When Stars Collide [KTH]

CHAPTER 3: Brave Boy 💪🏻

I waved with a small smile. "Annyeong."

"Hi," she replied, her expression calm but her eyes glinting with something. "I have something for you... come up to my room."

I raised an eyebrow, curious but not exactly sure what to expect. Her dad gave me a nod. "Go on, Taehyung. You two have a lot to catch up on."

I followed her upstairs, and as soon as we stepped into her room, she suddenly turned on me, wrapping her arm around my neck and locking me in a chokehold. I felt her grip tighten as she pulled me down slightly, making it impossible to break free.

"Yah, what is this?" I managed, my voice irritated as I tried to loosen her grip. She only tightened her hold, giving me a fierce look.

"You punk! Is that how you treat your best friend after fourteen months? Not even a proper hello yesterday?" she snapped, her tone sharp.

In the middle of our scuffle, we lost our balance, stumbling back. I tripped, and she fell on top of me as we both hit the floor. I landed with her right across my chest, her hand pressed against me, and my heart thudded beneath her palm, racing from both the struggle and her closeness.

For a moment, she froze, her eyes widening as they met mine, and I couldn't look away. Her face was so close, and I could feel her breath, warm against my skin. My gaze shifted, falling to her lips for just a second, then back up to her eyes. I smirked, even as my pulse quickened. "If I'd known you'd come back just to knock me down," I murmured, my voice softening, "maybe I would've tried harder to bring you back sooner."

A faint blush crept onto her cheeks, and I could feel my own pulse quicken. The air between us felt charged, and I was acutely aware of her warm hand still on my chest.

After a beat, she pulled herself up, brushing off her clothes and regaining her composure. I followed her lead, but I couldn't shake the memory of that heartbeat-thumping closeness.

She grabbed a suitcase from the corner of her room and set it on the bed. "Sit," she said, patting the spot beside her. I took a seat, watching her as she rifled through her things, hiding my grin at her determination.

Finally, she pulled out a brown hat, turning to me with a mischievous smile. She set it on my head with a laugh. "Aww, look at you. Like a real Puss in Boots."

I laughed too, adjusting the hat. "Cute, right?" I asked, raising a brow.

She chuckled. "Maybe cute is a stretch, but it's close enough."

I shifted, glancing at her. "So, how was New York?"

She leaned back, talking about project deadlines and the liveliness of the city, but when she said, "No one really compares to my best friend, even if New York was amazing," my heart skipped a beat.

I raised an eyebrow, unable to hide my smile. "I'm irreplaceable, huh? That's good to know."

We laughed, and I watched her, wondering if she realized just how much she'd been on my mind. She shot me a sly look. "So, anyone in your life? Got yourself a girlfriend or...?"