Two days later:
Ara slowly opened her eyes to find Jeonghan standing beside her bed, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," he greeted with a soft smile.
"What are you doing here so early?" Ara asked groggily.
"Early? It's 1 pm," he chuckled.
"It is?" Ara exclaimed, surprised.
"Yeah, and I brought food, so come on, let's go eat," he said, reaching out a hand to help her up.
"No, a little while longer, it's too comfy here," Ara protested, rolling over.
"But the food will turn cold, dummy," Jeonghan teased, gently pulling her into a sitting position.
"You sure you don't want to join me?" Ara teased back, playfully.
"As amazing as that sounds, my girlfriend hasn't allowed me in her bed," Jeonghan replied with mock seriousness.
"What? Fine, I guess your girlfriend sucks. Who is she anyway?" Ara joked along.
"You'll find out soon," Jeonghan said with a wink as he walked away.
As we sat down to eat lunch, I glanced around the cozy kitchen. "Where did Oppa go?" I asked.
"He went out," Jeonghan replied casually, passing me a bowl of steaming kimchi jigae, a traditional Korean stew. The aroma instantly made my mouth water.
"Mmm, smells amazing," I said, taking a deep breath of the savory steam rising from the bowl.
Jeonghan chuckled softly. "Glad you think so. I tried my best."
I took a spoonful of the stew, savoring the spicy and tangy flavors. "You did a great job," I said between bites, giving him a genuine smile.
He smiled back, his eyes warm. "I'm glad you like it. You always seem to enjoy kimchi jigae."
I nodded. "It's one of my favorites. Thanks for bringing this over."
"Anytime," he said softly, watching me eat with a contented expression.
As the day wore on, Jeonghan and Ara found themselves engrossed in a movie marathon at her house. They lounged comfortably on the couch, surrounded by blankets and pillows, snacks scattered around them like colorful confetti.
During one particularly funny scene, Jeonghan couldn't resist playfully tickling Ara's sides, causing her to squirm and giggle uncontrollably. She retaliated with a pillow, their laughter filling the room like music.
After a while, they both collapsed in a fit of giggles, catching their breath. Ara looked at Jeonghan, their eyes meeting in a moment of shared happiness and affection. The playful energy faded into a tender silence, the air between them heavy with unspoken words.
Jeonghan reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from Ara's face. She leaned into his touch, feeling the warmth of his hand against her cheek. Their gazes locked, each silently conveying feelings that words struggled to express.
Jeonghan brushed a strand of hair away from Ara's face, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "You know, Ara," he began softly, his voice carrying a hint of nervousness, "I've been wanting to ask you something."
Ara looked up at him, her eyes meeting his with curiosity. "What is it?" she asked, her heart beating a little faster.
He took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. "I... I really like you, Ara. More than just friends. I've been wanting to ask if you'd be my girlfriend."
Ara's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing with emotions. She smiled warmly, her fingers tracing circles on his chest. "Jeonghan, I... I like you too. A lot," she admitted, feeling a rush of relief and happiness.
Jeonghan's face lit up with a bright smile. "Really?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine joy.
Ara nodded, her own smile widening. "Yes, really."
Jeonghan leaned in closer, his lips meeting hers in a gentle kiss. It felt natural, as if they had been waiting for this moment all along. They pulled back slightly, their foreheads touching as they shared a silent understanding of what this meant for them.
"So, does this mean you'll be my girlfriend?" Jeonghan teased, his eyes twinkling with affection.
Ara chuckled softly. "I guess it does," she replied, her heart full of happiness.
They stayed cuddled up on the couch, enjoying the warmth of each other's presence.
A while later, the door opened and Scoups walked in with bags of takeout. Joshua followed behind him, carrying a couple of drinks.
"Guess who brought dinner!" Scoups announced, grinning as he entered the living room.
Ara and Jeonghan looked up from their cozy spot on the couch, smiling at the newcomers.
"Perfect timing, we're starving," Ara said, sitting up and stretching.
Joshua plopped down on the armchair, setting the drinks on the coffee table. "You two look like you've had a lazy day," he remarked with a playful smirk.
Jeonghan chuckled, standing up to help Scoups with the food. "You could say that. We had a movie marathon."
Scoups raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between Ara and Jeonghan. "Just movies, huh?" he teased, earning a light punch on the arm from Ara.
"Shut up, Oppa," she said, laughing. "What did you get us for dinner?"
Scoups grinned, pulling out various containers from the bags. "Your favorites, of course. Some fried chicken, Tofu stew, and a bunch of side dishes."
"Awesome, I'm starving," Ara said, grabbing a pair of chopsticks and digging in.
As they all settled down around the table to eat, Joshua glanced over at Ara and Jeonghan with a knowing smile. "So, anything new with you two?" he asked casually.
Jeonghan and Ara exchanged a quick look, and Jeonghan cleared his throat. "Actually, yeah. Ara's my girlfriend now."
There was a moment of stunned silence before Scoups broke into a wide grin. "Finally! Took you long enough," he said, clapping Jeonghan on the back.
Joshua nodded in agreement, raising his drink in a mock toast. "Congrats, you two. About time someone made a move."
Ara blushed, but she couldn't help but smile at the support from her friends. "Thanks, guys."
Scoups suddenly put on a serious face and leaned in closer to Jeonghan. "You know, Jeonghan, if you ever hurt my sister, I'll have to use my big brother powers to make your life very uncomfortable," he said, trying to sound menacing but failing to hide his grin.
Jeonghan laughed, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I wouldn't dream of it, Scoups. Ara's too important to me."
Scoups nodded, his serious act breaking into a laugh. "Good. Just remember, I'm always watching."
Joshua joined in the teasing. "Yeah, Jeonghan. We all have eyes on you," he added, winking at Ara.
As they continued eating and chatting, the room was filled with laughter and the warmth of their camaraderie. It was the perfect end to a memorable day, and Ara couldn't have been happier surrounded by the people she cared about the most.
YOU ARE READING
Reputation
Romance"You know what's the most attractive thing about you?" I whisper into his ear, my voice barely a breath. "Your brain." "I know, love, that's why I can keep you entertained," he replies softly, his grin filled with promises that send shivers down my...
