eclipsed | sim jaeyun

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Sunday morning came with a sore body from the basketball session, but the ache was oddly satisfying. Jungwon didn't let me hear the end of it, bragging about how he'd "trained me" into making two decent shots by the end of the day. 

"You'd be MVP in no time if you actually tried," he teased as we sat in the kitchen eating breakfast. 

"Or if the hoop was three feet lower," I shot back. 

"Hey, progress is progress," he said with a grin. 

Our light banter was interrupted by a text notification on my phone. It was from Yunjin. 

yunnie💞

yunnie💞
practice today at 3?
we've got to finalize the routine

haerilicious😛
ok
i'll meet you guys at the studio

"Dance practice again?" Jungwon asked, glancing at my phone. 

"Yeah, the competition's coming up soon. We need all the time we can get." 

He nodded, his expression softening. "Don't overdo it, though." 

"I won't," I promised. 

---

The studio was buzzing with energy when I arrived. Giselle and Yunjin were already warming up, while Minjeong scrolled through playlists on her phone. 

"You ready?" Yunjin asked, her hair tied up in a high ponytail. 

"Yup," I said, pulling off my hoodie. 

The next two hours were a whirlwind of choreography, corrections, and bursts of laughter when someone (usually me) missed a step. 

By the time we finished, my muscles were screaming, but the routine was starting to look polished. 

"We're getting there," Minjeong said, wiping sweat from her forehead. 

"Yeah, but we've still got work to do," Yunjin added. 

"We'll get it," I said confidently. For the first time in a while, I felt a sense of control over something in my life. 

---

Later that evening, I found myself sitting in the living room with Jungwon, scrolling through my phone. He was absorbed in a drama on TV, but I wasn't paying much attention. 

A notification popped up: 

jake🧍

jake🧍
you still sore from yesterday?

I hesitated for a moment before typing back. 

haeriii
a little
why
you offering another basketball lesson?

jake🧍
i'd charge for that

haeriii
LMAOO

jake🧍
by the way
you're not bad at basketball
just a little rusty

It was such a small comment, but it made me smile. Before I could reply, Jungwon leaned over, trying to peek at my screen. 

"Who're you texting?" he asked casually. 

"No one," I said quickly, locking my phone. 

He raised an eyebrow. "No one, huh? You're smiling like you just got a love confession." 

"Don't be ridiculous," I said, throwing a cushion at him. 

"Alright, alright," he said, holding up his hands in surrender. But his teasing left me feeling unsettled. 

---

The week passed in a blur of classes, dance practice, and moments of stolen solitude. Jake's texts were sporadic, but they lingered in the back of my mind, a constant undercurrent I couldn't shake. 

By Friday, I was ready for the weekend. Yunjin had invited me over for a movie night with Giselle and Minjeong, and I eagerly agreed, needing the distraction. 

Her apartment was cozy and chaotic, with blankets strewn across the couch and a table piled with snacks. 

"Popcorn or chips?" Yunjin asked, holding up two bowls. 

"Both," I said, settling onto the couch. 

As the night went on, we talked about everything from school to dance to crushes. 

"So," Minjeong said, a mischievous glint in her eye, "any updates on the Jake front?" 

I froze mid-bite. "What do you mean?" 

"Don't play dumb," Yunjin said, throwing a handful of popcorn at me. "We've seen the way he looks at you." 

"He doesn't look at me any way," I protested. 

"Haeri, come on," Giselle said, crossing her arms. "You've got to admit there's something there." 

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. The truth was, I didn't know what was happening between Jake and me. 

"It doesn't matter," I said finally. "Even if there is, nothing can happen. He's Jungwon's best friend." 

"That's such a lame excuse," Yunjin said, rolling her eyes.

I wanted to argue, but I couldn't. Instead, I focused on the movie, trying to ignore the flutter in my chest. 

---

When I got home, the house was quiet. Jungwon was already asleep, and the lights were dim. 

I climbed into bed, pulling the covers over my head. Maybe if I ignored it long enough, the feelings would go away. 

But deep down, I knew they wouldn't.

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