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It's been a long day, and you can feel the exhaustion settling deep in your bones. The rehearsal is intense, every move needing to be perfect, but your mind keeps drifting. There's something tugging at you, a craving you can't quite shake. During a brief break, you find yourself leaning against the mirrored wall of the practice room, Hyunjin by your side.
"I could really use some chocolate-covered pretzels right now," you sigh, almost absentmindedly, the words slipping out as you wipe the sweat from your brow. The thought of that sweet, salty crunch makes your mouth water, but you know it's a lost cause. The store that sells them is on the other side of town, and there's no way you'll be able to get any before the day is over.
Hyunjin glances at you, his expression curious. "Chocolate-covered pretzels?" he repeats, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Yeah, it's been forever since I had them," you say with a wistful grin. "But they're so hard to find around here."
He nods, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer, as if he's making a mental note. You don't think much of it, too caught up in the conversation with your bandmates as you all prepare to dive back into the choreography.
But just as the music starts up again, you notice Hyunjin standing up. You look at him, confused. "Where are you going?"
"I just remembered something I need to take care of," he says, offering you a quick smile. "I'll be back soon."
You watch him head toward the door, feeling a small pang of disappointment. You'd been looking forward to having him here with you during rehearsal. His presence always makes the hard work feel a little easier, and now, without him, the room seems a bit emptier.
Shaking off the feeling, you push yourself back into the routine, focusing on the movements and the music. But no matter how hard you try, your mind keeps drifting back to Hyunjin, wondering what was so important that he had to leave. The minutes tick by slowly, each one dragging as you find yourself glancing at the door more often than you should.
Finally, just as you're about to take another break, the door swings open, and your heart leaps. There he is, standing in the doorway, and he's holding something in his hands—a familiar, crinkling bag that makes your eyes widen in surprise.
"Hyunjin?" you say, breathless, as he walks over to you, that signature smile on his face. "What...?"
"You mentioned these," he says, holding out the bag of chocolate-covered pretzels. His tone is casual, but there's a gleam in his eyes, like he's proud of himself for pulling off the surprise.
You stare at the bag, then back at him, your mind racing to piece it together. "You went all the way across town to get these?" you ask, the earlier disappointment vanishing in an instant, replaced by a rush of affection.
He shrugs, trying to play it cool, but you can see the effort he's trying to downplay. "It wasn't that big of a deal," he says, but you know better. He left just to get you the one thing you were craving, something so small but it means the world to you.
Without thinking, you close the distance between you, reaching up to press a soft kiss to his lips. They are warm under your lips, and you linger there for a moment, letting him know just how much you appreciate what he's done. "Thank you, Hyunjin," you whisper, pulling back to meet his gaze.
His cheeks flush slightly, but he smiles wider, his eyes sparkling. "Anything for you," he murmurs, his voice barely above a whisper.
The two of you share a quiet moment, your foreheads almost touching, before one of your bandmates clears her throat, snapping you both out of your little bubble. "Well, aren't you two adorable," she teases, and the others quickly join in, laughing and cooing at the scene.
You laugh too, feeling a warmth spread through your chest as you look at Hyunjin. "You really set the bar high," one of them says, shaking her head in disbelief.
You shrug, still grinning. "What can I say? I'm not complaining," you reply, squeezing Hyunjin's hand before finally opening the bag. The first bite of the pretzel is everything you hoped for, the perfect combination of sweet and salty, but what makes it even better is knowing how much effort Hyunjin went through just to make you happy.
As the rehearsal continues, you find yourself stealing glances at him more often, your heart full of gratitude and affection. The earlier sadness is long forgotten, replaced by a warmth that lingers even as the night wears on. With Hyunjin by your side, you realize, everything feels just right.
