𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒆

[31]

As everyone settled at the table, there was a brief, awkward silence. The Hyosan students glanced at Chanmi and Jaebom with mild curiosity, while the two Yong Tan High students exchanged a look, unsure how to start.

Sooheon, as expected, took the lead. “Alright, since we’re all here, let’s introduce ourselves properly.” He turned to Jaebom and Chanmi. “These guys are my old friends from Hyosan.” Then, he gestured toward the two beside him. “And these two are my new friends from Yong Tan.”

Chanmi smiled first, deciding to be the icebreaker. “I’m Ok Chanmi. Nice to meet you guys.”

Jaebom leaned back, arms crossed, offering a casual nod. “I’m Seok Jaebom.”

Cheongsan, who was sitting closest, nodded back. “I’m Lee Cheongsan. That’s Nam Onjo,” he added, pointing to the girl beside him, who gave a small wave.

“Nice to meet you both,” Onjo said, smiling.

“I’m Yoon Gyeongsu.” Gyeongsu gave them a quick once-over before nodding. “So, you guys go to Yong Tan with Sooheon?”

“Yeah,” Chanmi replied. “We’re in the same class.”

Next, Joonyeong adjusted his glasses slightly. “Kim Joonyeong. And I guess you already know Namra.”

Namra, still calm and composed, simply nodded. “Yeah,” she said softly.

Jaebom noted how Namra wasn’t as talkative as the others, but Chanmi didn’t seem fazed. She turned to the next person.

“Jang Woojin,” he said, giving a small nod. “And that’s Yang Daesu.”

Daesu, being Daesu, leaned forward dramatically. “The one and only!” he declared, grinning. “If you ever need entertainment, I got you.”

Chanmi chuckled. “Good to know.”

“I’m Kim Jimin,” Jimin added, nudging the girl beside her. “And this is Kim Hyoryung.”

Hyoryung gave a small wave, looking friendly but reserved.

“Lastly, I’m Yoon Isak,” Isak said warmly. “Nice to meet you guys.”

Jaebom, having absorbed all the names, nodded. “Well, seems like a solid group.”

“Yeah,” Chanmi agreed. “I can tell you guys have been friends for a while.”

Cheongsan grinned. “You could say that.”

With the introductions done, the tension eased, and the conversation slowly began to flow more naturally between the two groups.

The table soon filled with trays of steaming tteokbokki, kimbap, and fish cakes. The spicy aroma mixed with the chatter, and the tension from the earlier introductions faded as everyone began eating.

Daesu, as expected, was the first to take a huge bite. “Ahhh—hot! But so good!” he mumbled through the food, fanning his mouth.

Woojin shook his head. “You always do this. You never learn.”

Chanmi chuckled as she picked up a piece of kimbap. “At least he enjoys his food.”

Onjo turned to Jaebom, curious. “So, how is Sooheon at Yong Tan? Still causing trouble?”

Jaebom smirked. “Oh, definitely. He gets away with everything.”

Sooheon scoffed. “What? No, I don’t.”

Chanmi raised an eyebrow. “Sooheon, you literally got out of detention because the teacher likes you.”

Namra, quietly chewing her food, glanced at him. “...Sounds about right.”

Sooheon turned to her with a slight grin. “You’re not denying it, huh?”

Namra didn’t answer immediately. She simply picked up another piece of tteokbokki, her expression unreadable. But for a brief moment, their eyes met. A flicker of something—understanding, familiarity—passed between them before they both looked away just as quickly.

Jaebom, oblivious to the glance, spoke up. “So, do you guys always hang out here?”

Cheongsan nodded. “Yeah, it’s kind of our usual spot.”

“Best tteokbokki in town,” Gyeongsu added.

Joonyeong adjusted his glasses. “It’s scientifically proven that spicy food boosts endorphins, which is why everyone’s in such a good mood.”

Daesu snorted. “Bro, just say you like eating here.”

Laughter rippled through the group, and soon, the conversation flowed naturally between Hyosan and Yong Tan students. It was an unusual mix, but somehow, it worked.

As the evening settled in, the air turned crisp, carrying the distant hum of the city. Outside the tteokbokki shop, the Hyosan group lingered for a while, still caught up in conversations and laughter. Meanwhile, Sooheon and Namra quietly stepped away toward his bike after saying goodbye.

Chanmi, noticing them first, nudged Jaebom and nodded toward them. "They're leaving."

Jaebom glanced over, watching as Sooheon unlocked his bike while Namra adjusted the strap of her bag. "Guess he's taking her home."

Chanmi tilted her head slightly, observing them. "They seem close, but also not."

Jaebom shrugged. "That's Sooheon for you."

Sooheon looked back at Namra. "Ready?"

Namra gave a small nod, stepping closer without hesitation. Sooheon swung a leg over the bike first, steadying it as he waited for her. Namra, now used to this, smoothly got on behind him. This time, she didn’t hesitate before lightly holding onto the sides of his jacket.

Sooheon smirked slightly at the difference but didn’t comment. Instead, he started the engine, the low rumble cutting through the quiet night air. With a smooth motion, they took off into the streets.

The city blurred past them, neon lights reflecting off the damp pavement. The roads weren’t too crowded, making the ride easy. Namra sat still behind him, her grip steady but not tight.

Sooheon didn’t say much, but that was normal. They weren’t the kind to fill the silence unnecessarily. It wasn’t uncomfortable—it was just how they were.

At a red light, Sooheon glanced at her through the side mirror. "You okay?"

Namra blinked at the question, then nodded. "Yeah."

He hummed, returning his focus to the road. "You seem less out of it today."

Namra hesitated before responding. "Maybe."

Sooheon smirked slightly. "Good."

The light turned green, and they continued riding. The wind was cool against their skin, and Namra found herself relaxing slightly.

Before long, they reached her house. The grand gates of her mansion stood tall, a stark contrast to the simplicity of their ride. Sooheon slowed to a stop, keeping the bike steady as Namra got off smoothly.

She glanced at him, the dim streetlights casting shadows on his face. "Thanks."

Sooheon nodded. "Anytime."

Without another word, Namra turned and walked inside. She didn’t look back, but she listened as the sound of his bike faded into the night.