Oops, Love in Progress

Chapter 16: Between Spotlight and Shadows

Haneul had grown used to whispers. She had trained herself to ignore the lingering glances, the hushed gossip that followed her through the agency halls. But today felt different. Today, the whispers weren't just speculation—they were about her.

"Did you see the comments last night?"

"People are saying she's trying too hard to fit in."

"She wasn't even on anyone's radar before this."

She clenched her jaw, gripping her tablet a little tighter as she walked past a group of trainees who pretended not to notice her. They did. She knew they did. Her newfound confidence was supposed to make her feel untouchable, but under the weight of their judgment, she realized just how fragile it still was. Taking a deep breath, she kept walking, refusing to let them see her falter.

Hyunjin wasn't sure why he felt so tense. Maybe it was the way people talked about Haneul like she was some kind of experiment, picking apart her every move. Or maybe it was the way she acted like she didn't care—when he knew she did.

"Yo, focus." His dance instructor clapped his hands, snapping Hyunjin out of his thoughts. He nodded quickly, adjusting his stance and preparing for another run-through of the routine. But even as the music blasted through the speakers, his mind kept drifting back to her.

Meanwhile, Sunwoo had been watching. He had noticed the way the whispers followed Haneul, how her shoulders tensed slightly whenever she thought no one was looking. And for some reason, it annoyed him.

He didn't consider himself the type to get involved in unnecessary drama. He was here to do his job, to keep everything running smoothly. But something about Haneul's situation unsettled him in a way he couldn't quite ignore.

So when he passed by her desk and saw her staring blankly at her screen, he made a split-second decision.

"Lunch break."

Haneul blinked up at him. "What?"

"You're coming with me."

She frowned. "Since when do we have lunch together?"

Sunwoo raised a brow. "Since now."

Before she could argue, he was already walking toward the exit. She hesitated for a moment before sighing and grabbing her things. Maybe a break wasn't such a bad idea.

As Haneul stepped outside with Sunwoo, she failed to notice the pair of eyes watching them from the end of the hallway. Hyunjin, towel slung over his shoulder, stood frozen for a second before turning on his heel, jaw tight.

Because for the first time in a long time, he felt something dangerously close to jealousy.

Chapter 17: When Tension Boils Over

Haneul hadn't expected lunch with Sunwoo to feel so... comfortable. He wasn't the type to talk much, but his presence had a grounding effect. She needed that—needed someone who wouldn't prod her with invasive questions or expect her to act a certain way.

"So, are you planning on ignoring all of it?" Sunwoo finally spoke, stirring his iced coffee as he glanced at her.

She blinked. "Ignoring what?"

He gave her a look—one that told her not to play dumb. "The gossip. The comments. The whole mess that started after you decided to—what was it they said?—'try too hard to fit in.'"

Haneul let out a humorless chuckle. "Oh, that. Yeah, I guess I am."

Sunwoo studied her for a beat before speaking again. "And how's that working out for you?"

She faltered, her fingers tightening around her chopsticks. The answer should've been easy: 'I'm fine.' That's what she had been telling herself, after all. But with Sunwoo, she didn't feel like she had to pretend.

"It's exhausting," she admitted, voice quieter than she intended. "But what else can I do? If I react, I lose. If I don't, they just keep talking."

Sunwoo nodded as if he understood, then set his drink down. "People like to talk. But at some point, you decide whether you let them shape you, or you shape yourself."

Before she could respond, a shadow loomed over their table.

Hyunjin.

His usual smirk was missing. Instead, his eyes flickered between her and Sunwoo, something unreadable behind them.

"So this is where you ran off to." His voice was light, but there was a sharp edge beneath it.

Haneul arched a brow. "Didn't realize I needed a permission slip."

Hyunjin ignored her comment, turning his attention to Sunwoo instead. "Didn't think you were the type to do lunch dates, hyung."

Sunwoo, completely unfazed, took another sip of his coffee. "It's not a date. Haneul needed a break."

Hyunjin let out a short laugh, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Right. A break."

The tension between them was thick enough to cut with a knife. Haneul glanced between the two, feeling like she had just walked into a silent war she didn't fully understand.

"Okay, what is this?" she finally asked, setting her chopsticks down. "Because whatever weird thing is going on right now, I'm not in the mood."

Hyunjin's gaze flickered to her, then back to Sunwoo. Something seemed to click in his mind because the next moment, his expression shifted back into something more familiar—a lazy grin, an easygoing shrug.

"Nothing," he said, tone lighter now. "Just checking in. Wouldn't want our dear Haneul to feel left out."

She narrowed her eyes. "I think I preferred you when you weren't being passive-aggressive."

Hyunjin laughed at that, but this time, it was genuine. "Noted."

Sunwoo exhaled, clearly done with the conversation. "If you're finished, we're actually trying to enjoy our lunch."

Hyunjin raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

"Hyunjin—"

But he was already walking away, hands stuffed into his pockets, shoulders a little more rigid than before.

Haneul sighed, rubbing her temples. "What is his deal?"

Sunwoo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he just watched Hyunjin's retreating figure before finally saying, "You really don't know?"

And for some reason, that sent an uneasy feeling crawling up her spine.

SPOILER ALERT !!!!

Later that night, Hyunjin found himself staring at his reflection in the practice room mirror, jaw tight.

He didn't get jealous. He wasn't that type.

So why the hell did watching Haneul with Sunwoo make his chest feel so damn tight?