𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 ˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳ 𝐧𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 - 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐮

⇛ 𝐂𝐇. 𝟖𝟎

it had been a few days of the eight living in nari's basement and jihyun's wound was beginning to heal well enough that she could move around a lot. despite her friends insisting she still needed rest, she knew they couldn't afford it any longer. they had come to the capitol to complete a mission. so they planned to leave by night.

"how you feeling?" chenle asked jihyun as she was sat on the mattress, packing her bag. she thought the others were upstairs preparing different things for when they'd be leaving so when he spoke, she jumped. "you good?"

"i didn't even see you there." she mumbled, her heart beating so fast. he raised and eyebrow at this, finding the behaviour weird.

"anyway, as i asked... how are you?"

"pretty much the same as yesterday. why?" she replied.

"just making sure."

"yeah. everybody wants to just make sure." she mumbled, zipping her bag shut harshly.

"hey. what's up?" he frowned as he moved to sit next to her on the mattress.

"sorry... i guess i'm just feeling a bit claustrophobic with everyone constantly asking me the same questions and not letting me do anything by myself. i know you all have good intentions and i truly appreciate it but i can't breathe and it makes me feel small and vulnerable."

"which you really hate..." he said. "i'm sorry. i didn't mean to make you feel that way."

"no, you don't have to apologise. i think i'm just highly emotional at the moment. it's not a big deal." she replied, not wanting to make him feel guiltily.

"it seems like a big deal and it's okay if it is. you can tell me when something is bothering you. i won't judge."

"thanks, lele." she mumbled, leaning back to rest on the mattress. he smiled at the use of his nickname, his heart skipping a beat.

"is there anything else on your mind?" he asked, copying her.

"way too much." she sighed and turned her head to face him. "but you tell me, what's on your mind?"

chenle nervously licked his lips when he saw just how close her face was to his. he could hear her soft breathing and see every feature on her face, from the dark eye-bags to every tiny hair and blemish. though he didn't care about any of those small things that she hated about herself. he loved every part of her. he also loved the crinkle at the corner of her pretty lips when she smiled and the stars in her eyes that lit up when she was happy. he could see them now and he knew it was because she valued the time she spent with her friends.

"chenle?" jihyun's honey-like voice broke him out of his daze. he had completely forgotten that she had asked him a question.

"sorry. i lost myself for a moment." he replied, sheepishly.

"why?" she asked.

"you're just too pretty." he said with a sudden burst of confidence that had her blushing.

"lele..."

"you get so flustered by compliments." he laughed. "i know your weakness."

"yoon jihyun has no weaknesses." she shook her head.

"oh really?" he spoke in a tone that made her regret ever saying anything. he propped himself up onto his elbow and wiggled his fingers at her.

"chenle, no." she said trying to inch away. 

"chenle, yes."

"no."

"here comes the tickle monster!"