MANAGER | newjeans x reader

H A E R I N (II)

"That's not how you do it," Haerin chimed in once again, her tone a playful mixture of amusement and exasperation. I couldn't help but chuckle at her persistence, even though I felt a twinge of embarrassment at my repeated failures.

"Thanks for your patience," I said, offering her a sheepish grin as I tried to salvage yet another charred marshmallow. Haerin simply shrugged, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"It's all part of the learning process," she replied, her voice laced with amusement. "Besides, it's more fun this way."

I nodded in agreement, feeling grateful for her guidance despite my lack of skill in marshmallow toasting. As I attempted to focus on the task at hand, I felt Haerin's warmth as she leaned against my shoulder, her presence comforting and reassuring.

"Just watch the marshmallow, not me," she teased, her hand gently guiding mine as we adjusted the stick over the flames. I couldn't help but smile at her playful admonishment, grateful for her patient instruction.

With her help, I managed to avoid burning the marshmallow this time, much to both of our relief. We shared a moment of laughter, As we enjoyed the toasted marshmallows, I noticed Haerin's hand shaking a bit as she reached for another skewer. Worried, I turned to her with a frown.

"Feeling cold?" I asked, noticing the chill in the air as the night darkened. Haerin tried to brush off my concern with a casual wave, but her shiver gave her away.

"N-no, I'm okay," she insisted, though her teeth chattered a little. Before she could argue further, I gently pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her waist to bring her in.

"No need to pretend," I said softly, feeling her body relax against mine as I shared some warmth. Haerin let out a small sigh, admitting defeat with a playful eye roll.

"Okay, maybe I'm a bit chilly," she confessed, her cheeks turning slightly pink. I couldn't resist teasing her, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

"Well, lucky for you, I'm a pretty good human heater," I joked, earning a playful smack on the arm from Haerin.

"Thanks for being my personal warmth," she said, her tone teasing but appreciative. I simply smiled, enjoying the comfort of her presence as we cozied up together by the crackling fire.

Haerin's face lit up as she began, "Did you know, when I was a kid, I once tried to ride a skateboard down the stairs?" She chuckled, reminiscing about her adventurous childhood antics.

I laughed, picturing young Haerin attempting such a daring feat. "Really? How did that go?"

"Well, let's just say it didn't end well," she admitted, shaking her head with a grin. "I ended up with a scraped knee and a bruised ego."

"Sounds like quite the adventure," I teased, nudging her playfully. "But hey, at least you tried!"

Haerin rolled her eyes, but there was a playful glint in them. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. I bet you've had your fair share of embarrassing moments too."

I chuckled, thinking back to my own childhood blunders. "Oh, definitely. Like the time I got stuck in a tree trying to impress my crush."

Her laughter filled the air, blending with mine as we shared stories and teased each other about our silly childhood mishaps. It was moments like these that made me grateful for our friendship, and I couldn't help but feel a warm sense of connection with Haerin.

"Wait, hold up," Haerin interrupted, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Tell me more about this crush of yours. How did you end up in a tree trying to impress them?"