Instill - to gradually but firmly establish an idea or attitude into a person's mind. 

---

"Yoona!" 

Upon entering the house, Yoona was met with a distressing scene: Tyler, Tyler's parents, Jessica's siblings, Jessica's parents, and Yuri were present, with Yuri at the door of Jessica's room. The room was a chaotic mess, a reflection of Jessica's inner turmoil.

"Jessica," Tyler's voice trembled with sadness as he observed her tossing things around, the noise of her actions filling the air.

For Jessica's family, seeing her like this was heart-wrenching. It had been years since they had witnessed her unravel in this way, a painful memory of her separation from Yoona. Despite their efforts to calm her, Jessica's agitation persisted, and only one person had ever been able to quell her in such moments,Yoona.

Taking in the chaotic scene, Yoona steeled herself before stepping forward. She saw Jessica pacing, as if trapped in her own world and yearning to be rescued. Just as she was about to approach, Tyler beat her to it. However, when Tyler reached out and touched Jessica's shoulder, her piercing scream rattled the room.

"Do something!" Krystal's voice broke through, reflecting the concern of those around Jessica.

Yet, it was Yoona's presence that held the key. Her father had given her the cue, and she understood her role. Slowly and gently, she moved closer to Jessica, her voice tender as she spoke her name.

"Jessica."

As Tyler stepped back, Yoona took his place, enfolding Jessica in her embrace. The room fell silent as Yoona's touch seemed to work its magic. Jessica's family watched, surprised and relieved, as the storm within her began to subside in the arms of the one person who had always been able to soothe her.

"Y-yoong?" Jessica's voice quivered, disbelief and vulnerability mingling in her words.

Yoona's caress on Jessica's back and the kiss on her head conveyed more than words ever could. "Hmm."

Tears welled in Jessica's eyes, and with a deep breath, she whispered, "Y-you came back for me," holding Yoona tightly as if she could anchor herself in that moment.

Chairman Jung, watching from the doorway, felt a wave of relief wash over him. He nodded subtly, signaling to the others that they should leave the two alone.

One by one, the others followed him, exiting the room. As Tyler lingered, his gaze fell on the two figures intertwined, shaking his head with a mix of emotions before quietly shutting the door behind him.

"I'm not going to leave you, Jessica. You know that," Yoona's voice carried reassurance as she gently played with Jessica's hair, her touch a comforting presence along the other woman's arm. "I'm sorry about my actions earlier. I couldn't control my emotions, so I needed to get some fresh air." She leaned in, placing a tender kiss on Jessica's forehead.

A sweet smile graced Jessica's lips as she held both of Yoona's hands, gazing affectionately into her doe-eyed partner's eyes. "I'm sorry for causing a disturbance. I didn't mean to interrupt your work or anything. Did my parents call you?"

Yoona's smile widened, touched by Jessica's concern. She shook her head, her hand finding its way to ruffle Jessica's hair, eliciting an adorable whine from the younger woman.

"Feeling sleepy now?" Yoona inquired, amused by Jessica's cute nod.

A soft chuckle escaped Yoona's lips, and she caressed Jessica's knuckles tenderly. "Me too. Let's go get some rest, okay?"

Yoona settled onto the bed first, and Jessica followed suit, curling up on top of her. The rhythmic thump of Yoona's heartbeat beneath her ear was like a lullaby, lulling Jessica into a state of calmness that made drifting into slumber effortless.

As Jessica's breathing grew steady and even, Yoona continued to caress her hair, gently humming a soothing melody. The events of the day weighed on her, leaving a hint of guilt, but seeing Jessica finally at peace in her embrace offered solace.

Flashback...

"Yoona, you should go outside the school right now," her soccer team member rushed into the locker room, finding Yoona just as she was about to leave.

Arching an eyebrow in confusion, Yoona met the teammate's urgent gaze. "Why? What's the matter?"

"Jessica's parents are outside the school and waiting for you. They said it's an emergency."

"Emergency?"

The teammate nodded quickly. "I heard it's about Jessica sunbaenim." The mention of Jessica's name made Yoona's heart skip a beat. She wasted no time, grabbing her bag and sprinting out of the school.

Outside, she met Jessica's parents, their worried expressions deepening her concern.

"Mr. and Mrs. Jung." 

"We need your help right now, it's about Jessica. Can you come with us?"

Seeing the genuine distress in Jessica's parents' eyes, Yoona nodded slowly and followed them to their car.

"Can I ask what happened to her?"

Jessica's father motioned for his wife to speak.

"She's been acting strangely lately, and now she's in a state of agitation. We're not sure what triggered it. We were having a conversation in the living room when we heard screams and things being thrown in her room. She's not herself, and it's clear she's frightened. Despite our best efforts, we couldn't calm her down. Witnessing her like this devastates us. A few moments ago, she started murmuring your name. We don't have your number, and Jessica's phone is password-protected. So, we decided to come to the school to pick you up. Her friends also suggested seeking your help, as they were unable to console Sooyeon either."

Yoona bit her lip, sighing as she tried to comprehend the reason behind Jessica's current state.

Upon arriving at Jessica's home, Yoona followed her parents and was quickly led to Jessica's room. Inside, she witnessed Jessica's siblings and friends attempting to soothe her, but Jessica was caught in a cycle of screams and object tossing.

Tiffany, one of Jessica's friends, looked concerned as she turned to Yoona. "I'm sorry for bringing you into this. She's terrified because she thinks you're going to leave her. Are you really planning to?"

Recalling their conversation from the other day, Yoona's heart sank. "We talked last week about my plans to move out and find a job. I was upfront with her, and although she was upset at first, she understood and even supported me. I had no idea this would affect her so deeply."

Tiffany let out a sigh, and encouraged Yoona to attempt to calm Jessica. Hesitant but determined, Yoona approached Jessica, who was still in distress, pacing and creating chaos.

"Jessica," Yoona called out, and miraculously, Jessica's noise-making came to an abrupt halt, causing everyone to look in their direction.

"Y-yoong?" Jessica's voice trembled as her tearful gaze met Yoona's comforting smile.

"It's me, your Yoong."

A genuine smile broke through Jessica's turmoil, and she took a tentative step toward Yoona. "You came back for me," she whispered, her voice laden with relief.

Pulling Jessica into her embrace, Yoona felt the younger woman's tension slowly melt away, replaced by a sense of security.

"I'm here, Jessica."

Watching the scene unfold before them, Jessica's parents exchanged a glance, realizing the deep connection between their daughter and Yoona, and perhaps the extent of their bond.

---

The next day...

Yoona parked her car in the university parking lot, gathered her belongings, and stepped out.

As she entered the university, a crowd of students awaited her in the hallway, eager to greet her. She reciprocated their gestures and made her way to her classroom.

"Good morning, Ms. Im!"

Such enthusiasm,

Returning the greeting, she scanned the room for Jennie, who met her with a genuine smile. Yoona couldn't help but tilt her head in curiosity.

I think I'm making progress.

"I'm giving you 30 minutes to complete the paper. Time starts now," she announced, settling into her chair to observe her students.

Throughout the exam, Yoona's gaze occasionally crossed paths with Jennie's. The shared looks prompted a slight blush and a quick shift of focus from the younger woman.

Yoona chuckled to herself. I definitely have an effect on her.

After a while, someone approached Yoona's desk and placed their completed paper in front of her.

Looking up, Yoona found Jennie standing there. Their eyes met again, and this time, Jennie was the first to look away, cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

As Yoona reviewed Jennie's paper, she nodded with satisfaction at the answers. "You didn't disappoint me, Jennie. You've learned quite quickly. Thumbs up," she praised, flashing a proud smile that left Jennie momentarily dazed.

Jennie nodded happily, bowing in gratitude before retaking her seat. Her friends exchanged knowing glances, amused by Jennie's elation. To her, receiving Yoona's praise and proud smile felt like getting a bag full of candies as a child.

"You seem really happy," Jongin, her boyfriend, remarked with an arched brow.

"Shouldn't I deserve to be happy?" 

Jongin shook his head, sighing in response. "I'm not against your happiness, but what about me? Are you okay that your Dad basically told me to stay away from you? I couldn't sleep last night, just thinking about you. I felt miserable. And seeing you so carefree right now makes me wonder if our relationship losing its importance to you. You hardly update me on where you are or even respond to my calls and texts."

Jennie felt a pang of guilt at his words. He was right. Why am I feeling so happy when he's feeling this way? I used to cry a lot over such things. Do I still love him like before?

"Say something,"

Taking a deep breath, Jennie glanced at her friends who were discreetly trying to communicate through gestures: 'Are you okay?', 'Want us to deal with him?', 'Give us a sign, girl.' She rolled her eyes playfully and turned her attention back to Jongin, who was waiting for her response.

"I think we should talk after class," she suggested, deciding to postpone the conversation. She didn't want to dwell on the matter and ruin her current mood.

Jongin observed Jennie calming down and couldn't help but groan inwardly. He felt like she was indirectly telling him that she was fine with their relationship becoming distant. He understood her father's strictness and the implications of ignoring his warnings. He would rather go through anything than risk losing Jennie from his life.

During the break, Yoona decided to take a stroll around the campus and found herself sitting under a tree. Just as she was about to reach for her hidden cigarette box, she heard her name being called.

"Ms. Im!" Yoona turned her head and saw Jennie and her friends approaching, with her friends playfully nudging Jennie closer to her.

"What's going on?" Yoona raised an eyebrow, amused at the situation.

"Did your parents never teach you about manners and conduct? Pushing someone without a good reason is disrespectful,"

Rather than feeling remorse, Jennie's friends burst into laughter. "Do you want us to give you the reason?" Irene teased, wiggling her eyebrows at Jennie, who quickly shook her head in denial.

"Just do it, Unnie," Chaeyoung encouraged Jennie with a smile.

"Come on, do it, or I'll do it myself," Joy chimed in, attempting to snatch the box from Jennie's hands, only to be stopped by Yeri.

"It's her moment, let her be," Yeri reasoned, preventing Joy from intervening.

Joy playfully rolled her eyes and urged Jennie to speak to Yoona, leaving the older woman puzzled by their sudden involvement.

What's going on with these kids?

"We'll give you two some privacy," Wendy suggested, pulling her friends away so that Jennie could have the opportunity she was seeking.

Jennie mouthed a thank you to her friends, who responded with encouraging gestures, boosting her confidence.

"Ms. Im," Jennie finally addressed Yoona.

Yoona looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

"What is it, Jen?"

Blushing slightly, Jennie handed a small box with a ribbon on top to Yoona. Yoona accepted it, her curiosity piqued.

"What's this?" Yoona inspected the box, noting the ribbon adorning it.

"Well... It's a small chocolate cake," Jennie said, her smile directed at Yoona.

Yoona chuckled. "For what?"

Jennie's smile grew as she continued, "You've been really kind to me these past two days, and I wanted to repay you with this. Um, do you like sweets?" Her voice turned shy as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She hadn't expected to feel so nervous about giving Yoona a gift. She thought she'd be more composed, but being around Yoona made it difficult to stay calm—especially with the alluring scent that seemed to envelop her.

I'm not much of a sweet tooth.

"Well, you really didn't have to, Jen. But thank you, I appreciate it," Yoona replied warmly, expressing her gratitude.

"Oh! And I made it myself, so I hope you like it." Jennie's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she admitted that. She bowed and bid Yoona goodbye before walking back to her friends, who were wiggling their eyebrows at her, teasing her mercilessly.

"Did it go well?" Irene inquired, all of them turning their attention toward Yoona.

"Oh my goodness, you have no idea. I could feel the sweat dripping all over my body. She was making me so nervous," Jennie confessed, her eyes fixed on Yoona, who was smiling at the gift she had given her. Unintentionally, Jennie's lips curved into a smile as wel