it before, but the thought about someone she cared about being sick or in danger, scared her. She didn't want to lose anyone else. And despite everything that happened in the past, Seo-jun was someone she cared about deeply. Which was why she needed to make sure he was okay, no matter how angry she had been towards him when she had to present alone.

Later that night, Ji-an was already comfortably laying in her bed having finished her night routine and ready to drift off to dreamland. She grabbed her phone, ready to set it on her nightstand when her eyes caught sight of a new notification. It was Han Seo-jun.

—Han Seo-jun

Thank you again for coming by, sweetheart. I really appreciate it. My mom does too. Hope you sleep well, don't dream too much about me : )

Ji-an found herself rolling her eyes at the last sentence, but it was hard to keep her lips from stretching into a smile. His inability to be serious was amusing. She replied to his text, happy her action had a positive outcome. Shutting her phone off and placing it away, she went to sleep, feeling like maybe things could finally begin to improve.

——————— ↶*ೃ✧˚. ❃ ↷ ˊ—————

—Joy

5.8k words

This chapter came out way longer than I expected. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

Now, you know the other reason why I changed the gif. Cause Ji-an dyed her hair 😚

Im so excited for the rest of the book hehehe.

Have a good day/night guys 💜