Summer On You | 박성화

Chapter 4: Not A Soft Launch

ᴠᴏʟᴜᴍᴇ : ▮▮▮▮▮▮▯▯▯

Indigo
88rising, NIKI
0:00 |───────── 2:53
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⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅

      Before they parted ways that afternoon, just outside the studio door, the conversation lingered a little longer than either of them intended, not quite ready to let go of the comfort that had settled between them. It was Heejin who broke the pause.

"So..." she started, tucking her phone into one palm and meeting his gaze with a small tilt of her head. "Should I expect this 'next time' to happen magically, or are you going to go ahead and give me your number like any normal person?"

Hongjoong smirked, reaching into his pocket. "You asking for my number? That sounds dangerously close to flirting." His tone was teasing, not serious. There was a hint of amusement in his eyes, but nothing expectant. Just two near-strangers laughing at the edges of something comfortable.

"Maybe," she replied, shrugging with an easy calm. "Or maybe I just don't want you showing up with bad coffee in hand for me unannounced."

She said it like a joke, but part of her appreciated the predictability — the comfort of knowing what to expect, even if it was just a small thing like a text or a number exchanged. Lately, that kind of certainty felt a little more welcoming than she expected.

Hongjoong pulled out his phone with a grin, quickly typing in his number, and just as he was about to hand it over, his eyes caught something on her screen. His brow twitched as he saw how she had saved his name in her contacts list.

Heejin noticed his glance and, too, raised an eyebrow. "What?" she asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes, trying to read his expression.

The taller male smirked, holding up her phone. "You added a sparkle? Now that's a new one," he said, amusement dancing in his voice as he studied the glittering symbol next to his nickname.

She shrugged, unfazed. "It's not like I'm going to tell you what it means." It was more fun this way — letting him wonder, enough to keep him on his toes.

Hongjoong laughed, shaking his head in half disbelief and half amusement at the situation he was in. "Fair enough. Though if you're going to save my number, at least give me a proper warning."

He handed her his phone with a playful grin. "There. You've got my number now. It's only fair if you give me yours too, right?" he said, his voice teasing as he tilted the device towards her, the grin never quite leaving his face as he watched her reaction.

Heejin took both phones — his, which he had offered with an easy grin, and hers, now warm in her palm — and typed his number into her contacts. Once saved, she returned his device, pausing only to pull up her own number on the screen. Without a word, she tilted it toward him, a quiet invitation written in the small, satisfied curve of her lips.

Bailey gave a soft, impatient whine, nudging Heejin's leg with her nose. "He's got better social awareness than you," she said without looking down. "Knows when to leave when it's needed."

Hongjoong crouched to give the dog a quick scratch behind the ears. "You saying you're trying to get rid of me?" he asked, lighthearted on the surface, but Bailey's lazy tail-wagging was answer enough.

"I'm saying he knows when to eat," Heejin replied, giving a slight tug on the leash. Her tone was casual, edged with dry amusement — more of a nudge than anything else. "Are you heading somewhere or just planning to loiter here all afternoon?"