5. Un（LIKE）ly
VERENA
5
Ibounced out of my creative writing class, the crisp fall air waking me up faster than my third cup of coffee that morning. Our campus at Rutgers was charming in that small-town, postcard-perfect way, but what I loved most was that we were just a train ride away from the magic of Manhattan.
My notebook, filled with half-finished stories and random doodles, was clutched to my chest as I headed toward the coffee cart. Coffee was my post-class ritual and, let’s be honest, my lifeline. As I approached, I saw Jae leaning against a lamppost, looking like he walked out of an Abercrombie & Fitch ad. His dark hair fell perfectly into his eyes, which were focused on his phone.
Jae was an architecture major, and the dude could draw like Michelangelo. He was tall, handsome, and had this quiet confidence that made people gravitate toward him. It didn’t hurt that he had the body of a Greek god, but hey, that’s just a bonus.
He looked up as I approached, flashing me a grin that could probably stop traffic. He held up a finger, signaling for me to hang on.
“Is that Auntie?” I squealed. “Tell her I said hi and that I had that hot TA in class again and?—”
Jae rolled his eyes, still smiling. “Call her yourself,” he mouthed before turning back to his phone. “Yes, Auntie. I’ll tell her,” he said into the phone, his voice dripping with affection.
I crossed my arms, waiting impatiently. Finally, he glanced at me, his smile widening. “Vee says hi.”
I could hear her delighted voice faintly through the phone, and it made me smile. Auntie was like a second mom to me.
“Auntie says we need to come home one weekend for dinner before she moves back to Korea,” Jae relayed.
“Tell her I’d love that,” I said eagerly.
Jae nodded and finished his conversation, then slipped his phone into his pocket. “She keeps teasing me that we’re dating. Maybe this dinner will finally convince her we’re just friends.”
“She’s been teasing you about that for years,” I said with a laugh. “Ever since that first weekend I went home with you and she cooked us that massive feast.”
“Yeah,” Jae said, grinning at the memory. “She wouldn’t let you leave the table until you tried everything.”
“The food coma was worth it,” I replied, reaching the coffee cart and ordering my usual double-shot latte. Jae got his black coffee, and we found a bench to sit on.
“So, how’s the latest creative writing assignment going?” Jae asked, raising an eyebrow.
I groaned dramatically. “Ugh, don’t even get me started. We’re supposed to write a modern retelling of a classic fairy tale, and I’m stuck. I’ve got nothing.”
“Nothing at all?” Jae asked, amused. “Come on, Vee, you’re always full of ideas.”
“Yeah, well, not this time,” I sighed, taking a sip of my coffee. “I’m thinking about turning Sleeping Beauty into a story about a girl who’s in a perpetual nap because she’s so overwhelmed by life. But it feels too…depressing.”
Jae chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”
“What about you?” I asked, changing the subject. “How’s your latest project coming along?”
He sighed, running a hand through his thick, dark hair, the kind that always looked perfectly tousled. “We’re designing a sustainable community center. It’s supposed to be this innovative, eco-friendly space that brings people together. But my professor keeps shooting down my ideas.” His frustration was evident in the crease between his eyebrows, and I couldn’t help but notice how his eyes, deep and expressive, seemed even more intense when he was worked up. There was something undeniably attractive about his passion, something that made my heart skip a beat despite knowing he was my best friend.
I nodded sympathetically. “Sounds frustrating.”
“It is,” Jae admitted. “But I’ll keep at it. Just need to find the right angle.”
Our banter was easy, comfortable. We had known each other since freshman year, and over the years, our friendship had only grown stronger. Our relationship was built on a foundation of late-night study sessions, spontaneous trips to the city, and countless hours spent exploring every corner of Manhattan.
I remembered that first weekend Jae invited me home with him. His aunt had been teasing him nonstop about having a secret girlfriend, and he wanted to prove that we were just friends. Auntie welcomed me with open arms, and Jae and I connected in a way that solidified our friendship forever. We spent that weekend exploring, eating our weight in food, and talking about everything from our hopes and dreams to our fears and failures. Since then, Jae and I had been inseparable.
And now, with Auntie moving back to Korea, it felt like the end of an era. But I knew that no matter where life took us, Jae and I would always be best friends.
“I can’t believe she’s moving,” I said, shaking my head.
Jae sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, she’s been talking about it for a while now. Guess it’s finally happening.”
“But why now?” I asked, curiosity piqued. “She seems so settled here.”
Jae took a deep breath, clearly trying to find the right words. “When my parents died, Auntie dropped everything to come take care of me. I was only fifteen and she thought moving to another country would be more than I could handle. She was engaged at the time.”
“Wait, what? She had a fiancé?” I blinked in surprise. “Why didn’t you ever mention that?”
“Yeah,” Jae said. “Her fiancé didn’t want to move to the States, and she couldn’t leave me. So she broke it off and came here. She sacrificed so much.”
“Wow,” I said, feeling a pang of sympathy. “She never talks about that.”
“She’s not one to dwell on the past,” Jae said, staring at his coffee cup. “But now she’s ready to go home. She misses her family, her friends. And honestly, she deserves to live her life for herself.”
“Absolutely,” I agreed, thinking about Auntie and all she’d done. “She’s a superhero.”
Jae’s eyes grew distant as he continued. “I used to spend my summers in Korea when my parents were alive. We’d visit Auntie and the rest of the family there. Those were the best times. The food, the culture, the way everyone came together…”
“Sounds like one big family reunion,” I said, picturing it in my head.
“It was,” Jae said, a hint of a smile on his lips. “After my parents died, everything changed. Auntie became my rock. She took care of me, made sure I never felt alone. I owe her everything.”
I nudged his shoulder. “Promise me we’ll visit her in Korea. I’ve always wanted to go.”
Jae chuckled, but there was a hint of sadness in his eyes that he couldn’t quite hide. “You got it. We’ll make it happen.”
As much as he tried to play it cool, I could tell the idea of Auntie moving back to Korea weighed heavily on him. The place held happy memories from his childhood, but it also reminded him of all he had lost. His parents, who had taken him to Korea every summer before they passed away, and the life he once knew before everything changed.
We settled into a comfortable silence for a moment, the noise of the campus bustling around us. I watched a group of students arguing about which was the best coffee shop nearby, and then turned my attention back to Jae.
“So Auntie still believes we’re secretly dating?” I broke the silence, smirking.
Jae laughed, the sound rich and warm. He shook his head, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “I told her we’re just friends, but she insists we have chemistry.”
“Well, she’s not wrong about the chemistry,” I teased, nudging him playfully with my shoulder. The touch lingered longer than necessary, and I could feel the warmth radiating off him.
Jae rolled his eyes, but the grin on his face gave him away. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love it,” I shot back, sticking out my tongue.
“Yeah, yeah,” he said, shaking his head with a smile. His eyes flickered to my mouth briefly before meeting my gaze again, and for a moment, the air between us felt charged with something unspoken.
I shifted feeling a sudden flush creep up my neck. “Anyway, it’s not like I can help it if I’m this charming.”
“Oh, is that what we’re calling it now?” Jae leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a playful whisper. “I thought it was just you being a pain in my ass.”
I laughed, swatting at his arm, but my heart was racing. His nearness, the way his eyes sparkled with mischief, the subtle tension—it was all making it hard to think straight. “Well, if I’m such a pain, why do you keep hanging out with me?”
“Maybe I like the pain,” he said, his voice teasing but his eyes holding a hint of something deeper. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, the touch sending a shiver down my spine.
I swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of how close we were. “Careful, Jae. Someone might think you actually enjoy my company.”
He smirked, leaning back but still keeping his gaze locked on mine. “Someone might think that.”
Our playful banter hung in the air, the underlying tension making it hard to breathe. It was awkward, this dance we did around our feelings, neither of us willing to take the first step. But in moments like this, when the world seemed to fade away and it was just us, it was hard to ignore the sparks.
I cleared my throat, trying to shake off the strange, almost electric feeling that had settled between us. “So, um, about that project of yours. Need any help?”
Jae blinked, then chuckled, the tension easing a bit. “Yeah, actually. I could use another pair of eyes on it. You free later?”
“Always,” I said, offering him a genuine smile. “Anything for my best friend.” I reached over and squeezed his hand. “Speaking of, I know you don’t like talking about your feelings,” I started, giving him a sidelong glance.
“Feelings? What are those?” Jae quipped, his grin widening.
“Seriously, Jae,” I said. “I know you’re probably scared that Auntie is leaving and you’ll be alone.”
He scoffed, shaking his head. “Scared? Me? Nah.”
“I’m just saying, you aren’t alone. I’m here,” I insisted, squeezing his hand again.
“Oh great, the one person who makes me carry their books,” he bantered back, giving me a playful nudge.
“Seriously,” I repeated, giving him a look that was half-stern, half-amused. “And I can introduce you to my mom. She likes to adopt strays.”
“Oh joy,” he said, rolling his eyes again. “I’ve heard your stories about her. I’m not sure I need another mom in my life. I’ve managed to avoid it for three years.”
I laughed, the sound light and easy. “She’s not that bad. Just a bit intrusive. Actually, she and Auntie would probably be best friends.”
Jae raised an eyebrow. “You think?”
“Totally. Let’s get them together,” I suggested.
Jae pretended to think about it, then nodded. “Alright, fine. But if she tries to adopt me, I’m holding you responsible.”
“Deal,” I said. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it,” he replied, giving my arm a squeeze.
As we finished our coffee, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for our bond. No matter how much things changed, I knew Jae and I would always have each other to lean on.
“Okay, enough sappy stuff,” I said, standing up and stretching. “Walk me to my next class?”
“Only if you carry my books,” Jae quipped, standing up and slinging his backpack over one shoulder.
“Nice try,” I shot back, poking him in the ribs. “But I’ll let you carry mine.”
He groaned dramatically. “You’re lucky I like you, Vee.”
“Like? You love me,” I teased, linking my arm with his as we started walking. “According to Auntie, we’re practically married.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Jae said, laughing. “Just don’t let it go to your head.”