Nocturnal Buddies ✩ Yang Jeongin

Chapter 76

"Are you heading back to practice soon?" Hyunjoo asked, looking over at the time. "It's still pretty early, I'm actually surprised you came here in the first place."

"Probably... the others are waiting for me to return so we can continue," Jeongin replied begrudgingly.

A brief sigh escaped him soon after, clearly disappointed that his brief time with her was coming to an end. She watched as his lips pulled into a frown- his mood easily matching the way she felt in the moment.

"I wish I could come with you," she slowly said, her voice bearing a sense of heaviness to it. "Even if I want to... I don't think I can handle being out in public right now, especially with what happened earlier." 

Jeongin's lips pulled into a thin line in response, noticing the disappointment filling her expression. "How about I video call you instead? That way you can watch us practice and see the others as well," he suggested. "They really miss you, you know- in fact, Changbin keeps complaining about how it's not the same since you've been gone."

Hyunjoo giggled a little at his last statement. "It's only been two weeks. I guess they must really love me, huh? Maybe even obsessed- not as much as you though."

He couldn't help but scoff in response, rolling his eyes a little in disbelief. "Just because of that, I'm taking back my offer."

"Sorry, you can't," she said with a simple shrug, giving him a playful smile.

The boy arched his eyebrow at her, a hint of confusion painting itself across his face. "And why is that?" he asked curiously as he crossed his arms.

"You're legally obligated to video call me because you're my number one stalker," she replied in a matter-of-fact manner.

"Really? Is that so?" he asked with a slight chuckle of amusement, earning an eager nod from the girl. "If that's the case, then I guess I have no choice."

A cheeky smile immediately appeared on her face before she leaned closer to him. "See? I knew you were obsessed with me," she hummed contently.

He rolled his eyes again as he feigned annoyance with his girlfriend. Despite that, he couldn't help the smile that spread across his lips.

"What can I say? You're my favorite influencer," he replied while using his finger to lightly push back her head, causing her to scrunch up her nose in response. "Anyways, I should probably get going now."

The girl hummed in response before copying him and getting off her bed, unaware of the loving gaze he was giving her. The second her eyes drew up to meet his, noticing that he had turned towards her, their brown orbs met in an instant. Silence rested around the pair the second they were sucked into their own world, one that was far away from their current reality.

"What?" the girl managed to ask, despite feeling spellbound by the look he was giving her.

"Nothing, I'm just grateful that I have you," he said before stepping forward and pulling her into a hug, prompting her to wrap her arms around his waist. "We're going to get through this together," he muttered into her hair, placing a gentle kiss on the crown of her head afterwards. He placed his chin on top of her head before his arms tightened around her, as if he never wanted to let her go.

"Of course we will, we're the unbeatable duo. They can't separate us, even if they wanted to- or, at least, not forever," she hummed as she basked in his warmth. "Even if we get flooded with endless hate, our relationship will continue to prosper and prevail in spite of it."

"You're right, it always will," he mused, his lips pulling into a smile.

The boy withdrew himself from her shortly after, eyes continuing to linger on her with adoration. When she gave him a toothy smile, one that was filled with hope and encouragement, he couldn't help but return it. Without another word, he held out his hand, prompting Hyunjoo to take hold of it. Their fingers interlocked before Jeongin led them out of her bedroom and into the living room. He properly greeted everyone there, well aware he failed to do so in the beginning.