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At the start of class, against her better judgment, Seulgi asked Jaeyi the worst possible question she could: “Can I sit here?” What exactly did she hope to gain? Well, even she wasn’t sure.
Since yesterday, when Jaeyi had helped her evade security at Golden Star Academy, everything had changed. At least, for Seulgi, it had. Kindness had been thrust upon her; kindness from someone who, by all means, shouldn’t care. It intrigued her, igniting her imagination with the possibilities of who Jaeyi was beneath all her armour.
Jaeyi looked up at her, piercing Seulgi with her dark brown eyes—eyes that would surely swallow her whole if she gazed too long. “Sure. This is your seat.”
A “No” would’ve been easier. Seulgi could have gone back to studying alone and let the mystery of Jaeyi fade away, but life wasn’t that simple. When had it ever been? Growing up in an orphanage gave her a unique perspective on what life could offer. To put it bluntly, not a lot.
Instead, Seulgi gathered her belongings and sat beside Jaeyi.
There was something different about Jaeyi, something alluring. When they first met, Seulgi assumed she was a typical rich girl who looked down on those less privileged than herself, and she wasn’t wrong. Her father owned J Medical Centre, a hospital worth millions, while her mother was a socialite who cultivated connections with South Korea’s most influential. Jaeyi was born to succeed, and succeed she did, holding the coveted first-place ranking at Chaehwa Girls’ High School.
She was perfect in every sense of the word, and Seulgi hated her for it.
Her perfect hair, tied back neatly with a velvet-blue bow; her perfect skin, glistening softly in the sunlight streaming through the window; her perfect smile, lighting up her face as if it were made just for her.
Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
It infuriated her. No one should be that flawless.
No one.
Jaeyi leaned in, accidentally brushing shoulders. A jolt of electricity surged across her skin.
“What did you write for question three?” asked Jaeyi.
“I—oh,” swallowed Seulgi. “It’s negative four.”
“That’s correct.”
Jaeyi smiled knowingly, causing her cheeks to dimple—something Seulgi hadn’t noticed before.
“And what about question four?” continued Jaeyi, clearly intending to check all her answers. It was only fair, she thought. After all, Seulgi had promised to explain her study technique in exchange for Jaeyi’s cram school study guide.
“Thirty-six.”
“Correct.”
Jaeyi reviewed each question, using a blue biro to keep her place. Seulgi watched, mesmerised by the pen as it glided smoothly along the page. She could see the tendons in Jaeyi’s hand twitch as she uncapped the lid, marking another question correct.
“…and question ten?” asked Jaeyi.
Seulgi looked up. She had been so transfixed by Jaeyi that she stopped paying attention. A faint blush coloured her cheeks, betraying her embarrassment.
“Sorry, um, it’s nine.”
“Is it?” asked Jaeyi. She snatched her and Seulgi’s papers off the desk and stuffed them into her bag.
“What are you—?”
Jaeyi leaned in close, closer than before, and grinned. Her teeth, perfectly straight, of course, reminded her of a wolf.
“ Is the answer nine?” Jaeyi reiterated as if she were speaking to a junior. “Or have you just been copying from my sheet?”
“I—no.”
What was this? Jaeyi could clearly see that she’d already filled out the sheet before arriving. Why would she accuse her of cheating?
“You don’t seem very confident,” Jaeyi remarked, her eyes wide with feigned innocence.
Was she testing her?
Seulgi furrowed her brow and glared back, mirroring the intensity of her gaze. “The answer’s nine.”
Jaeyi was now so close to her that she could feel the warmth of her breath against her face, mingling with her own. She wanted to look away, to break the trance they’d entered, but she couldn’t. Little goosebumps dotted her skin as the world faded away until it was just the two of them. The noise from their surrounding classmates dulled, pulling all her focus onto Jaeyi. She could hear the rush of blood as she sank deep into the moment.
Jaeyi’s gaze flickered down to her lips and then back up. Was she going to…? Seulgi froze, hoping—praying—that she would close the distance. Her heart pounded in her chest as she drew in an involuntary breath.
“Okay.” Jaeyi turned away, breaking eye contact, and placed their sheets back on the desk. “Just making sure you’re paying attention.”
Whatever trance she’d been in was gone. All the noise returned, assaulting her ears once more. Seulgi squeezed her legs together under the desk, suddenly feeling very warm.
Jaeyi reached out and tapped her nose. “You’re so cute when you’re flustered.”
“I’m not flustered,” squeaked Seulgi, though her voice betrayed her.
“Of course not,” Jaeyi smirked, patronising her.
Seulgi opened her mouth to argue, but that’s when their teacher walked in, and class began in earnest. Their sheets were collected for grading while they were required to memorise last year’s CSAT questions. Seulgi was the only one who did, as every other student reviewed specialised booklets provided by their cram schools. Once again, she was a step behind.
Hours later, a chime sounded over the PA system, signalling their morning break. Most students stood up, stretching their legs and grabbing something to drink, while a few remained glued to their chairs, using their free time to continue studying.
Jaeyi pushed her chair back, faintly scraping it across the wooden floor. She lowered her head, letting her long hair pool onto Seulgi’s shoulder, where it brushed against her neck. If she so wished, Seulgi could reach out and touch it, feeling the silky strands between her fingers.
“Let’s get out of here,” whispered Jaeyi.
She should have said “No” and told her she preferred to study; however, Seulgi opened her mouth and instead replied, “Sure.”
Jaeyi took her hand and pulled her out of the classroom and into the hallway, away from prying eyes. She could feel their stares burning into her back as they left.
“Aren’t you going to wait for your friends?” asked Seulgi.
Kyung and Yeri remained inside, having been left behind.
“Don’t worry about them; they won’t mind.”
As they walked toward the lunchroom, Jaeyi intertwined their fingers. Her hand was warm against hers, fitting together snugly.
“You don’t need to hold my hand,” said Seulgi, though she didn’t mean it. There was something about how Jaeyi led her, taking charge, that made her unwilling to let go.
Jaeyi raised an eyebrow but didn’t make a move to stop. It wasn't like she’d take no for an answer anyway.
As they walked past the other senior classes, whispers trailed behind them and coiled around Seulgi’s neck like a noose, hanging her with their cruelty.
“…that’s her, the girl from the post…”
“…she’s a slut…”
“…dirty…”
“…can’t believe Jaeyi can tolerate her…”
Jaeyi whirled around, fire ignited in her eyes, but Seulgi tugged her hand, eager to leave as quickly as possible. Once they rounded the corner and were out of earshot, Jaeyi slowed her pace. “They shouldn’t gossip like that. It’s uncalled for, especially since it isn’t true,” she said.
A pang shot through Seulgi’s chest. No one ever stood up for her unless they wanted something in return. They were all the same, just like her former school. Joochang High sought a shining star, a student bright enough to cast a spotlight on them. Good grades in exchange for human decency—a fair trade, in their opinion.
“It doesn’t matter,” said Seulgi. “They would’ve found something else to gossip about, even without that post.”
“But doesn’t it bother you?”
Seulgi paused, stopping both of them in their tracks. “No.”
“No?” Jaeyi spun around to face her directly, their hands still entwined. “Why don’t I believe that?”
“Believe whatever you want.”
Jaeyi stepped forward, towering a full head above her. Seulgi tilted her chin, maintaining eye contact and refusing to let her gain the upper hand, even for a moment.
Slowly, Jaeyi lifted their intertwined hands and placed them against Seulgi’s chest. She felt her heart flutter, beating faster from the intimate gesture.
“If it truly doesn’t bother you, then why is your heart racing so quickly?”
“I—” She didn’t have an answer, not one she was willing to share, anyway.
Jaeyi ducked her head and leaned in, her lips near her ear. “Where’d your confidence go?”
Before she could second-guess her actions, Seulgi turned her head and captured Jaeyi’s lips in a kiss. For one brief moment, Jaeyi didn’t move, perhaps finally caught off guard, but then she opened her mouth and took charge.
Seulgi poured all her emotions into the kiss: her anger, envy, and longing—everything that Jaeyi evoked. God, she fucking hated her. Yet, at the same time, desire wrapped its ugly fingers around her heart, choking her.
Jaeyi roughly shoved her against the wall and deepened the kiss, pressing their bodies together. The blood rushed in her ears, drowning out the noise as she sank into her lust. It was just her and Jaeyi. Nothing else mattered.
She was floating in her headspace when Jaeyi broke apart to catch her breath. It’d been intense, like nothing she had ever felt before.
Jaeyi showered kisses along her neck, lower and lower, heading toward her uniform collar. “You’re mine,” she declared.
“Yours?”
“Mine,” Jaeyi breathed, asserting it as a fact.
Behind them, footsteps echoed in the hallway. Someone was quickly approaching. The two sprang apart, pretending they hadn’t just had their tongues shoved down each other’s throats moments ago.
A student, seemingly another senior, walked by, holding an energy drink. She waved at Jaeyi, completely ignoring Seulgi, before turning the corner.
Seulgi let out a breath, then giggled, finding it inexplicably funny. All that pent-up energy needed to be released somehow, and it chose to do so through laughter. Tears welled in her eyes as she struggled to control her outburst.
“Shh, she’ll come back if you keep that up,” Jaeyi scolded her. “Unless that’s what you want?”
The last of her giggles faded. “I have nothing to lose; it’s your reputation at stake.”
“Then you better make it worthwhile.”
As Jaeyi drew her into another kiss, Seulgi knew it wouldn’t be the only top spot they’d be competing over.