Sudden Change┊Huening Kai┆彡

-ˏˋthirteenˊˎ

Hyuka's pov

After sneaking quietly back into the house, we set up a spot in the living room for me to sleep. Right in front of the sofa lay a comforter and a single pillow.

"Going to sleep now?" I ask her.

"Not yet. I'll doomscroll for a bit until I get sleepy. I don't wanna wake the others," she says, settling into the sofa.

I get comfortable in my makeshift bed. "Might as well sleep next to me."

"Get over yourself," she mutters, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, just curious—have you ever been in a relationship?" I ask, eyes on the ceiling fan spinning above.

"Uh, no," she replies, the soft audio from her phone filling the background.

"Have you ever liked anybody?" I press on.

"Yeah," she says casually, still scrolling.

"What happened?"

"Friendzoned."

"Really? But you're so pretty—how can anyone not like you?"

"I'll suffocate you in your sleep."

"I'm serious."

"Whatever. It was the past." She shifts, resting her head on the armrest. "It was a big deal back then, but it doesn't matter anymore."

"Would you ever try again?" I ask.

"If the right person comes," she answers.

Silence fills the room for a few minutes. The wind hums through the ceiling fan, and her social media plays quietly in the background.

I sigh, trying to build up the nerve to ask.

What if she says no?

Ugh, you'll never know unless you ask. Don't be a coward.

My thoughts keep colliding until I finally let adrenaline take the lead.

"Would you ever give me a chance?"

Silence.

Oh god. She's going to say no.

Still nothing.

I sit up to check what she's doing. "Hey—"

But I stop mid-word, realizing she's already asleep. Her neck tilted to the side, her phone barely hanging on in her hand.

"This girl," I mutter, chuckling softly. I grab the other half of my blanket and tuck her in, then slide an extra pillow under her head.

How long is this gonna go on?

────────────

The rooster crows as the sun rises, beaming through the cracks in the curtains. Chaewon groans, victim of the natural spotlight. She stands with a stretch, slightly alarming Soobin.

"Can you wake up quieter?" he complains, sitting up.

"Good morning to you too," Chaewon smiles sarcastically before glancing at the empty spot between them. "Did [Name] get up already?"

Soobin only shrugs, just as clueless. Both of them head out of the room, and a scene in the living room immediately catches their attention: two teenagers—one who claims to have no interest in the other—slumped together in the living room. [Name] on the sofa, her limbs sprawled like tentacles, while Hyuka curls up on the ground, both under the same blanket.

A glance links Soobin and Chaewon's thoughts. She sneakily grabs her digital camera from the room and snaps a picture of the two sleeping soundly.

Thirty minutes pass. The only closed door creaks open.

"Good morning!" Beomgyu greets the two drinking coffee at the dining table.
"Have you seen Hyuka?" he asks as the others peek behind the door. "He wasn't in bed when we woke up."

Two hands suddenly grasp the sides of his head, turning it toward the living room.

"Right there," Yeonjun states, the operator behind the hands.

"Disgusting." Beomgyu shivers from cringe, entering the kitchen to prepare himself some breakfast.

"Those two lovebirds," Yeonjun says fondly, "How long are they gonna keep going at it?" He joins Beomgyu, giving him a hand.

"Until she admits her feelings," Chaewon sighs.

"Honestly, that girl won't say anything for years, and he'll still act like a love-struck puppy," Taehyun comments.

"Who'll still act like a lost puppy?" a voice interrupts their conversation.

Crickets.

A few exchanged blinks as they all turn to [Name], standing awkwardly in the doorway.

Tick. Tick.

The toast pops up from the toaster.

"Good morning, [Name]!" Chaewon says cheerfully. "Come sit, breakfast is nearly done." She pulls out the chair next to her, patting the seat.

"What were you guys talking about?" [Name] asks, confused and barely awake as she sits next to Chaewon.

"Uhh..." Chaewon glances at the others, pleading for help with her eyes. "We were talking about... uhm—"

"A book!" Soobin blurts out.

"A book?" [Name] repeats, still confused, perhaps even more now.

"Yeah! Not very popular, big slow-burn," he replies, trying to hide his panic.

"Extremely slow," Yeonjun exaggerates. "Makes you wanna rip your hair out."

"I'd hate that," [Name] says.

"Tell me about it," Taehyun adds, raising a brow.

"And you all just... coincidentally read it?" she questions.

"Yep. Small world we live in," Soobin nods, the others following suit.

"Interesting..." [Name] starts to get lost in her thoughts.

Sensing danger, Yeonjun jumps in to distract her. "We should wake Hyuka!" he announces, breaking her train of thought. "Breakfast is ready."

"I'll do it," [Name] volunteers, realizing she's the only one without something in her hands. Chaewon and Soobin sip their coffee, Yeonjun and Beomgyu prep breakfast, and Taehyun sets the table.