POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 15

Zooming down the street, Yeoreum had her arms locked tightly around Haechan's waist, her eyes squeezed shut as her head stayed pressed against his broad back. She had no intention of opening them anytime soon. She had already accepted that she might die on this motorcycle, but she would rather not die today. At least not now, right?

Haechan, on the other hand, kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He didn't seem bothered by the girl clinging to him or by the arms wrapped tightly around his waist. He should have been annoyed. Normally, he would have been.

But the only thing he could feel was warmth. Their warmth. The warmth that had surrounded them ever since they left the university an hour ago.

It was strange.

Whenever he rode alone, the cold air always cut through his clothes, especially when the wind picked up. But right now, despite the chilly weather, he barely felt it.

Instead, there was this constant warmth between them.

Haechan frowned slightly.

Could this be another soulmate effect? 

The thought alone irritated him.

He tightened his grip on the handles before finally slowing down. After finding a suitable place to stop, he hit the brakes and brought the motorcycle to a complete halt.

Haechan let out a long sigh before taking off his helmet and ruffling his hair.

Behind him, Yeoreum remained completely still. She looked like a statue.

Her arms were still locked around his waist, her head still pressed against his back. The only difference was that her eyes were now wide open. She hadn't blinked once.

Haechan was about to get off the motorcycle when he felt something holding him back. He looked down, then he realized it.

She was still hugging him.

A small smirk pulled at his lips.

Haechan glanced over his shoulder, catching sight of her wide eyes, tightly shut lips, and slightly puffed cheeks. He raised a brow before lifting one hand and flicking her forehead.

That finally made her blink. She rubbed her sore, watery eyes.

"Have you been dead for the past hour?"

Yeoreum immediately scoffed when she heard his voice. "You didn't even care about me! What if I had fallen off?"

"But you didn't, hun." Haechan's voice carried an unmistakable teasing edge. "Look at you. You're holding me so tight."

Yeoreum's eyes widened. She looked down at her arms, then back at him, then back at her arms.

She immediately let go.

She hopped off the motorcycle and yanked the helmet from her head. Her short black hair was slightly disheveled from the ride, strands sticking out in different directions.

Haechan couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of her furious expression. Unfortunately for him, his mind supplied another word.

Cute. He quickly pushed the thought away.

"Hey! Will you just stare at me the whole afternoon?"