Love Bites | | Choi San

Chapter 52

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

Soojin, Hyunmi, and Nabi sat lazily sprawled across the couch. The afternoon sunlight peeked through the curtains, doing little to comfort their pounding heads. In the other room, Yunho was snoring peacefully in Nabi's bed, dead to the world after drinking way too much the night before.

"I don't want to say I told you so, but I will," Hyunmi said, her smug expression making Nabi roll her eyes. She had been recounting the events from last night, and Hyunmi had taken the opportunity to rub it in.

"I knew he loved you! Ugh, Nabi, you and your overthinking, I swear—" Soojin chided the girl.

"Can you let me finish instead of cussing me out, please?" Nabi interrupted with a tired laugh, rubbing her temples to ease her headache.

"Oh, right. Yes, my bad," Hyunmi conceded with a dramatic wave of her hand. "What happened after he said he loves you?"

"Well..." Nabi took a deep breath, and the memory of last night washed over her like a wave.

* * * 

The man's words left the girl speechless. Somehow, that was the last thing she expected from him. After all the overthinking, the countless nights spent assuming the worst, this moment felt like a fever dream. How many times had she replayed this scenario in her mind, expecting rejection or a cold brush-off? And now, here he was, telling her what she had secretly hoped for but never dared to believe.

Nabi stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. His face, half-lit by the dim glow of the streetlight overhead, looked so sincere, so open. Despite the rush of happiness bubbling up inside her, there was something else—guilt, confusion, a whirlwind of emotions crashing against each other, refusing to settle. Too much had happened that evening, too many moments that had torn her heart in different directions.

"You love me?" Her voice wavered, a fragile tremor betraying the chaos inside her.

"Yes, I do." His answer came without hesitation, his gaze steady and unwavering. He took a breath, seeming to gather himself before continuing. "And I'm sorry if this is the wrong time to be saying it. But I couldn't just stand by and let you keep feeling unloved, like you don't matter. You're not a bad person, Nabi. Not in my eyes. Never in my eyes."

Nabi's throat tightened, and she blinked rapidly, fighting against the tears threatening to fall. "I-I... um... I-" But her words wouldn't come. Everything she wanted to say felt jumbled, stuck somewhere between her heart and her head. She wanted to tell him how much his words meant, how long she had waited to hear them, but at the same time, all she could think about were the mistakes, the missteps, the way everything had spiraled so quickly tonight.

Before she could gather her thoughts, a familiar voice pierced through the tension.

"What are you two doing out here? It's New Year's, people!" Yunho's voice rang out, loud and cheerful, completely unaware of the heavy moment he had just stumbled into. He appeared from the shadows, stumbling slightly as he approached them, a wide grin plastered across his visibly tipsy face. His steps were uneven, and the faint smell of alcohol surrounded him.

Nabi barely had time to react before Yunho crouched down next to them, eyes narrowing in on the situation. He glanced between them, his head cocked to one side before his gaze landed on Nabi.

"And why are you on the floor?" he asked, his tone still playful but tinged with curiosity. "Nabi, did you cry?"

Nabi wiped at her eyes quickly, trying to compose herself, but the flush of embarrassment crept up her neck. She glanced away, feeling like she'd been caught in the middle of something too raw, too personal, and now Yunho was here, bringing his usual chaotic energy into the mix.