Reading Between (the line)

A/n: I don't update on Weekends. >-<

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After the revelation regarding Mer's older sister, I became the center of everyone's teasing.

Despite their relentless attempts to press on the topic, I remained resolute, giving them no choice but to give up in the end. Mer's lack of interest in discussing her elder sister didn't provide them much leverage to continue either.

When the stressful dinner finally ended, I stood up from my chair, intending to go upstairs to charge my phone.

"You going up?" Devi asked after noticing me.

"Yup. Need something?"

She then asked me to get a certain box from her luggage and bring it downstairs with me. I nodded and proceeded on my way.

After plugging in my phone to charge, I began to search through Devi's luggage for the box she wanted. As I was still looking around, the door to our room opened. Assuming it was Devi, who had likely come after me due to the time I was taking, I spoke without looking.

"I can't find it. Are you sure it's in your luggage?" I asked while still rummaging through her squared baggage. When I received no reply, I rolled my eyes, thinking she was playing tricks again. "Really? Are you still not done yet with your tea...sing?" I nearly didn't finish my sentence when I turned and saw who it was at the door.

It wasn't Devi—it was Noon.

"Oh. Sorry, I thought it was Devi." Luckily, I quickly recovered from that awkward scene and returned to what I was doing, trying to ignore her.

She remained silent, still standing at the door. Lately, she had been acting this way towards me, not uttering a single word but killing me with her piercing, intense stare. I've been trying to tell myself that this is just her usual self, but she doesn't treat other people this coldly, only me.

"God, finally!" I exclaimed after finally finding the box that had taken me almost three minutes of searching. After taking it out, I zipped up Devi's luggage and stood up. Noon was still at the door when I turned around. Well, I knew she was there, but why?

"Do you have something you want to say to me?" I could no longer take it and asked her. I was tired of avoiding her after all. It had been months since that talk we had on the rooftop.

"I don't like it," she finally spoke, breaking her silence. "If this is your way of stopping yourself from liking me further, then I don't like it," she firmly said.

My brows furrowed, not understanding her point. "Whatever do you mean?" I asked.

The side of her lips arched into a smirk. "Is this how you want to play it, Praewa? Acting innocent yet stupid?"

I couldn't help but feel annoyed at her reply, but I suppressed it, not wanting to create a scene. The girls were just downstairs, and I didn't want to ruin this vacation no matter what. I began to search my mind for the reason she was acting like this.

Perhaps she was talking about...

"Yes, this is about Mer's elder sister," She read my mind and spoke before I could ask. "And Atom," she added after.

My brows furrowed even further upon hearing our co-member's name. "What?" But despite having many questions in my mind, that was the only word that came out of my mouth.

With eyes still coldly eyeing me, Noon began taking small steps to lessen our distance. "I know I told you to stop liking me. And you yourself even promised that you would. But if your way of doing it involves other people, then I'm afraid I have to stop you. We are a love tandem, Praewa. And as easily as we got this popularity and opportunity, it can be taken away with one stupid mistake."

"You loved me yourself, right? So, stop those feelings on your own and don't involve others, whether they're our co-members or other people."

"You already messed up my life once by pulling me into this on-screen relationship with you. Don't mess it up again by ruining the only good thing that came out of your dumb mistake. I warned you before, remember? This is my dream. Don't ruin it."

It took a loud bang of the closed door for me to snap out of the words she had just spat at me. Noon had already left the room, but the sting of her words still lingered in my ears, mind, and heart.

But contrary to what I expected, I did not only feel broken by those words, but there's a sudden surge of another emotion flowed within me. I was hurt, but I was also angry—too angry that I reached downstairs like a flash.

"Finally, you're here. We've been waiti—"

I walked past Devi without a word and headed straight to Noon, grabbing her arm and making her turn to face me.

"What did I even do so wrong for you to hurt me like this, Noon?" I asked angrily. I knew everyone's eyes were on us, and this wasn't what I wanted, but I felt like I'd explode if I contained it.

"Did I kill someone? Did I steal? No! I only liked you. So, w-why—" My voice began to crack. "Why do you have to cause me this much pain?" I asked again.

"Am I not deserving of your kindness, Noon? Don't I deserve your gentle care of handling me and my heart?" Despite suppressing it, my tears fell one after another after asking that.

"I-I already apologized, didn't I? I didn't want this on-screen relationship e-either. I never wanted to force my feelings on you. I never wanted it. Not even once. I just made a mistake. But t-this... isn't this too much of a punishment?"

I was just planning to love her from afar, silently, on my own. But things happened, and she found out. But is that enough for me to be this wrecked? Do I even deserve this?

Slowly losing my strength, my hold on her arms loosened until I finally let go. "Fine, then," I said after not receiving any response from Noon. I wiped my tears. "In front of these people, I promise you this: from now on, you won't hear, see, or feel my stupid feelings for you anymore. From this day forward, you and I will be co-members and colleagues only, nothing more. I swear on my career and on my name."

I said then turned around, walking away.

'Goodbye, my love.'