**D1, Be the ONE! We are ZEROBASEONE!***
After debut, idol life is just getting started, and it's our time to bloom.
And so are the challenges...living in a dorm with eighteen people could never go wrong, right? Especially not with some love triang...
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As the blaring alarm invaded the peace of our bedroom, I couldn't help but be amused by Choonhae's ability to sleep through anything. I stifled a snort, watching her completely unaffected by the noise. Her black hair spilled over the pillow, one arm draped lazily over her eyes, and her mouth slightly ajar as she breathed deeply.
With a mischievous twinkle in my eye, I slowly removed her arm, prompting her to shoot me an angry glare with a single eye. Unable to contain my amusement any longer, I let out a snicker. "What?" I said, raising my voice slightly.
"Don't look at me like that," she grumbled, turning around and pulling the sheets up to her chin.
"We need to get up for practice, Choonhae," I said, my voice laced with a mixture of amusement and urgency. I couldn't help but find her sleepy state utterly endearing as I collapsed back onto the bed, my gaze fixed on the back of her head. The warmth of our shared bed enveloped me, especially since I had hung up blankets around the bunk bed, attempting to create a semblance of privacy in our cozy space.
Tae Rae had found my attempt at privacy amusing and jokingly questioned if some late-night shenanigans were going on, which I promptly denied. He didn't seem convinced, but the truth was that Choonhae and I weren't at that stage in our relationship. Not yet, at least.
The alarm blared once more, causing Choonhae's shoulders to tense up. She emitted a loud groan before turning around again, her eyes squinting from sleep, a blush adorning her cheeks, and her voice husky. "Did you sleep okay?" she asked, her annoyance dissipating as concern replaced it.
"Yes, I slept great," I replied, a genuine smile playing on my lips. Because every night she spent in my bed, I would sleep more than just okay. But on the nights she wasn't there, sleep eluded me completely.
She fanned her face, clearly feeling the warmth in our room. "God, you're like an actual oven. It's way too hot in here, Yujin!"
Before I could respond, she angrily threw open the curtains, revealing a cheery Tae Rae on the other side. He had already jumped out of bed, enthusiastically rummaging through his backpack on the floor.
"Morning, guys!" he chirped, his exuberant morning demeanor in stark contrast to Choonhae's less-than-enthusiastic response.
"Morning," she grumbled in reply, clearly not a fan of people who exuded morning cheerfulness.
"You should fix that love sack of yours a little. The edges are coming loose," Tae Rae commented, tapping the side of the bunk bed. Choonhae let out a groan of frustration.
"It's not a love sack, Tae!" she snapped, finally leaving the warmth of the bed as she stood up in her black sleep shirt, which happened to be quite short. As she raised her arms to stretch, I caught a glimpse of her white panties. Not that I was complaining, but I knew Tae Rae had seen them too.
Reacting quickly, I jumped out of bed, snatched my robe from the hook, and draped it over her shoulders, urging her to join me in the shared bathroom we had with Gio, Ara, and Briar. As I opened the door, Ara stood at the sink, brushing her teeth. She greeted us with a wave before returning to her morning routine.
I playfully patted Choonhae's rear, earning myself a dark scowl in return, and swiftly retrieved my robe before closing the door behind her, providing them with the privacy they needed. Meanwhile, Tae Rae continued rummaging through his backpack.
"Ah!" he exclaimed triumphantly, pulling out a box and tossing it in my direction with a sly smile. I knew exactly what it contained even before I looked at it.
"Condoms, really?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to maintain a nonchalant demeanor.
"Hey! If you're going to sneak around, I'd rather you do it safely," Tae Rae retorted, tossing the box back at me. His playful smirk remained intact.
"We're not like that," I replied firmly, my voice tinged with a hint of defensiveness.
"Yeah, yeah. So you say," Tae Rae retorted, strolling over to our bunk bed and stashing the condoms in the bedside drawer. "You know where they are now, dude. Be smart."
As I watched him close the drawer, I couldn't help but wonder if Tae Rae's playful teasing held an ounce of truth. Choonhae and I may not have crossed that line yet, but the proximity we shared each night, the unspoken connection that seemed to grow stronger by the day, made it impossible to ignore the budding desires and emotions swirling between us. For now, though, we focused on our music and the upcoming debut, knowing that our relationship would continue to evolve in its own time.
But as I glanced back at the closed door, my heart skipped a beat, and a sense of anticipation mingled with the angst. Could we truly resist the pull of our growing affection? Only time would tell.
