The cafeteria buzzed with the usual dull noise—clinking metal trays, low murmurs, the occasional bark of a guard. Jiji sat hunched over her food, prodding at it with her spoon like she was trying to convince herself it was edible.

Sae-byeok slid onto the bench across from her without asking. Jiji glanced up, a little startled, then quickly dropped her gaze back to her tray.

“I heard something today,” Sae-byeok said, her tone even, almost bored. She picked up her spoon, but her eyes stayed fixed on Jiji.

Jiji didn’t bite right away, just arched a brow in silent question.

Sae-byeok leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice so only Jiji could hear. “I heard you might be into girls.”

Jiji froze for a fraction of a second, then forced a crooked smirk onto her face. “I’m going through a phase,” she said lightly, though her voice held an edge of softness. “Keeping my heart safe.”

That made Sae-byeok pause. She set her spoon down, tilting her head, eyes narrowing like she was dissecting every word. Then, with deliberate slowness, she leaned across the table, closing the space between them until Jiji could feel the warmth of her breath.

“Keepin’ your heart safe?” she murmured, the words brushing Jiji’s lips more than her ears.

Jiji’s chest tightened. Her body betrayed her, leaning in, closing the last inch between them. For the first time in days, she felt the flicker of something dangerous but alive.

And then Sae-byeok pulled back at the last second, lips curling into the faintest, most infuriating smirk.

Jiji blinked, stunned, heat rushing to her cheeks. “You’re—” she started, flustered.

“Teasing,” Sae-byeok finished for her, already spearing a piece of bread from her tray like nothing had happened.

But Jiji caught the way her eyes lingered a moment too long, the way her smirk softened as if she’d revealed more than she meant to.