68 : a fragile night

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After some time, Nabi floated aimlessly in the water, her earlier emotions dulled by the lingering haze of alcohol. She had almost forgotten the conversation with Jungwon—her mind too clouded to focus on anything but the cool water surrounding her. The world felt quieter now, softer, as if the weight she’d been carrying had momentarily lifted.

The sudden sound of footsteps broke through her thoughts, followed by a familiar voice. "Nabi!" Sunoo called, his tone filled with worry. She turned her head lazily, blinking as she saw him standing at the edge of the pool, his expression a mix of panic and frustration.

"What are you doing in there?" he demanded, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. "You’re soaked, and it’s freezing out here!"

"I’m fine," she said, her voice slow and slightly slurred. She waved a hand dismissively, the motion sending ripples through the water. "Just enjoying the pool."

But her words did little to reassure him. Without a second thought, Sunoo kicked off his shoes and jumped into the water, the splash sending waves around her. He swam to her quickly, his hands gripping her shoulders as he looked her over.

"Nabi, are you crazy?" he asked, his voice sharp with concern. "What if you slipped or—" He stopped, exhaling deeply as he realized she was, in fact, unharmed. His fingers tightened slightly on her shoulders as his eyes softened. "Why didn’t you call me if you wanted to come out here?"

She blinked at him, her lips twitching into a faint smile. "I didn’t think it was a big deal," she said lightly, though her heart warmed slightly at the genuine worry in his eyes. "I just wanted to feel… free, I guess."

Sunoo’s frown deepened, and he let out a soft sigh, his hands moving to cup her face gently. "You’re going to give me a heart attack," he muttered, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks. "Don’t do stuff like this, Nabi. Not without me."

She giggled, the alcohol making her bolder than usual. "Well, you’re here now, aren’t you?" she said, poking his chest lightly. "So it’s fine."

Sunoo stared at her for a moment before shaking his head, a small, exasperated smile tugging at his lips. "You’re impossible," he said softly, though his tone was filled with affection. "But seriously, you need to get out of this water before you catch a cold."

"But it’s fun," she protested, splashing him lightly with a grin. "And now you’re in here too, so we might as well enjoy it."

He groaned, though he couldn’t hide the smile spreading across his face. "You’re lucky I can’t say no to you," he muttered, his voice warm as he let her tug him further into the water. "But don’t blame me if we both end up sick tomorrow."

Nabi laughed, her earlier worries fading into the background as she splashed him again. Sunoo retaliated, sending water flying toward her, and soon they were laughing and playing like kids, the tension from earlier forgotten. In that moment, under the moonlight and surrounded by the quiet stillness of the night, it was just the two of them—no expectations, no past mistakes, just simple, carefree joy.

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