As Aira approached the dorm, her mind continued to wrestle with Wooyoung's suggestion, the possibilities spinning in her thoughts. Inviting San on the trip... would that even make sense? They'd only known each other for a short time, and yet, their connection felt like it had depth, something she couldn't quite ignore.
She sighed, shaking her head as she reached their shared floor. Pushing the door open, she entered the dorm quietly, unsure if San was back yet. The sound of music drifted from his room-a low, sultry beat that vibrated faintly through the walls. Curious, she dropped her bag on the couch and walked toward his room, the door slightly ajar.
She froze in her tracks when she peeked inside.
San stood shirtless in front of his mirror, his back to the door. His damp hair hung messily over his forehead, and beads of water trickled down his skin from a fresh after practice shower. He seemed oblivious to her presence, focused on something in his hands-a small silver chain with a pendant. He held it up to the light, a soft, almost wistful expression crossing his face.
Aira's breath caught in her throat, her mind racing. It wasn't just the sight of him-his toned physique, the way the dim light highlighted every defined line-it was the vulnerability in his stance. He wasn't the guarded, composed San she'd come to know. This was someone else entirely, someone carrying the weight of something she didn't understand.
Her foot shifted, and the faint creak of the floor made San whip around. His eyes locked on hers, wide with surprise. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the tension in the air thick enough to cut.
"What are you-" San began, his voice sharper than intended. He quickly lowered the chain, tucking it into his fist as if hiding a secret.
"I didn't mean to... I heard music, and the door was open," Aira stammered, her cheeks flushing. She gestured vaguely toward the chain. "Is that... something important?"
San's jaw tightened, his usual guarded expression snapping back into place. "It's nothing," he said, slipping the chain into his pocket. "Just... something I've had for a while."
But Aira wasn't convinced. The softness she'd seen moments ago lingered in her mind, and for the first time, she wondered what kind of ghosts San was hiding-and why they seemed so ready to surface when he thought no one was watching.
The silence stretched between them, charged and awkward. Aira wanted to press further, to ask what the pendant meant and why he looked so vulnerable holding it, but she held herself back. San's expression was a clear warning: this was territory he didn't want to explore, especially not with her.
"Sorry for barging in," Aira said quietly, breaking the tension. "I didn't mean to intrude."
San sighed, running a hand through his still-damp hair. "It's fine. I just wasn't expecting anyone." His voice was softer now, but there was still a guarded edge to it.
She nodded, hesitating before retreating toward the living room. She felt a pang of guilt for invading his privacy, but her curiosity burned hotter. What was that chain? Why did it seem to hit such a nerve?
Aira sank into the couch, trying to shake the image of San's unguarded moment. The memory of his wistful expression stuck in her mind like glue. It wasn't just curiosity anymore-she wanted to understand him, to unravel the enigma of who he was beneath the sarcasm and confidence
San emerged from his room a few minutes later, fully dressed in a black hoodie and joggers. His usual composed demeanor was back, but Aira couldn't unsee the flicker of something deeper that had been there before. He walked over to the kitchen, pouring himself a glass of water without looking her way.
