?????? ?????. ???????

Chapter 28: "The Moment Between Us"

The chill of a late winter evening hung in the air, wrapping the city in a cold, silvery haze. Venus had just finished their schedules for the day, and the dorm was unusually quiet. The members had gone to bed early, exhausted from endless rehearsals and interviews. Yena, however, couldn't sleep. Her thoughts churned relentlessly, circling back to one person — Jungwon.

Her heart raced at the memory of their last encounter at the KBS building. He'd been kind, thoughtful, and far too patient with her cold demeanor. She hated how it made her feel vulnerable, like all the walls she'd built were crumbling. And tonight, she was done pretending.

Pulling on a thick coat and scarf, Yena slipped out of the dorm quietly, not wanting to wake the other members. Her breath misted in the cold air as she made her way to the street, her footsteps quick and purposeful. She didn't know exactly what she was going to say, but she knew where she was headed — HYBE's dorm building, where Enhypen lived.

By the time she reached the sleek, modern complex, her nerves had set in. Her hands trembled as she pressed the intercom button.

A few moments later, Jungwon's voice crackled through the speaker. "Hello?"

"It's Yena," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Can I come up?"

There was a brief pause, then a soft buzz as the door unlocked. Yena pushed it open and stepped inside, her heart thudding wildly.

Jungwon was waiting for her at the dorm entrance, dressed in a simple hoodie and sweatpants. His hair was slightly messy, and his eyes were wide with surprise.

"Yena?" he asked, concern lacing his tone. "Is everything okay?"

She nodded, though she wasn't sure if that was true. "Can we talk?"

"Of course," he said immediately, stepping aside to let her in.

They walked down the hallway in silence until they reached the small lounge area. The other members were clearly asleep, the dorm eerily quiet except for the faint hum of the heater. Jungwon gestured for her to sit on the couch, but Yena remained standing, her nerves too frayed.

He watched her carefully. "Yena, you're scaring me. Did something happen?"

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Her pulse pounded in her ears, but she knew she couldn't back out now.

"I've been thinking a lot," she began, her voice wavering. "About you. About us."

Jungwon's brows furrowed in confusion. "Us?"

Yena bit her lip, gathering her courage. "You like me, don't you?"

His eyes widened, and for a moment, he looked as though he might deny it. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I thought I was hiding it better," he admitted sheepishly.

Her heart skipped a beat at the raw honesty in his words.

"You weren't," she said softly.

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. Yena's hands clenched at her sides as she forced herself to continue.

"I was scared," she confessed. "I've spent so long pushing people away, thinking it was easier that way. But you... you've always been there, no matter how many times I tried to keep you at a distance."

Jungwon's expression softened, and he took a tentative step closer.

"You don't have to be scared with me," he said gently. "I know it's messy, and the industry makes everything harder. But I care about you, Yena. I always have."

Her throat tightened, and tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. "I care about you too. More than I wanted to admit."

The words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable. Jungwon's breath hitched, and without hesitation, he closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around her.

Yena melted into the embrace, her body trembling as the weight of her fears lifted. For the first time in a long while, she felt safe.

"Thank you," she whispered against his shoulder. "For being patient with me."

He pulled back just enough to look into her eyes. "You're worth the wait."

A soft laugh escaped her lips, and despite the tears still clinging to her lashes, she smiled.

"I guess this is the part where we figure out what happens next," she said.

Jungwon grinned, his dimples appearing. "I'm okay with taking it one step at a time."

Their moment was interrupted by a sudden sound — the creak of a door opening down the hallway. Yena's eyes widened in panic.

"We should probably keep this quiet for now," she whispered.

Jungwon nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, but just so you know..."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'm not letting you go, Yena."

Her heart soared at his words, and despite the chaos that was sure to follow, she knew one thing for certain — this was worth fighting for.

As they slipped back into the shadows of the dorm, their bond stronger than ever, Yena felt a newfound sense of freedom. She had finally stopped running, and it felt damn good.