Empty Space | BTOB LMH

Chapter 14

Chapter 14
This Is Real

SONG HARIN

A week passed of overtimes, cups of coffee, me and Minhyuk not having any decent conversation that's not about work, brainstorming, filling up mom duties despite how busy it was, and momentarily chances of skin brushing and eye glancing between me and himㅡwell, the week was over and our July issue was almost ready. It's now given to Im Hyunsik to edit the way he wants it to be, and then we're off to our team outing.

June came and I finally allowed myself to read my month's zodiac. Usually, I went to the Family section first, but this time, my eyes darted towards Romance. I felt my cheeks heat up even though I was alone in the storage room.

LEO
Romance: Your loyalty to your partner will be tested this month of June! Stay with who you truly belong, and carefully weigh the right from wrong.

I was about to close the advanced copy of Starsign June issue when my eyes caught the zodiac for 'the single'. The first one I read was for people already in a relationship.

I bit my lip and read on.

Leo, this month may be your chance to start something special with someone new! If you've been practicing or writing love confessions recently, then this is a sign for them to come in handy! Chase for that love buzzing in your veins. But make sure you really know that special someone before taking it to the next level.

I coughed on my coffee and I almost spilled it on my shirt. I was in a van with my officemates on our way to the beach.

"What does your horoscope say, eonni?" Yura asked, peeking over my shoulder.

I closed the advanced copy and fixed myself, catching Minhyuk giving me a worried glance through the rearview mirror, and I don't know. Maybe this was getting annoying. I don't know how to act whenever he's around anymore.

"Who wrote the horoscopes?" I asked.

Sohyun peeked from the back where she was sitting with Sungjae. "Why? Did I make a grammatical or spelling error?"

"No, just asking."

"The horoscopes are quite accurate this month." Changgu said, "I mean, at least, for me."

"Which part?" Yura asked.

"Family."

We arrived at the beach and got our room keys and numbers from the reception of the hotel. The arrangement was two persons per room; Sohyun and Yura, Sungjae and Changgu, Minhyuk and Hyunsik. I got the solo room because a man and a woman can't share a room (according to Hyunsik).

As I unpacked, I video called my mom and checked on Hwayoung. Apparently, they were currently playing on the playground so mom hang up immediately.

I struggled to pick a swimsuit because unlike Sohyun and Yura who have amazing bodies and could wear those sexy bikinis, I'm a mom and I have a body of a... mom. Everything about my body was rounder and a bit thicker than those two, plus, here's the bonus: I have birth stretchmarks.

I tied my hair in a ponytail and I settled on a fitted black tank top, tucked into a pair of swimming shorts. I wore a thin fabric of white shirt over it and had a mini breakdown in front of the mirror becauseㅡwhat would Minhyuk think once he sees me like this?

I rolled my eyes and laid in bed until I heard a knock, and I decided I have to participate with life.

And God have mercy, Minhyuk was on the other side of the door. "They're getting ready to play-" He stopped as if he forgot what he was about to say, cleared his throat, pointedly looking away from my body. Yeah, it might be that horrible. "Volleyball. It's the older ones against the young ones."