Hyunjin hasn't heard Jisung's voice trail off that way since back then when he had this giant crush on that senior girl.

He has been trying to find a way to get Jisung to shut up sometimes. Turned out all it takes is to get him to fall in love. Maybe Hyunjin should have been more seductive in their friendship.

"Well? Do you want to tag along?" Hyunjin chimed in, stopping you from replying to Jisung. He tilted his head at you, raising a brow in encouragement yet it felt more like a challenging stance.

"Come along! It'll be fun, and we can get to know you more!" Felix exclaimed, snapping his fingers as if what he said was a brilliant idea.

And he was right. It could be a great idea. Expanding your social network, even if it was only by three people, could help you with your loneliness. Not that you have been lonely in a while now. Ever since Jisung came into your life, everything just got flipped upside down. You've got company every morning and every night, whether it was in the form of spam texts during lunchtime or messy rambles at midnight when Jisung would slip under the cover with you and just talk nonstop.

And you have never once complained about only having Jisung as a companion. He was more than enough for you, and more than what you thought you deserved.

However, not only that, having more friends could also help with your possible future plans. Your nearest goal, which has been in progress for years, was to navigate away from a magical life into a human one. That would require you suppressing a very important part of your identity: being a magic user. But what needed to be done cannot be changed, and you were willing to get yourself on an alternate track for a more comfortable life.

(Given that waking your uncle up was a plan that has decomposed in your mind for a while now.)

You looked at Jisung, asking for his opinion. He gave you a shrug, a warm smile on his face. His friends were great people. Hyunjin might be stepping on thin ice but, according to Jisung's knowledge, this was just how you two act around strangers. Him being an egomaniac and you being an antisocial, to speak on hyperbolic terms. Once you get to know all his friends, they would be just as amazing as the way he knew them.

When you hesitated, Jisung gave you a small nudge on the back, encouraging you to take the invitation. Scanning all three of the unfamiliar boys, you pursed your lips together for a brief moment before you nodded. "Yeah, sure, I'll come along."

They smiled. Hilariously, you could assume their personality just from the way they smiled at you, just like the way you did so when you first saw them back during your little stalking period. Hyunjin held a smirk, Felix's grin was wide, and Seungmin only pursed his lips and let his eyes spoke the rest. Your heart pounded slightly as you heard Felix began talking about his shopping plans while Seungmin walked ahead of you with him, Hyunjin following along closely.

It felt thrilling to gain friends your age once again. It made you wonder if the ones you used to have back then still remember you, or if they've ever tried to go after you. You let out a bitter chuckle. It was unlikely. You have never been friendly enough with anybody for them to drop everything just to find you, especially when the act of sheltering you could mean going against the city council.

"Are you excited?" Jisung asked then, snapping you out of your thoughts.

You softened. "Kind of."

He turned to look at you then, the warm smile still evident on his face. "I bet you can't wait to hang out with someone who isn't me, huh?"

You laughed, your voice as light as feathers. Although you desperately wanted to make a joke, the swirling in your heart prevented you from doing so.

"No. It would be great to have a few more friends, I know, but I don't think I will ever get tired of hanging out with you," you replied casually. "And just so we are clear, no one can ever take me from you."

You didn't look at him. You weren't sure if you would have been able to say such embarrassing things if you were looking at him. But he was staring at you with the same look again; the softened eyes and loving smile. The look that mirrored the tender falling of first love, the chilling excitement when the first snow touched your nose. A look that screamed he had fallen in love with you all over again.

"I love you, [Name]," he whispered, the thought too big in his head he needed to get it out of his system.

You laughed, brightly. "Yeah." You reached over to grab his hand and ran your thumb smoothly over the back of his palm, feeling his rough skin and delicate touch. "I promise I will say it back someday."

He smiled. He'll wait.