The conference room at Lumina Studio was filled with quiet activity that morning. Designers from VogueLuxe, Lumina photographers, and the selected models sat around the long table, ready to begin the planning session for the collaboration project.
Dahye stood near the screen at the front of the room, reviewing the agenda on her tablet. She looked calm and composed as usual, but her thoughts kept drifting.
Toward Yerin.
It had been a week since their quiet date and the kiss that followed. Since then, Yerin hadn't brought it up again. Dahye had thought about reaching out many times, but she didn't want to pressure her. Yerin had said she needed time to understand her feelings, and Dahye wanted to respect that.
Still… the silence had been harder than she expected.
Now that Yerin was here again, sitting only a few seats away, Dahye found it difficult to focus on anything else.
Yu Na tapped the table lightly.
"Let's finalize the teams," she said.
Everyone turned their attention forward as Dahye nodded and stepped beside the screen.
"For this collaboration," she began, "each group will consist of one designer, one model, and one photographer. The teams will work closely together throughout the campaign."
She switched the slide, revealing the final pairings.
Team One
Kim So Hee — Designer
Lee Si Ah — Model
Kim Hyun Soo — Photographer
Team Two
Seo Min Ah — Designer
Lim Jiyeon — Model
Cho Yu Na — Photographer
Team Three
Ahn Yerin — Designer
Park So Hyun — Model
Bae Dahye — Photographer
Team Four
Park Hyeji — Designer
Kim Bora — Model
Lee Jae Min — Photographer
Team Five
Kim Eunji — Designer
Han Yuri — Model
Park So Min — Photographer
Murmurs spread around the room as everyone looked at the assignments.
Yerin blinked slightly when she saw her team. She turned toward Park So Hyun, greeting the model with a polite smile before they immediately began discussing outfit concepts.
Dahye noticed the small smile on Yerin's face and quickly forced herself to focus back on the meeting.
The discussion moved smoothly as designers shared their ideas and photographers discussed possible shooting styles.
Just then, the door opened.
"Sorry to interrupt."
Everyone looked up as Kim Hae Rin stepped inside carrying a tray of drinks and small snacks.
"I brought food for everyone," she said softly.
Her eyes quickly landed on Dahye.
"Miss Bae, I brought the coffee you usually like."
Dahye gave her a polite smile.
"Thank you, Hae Rin."
Hae Rin set the tray down on the table but didn't leave immediately.
"You must be really busy today," she said shyly, lingering beside Dahye.
"It's a big project," Dahye replied casually.
Across the room, Yerin had noticed everything.
The way Hae Rin kept smiling at Dahye.
The way she stayed close even after putting the tray down.
Something about it irritated Yerin more than she expected.
Before she even realized it, she stood up.
"Hae Rin."
The younger girl turned toward her.
"Thank you for bringing the food," Yerin said calmly. "But we're about to continue our discussion, so you can leave it here."
Hae Rin blinked in surprise.
"Oh… okay."
She nodded quickly before leaving the room.
For a moment the atmosphere felt slightly tense, but the meeting soon continued.
Still, Yerin found it harder to concentrate after that.
Every now and then her eyes drifted toward Dahye, and each time she remembered the way Hae Rin had been smiling at her.
It bothered her more than she wanted to admit.
Later that evening, Yerin returned home looking mentally drained.
Her friend Go Eunseo was already sitting on the couch.
"You look exhausted," Eunseo said, studying her face.
Yerin dropped her bag beside the sofa and sat down.
"You wouldn't believe what happened today."
Eunseo leaned forward with interest.
"What happened?"
"There's this girl — Hae Rin," Yerin said. "She keeps hovering around Dahye."
Eunseo raised an eyebrow.
"Hovering how?"
"She keeps talking to her, bringing her things, smiling at her like…" Yerin stopped herself and frowned. "It's just annoying."
Eunseo stared at her for a second.
Then she burst out laughing.
"You're jealous."
Yerin immediately sat up.
"I am not jealous."
Eunseo laughed even harder.
"Yerin, you just spent an entire minute complaining about another girl talking to Dahye."
"That doesn't mean anything," Yerin argued. "It's just irritating."
"Sure," Eunseo said teasingly. "Very irritating."
Yerin grabbed a pillow and hugged it tightly.
"I don't even know what I feel yet."
Eunseo tilted her head.
"Then maybe you should just go see Dahye and figure it out."
Yerin shook her head stubbornly.
"It's not jealousy."
"Then what is it?"
Yerin hesitated before muttering, "I just… don't like seeing someone else getting that close to her."
Eunseo slowly smiled.
"Yerin."
"What?"
"That's literally jealousy."
Yerin groaned and buried her face into the pillow.
"You're impossible."
Eunseo laughed before stretching her arms.
"Anyway, I have that interview tomorrow."
Yerin lifted her head.
"Oh right. Are you nervous?"
"A little," Eunseo admitted. "I really hope I get the job."
"You will," Yerin said confidently. "You're great with people."
Eunseo smiled at the encouragement.
They continued chatting for a while, the conversation slowly calming Yerin's mind.
But later that night, after everything had grown quiet…
Yerin still found herself thinking about Dahye.
And about the strange feeling she kept insisting wasn't jealousy.