Love Next Door

26

Communication

Lia's heels clicked lightly against the concrete as she hurried home, her hospital bag swinging from her shoulder. Today had been long but fulfilling—a life saved and a handful of grateful smiles made all her fatigue worth it. She was about to slide her key into the lock when she noticed someone standing near her door. Her heart skipped a beat when she recognized Chan, his hands in his pockets and his usual relaxed smile already in place.

Surprised, Lia called out, "Chan ? What are you doing here ?" She was flustered, suddenly aware of her scrubs, the tired lines on her face, and the lingering smell of antiseptic. She shifted self-consciously, keeping a bit of distance.

Chan's smile widened. "You mentioned going out with Ryujin, Yeji, and me sometime. Thought I'd get a head start."

Her surprise turned into a delighted laugh, her fatigue momentarily forgotten. "Oh, right, I did say that !" But catching sight of her own reflection in the nearby window, she added, "Give me just a sec to get ready ?"

"Take your time," Chan replied, giving her a reassuring nod as she darted inside to change and call the others.

In her room, Lia rummaged through her wardrobe before settling on a simple but elegant dress with soft floral patterns that complemented her personality. She smoothed the fabric and gave herself a final glance in the mirror. Satisfied, she dashed back out. Chan was still waiting, now leaning against the wall, looking down at his phone, but when he saw her, his expression softened, and he smiled again—this time, his cheeks a faint shade of pink.

"Ready ?" she asked, giving him a shy smile.

They walked side by side down the dimly lit street, each sneaking glances at each other, both blushing slightly. They had decided on a cozy bar nearby, the kind of place where Ryujin could roll in straight from work and where they'd all feel comfortable. They made it just in time to see Yeji stepping out of a taxi.

Yeji was stunning in a red dress she rarely wore, its bold color accentuating her striking features and somehow making her look both mysterious and impossibly charming. Lia's eyes widened with appreciation, and even Chan did a double-take, blinking in surprise.

They exchanged hugs, chatting as they headed inside. Ryujin was already there, seated at a corner booth, a drink in her hand, looking as effortlessly cool as ever in her work suit, her tie loosened just enough to signal she was off-duty but still perfectly put-together. But beside her was someone unexpected: Winter, who flashed a friendly smile as the others approached.

As they all sat down, Yeji gave a small, barely noticeable eye-roll that only Lia caught, though she chose not to comment. Everyone settled into their seats, with Ryujin and Winter sitting side by side while the others took the opposite side. Drinks were ordered, and soon, laughter and light chatter filled their little corner of the bar.

As the night wore on, they all reminisced about funny memories, and Lia joked about Yeji and Ryujin's "first night sharing a bed." Ryujin and Yeji both blushed at the memory, each sipping their drinks as if to avoid each other's gaze.

Winter leaned in, smirking. "Wait—so you two had never shared a bed before that night ?"

Yeji nodded, laughing a little awkwardly. "Uh, no. That was... definitely a first."

Winter raised an eyebrow, giving a playful shrug. "Well, Ryujin and I have shared a bed plenty of times. Comes with being best friends."

Yeji's jaw tightened, her lips pressed in a forced smile. "Right, because that's what best friends do," she said, her tone overly casual.