Back, Back, Backstabber ، ˖ . ° (>﹏

( +📽️ ) ͏ ͏ ͏͏ oh say it ditto . . . ͏ ͏ ͏͏ ͏@nayoungs-archive

𓇼 𝑵ayoung, she/her, main!

nayoung's writing!

TOWARDS YOU ── lovely runner. ➡️ (on hiatus till april 4th)

Megumi fushiguro x reader fluff!!

Drabble in the rain.

The rain had only been a faint drizzle when you and Megumi left campus, hardly worth noticing let alone taking out your umbrella. But as you both continued walking, the sky darkened, clouds rolling in like a heavy blanket over the city, and the drizzle transformed into a full on  downpour. Droplets  of water struck the pavement with rhythmic taps, filling the air with a fresh, earthy scent that followed every storm. Luckily, Megumi had remembered an umbrella, even though it was barely large enough to keep you both fully dry.

Megumi walked with his head slightly down, his shoulder brushing against yours as you both attempted to stay under the small umbrella. He seemed quiet, even more so than usual, with a hint of tension in his shoulders. You glanced at him, half-wondering what was going through his mind, but he avoided your gaze, focusing intently on the ground.

For Megumi, rainy days have always been an annoyance. Not only did the downpour dampen his mood, but it also affected his shikigami. Summoning them under rain-soaked skies always felt like a gamble. His demon dogs especially were nearly useless in the rain not because they couldn’t perform, but because they were constantly distracted by it. The moment he summoned them, they’d perk up at the raindrops, sniffing the damp air before running around at insane speeds.

No matter how focused Megumi tried to be, the dogs would inevitably start jumping in puddles or chasing the steady drips from overhanging branches. He’d have to shout at them, trying to pull their attention back on the task at hand, but it was like yelling at a pair of stubborn kids who couldn’t resist the temptation of splashing around in the rain. And in battles, it was even worse iif there was the slightest break in the action, his demon dogs would forget about the fight entirely, diving back into whatever small pools of rainwater they could find.

Every so often, your hand would brush against his as you both adjusted yourselves under the umbrella. Each touch made his heart skip a beat, and he felt flustered, uncharacteristically nervous.

When he glanced sideways at you, you were gazing up at the rain falling around you, and he could tell by the faint smile on your face that you were enjoying the cool drizzle on the arm that was slightly exposed to the end of the umbrella and he found himself focusing on every detail how the raindrops glistened on your skin, how your expression seemed so peaceful.

 You suddenly turned your head, almost as if you knew he was watching you. As you caught his gaze, you gave him a mischievous grin. “Megumi… will you summon your demon dogs? Just for a bit?”

He blinked, taken aback. “You want me to… in the rain?”

“Yeah!” you replied, the excitement in your voice quite obvious. “You might not like getting wet but they’d probably have fun, right?”

The both of you stopped in your tracks. He looked at you for a moment, his mouth opened ready to argue about the dogs’ tendency to get sidetracked in the rain. But then he gave a small, resigned sigh, realizing he couldn’t deny you.

With his hands clasped together and a murmur, the shadowy forms of his demon dogs appeared beside you, ears perked and eyes bright .Quickly recognizing that there was no threat in sight and it was just you and Megumi, they quickly started circling the two of you,

They quickly looked around, a little hesitant at first, sniffing the air with caution, but the second they felt the rain on their fur, their demeanor changed. They jumped excitedly, darting off into nearby puddles, kicking up tiny strings of water as they splashed around.

You laughed in delight, immediately crouching down and calling to them. They padded over, tails wagging, allowing you to pet them, Megumi watched you, feeling strange. You were so gentle with them, stroking their damp fur, laughing as they nudged your hand, soaking up every bit of attention you offered.

“You’re so cute!” you cooed, scratching one of them behind the ears. They leaned into your touch, clearly enjoying themselves, even if they’d typically rather be dry. The joy was infectious, and before he knew it, Megumi found himself slightly  smiling, too. The dogs barked happily, shuffling around you, and it felt like all the worries of the world had been washed away with the rain.

As you looked up at him, still crouched next to one of the dogs, your smile was so bright, so full of warmth, that it struck him. For a moment, he forgot where he was, forgot the rain, forgot the chill in the air.

Without thinking, he stepped closer,his fists drawing crescent shapes on his palm and he clutched them in the pockets of his hoodie, his voice soft and steady, though his heart was racing. “I think… I’m in love with you.”

Your eyes widened, and the rain continued to fall around you, the world growing even quieter as if to hold this moment still. The dogs were still scurrying around your feet, but your attention wasnt on them this time.

You rose slowly, the surprise on your face melting into something warmer, something softer. “You mean that, Megumi?”

He nodded, feeling more vulnerable than he ever had. “Yeah. I do.”

A small laugh escaped you, and without another word, you closed the distance between you, wrapping him in a gentle hug. He hugged back the umbrella now tilted sideways, His demon dogs barked excitedly, as if they, too, sensed the significance of the moment.

For the first time, Megumi didn’t mind the rain.

　 　♡﹒ and you almost ran red, cause you were looking at me . . .

  ˳ 𓇼       、wind in my hair, i was there, i remember it all too well.

like the moodboard? it's a teaser for an upcoming fanfic! make sure u follow me and stay tuned! thank you, bye!! <33

xlvii. unforgettable

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CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN ─ unforgettable.

❛ boy, you got me hooked on to something, who could say that they saw us coming? ❜

Narrator's Perspective

While Sunjae and Eunyoung's lips moved against each other's without a care in the world, a worried Yumi called out desperately to Eunyoung.

"Eunyoung! Choi Eunyoung!" she screamed into the darkness, "Where the hell are you?"

The moment her voice fell upon Sunjae's ears, he pulled away from Eunyoung's embrace hastily. The sound sent panic surging through him, while Eunyoung felt like she was floating on a cloud, with the sweet taste of Sunjae's lips lingering on her lips. Sunjae began thinking harder than ever. In a few seconds, he came to the conclusion that it would be better for him to face Eunyoung's sister and make up a story before she could find them and draw her own conclusions. Taking a deep breath and trying his hardest to ignore the aftertaste of soju and lipgloss on his lips, he gently took a hold of Eunyoung's wrist and came out from behind the stage to face Yumi.

Yumi's expression when she saw them was absolutely priceless. All sort of mortifying thoughts raced through her head. Her eyes widened in shock and her mouth fell agape in confusion. Sunjae, raising his eyebrows and speaking too fast, said, "Listen it's not-"

"Why are you naked?" she asked, turning to look at the pine trees.

"Look, I was looking for my shirt and-"

"And you found my sister instead?" Yumi asked skeptically.

"Yeah, that's what-"

Yumi scoffed, as if to say unbelievable.

"I'm telling the truth!" Technically he wasn't lying, because before he found Eunyoung, he was looking for his shirt, but he wasn't going to enlighten Yumi about what happened after that. A warmth crept up his cheeks on thinking of the kiss they had just shared and he fought with all his might to conceal his smile, "And I just saw her and she's really drunk. That's when I heard your voice... so now I'm here."

Yumi squinted at his face,focusing on only his face, as if trying to see through his bluff. She advanced towards them and shook Sunjae's hands- that still held Eunyoung's wrist, off and pulled Eunyoung  to her side. She took a good long look at Eunyoung. Her hair was messy, hanging around her eyes, her cheeks were flushed and her lipstick was slightly smudged. Her piercing gaze shifted to Sunjae, who look a step back, intimidated by her death glare. His face had "guilty conscious" written over his face, that was too obvious for Yumi to ignore. Thinking that Eunyoung would probably tell her everything eventually, she let him go and stopped glaring daggers at him.

"So you found her like this?"

"Yeah."

"While you were looking for your shirt?"

"That's right."

"Well," Yumi said, "Thanks for bringing her to me, I guess. And I hope you find your shirt."

Sunjae sighed in relief as Yumi and Eunyoung turned around and disappeared into the distance. But he still felt his heart racing and cheeks blushing from kissing Eunyoung. The warmth of her touch curled his lips into a cheery smile as he began journeying back to his own tent, while his missing shirt had been forgotten.

💿

Yumi struggled in getting Eunyoung into bed because for some reason she refused to cooperate. When she was finally tucked in, Yumi stared at her blank face, trying to figure out what had happened between Eunyoung and Sunjae. Actually, it was quite obvious, but admitting it was a whole other story. Eunyoung let out a small giggle, still lost in Sunjae's touch.

"What?" Yumi snapped. Eunyoung's laugh was basically confirming her fears. Something about it made Yumi feel weird on the inside.

"He's such a good kisser," Eunyoung whispered, staring at the ceiling with a stupid smile on her face. Yumi's eyes widened and her heart nearly stopped working from shock.

The word "kiss," reminded her of what had happened earlier that evening. Kim Taesung had stolen her first kiss. And that too in front of the whole Practical Music department. Within a few hours, the news had spread all over the campsite, and everyone knew about it. In just one night, she and her fake boyfriend had become the biggest news at the Yeonseo University field trip. It was a mess- girls crying, gossiping, guys speculating and the seniors wondering if they would get married. And Minjun? He must have died from the shock, which meant that he would leave her alone at last.

The truth was that it was all she wanted. Taesung's possessive yet gentle demeanor. His soft touch that sent sparks flying inside her. It was perfect- all she would ever wish for. But of course, it scared her. What would happen to their relationship? They had gone from barely speaking to each other to being a fake couple with a kiss. How would it affect the future. It was all too much.

To distract herself, she turned to look at her sister again, sighing at her smiling, giggling face. She couldn't help but giggle at her stupidity. 

"You're going to regret telling me that in the morning."

💿

Regaining consciousness in the morning was one of the most painful experiences of her life. Her head felt like a million needles were poking at her brain, tearing at it. Her entire body felt heavy, as if a cow was sitting on her chest. There was a hazy fog in her head and the sunlight streaming through the window felt blinding. At first, she could remember nothing from the previous night.

Then, it started coming back to her slowly, but surely. Playing drinking games and getting drunk with her friends. And then roaming around, lost afterwards. She then remembered Sunjae- shirtless, in all his glory, and her impulsive decisions that escalated-

"Considering that look on your face and the way you're blushing, I'm guessing you got your memories back, huh?" Yumi asked, smiling sarcastically.

"You know too?" Eunyoung buried her head in the blanket, groaning with embarrassment.

"Why're you so dramatic?" Yumi pulled the sheets off, "Isn't it a good thing?"

"No, are you kidding?" Eunyoung said, panicking, "You don't even know what exactly I did. And he didn't even say anything- OH MY GOD. It must've made him so uncomfortable, I'm going to die."

"Relax," Yumi assured her, "Since you confessed to your sins, let me tell you what happened last night. Kim Taesung kissed me."

"WHAT?!"

"Yeah," Yumi confessed, looking down with shame, " You know how Minjun was after my life? Yeah, well this was Taesung's way of getting me out of it. Now I have a fake boyfriend."

Eunyoung blinked a few times, trying to process this new information. In the end, all she could say was, "Wow. That's really... something."

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nana's notes: i apologize in advance because everyone's going to be acting like an idiot for the next few chapters

delphi's notes: i'm about to kick eunyoung's ass-

previous chapter next chapter: saturday (out now!) list of chapters here!

lvi. on and off-stage drama

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CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX ─ on and off-stage drama.

❛ i swear i don't love the drama, it loves me ❜

Choi Eunyoung's Perspective

"What?!" I breathed out, "Inhyuk's going back to his village? Taesung and Jay are quitting Eclipse? What- what do you mean by that?"

"Exactly," Sunjae nodded remorsefully, "They're saying that they'll finish this festival performance one last time and then quit. But Inhyuk's already left. He's staying with his parents in his village."

It felt as if my entire world was falling apart. I couldn't let this happen. I was supposed to change the future for the better, not create a bigger mess. I had to fix this, by whatever means necessary. 

"Well, we gotta stop this," I said decisively, "Let's talk to Taesung after rehearsal."

"It's a plan," Sunjae said, smiling. His face twisted into an expression of shock when he looked at his watch, "Oh! We're ten minutes late!"

Narrator's Perspective

"What language is this, even?" Yumi exclaimed looking at the script, "Thou lovs't me not with the full weight that I love thee? This nutjob has written the entire play like this! How did I even pass the audition?"

The other students who were part of the cast sat and watched the 'couple' in adoration instead of revising their scripts. They whispered and giggled uncontrollably, much to Yumi's irritation. Taesung, however, was not-so-secretly enjoying it. He was basking in the attention, and the fact that people thought he and Yumi were a real couple made his heart swell with joy.

"You'll do fine," he placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. His touch still made sparks dance across her skin. He leaned towards her face and gave her a smile, "We've got plenty of time, hmm?"

"What's your role anyways?" Yumi asked, looking anywhere but at his face.

"Oliver," he answered, not shifting his gaze.

Yumi began furiously flipping through the pages of the script. All of a sudden, she gasped, "Seriously?"

"What?" Taesung asked, sitting next to her, peering into the script.

"Oliver and Celia get married at the end?" she scoffed, but her flushed face said otherwise, "On the basis of what? I swear Shakespeare was on crack each time he picked up his pen."

"How could you say such a thing about him?" Eunyoung said. She had just gotten there along with Sunjae, "Why hasn't rehearsal started yet?"

"Well, the director suddenly fell sick so the writers told us to revise on our own for today," Taesung explained.

"Oh, we ran here for no reason," Sunjae said, chuckling while shooting a knowing glance at Eunyoung. Eunyoung smiled back, "I know right?"

"Ooooh, damn are you two a thing now?" asked one of the girls sitting close to them, eavesdropping.

"How 'bout you mind your own business?" Yumi sneered with hostility.

"How am I supposed to ignore it when they're flirting right in front of me?"

"Maybe you need a lesson on personal space?" Yumi said, taking a step away from her. 

The girl rolled her eyes, then picked up her things and walked off, muttering under her breath.

"You seem to be in a mood today," Eunyoung observed.

"You can thank Shakespeare for that," Yumi replied.

"I don't know why you hate a man who died several centuries ago," Eunyoung uttered.

"I don't know why you like a man who died several centuries ago," Yumi countered.

"I don't like the man, I just thing his work had a timeless element to it."

"And so here we are."

"Okay, okay, stop the bickering," Taesung said waving his hand between them.

"We're not bickering," Yumi shrugged.

"That's just how we get along," Eunyoung agreed, giving Yumi a small smile.

"As long as there's no bloodshed, I'm good," Taesung said.

"How's the prep for the Eclipse performance going?" Yumi asked eagerly. Her question was followed by a long, awkward silence. Taesung stared at Sunjae, Sunjae glanced at Eunyoung, and Eunyoung looked at Yumi nervously.

"I guess you don't know," Sunjae said as gently as he could, "Inhyuk left for his village, because he wanted to help his parents out... He's also planning on dropping out."

"What?!" Yumi exclaimed. Heads turned to see what the commotion was about. She stood, completely stunned for few seconds, "What's going to happen to your band?" She shot a worried look at Eunyoung, as if to say What is happening? Is this our fault?

"Taesung, didn't you-" Eunyoung gestured him not to mention it, shaking her head as subtly as she could. She didn't want to give Taesung and Yumi a reason to argue again. Sunjae covered up his blunder, "Didn't you say you were going to call him?"

"Um... yeah I was," said Taesung, glad that they hadn't mentioned to Yumi that he was going to leave the band, "He didn't pick up."

"So, Sunjae and I were thinking," Eunyoung began, "That we go and visit his village and bring him back to his senses. What do you think?"

"I'm in," Taesung said, looking at Yumi, his eyes full of expectation.

"What if we can't convince him?"

"Oh, you pessimist," Eunyoung groaned, "If he doesn't agree voluntarily, then we'll kidnap him, okay? Are you in or not?"

"I'm in," she said, realizing she wasn't left with much of a choice.

"Good," said Sunjae, "We leave tomorrow?"

"Yeah," said everyone in unison.

There were a few minutes of silence as they all went back to reading their scripts. A moment later, Eunyoung looked up, "Hey, Taesung?"

"Hmm?"

"I had to ask you about that..." she trailed off.

Taesung frowned with confusion, but the realization hit him soon enough and she said, "Oh,  right. Of course," he said, getting up, "We'll be back."

Yumi and Sunjae watched them get up and go outside the auditorium.

"That was weird," Yumi said, furrowing her brows.

"Breathe if you're jealous."

💿

"Any updates?" she asked Taesung, "About my dad? Was the information I gave conclusive enough?"

"Yeah, they've started the investigation," he answered, "My dad said that considering his history, he'll most likely get a life sentence. He wanted me to ask if it's okay with you."

"Yes, absolutely," Eunyoung said decisively. 

Taesung blinked a few times, "Okay, if that's what you want."

"It is."

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nana's notes: bet u didn't see that one coming

delphi's notes: yumi and sunjae are such an awkward duo lmfao 

xiv. the space between us

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN ─ the space between us.

❛ our secret moments in a crowded room, they got no idea 'bout me and you. ❜

Narrator's Perspective

Sunjae and Eunyoung sat silently in Eunyoung's living room, the sound of occasional hiccups or sobs breaking the silence. She reached for his clenched hand, gently squeezing it as an acknowledgement of the agony that he felt as if to say, "I'm here for you."

"How did you know?" Sunjae asked quietly, trying to conceal the spark he felt at her touch, "That I got hurt."

"I realized you never showed up the the bus stop, so I asked your friend," she answered, "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" he countered, "Even though we haven't known each other for long, you've been here for me like a pillar of support. You always seem to say the right thing at the right time. I feel comfortable with you. You've got nothing to be sorry for. In fact, I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have listened to your advice."

His words seemed to melt her heart like ice cream on a sunny day as her face began to feel warm, "It's not your fault, Sunjae. I should have tried harder."

"No," he said firmly, taking both her hands as she gazed into his glassy eyes, "You tried to warn me, but I was too stubborn. You can't possibly blame yourself for what happened to me. Maybe fate has other plans for me."

His words echoed in her mind; all she could do was sit and stare at him because she was the only one who knew what destiny had in store for him.

Their eyes locked as both of them desired to look nowhere but at each other. The air seemed to grow heavy with words they had been holding back since their first meeting. Eunyoung's breathing became slow and the sound pierced through the silence. As she continued to stare at his perfect face, her gaze shifted from his pillowy, soft lips to his eyes, moist from crying, then fixed on his lips, unable to look away. Sunjae, slowly, in a moment of realization, became aware of where Eunyoung was looking. Eunyoung's breath hitched ever so slightly as he leaned towards her, the action filled with hesitation. Their lips were a whisper apart, a secret yearning about to be fulfilled.

The doorknob rattling filled the air as they pulled away abruptly. Sunjae let go of his grip on Eunyoung's hands, startled at the rude interruption. Both their eyes began blinking rapidly, looking everywhere but at each other. 

As Yumi entered the room she stopped in her tracks, trying to make sense of what they were doing. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "What are you two─ have you been crying? What happened?" Her voice was now laced with worry, oblivious to what she had walked in on.

"It's nothing," Eunyoung said sharply. A hiccup escaped her mouth as she sloppily tried to cover up the situation. 

"I'll leave you two alone," said Yumi, although as she walked to her room, her eyes seemed to convey a message to Eunyoung, as if to say You're telling me everything later.

Sunjae and Eunyoung were left alone once again and the silence felt louder than ever. Tension filled the room as she avoided his gaze. A tangled web of emotions and unspoken desires hung heavy in the air, a barrier that was both thrilling and terrifying.

💿

The newspaper room of Jagam High School was usually a lively place to be. The place always buzzed with heated discussions and the sound of busy fingers typing. However, at this moment only Hyejin and Yerin sat lazily in their designated chairs, gazing out at the bright summer day through the single, huge window in front of them. Yerin's cellphone buzzed, breaking the silence.

"Hey, look Mrs. Hong just messaged," she told her friend, who peeked into her phone, curious as to what their teacher had said, "The meeting is shifted to tomorrow."

Hyejin groaned, "The one day we show up early the meeting gets cancelled. Great."

"It's so unfair," Yerin grumbled.

"By the way, did you hear from Jiwoo? How's she doing?" Hyejin asked after a few moments of silence.

"I spoke to her yesterday," answered Yerin, "She's supposed to be discharged from the hospital this weekend. I can't believe she got chicken pox; It must have been so painful."

"Who wrote her article about the swim team?" Hyejin inquired.

"Don't you remember the teacher praising Eunyoung about─ oh yeah, you weren't there," she realized suddenly, "Do you know Choi Eunyoung?"

"Yeah, of course I do," she answered as if it was the most natural thing in the world, "She's probably the prettiest in our grade─ or maybe in our whole school."

"Well, she's the one who wrote the article," Yerin said, "She wrote it well, honestly. All the teachers like her."

"The people in my class said that Jiwoon sunbae likes her," she remembered suddenly, "He tried to get close to her and stuff last year. They're saying he's planning on confessing his feelings to her."

"Really?" Hyejin exclaimed, "I saw her with Ryu Sunjae on the bus the other day─ I thought they're going out. He kept her head on his shoulder and all. It seemed kind of serious if you ask me."

"No way!" Yerin remarked, shocked, "She's like─ really pretty, though. She and Sunjae would look good with each other. I've heard she's kind of reserved, so I don't think she would go out with someone for fun. I know so many people who tried to speak to her, but she gave them the cold shoulder and was really formal."

"Ugh, I hate girls like that. They always turn out to be so bitchy," she grumbled, "She has a sister who she's close with; but I don't think she has many friends. It's so high-and-mighty of her."

"Have you ever spoken to her?"

"Can't say I have."

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nayoung's notes: the first scene of this chapter is literally just a product of my intrusive thoughts lmao. i randomly came up with it and ended up keeping it. hope you liked it!

delphi's notes: yumi's got no idea what she walked in on 🫢

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

TOWARDS YOU: the playlists.

while you wait for chapter fifty-three, here are the official playlists for TOWARDS YOU 💌.

TOWARDS YOU: the official soundtrack.

TOWARDS YOU ── lovely runner.

TOWARDS YOU ── eunjae's version.

TOWARDS YOU ── taemi's version.

choi eunyoung's playlist.

choi yumi's playlist.

xxiv. the start of something new

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR ─ the start of something new.

❛ you know i want you bad,  show me mercy ❜

Narrator's Perspective

"Where were you last night?" Eunyoung asked Yumi as they got on the bus. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she had been kept in the dark about something. Yumi choked out a mock cough to cover up her gasp. She was really hoping to avoid any confrontation- because she hadn't decided how she would deal with it.

Yumi remained silent till they took their usual seat at the back of the bus. Her eyes blinked rapidly, darting from one side to another, frantically trying to come up with an alibi.

"I had plans, so I ate out," she said vaguely; but she knew it wasn't a satisfactory answer.

"Plans with who?" Eunyoung chuckled mockingly, "Since when did you have friends?"

"How nice of you to say that," Yumi snapped sarcastically, "I do have friends now; times change."

"Sure they do," Eunyoung mumbled. It was just a playful comment, but Yumi's words stung more than they should have. After all, there had never been secrets between them. Curiosity grew in her mind as she pondered what could possibly be the secret that Yumi was so determined to keep from her.

💿

"Hey, Eunyoung!"a familiar voice called out to her as she was heading to the newspaper room. She stopped, then turned to find Kim Harin running towards her. It was like a reminder that she had travelled back in time, and hadn't seen these people in ages. It made her reminisce of all the people she once knew, but didn't keep in touch with; and she couldn't help but feel sorry that there was a point where they weren't a part of her life anymore.

Harin had been Eunyoung's closest friend, apart from Yumi, who worked at the newspaper just like her.

"God! I haven't seen you in ages!" she chirped, walking alongside Eunyoung towards the newspaper room, "But it made me realize that I have a popular friend."

"What do you mean?"

"Don't you know?" she asked inquisitively, "People gossip about you all the time. I heard about how you rejected Jihoon sunbae. Someone sitting behind me was going on about how she wondered where you got the audacity from. Honestly, I'm glad you did it. Someone had to put him in his place."

"I didn't know people made such a fuss," said Eunyoung, gazing blankly at the empty corridor before them, "But then, again, nothing ever happens around here."

"I know right?! They're just desperate for entertainment," she agreed enthusiastically, "Enough with the gossip, now. I read your article on the swim team and it was fabulous! I can't imagine anyone who could have done it better."

"Thanks," said Eunyoung with a wide grin, "I'm so glad you liked it. I'm also grateful that someone appreciates my writing. You know it means a lot, right?"

"Of course! But I was only stating the facts; There's no one better than you on our team," she beamed.

I couldn't hide my smile as I entered the newspaper room. God knows for how long I was grinning; But one thing I know for sure, is that my childhood was a magical time.

💿

Choi Yumi's Perspective

My feet felt rooted to the ground as I stood before Kim Taesung's front door. It was as if I was paralysed. A million questions swirled through my mind; Was this really a good idea? What would Eunyoung say if she knew what I was up to? Why was I here? Every cell in my body was screaming at me to run away- go home! But I just couldn't; I couldn't take a step forward either.

Suddenly, my hand reached up to slap my face lightly. I realized that what I needed to do was start acting sane. This wasn't a big deal. I was just learning something new, and a friend of mine was helping me out. I heaved a sigh at my odd behaviour and pressed the doorbell.

I cracked my knuckles nervously as I heard footsteps nearing the door. I nearly fell backwards when the door swung open to reveal Taesung's face that stretched into a dimpled grin on seeing me, "You're here, piano girl?"

"I sure am," I said, trying to hide the awkwardness in my voice. It was at moments like this that I realised that among Eunyoung and I, god gave all the social skills to her; even though we weren't related.

He stepped aside, "Come in. And unclench your fists while you're at it. It makes me feel unsafe."

💿

"Put your index finger here."

"Here?"

"Yup. And then your middle finger here- yeah."

"Now?"

"Your ring finger has to be here."

"Is this right?" I asked Taesung. I had lost track of time as minutes slipped through my fingers while I sat in his living room. The silence that was once deafening at the start of our guitar lesson had now turned comfortable. The room would go silent every time we stopped talking and the room would be filled with the soft sound of our breathing. 

Just as I was getting less jittery, I looked up at Taesung who was already looking at me with his beady eyes. We were sitting so close. His arm held the guitar in my hand, brushing against my back ever so slightly. In my determination and focus, I never batted an eye at our proximity and I suddenly became conscious of it.  I felt my breath hitch as a warmth crept up my face. Once again, an unnatural stillness settled in the room. The both of us seemed to be holding our breaths, waiting. 

I tore away first, fixing my gaze on the coffee table in front of the couch, letting go of the guitar. He lunged to prevent it from crashing to the floor, "It's only your first lesson. I think it's a bit early to break the guitar so soon, don't you?"

Any reply I may have come up with me disappeared on the tip of my tongue.

"It's six-thirty already, should we call it a day?" he asked, looking at the clock.

"Yeah..." I replied, wide-eyed, "I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Unless you run away," he said, "And considering that look on your face, I would say it's very likely."

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nana's notes: eunyoung having her nostalgia moment and then yumi's having a quarter-life crisis.

delphi's notes: a cookie to the person who guesses where the lyrics are from.

next chapter: friday (out now!) list of chapters here!

It's my 1 year anniversary on Tumblr 🥳

omg 😭 i cant believe its been a year!!

xxxiii. the ticking clock

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CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE ─ the ticking clock.

❛ watch your breeze take over me just like we used to be ❜

Narrator's Perspective

Sunjae waited outside the swimming pool, fidgeting with his hands rather impatiently. The events that had taken place just a few moments prior played in his head over and over again. His entire body was soaking wet, and his shirt stuck to his body. Normally, he would have been freezing, dying to get home and change. He felt a breeze, but the thought of Eunyoung seemed to keep him warm. 

He remembered how much he once hated the rain. How his clothes stuck to his body like a really annoying magnet. How the rain irritated him after a long day at the pool. But one fine day, all of that changed. A beautiful girl with smiling lips and intoxicating laughter had run through the moonlit alleyways with him, holding his hand and dragging him along.

She completely mesmerized him. Not only was she the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on, but he never felt a connection with anyone like he did with Eunyoung. He might have been overreacting, but it almost felt as if he had found his other half. They fit together like pieces of a puzzle. It was just right. She always seemed to know the right words to speak at the right time. How could such a perfect person be real?

Just then, Eunyoung emerged through the swimming pool door wearing his blazer, and even then, she looked as pretty as ever. The oversized piece of clothing hid her hands in the sleeves and the jacket looked evidently too big for her. She still looked cute in it, though. 

"Thanks for letting me borrow this," she thanked him with a sweet smile, "Are you sure you're alright? The wind is going crazy today."

"No, it's alright," he assured her, returning a smile, "You can keep it."

They began walking to the bus stop. Eunyoung's eyes kept wandering everywhere, scanning the road she had taken every day of her teenage life. If she was completely honest with herself, she was freaking out inside. She was wearing Ryu Sunjae's clothes. The fact seemed so surreal to her and in that moment, for a while, she felt like a stereotypical teenage girl with a crush on a popular guy.

As they reached the bus stop, all she could think of was Sunjae sitting near the pool and sobbing his heart out. The pictures of news articles flashed in front of her eyes. "Ryu Sunjae's cause of death: Suicide?" "Ryu Sunjae proved to be taking anti-depressants prior to his death" She looked up at Sunjae. He had no idea what fate had in store for him, and she wanted to protect him more than anything.

💿

As they sat on the bus, side by side, Eunyoung found herself reaching for Sunjae's ice cold hand. The action startled Sunjae as he jumped a bit, a bright red blush appearing on his face. "Are you feeling alright?" she asked, her voice laced with worry and her eyebrows furrowed.

"I'm fine, really," he said, turning away to hide his flushed face, "I don't feel that cold, really."

"Your hands are literally freezing," countered Eunyoung, "But that's not what I was asking about. Earlier, at the pool... what happened?"

"Oh," he muttered, "I- it's stupid."

"No, it's not. Tell me, Sunjae."

The way she said his name just made him melt, "I got a bad grade... and I realized that without swimming, I don't even know what I'm doing with my life, and it really stressed me out."

"It's alright," she whispered, squeezing his hand gently, "It's okay to feel lost. One bad grade isn't the end of the world, trust me. It doesn't matter nearly as much as you think it does."

"It was a really bad grade, Eunyoung."

"Really?" she challenged. The determination in her eyes, and her grip on his hand both seemed to be hypnotizing him. She asked him, "How much did you get?"

"Ten out of forty. In math."

Her grip loosened for a moment as she stared at him, trying to process the information.

"See, it is bad," he slowly pulled away his hand because if he stayed that way any longer, he might have exploded right there.

"No," she tried to comfort him, but the insincerity was evident in her tone, "Look you need practice, that's all."

"It's no use, I'm stupid," he insisted, "I don't understand anything, and I'm always dozing off in class."

"I'll teach you," warmth crept up Eunyoung's face as she realized what she just said. There was no going back now. The thought of spending so much time with him made her feel giddy. Sunjae's eyes widened as he tried to process what she just said.

"You want to tutor me?" he confirmed, to which she nodded, "Are you sure you can handle it?"

"Sunjae, listen," she turned in her seat to face him, "You had to give up your dream. It's going to be hard to get on track with something else. You're really brave, you know. Not everyone can do what you're doing right now. I want to help you."

"Okay," he breathed.

Then they exchanged smiles, and their eyes communicated feelings that words could have never described.

💿

"Oh dear, look at you," Yumi gasped as she watched Eunyoung, drenched from head to toe, enter their house, with a grin plastered on her face and Sunjae's jacket draped over her shoulders, "Was there a thunderstorm I didn't hear of?"

"It's a long story."

"I have time," countered Yumi with determination, "And that idiotic smile on your face tells me it has something to do with a certain someone."

"You're right," Eunyoung said, still smiling, her face glowing pink, "So I was going to visit Sunjae-"

"Of course you were."

"Let me speak, for god's sake," Eunyoung insisted, the smile never leaving her face, "And I met Inhyuk, who told me he went to the swimming pool 'cause he forgot something. So, I went there, and he was sitting by the pool and sobbing. I tried to comfort him, and it worked- I think. Then, we heard a really loud crashing sound outside and we fell into the pool. It was the scariest thing ever, honestly."

"That's so cute, it's like you guys are in a rom-com," Yumi said with a slight bitterness in her voice.

"Then why does your face look like someone squeezed a lemon in your mouth?" questioned Eunyoung, "Did something happen?"

"I went to the music club today-"

"Of course you did."

Yumi sighed, "Let me finish? So I went, and I waited outside for about a thousand years. I swear it felt like I was growing old standing there. By the time I had lost all sensation in my legs, I saw Taesung petting that kitten- you know which one, and I don't know... the moment I saw him, my mind went blank, and I couldn't speak properly. He looked so miserable... and I wanted to apologize but the words just wouldn't come out."

"I would hug you but then you would be drenched too," said Eunyoung, her smile turning into one of sympathy, "It means you like him. Things will be okay, Yumi. Maybe not now, but eventually."

I don't want to wait, Yumi silently thought to herself.

☾⋆｡𖦹 °✩⋆｡° ✮

nana's notes: i really love the headers where the characters are looking at each other <3

delphi's notes: patience? who's she? yumi doesn't know her...

next chapter: saturday (out now) list of chapters here!