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You loved spending time with your girlfriend. It didn't matter where you were—you’d do just about anything if it meant stealing a few more minutes with her.
Though you did wish she'd pick more… tame activities.
Zoey beamed at you as you stepped out of the locker room, her long sleeves rolled up, climbing shoes already on, and a harness snug at her hips. She bounced a little on her toes, practically vibrating with excitement. That sparkle in her eyes was enough to make your heart stutter.
"Ready to climb, babe?" she grinned, offering her hand.
You took it, despite the way your stomach was already flipping. "As ready as I’ll ever be."
Heights had never been your thing. Zoey knew that, but she also knew how to make you feel safe—even when your legs were shaking two stories off the ground. She had assured you the harness would protect you, that the staff were well-trained, and that she'd be right there with you the whole time.
And she was. For the first half hour, everything was good. Great, even. Zoey coached you through your footing, cheering you on from below. Her praise was loud, enthusiastic, and made you forget your nerves—even if only briefly.
But on the fourth wall, you reached too far.
You heard it before you felt it: a quiet pop. Then a white-hot stab shot through your right shoulder as your hand slipped from the hold.
You managed to catch yourself with your other arm before the harness had to do much, but the pain was instant and radiating. You hung there for a second, breath caught in your throat.
"Babe? You okay?" Zoey called up from the floor, her voice already edged with concern.
You forced a smile and gave her a thumbs-up with your uninjured hand. "Y-Yeah! Just… slipped."
You climbed down slower than before, one arm doing most of the work. Every movement pulled at your shoulder, but you bit your cheek and powered through. You knew if you told Zoey, the rest of the day would be over. She’d worry. She’d shut everything down. She’d probably try to carry you back to the car herself.
You couldn’t ruin her day. She’d been looking forward to this for weeks. She was so busy with rehearsal for Huntr/x, she hasn't had the chance to relax or unwind.
So when your feet finally hit the mat, you grinned through the pain. "Whew, that one was brutal."
Zoey jogged over and gave you a quick peck on the cheek. "You did amazing! You looked like a total pro up there."
You chuckled, keeping your right arm still at your side. "Guess I’m getting the hang of it."
"You wanna take a break or try the bouldering section next?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear.
"Actually," you said, feigning casual interest as you flexed your fingers to test your grip, "I'm kind of hungry. How about we get something to eat?"
Zoey paused, blinking at you. "Already? We’ve only been here like an hour."
You offered a sheepish smile. "What can I say? Climbing vertical death walls builds an appetite."
It wasn’t a total lie. Twisting your shoulder out of its socket did make a girl a bit peckish… or at least lightheaded and nauseous enough to confuse the two.
Zoey laughed and bumped your hip with hers. "Alright, alright. I was thinking of grabbing sushi after anyway. That cute little place down the street?"
You nodded quickly, trying not to wince as the movement jostled your arm. "Perfect. I could kill a spicy tuna roll right now."
By the time you both stepped out into the cool air, your shoulder had gone from throbbing to aching deeply in waves. Your fingers were tingling now, and you couldn’t tell if it was adrenaline, swelling, or both.
"You okay?" Zoey asked, cutting a glance at you as she unlocked her car. "You’re being kinda quiet."
"Just tired," you said quickly, pulling open the passenger door with your uninjured hand. "You really wore me out in there."
That earned you a cocky little smirk. "I do tend to have that effect."
You rolled your eyes, but smiled anyway.
~~~
The sushi bar was warm and softly lit, tucked away on a quiet corner where the hum of the city felt far away. You sat across from Zoey in a small booth, chopsticks in hand, trying not to visibly flinch every time your shoulder shifted the wrong way.
It was harder than expected. The pain was sharp now — stabbing, angry, and growing more insistent as the adrenaline wore off. Still, you managed a smile as Zoey popped a piece of salmon nigiri into her mouth and let out a happy sigh.
"Mmm. God, this is so good. Worth climbing four walls for," she said, eyes twinkling.
You nodded, chewing slowly. "Told you I was starving."
You swallowed the pain down again, shifting in your seat to avoid the pressure on your shoulder.
You’d deal with it later.
Maybe after dinner.
Maybe after you’d iced it.
Maybe after you figured out how to tell your girlfriend that you might have torn something trying to impress her.
Zoey leaned forward, reaching across the table to brush her fingers against yours — her expression soft, content. "Thank you for trying this with me. I know how you feel about heights."
For a brief moment, you forgot about the pain. "Of course babe, I don't care what we do as long as we're together."
The words had barely settled in the air when Zoey’s phone buzzed against the table. Then again. And again.
She winced, casting you an apologetic look before picking it up. "Ugh… sorry."
Her brows knit as she scanned the flurry of messages, the easy smile on her face fading into something more conflicted.
"Dang. It's Rumi."
"What is it?"
"Something about reshoots for a new single we're releasing. They need me back at the studio tonight. Ugh." She scrubbed a hand down her face. "I’m so sorry. I know we were supposed to hang."
You swallowed the disappointment rising in your chest. This was to be expected — part of the deal, really. Dating a popular K-pop idol meant sharing her with packed schedules, last-minute rehearsals, and a world that always seemed to need her more than you did.
Honestly, you were glad you hadn’t told her about your shoulder. She would’ve dropped everything to take care of you, no hesitation, and you knew how much her music meant to her. She’d worked too hard to get where she was. You were an adult. You could handle this on your own.
"It’s okay," you said quickly, waving it off with your good hand. "Go. Really."
"You sure?"
You nodded again. "Your job’s important, Zo."
She hesitated, clearly torn, then sighed and flagged down the server. "Let me get you home first, at least."
~~~
You didn’t protest when she helped you into the car, didn’t protest when she brushed a kiss across your temple at the front door and promised to be back soon. You kept your smile in place until she drove off.
The second the door clicked shut behind you, you let out a shaky breath.
Your shoulder screamed the moment you tried to take off your jacket. You barely made it to the couch before the room spun and you had to sit down, clutching your arm with the other hand, trying not to panic.
Ice. You just need ice… and maybe some pain medicine.
You pushed yourself up with your good arm, stumbling toward the kitchen.
You yanked the freezer open and fumbled around until you found a half-empty bag of frozen peas. It wasn’t ideal, but it would do.
By the time you made it back to the couch, your breath was coming in shallow gasps. You eased yourself down carefully, cradling the peas against your shoulder and blinking away the sting in your eyes.
Medicine. Right. You needed that too.
The bottle was in the bathroom cabinet—at least ten steps away, and each one sounded like a challenge your body wasn’t quite up for. You stared at the hallway, already feeling defeated.
Instead, you leaned back, letting your head rest against the couch cushion. Maybe just a few minutes. Just long enough for the ice to work. You told yourself the pain would dull soon, that it wasn’t that bad.
~~~
You woke to the sound of keys jingling in the front door, the faint metallic clatter stirring you from an uneasy sleep.
"Hey babe?" Zoey’s voice floated in as the door creaked open. "The shoot wrapped up early. I got us some boba!"
You glance at your phone to check the time. 22:26. You didn't mean to sleep this long.
You blinked against the dim lighting, still curled awkwardly on the couch, a thin blanket half-draped over you and the long-forgotten bag of melted peas clinging weakly to your shoulder.
Zoey stepped inside, her usual energy unmistakable even in the quiet of the apartment. She toed off her sneakers, set her bag down gently, and padded across the floor, brown sugar boba in hand—cheerful and unaware.
"I got your favorite," she grinned, straw already unwrapped and ready to hand off. "Extra pearls, no ice—wait…"
She paused mid-step, her smile faltering.
"Why are you still on the couch?" Her eyes scanned you, taking in your pale face, stiff posture, and the now damp spot where the peas had melted.
You forced a smile, one that probably didn’t reach your eyes. "Just… dozed off."
In an instant she was sitting next to you, the boba left forgotten on the coffee table.
"What happened?", Zoey asked worriedly as she checked you over, accidentally placing a hand on your injured shoulder.
"AH, STOP!", you cried out.
She immediately backed off, looking at you with wide eyes.
You tried to breathe through the pain, but every movement sent sharp, biting flares through your shoulder. The ice helped—barely—but shifting even slightly reignited everything.
"I’m sorry," you murmured, voice tight. "I think… I hurt it while we were climbing earlier. I thought it’d pass, but—"
Your words caught, and your throat constricted. "—it hurts. Really bad."
Zoey’s expression crumpled. "Oh, baby… why didn’t you say something?"
You looked away, ashamed. "Because we don’t get a lot of time together. I just wanted to enjoy our day out with you. And then you got called away, and I didn’t want to pull you from your work. I know how much it means to you."
There was a long, heavy pause.
Then Zoey crouched beside you, gently tucking a strand of hair behind your ear.
"You mean more."
Her voice held no hesitation—just conviction.
"I love what I do, yeah. But I love you more. And if I’d known you were in pain, nothing, and I mean nothing, would’ve kept me away."
You blinked fast, trying to hold back the sting in your eyes, but she was already wrapping you in the safest embrace she could manage without touching your shoulder.
"I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner," she whispered. "But I’m here now. We’ll take care of it together."
~~~
Zoey helped you move to your room and change into some comfortable, loose-fitting clothes. She tucked you into bed, swapped the half-thawed bag of peas for a real ice pack, and disappeared briefly to grab the ibuprofen from your bathroom.
"Here," she said as she returned, handing you two pills and your boba with the straw already in place. "Hydration and meds. Doctor’s orders."
You took both with quiet gratitude. "Thank you."
"Always," she said, brushing her knuckles gently along your jaw. "Anything else?"
You hesitated only a moment. "Stay with me? Please?"
Her face softened instantly. "You don’t even have to ask."
Zoey slipped under the covers, careful not to jostle your injured side. She settled in close, her arms curling around you like a protective cocoon. The smell of her shampoo, the warmth of her body—- it was grounding, calming, and exactly what you needed.
She pressed a kiss to your temple. "Next time, babe… let me help you, okay?"
You exhaled, eyes fluttering closed. "Okay."
"Promise?"
You paused, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. I promise."
"I love you, you know," she whispered, her voice barely audible against your skin.
You smiled, eyelids heavy. "I know. I love you too."