That night...

Later that night, Haeun was finally alone in her room, arranging her belongings and trying to breathe some life into the sparse room. She had just changed into an oversized hoodie and shorts when there was a knock at her door.

She opened it cautiously, only to find Jihoon standing there, holding a six-pack of beers.

“Can we talk?” he asked, his usual cocky demeanor softened.

Haeun hesitated, glancing down the hallway to make sure no one else was around. She stepped aside, letting him in.

"You going to make a habit of sneaking into my room like this?" she whispered as she closed the door behind them. "You know the guys aren't allowed on this floor."

Jihoon placed the beers on her desk and took a seat on her bed, leaning back casually as if he owned the place. “Relax. The rules are there so they can deny knowing anything to the fans, but do you see any staff or cameras around? They don't care, as long as we keep things quiet.”

Haeun frowned, leaning against her wardrobe as she crossed her arms. "I guess, but it's still risky."

He waved a dismissive hand at her. "It's fine. Besides, we're already a 'thing' according to everyone else. We might as well start acting like it, right?"

She rolled her eyes. "We are not a 'thing.'"

“You didn’t have to deny it so hard, you know,” he said, cracking open a can and offering it to her.

“I had to,” she snapped, ignoring his offer. “Do you know how awkward that was for me?”

Jihoon laughed softly, taking a sip from his own can. “You’re cute when you’re flustered.”

“Jihoon…” she warned, narrowing her eyes.

He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. Look, I came here to say… I’m sorry if I made things weird for you. But I meant what I said at dinner.”

Haeun froze, her heart skipping a beat. “What are you talking about?”

He set his beer down and looked at her, his usual playful expression replaced with something more serious. “I like you, Haeun. And I think you like me too.”

Her stomach turned, a mix of guilt and something she couldn’t quite place. “You’re wrong,” she said quickly, looking away.

“Am I?” he challenged, reaching out and grabbing her thigh. She stumbled forward, his grip surprisingly strong, her legs widening as she tried to keep her balance. His hand moved quickly, sliding up below her shorts, drawing a small gasp as he fondled her inner thigh.

"Did you talk to your boyfriend before you moved in? Broke his heart I bet, losing a beautiful girl like you."

She slapped him away, her face flush with anger and embarrassment. “You’re such an asshole,” she hissed. "And we are still together, even if it's none of your business."

Jihoon raised an eyebrow, genuine surprise flitting across his face. “Really? That’s a shame.”

“Why?” she retorted, her hands curling into fists at her sides. “You thought you could just come in here, say a few sweet words, and I’d be yours? You’re more arrogant than I thought.”

He chuckled, leaning back on the bed once more. “Maybe. But don’t tell me you don’t feel anything when we’re together. I see the way you look at me.”

Haeun scoffed, but the words died in her throat. She couldn’t deny it—there was something between them, an electric current that seemed to spark whenever they were close. But that didn’t change the fact that she had a boyfriend who loved her, and she loved him, even if he technically gave her permission to indulge.

“You’re deluded,” she finally said, but her voice wavered.

His gaze didn’t falter. “Am I? Why don’t you try this beer and tell me how much you don't feel anything for me?”

She eyed the can suspiciously. “What, are you trying to get me drunk now?”

Jihoon’s lips quirked into a half-smile. “If that’s what it takes for you to be honest with yourself.”

Her pride flaring, she grabbed the can and chugged it in one go, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand when she finished. “There. Happy?”

“Not quite,” he said, gesturing for her to bring it over. She tossed the empty can at him, but he caught it with ease. He reached for the next one, popping it open and taking a long swig.

As he drank, his gaze never left hers, his Adam's apple bobbing with each swallow. The tension in the room grew thick, the sound of their breathing almost deafening. Haeun licked her lips, her throat suddenly dry despite the beer she’d just downed.

When he finally finished, he stood, setting the empty can down beside the first. “Your turn,” he whispered, his voice low and husky.

“What?” she asked, her heart racing in her chest.

“Or are you admitting defeat?” he asked, a smug grin on his face.

She scowled, stepping forward until they were nearly chest to chest. “Shut up.”

He grabbed her by the waist, his hands hot through the thin fabric of her hoodie. He leaned in, his mouth inches from hers, the scent of beer on his breath mingling with his cologne.

“Make me,” he whispered.

Haeun’s resolve shattered. She surged forward, crushing her lips against his in a searing kiss that tasted of beer and desire. His tongue slipped past her parted lips, deepening the kiss as his hands slid under her hoodie, roaming over the smooth expanse of her back.

She moaned into his mouth, her body responding to his touch even as her mind screamed at her to stop. He pushed her backwards until her back hit the wardrobe, their bodies pressed tightly together, the thin fabric of their clothing doing little to hide the heat building between them.

“Do you still feel nothing?” he asked breathlessly between kisses.

“Shut up and take off my clothes,” she growled, tugging at his shirt. He complied eagerly, breaking away just long enough to yank her hoodie over her head before capturing her lips again, his hands immediately finding her breasts.

She whimpered as he pinched her nipples, her body arching into his touch as he licked from her collarbone up to her ear, biting down gently on the sensitive skin there.

“You have to be quiet,” she whispered urgently. "We're not alone here."

Haeun’s mind raced. Her room wasn't the biggest and she knew sound traveled easily in this building. But her thoughts were interrupted as Jihoon's hands slipped below her waistband, cupping her ass and lifting her off the ground. She gasped, wrapping her legs around him instinctively, their bodies grinding together as they stumbled towards the bed.

They fell in a tangled heap, their limbs intertwined, their clothes quickly discarded until they lay naked, skin on skin, the air thick with desire.

He hovered over her, his eyes dark with want, his cock hard and throbbing between them.

"Wait!" Haeun suddenly exclaimed, pushing against his pelvis, remembering her promise to Minjae.