Haneul stepped out of the interview room, her heart pounding like she had just won a reality show.
Taeyo followed after, shutting the door with a little too much force. They stood awkwardly in the hallway, neither sure whether to speak first.
“Still nervous?”
Haneul glanced up at him, feigning nonchalance.
Taeyo shrugged, looking at the ceiling as if the answer might magically appear there.
“A bit. There was something I wanted to ask during the game, but I chickened out.”
Haneul raised her eyebrows, curiosity piqued.
“Like what?”
Taeyo hesitated, then blurted it out.
“Sometimes you avoid me. Did I do something weird? Am I too much?”
Now it was Haneul’s turn to blush.
“That’s not it! I just… feel weird sometimes, you know?”
An awkward silence settled between them, thick enough to cut with a plastic fork.
Right then, Sujin’s voice echoed down the hall. “Hey! Why are you two lurking over here?”
Jimin waved behind her, grinning ear to ear.
Sujin reached Haneul first, looping her arm around her. “I think Taeyo oppa might have a little crush!”
Haneul wriggled free, flustered. “Stop it! It’s not like that!”
Unexpectedly, Taeyo cleared his throat.
“Anyway, um, do you have time tonight? Not for practice… just, you know, maybe dinner?”
The words hung between them. Both Sujin and Jimin stared like they’d overheard a plot twist.
Before Haneul could answer, the manager popped up, looking frazzled.
“Haneul, you’ve got a broadcast interview today! We need to go right now!”
Haneul rushed off, tugging Sujin with her, no idea what to do with her racing heart.
Jimin nudged Taeyo, whispering, “Looked like a real date invite, huh?”
Taeyo faked a cough and strolled down the hall, pretending he wasn’t completely embarrassed.
On her way to the interview room, Haneul replayed his question in her mind, wondering if things would ever feel normal—or if maybe, soon, they’d both stop pretending.
With nerves and curiosity buzzing in the air, a new day had just begun.