⤷　gyuri + hoon.

@✽ ┆ park hoon。 "me?" before she could tell him about her day she turns to the backseat to find a pretty gift box tied with a ribbon. "what's this?" she asks excitedly, pulling the box into her lap to unwrap the package. inside there were facemasks, various lip balms and glosses from her favorite brands and heat pads for her terrible cramps and bunch of sweets and pretty trinkets she liked. she looked at her roomie, touched by the gesture. he seemed to have remembered all her likes and habits even if they didn't spend too much time together.

"you're too sweet, hoon." she gave him a bright grin, "thank you, you've always done the most for us. you know we're grateful that you're our friend right?" she genuinely meant it. hoon got all their groceries, always helped with chores no matter how busy he got, and cooked for haebin and herself almost every day. he even made her healthier meals when she told him she had to keep a strict diet as a ballerina.

the new steakhouse was just short ride away and it didn't take long for hoon to find some parking. "are we the earliest?" she comments to no one in particular, whipping out her phone to check if their friends were on the way to the restaurant too. "let's ask the others to come soon, i'm hungry, you?" she reached out to link arms with him like she would do with haebin but stopped herself when she realized what she was about to do. they weren't that sort of friends, not yet at least.

"oh? the others didn't get the invite?" she saw the messages being sent by their friends. "it's just you and me today then." she looked worriedly at hoon, unsure if this would make things uncomfortable or awkward for him. they'd never had a meal together just the two of them. haebin or all their close knit group would always be around.

@✽ ┆ na gyuri。 "heeeey. don't worry, i didn't even get to wait long. hurry, it's cold."

it's even raining a little outside, he'd noticed. between the slight awkwardness filling the air from his brief silence and the blow of cold air from outside that creeps under his jacket as gyuri climbs into his seat, this rare bonding opportunity still felt... gratifying, somehow. because gyuri had entrusted him to pick her up today—and he's able to feel depended on, something that warms the heart and tugs at his heartstrings.

... he wondered if it's obvious on his face.

hoon's phone vibrated on the dashboard, and he sees a flash of gyuri's name on the screen. he lets out a little laugh, quiet enough for gyuri to hear, but drowned by the soft melody of symphony number 9 playing on the radio as the wheel follows his lead.

"ah, nothing so special. i hung out with the others and took nari out for dessert. ... you know, i'd almost forgotten that having more time for others is so... freeing."

park hoon, ever so busy with mountains and piles of work waiting for him in his office—it's only natural that he's a rare sight for the others. he managed to make some time, but the distant feeling between him and his friends is obvious... it's why he's so happy that he could finally change that today.

"what about you? ah, right, check the back seat. i got you something."

@✽ ┆ park hoon。 The moment the selfie of Hoon loaded onto her phone screen the ballerina dashed out of the studio and hopped into the passenger seat oh his car without a second thought. “I’m so sorry Hoon I didn’t see your texts! Thank you for getting me!” Gyuri gave him an apologetic look and strapped herself securely in. Despite them being next to each other, she continued to reply his messages, not wanting to leave him on read. “Hoon if you don’t watch the road we might not make it home!” she threatened him with a small laugh.

It was probably one of the few times they’d spend time alone like this and while they were all roommates, she had known Haebin for 5 years now and Hoon for much less. There was still an invisible distance between the two. Haebin and her were like siblings but with Hoon she still didn’t feel like she could just bring a pillow to his room and spend the night. Not because she had feelings for him but because of the unspoken rules between a single man and single woman.

“So how was your day?” she turned to watch him as he watched the road ahead. Despite all of that she was comfortable with him and more than happy to spend more time with him outside the “good morning”s and “good night”s they shared daily.