By Zephyria “Okay.”
Sung Se-han, who had the basketball tucked under his arm, covered his mouth with one hand. I pretended not to notice that he was holding back a laugh.
“The photographer said he’s going to capture natural moments first. So just play without any pressure.”
Sung Se-han, who came to my side, leaned in slightly and whispered. The moment Sung Se-han’s lips got closer, I almost jumped back in surprise. Haa…! I really need to pull myself together.
“Then I can be a little more comfortable.”
I maintained my expression with desperate effort. But I couldn’t stop my face from flushing and my ears from getting hot.
“Your ears are red.”
The sensation of cold fingers touching my ear made me jump up in surprise and cover my ear.
“Hey, I told you not to.”
“Sorry.”
Sung Se-han was definitely enjoying my flustered and embarrassed appearance. I sighed at his villainous appearance, full of mischief in his eyes as he pondered how to tease me.
No, rather, my heart calmed down peacefully. Sung Se-han’s brown eyes were full of vitality as if nothing had happened. It was as if he was saying that he wasn’t hurting because I was by his side, which made my heart flutter. Could there be anything more prideful than this in the world?
While walking towards the center of the set, Sung Se-han followed me, bouncing the basketball. I unconsciously smiled, and then my eyes met Jeong-min’s. Jeong-min, who was separated from the other members, was standing blankly, holding a badminton racket alone.
“Tell me what you’re good at.”
Sung Se-han, who had been walking backwards in front of me, touched my hair.
“Because I’m going to take a picture with you.”
I snatched the ball from Sung Se-han and bounced it on the floor. The hesitation didn’t last long.
“Sung Se-han, our maknae… is your fan.”
Sung Se-han, who had been lowering his stance and pretending to snatch the ball, straightened his back.
“So?”
I stared at the guy who quickly became sulky and burst out laughing. That’s right. This guy was wary of everyone I was interested in.
“He’s a younger brother I care about.”
Perhaps I was able to endure many difficult and lonely days thanks to Jeong-min and Gun-woo Hyung. I was able to soothe my longing because I was with them, who were connected to Sung Se-han just like me.
“Our maknae, Jeong-min, is really interested in you. He wants to get close to you.”
Jeong-min had always liked Sung Se-han. Unlike me, his time hating Sung Se-han was also short.
“So what?”
Sung Se-han, who had taken the ball from me, bounced the ball on the floor in a rebellious manner. Sung Se-han turned away from me and continued to bounce the ball as he walked forward. My gaze turned to Jeong-min at Sung Se-han’s actions. Jeong-min, who glanced at me, paused and then hurriedly looked around. It was clear that he was flustered by Sung Se-han’s approaching figure, and his eyes widened.
“Jeong-min.”
Sung Se-han’s low voice calling Jeong-min reached my ears as well. For some reason, my heart fluttered.
“Yes, yes!”
It was an answer full of spirit, unlike Jeong-min. Even after answering like that, Jeong-min kept looking around. He probably wasn’t sure if Sung Se-han had called his name.
“Are you close to balls?”
“Yes, yes…?”
Sung Se-han, who had bounced the basketball on the floor and caught it with one hand, looked at the basketball hoop on the other side.
“Lee Tae-kyung hates ball games. What about you?”
“Ball games, ah! Basketball?”
Jeong-min, whose face was flushed, glanced at me and then hurriedly looked up at Sung Se-han.
“Tae-kyung Hyung doesn’t really like exercise. I like all kinds of exercise! I play basketball a little too!”
“How much do you play?”
Sung Se-han immediately lowered his stance and bounced the ball, and the quick-witted Jeong-min quickly attempted a steal. Sung Se-han, who bounced the ball between his legs without a chance, quickly dribbled past Jeong-min to the basketball hoop.
As expected, our Jeong-min didn’t give up and even tried to steal the ball while body-checking. But Sung Se-han, who arrived under the hoop, cleanly made the shot with a picturesque form.
“Wow! Hyung, you’re so cool!”
Jeong-min, who had forgotten that he had been trying to steal the ball until just now, exclaimed with an excited face. Huh? My mouth opened on its own at the sight of Sung Se-han stroking Jeong-min’s head. Jeong-min’s eyes widened as if he was surprised that the large hand had brushed past him.
Sung Se-han continued to throw the ball to Jeong-min and gestured for him to come in. As I watched that scene, I rubbed my nose for no reason. I could tell just by looking at the smile hanging on Sung Se-han’s cool lips. That guy, he must like Jeong-min.
“Tae-kyung! Come over here. Let’s play badminton!”
Gun-woo Hyung, who was playing badminton with the younger members, was calling me. The badminton that I had occasionally played with Gun-woo Hyung at the company was a sport that I, who had no athletic sense, could do relatively easily.
“Yes. I’m going!”
I turned my feet towards the members and then turned back again. The idol members had gathered around Sung Se-han in the meantime, and a fierce battle for points was taking place at the basketball hoop.
Jeong-min seemed to be on the same team as Sung Se-han, and he was setting screens and clearing Sung Se-han’s dribbling path. Seeing Jeong-min smiling even while body-checking, I felt strange. It was as if everything was falling into place, a strangely comfortable and stable feeling.
Is it okay to be this happy? I couldn’t even remember how long it had been since I had felt such peace, where I didn’t have to have anxious thoughts.
*
After a filming time of over five hours, I didn’t even have the strength to stand.
I returned to the waiting room and collapsed on the sofa, and only then did I feel like I could live. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, feeling like I didn’t have the strength to move even a fingertip.
I was so exhausted not only because I had been struggling with unfamiliar exercise equipment, but also probably because I had been too excited.
It was only natural that my heart was fluttering in this environment where Sung Se-han didn’t disappear from my sight and I kept making eye contact with him.
“Jeong-min, when did you get so close to Sung Se-han?”
I opened my eyes at Ho-soo’s voice and saw the younger members entering the waiting room.
“Hey, he’s Tae-kyung Hyung’s friend, so you should call him Hyung. What’s Sung Se-han?”
“Huh?”
Ho-soo looked dumbfounded at Jeong-min’s solemn answer. Still, Jeong-min seemed to be in a good mood and put his arm around Ho-soo’s shoulder.
“Se-han Hyung is close to Tae-kyung Hyung, so he must feel like we’re younger brothers too. We promised to play basketball together next time.”
Soo-in, who was removing her makeup, turned around at Jeong-min’s excited words.
“I thought Sung Se-han Sunbae was hard to approach, but after seeing him today, he seems to have a good personality.”
“Right? Right?”
“Jeong-min, let’s remove your makeup. Come quickly!”
As Da-hyun Noona’s words fell, Jeong-min quickly sat in front of the vanity. Ho-soo, who had been standing blankly, came and sat next to me.
“Still, I find Sung Se-han Sunbae a bit difficult. Maybe it’s because he’s too handsome…”
“What? What’s too handsome?”
I felt a pleasant laugh coming out, so I was about to stroke Ho-soo’s head when the message alarm on the phone on the table rang. I jumped up and picked up the phone, and my heart was already pounding.
[Come out of the waiting room for a second.]
After checking Sung Se-han’s message, I slowly looked around the waiting room. I felt like I needed to calm myself down for a moment before going out.
“I’m going to the bathroom for a second.”
After excusing myself to Gun-woo Hyung, who was just entering the waiting room, I hurried out into the hallway. As I walked aimlessly down the somewhat noisy corridor, I saw Sung Se-han getting off the elevator.
“Sung Se-han!”
My face flushed with embarrassment after shouting so loudly. Why was I so glad to see him when we had been in the same space just a moment ago? I really am hopeless.
I wanted to restrain myself, but Sung Se-han, who had changed into slacks and a shirt, only made my heart race faster.
Sung Se-han, who was smiling at me, glanced behind me. I reflexively turned around and saw Ho-jeong Sunbae peeking out from the Jumping Boys waiting room.
“Se-han! You’re making time this weekend, right? You promised?”
“Yes. I’ll check my schedule.”
“Hey, don’t do that, come to the gathering…”
As Sunbae continued to speak, Sung Se-han grabbed my wrist and pulled me away. I hurriedly followed Sung Se-han as he turned into the left corridor and went all the way to the corner.
“I have another shoot tonight, so I have to go now.”
Only when we were out of sight did Sung Se-han let go of my hand.
“I wanted to go with you.”
Sung Se-han’s brown eyes sparkled as he stroked my cheek. I looked up at Sung Se-han and chuckled.
“We’re going separately anyway. We’re not even on the same team.”
“I know. It would have been nice if we were on the same team.”
The feeling of my heart throbbing at Sung Se-han’s words wasn’t unpleasant. What is this? Right. It feels like I’m alive. Now that I’m not suppressing my emotions, it feels like I’m really living.