The house was louder than usual, but honestly, I didn't mind. Everyone was scattered around the living room, talking, laughing, and doing whatever they felt like. For once, there wasn't any tension hanging over us. Everything felt... normal. My eyes wandered around the room, eventually landing on Felix and Han, who were already in their own little world. Felix was practically glued to Han's side, leaning closer every few seconds to whisper something into his ear. Whatever he said the first time made Han's face immediately scrunch up. "Felix." Felix only smiled before leaning in again and whispering something else. Han's eyes widened before he shoved Felix away, smacking his arm. "Yah!" Everyone nearby started laughing, but Felix looked completely unbothered. "What did you even say to him?" Seungmin asked, looking between them. "Nothing," Felix said innocently. Han immediately pointed at him. "Don't believe him." Felix laughed. "You liked it." "I absolutely did not." "You were smiling." "I was NOT." Felix's grin only grew wider. "You're cute when you're embarrassed." Han froze for a second before shoving him again. "SHUT UP." Felix burst out laughing, and I couldn't help shaking my head. Those two were going to be the death of me.
My eyes moved toward Chan and Changbin next. Changbin was sitting beside him, complaining about something that was probably the tenth thing he'd complained about today. "You're not listening to me." Chan barely held back a laugh. "I am listening." Changbin immediately looked at him. "Then what did I just say?" Chan paused, clearly trying to remember. "...You were talking about food." Changbin stared at him for a second before saying, "I was talking about you." Chan immediately burst out laughing. Changbin crossed his arms, clearly offended, but the little smile on his face gave him away. "You're annoying." Chan smiled and nudged him slightly. "And yet you keep sitting next to me." Changbin rolled his eyes. "Because there's nowhere else to sit." "Sure." I shook my head as Changbin tried to hide his smile. Those two were impossible.
Then I looked toward Jeongin and Seungmin. Jeongin was sitting quietly, scrolling through his phone when Seungmin casually leaned over his shoulder. "What are you looking at?" Jeongin quickly tilted his phone away. "Nothing." Seungmin raised an eyebrow. "You said it was nothing." "Because it is!" Seungmin smiled and leaned back, looking far too pleased with himself. "You're suspicious." Jeongin scoffed. "You're nosy." Seungmin shrugged before adding, "And you're cute when you're annoyed." Jeongin went completely silent, his ears turning slightly red before he shoved Seungmin's shoulder. "Stop." Seungmin only laughed, and I couldn't help smiling. Yeah. Definitely not subtle.
I leaned back into the couch, letting my eyes wander around the room again. Everyone seemed happy. Comfortable. Like nothing in the world could bother us right now. But as I watched them, my smile slowly faded. My mind drifted back to her. The girl. No matter how hard I tried to push everything that happened out of my head, the thought of her kept finding its way back in. I wondered what she was thinking, what she was planning, and whether any of this was really over. I didn't even realize I had gone quiet until a familiar voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
"Hyunjin?" Minho's voice came from beside me. I turned toward him, finding him already looking at me. "You okay?" I blinked before forcing a small smile. "Yeah. I'm fine." Minho narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly not convinced. "You sure?" "Positive." He studied me for another second before leaning a little closer. "You're a terrible liar." I raised an eyebrow. "And you're terrible at minding your business." A small smirk appeared on his face. "Maybe I just like your business." I stared at him for a second before laughing quietly. "You're annoying." "Yet you're smiling." I looked away, trying not to let him see how much that actually got to me. "Shut up." Minho's smile only grew.
Before either of us could say anything else, Chan suddenly spoke from across the room. "Oh, by the way, we're having a party Friday." Everyone's attention immediately shifted toward him. "A party?" Changbin asked. Chan nodded. "Yeah. Friday night. Everyone's coming, so don't make plans." The room instantly filled with excited reactions, people already talking about what they were going to wear and who was bringing what. I smiled along with everyone else, but my mind didn't stay there for long.
Friday.
For some reason, the word made me think of her again.
My smile slowly faded as that familiar feeling returned. Whatever was going to happen next, I had a feeling she was going to have something to do with it.
And somewhere else, far away from the noise of the boys, she was already thinking about what came next.
~
