eclipsed | sim jaeyun

-

The late-morning sun hung high in the sky as our group sprawled across the poolside. Sunoo and Yunjin were locked in a heated debate about which idol group had the best choreographies, their voices rising over the rhythmic crashing of the waves nearby. Giselle lounged on a pool chair, scrolling through her phone with oversized sunglasses perched on her nose.

I sat cross-legged at the edge of the pool, my toes dangling into the cool water. Jungwon was grilling skewers a few steps away, his focused expression amusingly out of place compared to his usual easygoing demeanor. Jake had joined him, teasing Jungwon relentlessly about his "lack of barbecue finesse."

"Seriously, Won, how do you manage to burn the veggies and undercook the meat at the same time?" Jake chuckled, flipping a skewer with effortless grace.

"I don't know, Jake, maybe it's because someone keeps distracting me," Jungwon shot back, nudging Jake with his elbow.

Their bickering was lighthearted, but I couldn't help glancing over at Jake every now and then. He had a way of commanding attention without trying—his carefree confidence somehow making the smallest moments feel significant.

"You're zoning out again," Yunjin whispered, her voice low enough for only me to hear.

"What? No, I'm not," I muttered, swishing my feet in the water to avoid her knowing gaze.

"You totally are," she teased, a sly grin spreading across her face. "And we both know why."

"Yunjin," I warned, shooting her a sharp look.

"Relax, I won't say anything." She laughed and reached for her drink, her attention shifting as Giselle joined the conversation.

I exhaled slowly, trying to push away the flurry of emotions Yunjin had so effortlessly stirred up. This was supposed to be a relaxing trip—a distraction from the chaos of life back in Seoul. Yet here I was, hyper-aware of every little thing Jake did.

"Haeri!" Jungwon's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Can you grab the plates from the kitchen? We're almost ready to eat."

"Got it!" I stood, brushing off imaginary sand from my shorts before heading inside.

The coolness of the house was a welcome reprieve from the heat. I found the plates in the cabinet and began stacking them carefully, the sound of laughter from outside muffled by the thick glass doors.

"Need some help?"

I jumped slightly, the plates clattering together as Jake's voice came from behind me. I turned to find him leaning casually against the counter, his trademark grin in place.

"No, I'm good," I replied, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.

He stepped closer, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You sure? You seem... flustered."

I glared at him, though it lacked any real heat. "I'm fine."

Jake didn't move, his gaze holding mine a moment longer than necessary before he reached past me to grab a glass from the shelf. I could feel the warmth radiating from him, the space between us suddenly too small.

"Alright," he said, his tone playful but edged with something I couldn't quite place. "If you say so."

Before I could muster a response, he turned and walked back outside, leaving me standing there with the plates and a racing heart.

---

By the time lunch was served, the tension I felt had dulled into a low hum in the back of my mind. The group was in high spirits, the sound of forks clinking against plates mingling with bursts of laughter.

"Okay, but remember the time Niki got stung by a jellyfish and thought he was going to lose his leg?" Sunghoon said, barely able to get the words out between fits of laughter.

Niki groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Can we not bring that up? That was traumatic!"

"It was hilarious," Jay added, grinning. "You cried for, like, an hour straight."

"I was twelve!" Niki protested, but his indignation only made everyone laugh harder.

Moments like this reminded me why these trips were so special. There was an ease to the way we all fit together, like pieces of a puzzle that had been made to match.

As the sun began its slow descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, we decided to head down to the beach. The water was cool against my ankles as I walked along the shore, my friends' voices a distant hum behind me.

"Hey."

I turned to see Jake a few steps away, his hands shoved into the pockets of his shorts.

"Hey," I replied, my heart doing that annoying fluttery thing again.

"Why are you way over here?"

"Just needed a breather," I said, shrugging.

He nodded, stepping closer until we were side by side. For a moment, neither of us spoke, the sound of the waves filling the silence.

"You're quiet today," Jake said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

"Am I?" I asked, feigning ignorance.

"Yeah. It's not like you."

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. Jake had always been perceptive, but this felt different—like he was searching for something beyond the surface.

"I feel fine though," I said finally, hoping it was convincing enough.

He studied me for a moment before nodding. "Alright. But if something's up, you can tell me, you know."

"Thanks," I said softly, my chest tightening at the sincerity in his voice.

We stood there for a while, watching the waves lap against the shore. And even though I knew I should keep my distance, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him—like the tide, inevitable and unrelenting.

---