🌑 Stay Close to Me, Cherry
Episode 1
The morning sunlight spilled softly across Eun-ji's room, catching the gentle waves of her hair as she tugged at a stubborn strand. "Ugh… why is it so frizzy today?" she muttered, pinching her nose in frustration. Black coffee in hand, she took a careful sip, letting the bitter warmth steady her before classes.
A faint knock echoed at the door, and a voice, calm and teasing, drifted through.
"Cupcake."
Her heart skipped, just slightly. She opened the door to find Ji-ho standing there, pale in the sunlight, his eyes flickering for the briefest second with something unreadable.
"Morning, Cherry," he said smoothly. "Didn't expect you up this early."
She blinked at him, thinking, What the hell is wrong with him today?
"Nothing," he murmured, brushing off the odd tension in his posture. "Just… enjoying the view."
Rolling her eyes, Eun-ji grabbed her bag. "You're such a weirdo, you know that?"
"I prefer… mysterious," he replied with a smirk.
Even now, the little quirks she loved—the teasing, the calm confidence, the subtle ways he protected her—made her heart flutter. But something in the sunlight, the shadows under his eyes… left her feeling a little uneasy.
Outside campus, Ji-ho instinctively walked on the outer side of the road, shielding her from the glare. Eun-ji couldn't help but feel a tiny warmth amid the flutter of nervousness. "Seriously, Ji-ho," she muttered, "are you okay? You look… weirdly pale today."
He gave a small, unreadable smile. "Sunlight doesn't suit me, Cherry. You know that."
She tilted her head, trying not to let herself blush. "Yeah, yeah. Mysterious and pale. Classic you."
By the time they reached the cafeteria, the usual chaos of students surrounded them. Laughter, clattering trays, and chatter filled the air. Eun-ji navigated toward her usual table while humming a soft tune.
"Cherry!" Ji-ho's calm, teasing voice called behind her.
Her heart jumped as she saw him subtly moving closer, his presence carrying that strange mix of comfort and tension. Her eyes flicked to the stalker classmate lurking nearby. Ji-ho's hand brushed lightly against her back, guiding her just a little to shield her.
"Hey," he murmured softly, eyes flicking toward the guy, "don't worry. I've got you."
Eun-ji's stomach flipped with a mix of relief and panic. Glad… scared… flustered… shocked… Her friends at the table, well aware of the quiet situationship, were smirking knowingly.
"Uh… thanks," she stammered.
"You're ridiculous," she muttered under her breath.
"Maybe," he replied, lips curling into that teasing smirk. "But at least someone's paying attention to you."
And just like that, the moment passed. The comfort, the tension, the playful warmth—they were all there, threading through the day like a quiet undercurrent.