"Seungcheol, that lucky jerk!"
"Hey, calm down, Kwan," Hansol said, patting Seungkwan on the back as they walked through the company's dimly lit corridors. "To be fair, he recorded his parts before us."
"But still! That doesn't mean the rest of us should be stuck here until 1 a.m. while he gets to lounge around in all the free time he has!" Seungkwan huffed, crossing his arms like an angry toddler.
"He's got a point," Wonwoo chimed in from behind them, his tone neutral but carrying just enough weight to make Seungkwan grin triumphantly.
"See? Wonwoo thinks I'm right!"
"But wait," Chan interjected, his brows furrowing. "Didn't Mingyu have the day off too? He didn't come with us."
The elevator doors dinged open, cutting the conversation short as half of the group exited. Across the lobby, the other elevator spilled out the remaining members, who regrouped seamlessly, their movements choreographed by years of routine.
"No, no, no," Seungkwan corrected, waving his hand dismissively. "Mingyu had a photoshoot today. Totally different. At least he worked. Coups, on the other hand, is probably at home snoring by now."
"Not true," Seokmin said, sidling up next to him. "He said he'd stay up and wait for us."
"Really?" Seungkwan squinted in suspicion. "Well, I'll believe it when I see it."
By the time they reached the dorms, exhaustion hung heavy in the air. Most of the members peeled off to their rooms after slipping out of their shoes, some scrolling through their phones, others too tired to say goodnight. But Seungkwan, fueled by curiosity and lingering indignation, made a beeline for Seungcheol's room.
He pushed the door open with his usual flair, ready to tease his leader about slacking off.
And froze.
Time seemed to halt as his eyes locked on the scene before him. Seungcheol was fast asleep, lying on his side. But what caught Seungkwan completely off guard was the figure curled up against him.
A girl.
Seungkwan's jaw dropped. His brain short-circuited.
"SOL! SOL!"
He sprinted down the hall, bursting into the room he shared with Vernon. Gasping for breath, he leaned against the doorframe, his face flushed.
"Dude, are you okay?" Vernon asked, looking up from his phone.
"SEUNGCHEOL IS SLEEPING WITH A GIRL!"
Vernon blinked, his expression a mix of disbelief and confusion. "Say what now?"
"SEUNGCHEOL. IS. SLEEPING. WITH. A. GIRL!"
Before Vernon could respond, Joshua and Jihoon appeared in the doorway, drawn by the commotion. "What's going on?" Jihoon asked, arms crossed.
"I went to Seungcheol's room," Seungkwan explained, his words tumbling over one another, "and he's in bed—with a girl! They were cuddling! I saw it!"
Joshua's eyebrows shot up. Jihoon's mouth opened slightly before snapping shut again, his usual stoicism cracking under the weight of the revelation.
"You sure it was a person?" Joshua asked, trying to stay level-headed.
"Of course, I'm sure! Do you think I'd run all the way back here if it wasn't?"
Jihoon sighed, rubbing his temples. "Well, do you know who it was?"
Seungkwan glared at him. "Do you think I stuck around for a tea party? No! I saw what I saw and ran!"
Joshua rolled his eyes. "Alright, let's go see for ourselves."
"Wait!" Vernon called, but the others ignored him, already filing out of the room. After a brief hesitation, Vernon followed, curiosity getting the better of him.
They crept down the hallway like a group of teenagers sneaking out after curfew, their hushed whispers and muffled footsteps adding to the tension. When they reached Seungcheol's door, they all stopped, staring at it like it might come to life.
"So... who's opening it?" Joshua asked.
The silence stretched awkwardly.
Jihoon groaned. "You're all useless." He reached for the door handle and pushed it open just enough to peek inside. The others crowded behind him, craning their necks for a better view.
Inside, the room was dim, but the shapes of two people were unmistakable. A girl lay curled against Seungcheol, her face hidden against his chest.
"I can't see her face," Jihoon muttered, squinting. "Wait—"
"Is that... Aerin?" Seungkwan's voice rose in pitch as he whispered.
Jihoon stiffened, leaning closer for confirmation. "No way."
"AERIN?!" Jihoon's exclamation echoed down the hallway, breaking the fragile quiet.
Seungcheol stirred, his arm tightening protectively around the girl beside him. The group froze, wide-eyed and silent, as their leader's eyes fluttered open.
"What the hell are you guys doing?" Seungcheol muttered groggily, his voice rough with sleep.
Nobody dared to answer.
In the tense silence that followed, Aerin stirred, lifting her head slightly.
Seungkwan was the first to break, turning and bolting down the hallway. "I CAN'T HANDLE THIS!" he yelled as he disappeared.
