One step to you
I'm holding on for dear life
Jeonghan hesitated, the corners of his lips trembling, and then began to speak.
정한
“…I tried to distance myself from my junior. That’s true.”
At Jeonghan's words, Seoyeon was surprised and embarrassed, so she raised her gaze.
I looked at Jeonghan just like that.
Their longing gazes met, and Seoyeon became nervous at those words.
이서연
“…Did I do something wrong…? If I bothered you, Senior…”
When Seoyeon, who was nervous, looked into Jeonghan's eyes and spoke, Jeonghan frowned slightly, lowered his head slightly, and spoke to Seoyeon.
정한
“…I’m holding on like crazy right now.”
이서연
"..Huh? What do you mean..."
정한
"...I'm sorry, junior. I can't stand it..."
And at that moment, he kissed her without saying a word.
It was a deep kiss, neither short nor long.
There was a deeper emotion than words could convey. When their lips parted, their eyes met.
In Seoyeon's eyes were confusion and bewilderment, and in Jeonghan's eyes were complex regret and an even greater feeling.
정한
"...Now that I'm in your shoes...I can't imagine how you, my junior, have endured all this time...
정한
So I tried to keep some distance...
정한
..Ah... I'm sorry, junior.."
As Jeonghan said that, he eventually escaped through the narrow wall first and disappeared from that spot.
Seoyeon stood there blankly, bewildered and confused.
What could possibly be happening now? I thought, recalling his words.
All emotions seemed to swallow her up.
***
How long has it been since Jeonghan left?
Seoyeon stood there in a daze, then suddenly something occurred to her and she let out a short "Ah!" and emerged from the narrow gap in the wall.
The rain had stopped before she knew it, and she quickly walked home, brushing away her slightly wet hair with her hand.
Arriving home, Seoyeon changed out of her wet clothes, took a quick shower, and then collapsed on the bed.
이서연
"...What happened..?"
My head was in turmoil. I doubted if this was even real. My hand unconsciously rose to my lips.
A warm sensation of touch. It was a moment I had never expected.
이서연
"..Senior, me...?"
I felt a mixture of the thought that it couldn't be true and the anxiety of what if it wasn't?
My heart was beating quietly, but distinctly.
His gaze, his words, his warm touch, each and every one of them filled my mind.
The shock I received from Seungcheol has long since faded away.
이서연
"Senior... you were always by my side. Even when I was having the hardest time, you didn't say a word..."
As her thoughts reached that point, she blushed and pulled the blanket over her head.
My emotions were swirling around in a complex way.
이서연
"...What should I do..."
***
정한
"ha..."
Jeonghan, who didn't have the confidence to go straight back to the practice room, wandered around the hallway for a while before finally heading to the quiet break room within the company.
He sat on a chair, clutching his head, trying to catch his breath, and stared blankly out the window.
What happened just now kept running through my head.
정한
"..Why..Why did you say that..."
Self-reproach and regret came flooding in.
But even amidst my regrets, I couldn't shake the feeling that I didn't want to let her go.
Was I foolish enough to hope for even a shred of her affection, knowing that she had been harboring feelings for someone else for a long time?
Without being able to gather his thoughts, Jeonghan eventually returned to the practice room.
The practice room was calmer than before.
The members were organizing themselves in their respective seats, and some were doing light stretching.
At that time, Jeonghan quietly approached Seungcheol and opened his mouth.
정한
"...Seungcheol, I have something to say."
에스쿱스(승철)
"Huh? What is it???"
정한
"Let's go up to the rooftop together. Let's get some fresh air and talk."
At those words, Seungcheol nodded with a slight frown, and the two of them went outside.
A slightly cool breeze brushed my collar.
The rain had stopped, but the air was still damp.
Jeonghan leaned against the railing and looked out at the city view in the distance.
Seungcheol stood next to him and, as if sensing the heavy atmosphere, spoke first.
에스쿱스(승철)
"But you've been acting a little strange lately. What's wrong? It shows on your face."
Jeonghan remained silent for a while, then took a short breath and said.
정한
"I...um...
He was speechless. After much thought, he seemed to have made up his mind.
정한
"...I like Seoyeon."
Seungcheol's eyes widened at those words.
It wasn't a playful expression, nor was it a tone of voice that could be dismissed as something trivial.