The Verse of Us

13' [happier]

𓇢𓆸

As Taeyeon make a move to excuse herself and leave, Baekhyun's voice cut through the air, halting her in her tracks.

"Already? I was just about to treat you to late-night snacks," he suggests, his tone hopeful.

Before Taeyeon could formulate a response, Min-joo's cheerful voice chimes in, her words dripping with false enthusiasm. "Oh, I'm hungry too, Baekhyun!"

Taeyeon felt a pang of discomfort wash over her at the sudden intrusion, her unease mirrored by the strained expression on Min-joo's face.

Squaring her shoulders, Taeyeon attempts to diffuse the growing awkwardness with a forced smile. "I should really be going."

Suddenly, Baekhyun's hand shoot out, his grip firm as he catches her by the arm. "Take it as a way of me to repay you for the medicine."

Caught off guard by his insistence, Taeyeon hesitates, her resolve waning in the face of his earnest appeal. "N-no, it's fine." she murmured, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

Baekhyun's gaze softens, his expression filled with genuine remorse.

"Please," he urged.

Unable to deny him, Taeyeon relented with a reluctant nod, her heart heavy with the weight of unresolved emotions. As she follows Baekhyun in the practice room, she couldn't help but feel the weight of Min-joo's disapproving gaze burning into her back.

"What do you want to eat?" Baekhyun asks as he sank into the cushion next to Taeyeon.

"I don't know," she replies, "Ask your dancers. They worked really hard for you."

Tugging a smile at the corner of his lips, Baekhyun turns to his dancers who are resting on top of the floors.

"What do you guys want to eat?"

"Wah, the boss is paying." One of the dancers seize the opportunity to crack a joke, his voice fills with playful banter.

As Baekhyun about to recounter his joke, one of the male dancers in black cap suddenly raises his hand.

"What if I said I'm already full now that the fairy senior is here?"

The straight hand is now formed into a mini heart, eliciting a giggle from Taeyeon.

Seeing that, a square-shaped cushion suddenly flee over and hit his head, "Don't even thinking of eating, you psycho."

Before the moment could settle into comfortable laughter, Min-joo's voice cut through the air, "I feel like eating chicken. Can I have it, Baekhyun?"

A murmur of dissent ripple through the room, the dancers exchanging uncertain glances at the request.

"Yeah sure. I can order chicken for you." he agrees, his voice tinged with gentle as he turns to Min-joo.

For in that moment, as she watches Baekhyun's attention shift towards Min-joo, Taeyeon couldn't help but feel like an outsider looking in.

He looks so soft when he is with her.

"What are you eating, senior?" The same dancer who sent her a mini heart, change his gaze to Taeyeon.