❝ Stardust & Heartstrings ❞ YEONBIN FF

Chapter 5 : The Space Between Years

Soobin hesitated outside the hospital room, unsure what to say to Yeonjun and his grandma. He took a deep breath, then entered, hoping to find the right words to offer comfort and support.

Soobin inquired with concern, "How are you, Halmeoni?" But to his surprise, Grandma's expression changed, and she asked, "Who are you?" - a shocking response, given that she had just recognized him moments before, leaving Soobin taken aback and bewildered.

Soobin spoke reassuringly, "I'm Soobin, Halmeoni, your neighbor from Pohang. My family and I live just next door to you, remember? I'm Choi Beom-seok's son," attempting to refresh her memory without making her feel embarrassed or stressed about her forgetfulness, his tone warm and understanding.

Yeonjun gently intervened, "Halmeoni, why don't you rest for a bit? You've had a long and tiring day with the transfer from Seoul to the geriatric care facility here in Pohang. Let's talk more later, okay?" He spoke softly, trying to ease her fatigue and comfort her, while also subtly shifting the attention away from Soobin's attempt to jog her memory.

Yeonjun tenderly pulled the duvet up to Grandma's chest, ensuring she was cozy and comfortable, before gently ushering Soobin out of the room. He closed the door softly behind them, creating a quiet distance between themselves and Grandma's resting space.

Once they stepped out of the room, Soobin quickly pulled Yeonjun into a secluded storage room located at the far end of the hallway, a place that was unlikely to be frequented by anyone at that time, providing a private and secluded space for a conversation.

In the tiny storage room, Yeonjun felt Soobin's breath whisper against his face, sending a shiver down his spine. He quickly averted his gaze, his pulse racing with the awareness that even a slight tilt of his head could bring their lips into contact, sparking a forbidden yet tantalizing connection.

Soobin's eyes roamed over Yeonjun's frame, taking in the sight of his jacket, which was precariously short, barely grazing his thighs. The hem of the jacket teasingly concealed the shorts he wore, leaving Soobin to wonder about the rest of his outfit and stirring a flutter in his chest.

Soobin's eyes narrowed, his voice taking on a sharp, interrogative tone as he demanded, "What brings you back to Pohang, Yeonjun-ssi? What's behind your sudden return?" The words were laced with a hint of suspicion, as if Soobin was determined to uncover a hidden truth.

Soobin's words sliced through the thick, awkward silence like a sharp blade, cutting through Yeonjun's distraction and commanding his attention. Yeonjun's eyes snapped towards Soobin, his gaze locking onto the other's face as if drawn by an unseen force.

Yeonjun's voice took on a slightly sharp edge, his tone tinged with a mix of annoyance and accusation, as he countered, "Just because your father is the head of the locality development committee, do you think you own the entire neighborhood?" The words hung in the air, a palpable tension building as Yeonjun seemed to push back against Soobin's perceived entitlement.

A small, enigmatic smile played on Soobin's lips, his voice low and smooth as he said, "You know quite a lot about me." The smirk implied a sense of intrigue, as if Soobin was acknowledging Yeonjun's interest and wondering what else he might know, or what his motivations were for asking.

Soobin's hand settled on Yeonjun's waist, his fingers wrapping around it with a gentle yet possessive touch, as he leaned in, his face inches from Yeonjun's. His voice was low and husky, his breath whispering against Yeonjun's skin, "What else do you know about me?" The proximity of their faces was unnerving, Soobin's eyes locked intensely on Yeonjun's, making it hard for him to look away or even breathe.

Just as Yeonjun was about to push Soobin away, the door swung open and a nurse burst in, accidentally knocking Yeonjun off balance. He felt himself falling forward, his hands flailing wildly as he tried to regain his footing. But it was too late. Yeonjun's chest collided with Soobin's, his face buried in the crook of Soobin's neck as he stumbled. Soobin's arms instinctively wrapped around him, holding him in place as they both stumbled backward.

Yeonjun's face flushed with embarrassment as he hastily tried to explain, "N-no, it's not like that! We were just... just talking, I swear!" He stuttered, his words tumbling out in a rush as he tried to rectify the situation. Yeonjun's eyes darted towards the nurse, worried that she might misinterpret the intimate position they found themselves in. He attempted to extricate himself from Soobin's embrace, his movements awkward and flustered.

Yeonjun felt Soobin's grip on his waist tighten as the nurse smiled knowingly and said, "The senior doctor from the dementia unit is looking for you, Soobin-ssi." Yeonjun sensed that everyone in the hospital knew and respected Soobin, making him feel out of place.

Yeonjun's eyes blazed with indignation as he shoved Soobin away, his voice low and fierce. "How dare you touch me?" he hissed, his chest heaving with agitation. The sudden movement created some distance between them, but Yeonjun's words hung in the air, a palpable challenge to Soobin's boldness.

Soobin's face darkened, his eyes flashing with anger as he retorted, "I'm sorry for holding you. I should have just let you fall and make an embarrassment out of yourself." His voice was laced with sarcasm and annoyance, his words biting as he turned the tables on Yeonjun's accusation. The air between them crackled with tension, their mutual irritation and frustration simmering just below the surface.

Yeonjun's voice was laced with venom, his eyes narrowing as he sneered, "You think you're so funny?" The question was a challenge, a dare for Soobin to keep pushing his buttons, Yeonjun's anger and frustration simmering just below the surface, waiting to boil over.

Soobin's lips curled into a confident smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement as he replied, "Someone from Seoul once told me that I'm so funny that they could spend the entire day with me without being bored for even a second." He paused, his smile growing wider, as if savoring the memory and the praise. The implication was clear: Soobin was charming, witty, and captivating – and he knew it.

Yeonjun's expression twisted in a scornful snort, his voice dripping with disdain as he retorted, "They must have been fooled by you into believing such bullshit." His words cut deep, implying that Soobin's charm was nothing more than a facade, a clever trick to deceive others into thinking he was more interesting than he actually was. The venom in Yeonjun's tone made it clear that he wasn't buying into Soobin's charisma.

Soobin's expression turned serious, his eyes clouding over with concern as he changed the subject, "I can keep doing this all day, but there are things that are much more important. I still don't know why Halmeoni didn't recognize me." His voice was laced with a mix of frustration and worry, his mind shifting gears to focus on the mysterious and unsettling encounter with his grandmother. The sudden shift in tone and topic left Yeonjun momentarily taken aback.

Yeonjun's expression softened, his voice taking on a more somber tone as he explained, "Halmeoni has dementia, Soobin. It's...it's getting worse with time. That's why I brought her to Pohang. I thought a familiar place might...might slow it down, you know? Make her feel more comfortable." His words were laced with a mix of sadness and helplessness, his eyes betraying a deep concern for his grandmother's well-being. The revelation hung in the air, a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the cruel nature of the disease.

Soobin's face softened, his eyes filled with a warm gentleness as he took a step closer to Yeonjun. His arms instinctively opened, as if to envelop Yeonjun in a comforting hug, but he hesitated, unsure if he had the right to such intimacy. His hands hovered awkwardly in mid-air, his gaze searching Yeonjun's face for permission, for a sign that his touch would be welcome. The moment hung suspended, a tender vulnerability crackling between them like a spark waiting to ignite.

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