somewhere between almost and always [so junghwan treasure completed]

Chapter 8: The Edge of Something More

The following week dragged on as Ji-eun found herself caught in a tangled web of uncertainty and anticipation. After that conversation with Junghwan, things hadn't exactly changed, but something had shifted—something subtle. He no longer seemed entirely distant, but the silence between them felt heavier than ever. Every glance, every word seemed to carry more weight, and it left Ji-eun both hopeful and confused in equal measure.

Soo-ah had noticed the shift as well. "You've been walking around like you've got a secret," she said one morning as they walked to class together. "Is it the Junghwan thing? You look like you're waiting for something to happen."

Ji-eun rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "I'm not waiting for anything. Just... figuring things out."

"Right," Soo-ah smirked knowingly. "You know, I think you like him more than you're admitting."

"I don't like him!" Ji-eun said quickly, her voice too loud to be convincing. Soo-ah raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening.

"Okay, sure, you don't like him. Just like you're not obsessing over every little interaction you have with him."

Ji-eun sighed, rubbing her temples in exasperation. "I don't get him, Soo-ah. One minute, he's all distant and closed off, and the next minute, he's looking at me like... like he wants to say something but can't."

Soo-ah stopped walking, turning to face Ji-eun. "Maybe he's scared of getting close to you, Ji-eun. Maybe he doesn't know how to handle it. I mean, from what you've told me, he's not exactly used to being open with people."

"That's the thing," Ji-eun said, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I've told him he doesn't have to hide everything from me, but he just... doesn't say anything. It's like he wants me to figure it out on my own, but how am I supposed to do that?"

Soo-ah gave her a sympathetic look. "Well, sometimes people don't want to be figured out. They want someone who will stick around long enough to understand them without rushing. Maybe that's what Junghwan needs."

Ji-eun wasn't sure she agreed with Soo-ah's assessment. She didn't think Junghwan wanted anyone to "figure him out"—he just didn't seem to know how to open up. She wasn't sure if he even trusted anyone enough to do that. And the longer this went on, the more Ji-eun realized that she wasn't just dealing with a shy, tsundere guy who kept his emotions locked away—she was dealing with someone who was deeply conflicted, someone who had been hurt before and was terrified of getting hurt again.

The next day, Ji-eun found herself walking toward the school's courtyard, her mind still preoccupied with Junghwan and his confusing behavior. As she passed the usual spots where he'd be hanging out with his friends, her heart skipped when she spotted him sitting under a tree with Seungmin and Joo-hyun. It wasn't that she wanted to be noticed—it was just that, no matter how much she tried to ignore it, her eyes were drawn to him like magnets.

Junghwan was laughing at something Seungmin said, his smile making his face look softer than usual. Ji-eun's stomach flipped at the sight. There was something so disarming about his smile, something that made her feel like he could be more than just the aloof, distant guy he seemed to be.

Before she could make her way past them, she felt someone grab her arm.

"Ji-eun!"

She turned to see Minji standing beside her, a wide grin on her face. "What is it with you and Junghwan lately?" she asked, her voice casual but her eyes gleaming with something that made Ji-eun's skin prickle.

"I don't know what you mean," Ji-eun said quickly, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Minji raised an eyebrow, looking past Ji-eun at Junghwan, who was still talking to his friends. "You're so obvious, you know," she said in a teasing tone. "But you don't have to worry about me. I've got my eyes on other things. Like, for example..." She trailed off, her gaze flicking to the group of guys, then back to Ji-eun. "You know what they say, Ji-eun. You snooze, you lose."

Ji-eun swallowed the bitter retort that threatened to slip out of her mouth. She had to keep her cool. "I'm not snoozing, Minji," she said, forcing a smile. "You should focus on your own business, not mine."

Minji's eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything more. Instead, she gave a little laugh, almost as if the whole thing were a game to her. "Sure, Ji-eun. Whatever you say. But just so you know, Junghwan's not the only one who might be interested in you."

Ji-eun felt her heart drop a little at Minji's words, but she refused to let her get under her skin. She turned on her heel and walked away without looking back.

The last thing she needed was to get wrapped up in another round of Minji's manipulative games. But even as she tried to shake off the discomfort, she couldn't stop her mind from wandering back to what Minji had said. Was Junghwan really interested in her? Or was it just something she had imagined, something that wasn't real?

Later that day, after school, Ji-eun decided she needed to get away from everything. She grabbed her bag and headed out the back exit, planning to take a walk in the nearby park to clear her head. She didn't expect to find Junghwan sitting by the fountain when she arrived, his gaze far away as he watched the water.

Her breath caught in her throat, and for a moment, she debated walking past him without saying anything. After all, she didn't want to risk another awkward conversation. But something made her stop.

"Junghwan?"

He looked up, startled, his eyes widening for a moment. Then he blinked and gave her a small, tentative smile. "Oh, hey, Ji-eun."

She bit her lip, unsure of what to say next. "What are you doing here?"

He shrugged, his gaze returning to the fountain. "Just needed to get away for a bit. It's been a long day."

"I get that," Ji-eun said, sitting down beside him. The silence that followed was comfortable for once, not forced. It was as though the air between them had cleared, just a little.

"Can I ask you something?" she said after a long pause.

Junghwan turned to face her. "Sure."

"Why do you keep pushing people away?" Ji-eun asked, her voice quiet but direct. "I mean, I know you don't like getting close to people, but... why?"

Junghwan's face darkened slightly, and for a moment, Ji-eun thought he might pull away again. But then he sighed and met her gaze, his expression softening just a little.

"I don't know," he said honestly, his voice low. "Maybe I'm just afraid. I've let people in before, and it didn't turn out well. So I keep everyone at arm's length. It's easier that way."

Ji-eun's heart ached at his words. She could understand that kind of pain—she'd been hurt by people too. But it didn't mean he had to shut everyone out. "You don't have to be afraid of letting people in, Junghwan," she said gently. "You don't have to do it alone."

He looked at her for a long moment, his gaze unreadable, before he spoke again, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't know if I can let anyone in, Ji-eun. Not yet."

Ji-eun felt the weight of his words, but she didn't push him further. "Okay," she said simply, offering him a small smile. "But just know you don't have to do this alone. Not if you don't want to."

And for the first time in a long while, Ji-eun felt like there was a chance for something more to grow between them—something real. But she also knew it would take time, and she was willing to wait for as long as it took.