"Facades and Fractured Moments"

The table fell silent after Yeji's rant, the weight of her words lingering in the air. No one wanted to say the wrong thing, so they just sat there, the only sound the clinking of spoons against bowls. But then, Yuna cracked a joke, her voice light and carefree, and the tension was broken. Everyone laughed, and Yeji's expression transformed, her smile bright and radiant once more. Ryujin watched her, a mix of emotions swirling inside her. She seemed fine again, but Ryujin knew better. She had seen the cracks in Yeji's facade, the way her eyes would cloud over when she talked about her boyfriend. And it killed her, the thought of Yeji pretending to be someone she wasn't, just to make him happy. As they left the bingsu shop, Ryujin found herself lagging behind, her feet dragging in thought. She wasn't trying to be distant, she just couldn't seem to catch up. Lia turned to tease her, "Hey, Ryujin, you zoning out again?" But before Lia could say anything else, Yeji slowed down, falling into step beside Ryujin. "Hey, you've been quiet," Yeji said, her eyes searching. "Thinking about something?" Ryujin shrugged, quick to cover. "Just tired." Yeji raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her face. "Liar. You're overthinking again." Ryujin laughed, feeling a flutter in her chest. Yeji nudged her softly, a gentle, teasing gesture that felt like it was meant just for her. For a moment, they just walked side by side, the world around them melting away. Later that night, Yeji appeared in Ryujin's room, her pillow clutched in her arms. "Mind if I crash here tonight? The others are being loud." Ryujin shook her head, and Yeji curled up beside her in bed, scrolling through her phone. They chatted idly, but eventually, Yeji's eyelids drooped, and she fell asleep mid-conversation. Ryujin lay awake, watching the ceiling, her thoughts swirling. She knew she was just Yeji's friend, knew that Yeji had someone else in her life. But why did it feel like she knew Yeji better than he ever could? As the silence stretched out, Ryujin's sadness and frustration began to surface. She couldn't keep hiding it, not even from herself. In an attempt to add some distance between them, Ryujin scooted away from Yeji, trying to create some space. But Yeji didn't notice, too caught up in her own world. Ryujin fell asleep, her thoughts taking over her brain, the sound of Yeji's gentle breathing a constant reminder of the complicated emotions that had been building inside her.