𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒆

[50]

The morning light filtered through the curtains of the large house they rented, casting soft shadows on the walls. The air felt fresh and crisp, a reminder of the sea breeze that had swept through the night before. One by one, the group began to stir from their slumber. The first to wake were Daesu, Gyeongsu, Jimin, and Joonyeong, who had been up late the night before, perhaps a bit too much under the influence of alcohol. They sat up, rubbing their eyes and groaning from the aftermath of their wild night. Their laughter from the previous evening still echoed in their heads, but today they were feeling the weight of it all.

Isak and Hyoryung were still deep in sleep, their bodies tangled in the blankets as they peacefully rested. Woojin was half awake, his eyes barely open as he lay on the bed, the soft morning light flickering in his vision. His hand lazily reached for his phone, scrolling through messages as his mind caught up with the events of the previous night.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Sooheon slowly made his way downstairs. He was still a bit groggy but ready to take charge of breakfast for the group. His eyes were slightly squinted, but he gave a lazy smile when he saw the mess of last night—empty glasses, crumbs from the snacks they had, and a faint scent of grilled meat still lingering in the air. Cheongsan was already in the kitchen, scrambling eggs with a spatula, looking more awake than anyone else in the house.

"I swear, I don’t know how you’re always so awake," Sooheon remarked, shaking his head with a soft laugh. Cheongsan grinned at him, the energy never quite fading from his face.

"I’m just built different," Cheongsan responded, his tone light. "Plus, I have a great tolerance."

Sooheon chuckled, glancing around the kitchen, until his gaze landed on the staircase, where Onjo was making her way down, dressed casually in a shirt over her crop top. Her hair was a little messy, and she rubbed her eyes, looking slightly disheveled, but still somehow effortlessly cool. She was followed closely by Namra, who wore a black jacket-like shirt over a white crop top. The moment Sooheon saw her, his heart skipped a beat. His mind flashed back to last night—their make-out session, the alcohol, and the stolen moments they shared. A flush of warmth crept up his neck as he thought about it.

As Namra reached the kitchen, she gave Sooheon a teasing smile, aware of his subtle blush. She was glowing, and the smile she gave him felt like a secret they shared between the two of them.

The group was now starting to gather around the table. Daesu and Gyeongsu sat across from Namra and Onjo, still looking a bit hungover but trying to hide it with forced enthusiasm. Jimin, on the other hand, was sitting next to Onjo, a smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the scene.

The conversation flowed easily, but it didn’t take long for someone to notice something. Namra and Onjo had both casually slipped into their seats, and as they adjusted their shirts, it became painfully obvious. The buttons on both of their shirts were missing, and the fabric fell slightly off their shoulders, revealing fresh hickeys on their necks.

Jimin was the first to notice, his eyes widening in realization. A sly grin tugged at his lips as he looked at the two girls, raising his eyebrows. “Well, well, looks like someone had a good night,” he said, his tone dripping with amusement.

Onjo’s face immediately turned red, and Namra blinked in surprise, trying to play it cool, but the color in her cheeks betrayed her. The rest of the group immediately burst into laughter.

“You two didn’t waste any time, huh?” Daesu said dramatically, holding his hand over his heart as if he were hurt. “Only if my bro-in-law had helped me out-Ow!”

Woojin had smacked him.

Sooheon, who was still sitting next to Namra, turned his head away, pretending to focus on his food. He had to fight the urge to laugh at Daesu’s melodramatic expression but managed to keep his face neutral. Cheongsan, on the other hand, followed Sooheon’s lead and continued eating with the same innocent expression.

“Don’t look at me,” Cheongsan said with a shrug, not missing a beat. “I’m just here to cook breakfast, not to interfere with anyone’s... private business.”

The teasing continued, with everyone throwing playful jabs at Namra and Onjo, who were both trying their best to hold their composure. Namra raised an eyebrow, giving Sooheon a mischievous look. “Hey, if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to,” she said, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

Sooheon’s face flushed a little as he realized she was referring to what had happened last night. He cleared his throat and took a sip of his water, doing his best to act unaffected, but the tension in his chest told him otherwise. Namra always knew how to make him flustered.

“I don’t think anyone needs to hear about it,” he said, his voice a little hoarse, trying to avoid making eye contact.

The rest of the group continued to tease them for a few more minutes before the laughter died down, and they all turned their attention to the breakfast spread in front of them. The table was filled with fresh fruit, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and, of course, coffee. The smell of fresh coffee lingered in the air as everyone dug in.

“Alright, enough with the teasing,” Onjo said, her voice light and slightly defensive. “Let’s just enjoy breakfast, okay? We’re on vacation, people!”

Everyone nodded, the playful teasing dying down as they finally settled into a more relaxed mood. Sooheon, Namra, and Onjo sat across from each other, sharing a glance that was more affectionate than anything. The rest of the group chatted away, filling the air with laughter and lighthearted conversation. The joy of being surrounded by friends, good food, and each other’s company made everything feel perfect. It was moments like this that reminded them all how much they valued their friendship and the memories they were building together.

Sooheon stole a glance at Namra, catching her gaze, and gave her a soft smile. It was quiet, unspoken, but meaningful. She was sitting next to him, and that was enough. This was more than just a vacation. It was a time to reflect, to grow, and to savor the moments that truly mattered. And for Sooheon and Namra, this moment was everything.