"Straight from Milan," she announced proudly as she set the tray down. "They disappear fast at fashion shows, so consider yourselves lucky."
Irina's eyes sparkled. "It looks too pretty to eat."
"Eat, eat," Soyeon insisted warmly. She picked up a fork, sliced a bit of cake, and without hesitation held it up to Seojin's lips. "Here, taste this one first. It's my favorite."
Seojin froze, his ears turning red. "Mom, I'm not a kid anymore. I can feed myself," he muttered, trying to hide his embarrassment.
But she only leaned closer, nudging the fork at him until he gave in and took the bite, chewing awkwardly
His mother only smiled, completely unfazed. "What are you talking about? No matter how old you get, you'll always be my baby."
She scooped another bite and held it up to his mouth, and Seojin sighed, as three girls stared.
"Sweet, right?" she said with a satisfied smile. "When Seojin was little, he hated anything bitter. I remember once he cried because he thought cocoa powder was hot chocolate."
Irina and Jinkyung burst out laughing, nearly choking on their desserts. "No way!"
"Shut up," Seojin muttered, burying his face in one hand.
Even Hyorim laughed softly but the sound faded as Soyeon continued to feed Seojin bite after bite. Hyorim's chest tightened unexpectedly, her gaze drifting anywhere but the sight in front of her. The chandelier, the curtains, even her own reflection in the polished coffee table.
Then, as if the atmosphere wasn't already suffocating for her, Han Soyeon looked at the three girls with a teasing smile.
"So, which one of you is my son's girlfriend?"
The question landed like a stone in water. Irina's fork clattered. Jinkyung nearly spat out her drink.
And Hyorim her fists clenched in her lap, cheeks burning hot, as she stared stubbornly at the floor.
The evening wound down, laughter still lingering in the air as the group finally excused themselves. Han Soyeon hugged Seojin one more time before leaving them at the car, her perfume faintly clinging to him.
Inside the limousine, the mood was quieter than usual. Irina was texting on her phone, Jinkyung half-dozing against the seat, and Seojin staring blankly out the window.
But Hyorim sat rigid, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. She could still hear Seojin's mother's teasing voice in her head.
His girlfriend… me?
She pressed her lips together, the tips of her ears burning all over again.
Why did my heart skip like that? It's not like I… like him. Right? We're just friends. We just… happened to end up in the same group. That's all.
Her gaze flickered to the side, where Seojin sat leaning back casually, his face calm as he look at the window.
The way the dim interior light softened his profile, the faint crease between his brows as he focused it was unfair how effortlessly handsome he looked.
Her chest tightened.
Damn it… why do I keep noticing these things?
Almost without realizing, she let out a soft sigh.
Seojin turned his head, catching her in the act. "Something wrong?" he asked quietly, his tone carrying none of the teasing she expected.
Caught off guard, Hyorim quickly shook her head. "N-no. Nothing."
But her voice cracked ever so slightly.
She turned back toward the window, pretending to be absorbed in the blur of city lights rushing past. Yet inside, her thoughts were a storm.
If I don't like him, then why does my heart feel like this whenever he looks at me?
And for the rest of the ride, she couldn't bring herself to meet his eyes again.
When the last of the car doors shut and the girls were gone, the house finally fell quiet again.
I leaned back against the sofa, exhaling slowly.
My mother was already upstairs, humming to herself as she unpacked her luggage, leaving me with the lingering taste of cake and the echo of her laughter.
But what stuck with me more than her stories… was Hyorim's face.
I could still see her stiff smile when my mother teased about girlfriends. The way she avoided my eyes then, just once, failed to. That moment was brief, but sharp. Like a spark that burned too quick to ignore.
Why did she look so… frustrated?
I rubbed my temples, unsure if I was overthinking. Hyorim had always been fiery, quick to glare or snap, especially at Park Dong. Maybe that sharpness tonight was nothing new.
And yet her silence was different. It wasn't the loud, obvious kind of anger. It was… quieter. Heavier.
"Girlfriend, huh…" I muttered under my breath, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees.
If my mother had asked me that question when we were alone, my answer would've been simple. No. Not yet.
But then I pictured Hyorim again, sitting by the window in the car, chin on her hand, staring at nothing. The way her fork scraped the plate. The faint tremor in her shoulders when my mother fed me another bite.
For the first time since I'd arrived in this body, I couldn't help wondering
Does she… maybe…
I cut the thought off before it could finish, shaking my head hard. "Don't be stupid," I whispered to myself. "You're imagining things."
Still, when I went upstairs and closed my door, Hyorim's restless expression lingered like an afterimage in my mind.
********
The following Monday, the usual buzz filled the school corridors. Park Dong, Ji Suwon, and Yang Jinsu strolled down the hallway, half-bickering, half-joking as always.
As they passed by Class 1-6, Yang Jinsu peeked in through the open door. His steps faltered for a moment. Inside, Seol Hyorim sat with Irina and Jinkyung, laughing about something.
Almost as if sensing their eyes, Hyorim turned her head. Her gaze landed right on them, and she lifted her hand in a small wave.
Yang Jinsu's ears turned red. His heart thudded against his chest as he stared straight ahead, too afraid to look back again. Fuck… she's an angel… he thought, chewing his lip.
The three of them walked on, but their pace was noticeably offbeat.
Back inside the classroom, Hyorim lowered her hand, still smiling faintly. Irina leaned closer, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Yesterday, you seemed awfully restless when Seojin's mom asked about whose his girlfriend."
Jinkyung let out a dramatic gasp. "Right! And you were so red, Hyorim. Don't think I didn't notice."
Seolhyo quickly reached for her water bottle, hoping to hide behind it. "It was embarrassing, that's all. Anyone would turn red if asked something like that."
Irina smirked. "Mm, but Seojin didn't seem embarrassed. He just looked… awkward. Totally different."
"Yeah," Jinkyung added with a mischievous grin. "Do you think he actually likes someone already? Maybe that's why he didn't answer right away."
Seolhyo shifted uncomfortably. "How would I know? Ask him yourself."
Irina narrowed her eyes, her teasing tone turning sharper. "Why don't we ask you? You're the one who sat beside him the whole time."
Jinkyung leaned in closer, her voice sing-song. "Or maybe… you're the one he likes."
Hyorim's head snapped toward them, cheeks heating up instantly. "W-what are you even saying?! Don't be ridiculous."
Irina grinned like a cat who had cornered its prey. "Then answer honestly. Do you like him?"
The room seemed to go quiet for Hyorim. Her heart raced, and the words caught in her throat. She opened her mouth, then shut it again, glaring at them desperately.
"Thought so," Jinkyung whispered smugly, exchanging a knowing look with Irina.
"Shut up," Seolhyo muttered, burying her face in her arms on the desk, her ears burning scarlet. "You guys are the worst."
Irina reached over and patted her shoulder dramatically. "Don't worry. If you don't tell him, we'll just tell him for you."
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Seolhyo shot upright, eyes blazing red as she glared at them.
The two froze, their laughter dying on the spot, unease flickering in their eyes. Hyorim clenched her fists under the desk, willing her heart to calm yet the truth still echoed louder than ever in her chest.
As the silence stretched uncomfortably, Jinkyung suddenly snapped her fingers, her eyes lighting up. "Ah! That reminds me yesterday at the bingsu place. Remember how the restroom was unisex?"
Irina leaned forward eagerly. "Yeah? What about it?"
Hyorim tilted her head. "What."