A Distraction // Bangchan

Chapter Twenty-Six

After a few moments alone on the balcony with Chan, the noise of the party slowly started to seep back into Lauren's awareness. She could still hear the music thumping, the laughter and chatter of her friends filling the air, but for those precious minutes with Chan, it had all felt so distant—just background noise to the intensity of the moment between them.

Lauren leaned against the wall, her hand still wrapped in his, her heart slowly settling back into a more steady rhythm after their kiss. She glanced up at him, feeling a mix of relief and warmth. He had shown up for her, and that meant more than she could put into words.

Chan smiled down at her. "Hey you're my girlfriend." He laughed, as if he was speaking it into existence.

She chuckled, biting her lip gently. "Am I going to get all the Stray Kid responsibilities now?"

"Of course," he grinned. "The kids will call you 'mom' now."

Lauren laughed, feeling the weight of previous doubt and conflict ease away. There was no second guessing how he felt now, what they were. She glanced inside to the party.

"Do you want to meet my friends?" She asked softly, smiling as she squeezed his hand. She could already imagine Nicole's reaction, her playful teasing and protective energy, and as nervous as it made her, she also knew Nicole would be thrilled. She had been one of the few people who had really been in the loop about Lauren's feelings for Chan.

Chan nodded, looking a little more serious but still calm. "Of course," he said with a small smile.

Lauren smiled softly, feeling the weight of the moment but also the excitement bubbling beneath it. Taking a deep breath, she led him back into the living room, where the party was still in full swing. She scanned the room for Nicole, who was standing near the kitchen, talking with Jess and Lisa. Lauren caught Nicole's eye, giving her a small nod, and Nicole immediately raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing that something had changed.

Nicole, always quick to pick up on Lauren's moods, excused herself from her conversation and made her way over, her eyes flicking curiously between Lauren and Chan. There was a gleam of mischief in her gaze, like she already knew exactly who he was.

Lauren stepped forward, feeling her nerves start to bubble up again but keeping them under control. She smiled as she glanced between the two most important people in her life right now. "Nicole, this is Chan. Chan, this is Nicole."

Nicole's eyes sparkled as she held out her hand, her grin wide. "Ah, this is Chan," she said, her tone playful but warm. "It's great to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."

Chan chuckled softly, shaking her hand. "I'm sure you have," he replied, clearly amused. "I've heard a lot about you, too. Lauren talks about you all the time."

Nicole smirked, glancing over at Lauren with a knowing look before focusing back on Chan. "Well, I hope only the good things," she teased, but there was a softness in her voice, a protective energy that Lauren knew was there not just for her, but for how Chan treated her.

Lauren stood between them, her heart swelling a little with the ease of the introduction. She had worried, of course—worried about how Chan might feel stepping into this part of her life, and how Nicole would react to meeting him in person. But it was going well, and that filled her with relief.

Nicole, never one to shy away from the important questions, took a step closer to Chan, her gaze more serious now. "So, are you planning to stick around, or should I keep giving Lauren advice on how to deal with your disappearing acts?"

Lauren's eyes widened slightly at the directness of Nicole's question, but she wasn't surprised. Nicole always knew how to get to the heart of things, and in her own way, she was making sure Chan knew that she wasn't going to let him hurt Lauren.