CHAPTER 5 - The Childhood Friend

"Hey Miseo! What are you doing this weekend?" Haneul asked with a big smile on her face, sitting across from her roommate in their shared room. "I was thinking that we could go out to the countryside and visit my family's farm for the weekend!"

Miseo looked up from her phone and scrunched her nose at the idea. "The countryside? Ugh Haneul...you know I'm not really a nature girl." She leaned back on their couch, still in her dance clothes after evaluations. Sweat and grime still covered her body. “It’s really hot around this time of year too.”

"Oh c'mon! It'll be fun!" Haneul begged with wide eyes. "We could walk around fields, pick fresh fruits from the orchards... and trust me, my mom makes the best kimchi you've ever tasted."

Miseo rolled her eyes but couldn't help cracking a small smile at Haneul's enthusiasm. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up though - Miseo was more of a party girl who loved the city lights and glamour of Seoul.

"No offense, but I'm not really into long walks or picking tree semen." Miseo said bluntly. "I'd rather be clubbing at some of those hot new spots downtown."

Haneul frowned, her shoulders slumping. She looked genuinely disappointed by Miseo's reaction. Haneul was such a sweetheart and always tried to include Miseo in things... even if they weren't really Miseo's cup of tea.

"Please?" Haneul asked again, her voice small now. "It would mean so much to me..."

Miseo sighed heavily, knowing she couldn't resist those puppy dog eyes. Dammit, why did she have to be such a softy sometimes?

"Alright alright... fine!" Miseo agreed with an exasperated huff. Haneul immediately lit up and clapped her hands in joy.

"You won't regret it! I promise we'll have a blast!"

Miseo gave a noncommittal shrug, still not convinced she was going to enjoy herself much out in the boonies. But at least spending some quality time with sweet Haneul would be nice. She just hoped there was decent Wi-Fi connection so she could keep up with her social media.

---

After packing up their bags and grabbing a quick breakfast in the city, Miseo and Haneul boarded an early morning bus bound for the countryside. The bus was pretty empty this time of day, with only a few spare patrons, so they had no trouble finding seats together near the back.

Haneul chattered excitedly about all the fun activities they'd be doing at her family's farm while Miseo stared out the window with a bored expression, only half-listening as they pulled away from Seoul and started on the highway. She couldn't believe she had agreed to this - spending an entire weekend in some Podunk town sounded like literal hell for a city girl like her.

A few hours into their journey though, Haneul dozed off against Miseo's shoulder, lulled to sleep by the hum of the bus engine. Miseo glanced down at her sweet roommate and felt a twinge of affection. At least she was getting this quality time with Haneul out of the deal.

As Miseo peeked over the shoulder of a nearby passenger watching a K-pop dance on his phone, her thoughts suddenly drifted to the night before with her dance teacher. She was always down to fuck, so the fucking wasn’t a big deal, but for some reason, she wasn’t sure if she could tell Haneul about her experience.

Before she knew it, the bus started to slow down. Miseo gently shook her sleeping roommate's shoulder to wake her as the bus rolled into the small, quiet town. "Haneul... we're here." She whispered softly.

Haneul stirred awake with a yawn and stretch before rubbing her eyes. "Already?" she asked sleepily. Then she perked up immediately upon remembering where they were. "Yes! Come on, let's grab our bags and go!" Haneul jumped up from their seats to get ready to disembark.

Miseo followed along with a sigh, still not fully convinced this was going to be her idea of a good time. But as soon as they exited the bus though, she had to admit - the fresh air did smell pretty nice. And it was certainly peaceful here compared to the bustling city...

Haneul led them to where her parents were waiting in their old pickup truck. They greeted Haneul with warm hugs and hellos before turning their attention to Miseo.

"Miseo! So nice to meet you finally!" Her mom exclaimed, pulling her into a tight embrace despite having never met her before. "Haneul has told us so much about you!"

"And it's an honor to have such a beautiful girl visiting our home." Haneul's dad added with a friendly grin.

Miseo blushed and smiled shyly at the kind welcome, feeling a little embarrassed by all the attention. She just hoped she wouldn't embarrass herself or Haneul too much over this weekend...

---

As the four of them made their way towards the house, Miseo hung back a few steps behind them. She was still taking in the sights and sounds of this new environment when suddenly, a large, buzzing insect flew straight at her face.

Miseo let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched shriek and stumbled backwards, swatting frantically at the air around her head. The insect, which turned out to be a harmless dragonfly, continued on its merry way without so much as a glance back at Miseo's dramatic reaction.

Haneul spun around at the sound of Miseo's scream, concern etched across her face until she saw what had spooked her friend. She couldn't help but burst out laughing at Miseo's horrified expression.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Haneul asked between fits of giggles, pulling Miseo into a hug to comfort her. "It was just a little dragonfly! They're harmless, I promise."

Miseo clung to Haneul tightly, her heart still racing from the shock. "I know that!" she insisted, trying to regain some semblance of composure even though her hands were still shaking slightly. "But it's so huge! Everything here is just... so much bigger than in the city."

Haneul's parents exchanged amused glances as they watched the scene unfold on their porch. They were both used to Haneul's more reserved nature and found Miseo's lively personality refreshing.

"Come inside, dear," Haneul's mother said kindly, holding open the front door in welcome. "Lunch is nearly ready."

Miseo reluctantly let go of Haneul and followed her into the house, still eyeing the dragonfly with suspicion as it flitted about the yard outside. She had a feeling that this countryside adventure was going to be full of surprises - and not all of them pleasant.

As she wandered through the cozy house, Miseo couldn't help but notice how much more relaxed Haneul seemed in her childhood home. Her usually serious expression had softened into one of contentment as she chatted with her parents about their plans for the weekend. Miseo felt a twinge of longing as she watched them interact, wishing that she could have such a close relationship with her own family someday.

Haneul went to change out of her travel clothes. Meanwhile, Miseo wandered over to look at some framed photos on the wall. Mostly they were pictures of Haneul growing up - playing in the fields, pointing at fruit, even showing off her dance skills as a child.

Miseo smiled wistfully at seeing this glimpse into Haneul's past. Her roommate was such an innocent and sweet girl... so different from Miseo herself. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of person she would have been had she grown up in the countryside too.

"Lunch is ready!" Haneul called out, pulling Miseo away from her musings.

The two girls joined Haneul's parents at the table and dug into a delicious spread of bibimbap, kimchi stew, and some freshly baked bread. Miseo had to admit - this home cooking was a far cry better than anything she could find in Seoul!

As they ate though, Miseo couldn't shake the feeling that Haneul's parents were studying her intently over their meals... like they were trying to figure out what kind of girl their daughter was hanging around with these days. She shifted uncomfortably under their scrutiny.

After lunch, Haneul suggested they go for a walk in the fields before the sun set and Miseo readily agreed, hoping not to encounter another wild Pokémon in their venture.

---

They set off down the winding dirt path that led away from Haneul's house, Miseo's eyes widened with wonder as she took in the beauty of their surroundings. The air was fresher here, filled with the sweet scent of wildflowers and freshly cut grass.

As they walked, Haneul pointed out various landmarks and told stories about her childhood adventures in this very spot. Miseo listened intently, marveling at how different Haneul seemed back home compared to her usual reserved demeanor in the city.

They eventually arrived at a small creek that Haneul had visited often as a child. She plopped down on the grassy bank and patted the space next to her invitingly. Miseo joined her, kicking off her sandals so she could dangle her feet in the cool water like Haneul was doing.

For a few moments, they simply sat in comfortable silence, enjoying the gentle sounds of nature around them. The babbling creek, chirping birds, and rustling leaves all served to create a peaceful ambiance that Miseo found strangely comforting.

Just as she was starting to feel truly relaxed for the first time since arriving here, Miseo suddenly felt something brush against her leg in the water. She jerked back with a startled yelp, nearly toppling over backwards onto the grass.

Haneul turned to look at her friend with concern etched across her face. "What's wrong?" she asked urgently, reaching out to steady Miseo as she scrambled away from the edge of the creek on all fours.

Miseo pointed a trembling finger towards the water, her eyes wide and filled with fear. "Something touched my leg," she gasped, her voice wavering slightly. "I don't know what it was, but it felt... wrong."

Haneul peered into the shallow waters of the creek, searching for any sign of movement that could have startled Miseo so thoroughly. After a moment, she let out a small laugh and shook her head.

"It was probably just a fish," she explained gently. "They're harmless, I promise."

Miseo took a deep breath to calm herself but couldn't quite shake the lingering feeling of unease. She glanced around warily at their surroundings as if expecting more strange creatures to leap out from behind every tree and bush.

Haneul watched her friend with a mixture of amusement and sympathy, knowing that Miseo was just not used to being so far removed from the concrete jungle of the city she called home. Still, Haneul couldn't help but feel a little proud to be showing Miseo this side of her world.

The pair left the creek and continued their tour around the outskirts and fields of the town. As they turned a corner on the path though, Miseo froze when she spotted a tall, handsome man loading hay bales into a pickup truck up ahead. He had broad shoulders straining against his flannel shirt as he heaved them up with ease...

Haneul gasped beside her, stopping dead in her tracks at the sight of this stranger. Her eyes were wide and her face had gone completely pale.

"W-wait... who is that guy?" Miseo asked uncertainly as she looked back and forth between Haneul's shocked expression and the muscular farmer before them.

"That's... that's Seungwon," Haneul whispered, her voice barely audible. "He used to be one of my best friends in high school..."

Miseo blinked in surprise at this revelation. She studied him curiously as he finished loading his truck before straightening up and wiping sweat from his brow.

As if sensing their presence, Seungwon turned around to face them with a friendly smile that lit up his entire face. "Haneul!" He called out warmly as he strode towards them. "I can't believe it's you! It's been ages!"

Miseo watched in fascination as the two old friends embraced tightly, both clearly thrilled to see each other again after so long apart. She felt a little awkward standing there like a third wheel though...

"And you’re Miseo," Seungwon began with a charming grin as he released Haneul from their hug and turned his attention towards her. "I'm guessing you're the famous roommate I've heard all about?"

Miseo blushed under his direct gaze, feeling both flattered and a little taken aback by the intense interest in those dark eyes of his...

"I'm Seungwon." He flashed her with a charming smile. "So how long are you two in town for?"

"Not too long - just the weekend," Haneul replied. “Wait, how do you know Miseo?”

Seungwon chuckled. “Ah, well. Some of our old friends still follow you on Instagram, and you know how they love to gossip.”

Haneul nodded slightly with a hint of disappointment. Miseo broke the awkward silence and spoke up with a flirty grin of her own. "I’d love to see more of this lovely countryside while I’m here..."

Seungwon chuckled at her obvious flirtation, clearly amused by Miseo's forwardness. "Well, in that case... I was about to take a break and grab some coffee from the local shop. Why don't you two join me?"

The girls nodded as he led the way. As they walked into town towards the coffee shop, Haneul couldn't help but steal glances at Seungwon every so often. Miseo noticed her roommate's wistful looks and raised an eyebrow in question.

"Is there something you're not telling me about this guy?" She asked under her breath to Haneul as they trailed behind Seungwon slightly.

Haneul blushed and looked away, shaking her head quickly. "What? No... Why would you ask that?"

Miseo scoffed. "Oh please, it's so obvious! He’s cute! Did something happen between the two of you back in the day or what?"

"N-no, nothing like that!" Haneul insisted, her cheeks now bright red. "We were just good friends as kids and hung out a bit in high school... that's all."

Miseo smirked knowingly at her flustered roommate. She could tell there was more to this story than Haneul was letting on. And from the way Seungwon kept glancing back at Miseo with interest himself, it seemed she might be in the middle of a love triangle.

As they reached the quaint little coffee shop, Miseo made a mental note to pry more out of Haneul later about her history with Seungwon...

---

Miseo couldn't help but smirk as she watched the female barista flirt shamelessly with Seungwon while he placed their drink order at the counter. The poor girl was practically batting her eyelashes and leaning over the pastry case to give him an eyeful of cleavage, all in a **** attempt to get his attention.

Seungwon seemed oblivious to her advances as he simply paid for their coffees and thanked her politely before returning to where Haneul and Miseo were sitting at one of the small tables by the window. He set down their drinks with a cheerful smile, sliding into the seat across from them both.

Haneul took a sip of her latte and let out an appreciative hum. "Mmm this is delicious," she said happily, giving Seungwon a warm smile over the rim of her cup. "I can see why you love coming here so much!"

Seungwon grinned back at her proudly, his eyes crinkling at the corners in a way that Miseo found incredibly attractive - if not slightly unsettling given how he had just been hit on by another woman right in front of them. “The place opened not too long after you left.”

Miseo cleared her throat delicately, gesturing subtly towards the counter where the barista was still sneaking longing glances over at their table. "So uh... I take it you come here often?" she asked with a knowing smirk.

Seungwon followed Miseo's gaze and finally seemed to notice the barista staring at him intently from across the room. He waved her off with an easygoing shrug, clearly not bothered by her obvious interest in him one bit.

"Oh yeah, pretty much every day," he replied casually, taking a swig of his own coffee. "It's nice to have a little slice of heaven right here in my hometown."

Haneul looked back and forth between Miseo and Seungwon with a slight frown. She hadn't picked up on the sexual tension crackling between them - or perhaps she had simply chosen not to acknowledge it.

As they continued their conversation over steaming cups of coffee, Miseo couldn't help but feel increasingly attracted to this charming young man who seemed so at ease in his own skin... even if his nonchalant attitude towards female attention made her a little uneasy.

Especially more so, since Miseo noticed how Haneul was stealing little glances at Seungwon whenever she thought no one was looking. There was a wistful quality to her gaze that made it clear to her - even if not to Seungwon himself - just what kind of feelings Haneul had harbored for this childhood friend over the years.

Haneul laughed along with Seungwon's stories and shared memories from their youth, but there was an underlying tension in her body language that spoke volumes about how she truly felt deep down inside. It made Miseo wonder just what kind of history these two really had together - and if Haneul ever planned on being honest with herself about those unspoken emotions bubbling beneath the surface. No matter how wet she was getting from this man, she couldn’t do that to Haneul.

Miseo reached over to give her friend's hand a reassuring squeeze under the table, wanting to let Haneul know that she was there for whatever she might need - even if it meant having an uncomfortable conversation later on about these apparent feelings, she had kept hidden away all this time.

“What is it? Is there a bug?” Haneul whispered to her as she squeezed her hand back.

“Bug!? Where?” Miseo stood up, letting go of her hand and checking under the table. Haneul and Seungwon laughed as they continued their conversation.

---

When Haneul excused herself to use the restroom, Miseo decided it was time to get some answers from Seungwon. She leaned forward across their little table and fixed him with a serious stare.

"So... I couldn't help but notice how you two kept looking at each other," she began slyly. "There's definitely some history between the two of you, isn't there?"

Seungwon sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair as he glanced towards the restroom nervously before turning back to Miseo. "Look... I know Haneul and I both have big dreams for our futures. She wants to become an idol in Seoul while I want to help my family keep this farm going..."

"But I can't lie, there was always more between us than just friendship," he admitted with a pained look on his face. "I've had feelings for Haneul ever since we were kids... but I know that if she does become an idol someday like she hopes to, our lives will be too different, and it wouldn't work out."

Miseo blinked in surprise at this revelation. She hadn't expected Seungwon to be so open and honest. And from the way he spoke about Haneul... despite being an obvious fuckboy, it was clear he really did care for her deeply.

"I get it," Miseo whispered to him, holding his gaze meaningfully. “You’re a good friend.”

When Haneul came back, Seungwon suddenly excused himself to use the restroom. Miseo then realized how quickly the barista jumped at the opportunity to follow him - not so subtly slipping away from behind the counter as soon as his back was turned.

Miseo sighed and shook her head, turning her attention back to Haneul who looked a bit lost in thought after Seungwon's departure. "I can't believe you two haven't hooked up before," Miseo mused aloud with a knowing smirk. "He seems like your type."

Haneul blushed fiercely at the insinuation, her eyes widening as she glanced around to make sure no one else had overheard Miseo's bold statement. "W-what? No!" she sputtered defensively. "We're just friends... we've always been just friends!"

Miseo arched an eyebrow skeptically but let it drop for now, not wanting to push her friend too far out of her comfort zone all at once. She could tell that Haneul had feelings for Seungwon - the question was whether those feelings were romantic in nature or simply nostalgic remnants from their childhood bond.

Miseo felt a small twinge of pity for her friend. It must be hard to keep such strong emotions bottled up inside - especially when there was no reason for Haneul not to express them openly if she wanted.

But then again, maybe it wasn't as simple as that... perhaps Haneul had her reasons for keeping Seungwon at arm's length despite the obvious connection between them.

When they prepared to leave the coffee shop, Miseo noticed how flustered and disheveled the barista looked. Her hair was a mess, her blouse was slightly askew, and there was an unmistakable sheen of sweat glistening on her flushed cheeks.

Miseo shot Haneul a subtle smirk before turning her attention back to the young lady behind the counter. She leaned in closer with a knowing wink, discreetly pointing out a small droplet of cum that had been missed when wiping away the evidence from her tryst with Seungwon in the back room.

The barista blushed furiously at Miseo's implication, quickly reaching up to dab at her face with a napkin as if she could erase all traces of what had just transpired. Haneul, oblivious to the exchange taking place right under her nose, simply smiled pleasantly at the young woman and thanked her for their drinks before following Miseo out the door. Seungwon bid them farewell, and the two girls started walking back towards Haneul’s parents’ house together.

"So tell me more about your high school days with Seungwon," Miseo prodded, genuinely interested in hearing whatever juicy details her friend might be willing to share. "I want to know everything!"

Haneul blushed faintly at the question but began recounting some of their shared memories from that time period. As it turned out, there was a complicated love pentagon going on between Haneul and Seungwon along with two other close friends - one male and one female.

The four of them had been inseparable during those formative years, often hanging out together in small groups or pairs depending on the activity at hand. Looking back now, Miseo could see how such a situation might have led to some confusion about romantic feelings - especially given Haneul's tendency to bottle things up inside.

Miseo listened intently as her friend filled her in on all the drama and heartbreak from that era of their lives, marveling at just how much they had both grown since then. It was hard for Miseo to imagine Haneul ever being anything but a shy wallflower - until she heard about the more outgoing side of herself from those younger days.

“Wait, I thought it was a love pentagon,” Miseo asked, counting the number of people involved in the friend circle. “There’s supposed to be five, right?”

Haneul laughed at her gesture. “Some things are better left unsaid.”

As they reached Haneul's front porch and climbed the steps towards the welcoming warmth inside, Miseo couldn't help but feel grateful for this glimpse into her friend's past. It made her appreciate just how far they had come together - both as individuals and in their bond with each other.

---

Later that evening, after a delicious dinner prepared by Haneul's parents, the girls retreated to their shared bedroom for the night. As they got ready for bed, Miseo noticed an old yearbook on Haneul's dresser.

"Hey... what's this?" She asked curiously as she picked it up and flipped through some pages of pictures.

Haneul blushed slightly as she came to sit beside Miseo on the bed. "Oh that? It's just an old yearbook during my high school days," she explained with a shy smile. "I haven't looked at those in ages..."

Miseo couldn't help but grin mischievously as she scanned over the images of Haneul and her classmates posing together for group shots or silly candids around the school grounds. But then something caught her eye - a detailed diagram drawn on one of the pages showing an elaborate "love pentagon" with lines connecting various names in different combinations.

"Was this your group of friends?” Miseo asked, pointing to the complex chart on the page.

Haneul nodded. Miseo raised an eyebrow, as she noticed the sheer number of connections on the chart was more than a pentagon. Lines and dots connected across pages and to nearly everyone in the school. "Wow, no wonder you've been so hesitant to get into a relationship! You're probably afraid of getting caught up in one of these messy love shapes again," she teased with a playful nudge.

Haneul swatted her arm good-naturedly but couldn't help blushing even more now that Miseo had brought it back up. "I-it's not like that, I swear!" She protested weakly as she shut the album closed and put it away. Miseo just smirked knowingly though... she knew better than anyone how hard it could be to navigate love when you were still trying to figure out your own path in life.

As they lay in bed together, Haneul sighed heavily as she stared up at the ceiling. Miseo could sense her roommate was still bothered by something from earlier.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" she asked gently, rolling over to face Haneul in the dark.

Haneul turned to look at Miseo with a forlorn expression on her face. "I just... I don't understand why Seungwon never showed any interest in me back then," she confessed softly. "He dated almost every girl in the school but me..."

Miseo frowned sympathetically as she reached out to give Haneul's shoulder a comforting squeeze. She knew exactly how it felt to have unrequited feelings for someone you cared about deeply.

"Maybe he was just afraid of ruining your friendship by trying something more?" Miseo suggested, though she wasn't sure that was the whole truth from what Seungwon had told her earlier...

Haneul shook her head sadly. "You know he didn’t he see me off when I left for Seoul? It's like... he didn't care about me at all."

Miseo could see how much Haneul was hurting over this, and she hated seeing her sweet roommate so upset. She knew firsthand that love wasn't always easy - especially when it came to complicated history like theirs had...

"Why don't you just talk to him about it?" Miseo suggested earnestly as she scooted closer to Haneul under the covers. "Maybe there's more to the story than we know..."

Haneul looked at Miseo with wide, surprised eyes at her encouragement to confront Seungwon directly. She clearly hadn't expected that advice from her usually aloof roommate.

"I-I don't know if I can do that..." Haneul stammered nervously as she bit her lip in anxiety.

Miseo just smiled warmly and reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind Haneul's ear affectionately. "I have faith in you, Haneul," she reassured her softly. "And I know Seungwon will be lucky to have a girl like you if he ever wises up."

With those heartfelt words, Miseo pulled Haneul into a warm hug as they cuddled together under the covers for some much-needed rest before whatever tomorrow might bring...

---

The next morning, as the first rays of sun peeked through their window, Miseo stirred awake from a deep sleep. She blinked groggily at the sound of soft strumming coming from the other side of the room.

Rolling over, Miseo was surprised to see her usually shy and reserved roommate sitting cross-legged on the floor with an acoustic guitar in her lap, softly plucking away at the strings as she sang a hauntingly beautiful ballad about love and sacrifice.

Miseo listened intently as Haneul's sweet voice filled their bedroom, singing of giving up the person you care for most to chase after your dreams - knowing that no matter how far apart they were, her love would always remain with him in spirit.

A single tear rolled down Miseo's cheek at the raw emotion in Haneul's song. She could tell this was about Seungwon... and it broke her heart to think of her dear roommate having to choose between pursuing her idol dreams or staying true to her feelings for someone she clearly cared for so deeply.

As Haneul finished her final notes, Miseo sat up and wiped away her tear with a sniffle. "Haneul... that was beautiful," she whispered sincerely, holding back the lump in her throat.

Haneul looked over at Miseo with wide eyes, clearly startled that she had woken up to hear this intimate moment between her and her guitar. She blushed deeply as she set down the instrument beside her.

"Oh... I'm sorry if I woke you," Haneul mumbled sheepishly, ducking her head shyly. "I just... sometimes it helps me think through things..."

Miseo nodded with an understanding smile and reached over to hug Haneul. She held onto her friend tightly as they cried together - one for the pain of unrequited love.

And the other, out of pure terror at what she had just seen flying into their bedroom.

The creature that had buzzed in through the open window was unlike anything Miseo had ever encountered before. It was easily twice the size of any insect she'd seen back home - a monstrous hybrid of a praying mantis and a dragonfly with gleaming red eyes and jagged spikes along its wings.

Miseo let out an unearthly shriek, pushing Haneul away from her as if the mere proximity could somehow infect them both. She scrambled backwards across the bed until she was pressed against the headboard, watching in horror as the creature hovered ominously above their heads before finally landing near the window it had entered.

Haneul stared at Miseo with wide eyes. "What... what happened?" she asked shakily, wiping away the tears from her cheeks.

Miseo swallowed hard, trying to calm her racing heart as she gestured towards the now-empty window frame. "That bug," she gasped out between heavy breaths. "It was huge and scary and I thought it was going to eat us!"

Haneul's eyebrows shot up in surprise before a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She reached over to Miseo, chuckling softly under her breath.

"It's just a harmless beetle," she explained gently, using her other hand to point out its slow and lumbering path across the bedroom wall towards the open window. "They're actually quite rare in these parts - consider yourself lucky to have seen one!"

Miseo gaped at Haneul incredulously, unable to believe that her friend could find anything remotely amusing about this terrifying situation they'd just endured together. Haneul burst out laughing, crying tears of joy while Miseo pouted and playfully hit her friend on the shoulder.

---

After a weekend filled with heart-to-hearts, wild Pokémon encounters, and quality time together, Miseo and Haneul boarded the bus back to Seoul. They sat side by side as they rolled away from Haneul's hometown, leaving behind the serenity of the country for the bustling city once more.

Miseo pulled out her phone during their journey, eager to update her Instagram followers with some photos from their weekend getaway. She uploaded a cute selfie of herself and Haneul posing together in front of a field of sunflowers, adding a caption about how much fun they had bonding together.

As she scrolled through the notifications on her phone though, Miseo froze when she noticed something unexpected – a DM from none other than Seungwon himself!

Her heart skipped a beat as she read his flirtatious message: "Hey Miseo! I had a really great time meeting you this weekend. It was so nice to finally meet Haneul’s cute friend ;) Hit me up if you want to hang."

Miseo's eyes widened as she stared at the screen, her mind racing. She couldn't believe Seungwon had messaged her like this... but her suspicions about him were correct.

Miseo stalked his profile. Apparently, he had been following her on Instagram since the early days of her account, and it was pure luck that the influencer he simped for happened to be the friend of someone he knew.

Part of her was flattered by his attention, no different from the thirsty comments or messages she usually received. But another part of her felt guilty for being the center of attention from Haneul’s crush, especially after she'd been through love hell in high school. Miseo knew she should tell her roommate what happened... but she also didn't want to risk ruining the newfound bond they'd built over this weekend.

For now, Miseo simply left his message on read and slipped her phone back into her bag. She knew she would have to eventually figure out how to tell her friend about the situation... but not before grabbing a quick nap as the bus rumbled onwards towards Seoul.