Small Talk

Ha-eun stepped outside the washroom, forcing herself to appear as if nothing had happened. She walked slowly, noticing the group chatting and laughing as though the egg incident had never occurred. A pang of discomfort struck her—how could she face them so casually?

Rather than join immediately, she quietly slipped toward the kitchen balcony, pulling out her phone to distract herself. The soft hum of the city outside was calming, and for a moment, she felt safe from the chaotic warmth of the group.

“Ha-eun! Ha-eun!”

Seo-yeon’s voice cut through the quiet, cheerful and persistent.

Turning, Ha-eun saw her friend waving.

“Oh, you’re here! We’ve been waiting. Come on, let’s go!”

Ha-eun gave a small, awkward smile.

“Ah… I was just refreshing myself, haha. Let’s go.”

With a deep breath, she stepped into the living room to join the others. They immediately noticed her arrival.

“Sorry about earlier, Ha-eun,” Ji-ah said softly.

Ha-eun waved them off lightly, trying to sound casual.

“Nah… it’s nothing. Really.”

As the evening progressed, the group began drinking lightly. For the first time, Ha-eun allowed herself to look closely at Min-jae. The way he casually held a glass, the faint curl of smoke from his vape, the quiet confidence he exuded—it drew her eyes again and again, making the rest of the world fade around her.

Summoning courage, she leaned slightly toward him, her voice quiet.

“I… I think I saw you somewhere today.”

Min-jae exhaled a stream of smoke lazily in her direction, his dark eyes flicking toward her.

“Hmmm? Really? Where?”

Ha-eun’s lips pressed into a small, uncertain smile.

“I… I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being delusional. Never mind.”

She turned to her plate, cutting a piece of meat carefully, though her gaze occasionally flicked back to him.

Min-jae’s lips curved into the faintest smile, subtle but meaningful, as if he had caught something in her words that no one else had. The air between them carried an unspoken tension, quiet and heavy, even amidst laughter and chatter around them.

The laughter and chatter of the group continued, but Ha-eun’s attention was still drawn to Min-jae. Suddenly, Dong-wook came rushing through the room, bumping into her with playful force. Ha-eun stumbled forward and ended up right next to Min-jae.

He barely flinched, leaning back casually, unconcerned. Ha-eun, however, felt a brief surge of uncomfortable heat rise to her cheeks. She shifted slightly, trying to regain her composure, and after a few moments, settled back into her seat as if nothing had happened.

Seo-yeon, noticing the proximity of Ha-eun and Min-jae, sipped her juice slowly, her gaze soft but observant. Then, with a small grin, she stood up and walked over, her voice bright and teasing.

“Min-jae! Did you see my sister’s post yesterday? Omai gosh…”

Min-jae glanced at her casually, and they began chatting. Ha-eun, seated just a little away, could hear every word, not only of their conversation but of the gossip flowing from the rest of the group.

She pressed her lips together, irritation quietly building. Why are they talking about all these other things? she muttered under her breath. The lively chatter that once made the group feel warm now felt overwhelming.

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