CHAPTER 8:

Chapter 8: Unspoken Bonds

The morning after her conversation with her mother, Ji Jandi couldn't shake off the tension that had been brewing within her. Her mind replayed the strange feeling of holding Bo Bae's diary, the unspoken history, and the weight of the secrets they all carried. There was something about it that had unsettled her, but she wasn't ready to confront it yet.

As she sat in the study, absently flipping through the pages of a book she had never really planned to read, her thoughts kept wandering back to the diary. The heavy silence in the room made it even harder to focus, so she sighed, closing the book and setting it down.

Just then, Ji Lieni entered the room, her usual lively demeanor a stark contrast to Ji Jandi's quiet mood. She paused when she saw her sister sitting there, clearly lost in thought.

"Hey, sis, you've been acting weird all morning," Ji Lieni remarked, her tone filled with curiosity. She noticed the faint tension in Ji Jandi's posture, the way her sister had quickly hidden something from her earlier.

"What's up with you?" Ji Lieni continued, her playful grin replaced by genuine concern.

Ji Jandi didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pushed the memories of the diary aside, not wanting to address them yet. "I'm fine. Just tired," she said, her voice slightly forced.

But Ji Lieni wasn't buying it. "You've been acting off since last night. I mean, you didn't even want to join us at the park. And now this...?" She glanced around the room, as if looking for some sign that would explain Ji Jandi's behavior.

"I said I'm fine," Ji Jandi snapped, not meaning to sound harsh, but the frustration she felt was evident. She quickly softened, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "Sorry, I didn't mean that."

Li Lieni hesitated for a moment, before sitting down next to her sister. She looked at Ji Jandi, then glanced over at the pile of books and papers scattered across the desk, trying to make sense of the tension.

"I know it's been weird with the whole Bo Bae thing," Ji Lieni said quietly, her voice softening. "But you don't have to hide anything from me, Jandi. You're my sister. I'm here for you."

Ji Jandi turned to look at her, the vulnerability in her eyes making her look younger than she actually was. "I know," she said, voice barely above a whisper. "But some things... I just need to figure out on my own."

Li Lieni didn't press her further. Instead, she reached out, giving Ji Jandi's hand a reassuring squeeze. "Whenever you're ready, I'm here. But don't push us away, okay? You're not alone in this."

Ji Jandi nodded, grateful for her sister's understanding, even if she didn't have all the answers. It felt like the weight on her chest had eased a little. But deep down, she knew that there was something she had to confront soon, something that had been silently growing between her, Ji Ho, and Bo Bae.

Meanwhile, across the house, Ji Ho was sitting in his room, staring out the window, lost in his thoughts. The evening before, he had promised Ji Jandi that he wouldn't let anything happen between him and Bo Bae, but his mind kept drifting back to her. Was he being too hard on her? Could he trust her? And what about Ji Jandi? Her silence, her reluctance to speak about things that were clearly bothering her—he didn't want to push her too hard, but he also knew that he couldn't ignore it forever.

His phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and saw a message from his father. We need to talk. Tonight. Ji Ho's stomach sank. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be a casual chat.

As the day wore on, Ji Ho found it harder to focus. The weight of his family's unspoken tension pressed down on him, and he couldn't help but wonder just how long they could keep pretending everything was normal.

Dinner came, and everyone sat around the table, the usual chatter filling the room. But the smiles didn't reach anyone's eyes. Ji Jandi was quiet, Ji Lieni was watching her, and Ji Ho could sense the tension hanging in the air.

"Ji Ho, you seem distracted," his father said, his voice low but firm. "Something on your mind?"

Ji Ho looked up, meeting his father's gaze. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words didn't come. What was there to say? Everything was tangled in knots that he couldn't untangle. Finally, he simply said, "I'm fine."

But his father didn't look convinced. "We'll talk later," he said, and Ji Ho nodded in silent agreement.

As the meal came to an end, Ji Jandi excused herself first. Her earlier mood was still lingering, and she just couldn't shake it off. When she made her way to her room, her thoughts immediately went to Bo Bae again. Why had she reacted so strongly to the diary? What was it about Bo Bae that had her feeling so unsettled?

She couldn't make sense of it all.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Ji Ho.

Are you okay?

She stared at the message, her finger hovering over the keyboard. She wasn't sure how to respond. Part of her wanted to lie and tell him everything was fine, but another part of her needed to be honest.

I don't know anymore, Ho. I really don't.

She sent the message and immediately felt a weight lift off her shoulders. Maybe she didn't have all the answers, but at least she had someone to talk to.

The phone buzzed again.

We'll figure it out. Together.

Ji Jandi smiled faintly, feeling a little less alone in that moment. It was a small step, but it was enough to keep her going. She was ready to face whatever came next—whether it was the growing tension between her and Bo Bae or the complicated feelings she had for her brother.

For now, all she had was the comfort of knowing she wasn't alone.