♫ : i'm all ears - taeyeon

"You didn't fight, did you?" The dumpling vendor asked.

"Excuse me?" you blinked at her, confused.

The older woman smiled knowingly as she finished packing your usual mushroom dumplings. "Your boyfriend came by earlier and bought the exact same thing. Mushroom dumplings, just like you always get. He seemed a little... off."

Jake came here? He bought mushroom dumplings? Why?

But instead of correcting her, you said nothing. You selfishly let the assumption slide although your chest tightened with guilt.

You weren't dating Jake - hell, you weren't even sure you were friends in the typical sense. But it felt... nice. Just for someone to think, even for a moment, that the two of you were something more.

The vendor handed over the warm plastic bag, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Whatever it was, I'm sure it's nothing. Men can be dense sometimes. He probably bought those dumplings to make up for something."

You managed a small laugh, murmuring a thank you as you handed her the payment and walked back toward the apartment building.

Dense? Jake wasn't dense. Flirty? Yes. Confusing? Absolutely. But not dense.

You pressed the elevator button on the left side, the one you always took, half-expecting Jake to appear out of nowhere like he so often did. Maybe he'd flash you that teasing smile, say something cheeky about how predictable you were.

But the elevator doors opened, and it was empty.

You stepped in, the silence making the sound of your breath sound even louder. When you reached your floor, you paused in the hallway for a moment, glancing around as if he'd suddenly appear. Nothing.

What were you expecting? You scolded yourself as you unlocked your door. Some meant-to-be fate where you bump into each other at the perfect moment? What's wrong with you?

You dropped your bag by the door and kicked off your boots. Why were you looking forward to seeing him? Why did his absence leave this strange emptiness in you?

Because you're an idiot, that's why.

Everything that had happened yesterday replayed in your mind while you headed for the shower. You fell asleep on Jake. Literally. And when you woke up, he was gone but left you a blanket and something to clutch onto.

Was that weird for him? Was he avoiding you now? Did you cross some invisible line? By the time you sat at the table, the dumplings in front of you, you barely tasted them.

They were delicious, as always, but you couldn't stop overthinking about a certain someone who bought the exact same thing a few hours ago.

-

You were getting ready for bed when you heard rustling sounds coming from the hallway outside. Curiosity piqued and you were by the front door before you even knew it.

One hand on the handle and heart pounding in your chest. A flicker of stupid, reckless hope ran through you. Was it Jake?

But then you froze. Why are you like this? Why are you so desperate?

Instead of opening the door, you leaned toward the peephole and peered out. It was Jake.

He was holding a trash bag in one hand, stuffed with what looked like crumpled paper. His face looked tense, his jaw tight. He was the most put-together person you knew, always so composed, but now?

He looked tired. Frustrated, maybe.

You watched as he disappeared into the elevator, only to return a few minutes later, the trash bag gone and his phone taking its place. He scrolled through it absentmindedly as he walked back toward his apartment, but then he stopped.

Right in front of your door.

Your breath hitched and you panicked, sliding the peephole cover shut and crouching down like that would make you invisible. You stayed there, frozen, until you heard his door click shut.

Finally, you stood. You moved toward your bed, but your gaze went to the bunny doll sitting on your nightstand, the one Jake gave you.

You picked it up and stared at it, your mind too loud and too quiet all at once.