A Distraction // Bangchan

Chapter Nine

The next morning, sunlight filtered through Lauren's apartment, and she woke up with a sense of calm contentment. The events of the previous night played over in her mind as she lay there, wrapped in the quiet of her space. Dinner with Chan had been perfect—not rushed, not overwhelming—just a moment of connection that felt real and promising. Even though nothing had escalated between them physically, the emotional tension had been undeniable, and the way Chan had handled everything left her feeling grounded.

She couldn't help but smile as she thought about how patient and understanding he had been, how he'd read her nerves and hesitation without making her feel pressured. His quiet promise to let things unfold naturally reassured her that they were on the same page, taking things slow, without the need to rush into anything.

Still, as she moved through her morning routine, a soft flutter of excitement lingered in her chest. She was looking forward to what might come next—whatever that was.

Her phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, and for a moment, her heart jumped. She grabbed it and smiled when she saw Chan's name on the screen.

Chan: Good morning :) I hope you slept well. I had a great time last night.

Lauren felt her heart race as she read the message, the simple words making her smile widen. His text was casual, but it carried the same warmth from the night before, and she could tell he was being genuine.

She quickly typed back, keeping her response light but thoughtful.

Lauren: Morning! I slept well, thanks :) Last night was really nice. I'm glad we finally made it happen.

She hit send and set the phone down, her mind still replaying bits of their conversation, the way he'd looked at her in the car, how close they had come to something more.

Her phone buzzed again.

Chan: Same here. We should do it again soon, whenever you're free. I like spending time with you.

Lauren felt that familiar flutter in her stomach. The idea of seeing him again already had her excited, but she didn't want to seem too eager. She liked the balance they had—playful, but with just enough space for both of them to keep things steady.

She responded carefully, keeping her tone playful but nonchalant.

Lauren: I like spending time with you too :)

She smiled, feeling satisfied with the response. The rest of the day unfolded easily. Lauren had errands to run, work to catch up on, and friends to check in with, but there was an underlying hum of anticipation that lingered as she moved through her day. She thought about texting Jess or Nicole to fill them in on the details of the dinner, but something stopped her. She wasn't ready to share this part of her life yet—not until things with Chan became clearer, more defined.

Later that afternoon, as she was curled up on her couch with a cup of tea, her phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't Chan, but her boss. She quickly glanced at the message and felt a surge of satisfaction.

Boss: Just wanted to remind you how great your work was on the project. The higher-ups are seriously impressed. Let's meet Monday to discuss next steps. Enjoy your weekend!

Lauren smiled, the compliment from her boss serving as a nice reminder of how well things had been going professionally. Everything felt like it was falling into place—work was going smoothly, and now there was this new, exciting connection with Chan that added another layer of excitement to her life.

As the weekend passed, Lauren kept busy, filling her time with work and relaxing, but she couldn't help but wonder when she and Chan would see each other again. There was no rush—she liked the slow burn of whatever was developing between them—but the thought of spending more time with him was always at the back of her mind.