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[Soft spot] - [Keshi]

The night had fully embraced the world outside, the sky a deep, velvety indigo, speckled with stars. Iseul stepped into their home, her heels clicking against the cool, polished floors, the sound echoing in the quiet space.

As she paused at the entrance, confusion flickered across her features. She glanced at Sunghoon, who had already stepped inside, waiting for her. "Why did we come here?" she asked, her voice soft, a hint of hesitation in it.

Sunghoon didn't answer right away. Instead, he moved towards her, his presence suddenly filling the space. He reached for her waist, pulling her closer, his touch confident and grounding. "I tried to replicate it from your dreams," he murmured, his voice low and intimate, as if sharing a secret. "If anything feels off, tell me. You can move in whenever you're ready."

Iseul's heart fluttered slightly at the words, her breath catching. The house was beautiful, and it was everything she had imagined for herself. But something about the situation felt too sudden, too overwhelming. She looked up at him, searching his eyes, trying to find her footing in this moment.

"Sunghoon... aren't we moving too fast?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

He studied her for a moment, his gaze unwavering. He took a step back, but only to look at her with an expression that was equal parts understanding and resolve. "We've wasted enough time already," he replied, his tone steady, like someone who had already made up their mind.

Iseul felt a strange tightness in her chest. She couldn't help but voice the fear that had been gnawing at her heart. "I'm afraid," she confessed, the words slipping out before she could stop them. She wasn't sure if she meant the house or everything else that came with it—the commitment, the vulnerability, the promise of something real.

Sunghoon's eyes softened instantly. He stepped closer, his hand lifting to gently cup her cheek. His thumb brushed against her skin, tender and sure. "Don't be afraid," he whispered, the words soothing yet intense. "I'm here now, and I'm not letting go."

Iseul's heart pounded in her chest, her breath shallow. For a moment, she allowed herself to lean into the warmth of his touch, to let the softness of his words wash over her. But then, Sunghoon stepped back, pulling away just enough to reach for a drawer nearby. He retrieved something small and metallic, the glint of a key catching the light. He held it out to her.

"This is yours now," he said, his voice firm, like a promise.

Iseul stared at the key for a moment, the weight of it settling heavily in her palm when she took it. She looked up at him, her heart racing. "Sunghoon, didn't you say you bought this house for the woman you love?" she asked quietly, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "The one who'll love you back, the one you can trust?"

He stepped closer again, his presence overwhelming in the best way. His eyes met hers with such certainty, such raw emotion that it stole her breath away. "That's you," he said, his voice a low rumble, full of meaning. "Always has been you."

Before she could respond, Sunghoon closed the distance between them, his lips a hair's breadth from hers. The air between them thickened, charged with tension, with anticipation. But just as he leaned in, Iseul, ever the unpredictable force, playfully pushed him away. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she stepped back.

"I'll make popcorn," she said, her voice light, teasing. "You can pick the movie for us."

Sunghoon blinked in surprise, his heart doing an erratic beat at her sudden playfulness. A soft chuckle escaped him as he watched her retreat to the kitchen, her laugh dancing in the air. He couldn't help but smile, his chest tightening in that familiar feeling he couldn't quite define—like he was on the edge of something important, something real. She had a way of keeping him on his toes, of making him beg for more, and yet, he found it utterly charming.

He shook his head, a smile spreading across his face. "You drive me crazy," he muttered, but there was no real frustration in his tone. If anything, he was beginning to understand just how much he enjoyed it.

The soft hum of the evening was disrupted only by the occasional shuffle of fabric and the rustling of popcorn. Sunghoon, who had been absently scrolling through his phone, hadn't even realized the time slipping away. Iseul, on the other hand, had been watching him expectantly, the bowl of popcorn resting in her lap. She was starting to grow impatient, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at him.

"Where's the movie?" she asked, her voice tinged with playful irritation.

Sunghoon, still engrossed in his phone, chuckled without looking up. "Sorry, babe," he muttered, a sheepish smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Got too caught up in this new app, it's a game."

Iseul couldn't help but roll her eyes, but her lips quirked upward in amusement. She took a handful of popcorn, crunching on it as she watched him, amused by how absorbed he was. She'd heard the development team mention the new app just days ago, and Sunghoon seemed like he was diving deep into it.

"You always get so focused on these things," she teased, raising an eyebrow as she leaned back against the couch.

Sunghoon looked up then, noticing the playful glint in her eyes. "Wanna try it?" he asked, a smile spreading across his face, his voice low with the offer.

Iseul hesitated for a moment, her fingers still clutching the popcorn bowl. "But I don't know how to play," she said, not fully sure what she was getting into.

"I'll teach you," Sunghoon promised, his tone almost too confident, as if he was excited by the prospect of spending this time with her.

Without thinking too much, Iseul slid over to where he was sitting, but as she approached, she was caught off guard by how he opened his legs, making room for her. The space between them, once comfortable, now felt charged with a different kind of energy. There was no more distance between them, and she realized he was inviting her into his personal space in a way that felt intimate, yet effortless.

Iseul hesitated for a second, her heart racing as she sat down slowly, positioning herself on his lap. The warmth of his body against hers was enough to make her skin tingle, but she didn't say anything—too aware of how close they were now.

Sunghoon, completely oblivious to how this might affect her, smiled and shifted the phone so she could see it better. "Okay," he said, his fingers brushing against hers as he guided her hands onto the screen. "First, you just have to swipe here, and then—"

Every time he shifted, she felt it—a warmth that spread across her skin. The subtle, teasing touches of his fingers against hers when he guided her hand to the screen made her heart race. She tried to ignore the fluttering in her stomach, but it was impossible. Every movement, every glance he gave her seemed to hold a thousand unspoken words.

"Focus, you're going to lose," Sunghoon's voice broke through her thoughts, low and playful. But it was more than that—it was the way he said it, the rough edge of his voice, the way his lips hovered near her ear. She could feel his breath warm against her skin, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

She forced herself to look at the game, her fingers trying to swipe correctly, but every time she made a mistake, she couldn't ignore the way Sunghoon's body pressed against hers. The sensation of his muscles beneath her, the way his legs were open and inviting, was driving her wild. His scent was everywhere, intoxicating, pulling her deeper into the moment. It was like she was drowning in him, in the heat of the space they were occupying together.

"Come on, you're not even trying," Sunghoon teased, but his words were laced with something else—something darker, more possessive. He inched closer, his body almost entirely against hers now. She could feel the tension between them shift, growing thicker by the second.

Her breath hitched as his hand moved from hers to her waist, the subtle pressure sending a spark of heat through her entire body. His fingers traced the curve of her waist lightly, but it was enough to make her skin burn. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her racing heart.

Then, just as they were about to lean in, the air between them charged with the weight of a kiss that was so close, so desperately needed, the sudden RIIIIIIING of Sunghoon's phone cut through the moment like a jolt of cold water.

Iseul's heart raced, her breath catching in her throat. She pulled away instinctively, her body uncomfortably aware of how much she wanted to stay close to him. The phone call had shattered the intensity, but the tension in the air lingered, hanging thick and heavy around them.

Sunghoon groaned, looking frustrated as he reached for his phone, his hand running through his hair in a mixture of annoyance and something else—something darker that Iseul couldn't quite place. He answered with a curt, "Yeah?" but his eyes were on her, flicking over to her from the corner of his gaze. She could feel the burn of his gaze on her, a silent promise that this wasn't over—that they weren't finished.

Iseul tried to regain her composure, but it was impossible. Her pulse was still erratic, her mind replaying the closeness they'd shared just seconds ago. She could still feel the phantom pressure of his hand on her waist, still feel the lingering warmth where their bodies had been pressed together. Her stomach fluttered, her heart beating faster for reasons she couldn't explain.

She crossed her legs, trying to push away the undeniable desire that still simmered beneath the surface. But it was hard. It was so damn hard when he was sitting so close, his scent still lingering in the air. She couldn't ignore the electricity crackling between them, the unspoken tension that hung like a storm cloud, waiting to burst.

Sunghoon's voice was distant as he spoke on the phone, but his eyes never left her. There was something in his gaze, something smoldering that made her breath catch again. His gaze was hot, possessive, like he was silently staking his claim on her, and it made her pulse quicken even more. She couldn't stop herself from looking at him, the need building inside her, the desire bubbling just beneath the surface.

His conversation was cut short when he glanced at her one last time, and this time, the look in his eyes was full of intent. He hung up abruptly, his phone slipping from his hand and landing on the couch with a soft thud.

"I'm done with that," he said, his voice low, almost growling. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, the world outside seemed to disappear. It was just him, just her, in this shared space filled with undeniable chemistry.

He leaned forward, closing the distance between them in a slow, deliberate movement. His lips parted slightly, his gaze flicking down to her mouth before slowly, agonizingly slowly, he leaned in, his breath mingling with hers.

Iseul's heart skipped a beat. Her body seemed to freeze, the tension between them crackling in the air. The moment was almost too much to bear, the need for each other so palpable it could suffocate them both.

And then, just as their lips were about to meet—

RIIIIIIIIING.

Another phone call. Another interruption. This time, Iseul groaned, her patience nearly spent. She pushed herself off of his lap, standing quickly, not knowing whether to laugh or curse.

But then her eyes widened as she glanced down at the incoming call ID, and without thinking, her fingers quickly swiped across the screen. Her heart fluttered, but it wasn't because of Sunghoon. No, it was the caller who had her attention.

"Yes, Mom?" she answered, trying to sound casual, though the sudden shift in her mood was unmistakable.

Sunghoon watched her, his eyes still burning with the heat of their previous moments. His lips parted to say something, but before he could speak, Iseul's hand shot out to cover his mouth. The soft touch of her skin against his lips made his pulse spike, but he stilled, his breath heavy against her fingers.

"Don't say anything," she whispered, her eyes flicking to his for a brief moment before she turned her attention back to the call.

"My beautiful daughter, where are you? It's getting late," her mother's voice rang through the phone, warm and filled with concern.

"I'm coming, I got caught up with something," Iseul replied, her voice steady, though she could feel the weight of the situation in the air between them. She hung up quickly, the call ending with a soft click.

Sunghoon's pout was immediate, a playful expression that only made him more frustratingly endearing. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if in challenge. "You're really leaving?"

Iseul simply shrugged, brushing past him and heading towards the door. Her steps were deliberate, but her mind raced with everything that had just transpired. Sunghoon watched her, still seated on the couch, his expression unreadable.

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added that scene for my lovely readers who watched hidden love