“When did you get here?” I ask with a self-conscious flush.
“I snuck in at the end. You’ve still got good moves.” He bumps my shoulder with his.
“I almost passed out with anxiety. But it was kind of fun,” I admit with a grin.
“Look at you, growing some confidence on broadcasts. Soon you’ll abandon me for bigger and brighter things.”
I laugh, punching him playfully on the shoulder. But my stomach does a little uncomfortable flip at the mention of working without him. Does he mean he’s looking forward to OCM being over?
Stop it, you’re overthinking things again, Hyeri.
“Hey, you good?” Minseok asks, brushing a wayward strand of hair from my shoulder before letting his hand trail lightly down my back.
“Yup,” I lie, trying to hide my worries.
“We have a little bit of time before the next segment. Do you want to get a snack? When’s the last time you had a famous HBS commissary cookie?”
I know I shouldn’t. Technically, I’m still watching what I eat. But it’s been almost a year since I’ve had an HBS cookie. And they really are amazing.
“I can tell you want one,” Minseok says in my ear. It makes me shiver. But I guess that’s what thinking about cookies will do to a girl.
“Just one,” I promise myself.
“Yes, just one.” Minseok laughs as he grabs my hand and pulls me into the elevator.
“Ya, no holding hands in public.” I pull away.
“We’re the only ones in here.”
“Really?” I nod up at the security camera in the corner.
“Fine, have it your way.” He sighs in a heavy and dramatic fashion. “But it’s your loss, I’m a really phenomenal hand-holder.”
I laugh as the doors open. “Says who? Your mom?”
“And Junie. Jun loves holding hands.”
“He does not.” I roll my eyes as I follow him out of the elevator.
He lifts his phone to his ear. “Yes? Junie? What a coincidence, I was just telling Hyeri about our sweet nights of hand-holding I always look forward to.”
“Stop being weird,” I tell him, but he just grins at me as he ducks into the commissary.
I laugh as I chase after, so caught up in him that I don’t see the person stepping into my path until I’m about to collide with them.
“Sorry,” I murmur, starting to bow when I realize I’m face-to-face with Kim Ana.
I’m so thrown off that I don’t take in the girls next to Ana at first.
It’s Pink Petal. They’re all staring at me with a mix of shock and judgment, and I immediately start to sink into myself.
“Shouldn’t you apologize?” Yunseo sneers.
“Huh?” I blink at her, still trying to pull myself together. I haven’t talked to Ana since Helloglow disbanded.
“She just did, didn’t you hear?” Minseok replies, stepping up beside me.
Yunseo blinks up at him in clear shock before plastering a bright smile on her face. “Sunbaenim, I didn’t see you. I was so excited when you were announced as guest host. I can’t wait for WDB’s comeback.”