---

Jessica gulped nervously as Yoona continued to stare at her, their gaze seemingly penetrating each other's thoughts.

 

"Why are you asking questions like that?" Yoona's voice brought Jessica back to reality, and she felt a bit flustered by the directness of the question.

 

Jessica stumbled over her words, "I... um, I was just curious. I mean, it's not a big deal. We can drop the topic if you want."

 

Yoona shook her head, a small smile forming on her lips. "No need to drop it if it piques your interest."

 

Jessica inwardly cursed herself for underestimating Yoona's perceptiveness. She needed to be more careful; after all, she was dealing with a detective who excelled at reading people.

 

"If I were to answer yes," Jessica hesitated, "would you tell me the truth?"

 

Yoona's smile grew, and she seemed to be enjoying Jessica's flustered state. "Well, even if you say yes, I might not reveal the truth."

 

Jessica's heart skipped a beat at Yoona's playful response. She was caught off guard once again, and her mind raced to find the right words to respond.

 

"Hmm... if I were to say that I like you, would you believe me?" Jessica felt her cheeks heat up, her heart racing, and her usual confident demeanor faltering.

 

Yoona leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Come on, Ms. Jung. Relax. I was just joking."

 

Jessica felt a mix of emotions – relief, embarrassment, and a hint of disappointment. Yoona's unexpected comment had momentarily thrown her off balance.

 

"Wait, you're saying it was just a joke?" Jessica closed her eyes and took a deep breath, attempting to regain her composure.

 

"Yes, just a joke," Yoona confirmed with a casual tone.

 

Unbeknownst to Yoona, her offhand remark triggered something in Jessica. Known for her reactions when triggered, Jessica's mind raced with thoughts of witty comebacks and creative ways to respond. After all, nobody should ever underestimate the ability of Jessica Jung Sooyeon to turn the tables and leave an unforgettable impression.

 

However, Jessica's reaction was far from expected. She abruptly stood up, snatched her purse, and stormed off angrily, leaving Yoona bewildered. As if a spell was broken, Yoona snapped out of her trance and dashed after Jessica, who was making her way towards the parking lot.

 

"Ms. Jung!" Yoona called out urgently, trying to catch up with Jessica's brisk pace.

 

Jessica abruptly stopped and turned to face Yoona, her demeanor radiating coldness that sent a shiver down Yoona's spine.

 

"Where do you think you're headed?" Yoona inquired, her curiosity evident, but Jessica's eyes rolled in exasperation at Yoona's lack of awareness.

 

"Isn't it obvious? I'm leaving," Jessica retorted, her frustration palpable.

 

"But your car is right here," Yoona gestured towards the black Porsche parked in the lot.

 

"Well, then give me my keys. I'll drive, and you can go on your own," Jessica's statement left Yoona baffled.

 

Frowning, Yoona couldn't help but wonder, "What's with this woman?"

 

"I'm not familiar with the directions here," Yoona admitted, scratching the back of her head. Jessica sighed, her cold demeanor still intact.

 

"Then just take the car, and I'll call T to come pick me up," Jessica said, reaching for her phone in her purse. However, before she could dial, Yoona swiftly snatched her phone and pulled Jessica along with her.

 

"What do you think you're doing?!" Jessica protested, trying to pull her arm away from Yoona's grip. Yet, Yoona's hold was firm, and Jessica reluctantly found herself being led like a lost puppy.

 

Yoona guided Jessica to the car and opened the passenger door. "Get in," she instructed, but Jessica remained unmoved.

 

"I told you to get in, Ms. Jung," Yoona repeated, her patience wearing thin.

 

Ignoring Yoona once more, Jessica looked out the window, avoiding eye contact as her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

 

Yoona sighed, massaging her temples. "If you don't get in, I'll kiss you right here, right now." Jessica's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly complied, sliding into the passenger seat.

 

As Yoona closed the door and walked to the driver's side, Jessica continued to avoid looking at her, her cheeks still flushed.

 

Yoona started the engine with a smile. "Here you go," she said, handing the phone back to Jessica. "You're quite submissive eh."

 

Jessica accepted the phone, shooting Yoona a glare. "Do you even hear yourself?"

 

Yoona grinned and met Jessica's glare with amusement. "Oh, I hear myself loud and clear, Ms. Jung."

 

Yoona laughed and shook her head. "Why? Aren't I right? It seems like when you're with him, you're the dominant one, but when you're with me, you have no other choice but to be the submissive one." Jessica felt her cheeks warm at Yoona's words, unsure why she was reacting this way. She wanted to know more, to understand why she felt like this.

 

"Shut up! You don't even know me," Jessica retorted, crossing her arms over her chest. She couldn't deny that Yoona's playful teasing was affecting her, though.

 

"Wanna test it?" Yoona wiggled her eyebrows up and down, and Jessica's cheeks turned even pinker. Feeling embarrassed, she pinched Yoona's side, causing Yoona to wince in pain.

 

"What the hell, Ms. Jung?! I'm driving here for god's sake!" Yoona scolded, focusing back on the road. Jessica couldn't help but suppress a small smile as she looked ahead.

 

She's so cute. Why am I thinking like this? I have a boyfriend, and yet I'm bothered by her playful remarks. Why am I feeling disappointed?

---

"OH MAN! I'm going to miss you!" Seulgi rolled her eyes at Yoona, who was lying on the bed and gazing at the ceiling.

 

"As if. I bet you're happy right now because the room is all yours," Seulgi retorted, continuing to pack her clothes into her luggage.

 

Yoona chuckled. "You got that right, Kang."

 

As Seulgi kept packing, Yoona sat up and watched her.

 

"Remember last night, Jennie? The one I kissed?" Seulgi hummed, encouraging Yoona to continue. "I was at the restaurant to eat, and she happened to be there. You know what she did? She kissed me!"

 

Seulgi stopped packing and sat beside Yoona, intrigued by the story. "And?" she asked, waiting for Yoona to reveal more.

 

Yoona nodded slowly and let herself fall back onto the mattress. "Yes, it's exactly what you're thinking."

 

"Damn, Unnie, you're in deep trouble," Seulgi remarked, shaking her head as she resumed packing her clothes.

 

Yoona groaned. "Tell me about it. I'm doing my best to avoid her, but it seems like fate is playing games with me."

 

Seulgi looked at her with a mix of disbelief and amusement. "If fate isn't on your side, then take charge. You've always been the one to make your own choices. Be your own destiny."

 

"That's what I'm attempting to do, but I can't help but wonder why she keeps showing up out of nowhere." Yoona sighed, clearly perplexed by the situation.

 

Placing her luggage beside the bedside table, Seulgi focused on Yoona, who appeared to be deep in thought. "Who knows, she might hold a special place in your life," Seulgi said with a teasing tone, earning a reaction from Yoona.

 

Yoona's response was quick and strong. "What the heck? She's 23, for crying out loud!"

 

Seulgi chuckled at Yoona's reaction. "Age is just a number, Unnie. And besides, she's fresh and attractive."

 

Yoona cringed at Seulgi's playful remarks. "Enough of that! I've never been romantically attracted to anyone."

 

Seulgi agreed, acknowledging their shared focus on work. "Right, we're both too invested in our careers."

 

Yoona then shifted the topic to something more pressing. "But there's something else I need to tell you. There's this Ms. Jung and her friend who are acting oddly. I want to believe it's not what I think, but the signs are there."

 

"What signs?" Seulgi asked, clearly intrigued by the situation.

 

Yoona proceeded to recount everything she had observed, watching as Seulgi's expression shifted as she absorbed the details.

 

"Wow, Yoona Unnie, you've really found yourself in a complicated situation. It's like a ticking time bomb, and if you get too close, it might explode at any moment."

 

Yoona let out a frustrated groan and ran her fingers through her hair. "What can I do? Is it my fault that I'm attractive?"

 

Seulgi playfully rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable."

 

Changing the subject, Yoona turned her attention to Seulgi. "And what about you? I sense something fishy, something's telling me hmm."

 

Seulgi couldn't help but freeze at the mention of her crush. Her heart raced, and she found herself struggling to keep her composure. "What do you want to know?"

 

Yoona's questioning gaze bore into her, making Seulgi's confusion even more evident. "What's the deal with you and Ms. Bae?"

 

Seulgi's heartbeat quickened even further. Why do I feel this way? It can't be infatuation, right? Just confusion, that's all. Nothing more.

 

"I don't know what you're talking about," Seulgi replied with a hint of defensiveness.

 

Yoona laughed at Seulgi's response. "Come on, spill the beans. Do you find her attractive?" Yoona asked with a knowing grin.

 

Seulgi nodded enthusiastically. "Definitely. She's like a goddess, you know?"

 

Yoona continued to . "So, do you... kind of like her?"

 

Seulgi quickly shook her head, denying any romantic feelings. "No, I don't. I just think she's beautiful, that's all."

 

Yoona furrowed her brows, a look of confusion on her face. "I mean, I don't really care whether you like boys or girls, but you can always talk to me. I won't go blabbing about it to the world."

 

Yoona didn't want to pressure Seulgi, but she couldn't shake the feeling that her friend might be developing feelings for her boss. She had noticed the way Seulgi's eyes would light up when she talked about Jessica.

 

Seulgi sighed, brushing off any assumptions. "You know what's going on in my head, so don't even ask. Yes, she's confusing me, but that's about it. I haven't figured anything else out."

 

Seulgi didn't want to admit that she was uncertain whether she was feeling some kind of romantic attraction to her boss. This could just be a casual conversation between friends, after all.

 

Before Yoona could continue the conversation, her phone rang, interrupting them. Seulgi watched as Yoona walked over to the balcony, leaving her lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

 

Why does it feel like Yoona Unnie and I are in similar situations? The only difference is that I have one person while she has three, Seulgi shook her head, bewildered by the circumstances. I really wonder who's going to catch her attention in the end.

 

Seulgi paused her thoughts as Yoona's voice broke through the silence. "What do you want?"

 

"No more 'hi,' 'how are you doing,' or 'I miss you' from you?" Jennie's voice sounded slightly pouty on the other end, and Yoona couldn't help but smirk internally. Maybe I can sense her emotions a little too well.

 

"As if we didn't see each other earlier, Jen," Yoona replied, her tone casual.

 

There was a sigh on the line. "I'm sorry, I just miss you."

 

Yoona burst into laughter, the action triggering an increased heartbeat from Jennie. She couldn't believe how easily she could tell the emotional nuances in Jennie's voice.

 

Checking the time and staring at the city lights outside her window, Yoona offered, "Why aren't you sleeping? You have a flight tomorrow."

 

"I wanted to hear your voice before I sleep," Jennie admitted, her voice soft.

 

Yoona found herself giggling. Wait, why did I just giggle? Something about Jennie's words seemed to have an unexpected effect on her.

 

A brief pause followed on the call. "Hey? My members are nagging at me right now for being love sick. I have to sleep early, and it's sad because I still want to talk to you."

 

Yoona chuckled, "Jen, listen to your members. You need sleep for tomorrow."

 

"I totally will, but hearing you makes me feel so much more energetic."

 

Yoona found herself pondering the irony of it all. Jennie, the lead rapper of Blackpink known for her fierce persona, was opening up to her in a way that seemed almost contrary to her public image.

 

"Jen, go to sleep. Make sure to dream of me," Yoona teased as she moved to lie down beside Seulgi, who was still on her phone.

 

"I will, for sure. Wishing you were in my arms right now."

 

"Yeah, my lips tracing your jaw to your lips," Yoona playfully responded, causing Jennie to groan in response.

 

"You're such a douche. You wait until I come back."

 

"Then break up with him," Yoona challenged playfully, her voice laced with amusement. 

 

"Just wait until I come back. I'm going to go now, I'll call you tomorrow. Dream of me too, Detective Yoona Lim," Jennie's voice was playful, yet there was a deeper sentiment behind her words.

 

Yoona shook her head and laughed as Jennie hung up. Placing her phone on the bedside table, she turned to face Seulgi, who had finished her call and was now looking at her.

 

"You've got quite the connection going on there," Seulgi remarked, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

 

"What?" Seulgi's voice broke through the quietness of the room.

 

"You sure you don't see her that way, huh?" Yoona's teasing tone was evident in her words.

 

Seulgi simply shrugged in response. "The first one who always falls loses, Seul, you know that."

 

Seulgi chuckled and sat up. "Yeah, how can I forget that?"

 

"Cause you're forgetful these days." With those words, Yoona closed her eyes and soon drifted off to sleep.

 

Seulgi was interrupted by an incoming call on her phone. Letting out a groan of annoyance, she was about to ignore the call when she saw the caller ID – it was Irene. "Hello?"

 

"Hey, I was just wondering if you're aware that we're going to the States tomorrow," Irene's voice sounded on the other end.

 

Seulgi found Irene's concern cute. Did she really think her manager wouldn't update me about that? She playfully responded, "You sound like we're going on a honeymoon, just the two of us."

 

There was a momentary silence from Irene's end. Seulgi tapped her foot impatiently against the edge of the couch, waiting for Irene's response.

 

"Still there?" Seulgi questioned, trying to get her attention.

 

"Y-yeah... I-I was just thinking about something," Irene replied, her voice a bit flustered.

 

Wondering what could be making her so flustered, Seulgi waited curiously. "Is that the only reason why you called?"

 

"Huh? Oh... y-yes," Irene stammered.

 

Seulgi couldn't help but find Irene's nervousness endearing. It made her wonder if there was another reason behind the call. "Well, shouldn't we be sleeping right now, Ms. Bae?"

 

"Oh... absolutely. Goodnight, Seulgi Bear."

 

Seulgi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Seulgi Bear? Why on earth is she calling me that?

 

"What-" Seulgi started to ask, but the call had already been ended abruptly. "Rude," she muttered to herself. "Seulgi Bear? Do I look like a bear?"

 

With that, Seulgi decided to call it a night. She walked back into their shared room, took off her shoes, and laid down next to Yoona, closing her eyes.

 

Seulgi Bear? The nickname left her both amused and curious, as she drifted off to sleep.

 

---

 

Seulgi woke up early in the morning, and Yoona soon followed, stretching her arms.

 

"She's got you so whipped," Seulgi teased, tossing a pillow at Yoona, who managed to dodge it.

 

"Relax, Seulgi." Yoona chuckled as she moved to the floor and began doing push-ups.

 

"I'm good to go now. I'll see you soon," Seulgi said, grabbing her wallet and keys and looking at Yoona.

 

Yoona paused her exercises and turned to face Seulgi, who was getting ready to leave.

 

"Sure, be careful. Call me if you need anything," Yoona advised, appreciating that beneath Yoona's cocky exterior, she had a caring heart. "Oh, and by the way, don't forget the souvenirs. Yeah?"

 

Seulgi chuckled and smiled. "I will."

 

With that, Seulgi left, leaving Yoona alone in the condo. After finishing her morning routine, Yoona sat at the computer table and opened her laptop, checking her emails. She saw a message from her dad and promptly replied.

 

"My work today starts at 2pm. Hmmm, I wonder what I should do today."

 

Her phone suddenly rang, and she reached for it on the bedside table. She glanced at the caller ID.

 

tiny little calling...

 

She pushed the green button and activated the loudspeaker.

 

"Hi."

 

"Hey babe, what's going on?"

 

Yoona was relieved she had used the loudspeaker, as Jennie's excited squeal could have hurt her ear if the phone had been against it.

 

"I'm going to video call you, please accept it."

 

She was about to protest, but her phone lit up again. She sighed and accepted the call, revealing Jennie's captivating cat-like eyes.

 

"Hey." Yoona's voice unintentionally turned husky.

 

Jennie blushed, pretending annoyance, though both knew she secretly enjoyed these moments.

 

"You're such a jerk," Jennie playfully teased, rolling her eyes.

 

Confused, Yoona asked, "What did I do?"

 

"Forget it. I miss you," Jennie said with a cute pout.

 

Yoona opened her wardrobe, phone in hand, while grabbing her coat.

 

"You always say that."

 

"I can't help it. Don't I deserve a response?"

 

Yoona placed her phone on her computer, propping it up, and put on her coa