One-shots, chapter ninety

"Loving you is healing me"

Thea was practically bouncing with excitement as she led Mun through the bustling streets, her hand firmly clasped around his. Today, she was taking him to a place she hadn't visited in years but still held a special place in her heart—Prince Comics. She had talked about it a few times before, but today felt like the perfect moment to finally bring Mun there. She wanted to share this piece of her childhood with him, the little treasure trove that had shaped so many of her younger days.

"It's just around the corner," Thea said, her eyes lighting up as they approached the small, unassuming storefront tucked between a café and a secondhand bookstore. The sign above the door, though faded from years of weathering, still proudly read "Prince Comics," its whimsical lettering just as she remembered.

Mun gave her a curious glance, clearly amused by how giddy she was. "You're really excited, huh? I don't think I've ever seen you this hyped for something."

Thea beamed, tugging him closer to the door. "You have no idea. This place is practically my childhood in four walls."

As they stepped inside, a warm, nostalgic scent of old books and ink greeted them. The shop was cozy, with shelves lined from floor to ceiling with comics of every kind imaginable—superheroes, fantasy, science fiction, and everything in between. Posters of comic book characters adorned the walls, and a few action figures were scattered across the counter near the cash register.

"It hasn't changed a bit," Thea murmured, her voice soft with awe. It was as if time had stood still in this little corner of the world, preserving her memories intact. She glanced at Mun, who was looking around with mild curiosity.

"This is where you hung out when you were a kid?" Mun asked, running his fingers along the edge of one of the shelves. "I can see why you liked it. It's got that... homey, old-school charm."

Thea nodded, walking further into the store, her fingers grazing the spines of the comics she used to love. "I used to come here after school all the time. They had everything—Marvel, DC, manga... I spent hours here, just reading and sketching."

As they moved toward the back of the store, Thea's eyes lit up as she spotted something she had been waiting to show Mun—the infamous wall. It was a large section of the store where kids had been allowed to draw or write whatever they wanted. The wall was filled with doodles, signatures, and random scribbles from kids who had passed through the shop over the years. Some were faded, but others were surprisingly vivid, marking moments in time.

"This," Thea said with a grin, pointing to the wall, "was the best part of the store. They used to let kids write or draw on this wall back then. I practically lived in front of this thing, always drawing something or scribbling random messages."

Mun stepped closer, studying the chaotic collection of writings and drawings. "So, did you leave your mark here?" he asked, grinning.

Thea bit her lip, suddenly feeling a bit shy. "Yeah... but I was a little extra back then."

"Oh, really?" Mun raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

With a small laugh, Thea pointed to a faded, handwritten note near the bottom corner of the wall. The writing was small but still legible, and it read: 'Whoever sits here will grow hairs on their butt!'

Mun stared at the note for a moment, then burst out laughing. "No way! You wrote this?"

Thea covered her face with her hands, laughing. "Yes! I was like eight or nine, and I thought I was so funny. My friends and I would dare each other to sit in front of it, thinking we were going to curse each other with hairy butts."

Mun couldn't stop laughing, his shoulders shaking as he looked between Thea and the note. "I can't believe this is what you chose to leave behind."

"Well, I wasn't exactly going for deep and philosophical at the time," Thea said, giggling. "But hey, no one ever erased it, so I guess it's a permanent part of Prince Comics history now."

Mun leaned in, his grin widening. "That's hilarious, babe. I'm definitely sitting here now—let's see if your curse still works."

Thea swatted at him playfully. "You better not! I don't want you blaming me if you start finding extra hairs."

They both laughed, the sound filling the small, cozy shop. Mun slipped his arm around her waist, pulling her close as they stood in front of the wall. "I get why this place is so special to you now," he said, his voice softer. "It's got that feeling, you know? Like it holds all your childhood memories."

Thea smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. "Yeah. I just wanted you to see it. I spent so much time here growing up, and it's nice to share it with you."

Mun kissed the top of her head, his hand gently squeezing her side. "I'm glad you brought me here. It's kinda perfect—just like you."

She rolled her eyes, though her heart swelled at his words. "You're so cheesy."

"I learned from the best," Mun shot back, winking.

They spent the next hour browsing the shelves, Thea showing Mun her favorite comics from when she was younger. By the time they left, arms full of newly purchased comics, Thea felt lighter than she had in years. Sharing a piece of her childhood with Mun had been better than she imagined, and now Prince Comics was not just a special place from her past—it was part of their story too.

The soft glow of the park's streetlights illuminated the empty basketball court as Thea and Mun shot hoops together under the night sky. The air was cool, and the sounds of the city were distant, creating a quiet, intimate atmosphere. Thea dribbled the ball with a mischievous grin, teasing Mun as she darted left, then right, before attempting a jump shot.

"Ha! I'm getting better at this," Thea said proudly as the ball sailed through the hoop, making a satisfying swish.

Mun grinned, jogging over to retrieve the ball. "I'll admit, you've got some moves, but you still have to get past me to win," he teased, playfully blocking her as she tried to steal the ball from him.

They had been playing for a while now, their laughter echoing across the court. Neither of them was particularly skilled, but that wasn't the point—they were having fun. Mun wasn't exactly going easy on Thea, but he was definitely letting her score a bit more than usual, and she could tell. Not that she minded. It gave her a chance to tease him about how she was "dominating" their game.

"You better step it up, Mun," she said, standing with her hands on her hips, trying to catch her breath. "I might just beat you tonight."

Mun chuckled, spinning the ball on his finger. "I'd like to see you try, Sweetheart."

Just as he was about to take another shot, a familiar voice rang out from behind them. "Mind if I join?"

They both turned to see SuHo walking toward the court, a confident grin on his face and a basketball tucked under his arm. SuHo, Thea's ex-boyfriend and one of Mun's best friends, had always been a natural when it came to basketball. Back in high school, he'd won every game he played, making him somewhat of a legend on the court.

Mun smiled and waved him over. "SuHo! You're just in time. I could use a challenge."

Thea blinked, her stomach doing a small flip at the sight of SuHo. It wasn't awkward between them—they had stayed friends after their breakup, and she and Mun were both close to him—but there was always something about SuHo's presence on the basketball court. He exuded confidence, especially with a ball in his hand.

"Sure," SuHo said, stepping onto the court, his eyes flicking between Thea and Mun. "But you know what they say. Once I step on the court, it's game over."

Thea smirked, rolling her eyes. "Oh please, we'll see about that."

SuHo gave her a knowing smile before dribbling the ball between his legs effortlessly. "You remember who taught you how to play, right? Don't think you're gonna take me down that easily."

Mun tossed SuHo the ball, clearly excited for the challenge. "Alright, let's do this. First to 10?"

"Sounds good," SuHo said, glancing at Thea. "You in?"

"Obviously," Thea replied, though she knew it was going to be a tough game with SuHo involved. She wasn't about to back down.

And so the game began, with SuHo dominating right from the start. His movements were fluid and precise, every dribble, every pass, perfectly calculated. He easily cut through Mun's defenses and sank shot after shot with a confidence that reminded everyone why he was considered the best player back in high school.

But that didn't mean Thea and Mun were giving up. Mun was determined, using his height to his advantage, blocking a few of SuHo's shots and managing to score here and there. Thea, on the other hand, was enjoying the challenge, weaving through the boys with her quick footwork, though SuHo still had the upper hand.

"You've still got it," Mun said breathlessly after a particularly smooth shot from SuHo.

SuHo grinned, dribbling the ball casually. "What can I say? Some things never change."

Thea wiped the sweat from her forehead, catching her breath. "Yeah, yeah, don't get too cocky. We're still in this."

Mun chuckled and threw his arm around her shoulders. "You heard her. We're not done yet."

The game continued, and even though SuHo was clearly the superior player, there was an easy camaraderie between the three of them. They joked and teased each other as the points stacked up, and though SuHo ended up winning—just as expected—it didn't feel like a loss. It was fun, the kind of fun that reminded them of simpler times in high school, before things had gotten complicated.

Finally, after the game ended and they all collapsed on the side of the court to rest, Mun nudged SuHo with his elbow. "Alright, alright. I'll admit it. You're still the king of the court."

SuHo laughed, leaning back on his hands. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Thea, catching her breath, smiled at the two of them. "I guess we'll have to train harder next time."

SuHo shot her a teasing look. "You? Train? You used to hate practice, remember?"

She gave him a playful shove. "I've grown since then."

Mun grinned, pulling her close. "Yeah, but some things never change—like SuHo winning every game."

They all laughed, the sound echoing through the quiet park. The night was cool, and despite the competitive nature of the game, it felt good to just be there with both of them—her past and her present, all wrapped up in a moment of shared fun.

Thea, SooJin, and Sooah were walking through the bustling amusement park, the air filled with laughter, the hum of roller coasters, and the sweet scent of cotton candy. It was the perfect day for a girl's outing, and Thea was excited to spend time with her two best friends. They hadn't had a proper girl's day in a while, and today was all about relaxing, catching up, and letting loose.

"Oh my God, we have to go on that one next!" Sooah exclaimed, pointing at one of the towering roller coasters in the distance.

Thea laughed, adjusting her sunglasses. "I'm in, but only if you're not too scared to scream your head off again, Sooah."

"Ha! I'll prove you wrong this time," Sooah shot back with a grin.

SooJin was busy snapping pictures of the park, turning to the other two. "Let's take a selfie before we go on. We need to document this perfect girl's day."

They huddled together, giggling as SooJin captured the moment, the bright Ferris wheel spinning behind them in the background. As they moved toward the next ride, Thea couldn't help but feel completely at ease. It was nice to just be herself with her girls, not worrying about anything else. But just as they were about to queue for the ride, something caught her eye.

A familiar figure stood not too far away, laughing with two other people. It took her a second to register, but there was no mistaking it—it was Mun. Her heart skipped a beat, her eyes widening as she realized who he was with. Ung-min and Ju-yeon.

"Oh no," she whispered under her breath.

SooJin noticed her sudden distraction and followed her gaze. "Wait, is that...?"

Thea nodded, biting her lip. "Yup, that's Mun."

Sooah's eyes widened, her smile turning into a knowing grin. "Looks like your worlds are colliding. What are the chances?"

Thea groaned, half-laughing. "Why does this always happen?"

Meanwhile, across the park, Mun had also spotted Thea. He had been in the middle of joking around with Ung-min and Ju-yeon when he glanced toward the ride queue and saw her, standing there with SooJin and Sooah. His heart flipped, and for a second, he had the insane urge to run over to her, sweep her into his arms, and forget about everything else.

Ung-min noticed the sudden shift in Mun's expression and followed his line of sight. "Oh, man. Isn't that Thea?"

Ju-yeon chuckled, nudging Mun with her elbow. "Looks like your girlfriend's having a girls' day out. You going over there or what?"

Mun shook his head, though he was clearly fighting the urge. "Nope, not gonna interrupt her. She's with her friends. It's her day."

"Uh-huh," Ung-min teased, crossing his arms. "But you're dying to, aren't you?"

Mun let out a frustrated laugh, running a hand through his hair. "You have no idea."

Back on the other side, Thea was feeling the same way. She could see Mun looking in her direction, and their eyes met for a brief moment. It was like everything else in the park faded away, the laughter, the music, the chaos—it was just them, locked in that unspoken moment.

Sooah, noticing the tension, whispered, "Are you gonna go over there?"

Thea shook her head, though her feet were itching to move. "No. No, I can't. We're supposed to be having a girls' day. He's with his friends... We agreed to hang out separately today."

SooJin smirked, giving her a light nudge. "You two are so in sync it's almost scary. But if you run over there, I won't stop you."

Thea laughed softly, shaking her head again. "Nope. Not today. He'll be there when I'm done."

Despite their mutual decision to stay with their respective groups, Thea and Mun couldn't help sneaking glances at each other from across the park. Mun would catch a glimpse of Thea laughing with her friends, her carefree energy making him smile, while Thea watched as Mun playfully wrestled with Ju-yeon, showing off his usual goofy side.

At one point, Ung-min leaned in, grinning. "This is painful to watch. Just go hug her already."

Mun laughed, shaking his head. "It's not that serious. We'll meet up later. I'm cool."

Ju-yeon smirked. "Sure you are."

On the other side of the park, Thea was struggling to focus on the ride they were about to get on. SooJin noticed and leaned in. "You're thinking about him again, aren't you?"

Thea sighed, grinning. "I'm trying not to. It's just hard when he's right there."

Sooah teased, "Well, if you accidentally bump into him while getting off the ride, we won't blame you."

The ride itself was a blur of adrenaline and laughter, but even after the ride, Thea's mind kept wandering back to Mun. She caught one last glimpse of him, laughing with his friends near a concession stand, and this time, she allowed herself a small smile. She could wait. Their time together would come soon enough, and it would be all the sweeter because of it.

As the day wound down and both groups started heading toward the exit, Thea's phone buzzed. It was a text from Mun: "I saw you. Meet you by the carousel after you're done?"

Thea chuckled softly and texted back, "Try and stop me."

Her heart was lighter, knowing that in just a little while, she'd be back in his arms, sharing stories of their day and laughing about the fact that they had managed to resist the urge to run to each other all day long. The amusement park had been full of fun and distractions, but in the end, they always found their way back to each other.

Author's note;

I appreciate you taking the time to read this one-shot. I hope you enjoyed it, as I made an effort to incorporate numerous scenes. Upon reviewing the original plot, I observed a lack of romantic chapters involving both characters, hence my addition of these extra chapters to compensate. 😇

2/10 ✅