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𝙢𝙧. 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙤𝙣 I'm here ms. natalia loved mr. vernon's message
"Yo, you could've just rung the doorbell, you know?" Nabi's voice came out teasing the moment she saw Hansol standing awkwardly on the other side of the door.
Hansol let out a small chuckle, still slightly off-kilter, as he stepped inside. Immediately, his eyes took in the stylishly curated space around him. It felt like stepping into a living, breathing Pinterest board. Colorful accents, modern furniture, and just the right amount of warm lighting to make everything feel welcoming. He should've expected it, considering who he was dealing with—Nabi, the fashion-forward design queen. If her place had been anything less than perfect, it would've been a crime.
Finally, his eyes landed on the large mural behind her couch. It was modern, but the thousands of stars that covered the area. It was intriguing. "Nice place," Hansol muttered, his gaze drifting over the space.
"Thanks!" Nabi replied cheerfully, locking the door behind them. She motioned toward the living room. "Make yourself at home. You want water or something?"
"Nah, I'm good," Hansol said, slipping onto the couch, making himself comfortable.
It was... nice. Cozy. Modern, yet lived-in. It felt real. Unlike the sterile world of flashing cameras and fake smiles he was used to. It almost made him wonder why he'd never thought to invite someone over just to chill. He glanced around, appreciating how every inch of the apartment seemed to scream "Nabi."
As Nabi shuffled into the kitchen to grab takeout, Hansol leaned back, taking in the vibes. A few moments later, she returned with bags of Mexican food, a look of bliss already on her face.
"Bro, where the hell did you find this? I haven't had good Mexican in forever," she said, already salivating over the food.
Hansol shrugged, his grin playful. "I went on a hunt a few months ago. Found this place about 20 minutes from here." He dropped down to the floor beside her as she set everything up, both of them forgetting for a moment that they'd only just met days before. Yet here they were, hanging out like they'd been friends forever.
Nabi ripped into her taco like a starving person who had been deprived of good food for years. Hansol watched her with an amused smile before leaning back on his arms. "So, Vernon—"
She was cut off before she could even finish his stage name.
"Just call me Hansol," he said, mouth full but grinning. "Vernon's just my middle name."
Nabi blinked, looking at him with a surprised but pleased expression. "Okay, Hansol it is then," she said with a smile, glad the conversation was flowing. It wasn't awkward at all. In fact, it was kind of nice.
There was a comfortable silence as they ate, until Nabi looked over at him, eyes narrowed with playful curiosity. "Alright, Hansol, tell me a little about yourself."
He snorted. "I'm not doing a self-interview here, am I?"
They both broke into laughter, the sound filling the air and making everything feel a little lighter. Nabi looked at him, her gaze softening as she took in his heart-shaped smile. The lighting, the setting, everything felt right—maybe too right. She shook her head slightly, trying to focus on the moment.
Hansol paused mid-bite. "Actually, I've got a question for you."
"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Why me?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious. "I mean, you've got so many other guys to choose from. Why'd you pick me for the collection?" He leaned back, waiting for an answer, his eyes still unsure.
Nabi paused, tapping the edge of her fork on the table thoughtfully. "You were the obvious choice," she said slowly, as if trying to explain something she hadn't fully figured out herself. "You have the vibe I need. I saw your portfolio, and everyone else just... didn't click the way you did."
Hansol blinked, taken aback. "Seriously? Well, shit, that's an honor."
The words made Nabi laugh again, a lighthearted sound that felt warm and real. "You're the idol here, not me. I should be the one begging you to sign my stuff," she teased.
He couldn't help but crack a smile at that. "This is weird, though, isn't it?" He glanced around the apartment. "I mean, us hanging out like this?"
Nabi let out a little chuckle, shrugging nonchalantly. "A bit. But it's not so bad. I mean, you're easy to talk to."
"Same goes for you," he said, his voice softening, a bit more serious now.
Nabi noticed the shift, the weight of the conversation now fully settling in. She rested her chin in her hand, looking at him intently. "You seem like you're carrying a lot on your shoulders. I can't imagine how tough the idol world is."
Hansol exhaled a long breath, leaning back into the couch with a sigh. "Yeah, it's tough. But I can't complain. I'm literally getting paid to do what I love."
"Still," she said, her voice tinged with care. "That doesn't make it any easier."
He let out a soft laugh. "Yeah. It's been a blur, honestly. Feels like I'm just constantly going through the motions. I don't really get time to breathe, y'know?" He rubbed his face. "But today... today's been good. Just being here, talking with you... it's the first time in a while I've actually felt like I can just, I dunno, relax."
Nabi's gaze softened. Without thinking, she placed a hand on his shoulder, a reassuring touch that felt right. "Well, if you ever need to vent, or if you just wanna complain about the chaos of your idol life, you know where to find me. I'm pretty much free when it comes to this whole 'being your friend' thing."
Hansol blinked, surprised by the offer. But his eyes softened as he grinned at her. "Thanks. I might take you up on that. For real."
The moment was interrupted by the sound of his phone buzzing in his pocket. He pulled it out, recognizing the name on the screen.
"Sorry," he muttered as he answered.
"Where the hell are you? We've got practice in 30 minutes," came Seungcheol's voice, firm and unmistakably annoyed.
"Just out with a friend," Hansol replied, though his tone was lighter than usual. "I'll be there."
He could hear Soonyoung's voice in the background. "Since when does he have friends?"
Hansol rolled his eyes but couldn't help a laugh. "I'll be there in a sec," he replied, before hanging up.
Nabi gave him a look as she handed him his things, her smile both playful and understanding. "Guess you've gotta go, huh?"
Hansol nodded, the sudden weight of reality hitting him. "Yeah. Sorry about that."
"Don't worry about it," she said, pushing the door open. "Let's do this again sometime."
Hansol gave her a crooked smile. "You got it, Nabi."
And just like that, everything shifted. The easy camaraderie between them felt like the beginning of something... maybe more.
