He lifted me effortlessly, setting me down on the cold marble counter like I weighed nothing. His hands anchored on either side of me, eyes locked on mine as he leaned in again—closer, slower this time, like he wanted to memorize every breath between us.
I closed my eyes, ready to feel him again.
But then—
Rrrrring.
His phone buzzed on the kitchen island. Once. Twice. Then again. The ringtone cut through the silence like a slap.
He groaned, forehead falling gently onto my shoulder as he let out a quiet laugh, breath warm against my collarbone. "Of course," he muttered.
I could feel his smile, even though I couldn't see it. It was the kind of smile that said this moment isn't over.
"You're smiling?" I asked, breathless, teasing.
"Can't help it," he murmured, voice low. "You're here."
________________________________________
His phone kept buzzing, and I could see it in his eyes—he didn't want to answer it. He wanted to stay in this moment, suspended in whatever this was between us. But eventually, with a frustrated sigh, he pulled away, reached for the phone, and answered it.
"Hello?" His voice dropped, polite, composed. "Yes, hyung. We're almost there... yeah, we're in the car now."
I blinked.
In the car?
I watched him as he lied through his teeth, voice smooth like he'd rehearsed it. I'd never seen him like that—so sure, so bold with a lie.
He ended the call with a short "Yes, see you soon," and put the phone down, running a hand through his hair.
"I didn't know you could lie like that," I said softly.
He turned to me, lips twitching at the corners. "Help me down," I added, motioning to the counter.
He stepped forward without hesitation, hands gentle as he lifted me off the island, setting me down like I was made of something delicate.
"You lie too?" I asked, looking up at him.
His smile faded a little, something deeper flickering behind his eyes. "Intentionally," he said. "I was lying all along."
My breath caught.
"About my feelings for you."
...
Sunghoon blinked—once, twice—processing what he just said.
I tilted my head with a mock-innocent smile. "I could tell... from the way you kissed me."
He stared at me for a beat. "Oh really?"
"Mm-hmm." I folded my arms like I was stating a fact. "All that intensity? The hand on my waist? The part where you didn't even hesitate before going for it?"
He stepped closer again, arms crossing too, mirroring me. "So what exactly did it tell you?"
"That you were either extremely obsessed," I said, tapping my chin thoughtfully, "or extremely bored."
Sunghoon snorted. "Bored? Are you serious?"
"I mean..." I shrugged, pretending to think. "You did say it's been a while since you kissed someone."
"I never said that," he deadpanned.
"Well, your eyes did." I grinned. "Very loud eyes."
He laughed. Like full-on, head-thrown-back laughed. "Loud eyes? Jiwon, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying," I said, stepping forward until we were chest-to-chest, "if that kiss was a lie, you need to teach acting classes on the side. Because damn."
He grinned so hard his eyes crinkled. "You're unbelievable."
"You like it," I said proudly.
"I do." His voice dropped just slightly. "Way too much."
We stood there like two kids caught giggling after curfew. The kind of laughter you feel in your chest, that softens the world. For a second, it wasn't about dorms or idols or stylists yelling—it was just us.
"So," I said, breaking the moment, "should we actually go now before I get blamed for kidnapping you?"
He smirked. "You think they'd believe you kidnapped me?"
I held up the photo in my hand. "With evidence like this? I think I could make a strong case."
He groaned, playfully trying to grab it again. "Give me that!"
"Nope!" I ran toward the front door, laughing. "Catch me if you want it back, Mr. Liar!"
"You're so annoying—"
"You love it!"
"Unfortunately," he muttered under his breath, chasing me out the door.
___________________________________________
They stepped out of the dorm like nothing had happened—well, nothing except Sunghoon was suddenly acting like he'd been handed the world.
He reached out to hold the door open for her again, but this time, he ran his fingers gently down her arm as she passed, like she was glass and he was afraid she'd shatter. When she buckled into the passenger seat, he reached over without saying a word and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"What are you doing?" she asked, side-eying him but not moving away.
"Nothing," he said way too casually, as if he hadn't just caressed her like she was the most precious thing he'd ever touched. "Just making sure you're not too warm."
"I spilled boiling coffee on you and you're worried about me being warm?"
Sunghoon gave her a small smile and walked around to the driver's side, slipping into the seat beside her. "That was an accident. You being next to me? Definitely not."
She stared at him. "Sunghoon."
"Hmm?"
"Stop smiling like that. It's suspicious."
"I'm not smiling," he said, definitely smiling.
He pulled onto the road, one hand on the wheel, the other sneaking over to rest softly on her knee. Just a casual touch, light and familiar—too familiar. She shot him a look.
"Hands on the wheel, Mr. Idol."
"I am driving," he said innocently, not moving his hand at all. "Multitasking."
His thumb began brushing soft circles against her leg. She glanced at him again, and this time he was already looking at her—eyes filled with something stupid and warm and soft.
"What?" she asked, suddenly shy under the intensity.
He just shook his head, biting his lip as if the smile couldn't be helped. "Nothing. I just... can't believe you're really here. With me."
Her heart tripped a little at the sound of his voice, low and steady, barely louder than the hum of the road.
"Are you always this dramatic after one kiss?" she teased, trying to deflect the heat rising to her cheeks.
Sunghoon grinned again and glanced at her quickly before turning his eyes back to the road. "It wasn't just one kiss. It was the kiss."
She laughed, shoving his arm lightly. "You're so annoying."
"Yeah," he said softly, "but you like it."
And she did.
....
They pulled into the parking lot of the company building just as the clouds started to break, letting a wash of late afternoon sunlight spill across the sleek black car.
Sunghoon cut the engine but didn't move to get out immediately. Instead, he reached for her hand across the console, fingers grazing her wrist, slow and deliberate.
She stared at him, then glanced toward the towering glass entrance just a few feet ahead. "Sunghoon—" she warned, already pulling her hand back.
He caught it anyway, grinning. "Just for a second."
"Nope." She yanked free, smacking his arm lightly. "We're at the company."
His face fell dramatically like she'd just slapped him with a betrayal he couldn't recover from. "Noooo," he groaned, slumping back into his seat like a kid being dragged out of the arcade. "Don't do this to me. Not here. Not now. Not after everything we've been through."
She snorted, stepping out of the car. "We've been through a coffee incident and one very stolen moment in your kitchen. Relax."
He jumped out after her, locking the car with a chirp and jogging to catch up.
"You're just going to pretend nothing happened?" he whispered dramatically as they walked toward the elevator.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "What do you want me to do? Announce it to the entire styling team? 'Hey everyone! Just spilled coffee on this man and then made out with him in his dorm kitchen. Please clap.'"
He burst into laughter, unable to help it, and jogged ahead to press the elevator button. "Okay, yeah. Maybe not that exactly."
As the elevator doors slid open, he leaned in close again, voice lowered, teasing. "But admit it. You missed me. Even before all this."
She looked away, biting her cheek to keep from smiling. "You were never gone, Sunghoon."
His smirk faded into something softer—something that made her chest ache just a little.
They stepped into the elevator together, the doors sliding shut behind them, sealing them in that quiet moment before stepping back into reality.
"Ready?" she asked, composing herself.
He nodded once, slipping his mask on—both literally and figuratively.
"After you, Miss Makeup Artist."
___________________________________________
They stepped into the room like nothing happened—at least they tried to. But Junguwon was already perched on the edge of the couch, arms crossed, and eyes narrowing with suspicion the second he spotted them.
"You're late, hyung," Junguwon said, cocking an eyebrow. "What did you do to be this late, huh?"
Jiwon kept walking, pretending she didn't hear, heading straight toward the makeup station, where she started sorting through palettes like her life depended on it.
Sunghoon scratched the back of his neck, letting out a soft chuckle. "Nothing much," he said coolly. "Just went home, grabbed the jacket. Now we're here."
Junguwon wasn't buying it. "That took nearly an hour," he said. "You sure you didn't stop by a café? Or, I don't know... get lost in your own dorm?"
From across the room, Kian glanced up from his phone, a tiny smirk twitching on his lips. "Maybe he needed help choosing which jacket screamed brooding heartthrob the loudest."
"Hyung, don't tell me you tried on three jackets and made her vote," Min Ho added, not even looking up from his seat, but clearly listening in.
Sunghoon raised both hands. "Wow. The accusations in this room."
Jay, sitting nearby with a towel draped over his head, chuckled. "It's the vibe, man. You walked in looking like you just lived through a K-drama."
"Plot twist," Kian muttered.
Sunghoon just shook his head, walking over to the rack of backup outfits like it was the most interesting thing in the world. "I told you. I grabbed the jacket. End of story."
But even as he said it, his eyes kept drifting—to her.
She was focused on her kit, lining up brushes and opening a case of foundation, like nothing around her existed. But he saw the slight twitch of her mouth, the way her fingers slowed every time she felt his gaze.
Junguwon didn't miss it either.
He leaned over to Jay and whispered, "He's not blinking, bro."
Jay whispered back, "He's so blinking."
Sunghoon coughed. "Jiwon," he said, a little too quickly.
She looked up at him calmly, one brow raised. "Yes?"
"Thanks... for coming with me," he said, quieter this time, like he meant more than he was saying.
The room got weirdly quiet for half a second.
And then Sunoo popped in through the door holding a protein bar. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing," Sunghoon replied, before anyone else could.
Jungwon rolled his eyes. "Sure, nothing."
___________________________________________
As everyone slowly returned to their own little corners of the room—some still watching, some pretending not to—Jiwon finally turned back to her station. She unscrewed the lid of a foundation bottle just as Sunghoon stepped in front of her and pulled the chair back, sitting down wordlessly.
His knees were almost brushing her. He didn't move them.
"Let's not drag this out," she mumbled under her breath, clicking her brush into the product and leaning in. Her hand steadied on his jawline, angling his face slightly toward the light.
Sunghoon tilted his head just a bit more, eyes locked on her. "You're really not going to talk to me?"
"I'm working," she said, but her cheeks betrayed her with a faint tint of red.
He smirked. "You weren't this focused earlier. Maybe I should spill coffee more often."
"Don't push it," she warned, dabbing foundation near his temple with the gentlest brush strokes.
Kian wandered over with a protein shake in his hand, grinning like a puppy that had just found its favorite humans back on speaking terms. "Look at you two," he said brightly. "I knew you'd figure it out."
Sunghoon blinked. "Figure what out?"
Kian leaned in. "The whole... whatever-that-was. You were tense, she was tense, now you're—" He waved a hand between them. "Not tense."
Jiwon didn't look up. "Kian, I'm literally patting concealer under his eyes right now. Let us be tense in peace."
Kian laughed and backed off, hands up in surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll just tell the others world peace has been restored."
From the other side of the room, Min Ho called out, "More like Sunghoon peace."
"Hey, we were getting used to the silent treatment," Jay added.
Sunghoon leaned closer to her ear, voice low. "You see this? This is why I wanted to stay in the car a little longer."
She nearly dropped the sponge. "Will you behave?"
He smiled lazily. "No."
Her breath hitched as she brushed powder near his jawline, suddenly very aware of how close he was. His voice softened.
"Thanks for earlier. For... what you said," he murmured. "Even if you were yelling half of it."
She paused. "I wasn't yelling."
"You kind of were."
"Sunghoon."
"I liked it."
She shook her head, trying not to smile. "You're ridiculous."
"Only for you."
Across the room, Junguwon looked up from his phone. "Hyung, you're flirting in high definition right now. Calm down."
Jay let out a full laugh, half in shock. "I think this is the most Sunghoon's spoken in a single day."
Sunghoon kept his eyes on her. "What can I say? She brings it out of me."
She tried to maintain her composure, but her heart was already tap-dancing across her ribs.
Min Ho was grinning like a fool from the corner. "I like this version of you, hyung. You're like... warm. Not cold-blooded."
Sunghoon gave Min Ho a deadpan look. "Thanks, snake boy."
"I meant it in a good way!"
Jiwon pressed the powder puff a little harder against his cheek, earning a playful wince.
"That's for the coffee earlier," she whispered.
He smirked again, looking completely unbothered. "Worth it."
...
The room buzzed with energy as everyone rushed around — stylists running back and forth, jackets being zipped, shoes thudding against the floor, and the scent of hairspray clinging to the air like fog.
Jiwon's hands moved on instinct now, her fingers gently fixing the last few strands of Sunghoon's hair, brushing them away from his forehead with quiet care. He sat in front of her, unusually still, watching her through the mirror, eyes tracing every small movement like it was a ritual he never wanted to forget.
"You're all set," she said softly, stepping back.
He didn't move.
"I said you're good to go."
He grinned, leaning back in the chair, chin tilted as he gave her that look — the one that told her he wasn't going anywhere just yet. "I could sit here all day."
She crossed her arms. "You could, but you'd miss your shoot and get yelled at."
He finally stood, tall and sharp in black pants and a fitted black tee. "One second."
He walked out of the room and returned moments later with his red leather jacket slung over his arm. When he shrugged it on, it was like something shifted — his aura sharpened, more idol than boy now. But the soft look in his eyes when he glanced at her again? That was still all him.
The members started filing out one by one, throwing waves and quick "thank yous" toward the makeup artists as they made their way to the stage call.
"Thanks, noona!" Sunoo said brightly, adjusting his in-ear.
"See you after!" Jay added with a cheeky smile, giving Jiwon a quick thumbs up when Sunghoon wasn't looking.
Kian was last to go, pausing near the door. "He's been smiling for like, thirty minutes. You broke him."
She blinked. "What?"
"Nothing." Kian smirked, disappearing down the hallway.
Now it was just Sunghoon and Jiwon, and for a moment, the loud buzz outside felt like it faded into a hush.
He walked up to her slowly, steps unhurried. "So," he said, voice dropping just enough to send a chill up her spine, "how do I look?"
She raised an eyebrow, her voice playful. "Like you walked out of an early 2000s biker music video."
He placed a hand over his heart. "Wow. That's hot."
She laughed, but he didn't.
"No, really," he said more seriously, his voice warm, "do I look okay?"
She nodded, her teasing smile softening into something real. "You look... like someone who's about to make everyone fall in love with him."
He leaned in. "Too late for that."
She held her breath.
Sunghoon glanced at the door, making sure no one was lurking in the hallway, then turned back to her. "You know, I should say goodbye properly."
"Properly?" she repeated, suspicious.
"Mm-hmm."
And then, with absolutely no warning — like he'd done it a thousand times before — he leaned in and brushed a quick, featherlight kiss on her lips.
Soft.
Certain.
Her breath caught in her throat, and before she could say anything, he whispered against her mouth, "That's for the makeup."
Her eyes widened.
"And this," he kissed her cheek this time, a little firmer, "is for the coffee."
"Is there going to be one for the hair too?" she asked, breathless but matching his tone.
He tilted his head thoughtfully. "You want one?"
She smirked. "You're already running late."
He looked far too pleased with himself. "Tragic. I guess I'll have to collect the rest later."
She rolled her eyes, trying not to smile. "Go before someone walks in."
Sunghoon slowly stepped back, but his eyes never left her. "If you miss me, just imagine me on stage blowing kisses. They'll all be for you."
"That's a little narcissistic, no?"
He raised an eyebrow as he reached the door. "It's only narcissism if it's not true."
Jiwon bit her lip, trying — failing — to hold in a laugh.
"Break a leg," she called after him.
He paused in the doorway, turning back just once, eyes lingering on her.
"You already broke my heart," he said dramatically. "What else is left?"
She threw a cotton pad at him. "Out!"
Chuckling under his breath, Sunghoon finally disappeared down the hallway, the sound of his boots fading into the noise of the building.
Jiwon exhaled and leaned back against the counter, her pulse still wild in her chest.
And just like that, the room was quiet again — but it felt different now.
It felt like something had shifted.
Something was beginning..
...