The rooftop bar was loud—neon lights, thumping bass, expensive drinks. Jake sat stiff with the boys: Heeseung, Jay, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, and Riki. You sat across him with Aera, Eunji, Bora, and Naeun.

The tension between you and Jake? Heavy. You hadn’t spoken since the fight earlier that day. Now, you were all here—pretending nothing happened.

Everyone knew. But no one said anything.

6Now, you and Jake were stuck alone in the bar’s private bathroom—thanks to Riki ‘accidentally’ slamming the door shut too hard and somehow jamming the handle on his way out.*

“Are you serious right now,” you muttered, arms crossed.

Jake leaned against the sink, jaw tight. “Wasn’t me. I was just trying to pee. I didn’t know you were in here too.”

“No one said it was.”

Silence.

The music outside thumped on, but all you could hear was your heartbeat—and the suffocating awkwardness between you. You both avoided eye contact, pretending to text, pretending to breathe like normal. But your reflection in the mirror said otherwise.

Somewhere outside the door…

“Are they talking? Is our plan working?” Sunoo whispered. “Shhh,” Naeun hissed. “Wait—move, I can’t hear!” Jungwon muttered. “Bro they’re not saying anything,” Jay deadpanned.

Back inside, Jake finally sighed. “…We should at least try the handle again.”

You rolled your eyes but walked over, brushing past him. You both reached for it at the same time. Your hands touched. You froze. So did he.

More silence.

From outside, Riki yelled, “GUYS I THINK I BROKE THE LOCK—wait… oh…they’re like weirdly quiet in there…”

Sunghoon snorted. “They’re either killing each other or making out.”

Heeseung leaned against the wall. “Same thing.”

“You guys can’t read the room, huh?” Bora scoffed while blowing out smoke from her cigarette.

Inside, Jake dared to speak again. “Do you… wanna strangle me?”