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[No one noticed] - [The Marias]

After relentless persuasion and heartfelt promises, Soobin and Yena were finally engaged. The living room, once filled with tension and objections, now buzzed with excitement and warmth. Soft laughter and cheerful chatter echoed as the families exchanged pleasantries, the earlier awkwardness melting into something far more joyful.

The ring ceremony was a sight to behold, Soobin, his hands slightly trembling, slid the delicate ring onto Yena's finger, his eyes never leaving hers. Yena blushed deeply, unable to hide the radiant smile that curved her lips as everyone clapped and cheered for the young couple.

Iseul stood quietly by the side, her arms crossed lightly, watching the scene unfold. The joy in the room was infectious, and yet, she felt strangely out of place amidst the sweetness of it all.

Then, out of nowhere, she felt it-a hand brushing against hers.

Sunghoon.

At first, she thought it was an accident, his fingers barely grazing hers as they both stood still. She glanced at him, but his gaze was fixed firmly on the ceremony, his expression calm and unreadable.

It happened again-this time more deliberate. His fingers slid over hers, warm and steady, before settling.

For a second, Iseul wondered if she was imagining it. Was it the strange atmosphere? The sentimentality of the moment playing tricks on her? But then, his grip tightened, a soft, unmistakable squeeze, as if to say, No, this is real.

Her breath hitched, but she said nothing, keeping her eyes forward as though nothing had changed.

When Soobin and Yena exchanged their soft "I love yous," the room erupted into applause. It was sweet and romantic, almost like a scene out of a movie. And just as Iseul felt the warmth of the moment sink into her, Sunghoon squeezed her hand again.

This time, there was no mistaking it.

Her heart skipped a beat, her mind racing with questions she dared not voice. Yet, she didn't pull away. Their hands stayed entwined, a quiet tether amidst the celebration around them. For now, that was enough.

The joyous energy of the room swelled as the ceremony concluded. Soobin, grinning ear to ear, suddenly rushed over to Sunghoon. Before anyone could stop him, he threw his arms around Sunghoon in an enthusiastic hug.

"Hyung, I'm engaged! Can you believe it?"

Sunghoon's entire body stiffened, his expression one of pure revulsion. He awkwardly patted Soobin's back with the least amount of enthusiasm humanly possible.

"Great," Sunghoon muttered, clearly trying to free himself.

Iseul, who had been silently watching with her hand still clasped in his, withdrew her hand so quickly it was as if it burned. She turned away, biting back a laugh as Sunghoon finally managed to untangle himself.

The two of them made a quiet exit as the celebrations continued. They were just steps away from the car when a voice called out behind them.

"Where do you think you're going, sir?"

Sunghoon turned to see Yeonjun, Yena's older brother, a smirk playing on his lips as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"It's tradition," Yeonjun continued, stepping closer. "We drink to celebrate. Soobin's no longer single. You can't leave yet."

Sunghoon furrowed his brows, his irritation evident. "I don't drink. And I'm definitely not staying," he said curtly, his hand already reaching for the car door handle.

But before he could make his escape, Yeonjun's hand clamped down on his shoulder with surprising strength.

"Oh, you'll drink tonight," Yeonjun said with a laugh, steering Sunghoon away from the car. "Come on. It's Gurye's tradition."

Sunghoon twisted his head back, throwing a desperate, pleading look at Iseul. His eyes practically screamed, Help me.

Iseul could only chuckle, folding her arms as she leaned against the car. "Good luck," she called after him, her tone teasing.

Sunghoon's exasperated sigh was audible even as Yeonjun dragged him toward what could loosely be described as Gurye's version of a bar.

Inside the dimly lit bar, Sunghoon sat uneasily at the table, surrounded by men who seemed to take drinking as a serious matter. He was used to sipping whiskey or wine on quiet evenings, sometimes alongside Sungchan, but this-this felt different. The men here poured large cups of soju with precision, as if they were performing a ritual.

Sunghoon's hand trembled slightly as he lifted the first cup to his lips. He knocked it back quickly, followed by a second, then a third. The burn of the alcohol spread through him, and before long, his vision began to blur, his eyes growing hazy. He slouched slightly in his chair, his head spinning.

Turning toward Yeonjun, Sunghoon's voice was slurred but determined. "Hyung," he began, his tone uncharacteristically raw. "I was used... used because of my good heart... but not again. It's over. It's over... I'll go to Iseul, show her the real man. The man she can't just play with anymore."

Yeonjun's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he glanced at Soobin, unsure of what Sunghoon was babbling about.

Without another word, Soobin rose, gently placing a hand on Sunghoon's shoulder. "Let's get you home, hyung," he said quietly, his voice carrying a sense of finality. They didn't have time for this; Sunghoon was too far gone, and whatever this 'real man' talk was, it could wait until tomorrow.

The night was still, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the cool breeze. Iseul stepped out into the night, wearing the loose, comfortable pajamas she had been given, a mix of modern and traditional that made her stand out. The blend of styles felt strange on her, but in this quiet town, no one seemed to care.

Her eyes immediately landed on Sunghoon, who was being supported by Soobin and Yeonjun. She didn't need to ask what had happened; his swaying figure and flushed face told her everything. Her voice, though laced with concern, held a sharp edge.

"Why'd you make him drink so much?" she demanded, but before anyone could respond, she took charge.

She guided Sunghoon inside, leading him to the bed. She didn't wait for him to protest; he was too drunk to understand anyway. As she tried to step back, ready to leave him to sleep it off, Sunghoon's grip on her hand tightened unexpectedly.

She gasped, caught off guard as he pulled her down. The next thing she knew, she was perched above him, their faces inches apart. His eyes, clouded with alcohol but still searching, locked onto hers. "Don't leave... let's talk," he mumbled, his voice hushed and vulnerable.

Iseul froze, her breath catching in her throat. The rawness in his voice, the way he caressed her hair with unsteady hands, made something stir in her chest. She knew Sunghoon well enough to recognize that this wasn't just the alcohol talking.

With a quick breath, she tried to pull away. "Sunghoon, let go," she murmured, but her words were soft, almost pleading.

He only tightened his hold, his grip desperate. "Please, don't go. I... I need to say this. Just listen." His hands moved to her hair again, his touch gentle, but there was an intensity to it that made Iseul's heart race.

A soft chuckle escaped her lips as she took in the sight-his brow furrowed in the same way it had been when they were younger, his breath steady as he let the exhaustion take over before he could continue talking.

For a moment, she just looked at him, feeling the weight of everything between them. The tension. The history. And, now, this. But it didn't matter. She turned, trying to fight the warmth that was growing in her chest, her feelings muddled and confusing. She couldn't let herself get lost in it.

So, with one final glance at the bed, she moved outside, seeking the cool night air to clear her mind. The couch on the small porch felt like a safe haven for her thoughts, far from the complicated mess of emotions she was navigating. She sank into it, closing her eyes, willing herself to forget everything.

Sleep crept up on her quickly, a haze that stole her consciousness away in a matter of moments. The weight of her feelings and the chaos of the day seemed to melt away, and she was out, unaware of how much she had needed rest.

It wasn't long before Sunghoon woke up, the dryness in his throat pulling him from his slumber. He blinked in confusion, trying to gather himself, but as his eyes settled on the window, he saw her-sleeping outside. His heart skipped a beat as he stood, the warmth from their earlier interaction still lingering in his chest.

Without thinking, he grabbed a blanket, careful not to make a sound. When he reached her, he gently covered her, his movements soft and tender. But as he looked down at her peaceful face, something inside him urged him to stay. He didn't know why.

It was strange, this pull he felt, but he couldn't bring himself to leave her out there, alone, even though she hadn't asked for him to be there.

He sat down beside her, and instinctively, as if she had been waiting for it, Iseul shifted in her sleep, her head slowly tilting toward him. Before he knew it, she had settled on his lap, her face calm and relaxed in a way he hadn't seen in a long time. His heart pounded softly in his chest, a quiet thrill running through him at the contact.

His fingers brushed through her hair, slow and deliberate, as if trying to memorize the feeling of this moment. Her soft breath against his skin, the warmth of her body-it felt like they were in a world of their own, the rest of the chaos fading into the background.

As the minutes passed, the gentle rhythm of his fingers in her hair lulled him. Sleep was creeping up on him too, taking him by surprise, as his own eyelids grew heavy.

In that moment, with Iseul resting on his lap, the weight of the world seemed to fall away. For the first time in what felt like forever, everything felt... right.

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Chps that are full of dialogues are easy to write but I hateee writing them like I jsut wanna descb my character's emotions 🥹🙏