Why love isn't always easy? ♥️ SUNGJOY

16 - Comeback

(Joy's POV)

The energy in the dorm was electric. Both Red Velvet and BTOB had just pulled off two incredibly successful comebacks—our summer-themed album The Red Summer with the title track "Red Flavor" was a hit, and BTOB's Feel'em with "Movie" as the title track was getting tons of love. It felt like all the hard work, the late nights, and the endless practices had paid off in the best way possible.

Tonight, we decided to celebrate together. Our dorm was bustling with activity as both groups gathered to mark the occasion. The dining table was covered with all kinds of food and drinks—everything from fried chicken to tteokbokki, and of course, a bit of soju and beer. Everyone was in high spirits, laughing and chatting about the whirlwind of promotions and performances.

As we all settled down to eat, the teasing started almost immediately because the fans had even given me a new nickname: "Sexy Dynamite."

Of course, the BTOB members wasted no time jumping on that.

"Yah, Sungjae, how does it feel to be dating the world's 'Sexy Dynamite'?" Eunkwang asked with a wicked grin, raising his glass in a mock toast.

Sungjae nearly choked on his drink, his ears turning bright red. "Hyung!" he protested, trying to glare at Eunkwang but failing miserably because of the sheepish smile tugging at his lips.

"Oh, come on," Minhyuk chimed in, smirking. "You should be proud! Our Sooyoungie is trending. You've got yourself a real superstar."

The rest of BTOB, along with the girls, burst into laughter, all of them piling on with their own jabs and jokes. Sungjae looked over at me, his expression torn between embarrassment and pride. I could see in his eyes that despite the teasing, he was genuinely happy for me.

I blushed, trying to hide my face behind my glass, but it was no use. The more I tried to avoid the attention, the more everyone seemed to zero in on me.

We spent the rest of the night eating, drinking, and celebrating together. The atmosphere was warm and lighthearted, filled with jokes and laughter. As the night wore on, the teasing subsided, replaced by stories of our recent experiences—our favorite moments from the comeback, the challenges we'd faced, and how we'd supported each other along the way.

At one point, I found myself sitting next to Sungjae, the two of us a little more subdued as we watched our friends continue to enjoy the party. He leaned in closer, his voice low so only I could hear.

"I'm really proud of you, Sooyoung," he said softly, his hand finding mine under the table. "You've worked so hard, and it shows. You're amazing."

I squeezed his hand, feeling a wave of warmth and gratitude. "Thank you, Oppa. I'm proud of you too. You've come so far, and I'm so glad we can share this moment together."

He smiled, his eyes shining with affection. "Me too."

For a moment, it felt like it was just the two of us, the noise of the party fading into the background. In that quiet moment, surrounded by the people we cared about most, I realized just how lucky we were—to have each other, to have our friends, and to be able to celebrate our successes together.

The night stretched on, filled with more laughter, more stories, and more memories that I knew we'd cherish for a long time to come. And as the party eventually wound down and everyone started to head home, I couldn't help but feel like this was just the beginning—of our careers, of our love, and of the many more moments we'd share together.

As the night continued, the teasing showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, it seemed to be ramping up, especially after a few more drinks had loosened everyone up.

Irene, always the observant leader, noticed how Sungjae kept stealing glances at me whenever someone mentioned the "Sexy Dynamite" nickname. She smirked, clearly planning her next move. "Hey, Sooyoung," she started, her voice loud enough to draw everyone's attention, "did you know that our managers were talking about how much attention you're getting from other idols? Apparently, some of them have been asking about you."

The room fell silent for a beat before erupting in laughter and cheers.

"Wha—?" Sungjae sputtered, his eyes wide as he looked at Irene, then at me. "Who? Who's been asking?" jokingly

Irene grinned wickedly, loving every second of it. "Oh, just a few guys here and there. You know how it is. Someone even mentioned he couldn't stop talking about how amazing Joy looked during our performance."

Yeri jumped in, fanning the flames. "Yeah, I heard that too! He said he loved her new hair color and that she's his ideal type."

Sungjae's expression darkened, his jaw clenching as he sat up straighter. "Who is it? Which group?"

Before I could even try to calm him down, Seulgi added, "Come on, Sungjae, don't worry about it. It's not like Sooyoung is going to pay attention to them. But still... I mean, she is 'Sexy Dynamite' now. She's bound to have a lot of admirers."

The BTOB members were loving this. Changsub leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms and grinning at Sungjae. "Looks like you've got some competition, maknae. Better step up your game."

Eunkwang, never one to miss out on a chance to tease, chimed in. "Yeah, Sungjae-yah, maybe you should be worried. If you're not careful, someone might steal her away."

"Over my dead body," Sungjae muttered, but the red flush creeping up his neck betrayed how rattled he really was.

I couldn't help but laugh, though I tried to hide it behind my hand. Seeing Sungjae get so flustered was oddly endearing, and it warmed my heart to know he cared so much. But at the same time, I didn't want him to feel too jealous or insecure.

"Oppa," I said gently, reaching over to touch his arm, "they're just teasing. You know you're the only one for me, right?"

Sungjae looked at me, his eyes softening as he searched my face. He let out a small sigh of relief, nodding as he relaxed a little. "I know."

Before he could finish, Minhyuk, always the instigator, leaned in with a sly grin. "Just be careful, Sooyoung. If Sungjae doesn't treat you right, there are plenty of other guys who would jump at the chance."

That was the final straw. Sungjae shot to his feet, his eyes blazing with determination. "That's it! I'm treating her right. Sooyoung is mine, and no one else is getting near her."

The entire room exploded with laughter at his outburst, the playful atmosphere only growing more intense. Even though Sungjae was clearly serious, the rest of us couldn't help but find his protectiveness adorable.

Irene, still grinning, raised her glass. "To Sungjae, the most protective boyfriend in the world!"

Everyone cheered, clinking their glasses together in a toast.

Sungjae, realizing he'd just given everyone more fuel for teasing, sighed and dropped back into his seat. He looked at me, his eyes still holding that intense emotion, but now mixed with a hint of embarrassment. "You know I'm just looking out for you, right?"

I smiled, nodding as I leaned closer to him. "I know, Oppa. And I love that about you."

He relaxed at that, a small smile finally breaking through. "Good. Because I'm not letting anyone take you away from me."

The teasing continued throughout the night, but this time, Sungjae took it in stride, his jealousy turning into a kind of fierce pride. And as the party wound down and everyone started to head home, I couldn't help but feel incredibly lucky to have someone who cared so deeply about me—even if it meant enduring a little jealousy along the way.