I was stuck in the in-between,
a confusing limbo where maybe meant
everything and nothing all at once.
Y/N POV:
Today is Sunday. After eating breakfast, I tried to go back to sleep since I barely slept last night.
Just as I was finally dozing off, someone barged into my room. It was Niki.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, sitting up groggily.
"You don't even check your damn phone!" he said, plopping down on my bed beside me. "There are like fifty messages blowing up the group chat."
I fumbled for my phone under my pillow as Niki tugged at my blanket. "Get up. Change your clothes. We're going."
"Going where?" I mumbled, finally unlocking my phone. Notifications flooded the screen-most from Haerin.
The latest message read:
💬 Haerin: "GUYS MEET AT MY HOUSE NOW. IT'S IMPORTANT."
Niki stood up, already heading toward the door. "That's what I'm trying to tell you. It's 'important.' Now hurry up-I'm not getting yelled at because you're still in pajamas."
"We literally just saw each other yesterday," I groaned, dragging myself out of bed like a zombie. "What could possibly be so important?"
"Exactly," Niki agreed, rolling his eyes. "I was about to start a new game, but then Sunoo and Jakw showed up at my house and said we have to go. Something about a 'group emergency.'" He made air quotes with his fingers, looking entirely unimpressed.
Still half-asleep, I changed into the first somewhat-clean hoodie and jeans I could find, pulled my hair into a messy bun, and followed Niki out the door and we headed towards Haerin house.
When we arrived at Haerin's house, I didn't hold back. "You punk! What's so 'important' that you made me wake up in the middle of my sleep?" I shouted as I walked in.
They were all playing UNO and were being incredibly loud. Haerin looked up at me and gave an innocent smile.
"I know that! There is nothing important!" I said, glaring at her in an angry tone.
"I'm home alone and I was bored," she said, looking at me with pleading eyes.
Before I could scold her again, Sunoo cut in, eyes sparkling with mischief, "Okay, but since we're here... what happened with you and Sunghoon yesterday?" he said, suddenly everyone turned to look at me with intense curiosity.
I answered their endless questions while preparing a packet of noodles. Honestly, before I got here, I was bored and didn't even want to come. But now, nobody looked like they wanted to leave. They were all in the living room, listening to music blasting way too loudly.
"Last night, I couldn't even sleep properly!" I complained loudly over the noise.
Just then, the doorbell rang. They were so into the music that no one even heard it.
"Y/N, just get the door!" Haerin yelled back, not moving from her spot. "And why couldn't you sleep last night?"
I walked towards the door, still shouting over my shoulder, "You punk! If your crush gives you a ride home, are you able to ev-"
Before I could finish the sentence, I swung the door open.
Jay, Heeseung, Jungwon, and-of course-Sunghoon, all standing at the doorstep. Jay was biting his lip to keep from laughing, Jungwon's eyes were wide with amusement, Heeseung had already turned away with a smirk, and Sunghoon... Sunghoon just stood there, one eyebrow slightly raised, the faintest hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"Are you not going to let us in?" Heesung asked, a teasing smile on his face.
"Oh! Just come in," I said, stepping aside quickly and trying to sound casual. "It's not like I'm fully blocking the door."
Inside, I was screaming at myself: Don't act crazy in front of Sunghoon. Be cool. Be normal.
I felt my entire body instantly catch on fire from sheer embarrassment.
__
After i finish cooking, I took out the cold drinks, the table is ready. " It's ready, the food is ready" i said, i beat the steel cover of pot with spoon.
Now i realised why I'm making so much noodles, they all hide to me. They say they're all extra hungry. I glared them sharply all.
"Ohh, you made this? It's so good!" Jay said, looking genuinely impressed.
I'm actually a little pro at cooking. Since my mom owns a café, she always taught me a few things.
"She's our personal chef!" Jake announced, then he turned to Sunghoon with a look that said he was clearly trying to stir something up. "Sunghoon, don't you think it's delicious?"
Sunghoon simply nodded in agreement, offering a small smile.
"She's total girlfriend material," Jake said.
I knew he was trying to do something crazy, but that was beyond what I expected. I choked on my food and started coughing violently. The noodles were quite spicy, making it even worse. Sunoo quickly handed me a glass of water.
I glared at Jake sharply before getting up from the table. Having a crazy friend is so stressful-I can't even have a crush peacefully.
I'm sure Sunghoon already knows I like him.
Before the others left, Niki and I headed out first. When I reached home, I was surprised to see my sister already in the kitchen, cooking dinner. Lately, she'd been so busy with her fashion design projects that we hardly saw each other anymore. As the oldest, she's always carried a lot on her shoulders, but these days it felt like we were barely passing each other in the hallway.
"Unnie, you're home! Where is everyone else?" I asked, genuinely happy to see her.
"Mom and dad went to the hospital to visit a friend," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "And Soobin's hiding in his room, as usual." She smiled tiredly but warmly. "It's nice to have you here. I feel like I haven't talked to you in weeks."
After I changed into something more comfortable, I started helping her chop vegetables. We fell into our old rhythm easily, and soon we were chatting and laughing like we used to. I told her all about Sunghoon and how I kept making a fool of myself in front of him. She listened, shaking her head and laughing at all the right parts.
"Ah, young love," she teased. "I'm glad you told me. I've missed this."
That night, after our unexpected heart-to-heart, I worked on some assignments. They were easy, but my mind kept wandering back to the kitchen-and how much I'd missed my sister.
##############################
After that Sunday, our group felt a little closer-especially with Jay and his friends. We'd chat casually between classes, joke around during breaks, and even share snacks like we'd known each other for years.
But Sunghoon... Sunghoon was different.
No matter when I saw him, Wonhee was always by his side. He helped her study during lunch, walked with her between classes, and sometimes even carried her books. I have to admit, it bothered me a little.
____
The day of the High School Basketball Tournament had finally arrived. Our first match-up was against the famous Yungseo High School. Everyone was so excited! Our group waited for each other at the gate and then walked over to the tournament together.
When we arrived, we headed straight to our school's section in the bleachers. There was a short opening ceremony with a few performances, and then-finally-the game began.
Jake, Heeseung, Jay, and Sunghoon were all playing on our school's basketball team, and we cheered louder than anyone-screaming their names with every shot and steal.
But during the first half of the game, Jay got injured. Haerin was completely bewildered and worried-it looked like it might be his bone. The coaches rushed him to the hospital, and Juhee and Haerin followed right behind them.
The game resumed, and I cheered as loudly as I could, pouring all my energy into supporting the team.
In the final minute, Sunghoon made an incredible shot-swish! We won!
The crowd erupted. We were screaming, hugging, jumping up and down-completely lost in the moment.
But then I saw Wonhee grab Sunghoon's arm, leaning in a little too close to celebrate. My smile faded. There goes my mood...
As the excitement died down, we ran into Heeseung."We're going to visit Jay," I said. "Are you coming?"
"Yeah, we're all going after we change," he replied. "Wait for us-we'll go together."
So we did. A little while later, Heeseung, Sunghoon, Wonhee, Nari, and I all headed to Jay house together since he hadn't been admitted
And the whole way there, I couldn't help but notice how Wonhee never seemed to leave Sunghoon's side.
When we arrived, Jay's mom, Mrs. Park, greeted us warmly at the door.
"They're up in his room," she said with a kind smile. "Go on up."
When we walked in, Juhee and Jungwon were already there chilling with Jay.
Jay was in bed, looking far too pleased with himself for someone who'd just cracked a bone.
"Took you guys long enough!" he said, gesturing with his good arm.
"You... you look like you're not that hurt badly," I finally said, the words tumbling out in a mix of relief and pure indignation.
His right arm was wrapped in a light cast.
"Doc said it's just a small crack," he explained, shrugging with his good shoulder. "No basketball until this heals, though."
Heeseung shook his head, trying to look serious but failing. "Could've been worse, you drama king."
"Where's Haerin?" Nari asked.
"She went to the washroom," Juhee replied.
Just then, Haerin returned, and Jay immediately started hamming it up.
He clutched his left arm and winced dramatically. "It hurts right here..." he said in an overly soft, pitiful voice.
I fake-gagged. "Yah, are you for real right now?" I flicked his good arm.
But Haerin shot me a death glare.
"Jagiya~ does it hurt?" she cooed, gently patting Jay's head like he was a wounded puppy.
The whole room burst out laughing-they were totally teasing me now.
Jay smirked, looking way too pleased with himself.
After a second,"Let's hang out!" Jay suggested cheerfully, acting like he wasn't the one wrapped in a cast.
"You guys go without me." I said, my eyes drifting toward Wonhee, who was practically glued to Sunghoon's side. "I'm not really feeling it."
Wonhee didn't miss a beat. She glanced at me, then turned to the others with a sweet-but totally fake-smile.
"Let's just go without her. It's not like we can't have fun just because one person doesn't want to come."
Ugh. She was seriously getting on my nerves.
"We're not going anywhere without you," Haerin said firmly, immediately jumping to my defense. She then turned to Jay, her expression shifting to one of playful scolding. "And you-you're injured. You should be resting, not planning hangouts."
"Yeah, bro," Heeseung added, giving Jay's good shoulder a light pat. "Just focus on healing up first. We need you watching-and cheering-when we crush the other schools."
I caught Wonhee shooting me a disgusted look out of the corner of my eye.
Huh. Typical.
There were already rumors spreading around school that she and Sunghoon were dating-mostly because she was always hanging off him, invading his space, touching his arm, making sure everyone saw them together.But sometimes, I noticed... Sunghoon looked tired of it too.
His smiles seemed forced around her, and he'd often subtly create distance when she got too close.
Maybe he was just too polite to say anything.
Or maybe he didn't want to hurt her feelings.
But one thing was clear: she wasn't his girlfriend-no matter how much she pretended to be.
" Then, Sunghoon-oppa~... can you drop me off?" Wonhee asked in that sickly sweet voice of hers.
I couldn't take it anymore.
"I'm in a hurry. I'll go first," I said abruptly, turning and walking out before anyone could respond.
I didn't look back-not at Sunghoon, not at Wonhee, not even at my friends.
But I could hear footsteps behind me.
My friends were following.
Let Sunghoon deal with her. Let them figure it out.
I was done watching that performance.
As soon as we got outside, Nari slung an arm around my shoulder.
"Aigoo~ someone's definitely jealous," she teased, squeezing me lightly.
I'm not jealous," I shot back a little too quickly. "There's literally nothing to be jealous of."
Juhee raised an eyebrow. "Then why did you run out like Cinderella after midnight?"
Before I could respond, she added, "Still... it's kinda weird how he lets her cling to him like that."
Haerin sighed, like she'd explained this a million times before.
"I told you-she's Jake's cousin. They've all been friends since middle school. Sunghoon's basically her honorary brother." I stayed quiet. Maybe that was true.But something in my gut told me Wonhee's feelings for Sunghoon were real-even if his weren't the same.
We had planned to sleep over at my house, but since the basketball team's next game is a little far away and we have regular classes tomorrow, we decided to stop by their houses first to pick up their uniforms before heading to my place.
At night, we turned my room into our own little world. We made bed on the floor , blasted music, and danced like no one was watching.
This is what I love most about being with them-in these moments, I forget everything else. All the stress from today just melted away.
We danced until we were completely exhausted and ended up staying up way too late. After everyone else fell asleep, I still couldn't shut my brain off, so I read my novel until my eyes grew heavy.
I didn't end up falling asleep until around 3:00 a.m. I'm definitely going to wake up late tomorrow.