A few days had passed since you vented to Junhee, but the frustration hadn’t fully left your chest. You felt it sitting there, like a dull ache you couldn't quite shake. The apartment didn’t feel like home anymore— it felt more like a minefield, one wrong step away from another argument with Jeong-mi. So when your phone buzzed with a message from Se-mi, asking if you wanted to come over, you jumped at the chance without hesitation.

Now, you sat curled up on Se-mi’s couch, a warm cup of tea resting between your palms. The apartment was quiet, peaceful in a way yours hadn't been in months.

"She spent all the rent money," You muttered bitterly, eyes fixed on the rim of your mug. "Again. And the place is a disaster. I can’t even breathe when I get home without stepping on trash."

Se-mi listened without interrupting, one arm draped lazily across the back of the couch, eyes watching you intently. You sighed, running a hand through your hair. "I’ve been trying to save up to move out, but with Ppang’s treatments... there’s no way I can afford a new place right now."

For a moment, silence settled between you, broken only by the faint hum of her air purifier and the occasional creak of the building. You avoided her gaze, embarrassed by how much you unloaded.

Then, after a pause, Se-mi shifted forward, her tone quiet but deliberate. "Hey," She said gently. "Why don’t you just move in here?"

You blinked, head snapping up. "What?"

"I mean it," She continued, voice calm but sure. "I’ve got an extra room. It’s just sitting empty. You wouldn’t have to deal with her anymore, and…" She hesitated briefly before adding, "I like having you around."

You opened your mouth, then shut it again, processing her words.

"Se-mi, I don’t want to intrude. You already have your own space," You said carefully, shaking your head. "I couldn’t ask you to deal with my mess too."

Her lips quirked slightly, eyes soft. "You’re not a mess," She said plainly. "You’ve just had a shitty hand dealt to you lately. And I’m offering because I want to."

You swallowed, feeling your chest tighten—not in a bad way, but like something fragile and important had just cracked open. "Are you sure?" You asked quietly, unsure if you could let yourself hope too much.

Se-mi smiled, nudging your arm with hers. "Positive. Besides, you’d be doing me a favor. It gets quiet here sometimes."

You let out a soft, breathy laugh, still a little stunned but feeling something lighter settle inside you. The weight you've been carrying for months felt just a little less crushing.

"Okay," You finally said, meeting her eyes. "I’d really like that."

─────

You knelt beside one of the half-filled boxes, methodically folding another stack of clothes and tucking them away. The room around you felt almost hollow now. Bare walls, empty shelves, just a few sealed-up boxes scattered across the floor. Only the bed and closet remained, stripped of anything that had once made the space feel remotely like yours.

"Alright... just the closet left." You muttered under your breath, wiping a bead of sweat from your forehead. You stood, tugging open the closet door and beginning to pull hangers off the rack one by one, your motions practiced, mechanical.

Behind you, there was a faint creak of the doorframe. You didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

"Hey, uh..." came Jeong-mi’s hesitant voice. You didn’t respond, focusing instead on folding another shirt and shoving it into the open box.

There was a pause, then she spoke again, trying to mask the edge in her voice with a nervous laugh. "You’re not... actually serious about moving out, right?"

You stayed silent, reaching for another hanger.

"I mean," She went on quickly, words tumbling over themselves. "I totally didn’t mean what I said the other day! You’re a great roommate, like, super responsible and all that." Another forced laugh escaped her lips. "And, uh... you know… who’s gonna clean the living room? Or pay the bills?"

You could hear the sheepish grin in her voice, like she thought a quick smile and empty compliment might smooth everything over.

You set the last shirt down carefully, taking a steadying breath as you straightened up.

Turning slowly, you finally met her gaze, leveling her with a look that made her uneasy smile falter.

"Look, Jeong-mi," You said, voice low but firm. "You’re old enough to pay your own bills and clean up after yourself. I’m not your maid. I’m not your safety net, and I’m done cleaning up your messes while you act like a child."

Her eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing as she scrambled for something to say. "Wha? I... you—"

She scoffed, crossing her arms defensively. "You know what? Fine!" She snapped, voice rising like she was the one wronged. "I don’t even want your stupid ass here anyway!" She gave a dramatic toss of her head, storming out of the room without looking back.

You stood there for a moment, letting the silence settle in her absence. No lingering guilt. No regret. Just relief.

Good riddance.

─────

A/N: and then they kiss and became a couple and lived happily ever after yayyyyyy /j

jokes aside, i really need new friends guys. so erm if you want to be friends with me just ask on my conversation inbox and ill give you my discord 🥺 just a heads up, im an awkward person, so you MIGHT have to start the conversation first for me to start talking 😢