when the stars align | sim jaeyun

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The days leading up to the festival were a blur of last-minute touches and frantic checklists. The classroom had transformed completely—what was once just a room full of desks was now a vintage café in the making, complete with lace, pastel decorations, and a carefully arranged seating area.

Despite all the progress, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. Jake's words from yesterday still lingered in my mind. *Go home.* It wasn't the usual taunt or dismissive comment. There was something else in the way he said it, something I hadn't expected from him.

"Jisun!" Yunjin waved her hand in front of my face, pulling me back to the present. "You okay?"

I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts. "Yeah, just thinking."

She raised an eyebrow. "About what? Or should I say *who*?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's nothing."

Yunjin grinned mischievously. "It's about Jake, isn't it?"

"Why would it be about Jake?" I snapped, a little too quickly.

"Uh-huh," she teased, nudging me with her elbow. "You two have been acting weird around each other lately."

"Stop it," I muttered, glancing across the room where Jake was talking to Sunghoon. He was laughing at something, and for a brief moment, I couldn't help but notice how different he seemed. More... relaxed. Less the annoying, arrogant Jake I was used to.

"Yeah, sure, stop it," Yunjin said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Keep denying it, Jisun."

I ignored her, focusing on organizing the coffee cups. But even as I busied myself with the small tasks, my mind kept drifting back to Jake. Was it possible that I was just imagining things? That he hadn't changed?

---

The next morning, the final preparations for the festival began in full force. The café was nearly ready, but there was still so much left to do. I was checking the list for the umpteenth time when Jake appeared next to me, looking oddly serious.

"You're stressed," he said bluntly.

"Thanks for the observation, Captain Obvious," I said, not looking at him.

"No, seriously," he insisted, his voice a little softer. "You're pushing yourself too hard."

I glanced at him, not sure how to respond. Was he... concerned?

"I'm fine," I said, brushing off the strange feeling in my chest. "I just want everything to be perfect."

Jake didn't say anything at first. He just watched me, like he was trying to figure me out. It was disconcerting, but there was something oddly comforting about his presence.

"Let me help," he said after a pause. "I can do the decorations."

I hesitated. "You? Do the decorations?"

"Why not?" He shrugged. "I'm good at it."

I raised an eyebrow, looking over at the half-done garland. "You're good at it, huh? This I've got to see."

Jake gave me an almost apologetic grin. "Okay, I might not be *that* good at it, but I'll try."

I watched him for a moment, then sighed. "Fine. Go ahead. But if it looks awful, I'm blaming you."

He smirked. "Deal."

---

Later that afternoon, the entire class gathered to set up the final details. As we arranged tables and set up the last of the décor, I found myself working alongside Jake. He wasn't being his usual sarcastic self—he was focused, actually doing the work and making things look nice.

"You know," I said, eyeing his handiwork, "you're not as bad as I thought."

"I told you," he said, glancing at me with a smile. "I have hidden talents."

I rolled my eyes but smiled despite myself. The way he was acting now, it almost felt like the old Jake—the one I used to know before everything changed.

"You should stay like this," I joked. "Less irritating."

Jake chuckled, his eyes glinting with something playful. "You really want me to stop being irritating? That's a shame."

I shook my head, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips. "I think you just like getting under my skin."

"Maybe," he said, his tone dropping slightly. "But it's kind of fun, you know?"

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just focused on the task at hand. But as we worked, I couldn't help but notice that there was something different about him today. He wasn't being cruel or distant—he was just... normal.

And for the first time in a long while, it didn't feel like I was on edge around him.

---

By the end of the day, everything was set. The vintage café was ready to open, and the excitement among the class was palpable. Everyone was excited, and even though I was exhausted, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as I looked around at the space we'd all worked so hard to create.

Jake appeared beside me as we finished setting up, his usual teasing expression back in place.

"Not bad, Park," he said, glancing around. "Looks like you actually know what you're doing."

I couldn't help but grin. "Told you."

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, looking down at the floor. "It's... impressive."

Before I could respond, he turned to leave, but not before throwing one last comment over his shoulder.

"Don't get too comfortable with the compliments," he said with a smirk. "I'm still better at everything."

"Sure, Jake," I said, rolling my eyes. "You keep telling yourself that."

But as I watched him walk away, I felt a strange warmth spreading through me. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to shift.

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okok FR THIS TIME THEY'LL HAVE A BETTER TALK SOON JUST WAIT FOR IT