Noeul, Baekhyun, Sehun, and Junmyeon alternate between visitation and overnight stays. The room maxed up to three people, so sometimes, Noeul and Baekhyun would spend the night together with Luhan. Noeul beside Luhan and Baekhyun on the couch.

Other nights, Junmyeon and Sehun stayed alone. Sometimes, Baekhyun would go home alone, leaving Junmyeon and Noeul or vice versa.

They talked about her future. Noeul remained honest because she knew Junmyeon would disembowel her lies in seconds. She told him about her conflict with Baekhyun. She told him about her thoughts of becoming a teacher just like him. She told him that he inspired her to teach and help kids like her deal with trauma, and it resulted in a long hug.

Then, there were those nights when Junmyeon and Sehun kicked Noeul and Baekhyun out. They had no choice but to spend time together. By themselves. It wasn’t awkward when Luhan was there because they talked about other things. Life. TV shows. Hobbies.

But when Noeul and Baekhyun were alone. They found that it was easier to be in each other’s company in silence. No one broached the topic of what they were doing.

Noeul just stopped questioning it. When Baekhyun held her hand, she didn’t pull away. When she found herself craving his arms, she would step into them, and he didn’t push her away either.

There was an extra guest room at the house, but Noeul found herself standing in front of Baekhyun’s room each night she was there. Even if Baekhyun stayed overnight with Luhan, she still slept in his bed. Even without his warm presence, she found that his smell helped her sleep soundly.

Baekhyun and Noeul remained in the in-between state. It was better when they didn’t talk about it. So, they talked about other things. Baekhyun’s memorable soccer matches. Seulgi’s antics. Noeul’s failed dates. Chanyeol’s life. Classes.

Anything that wasn’t the state of their relationship.

During the day, Noeul hung around in Luhan’s hospital room. They watched shows, and she found Luhan’s company more comforting than the predicament that they were in.

If she thought about it simply, spending time with Luhan was a given. Laughing at his crude, sometimes outright terrible jokes was a given.

Seeing him point out how ridiculous onscreen couples were when they were dishonest about their feelings made her reflective of Baekhyun and herself.

She figured that he was using movie and TV show couples as a conduit to comment about his two best friends. Respectively.

But Noeul pretended to not notice. She wouldn’t burst the little bubble just yet. She was still playing with the notion of not yet’s and just a little more’s. So was Baekhyun.

Likewise, in the morning, when she woke up, and found herself in numerous positions with him. Sometimes, on top of him with his hands resting on her . Other times, with their foreheads pressed against each other. Or his nose brushing the back of her neck as the feel of his soft, sleepy breaths gave her chills.

Noeul found herself wanting things to remain this way forever. Nothing else happening. Just the four of them stuck in this comfortable limbo.

Because when the day comes and this all ends—Noeul doesn’t know what will happen. More appropriately, she doesn’t want that day to ever happen. But like most of her wishes, they fall out the other ear of fate.