Unspoken Emotions

The night had worn on, and the group had eventually retired to their rooms, exhausted from the day's activities. Yeji and Ryujin found themselves alone in their shared room, the only sound the gentle hum of the air conditioner. Yeji, now in a comfortable pair of pajamas, was brushing her teeth while Ryujin sat on the bed, applying a moisturizer to her face. As Yeji finished up and approached the bed, she caught Ryujin's eye in the mirror. She turned off the light and sat down beside Ryujin, her energy quieter now. "Hey, thanks for earlier," Yeji said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "For listening, I mean. You always do that – listen without judging me." Ryujin set her skincare products aside and turned to Yeji, a gentle smile on her face. "You don't have to say thanks. I get you. That's all." The room fell silent, the only sound the soft creaking of the bed as Yeji shifted her weight. She really looked at Ryujin, her eyes searching, but she didn't say anything more. The weight of that moment lingered, a palpable tension that neither girl dared to break. The next day, the group decided to put their plan into action and try out the bingsu place Yeji had mentioned earlier. As they walked to the dessert shop, Yeji subtly gravitated towards Ryujin, insisting she sit next to her and often walking beside her. It wasn't overt, but Ryujin noticed how naturally Yeji sought her comfort, more so than her boyfriend's texts or presence. At the bingsu shop, they all eagerly dug into their desserts, the sweet flavors and cold treats a welcome respite from the summer heat. As they sat there, Yeji's expression turned serious once more, and she began to vent about her boyfriend. "Sometimes I feel like I'm performing in that relationship," she said, her voice low and frustrated. "Like… acting like the version of me he wants to date." Ryujin's expression fell, her eyes drifting away as she listened. It was starting to annoy her, the constant mention of him, the way Yeji's frustration and sadness seemed to orbit around him. Anytime Yeji brought him up, Ryujin went quiet, her responses stilted and brief. But Yeji didn't seem to notice, too caught up in her own emotions. "I mean, I feel like I'm pretending to be this person, you know? The perfect girlfriend. But it's exhausting. I just want to be myself, without the expectation of being someone else." The group around them chatted and laughed, oblivious to the undercurrents of tension. But Ryujin's gaze remained fixed on Yeji, her heart aching with a mixture of empathy and something more. She didn't know what to say, didn't know how to respond. All she could do was listen, her silence a gentle, comforting presence in the midst of Yeji's turmoil.