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Aera
Aera's heart was pounding in her chest as she walked towards the main lobby. She couldn't believe she was about to do this—actually confess to Heeseung that she liked him. Not just liked him, but really liked him. This whole "experiment" they had been doing was supposed to be platonic, just for fun and experience, but somewhere along the line, things changed for her. And now, she was standing here, about to spill her guts.
She stepped into the lobby, scanning the room until she spotted him. Heeseung was leaning casually against one of the large windows, staring out at the ocean. The evening sun cast a warm glow on his face, making him look even more handsome than usual. Aera's nerves doubled as she took a deep breath and approached him.
"Hey," she said, trying to sound casual, but her voice came out a bit shaky.
Heeseung turned around and gave her a warm smile. "Hey, Aera. What's up?"
She couldn't stop herself from laughing nervously as she greeted him, the sound awkward and high-pitched. She cursed herself inwardly. Get it together, Aera, she thought. You've got one shot at this.
"So, um... I wanted to talk to you about something," she started, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.
Heeseung's eyebrows raised slightly, curiosity in his eyes. "Yeah? What's on your mind?"
Aera could feel her stomach flipping. She was usually so confident and straightforward, but right now, she was a mess. "Lately, things have been, like... different, you know? Between us. I mean, this plan we came up with was pretty crazy, but it's, like, really been working, right?" She was rambling, and she knew it. She was dancing around the point, not quite able to bring herself to say the words she needed to.
Heeseung chuckled softly, nodding. "Yeah, it's been interesting, that's for sure."
"Right, right," Aera continued, feeling herself get more flustered. "And I just... I feel like maybe... I mean, what I'm trying to say is..."
Just as she was about to get to the point, she heard someone call out Heeseung's name from across the lobby. Both she and Heeseung turned towards the voice, and Aera's heart sank when she saw a tall, pretty girl with long, silky black hair walking towards them. The girl had flawless skin, a perfect smile, and a kind of confidence that made her seem like she owned the room.
"Heeseung!" the girl said again, her voice full of warmth and excitement.
𝑬𝑨𝑹𝑳𝑰𝑬𝑹
Heeseung had been wandering around the upper deck earlier that day, enjoying a rare moment of peace amidst the craziness of the trip. The sun was warm on his face, and the sea stretched out endlessly before him—a perfect scene to zone out. But then, something—or rather someone—caught his eye.
A figure appeared in his peripheral vision, and for a split second, he thought he was imagining things. But when he looked over, his heart skipped a beat.
