Nabi sighed, but this time, it wasn't from exhaustion or frustration. No, it was a sigh of contentment, the kind that filled her chest with warmth. She wasn't sure how long she and Hansol had been sitting there, lost in the tranquility of the night, but the fact that the sky had shifted from deep blue to a velvety black with a thousand scattered stars told her it had been a while. Time had slipped away unnoticed in the comfort of his presence.
"You know," she began, breaking the peaceful silence, "I thought it would feel weird stargazing with you again." She glanced sideways at him, sitting only three feet apart, but still, the space between them felt comfortable, filled with the easy quiet of shared history and new beginnings. The stadium's lights had dimmed about half an hour ago, leaving them to bathe in the soft glow of the city below, a quiet witness to their reunion.
Hansol chuckled, his voice light and easy. "Really?"
"Yeah," she admitted, shifting slightly, "Ever since that day... watching stars hasn't exactly been linked with good memories."
His eyebrows raised in surprise, as if she'd just voiced the exact sentiment running through his mind. The realization that they both shared this unspoken truth made him feel a strange mixture of guilt and relief. He understood. "Honestly, I really get that."
Nabi turned her head to meet his gaze, offering a small, thoughtful smile. "But maybe, just maybe, we can create new memories with the stars tonight. Let this be the night you think of when you look up," she said, her voice soft, full of unspoken promise. There was something in the way he looked at her then, something that made her feel like the whole universe was contained in his eyes. It was a quiet warmth, one she could almost physically feel.
Hansol reached out, gently placing his arm over her shoulder. His touch was casual, but there was a tenderness to it that spoke volumes. She flinched for just a second, unsure of herself, but the moment he touched her, the tension melted away like it had never existed. She sank into his warmth without a second thought, and the peacefulness of it all felt almost euphoric. It was surreal, really—who could've imagined that a year after everything had fallen apart, they'd be here, together again, in the midst of something that felt... right?
Nabi didn't know what time it was, but honestly, she didn't care. Hansol was here, and that was all that mattered. The world outside had faded into the background, leaving only the two of them in their own little bubble, cocooned in the quiet of the night. The gentle wind blew around them, but it didn't matter. It was warm here, in this moment, as if the universe had decided to stop and hold its breath.
She turned to face him, her eyes glinting in the dim light. "I'm happy," she said, and the words felt like they came straight from her heart, not needing any explanation. There was a calmness to her voice, a serenity that made the words all the more meaningful.
Hansol's mouth fell open, surprised by the sincerity in her tone. His lips curved into a wide, almost disbelieving smile. "I'm happier," he confessed, his voice full of quiet joy. Without thinking, they both leaned in at the same time, their lips meeting for the third time that evening, as if the universe itself had been waiting for them to kiss again.
But just as Hansol moved to cup her cheeks, a loud bang shattered the moment, echoing from the rooftop. Both of them jerked apart, their heads snapping toward the sound, their cheeks instantly flushing a deep shade of red.
"So, this is why you two were gone for so long?" Seungcheol's voice rang out from behind them, calm yet with a mischievous edge. Despite the teasing in his words, there was an undeniable amusement in his expression as he watched the two scramble to stand up, brushing themselves off awkwardly.
