Chapter 50: What Would you Do..

Ji-Ah barely slept. Even with her eyes shut, Evelyn's words replayed in her mind.

You.

It shouldn't have mattered. But it did.

By the time morning arrived, she was running on caffeine and irritation. She didn't even hesitate before knocking on Evelyn's door again.

No answer.

She knocked again, more forcefully this time. "Evelyn."

The door swung open. Evelyn stood there, towel-drying her hair, looking completely unbothered. "You're persistent."

Ji-Ah crossed her arms. "We're talking."

Evelyn leaned against the doorframe, a ghost of a smirk on her lips. "We did that last night."

"Not properly." Ji-Ah's patience was thin. "You keep leaving things unfinished."

Evelyn sighed, stepping aside in silent invitation. Ji-Ah hesitated only a second before walking in.

The room smelled like soap and something distinctly Evelyn. Ji-Ah ignored the way it messed with her focus.

Evelyn sat on the bed, looking up at her. "Fine. Talk."

Ji-Ah didn't know where to start. She hadn't exactly planned this far.

After a moment, she settled on, "What are we doing?"

Evelyn's expression didn't change, but something in the air shifted. "What do you mean?"

"You act like I matter one second, then push me away the next," Ji-Ah said, forcing herself to hold Evelyn's gaze. "What am I supposed to do with that?"

Evelyn didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was softer than usual. "I never asked you to do anything."

Ji-Ah clenched her jaw. "That's the problem."

Evelyn's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "And if I did?"

The room felt too small, the space between them almost nonexistent. Ji-Ah could hear her own heartbeat.

Then Evelyn leaned in, just slightly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What would you do, Ji-Ah?"

Ji-Ah didn't move. She couldn't. Because for the first time, she wasn't sure if she was ready to find out.