The knock at the door pulled Y/N from her restless thoughts. She had barely managed to fall asleep, her mind going back to what happened the past few hours. With a deep sigh, she dragged herself to the door, every muscle in her body tense as she pulled it open.
Standing in front of her was Lara, looking far too calm for someone who had just caused chaos in Y/N's mind all day. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, but the anger in Y/N's chest had yet to fade.
"What do you want?" Y/N snapped, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at Lara.
Lara stepped forward, her hands tucked casually into the pockets of her jacket. "We need to talk," she said, her tone steady but firm.
Y/N's eyes narrowed. "Oh, now you want to talk? After everything that happened today? After youâ"
Lara cut her off, her voice quiet but powerful. "You get under my skin, Y/N." The words hung in the air, charged with emotion. "And I'm not sure what to do with it."
Y/N froze, her breath catching in her throat as her frustration slowly transformed into something else..a heat that started to build deep in her chest. "Excuse me?" she asked, though her voice faltered slightly. Was she hearing this right?
Lara met her gaze, unflinching. "I can't stop thinking about you. You drive me crazy...good and bad. And it makes me want to pull you closer, but also push you away."
Y/N opened her mouth to say something, but the words caught in her throat. She couldn't focus on anything but the sudden heat in the room. Her heart was racing, and despite the anger, something in her wanted this, wanted to know why this was happening between them. "You've been acting like you don't even like me."
Lara's face softened, but her voice remained serious. "I do like you, Y/N. More than I probably should."
The confession hit harder than Y/N expected. Her mind was spinning with the realization, but before she could process it fully, Lara took a step forward, closing the distance between them.
"Iâ" Y/N began, but Lara wasn't interested in letting her finish.
Lara reached up, cupping Y/N's face in her hands and pulling her closer. Her lips crashed against Y/N's with a force that knocked the breath out of her. The kiss was fierce, desperate, as if all the emotions they'd been holding back for so long were finally coming to the surface.
Y/N's hands moved instinctively, one finding its way to Lara's shoulder and the other to her waist, pulling her in as if she couldn't get close enough. Lara responded immediately, deepening the kiss, her hands sliding down to Y/N's back, pulling her body against her own.
For a moment, everything else disappeared. There were no rehearsals to worry about, no expectations, just the two of them in this stolen moment, tasting each other like it was the only thing that mattered.
Y/N's breath hitched as Lara's lips moved down to her jaw, her hands gripping Lara's shirt in a tight hold, as if she were trying to hold herself to the present. "Lara..." she whispered, but Lara's lips were back on hers before she could finish the sentence.
The kiss deepened further, a heated exchange of passion, as they both gave in to the longing that had been building between them. Y/N's fingers slid into Lara's hair, tugging her closer, needing more, while Lara's hands roamed, exploring the curves of Y/N's body, pulling her even tighter. The room seemed to shrink around them, the air thick and charged with tension.
Finally, when they broke apart, both of them were gasping for air, their faces flushed with the intensity of what had just happened. Y/N leaned against the doorframe, her pulse still racing. "What... what was that?" she managed to breathe out, her voice shaky.
Lara smirked, brushing a strand of hair from Y/N's face as she stepped back, her eyes dark with desire. "I told you," she said softly, "You get under my skin."
Y/N swallowed hard, still trying to process everything. "We can't... we can't just do this. We are friends," she murmured.
"I know," Lara replied, her voice low, though there was a certain softness in her expression. "But right now... right now, I don't care."
Before Y/N could say anything else, Lara stepped forward again, capturing her lips in another kiss. This time, it was slower, as if they both knew the weight of what had just happened between them.
When they finally pulled apart, Y/N's chest was tight with emotions she couldn't name, her mind still reeling from everything. "Lara, what are we doing?"
"We're figuring it out," Lara replied, her voice gentle but filled with something more..something real. "But right now, let's just be here, in this moment. No more thinking, just feeling."
Y/N's heart pounded in her chest. She could feel the weight of her emotions pressing against her, and yet, there was a certain calmness in Lara's eyes, a reassurance that she wasn't alone in this confusion.
With a heavy sigh, Y/N opened the door fully. "Come in." She wasn't sure what was happening between them, but for once, she wasn't willing to fight it.
Lara smiled, stepping over the threshold. "I'm not going anywhere tonight," she said, her voice low and full of meaning.
Y/N closed the door behind them, the world outside momentarily forgotten.
The kiss lingered in Y/N's thoughts long after Lara left her room. Sleep didn't come easily that night every time she closed her eyes, she felt the press of Lara's lips and the intensity of her gaze. When morning finally came, she felt restless, but there was no time. They had a flight to catch back to Seoul, and the group was up early, their manager bustling them out of the hotel and into the van.
Y/N kept her distance from Lara throughout the ride and even on the plane. She didn't trust herself to act normal, and Lara didn't push, though her eyes flicked over to Y/N now and then. Every glance was a reminder of the night before, and Y/N's chest tightened each time their eyes met.
By the time they landed, the excitement of returning home distracted everyone. Staff hurried to organize luggage, fans crowded the airport to catch a glimpse of their favorite idols, and the members chatted about their plans for the evening.
"Don't forget we have rehearsals tomorrow," Sophia reminded everyone, pulling her bag along.
"Yeah, yeah," Yoonchae said, waving her off. "Tonight's for relaxing. I'm gonna sleep for twelve hours."
"Same," Ningning added, adjusting her sunglasses. "I can't wait to crash."
As Aespa and Katseyes said their goodbyes, Y/N felt a pang of something unexplainable. Her group began heading toward their van, but Lara hesitated near the exit.
"Hey," Lara called softly, her voice barely carrying over the noise.
Y/N turned back, meeting her eyes. "Yeah?"
Lara hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention. "I'll text you," she said, her voice warm but careful.
Y/N nodded, biting back a smile as she rejoined her group.
Back at the dorms, Y/N barely had time to unpack before her phone buzzed. She flopped onto her bed, pulling it out to see Lara's name on the screen. Her heart fluttered as she opened the message.
Lara: Did you make it back okay?
Y/N: Yeah, just got in. You?
Lara: Same. Feels weird not seeing you.
Y/N hesitated before typing her reply, her lips twitching upward despite herself.
Y/N: Yeah, it does.
Another message followed quickly.
Lara: What are you doing tonight?
Y/N: Probably just hanging out here. Why?
Lara: I was thinking we should all hang out. Both groups. It'd be fun.
Y/N blinked at the suggestion, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Before she could reply, another message popped up.
Lara: Unless you don't want to?
Y/N: No, it sounds fun. I'll tell the others.
Lara: Good. Can't wait to see you.
Y/N stared at the screen, her cheeks flushing as she locked her phone. The thought of seeing Lara again made her stomach flutter, but she quickly shook it off and called out to her members.
"Guys, we've got plans tonight," she said, stepping into the living room where everyone had gathered.
"Plans?" Winter raised an eyebrow.
"Were going over at Katseyes, Lara invited us," Y/N explained, keeping her tone casual.
Karina perked up. "Oh, a dorm hangout? Nice! Let's get snacks."
That evening, the Katseyes dorm was buzzing with activity. Sophia had taken over the kitchen to prepare food, Megan was arranging the living room to make space, and Yoonchae had started on the playlist and preparing games on the floor.
The doorbell rang just after seven, and Lara's pulse quickened. She moved to answer it, trying to keep her nerves in check. When she opened the door, Y/N was standing there, a bag of snacks in one hand and a small smile on her lips.
"Hey," Y/N said softly.
"Hey," Lara replied, stepping aside to let her in.
The rest of Aespa followed, greeting everyone warmly as they filed into the living room. It didn't take long for the two groups to settle in, laughter and chatter filling the dorm as they played games and shared stories.
Lara tried to focus on the group, but Y/N's presence was a constant distraction. She was very aware of every glance, every accidental touch. It was like a magnetic pull she couldn't resist.
At one point, while everyone was distracted by a game of uno, Lara leaned over to Y/N. "Can we talk? Somewhere private?"
Y/N's heart skipped a beat. She nodded, slipping away from the group and motioning for Lara to follow her. They ended up in the hallway near the balcony, where the noise of the others faded into the background.
"What's up?" Y/N asked, her voice soft.
Lara hesitated, her eyes searching Y/N's face. "I've been thinking about last night. About us."
Y/N's breath caught. "Me too."
Lara stepped closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know where this is going, but I can't stop thinking about you."
Y/N didn't have time to respond. Lara closed the distance between them, her lips capturing Y/N's in a kiss that was more intense than the one before. Y/N melted into it, her hands finding Lara's waist as they moved in sync.
The world around them seemed to disappear until a sharp gasp snapped them back to reality. They broke apart quickly, their heads turning to see Manon standing a few feet away, frozen in place with wide eyes and an open mouth.
Y/N's stomach dropped. "Manonâ" she started, but her voice caught in her throat.
Manon blinked, her expression shifting from shock to a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Holy... I didn't see that coming," she said, more to herself than to them.
Lara stepped forward, her usual confidence shaken. "Manon, can weâ"
But Manon was already turning on her heel, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Oh, this is too good," she said, rushing back toward the living room.
"Manon, wait!" Y/N called after her, but it was no use.
By the time they followed her back to the group, it was too late. Manon stood in the middle of the living room, practically jumping with excitement.
"You guys won't believe what I just saw," she announced, her voice loud enough to cut through the chatter.
"What is it now?" Megan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Manon didn't even pause for effect. "Y/N and Lara were kissing! Like, full-on, in the hallway!"
The room fell silent, all eyes snapping to Y/N and Lara as they entered. Y/N felt like the ground had disappeared beneath her. Lara stood beside her, looking flustered.
"No way," Ningning said, her tone half-surprised, half-teasing. "Is she serious?"
"Im serious," Manon said, crossing her arms with a smirk. "Caught them red-handed."
Sophia's gaze moved between Y/N and Lara, her expression unreadable. "Well," she said after a beat, "this is... new."
"Aw, come on, don't make it weird!" Yoonchae said, grinning as she leaned back on the couch. "I mean, we all saw this coming, right?"
"Did we?" Daniela asked, looking genuinely intrigued.
As the teasing and questions started, Y/N's face burned with embarrassment. She opened her mouth to explain, but no words came out. Lara, however, took a step forward, her usual composure returning.
"Okay, yes, you caught us," Lara said, her tone firm but light. "But maybe give us a minute to figure it out ourselves before you start planning our wedding."
That earned a few laughs, and the tension eased slightly, though Y/N still felt the weight of everyone's attention.
"Well, as long as it doesn't affect rehearsals, I'm good," Sophia said finally, shrugging as she turned back to her drink.
"Same," Giselle added, smirking. "But you two owe us details later."
Y/N exchanged a quick glance with Lara, silently agreeing to face this together. She took a deep breath, stepping forward. "Okay, yeah, what Manon said is true. Lara and I... we kissed. Twice, actually."
The room fell silent again, but this time the mood was lighter. Karina raised an eyebrow, pretending to be impressed. "Twice? And you didn't even tell us after the first time? Rude."
Yoonchae grinned. "I knew there was something going on! You two have been acting weird lately."
"It's new, okay?" Y/N said, trying to keep her voice steady. "We're still figuring things out, so we didn't want to make it a big deal."
Lara chimed in, her confidence fully back. "And, honestly, we were hoping to keep it between us for a little while longer. But, well..." She shot a pointed look at Manon, who simply shrugged with a cheeky smile.
"I couldn't help it," Manon said. "It's not every day you catch a love story unfolding in real-time."
Ningning laughed. "Alright, fair enough. But seriously, as long as this doesn't mess up rehearsals or our schedules, I don't think anyone has a problem."
"Exactly," Sophia added, giving a small smile. "Just be ready for a lot of teasing."
Daniela nodded. "So much teasing."
Y/N groaned, hiding her face in her hands. Lara chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "I think we can handle it."
The conversation shifted back to the card game, though the occasional knowing glance or joke reminded Y/N that this wasn't going away anytime soon. Still, she felt a strange sense of relief. The secret was out, and her members didn't seem to mind. If anything, they were supportive in their own chaotic way.
As the night wound down and Aespa prepared to leave, Lara pulled Y/N aside near the door. "Hey," she said softly. "You okay?"
Y/N nodded, her heart swelling at the concern in Lara's eyes. "Yeah. I actually feel... good. Like, better than I thought I would."
Lara smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Y/N's face. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."
Y/N leaned into her touch, a small smile playing on her lips. "Me neither."
Before they could get lost in the moment, Megan's voice interrupted. "Alright, lovebirds, save it for later. We need sleep."
Lara rolled her eyes, but Y/N laughed, pulling her in for a quick hug before stepping back to join her group.
The next morning, the dorm was buzzing with energy as the members prepared for the day. Y/N was in the kitchen, sipping on coffee, when Giselle walked in, her hair still damp from a shower.
"So," Giselle said, leaning against the counter. "You and Lara, huh?"
Y/N set her mug down, feeling her cheeks heat up. "Yeah."
Giselle gave a small nod, her expression thoughtful. "She makes you happy?"
"Yeah," Y/N said again, this time more firmly. "She does."
"Then that's all that matters," Giselle said, offering a rare, genuine smile before heading toward the living room.
Y/N stood there for a moment, her chest feeling lighter. Maybe this wouldn't be as hard as she thought.
As the day wound down and the members gathered in the living room to relax, Y/N's phone buzzed with a text from Lara.
Lara: Can't stop thinking about last night. When can I see you again?
Y/N smiled, her heart racing as she typed back
Y/N: Soon. Let me survive my members' teasing first.
Just as she hit send, Karina leaned over her shoulder. "Ooh, texting your girlfriend?"
Y/N shoved her playfully, but she couldn't hide her grin. Maybe things weren't perfect, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like they were heading in the right direction.