Min-sun muttered a curse, his heart pounding against his ribs as the approaching footsteps grew louder. He fumbled with his zipper, struggling to fasten his pants while Chin-sun frantically adjusted her bra and smoothed down her clothes. The distinct click of the lock turning sent them scrambling apart. The door swung open, revealing the boys, their eyes widening at the sight of the disheveled pair. Min-sun, hair askew and clothes rumpled, avoided their gaze. Chin-sun, cheeks flushed crimson, couldn't quite hide a strand of hair plastered to her damp forehead.
A knowing smirk spread across Daeyeon's face.
"Well, well, well," he drawled, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Look what we have here."
"Someone's been busy while we were out," Kangmin quipped, a teasing lilt in his voice.
"Doing this" Hyo-seong, with a mischievous grin, held up his left hand, forming a circle with two fingers. He then used his right index finger to make a suggestive in-and-out motion, eliciting a burst of laughter from the boys. Chin-sun, mortified, scrambled to her feet, muttering a hurried excuse, her face burning crimson. With a downcast gaze, she fled the room, a whirlwind of flustered embarrassment.
"You idiots! Now she's gone!" Min-sun yelled, launching a cushion at the group, which only fueled their laughter. Despite his annoyance, a flicker of longing crossed his face as he realized how much he already missed Chin-sun.
Meanwhile, Sang-ho's frustration simmered.
"More energy! Bring the dress to life!" he snapped at the model showcasing one of his designs. He and Ji-hoon had painstakingly stitched the garment together, and he expected more. His collection was breathtaking—stolen breath, more accurately.
"Sang-ho, relax. These are Korea's top models; there's nothing wrong with their performance," Ji-hoon said, rolling his eyes at his friend's fretting.
"What if they aren't impressive *enough*?" Sang-ho retorted, anxiety lacing his voice. Ji-hoon looked at him incredulously.
"You're the mastermind behind these pieces of art. When has your standard ever been below perfection?" Sang-ho blushed at the compliment, but a knot of unease tightened in his stomach.
Oblivious to the celebratory atmosphere outside, Baek Hyeon remained engrossed in his robotics project. His brow furrowed in concentration, a serious expression highlighting his sharp features. A cool detachment radiated from him, a sense of superiority and control that kept others at arm's length. This aloofness, combined with his intense focus, created an aura of both mystery and allure.
Eun-woo paused at the lab entrance, observing Baek Hyeon's intense focus before stepping inside.
"Hey, Ice Cube," she chirped, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Afraid you'll melt? Everyone's out having fun, and you're stuck here boring yourself with robots." Baek Hyeon remained completely absorbed in his work, pointedly ignoring her. Her playful tone sharpened.
"Hey, you bastard! I'm talking to you!" Without a word, Baek Hyeon calmly packed his things and left, leaving Eun-woo fuming in his wake.
Min-sun couldn't focus on the game. Her image, every reaction, every expression, was burned into his mind. He felt a physical ache, his thoughts consumed by her. "Shit!" he cursed, losing another round.
"Hey man, get your head out of the clouds and get it together," Jae-Hyun teased playfully. Frustrated, Min-sun threw the console aside. Everything felt dull, pointless now, as he slumped back, arms crossed, his mood darkening.
"Hey, hey, who got Romeo all riled up?" Woohyun asked, a playful smirk and mock concern in his voice.
"You guys are too much, I'm heading out," Min-sun announced, standing up. "Gonna get some fresh air and find some fun." He walked out.
"Yeah, he's right. Gonna see if I can snag a chick or two," Daeyeon declared, staggering to his room. Emerging a moment later in fresh clothes, he waved and followed Min-sun. The mood shifted slightly as the boys left in pairs, leaving Jae-hyun and Hyo-seong behind.
Hyo-seong's frustration boiled over as he played the game aggressively.
"Those idiots always do whatever he wants," he scoffed, mimicking Min-sun's earlier words.
" 'You guys are too much.' My ass!" he fumed.
"Come on, you know you want to join them," Jae-hyun said, rising and gesturing for him to follow. Hyo-seong grunted in response, but then stood and they both exited the room. The campus was buzzed with activity as the freshmen moved around: students thronged the stalls, some browsing, some buying, some simply milling about. Mia, brimming with excitement, pulled Chin-sun along, enthusiastically pointing out anything that caught her eye. Chin-sun offered occasional nods of acknowledgment, her hair still a cascade of dishevelled strands framing her glasses perched low on her nose. Min-sun watched them.
His gaze softened as he took in her presence. There was an unassuming beauty about her; she could easily pass for a plain belle, but with a little enhancement, she could easily captivate anyone's attention. Chin-sun had never recognized this allure herself, always preferring to blend into the background. To him, however, the crowd faded away, and she became his sole focus. Compelled by an inexplicable urge, he quietly followed her, observing her every action with a mixture of admiration and curiosity.
He watched, captivated by her subtle movements, a smile playing on his lips. She was, after all, the love of his life. Approaching, he gently took her arm. The touch startled her; she turned to see Min-sun gazing at her with affection. A blush bloomed on her cheeks as she remembered their shared moment, her gaze dropping shyly. Min-sun's grin deepened, a mystery flickering in his eyes. Mia, noticing the silent exchange, discreetly withdrew, leaving them to their tender moment.
Min-sun laced their fingers together and guided her away from the crowd. Chin blushed crimson under the curious glances of passersby. He reveled in the physical contact, leading her to a quieter spot. Pulling her close, he leaned down, whispering, "I'll never forget our time together." Her blush deepened, her face now the color of a ripe tomato. Mirroring her embarrassment, he bit his lip, letting out a slow moan. Chin playfully swatted him, her face still blazing.
As he leaned in to kiss her, the whistles and catcalls of his friends cut through the air. Min-sun grunted, turning to see them.
"Oh, Romeo, you can't get enough of your Juliet, can you?" one teased.
"Yeah, bruh, a day apart feels like a century," another chimed in. "Shut up," Min-sun muttered, as steam seemed to practically rising from Chin-sun's furiously blushing face.
"If Juliet doesn't mind, can we borrow Romeo for a bit?" Woo-hyun asked. Chin nodded, and before Min-sun could protest, his friends playfully dragged him away, leaving him to watch her from a distance.