"Finally!" Chan's voice practically echoed through the dorm, the relief in his tone almost too obvious as he leapt off the couch and headed to his room the moment Hansol entered.
Hansol raised an eyebrow, shutting the door behind him with a soft click. Surprisingly, only two people had found their way into the living room, but the worst part? Those two were exactly the ones he'd wanted to avoid.
"Saw your Instagram post," Jeonghan said, watching as Hansol tossed his phone onto the coffee table as he shrugged off his jacket, quickly reaching for a coat to brace himself for the chilly weather.
"Oh, believe me, I know. You even left a generous comment," Hansol drawled. Though he knew Jeonghan cared about him—deep down—he also knew teasing was a sport Jeonghan would never quit. And today? He wasn't sparing any mercy.
Jiyeon patted the couch beside her, giving Hansol a pleading look, silently begging him to sit with them. He sighed dramatically. "What?"
"Oh, come on! It's just us. The others are gone, and Chan's blasting music in his room. It's the perfect opportunity to... you know, spill some details," she coaxed, her smile wide and mischievous. The idea of Hansol's night—especially the part involving Nabi—was juicy gossip she wasn't about to let go.
Jeonghan leaned back on the couch, winking at Hansol like a proud instigator. "We're the only ones who know about you two. We could leak it if we wanted."
Hansol just narrowed his eyes, lips pressed into a straight line. "Like you would. Plus, Hosh knows already."
The cheerful teasing only managed to rub him the wrong way, making him wish he could escape the suffocating atmosphere of the living room—if only the studio and Coups's lectures weren't looming over him.
"Holy crap! That was a rookie move," Jiyeon quipped, joining in relentless teasing. While still annoying, it was the kind of thing Hansol had grown used to, and he didn't mind much.
"I know. I swear, if he's at the studio or anywhere I'm going today, I'm going to disappear into the woods and never come back."
Jeonghan chuckled. "I mean, you could do that... whenev—ouch!" He rubbed his side after Hansol gave him an exaggerated nudge.
Hansol gave in at last, slumping onto the long L-shaped couch with a deep sigh, staring up at the ceiling. As memories from his date flooded his mind, a soft smile tugged at his lips.
The duo next to him shared a look, trying hard to contain their curiosity, but the silent exchange spoke volumes.
"We're dating now," Hansol finally dropped, and it was enough to send Jeonghan and Jiyeon into a frenzy. They both shot up from the couch, jaws hanging open in disbelief.
"No way!" Jiyeon cried, before grabbing Hansol's hand and bouncing with excitement. The poor boy didn't even have time to react before she was pulling his arm up and down like a ragdoll.
But Hansol barely seemed to notice. His gaze was distant, almost dreamy, lost in the thoughts of his date with Nabi. His friends exchanged confused looks as they sank back into the couch, now sandwiching Hansol between them.
"You think I'm free tomorrow?" Hansol asked, his voice distracted.
Jeonghan and Jiyeon raised their eyebrows in unison. "I think so? We just have late-night practice," Jeonghan answered, his tone unsure.
"Great," Hansol muttered, already pulling out his phone, fingers flying across the screen with a speed that left his friends staring at him in confusion.
Jeonghan groaned dramatically. "C'mon, spill some details! We can't let you get away with just that."
Suddenly, Hansol stood up, pushing them aside. "No can do. I'm late for recording," he said, flashing a sarcastic grin before heading for the door.
"Okay, but... you are gonna have to tell Coups eventually, right? For both your protection and Nabi's," Jeonghan's voice softened, carrying a rare note of seriousness.
Hansol stopped in his tracks, brushing a hand through his hair. "I know. I just... want our relationship to settle a little before I tell him. Nabi isn't exactly comfortable with being in the spotlight like I am. I don't want Coups to scare her off."
Jeonghan's usual playful tone was replaced by a bittersweet chuckle. Jiyeon, however, kept her smile, though there was an undeniable sadness behind it—an understanding born from her own experiences.
"But at the very least, tell one of our managers. It'll keep things under wraps for a bit longer."
Hansol nodded. "Yeah. I'll still talk to Nabi first... make sure she's okay with it."
Jiyeon stood up, crossing the room toward him. "Mind if I talk to her? I think we could bond a bit. You know, just to help her feel more comfortable."
Hansol smiled softly, grateful. "Yeah, that'd be great. Just... I really want her to feel as comfortable as possible with all of this."
Jeonghan fought back a smile, the look on Hansol's face speaking volumes. "Have fun, man," he said, clapping Hansol on the back before heading toward the door.
As the door closed behind him, Jeonghan turned to Jiyeon, his smile now genuinely warm, without a trace of mischief. "He really loves her, huh?"
Jiyeon nodded, her eyes a little more thoughtful. "Yeah, he does."
