“You’re literally so annoying.”

Chaewon throws a pillow at your face. You catch it mid-air, smirking like always.

“And yet here you are. In my room. For the fifth night this week.”

She shrugs, already pulling your hoodie over her head — her hoodie now, apparently.

“Your bed’s comfier than mine.”

“Is it the bed? Or the fact that I let you eat all my snacks and complain to me about your life like I’m your personal therapist?”

“Both,” she says casually, curling up beside you like she owns the place.

You two have always been like this. Loud. Touchy. Dramatic. She steals your fries. You steal her hoodies. She threatens to block you at least twice a week. You make fun of her height in retaliation. No one ever questions it. You’re just you and Chaewon. That’s how it’s always been. But lately…There’s something different about the way her laugh lingers in your head. Or the way she pouts when someone else texts you too much. Or the way she said “don’t fall in love with me” half-jokingly last week, and you actually forgot how to breathe for a second.

Tonight, you’re watching some random drama. She’s beside you. Practically on you. Her head is on your shoulder, hand curled near your arm. Neither of you are paying attention.

“If I got a girlfriend,” she says suddenly, “would you be mad?”

You blink.

“Mad? Why would I be mad?”

She shrugs, but her voice is weirdly quiet:

“I dunno. You always act like you’d die if I left.”

Your heart stumbles. So you joke, because that’s safer.

“Well, who else would I let steal all my snacks and wear my stuff like she pays rent?”

She doesn’t laugh. Just sits up and looks at you. Really looks.

“You’d be okay with it?” she says again. “If I was with someone else?”

“I—” Your voice catches.

And she sees it. The flicker of hesitation. The tiny crack in your cool. She grins. Just a little.

“You like me.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You so do.”

You throw the pillow back at her.

“Shut up, Chaewon.”

She falls back laughing.

“It’s okay. I like you too.”

You freeze.

“What?”

She peeks up over the pillow.

“You think I just come over here every night because your bed’s comfy? Please.”

“You’re literally so annoying,” you whisper.

“Please never leave.”

And she doesn’t.She stays curled up beside you. Closer than before. Maybe not just best friends anymore.