✓ | cool for the summer, sim jaeyun

𝟎𝟑. ( the love story. )

LATER ON THAT evening, after getting settled into the home, the delicious smell of Isabel and Jay's mothers cooking was making its way through the house, causing everyone's stomachs to growl with hunger.

The sun was beginning to set by the time everybody was called to dinner, and once they all had their plates filled to the brim, they sat around the family table, eating.

"We're thinking on going on a late night swim," Jay announced, glancing over at his sister, who was sitting beside Niki — who was easily getting along well with her brother. "You should come — Niki too."

A smile appeared on Isabel's lips at the thought of swimming in the sea late at night. It would be just like old times and the girl couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia hit her as she quickly nodded her head in agreement.

"So, Jake, Niah," Jihye (the siblings' mother) began as she took a sip from her glass of red wine with a wide beam on her red painted lips. "Tell us the love story." She chuckled, and instantly, Issy felt her body tense up and she looked up from her plate of food and over at Jake, who had already been looking at her.

She was quick to feel her cheeks heat up, and without another thought, she looked away, far too flustered to remain eye contact — a smirk growing on Niki's lips as he noticed his best friends state.

"Well," Niah started, setting her fork down and glancing beside her at the Sim boy, a warm, loving smile appearing on her lips. "I had joined the college a few days later due to my flight from the States being delayed —"

"You're Korean is good." The siblings' father mustered, far too busy eating his food rather than engaging in the conversation.

Niah sent the older man a smile of gratefulness, before she quickly continued with her story.

"And when I arrived at the school, I got lost." She chuckled, pouting her lip playfully, causing everyone (other than Issy and Niki) to let out quiet laughs. "Jake noticed and helped me outside. Turns out we were both majoring in Physics, so we walked to class together and he ended up asking for my number." Niah shrugged, an expression of happiness swarming her features.

Isabel let out an almost silent sigh as she glanced over at Jake, who was busy admiring Niah with a small smirk on his plump lips. Oh, how Isabel Park wished she could be admired by him —

The girl quickly cut herself from her thoughts as she snapped her head down to her plate, her heart beating at a fast pace and her eyes widening slightly. There was no way... This couldn't be happening... Not after months of working on herself and getting over him...

Without another word, Issy abruptly stood from her chair, the wooden legs of the seat scraping across the wooden floor.

Everybody stopped what they were doing and looked up at the girl with concern and confusion on their faces.

"Issy? What's wrong?" Her mother wondered, and Isabel couldn't help but have her eyes land on Jake. It was like he was a magnet and Issy hated that. She didn't want to look at him all the time. She didn't want to like him. He was her brothers best friend. He was Niah's girlfriend. He was off limits and she hated that.

"I just feel a bit sick," She lied, holding an arm across her stomach to make her lie more believable. "I'm going to lay down for a bit." She then announced and picked up her plate, washing it in the sink and then hurrying up to her room with a feeling of guilt in her chest.

✿

Later on that evening, when the sun had officially set, Isabel was laying on her bed, listening to the music that played in her AirPods. She hadn't been downstairs since dinner and she didn't plan on going downstairs for the continuation of the night.

As Issy felt her eyes begin to shut, exhaustion from not only the plane and car ride, but also the sun beginning to take over her body. That was all she wanted to do: sleep and forget about today and forget about her feelings for Jake.

However, that wasn't possible, as just as she shut her eyes, a knock at her bedroom door was heard, causing her to sigh slightly and sit up, removing one of her earphones. "Come in." She called out, watching at the door opened.

"Are you coming out for the swim?" Niki asked. He was clad in his swimming trunks and a towel was thrown over his bare shoulder. Isabel couldn't help but laugh at the sight of him and she laid back on her bed, relaxing now that she knew Niki was the one knocking on her door.

"Who are you trying to impress?" She joked, looking him up and down. "Remember, Niah has a boyfriend." She sang, chuckling at herself, and a mischievous grin appeared on Niki's lips.

"Remember, Jake has a girlfriend." He bounced back, instantly shutting the girl up as she snapped her head over in his direction, glaring her eyes at him, before the two burst out laughing.

"You noticed?" She questioned, sitting back up as Niki sat at the foot of her bed, nodding his head.

"Of course — you were practically drooling over him at the table." He flared his eyes, and Issy quickly picked up the pillow that was beside her and hit the younger boy with it.

"Shut your mouth, I was not."

"Yes, you were." Niki nodded, standing up so that he could escape her abuse.

"Whatever," Isabel rolled her eyes, sitting back on the bed. "Go have your swim." She nodded her head towards the door, and Niki huffed.

"You're not coming?" He asked and Issy shook her head.

"I feel sick, remember?"

"Bullshit." He chuckled, before sticking his tongue out at the girl and excitedly leaving her room after hearing Jay call out for him.

A sigh of relief fell from Isabel's lips as she laid down, finally happy to be able to give in to her tiredness.

✿

ahhh i feel like this is going really slow & being boring atm, so my apologies!! it will get better lmaooo