The kitchen was filled with the clatter of plates and Doyoon's constant chatter, but I was vibrating on a completely different frequency. Every time Hanbin's hand brushed mine while we reached for the chopsticks, or whenever his dark eyes flickered toward me, I felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest.
"I'll be right back! I forgot my charger in my room!" Doyoon announced, sprinting away before anyone could answer.
The second he turned the corner, the air in the kitchen changed. It became heavy, charged with the lingering electricity of that kiss in the rain. Hanbin stood there, holding a stack of bowls, his damp hair still messy and his smirk replaced by a look of intense, quiet focus.
"I need to go to my room for a second too," I managed to squeak out.
I practically bolted. I made it into my room, clicked the door shut, and collapsed against the wood. I buried my face in my hands, a massive, uncontrollable grin spreading across my face.
Jeon Hanbin is my boyfriend.
The thought was a line of code that had finally successfully executed. The Ice Prince. The boy who lived in shadows. The boy who had run through the streets in his slippers for me. He was mine. I couldn't contain it. I pulled a pillow off my bed, pressed my face deep into it, and let out a muffled, high-pitched scream of pure, unadulterated happiness.
I kicked my feet against the mattress, my heart racing. All the months of wondering, the fear of Jisoo, the long nights in the lab—it had all led to this. I was so giddy I felt like I was floating.
I took a deep breath, patted my cheeks to bring the color down, and walked back out. Uncle Dohyun had just arrived from the restaurant, carrying a steaming tray of dakgalbi.
"Aha! Hanbin-ah! You look like a different person in those clothes," Uncle laughed, setting the food down. "Doyoon told me what happened. Thank you for looking after our Danoh. This city is dangerous when it rains."
"It was nothing, Sir," Hanbin said, bowing respectfully.
We sat down to eat. It was a scene of perfect domesticity, yet it felt like a high-stakes mission. Doyoon was busy shoveling rice into his mouth, talking about a game, and Uncle was asking Hanbin about his future plans at SNU.
Under the table, I felt a sudden, light pressure against my knee.
I froze, my spoon halfway to my mouth. I glanced at Hanbin. He was calmly listening to my Uncle talk about the restaurant's new supply chain, his face a mask of perfect, stoic politeness. But underneath the table, his leg was pressed firmly against mine.
It was a silent claim. A secret signal that only I was allowed to receive.
I shifted my leg slightly, and instead of pulling away, he moved with me, his foot hooking behind my ankle. I almost choked on my rice.
"Is the food too spicy, Danoh-ya?" Uncle asked, looking at me with concern. "Your face is very red."
"No!" I said, coughing slightly. "It's... it's perfect, Uncle. Just a bit hot."
I looked at Hanbin again. He didn't look at me, but I saw the corner of his mouth twitch. He was enjoying this. The "Ice Prince" was a secret mischievous genius.
As the meal ended and the rain outside finally slowed to a rhythmic hum, Hanbin stood up to change back into his own clothes, which Doyoon had tossed into the dryer.
"I should get going," Hanbin said, now back in his black hoodie, though his hair was still slightly damp. "Thank you for the meal, Sir."
"Come back anytime, Hanbin-ah," Uncle said, patting his arm. "You're always welcome here."
I walked him to the door. Doyoon and Uncle were already busy in the kitchen, arguing about who had to do the dishes.
The hallway was quiet. Hanbin reached for the door handle, then stopped. He turned around, his frame looming over me, blocking out the light from the living room.
"So," he whispered, his voice low and vibrating. "Are you going to scream into your pillow again once I leave?"
My heart stopped. "You... you heard that?"
He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine that made my knees weak. "The walls aren't that thick, Park Danoh. And your 'system' is very loud when you're happy."
He pulled back, his eyes searching mine with a tenderness that made everything else disappear. He reached out, his thumb grazing my lower lip for a second.
"Get some sleep," he said softly. "I'll see you at the lab tomorrow. Boyfriend's orders."
He gave me one last, lingering look before stepping out into the night. I stood there, leaning against the doorframe, watching him walk down the stairs.
Jeon Hanbin was my boyfriend. And I had a feeling the "static" in my life was about to become the most beautiful song I'd ever heard.