19

Timeline: March 2021

A month had passed since Scoups declared his feelings to Heyoung.

It is clear that Heyoung also had feelings for Scoups. Yes, she also confessed her feelings to Scoups, but of course, she couldn't just give her full heart to him.

Scoups did say that he would court her to gain her trust. Scoups knew that Heyoung was scared to commit to a relationship with him because he was currently an idol-a famous and hot one.

Heyoung doesn't want to start rumors about Scoups getting into a relationship with a non-celebrity. But she also knew that Scoups was determined to show his love to her.

They had started to meet in quieter places-late-night walks along the Han River, bundled in scarves and beanies to avoid recognition. Once, they shared tteokbokki from a street vendor, laughing quietly as the spice hit her tongue and made her eyes water.

"Omo, it's so spicy!" Heyoung coughed, fanning her mouth.

Scoups chuckled and handed her his drink. "I warned you, didn't I?"

"You didn't say it was a fire in my soul spicy!"

He leaned in, wiping the corner of her mouth with his thumb. "Still cute though."

Her cheeks burned hotter than the tteokbokki. "Don't do that."

"Why not?" he said gently. "I'm courting you, remember?"

Another time, they met at a small bookstore tucked behind Gemini café. He found her flipping through a book of poetry in the corner.

"You always find the good ones," he said, glancing over her shoulder.

"This one's sad," she murmured. "It's about someone who keeps waiting... but the other person never chooses them."

Scoups was quiet for a second.

"I'll wait, Heyoung-ya. Even if you never choose me, I'll still be here. Just like that poem-but I'd be the ending that doesn't hurt."

She looked up at him, and for a moment, the bookstore around them faded into silence.

Later, on a call after one of his rehearsals, his voice was husky with exhaustion.

"You still awake?" he whispered.

"Mmhm," she replied, curled up on her bed, the room lit only by her night lamp.

"I missed you today," he said. "Even during dance practice. I kept thinking about that dumb poem and wondering what it would take for you to believe me."

Heyoung was silent for a moment. Then softly, "I'm scared, Coups-ya."

"I know," he said. "But I'm not going anywhere."

She exhaled slowly, blinking back the warmth in her eyes.

"Heyoung-ya,"

"Yeah?"

"I don't need all of you at once. Just... let me be the one who earns it. Day by day."

=====

A few days later, they bumped into each other at the HYBE building. Heyoung was exiting the editing suite, holding a stack of hard drives, and Scoups was just finishing a recording session.

He grinned when he saw her. "What a coincidence."

Heyoung arched her brow. "You literally knew I was here."

"I hoped," he corrected, taking half the drives from her arms without asking. "I figured if I loitered long enough, I'd catch you."

She sighed but let him walk with her to the production floor. "You're going to get caught one of these days."

"Then we'll walk faster," he said with a wink.

"Aigoo, I thought there was no PDA allowed in this hallway."

Both Heyoung and Scoups turned around and saw Jeonghan with an unfamiliar girl beside him.

"See I told ya, we can also do a couple things here," Jeonghan said to the girl beside him.

The girl lightly punched Jeonghan on his shoulder, while Heyoung and Scoups laughed at the scene.

=====

Later that evening, while Heyoung was layering sound bites and color-grading a scene for an upcoming teaser, her phone buzzed.

Coups-ya

Can I borrow another 30?

The rooftop. Just fresh air. Promise.

Sure<3

She stared at the message, torn between deadlines and her fluttering chest.

Ten minutes later, Heyoung stepped out into the cool night air above the building. Scoups were already there, leaning on the railing, cap pulled low, and hoodie zipped all the way up.

He turned at the sound of the door. "Hey."

"You said 30 minutes. I have a timer running."

He grinned, pulling out a paper bag. "I brought snacks."

She hesitated, then walked over. Inside the bag: banana milk, two triangle kimbaps, and a small carton of chocolate cookies.

"This is such a trainee-era meal."

"You say that like it's a bad thing."

They sat on the cold ledge, legs dangling. He handed her the banana milk without looking at her directly.

"I watched some of your works," he said quietly. "I like how you wanted people to pause the video or appreciate the sense of it."

Heyoung sipped from the carton. "Maybe I did."

His fingers drummed on his knee, nervous energy buzzing beneath his calm tone.

"You always do that," he said.

"Do what?"

"Speak through your edits. You cut emotions like you're not just telling a story-you're letting people feel what you felt."

Heyoung looked at him then. "You noticed that?"

"Of course I did." He paused. "I notice everything when it's you."

Her breath caught. For a second, the rooftop, the night, the city lights-they blurred.

"Timer's still running," she said, looking away.

He laughed under his breath. "I'm not going to waste it."