eclipsed | sim jaeyun

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Saturday morning was supposed to be quiet. I had planned for nothing more than staying in bed, letting my muscles recover from practice, and maybe binging some drama. But of course, Jungwon had other plans. 

"Get up," he said, pulling my blanket away without warning. 

"Jungwon!" I groaned, squinting at him. "What's your problem?" 

"You're coming with me. Niki wants to meet up, and you're not staying cooped up all day." 

I frowned. "Since when did I agree to this?" 

"Since I'm your brother, and I'm doing you a favor by making sure you're not turning into a hermit," he said, smirking. 

"I'm not—" 

"Be ready in 30 minutes," he said, cutting me off as he walked out of my room. 

I glared at his retreating figure but reluctantly dragged myself out of bed. 

---

The café was buzzing when we arrived, its warm, wood-paneled interior a stark contrast to the chilly weather outside. Niki was already there, sipping on an iced Americano despite the cold. 

"Yang siblings, in the flesh," he said, grinning as he stood to greet us. 

"Don't be dramatic," Jungwon said, rolling his eyes as they exchanged a handshake. 

I gave Niki a small smile. "Hi." 

He pulled a chair out for me, ever the gentleman. "How's life, Haeri?" 

"Exhausting," I said, sitting down. "But fine." 

We ordered drinks, and the conversation quickly turned into Niki and Jungwon's usual antics—teasing each other about old memories, arguing over sports, and occasionally pulling me in for my opinion. 

It was nice to be part of their dynamic, but it also made me hyper-aware of the fact that this was Jake's group. 

As if summoned by my thoughts, the door to the café opened, and Jake walked in. He spotted us almost immediately, raising an eyebrow as his gaze landed on me. 

"Small world," he said as he approached our table. 

"Jake!" Niki said, brightening. "You finally made it." 

Jake slid into the seat next to him, his eyes flickering to me for a brief second before focusing on the others. 

"I didn't know you were coming," Jungwon said, narrowing his eyes at Jake. 

"Last-minute thing," Jake replied casually. 

I looked down at my drink, suddenly feeling out of place. The energy shifted with Jake's arrival—subtle but noticeable. 

"Anyway," Niki said, breaking the tension, "we were just talking about that time Jungwon fell off his bike trying to impress Haeri's friends in middle school." 

Jake smirked. "Oh, I remember that. Didn't you scrape your entire knee?" 

Jungwon groaned, running a hand down his face. "Why does this story keep coming up?" 

"Because it's hilarious," Niki said, laughing. 

Jake chuckled, his eyes meeting mine briefly. There was a softness in his expression, something that made my stomach flip. 

---

The conversation flowed more naturally after that, and I found myself laughing along with them. Jake didn't say much to me directly, but his presence was hard to ignore. 

At one point, he leaned back in his chair, his voice low as he asked, "How's dance practice going?" 

I blinked, surprised he was asking me. "Good. We're getting ready for the competition." 

"Still overthinking every step?" he teased. 

I scowled. "I do not overthink." 

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Sure you don't." 

Before I could retort, Niki interrupted. "Wait, Haeri's in a dance competition? Why didn't I know this?" 

"It's not a big deal," I said quickly, not wanting to draw more attention. 

"Not a big deal?" Jungwon said, his tone incredulous. "You've been practicing non-stop for weeks. It's a huge deal." 

"Thanks for the spotlight, Jungwon," I muttered, sinking into my chair. 

Jake smiled faintly, his eyes lingering on me for a moment before turning back to the group. 

---

By the time we left the café, the sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. Jake and Niki walked ahead, deep in conversation, while Jungwon hung back with me. 

As we reached the parking lot, Jake glanced over his shoulder. "Need a ride?" he asked, his question directed at all of us but somehow feeling like it was meant for me. 

"No, we're good," Jungwon said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "I've got Haeri covered." 

Jake nodded, his expression unreadable. "See you guys later, then." 

"Later," Jungwon said, steering me toward our car. 

I glanced back once, catching the way Jake's gaze lingered before he turned away. 

---

That night, I couldn't stop replaying the day in my head. Jake's quiet remarks, the way he seemed to notice me even when I wasn't trying to stand out—it was confusing. 

But more than that, it was dangerous. 

I wasn't sure where we stood or what we were becoming, but I knew one thing for sure: I couldn't let it go too far. Not when Jungwon was watching so closely.

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