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Woo Seulgi had always prided herself on being tough.
Pain was just another thing to endure, another obstacle to push through. She had learned early on that showing weakness never helped—it only made people look down on you, made them think you weren’t strong enough. So when she twisted her ankle during training, she grit her teeth, wrapped it up, and acted like nothing had happened.
It was fine. She could still walk.
Mostly.
She had almost made it out of the gym undetected when a voice rang out from behind her.
"Are you seriously limping?" Seulgi sighed, already regretting not leaving earlier. She turned to see Yoo Jaeyi standing near the lockers, arms crossed, eyebrows raised. "It’s nothing," Seulgi muttered, shifting her weight off her bad ankle.
Jaeyi didn’t look convinced. "Right. Because you always wince when you walk." Seulgi rolled her eyes. "I said I’m fine."
Jaeyi stared at her for a long moment, then, with zero warning, stepped forward and poked Seulgi’s injured ankle with the toe of her shoe.
Seulgi hissed, jerking back. "Are you insane?"
Jaeyi smirked. "Oh, so it does hurt." Seulgi clenched her jaw, resisting the urge to strangle her. "What is wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with you?" Jaeyi shot back. "Why are you acting like walking on an injury is normal?"
"Because it’s not a big deal—"
Jaeyi let out a sharp, disbelieving laugh. "Not a big deal? Seulgi, you could make anything look like ‘not a big deal’ and still be dying on the inside."
Seulgi froze.
The words hit harder than she expected.
For a second, neither of them spoke. The gym was quiet now, the distant sounds of students fading as people finished for the day.
Jaeyi sighed, running a hand through her hair. When she looked at Seulgi again, the usual sharpness in her eyes had softened just a little.
"Sit down," she said, her voice quieter now. "Let me see."
Seulgi hesitated. But for once, she didn’t argue.
She lowered herself onto the bench, and Jaeyi crouched in front of her, pushing Seulgi’s sock down carefully.
"You're an idiot," Jaeyi muttered, inspecting the already-swelling ankle. "A stubborn idiot."
Seulgi huffed. "If you’re going to insult me, at least get me ice first." Jaeyi rolled her eyes but stood up. "Fine. Stay here."
Seulgi watched as she walked away, disappearing into the hallway. She should have been annoyed. Should have felt suffocated by the attention. But strangely, she didn’t.
She just sat there, waiting, as Yoo Jaeyi—of all people took care of her.
Jaeyi returned five minutes later with an ice pack and a bottle of water, tossing the latter into Seulgi’s lap before kneeling down again.
"Move your foot," she ordered. Seulgi raised an eyebrow. "Do you always boss people around when you're being helpful?" Jaeyi shot her a look. "Only when they’re too stubborn to listen the first time."
Seulgi scoffed but obeyed, shifting so Jaeyi could press the ice pack against her ankle. A sharp sting ran up her leg at the sudden cold, but she bit the inside of her cheek and didn’t react.
Jaeyi, of course, noticed anyway.
"You're terrible at hiding when you're in pain," she commented. "Really?" Seulgi said dryly. "Because I think I’ve been doing a fantastic job at it all day."
Jaeyi clicked her tongue. "Exactly my point. You shouldn’t have to."
Seulgi blinked. The words, spoken so casually, threw her off.
Jaeyi didn’t say things like that—not to her. They were always challenging each other, pushing and testing. Not… whatever this was.
Jaeyi seemed to realize it too because she cleared her throat, looking away as she adjusted the ice pack. "Anyway. Next time, don’t be an idiot. You could make it worse if you keep walking around on it." Seulgi tilted her head. "Next time? You planning on keeping an eye on me now?"
Jaeyi rolled her eyes. "No. But if I catch you doing this again, I will make your life miserable." Seulgi smirked. "So you admit you care."
Jaeyi huffed. "I don’t not care."
It was such a Jaeyi answer that Seulgi actually laughed.
For a second, Jaeyi just stared at her, as if surprised. Then, slowly, she shook her head, muttering, "Unbelievable."
They sat in silence for a moment, the gym quiet around them. The ice numbed the ache in Seulgi’s ankle, but there was something else too—something lighter settling in her chest. She hadn’t expected this. Hadn’t expected Jaeyi to be the one sitting here with her, making sure she was okay.
But strangely, she didn’t mind.
Seulgi leaned back on her palms, exhaling. "You know, for all your nagging, you’re not the worst person to have around." Jaeyi snorted. "You sound so grateful."
Seulgi smirked. "I mean, don’t get used to it."
Jaeyi laughed, shaking her head. "Wouldn’t dream of it."
And just like that, everything fell into place.