바실래아

≡ pt.1:: ↷

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"Jealousy is a disease, love is a healthy condition. The immature mind often mistakes one for the other, or assumes that the greater the love, the greater the jealousy – in fact, they are almost incompatible; one emotion hardly leaves room for the other."

– Robert A. Heinlein

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As the last few seconds on Hyomin's timer ran out, she released herself from her plank position, with her instructor's compliments and a reminder to go home ringing in her ears. She huffed in satisfaction, bringing her knees closer while gulping the contents of her water bottle. Wiping off the sweat from her forehead with her towel, she reached for her phone for the time and rose from her ground.

She stopped whatever she was doing at the sound of a familiar voice laughing, and peeked over the equipment blocking her. There he was, striding with utter confidence, as he wore a proud smile. Behind him followed Seungmin and Min Seojung, who took a spot right beside Hyomin, having not noticed her. A strange shiver of joy dashed down her spine at the sight of Minho, although she'd admit it was due to the reveal of his biceps.

 Hyomin hopped in her place, then jogged towards the group, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Hey, Minho! Hi," she chirped at the auburn-haired boy, the greeted the other two with far less enthusiasm. 

Minho nodded, muttering a small 'hi' and walked away to a nearby treadmill. Seungmin snickered and Seojung punched his arm, yet Hyomin stood unaffected at his cold response, for her excitement to be around him was still heaps. She sauntered to where the dumbells were placed, picking a bright blue one, but nearly dropped it when Minho lifted his shirt over his head, throwing it to the side while his abs laid open for everyone to see.

Hyomin inhaled sharply, her breath hitching in her throat, having seen it boldly when her brother's voice interrupted her from calming down. Hyunjin, being the protective yet dramatic brother, grunted at her expression, for Minho had been someone he hated with all his heart.

"Grumpy!" Hyunjin called out to his twin sister, who hadn't stopped staring despite all of the endless grunting and scowling from the long-haired boy. Annoyed deeply, Hyunjin stomped to the older boy, pulling his earphones out, which boomed with pop music in his ear, in one snatch.

"Lee Minho, can't you be a bit more decent?!" Hyunjin groaned at him, who blatantly ignored the complaint and picked up a dumbbell from beside Hyomin, whose cheeks flushed pink when his hand brushed against hers.

"You're one to talk, especially since you stroll around the entire place practically half-naked. I suggest you cover-up," Seojung retorted on behalf of Minho, Seungmin nodding as he sipped on a chocolate milkshake pack, and threw a towel at Hyunjin's shirtless chest.

Hyomin chortled silently, switching to a fake-angry expression when Hyunjin turned to her.

'Maybe they aren't that bad either' she pondered, flipping her hair and gazing at Minho, who rolled his eyes at the entire debacle.

"What are you both doing here anyway? I thought you'd be out, cycling and hating nature," Seojung commented, her cheeks puffed in boredom, as she swung her legs being seated atop a railing.

"We're exercising and...day-dreaming," Hyunjin replied, still peering at his love-struck sister.

"True, but I'm worried about her, especially when she finds out Minho likes someone else," Seungmin began, trailing off but it was more than audible to everyone in the gym. He groaned, chuckling when Minho threw his towel at him, demanding he shut up. 

The only person who didn't react was busy in her own world, imagining movie scenes with her evident crush in her head. Hyunjin growled, crossing his arms as he held Hyomin's shoulder, shaking her. Minho, having had enough of her, dropped his weights, clearly uncomfortable because of Hyomin. He turned, stretching slightly with a smirk as he sated right into the blonde girl's eyes, who didn't flinch one bit and maintained eye contact, biting her lip.

"By the way, aren't you supposed to be, I don't know, adventuring? Oh wait, that's right, I forgot. You're forbidden from stepping out of the penthouse unless it's with your coward, dramatic brother, right?"

Taken back, Hyomin stumbled in her place as her brother held her tight from falling. Tears filled her eyes and her heart hurting, she sniffled. 

Growling, Hyunjin nearly pounced on Minho but Seungmin and Hyomin held him back, their face contorted with confusion, worry, and shock. 

"You wait till I get a hold of you, asshole!" Hyunjin yelled, to which the smirking boy stuck his tongue out. Hyomin hugged the long-haired boy and inhaled deeply.

"Let's go, Jinnie," she whispered, dragging Hyunjin pushing past Seunmin and Seojung, who repeatedly called their names, and ran out of the gym, leaving the uninterested Minho.

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