𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗥

𝗑𝗑𝗑𝗏𝗂𝗂

Joshua had no idea that Jiwon had a fully-equipped production room tucked away in her apartment. His curiosity had been piqued ever since he first laid eyes on the sliding door adorned with a sturdy padlock. When Jiwon finally typed in the code and swung the door open, Joshua was left in awe. The room was a creative haven, filled with state-of-the-art equipment and an array of instruments that seemed to hum with potential.

Dressed in his grey shirt and black shorts, Jiwon looked effortlessly chic, her long black hair neatly pinned back with a stylish hair clip. She still wore her glasses, which added a touch of sophistication as she settled into her work. Joshua, on the other hand, had brought a few of his clothes from the apartment upstairs, but he found himself unable to focus on anything but Jiwon.

He plopped down onto one of the chairs, positioned beside her impressive production setup, and began scrolling aimlessly through his phone. He opened Instagram, switching to his private account where he kept in touch with other members and close friends. An idea struck him; he should snap a few pictures of Jiwon in her element. However, he hesitated, unsure whether she would appreciate being featured in his story.

Unbeknownst to her, Jiwon was completely engrossed in her work, adjusting beats and layering sounds with a finesse that spoke to her talent. "Jiwon," Joshua whined playfully, crossing his arms over his chest like a petulant child. "Come on, weren't we supposed to hang out?" he complained, feigning a pout. "I'm working, Love. Give me ten minutes, yeah?" she coaxed, her tone reminiscent of a mother reassuring her child. "Take a nap; once you wake up, I'll be right beside you," she added, and although he sighed in mock annoyance, he couldn't resist her charm.

The couch was spacious, adorned with a fluffy pillow and a soft blanket—perfect for two people to snuggle up together. Joshua sighed again, bemused by how much of a workaholic his girlfriend was. Just then, Jiwon received a phone call. "Hello?" she answered, her voice slightly muffled. "Yeah, Soonyoung. Isn't this Jihoon's phone?" she said, her brow furrowing slightly. After a brief exchange, she ended the call with a soft beep, sighing as she resumed typing on her keyboard.

Twenty minutes ticked by, yet Joshua couldn't seem to drift off. He watched as Jiwon diligently saved her drafts and emailed them off, her focus unwavering. A twinge of frustration bubbled inside him; it felt as though she was giving her attention to everyone but him. Finally, when she shut down her computer and the screens turned black, he seized the moment and called out softly, "Jade."

She turned in her chair, a tired but warm smile lighting up her face. Joshua shifted, opening his arms wide in invitation. Jiwon's smile broadened as she moved to him, settling onto the remaining space on the couch. She rested her head against his chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. "You do realise it's quarter past one?" Joshua reminded her gently. She nodded, her eyes glinting with mischief. "I usually work later than that," she replied, a hint of defiance in her voice.

"Well, you should consider changing that habit, because I'm not letting you wear yourself out like this again," he scolded playfully, his tone light. "Darling, it's you who needs to accept that I'm not changing," she teased back, laughter spilling from her lips as she stood and made her way to the corner of the room, where a mini fridge was stocked with snacks and drinks.

Returning with two cans of iced tea, she handed one to him. "Stand up," she instructed, and he obliged, watching as she converted the couch into a makeshift bed. Although it was smaller than the bed in her other rooms, it was still comfortable enough for the two of them.

As Jiwon settled down and Joshua followed suit, he handed her the opened can of iced tea. She smiled gratefully, gulping hers down in mere moments. Joshua chuckled at the sight of her, a bit of froth lingering at the corners of her mouth, her cheeks adorably puffed. He tossed the empty cans into the bin beside them, and Jiwon pulled out a napkin from her pocket to clean her face before discarding it as well.

"Come on, you need to rest now," Joshua urged gently. Jiwon pouted but eventually agreed, shifting closer as they lay down on their makeshift bed. Her side pressed against his, and she wrapped her arms around him, feeling the warmth radiating from his body. One of his hands draped over her back while the other intertwined with hers. Jiwon inhaled deeply, savouring his familiar scent—a comforting blend that had once annoyed her, but now felt like home. "I'll be practising with Hao and Jun tomorrow for the dance," she informed him, her tone casual. "We've decided to put on a performance, just me and Jun, with the song."

"That sounds great, sweetie," Joshua replied, a smile breaking across his face. A comfortable silence enveloped them for a few moments, but then Jiwon's voice broke through the stillness. "You don't mind, do you?" she asked, her tone small and uncertain.

"Why would I?" Joshua countered, genuinely confused. Jiwon fidgeted, playing with the sleeve of her hoodie. "I thought you wouldn't like it," she confessed quietly. Joshua turned to face her directly, concern etched on his features. "Darling, I would never mind you pursuing something you love. All I want is for you to be safe and happy. You're your person, and I respect that," he explained, his voice steady and reassuring.

Jiwon buried her face in his chest, and Joshua pulled her closer, feeling her warmth seep into him. "Thank you, Joshua," she mumbled softly. "You don't need to thank me," he replied, his voice echoing slightly in the cosy space. Joshua leaned down and gave a soft peck on her forehead. 

As his eyelids grew heavy, Joshua felt himself drifting towards sleep, lulled by the rhythmic sound of Jiwon's breathing. Just as he was about to surrender to the embrace of slumber, his phone pinged with a new message. His settings were configured so that only select contacts would alert him with notifications. Careful not to disturb Jiwon, who had already begun to softly snore, he opened his phone and squinted at the screen. It was a message from Jeonghan. Joshua took a moment to adjust to the brightness before reading what Jeonghan had sent him.

. . . 

𝖩𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗁𝖺𝗇 

𝗃𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗁𝖺𝗇
You're at Jiwon's place, right? 

𝗆𝖾
Why do you ask?

𝗃𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗁𝖺𝗇
Just answer my question. 

𝗆𝖾
Yes. Why?

𝗃𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗁𝖺𝗇
You know you have to be careful
right? The internet believes we're dating.

𝗆𝖾
there is a reason why stuff on the internet
isn't always accepted as truth.

𝗃𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗁𝖺𝗇
What do you mean?

𝗆𝖾
Nothing, really.

𝗃𝖾𝗈𝗇𝗀𝗁𝖺𝗇
 do you mean to say you're
dating her?

𝗆𝖾
I never said that but I just
like you said, what if I am?