Wishlist [txtzy#1]

Wishlist-38(care)

The tension between Taehyun and Chaeryeong had reached its peak after yesterday's awkward confrontation, and the strain between them was almost palpable. Chaeryeong had tried to address it earlier, pulling Taehyun aside before they returned to their rooms.

"Taehyun, can I talk to you for a second?" she had asked, her voice hesitant.

They made their way to the living room, the quiet hum of the house filling the space between them.

"Look, honestly... we were really awkward today," she said, her gaze avoiding his. "And fans will find it really suspicious if we continue acting like that. We can't keep up the distance; they'll see right through it."

Taehyun sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "So we pretend nothing's happened?" he said, his tone flat, but there was a tinge of bitterness in it.

Chaeryeong looked down, her heart heavy. "I know it's not easy, but—"

"Fine, whatever," he cut her off, his voice harsh, before he turned and walked away, disappearing into his room.

Chaeryeong stood frozen for a moment, feeling the sting of his words. She wanted to say more, to explain how hard everything had been, but the door had already closed between them. Her eyes welled up with unshed tears, and she had to swallow the lump in her throat.

The next day, despite their unresolved tension, they all gathered for a cooking segment. The team dynamics were still tense, but the show had to go on. Three teams of three: Chaeryeong, Taehyun, and Jisung were paired up against Ningning, Shuhua, and Jay. The challenge was to prepare traditional Balinese cuisine, and the clock was ticking.

Chaeryeong tried to keep things light, directing the team and organizing the ingredients, but the palpable tension between Jisung and Taehyun made it difficult. Every time Taehyun moved too close to Jisung, the air thickened with unspoken frustration. Chaeryeong kept glancing between them, hoping her quiet efforts would keep things from escalating.

But the clash was inevitable.

As Taehyun reached for a hot pan to flip over the sizzling fish, he misjudged the angle. A sharp pain shot through his hand as he accidentally brushed it against the hot surface.

"Ah!" he winced, quickly pulling his hand away.

Chaeryeong, who had been organizing the vegetables, was instantly by his side, her expression filled with concern. "Taehyun!" she cried, her voice panicked.

Without even thinking, she took his hand and rushed him to the nearest sink, where she turned on the cold water and held his hand under the flow.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she massaged his palm gently.

Under the cool stream of water, Taehyun felt the pain ebbing away, but something else lingered—something he couldn't shake. He looked down at their hands, feeling the weight of her touch, tender and soothing. Her fingers were delicate, careful as she tried to ease the pain from his burn.

For a moment, his mind raced. Was this just for the camera? Was she acting for the show? But deep down, he felt something more—something genuine. The way she had reacted, the urgency in her touch, the concern in her eyes—it wasn't just for the fans. There was something real there, something he hadn't felt in so long.

Chaeryeong continued to hold his hand under the water, unaware of the conflict building in Taehyun's chest. She was focused on him, her brow furrowed in concentration. Her concern was real, and Taehyun couldn't ignore it, no matter how hard he tried.

Meanwhile, Jisung stood several feet away, watching the interaction with clenched fists. His gaze flickered between Taehyun and Chaeryeong, his jaw tightening in barely concealed jealousy. It was obvious to him that the closeness between Taehyun and Chaeryeong went beyond what anyone was willing to admit, and it stung.

He had always felt a protective instinct toward Chaeryeong, but seeing her care for Taehyun like this—without hesitation, without reservation—was more than he could handle.

Taehyun, though grateful for her help, couldn't ignore the flare of unease building inside him. He was still caught in the moment of her touch, the way her fingers seemed to linger just a little too long on his skin. It wasn't just the burn that he was trying to deal with anymore; it was the strange fluttering sensation in his chest, the one he hadn't felt in ages.

Chaeryeong finished washing his hand under the cold water, giving him one last concerned glance before pulling away. "Is it better now?" she asked, her voice softer.

Taehyun nodded slowly, though his gaze was still fixed on her. "Yeah... it's fine. Thank you."

She smiled at him, a soft, reassuring expression that made his heart race even faster.

But as the moment passed and Chaeryeong turned back to her station, Jisung couldn't suppress his feelings any longer. His voice cut through the tension as he walked toward the pair.

"Everything okay now?" he asked, his tone colder than he intended.

Chaeryeong nodded quickly. "Yeah, he's fine now." She glanced at Taehyun with a small, relieved smile.

But Jisung wasn't buying it. His gaze flicked between Taehyun and Chaeryeong, a familiar feeling of frustration bubbling inside him.

Taehyun, meanwhile, tried to focus on the cooking, but the lingering touch of Chaeryeong's hand on his still stung, in a way that had nothing to do with the burn. He wanted to shake it off, wanted to pretend nothing had changed. But deep down, he knew something was different now.

The tension in the air hadn't disappeared; it had just shifted.