𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒆

[42]

Sooheon took a deep breath, running a hand through his damp hair as he grabbed his towel. He had just finished a set and was about to check his phone again when something felt… off.

A presence.

Someone was standing behind him.

His brows furrowed slightly as he turned around—and nearly jumped.

Namra stood there, arms crossed, watching him with that ever-so-subtle smirk tugging at her lips. Her hoodie was slightly oversized, sleeves covering half her hands as she looked at him like she had all the time in the world.

For a second, Sooheon just blinked. Then, narrowing his eyes in disbelief, he scoffed.

"Did you teleport by any chance?"

Namra broke down laughing.

Not just a chuckle or a quiet exhale, but a full, genuine laugh that made her shoulders shake. The kind of laugh she rarely let out, the one that caught even her off guard sometimes.

Sooheon raised an eyebrow, grinning as he tossed the towel over his shoulder.

"What’s so funny?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

Namra shook her head, still trying to catch her breath. "You should’ve seen your face."

Sooheon scoffed again, but he couldn’t help the small chuckle that escaped him. He placed his hands on his hips, scanning her from head to toe.

"How long have you been here?"

Namra shrugged. "Long enough."

That made him pause. He narrowed his eyes at her, tilting his head. "Wait—" realization dawned on him, "You were already here, weren’t you?"

Namra’s lips curled mischievously, but she didn’t say a word.

Sooheon groaned, rubbing his face with his palm. "You really just let me think you were on your way? You—" He exhaled sharply before shaking his head. "Unbelievable."

Namra just grinned, rocking slightly on her heels.

"Well, you didn’t notice me, so that’s on you."

Sooheon let out a short laugh, his hands dropping to his sides as he stepped closer. He stood right in front of her now, close enough that she could smell the faint mix of his cologne and sweat.

"Alright, smartass. Since you're already here, are you just going to stand there, or are you actually going to work out with me?"

Namra scrunched her nose. "Do I look like I came here to lift weights?"

Sooheon chuckled, stepping back. "Yeah, didn’t think so."

Namra watched as he picked up his water bottle, taking a long sip before glancing back at her.

"Then what? You just came to watch me suffer?"

Namra smiled. "Pretty much."

Sooheon shook his head with a laugh. "You’re something else, Namra."

---

Chanmi sat on the rooftop bench, staring at the dusky sky, knees pulled to her chest. The city lights flickered below, a stark contrast to the dull ache inside her. She didn’t know why she agreed to meet Jaebom here. Maybe because he had insisted. Maybe because, lately, his presence had been strangely comforting.

Jaebom leaned against the railing, arms crossed. His gaze flickered to her, studying the way her fingers picked at the hem of her sleeves, how she refused to look at him directly. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.