Stolen Moments | Yang Jeongin

One

I rushed through the familiar corridors of JYP Entertainment, the scent of takeout wafting from the containers I balanced precariously in my arms. Jeongin had requested enough food to feed an army, and as his best friend, it felt like my unofficial duty to keep him well-fed, especially after he'd been practicing all day.

Jeongin and I had been inseparable since our moms first dragged us to baby swimming lessons in Busan. Every free minute we had, we spent together. From dance lessons to school projects, we were a package deal. Even those awkward school dances? We went together, dancing the night away while everyone else wondered if we were dating. But then, one day, everything changed. Jeongin was accepted as a trainee in Seoul.

I had begged my parents to move with him, but they wisely said no. I didn't have the singing or dancing talent to become an idol, and Seoul was a city that didn't make space for those who couldn't keep up. So, I stayed behind, visiting Jeongin whenever I could, both of us feeling a growing emptiness because we simply belonged together.

Then the day finally came when I finished school, and Jeongin was already living his dream. I couldn't stand the distance anymore. I moved to Seoul to be with him, starting as an assistant at JYPE and slowly working my way up. Now, a few years later, I was one of Stray Kids' managers, and if anything, my bond with Jeongin had only grown stronger.

Food runs for the boys? No problem. In fact, I loved it. It meant being with my best friend, who somehow made Seoul feel a little more like home. I even moved into the apartment right next to Jeongin and Chan, just so I could be around him all the time. Maybe it was a little much, but I didn't care. Being with Jeongin just felt right.

As I pushed open the practice room door, eight hungry boys swarmed me, grabbing the takeout containers from my hands before I even had a chance to set them down. Jeongin immediately stuffed a whole slice of pizza into his mouth, barely chewing before slinging his arm around me in a tight hug. My heart did a little flip, something that had been happening a lot lately whenever I was close to Jeongin. It was weird, but in a good way, making me crave his closeness even more.

I giggled, playfully nudging him. "Innie... don't forget to chew or you'll choke."

Hyunjin rolled his eyes, grabbing a piece of pizza from the same box Jeongin was devouring. "How come you always hug her, but you run away when I just look at you?"

Jeongin snorted, holding me even closer. "You're just annoying, Hyunjin. Besides, she's basically my baby sister."

I felt a tiny sting in my chest at his words. Baby sister? I mean, yes... but why did it bother me so much?

Hyunjin grinned and suddenly pulled both Jeongin and me into a group hug, making me shriek and quickly wiggle out of his arms. I escaped to the sofa, pulling out my laptop.

"Okay, you eat, I work," I said, settling in and opening my laptop. "I'm booking your hotel for the upcoming fan meeting in Japan. Any special requests?"

The boys shrugged, too focused on their food to care much about hotel arrangements. Jeongin, however, flopped down beside me, still eating his pizza, and casually slung one arm around my shoulders.

"Can't you book it later? I haven't seen you all day because you were upstairs in your office... Can't we just hang out for a bit?" He pouted, his eyes wide with exaggerated sadness.

I giggled, shaking my head. "I was busy preparing your stay in Japan, you know. Apparently, some of your bandmates have ridiculous demands for the venue... like Hannie, who insists on a specific type of cheesecake, or your dear leader who wants a bowl with only blue gummy bears. It took me all day to get everything sorted, and now I just need to finalize the hotel. You don't want to sleep on the streets, Innie, do you?" I raised an eyebrow at him.

Jeongin sighed dramatically, shaking his head in mock defeat. "Fine, fine. But did you eat anything today?" His voice carried a note of genuine concern.

I shook my head, my focus back on the laptop. "Not hungry. I'll eat later, don't worry."

"No way! You need to eat something," Jeongin insisted, grabbing a piece of pizza and holding it up to my mouth. His eyes pleaded with me in that way only Jeongin could pull off.

I wanted to protest, but the look in his eyes made it impossible. I opened my mouth and took a bite, letting him feed me as I continued to click through hotel options. The simple act of him feeding me made my heart race, but I quickly brushed it off, focusing on the task at hand.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Seungmin called out, looking at us with a smirk.

I looked up from my laptop, rolling my eyes. "Don't call us that," I replied, trying to sound stern but failing to hide the slight blush creeping up my cheeks.

"Yeah, sure," Seungmin said with a mischievous grin. "Because you're just friends... or at least that's what you keep telling everyone." He made a show of rolling his eyes before eyeing Jeongin's pizza. "Anyway, can I have a slice of that?"

Jeongin waved him off with a dismissive hand. "Get lost, Seungmin."

Seungmin pouted, but he backed off, knowing when to quit.

I returned to my laptop, but my focus was broken. There was a tension in the air that hadn't been there before, something unspoken but undeniably present. It was like a door had been cracked open between us, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to peek inside or slam it shut.

Jeongin's arm remained around my shoulders, his presence both comforting and confusing. I didn't understand the fluttering in my chest, the way my thoughts kept circling back to his smile, his touch, his everything. But whatever it was, I knew it was changing something between us—something I wasn't sure either of us was ready to face.

But maybe... just maybe... I didn't want things to stay the same anymore.