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The word “accidental” was something of a joke among the members of NMixx. Days off were rare, and if anyone thought Bae’s spontaneous visits to Sullyoon’s dorm were “accidental,” they were blissfully wrong.
Bae appeared at Sullyoon’s door just as the afternoon sun was beginning to soften, carrying a crinkled paper bag that smelled faintly of almonds and butter. Her grin was mischievous, like she’d been plotting this day for weeks.
Sullyoon opened the door with her usual sleepy smile, oversized sweater slipping off one shoulder, hair pulled up loosely. “Pastries?” she guessed.
“Pastries, and then some,” Bae replied, holding the bag up like a prize. “And a day plan that’s way better than practicing until we collapse.”
Sullyoon laughed softly and stepped aside to let Bae in. The dorm felt quieter than usual, a calm that only a day off could bring.
The two headed to the rooftop, a small escape from the busy city below. The sky stretched wide above them, the kind of blue that promised something good.
Bae pulled out two almond croissants, flaky and warm, and they settled down on a threadbare blanket. The city buzzed softly in the distance, but up here, it was just them.
As they ate, Bae watched Sullyoon with an unfamiliar focus, noticing the way the light kissed her skin and the gentle rhythm of her breath.
“You ever think about how days like this just… slip by?” Bae asked, voice soft, almost a whisper.
Sullyoon glanced at her, curious. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, we get caught up in schedules, practices, schedules, and schedules. But when we get a day off, it’s like the world forgets to keep spinning for a bit.”
Sullyoon smiled, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “I like that. Maybe we should make more days like this. Not by accident.”
Bae reached out and nudged Sullyoon’s shoulder lightly. “Yeah. Maybe we should.”
There was a quietness between them, filled with something that felt like the start of a new chapter.
They spent the afternoon stealing moments—talking about everything and nothing, teasing each other about their worst dance moves, and laughing until their cheeks hurt. The kind of laughter that makes your chest ache in the best way.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky in soft pinks and purples, they leaned back and let the silence settle around them.
“Do you ever feel like there’s something we’re not saying?” Sullyoon asked suddenly, voice tentative.
Bae looked at her, heart fluttering. “Yeah. Sometimes.”
Sullyoon’s gaze was steady, searching. “What if we didn’t have to keep it a secret?”
Bae swallowed, the weight of the words settling warmly in her chest. “Maybe it’s time we stopped.”
And in that fading light, with the city humming softly below, two friends began to rewrite their story.
The next morning, their accidental day off felt like a secret they were sharing with the world. The dorm was still sleepy, sunlight filtering through the curtains in golden streaks, but Bae was already up, humming a tune and scrolling through her phone.
Sullyoon shuffled into the living room in her socks, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Morning,” she mumbled, but the smile tugging at the corner of her lips said she was glad to see Bae.
“I made a playlist,” Bae announced, waving her phone like a flag. “It’s terrible, but it’s ours.”
Sullyoon took the phone, peering at the song titles with amused curiosity. “Terrible how?”
“Terrible good,” Bae said, sitting cross-legged on the floor. “It’s all the songs that remind me of us—or that could, if you squint.”
They spent the morning in the practice room, a place usually reserved for intense rehearsals and endless repetition. But today, the mirrors reflected laughter instead of frustration, and the music was less about perfection and more about feeling.
Bae tripped over a dance step halfway through a ridiculous routine and Sullyoon burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. “You’re impossible!” she teased.
“Only for you,” Bae grinned, brushing hair out of her face. Then she caught Sullyoon watching her with something soft and lingering in her eyes. Her heart fluttered.
Later, when the playlist shifted to something quieter, Bae hit pause and pulled out her phone again. “Have you heard ‘Glue’ by beabadoobee?”
Sullyoon nodded, eyes brightening. “Yeah, I love that song. It feels like a secret handshake.”
Bae smiled shyly. “It feels like us today.”
They sat side by side on the floor, backs resting against the wall. The first chords played softly through the speakers. The room shrank to the space between them—the steady thrum of the music, the warmth of shared silence.
As the lyrics unfolded, Bae glanced at Sullyoon, noticing how her fingers twitched, like she wanted to reach out but wasn’t sure if it was the right moment.
When the chorus came, Sullyoon’s voice joined softly, humming along, and Bae’s hand found hers without thinking. The touch was light, electric—two halves holding on.
Neither spoke, but everything said what words couldn’t.
When the song ended, Sullyoon squeezed Bae’s hand gently. “We stick together, huh?”
“Yeah,” Bae whispered, “like glue.”
The day stretched on, punctuated by moments like this—shared glances, subtle touches, laughter that sometimes faltered with something unspoken.
As evening neared, they left the practice room feeling lighter, their connection weaving into something new and fragile, but beautiful.
The city was a patchwork of lights and shadows as Bae and Sullyoon stepped out into the early evening air. The accidental day off had stretched into a full weekend adventure neither wanted to end.
“Where to next?” Bae asked, her voice light but eyes curious.
Sullyoon shrugged, pulling her sweater sleeves down over her hands. “Anywhere with a good vibe. And maybe coffee.”
They wandered past familiar streets, the kind that knew their footsteps and whispered stories from past rehearsals and late-night runs for snacks. The city buzzed softly around them, but for once, the noise was comforting, like a familiar song playing low in the background.
At a tiny vinyl shop, they spent what felt like hours flipping through records. Sullyoon picked out a jazz album with a cover that made her smile—a woman laughing with her head thrown back, carefree.
“Take it,” Bae said, nudging the stack toward her.
Sullyoon hesitated, then grinned. “You’re trying to bribe me with music?”
“Maybe,” Bae admitted. “I want to hear what makes you happy.”
They left the shop with the record tucked under Sullyoon’s arm and a shared warmth that felt like a secret.
Later, they found a quiet café with warm lights and mismatched chairs. Over cups of strong tea, the conversation deepened—soft, careful words that brushed against feelings neither wanted to name aloud.
“I used to think I had to burn bright to be noticed,” Sullyoon confessed, stirring her tea. “But maybe steady light is enough.”
Bae reached across the table, fingers brushing Sullyoon’s wrist. “You burn in ways I’m still discovering.”
Their laughter bubbled up again, easy and freeing, until it was interrupted by a sudden, glittery explosion.
“What the—?” Bae exclaimed, looking down to see sparkling flecks covering her shoes.
Sullyoon giggled, holding up a small container of glitter. “For the grand finale of the day.”
They chased each other through the café, leaving trails of laughter and shimmer behind. The world shrank to their playful bubble, bright and messy and perfect.
As they finally collapsed onto a bench outside, breathless and glowing, Bae looked at Sullyoon with a softness that hadn’t been there before.
“I think this—us—is the best kind of accidental.”
Sullyoon smiled, leaning her head on Bae’s shoulder. “Then let’s make it less accidental.”
The morning air was crisp and fresh when Bae knocked softly on Sullyoon’s door, a small basket swinging from her hand. Today’s plan was simple: a picnic in a field just outside the city, a place said to sing when you lay still long enough.
Sullyoon dressed quickly, excitement fluttering in her chest. There was something about these days off—these stolen moments—that felt like the beginning of everything.
They walked side by side, the city fading behind them as trees and open sky stretched wide. The field was a swath of green, dotted with wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze.
They spread a blanket under a pale blue sky, unpacking sandwiches, strawberries, and a thermos of something warm that tasted like home.
Bae hummed a tune softly, one Sullyoon recognized but couldn’t place. The melody floated over them like a gentle spell.
As they lay back, watching clouds drift lazily, Bae reached for Sullyoon’s hand, their fingers intertwining naturally.
“You ever think about what comes after this?” Bae asked, voice low.
Sullyoon squeezed her hand, heart thudding. “I think... I want to find out.”
The field seemed to hold its breath as they turned to face each other, the space between them charged with possibility.
Laughter came easy, but so did moments of stillness—soft confessions shared beneath the wide-open sky.
When Bae brushed a stray lock of hair from Sullyoon’s face, the touch lingered just a second too long to be casual.
Sullyoon’s breath hitched, eyes shining with something new and vulnerable.
“Maybe,” she whispered, “we were meant to be more than just friends all along.”
Bae smiled, warmth spreading through her chest. “Maybe the best things grow slowly.”
And in that sunlit field, surrounded by the hum of life and possibility, two hearts began to beat in quiet, perfect sync.
The whirlwind of schedules swept them back into the rhythm of NMixx’s world. Rehearsals, interviews, and endless routines filled their days, but something between Bae and Sullyoon had shifted—quietly, irrevocably.
One late night, after the last call, Bae texted Sullyoon: Meet me at the usual spot?
Sullyoon’s reply was immediate: I’ll be there.
The city was calm beneath the streetlights when they met, the air cool but electric with anticipation.
Bae pulled out a small notebook, worn at the edges. “I wrote something,” she said, voice a little shy.
Sullyoon’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Bae cleared her throat and read softly:
“We promised to keep collecting the small things—
the playlists, the laughter, the moments in between.
I never want to stop finding reasons to smile with you.”
Sullyoon’s breath caught. She stepped closer, their hands finding each other’s with ease.
“I think,” Sullyoon said, voice trembling just a little, “I’ve been waiting for this—waiting to say it out loud.”
Bae smiled, heart full. “Me too.”
They leaned in, the city blurring around them as their lips met—a gentle, perfect promise.
From that night forward, the map of their days grew brighter: full of whispered dreams, shared playlists, and the kind of love that starts in friendship but blossoms into forever.