Stolen Moments | Yang Jeongin

Two

The next few days were a blur of late-night practices and endless schedules. The boys were pushing themselves to their limits, and it made my heart ache to see them so exhausted. I tried to convince them to take a break, to rest even for just a few hours, but they would always dismiss me with tired smiles and stubborn determination. So, it wasn't surprising when one night, Jeongin and I found ourselves lying on the practice room floor, waiting for Chan to finish up in his studio. The others had already left, their energy spent, and now it was just the two of us.

I turned onto my stomach, propping myself up on my elbows to look at Jeongin. He was staring at the ceiling, still catching his breath, his skin glistening with a light sheen of sweat. He looked... different. Handsome, yes, but in a way that felt new and striking, almost as if I were seeing him through a different lens. I had always known he was good-looking—he'd had girls flocking around him for years—but now, it was like he had stepped out of a Renaissance painting, every detail of his face perfect and captivating.

Without thinking, I reached out and gently brushed the hair away from his forehead. He smiled softly at the touch, and my heart skipped a beat. Jeongin took my hand, guiding it to cup his cheek, and he leaned into it, closing his eyes. This wasn't unusual for us; we had always been affectionate, having known each other for two decades. But lately, every touch, every glance between us felt different, charged with something I couldn't quite name. Butterflies danced in my stomach, making me feel both exhilarated and nervous.

"You're overworking yourself," I whispered, my thumb stroking his cheek gently.

He opened his eyes, meeting my gaze with a soft intensity. "I'm fine," he murmured. "I need to push through this."

I frowned, not convinced. "I just don't want you to get sick. Your body needs a break sometimes."

Jeongin chuckled and slid his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. I smiled and rested my head on his chest, listening to the rhythmic thumping of his heart, still a bit too fast from practice.

"Don't worry about me, Minji," he mumbled, his voice a soothing vibration against my ear. "I'll be fine as long as you stay close."

A warmth spread through me at his words, and I nodded slightly, closing my eyes as exhaustion began to creep in. "I'm glad we're friends, Innie," I murmured. "I never want to lose you."

He started to stroke my back in slow, comforting circles. "I'm glad you came after me. I think it's thanks to you that I don't demand a bowl full of blue gummy bears from venues," he teased, his laughter light and carefree.

I giggled, joining in on his laughter. "Don't worry, if the boys' demands get out of hand, I'll put them in their place. Although... weren't you the one who demanded an insane amount of energy drinks last time?"

Jeongin went still for a moment before he laughed sheepishly. "Okay, you got me there," he admitted, the sound of his giggle lightening the tension in the room.

The door to the studio creaked open, and Chan's head peeked in. "You guys ready?" he asked, a smirk playing on his lips.

Jeongin and I scrambled up from the floor, walking toward the door where Chan was waiting, amusement twinkling in his eyes. "Was I interrupting something?" he asked, his tone teasing.

"Not at all," I replied quickly, my cheeks warming. "I was just telling Jeongin how idol life has gotten to your head and how I had to explain to a poor lady on the phone that you wanted a bowl of only blue gummy bears."

Chan rolled his eyes, crossing his arms defensively. "They're the best, and you can literally buy bags of just the blue ones! You act like someone needs to sort them out or something."

I raised an eyebrow at him. "But why a bowl? Why not just a bag?"

Chan pouted, clearly not expecting the interrogation. "Fine, give me a bag, and I'll put them in a bowl myself," he grumbled.

Jeongin watched the interaction with amusement before slipping his hand into mine. The gesture was so natural, yet it sent a jolt of warmth through me. "Do you want to stay over?" he asked softly.

I hesitated, knowing I had an early morning ahead. "I have to be up early tomorrow. I don't want to wake you up."

He pouted, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. "But..."

"No buts, Jeongin," I interrupted, shaking my head. "It's already 2 a.m., and I'll be back here by eight. You need sleep, and I don't want to interrupt it."

He sighed, defeated but still concerned. "What about you? You need sleep too."

I smiled reassuringly. "I'll be fine. I'm not the one dancing and singing all day, so I don't need as much energy."

Jeongin didn't argue further, but his concern lingered in the way he looked at me. We arrived home, and before I could say goodnight, he pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me tightly.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he mumbled into my hair, his breath warm against my skin.

I closed my eyes, breathing in his familiar scent, my heart pounding so loudly that I was sure he could hear it. "Yeah, see you," I whispered back, my voice catching in my throat as I reluctantly pulled away.

As I entered my apartment, the warmth of his embrace still lingered, and I found myself thinking about how things had changed between us.