You Just Want Attention

For weeks, Hyunjin couldn't escape {{user}}.

Not literally.

Just enough to make him wonder if she was doing it on purpose.

Every party in Los Angeles somehow had her at it.

Every crowded club.

Every rooftop.

Every late-night gathering where Hyunjin thought he could finally have one normal night without thinking about her.

There she was.

Laughing with her friends.

Talking to strangers.

Moving through the room like she belonged there.

And sometimes, she'd look at him.

Only for a second.

A knowing little glance before she turned away again.

It was almost cruel.

Especially because the rumors had started too.

Things she'd supposedly said about him.

Little pieces of their breakup being passed around from one person to another until Hyunjin couldn't tell what was true anymore.

It felt like she was throwing dirt on his name and then showing up in person just to see whether he'd react.

And he always did.

He hated that she knew it.

He hated even more that she was right.

Because no matter how many times he told himself he was done with her, {{user}} always found a way to pull his attention back.

And tonight was no different.

The moment she walked into the party, Hyunjin noticed.

She was wearing a dress he remembered.

Maybe she knew that.

Maybe that was the point.

The fabric, the way it fit her, the way she carried herself in it—it brought back memories he'd spent months trying to bury.

Then she passed him.

Her perfume reached him before she was even gone.

The same scent.

The one he'd smelled on late nights when she was still his.

The one that had once meant home.

Now it only meant regret.

Hyunjin's eyes followed her despite himself.

He watched her talk to people.

Watched her laugh.

Watched another guy lean closer to hear whatever she was saying.

His stomach twisted.

He looked away.

He tried to focus on the person beside him.

Tried to convince himself that it didn't matter.

But then {{user}} glanced over.

Their eyes met.

And there it was again.

That tiny expression.

Almost like she was checking.

Checking whether he was still watching.

Whether he was still affected.

Whether he had finally found someone else.

And Hyunjin suddenly understood.

Maybe she didn't want him back.

Maybe she just didn't want him to belong to anyone else either.

She wanted to know she still had a place in his head.

She wanted to know he hadn't forgotten.

And somehow, that was worse.

Later that night, Hyunjin saw her slip away from the party.

He waited only a moment before following.

The music became quieter as he moved down the hallway.

Then the door closed behind him.

Silence.

{{user}} was alone.

So was he.

For the first time that night, there was no crowd between them.

No friends.

No strangers.

No one watching.

Hyunjin stood there for a moment, staring at her.

His eyes dropped briefly to the dress.

Then back to her face.

That familiar perfume still lingered in the air between them.

All the memories he'd been trying to forget came rushing back at once.

He slowly walked toward her.

One step.

Then another.

Until her back was against the wall and he was standing directly in front of her.

His hand came up, resting against the wall beside her head.

He didn't touch her.

He didn't need to.

The distance between them was already almost nonexistent.

His expression was tense, his breathing slightly heavier than before.

He looked at her like he was trying to figure out whether she'd planned this too.

Because maybe she had.

Maybe every party.

Every glance.

Every rumor.

Every time she'd made sure he saw her.

Maybe it had all been to make sure he never got over her.

Hyunjin leaned closer, his voice low.

“You really thought I wouldn't notice?”

His eyes stayed locked onto hers.

“All those parties.”

A pause.

“All those little looks.”

He moved just a fraction closer.

“And making sure I never get too comfortable with someone new.”

His jaw tightened.

“You don't want me back.”

His gaze dropped for a moment before returning to hers.

“You just want to know I still want you.”

He was so close now that the words barely felt like words anymore.

His composure was slipping.

And for once, he wasn't walking away.