After the shoot, Rina had generously invited us over for lunch. Jungwon, a few others, and I decided to head to the restaurant that happened to be owned by Rina's parents. The place was warm and welcoming, filled with the delightful clatter of cutlery and the hum of lively conversation.

Jungwon and I had managed to find seats next to each other, and as the chatter around the table grew more animated, I tried to focus on my plate, pushing away any distracting thoughts. Just as I was about to take a bite, I felt Jungwon lean in close, his breath warm against my ear.

"Can I touch you?" he whispered, his voice playful and low.

I blinked, utterly caught off guard. My heart did a little flip, and I turned to look at him, confusion and curiosity mingling on my face.

"W-What?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

Before I could even think of a proper response, his hand gently rested on my thigh under the table. My eyes widened, and I froze, feeling a rush of heat spread through my cheeks. The warmth of his hand against my skin sent a flurry of butterflies through my stomach, and I was pretty sure my face had turned a bright shade of pink.

Jungwon, however, seemed completely unfazed by my reaction. Instead, he wore that same mischievous smirk that always made my heart skip a beat.

"I saw this in movies," he explained quietly, his voice filled with teasing amusement. "You know, where the guy casually puts his hand on the girl's thigh during dinner. Thought I'd try it."

I blinked at him, still processing the situation. "In movies?" I repeated, trying to keep my voice steady, though it came out more like a squeak.

He nodded, looking way too pleased with himself. "Yeah, they always make it look so smooth. Thought I'd give it a shot."

He chuckled softly, his fingers giving a light, playful squeeze. I could barely contain my embarrassment as I glanced around the table, hoping no one had noticed. Thankfully, everyone was engrossed in their own conversations, oblivious to the little scene unfolding under the table.

Turning back to Jungwon, I gave him a mock glare, though I couldn't hide the smile tugging at my lips. "You're ridiculous," I whispered, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.

My heart was still racing, but there was something undeniably sweet about his bold move. Jungwon just shrugged, still grinning.

"What? It seemed like a good idea at the time."

Despite myself, I couldn't help but laugh softly. "You're not supposed to just copy what you see in movies, you know."

I teased, my voice soft enough that only he could hear. "Real life doesn't work like that."

He leaned in a bit closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Maybe not, but I think this is working pretty well, don't you?"

His hand stayed on my thigh, warm and comforting, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter of happiness at how natural it felt, even though it made me blush like crazy. I bit my lip, trying to suppress the smile that was threatening to break through as I shyly glanced down at our plates.

Jungwon chuckled softly, giving my thigh one more gentle squeeze before pulling his hand away. Much to my disappointment.

"See? Not so bad," he whispered.

Without thinking, I turned to him, the question slipping out of my mouth before I could stop myself. "Why'd you pull away?"

I said quickly, placing his hand back on my thigh. Jungwon glanced at me, surprise widening his eyes for a moment before a playful smile curled on his lips. He leaned in closer, his voice low and teasing.

"Miss me already?"

My cheeks flushed a deep pink again, and I bit my lip, trying to maintain my composure. "N-No," I stammered, though my flustered reaction was giving me away. "I just... I mean..."

I struggled to find the right words, feeling embarrassed by how obvious I was being. Jungwon chuckled softly, his eyes never leaving mine as he leaned back in his chair, looking far too pleased with himself.

"You're cute when you're flustered, you know that?"

I groaned internally, trying to hide my face behind my hands as the heat in my cheeks intensified. "You're impossible."

I muttered, unable to suppress the smile tugging at my lips. Jungwon leaned in again, just close enough for me to hear him.

"I pulled away because I didn't want to make you too nervous," he said softly, his tone suddenly more sincere. "But if you like it..."

He trailed off, raising an eyebrow playfully as he caressed my skin, making my heart race even faster.

After lunch, Jungwon and I were cozily settled in the van, heading to his company for our practice session. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow that seemed to make everything feel a bit more intimate. We were in the middle of a comfortable silence when Jungwon broke it with a casual question that set my heart racing.

"You wanna do something later? Tonight?" he asked, his voice casual but with an underlying tone that made my heart skip a beat.

My mischievous mind, as usual, took his words to an entirely different place. The innocent idea of hanging out soon morphed into a whirlwind of suggestive scenarios. My cheeks began to heat up as I imagined all sorts of things that had nothing to do with what he probably intended. I struggled to keep my face from turning the brightest shade of red, desperately trying to regain composure.

I looked up at him, my eyes wide and filled with a mixture of curiosity and embarrassment. "D-Do something later? Like, what exactly?" I stammered, my voice coming out a bit more breathy than I intended.

Jungwon's eyes sparkled with a mix of curiosity and amusement, his gaze holding a hint of mischief. It was almost as if he knew exactly where my thoughts had wandered and was thoroughly enjoying the effect he had on me.

He leaned back slightly, his playful smirk making my heart race even more. "Oh, you know, just thinking about hanging out, maybe grabbing some dinner or watching a movie," he said casually.

My cheeks felt like they were on fire as I blinked at him in disbelief. "R-Really? Dinner and a movie?" I repeated, trying to sound nonchalant, but failing miserably as my voice quivered.

Jungwon's smirk widened, clearly amused by my reaction. "Yeah, something like that. Unless you had something else in mind?"

The blush on my cheeks deepened, and I shook my head vigorously, trying to dispel the naughty thoughts that had been running rampant in my mind. "No, no. Dinner and a movie sounds great," I said, forcing a smile and desperately trying to keep my thoughts from straying back to those mischievous scenarios.

Jungwon's amusement was palpable as he laughed softly at my flustered state. "Great. I'll pick you up around eight?" he said, his tone light and teasing.

I nodded, trying to stay focused and maintain my composure. "Sure, I'll be ready," I replied, attempting to sound as normal as possible while my mind was still buzzing from the earlier embarrassment.

As Jungwon settled back, his laughter filled the van, making me smile despite my earlier mortification.

The day had finally arrived. After weeks of speculation and whispers, our relationship was officially confirmed by both of our companies. It felt like a dream, surreal and dazzling, especially since it coincided with our long-awaited performance. We had been preparing for this moment for months, and now, with all eyes on us, the spotlight seemed to shift from the stage to our personal lives.

Jungwon and I entered the green room together, our hearts racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness. The atmosphere crackled with electricity, and it was clear that the news of our relationship had everyone abuzz. As soon as we stepped inside, our respective groups seized the opportunity to tease us with playful jabs.

Ni-Ki and Sunghoon oppa, always quick with a joke, were the first to pounce. They exchanged knowing glances and smirks as we walked in.

"Wow, look at you two," Ni-Ki said, his voice dripping with exaggerated excitement.

"The hottest new couple in the industry. I guess we should expect a duet album soon, huh?" he added, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Sunghoon oppa, barely containing his laughter, chimed in. "And here I was thinking the only thing you two were rehearsing was a dance routine. Guess you've been practicing some other moves, too!"

Jungwon rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the amused smile tugging at his lips. "Very funny, guys. Can we focus on the performance now?"

As we prepared for our performance, the makeup artists were busy with their final touch-ups, and the stylists ensured that every detail was perfect. I felt a soft brush against my cheek and looked up to find Jungwon gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His touch was light and tender, making my heart skip a beat.

"You're always covering your pretty face," he whispered, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

Before I could respond, Sunghoon oppa's voice cut through the moment. "Look at him, acting all sweet. Jungwon, you're so whipped."

Ni-Ki, who was standing nearby, laughed and added, "I never thought I'd see the day where our leader turns into such a romantic."

Jungwon rolled his eyes, though a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You guys are so dramatic."

I couldn't help but laugh, the teasing banter easing some of the pre-performance jitters. Just as we were about to leave, Jihae unnie came over to say hi.

"Hey!" she called out, her bright smile instantly lifting my spirits.

"Oh, unnie!" I exclaimed, rushing over to her.

"Bella, you're glowing! Is it the stage lights or someone's special attention?" she teased, nudging me playfully.

My cheeks flushed as the teasing continued, and I swatted at her lightly. "You too? You're all impossible."

Jihae laughed, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Anyways, all the best, alright? The girls and I are waiting for you."

I nodded, grateful for her support and the camaraderie.

With a final, reassuring glance at Jungwon, we stepped onto the stage. The lights were blinding, the roar of the crowd exhilarating, and for a moment, everything felt perfect.

As soon as I stepped into our green room, a playful chaos met my ears. My members were a whirlwind of smirks and stifled giggles, their eyes dancing with mischief. I could feel the impending teasing like a warm, electric buzz.

Aarya was the first to strike, leaning nonchalantly against the wall with a grin that could rival the sun's brightness. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint as she greeted me.

"So, Bella," she drawled, her voice dripping with amusement. "It looks like Jungwon's pretty good at taking your shirt off, huh?"

Her eyebrow wiggled in the most exaggerated, playful way possible, and the entire room erupted into laughter. My face flushed instantly, a heat rising from my neck that made it feel like I was on fire. I felt my hands shoot up to cover my face, hiding behind them as I let out a mortified groan.

"Unnie!" I practically shouted, my voice a mixture of embarrassment and frustration. I could feel my cheeks burning hotter by the second.

"It was part of the choreography!" I protested, though my defensive tone was drowned out by their continued laughter.

"Oh, we know," Jihae chimed in, her arms crossed with a teasing smirk that matched Aarya's.

"But the way he did it—so smooth, Bella. Very professional, right?" Jihae's tone was thick with playful sarcasm, and I could practically hear the smirk in her voice.

"Yeah, yeah, super professional," I muttered, though I knew my face was probably still as red as a cherry. My mind replayed the moment Jungwon had effortlessly pulled off that part of the dance, his movements so fluid and graceful that it was almost hypnotic.

The teasing seemed endless, and no matter how much I tried to defend myself, my words were swallowed by their relentless banter. It felt like every time I tried to explain, they only found new ways to tease me.

"Okay, okay, enough!" I finally surrendered, holding up my hands in a gesture of capitulation. "Can we just talk about the performance without bringing Jungwon into it?"

Yui gave me a dramatic pout that could rival any soap opera star. "But where's the fun in that?"

Aarya nodded in agreement, her smirk widening. "Exactly!"

Yui leaned closer, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Besides, you can't blame us for noticing when the sparks are flying all over the place."

I sighed, rolling my eyes dramatically even as my heart warmed at their antics. Despite their relentless teasing, I was touched by their support. They might have been absolute menaces, but their happiness for me made all the difference.

Eventually, the teasing subsided as we moved on to get changed for our own performance