Chapter Text
Seonghyeon’s eyes slowly fluttered open the next morning.
Still half asleep, he rubbed at his eyes before lazily turning over in bed—
Then immediately jumped.
Keonho was staring right at him.
Big dark brown eyes blinking back at him from across the room.
They both froze.
For one long second they just looked at each other.
Then both immediately looked away.
Silence.
Buzz.
Seonghyeon looked down at his phone.
Good morning :)
He looked up again.
Keonho was peeking over the edge of his blanket, watching him carefully.
A grin spread across Seonghyeon’s face.
The second Keonho saw it, his eyes widened before he let out a small embarrassed giggle and quickly pulled the blanket over his head.
Seonghyeon could see him squirming underneath it.
Keonho was suddenly becoming painfully aware of things he'd never cared about before.
Like eye contact.
Before, making eye contact with Seonghyeon in the morning meant nothing.
Just a simple good morning, then they'd go on with their day.
Normal.
But now...
Now they were dating.
Didn't that change things?
It wasn't just saying good morning anymore.
It was saying good morning to his—
Boyfriend.
The word itself made his stomach twist.
Boyfriend.
His boyfriend.
His face immediately felt warm again.
"Why are you making that face?"
James' voice cut through his thoughts.
Keonho blinked and looked up.
"What face?"
James stared at him from across the table while munching on his breakfast.
"The one where you look like you need to shit."
Keonho stared back in offense.
"I do not."
From across the room, Seonghyeon suddenly snorted.
Keonho clicked his tongue and went back to eating his breakfast, though his face was still burning.
He refused to look in Seonghyeon’s direction.
Absolutely refused.
Not once.
Not even accidentally.
...
Okay maybe once.
Maybe twice.
Maybe—
“Alright, let’s head out.”
Their manager walked through the dorm, keys in hand.
Almost immediately everyone started shuffling around, grabbing bags, jackets and whatever they’d forgotten five minutes earlier.
Soon they were piling into the car again.
And of course, without even thinking about it, Keonho plopped himself down right beside Seonghyeon toward the back.
Not that he noticed.
Not that anyone noticed.
Hopefully.
The ride was louder than usual.
James and Juhoon were arguing about something stupid from the front, Martin was complaining about being awake, and someone in the middle suddenly started singing loudly for absolutely no reason.
Keonho wondered briefly if the people sitting in buses beside them ever looked over and thought:
Why do these people have so much energy at eight in the morning?
“Martin, your face looks especially annoying today,” Keonho said casually.
Martin slowly turned.
“What does that even mean?”
“It means your face—”
Suddenly he felt something brush against his hand.
His voice caught.
He looked down.
Seonghyeon’s hand was resting beside his on the seat.
And his pinky had slowly wrapped around Keonho’s.
Just his pinky.
Just barely.
Like it wasn't a big deal.
Like it was completely normal.
Keonho immediately forgot what he was saying.
“Your face—your—”
Martin narrowed his eyes.
“My what?”
Keonho blinked rapidly.
“My... your face is... face-shaped.”
Silence.
Martin stared.
“What?” He frowned. “You done being mean to me now?”
Keonho wasn't listening anymore.
Because Seonghyeon's pinky was still hooked around his.
And when he looked beside him—
Seonghyeon was staring out the window.
Acting like absolutely nothing happened.
The corners of his mouth, however, were trying very hard not to smile.
Practice had gone surprisingly smoothly.
Well — smooth for everyone else.
For Seonghyeon, practice had become less about remembering choreography and more about seeing how many times he could make Keonho malfunction before the day ended.
Every time formations changed, somehow — somehow — he ended up brushing against him.
A hand against his wrist.
His arm grazing Keonho’s shoulder.
His knee bumping against his.
The back of his fingers ghosting over Keonho’s hand for barely a second.
Small things.
Completely innocent things.
Probably.
But every single time, Keonho reacted like he'd been electrocuted.
Meanwhile Seonghyeon acted like nothing happened.
Absolutely nothing.
Keonho, however, was slowly losing composure.
By the third time, his ears were pink.
By the fifth, his cheeks had started heating up.
By the seventh—
“Is it hot in here?”
James' voice suddenly cut through the room.
Everyone paused.
A few heads turned.
“What?”
James looked around lazily before pointing.
“I’m just saying.” He narrowed his eyes slightly. “Keonho’s face is really red.”
Silence.
Keonho froze.
Seonghyeon looked down.
Martin looked at Keonho.
Juhoon looked at Keonho.
The manager looked up briefly.
Keonho looked like his soul had temporarily left his body.
“I—”
His eyes darted around frantically.
“I’m dancing?”
More silence.
Martin blinked.
“You've been standing still for the last two minutes.”
Seonghyeon suddenly made a choking sound beside him.
Keonho slowly turned.
Seonghyeon had his hand over his mouth, shoulders shaking.
He was laughing.
That bastard was laughing.
After a few more run-throughs, everyone was basically dead.
They sat slumped against the mirrors for a few minutes, breathing heavily, sweat clinging to their foreheads and necks. Their shirts stuck uncomfortably to their backs and someone had already started dramatically complaining about how unfair dance practice was.
Eventually everyone dragged themselves up and started packing their things.
Soon they were making their way through the hallway toward the elevators, shoes squeaking softly against the polished floor.
They waited.
And waited.
Then—
Ding.
The elevator doors slid open.
There were already people inside.
The manager stepped in first, followed by Martin, James and Juhoon practically stumbling in after him.
Martin glanced back lazily.
“There’s no space.”
Juhoon pointed toward them.
“You two get the next one.”
Before either of them could say anything—
Ding.
The doors closed.
Silence.
Keonho stared at the closed elevator doors.
Then slowly turned.
Seonghyeon was already looking at him.
“You need to stop.”
Seonghyeon blinked innocently.
“Stop what?”
“You know.”
“I don't.”
“Yes, you do.”
“No I don't.”
Keonho narrowed his eyes.
“You keep touching me.”
Seonghyeon tilted his head.
“Touching you?”
“During practice!”
“What, like this?”
Then Seonghyeon casually reached over and brushed his fingers against Keonho’s hand.
Keonho immediately froze.
“Yah!”
“What?” Seonghyeon grinned. “I barely touched you.”
Keonho stared at him in complete disbelief.
“You’re doing it on purpose.”
“Doing what on purpose?”
“You—”
Keonho stopped.
Because Seonghyeon had stepped closer without him noticing.
Not close close.
But close enough.
Suddenly the hallway felt a lot smaller.
Then:
Ding.
The next elevator arrived.
Neither of them moved.
They both stepped inside.
The elevator was empty.
Just the two of them.
The doors slid shut with a quiet ding, and suddenly the hallway noise disappeared, leaving only the faint hum of the elevator moving upward.
Keonho reached forward and tapped their floor number.
Then he glanced sideways.
Seonghyeon was standing beside him, hands in his pockets, looking suspiciously innocent.
Keonho narrowed his eyes.
A slow smirk spread across his face.
“You know…” he started casually, leaning back against the wall, “you might as well kiss me.”
He tried to sound confident.
Tried.
If Seonghyeon was going to spend the entire day making him flustered, then he deserved a taste of his own medicine.
Seonghyeon blinked.
“W-What?”
Oh.
Oh?
Keonho nearly smiled.
Keonho turned toward him more fully.
“I said you might as well kiss me if you're gonna keep touching me all the ti—”
Then suddenly—
Seonghyeon grabbed the front of his sleeve and leaned in.
Peck.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Keonho froze.
His brain froze.
Everything froze.
Seonghyeon stared back at him for a second.
“…You told me to.”
Keonho's mouth slowly fell open.
“You—”
His face immediately started heating up.
“No— I wasn't— I meant—”
Seonghyeon was smiling now.
Not laughing.
Just smiling.
Keonho just stood there.
Slowly, he lifted his fingers and touched his lips.
His eyes stayed fixed somewhere ahead of him, staring blankly at the elevator doors.
That was...
That was pretty lame.
His first kiss wasn't supposed to happen like that.
Somewhere in his head he'd imagined something different.
Something softer.
Something slower.
Maybe snow falling outside.
Maybe a moment where they looked at each other for a few seconds first.
Maybe his heart racing and fireworks and butterflies and all those dramatic things people always talked about.
Not—
"You might as well kiss me."
"Okay."
Peck.
Keonho frowned slightly.
His stomach had flipped.
His heart had skipped.
But somehow...
Why did it feel like he was the only one affected?
Why did Seonghyeon look so normal?
So casual?
Like kissing him wasn't a big deal.
The thought sat heavily in his chest.
And for some reason—
It frustrated him.
Beside him, Seonghyeon looked over.
"...Why are you quiet?"
Keonho blinked and looked away immediately.
"...Nothing."
But his voice came out smaller than he meant it to.
And Seonghyeon noticed.
Immediately.
“Was I not meant to kiss you? I’m sorry.” Seonghyeon apologised, his shoulders drooping.
“Don’t be—“
Keonho is interrupted by the elevator door sliding open and them being greeted by the other Cortis members.
“It felt like you guys took forever.”
“Heh sorry.” Keonho said sheepishly and walked out
Keonho’s thoughts were interrupted by the elevator doors sliding open.
Immediately they were greeted by the rest of CORTIS waiting outside.
Martin raised an eyebrow.
“It felt like you guys took forever.”
Keonho blinked.
“Oh.”
He looked back at the elevator for a second like he’d forgotten where he even was.
“Heh... sorry.”
He smiled sheepishly before quickly stepping out.
Seonghyeon followed right behind him.
As they walked beside the others, Keonho kept his eyes fixed ahead.
Usually he'd naturally drift toward Seonghyeon without thinking.
Shoulders bumping.
Walking side by side.
Small things.
But this time he kept a tiny bit of distance between them.
Not enough for anyone else to notice.
Just enough.
Seonghyeon noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
His eyes flickered over.
Then down.
Then back toward Keonho.
A slight crease formed between his brows.
Because Keonho wasn't acting embarrassed anymore.
He was acting... weird.
And suddenly Seonghyeon wasn't smiling anymore either.
Back at the dorm, the room had gone quiet.
Martin was already asleep, soft breathing filling the room as faint streetlights slipped through the curtains.
Across from him, Seonghyeon stared at the ceiling.
Buzz.
He reached for his phone.
I can't sleep
The response came almost instantly.
Same
A few seconds passed.
Then:
Meet me in the living room
They quietly slipped out of their room, carefully stepping around things on the floor and trying not to wake Martin.
The dorm was dark, the only light coming from the kitchen and the city outside the windows.
They sat beside each other on the couch.
Not too close.
Not too far.
For a moment neither said anything.
Then Seonghyeon spoke.
“Why were you acting weird back at the studio?”
Straight to the point.
Keonho looked down.
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
Keonho clicked his tongue.
Seonghyeon turned toward him more.
“Was it because of the kiss?”
Silence.
Keonho pulled at the sleeve of his hoodie.
“I didn't actually think you'd kiss me.”
Seonghyeon blinked.
“And...”
He looked over.
“And?”
Keonho hesitated.
“I don't know.”
His voice got quieter.
“I thought it'd be better.”
Seonghyeon stared at him.
“What?”
Keonho immediately started waving his hands around.
“No—I mean not because you—I mean—”
“You hated it?”
“No!”
“Then what?”
Keonho frowned.
He looked frustrated at himself more than anything.
“I thought it'd feel more…” He paused. “Romantic?”
He looked away.
“Like in movies or dramas and stuff.”
Silence.
Then:
“I thought it was great.”
Keonho looked back immediately.
“What?”
Seonghyeon shrugged.
“I liked it.”
A small smile pulled at his lips.
“Because it was with you.”
Suddenly Keonho forgot every thought in his head.
Completely.
Absolutely gone.
“Shut up,” Keonho muttered, words coming out small as he fidgeted with the sleeve of his hoodie.
Seonghyeon stared at him for a moment.
Then—
“Can I kiss you again?”
Keonho blinked.
“What?”
Seonghyeon looked completely serious.
“I need practice,” he said simply. “So I can make it more romantic for you.”
For a second, Keonho just stared at him.
Then his face immediately started heating up again.
He looked down.
Then back up.
Then nodded once.
Very quickly.
Very awkwardly.
Very obviously.
Seonghyeon smiled a little.
Not his usual teasing grin.
A smaller one.
Softer.
He moved closer, slowly this time, giving Keonho enough time to pull away if he wanted to.
Keonho didn't.
Instead, he sat there frozen, staring at him with wide eyes before eventually squeezing them shut.
Silence.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved.
Then—
Keonho cracked one eye open.
“…Why aren't you doing anything?”
Seonghyeon stared at him.
“…You closed your eyes like thirty seconds too early.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Keonho opened both eyes.
“Oh my god.”
He immediately covered his face.
“You’re so annoying.”
And Seonghyeon started laughing so hard he nearly fell off the couch.
Suddenly, a bedroom door swung open.
Martin stood there looking absolutely disheveled, hair sticking out in every direction and eyes barely open from being dragged out of sleep.
He stared at them for a few seconds.
“What the hell are you doing?” he whisper-yelled.
Both Seonghyeon and Keonho nearly jumped off the couch.
“Shit—sorry,” Keonho immediately whispered back. “Were we too loud?”
Martin just stared at him.
“Well duh.”
Silence.
“I need to pee.”
More silence.
Martin squinted at them.
Then at Seonghyeon.
Then at Keonho.
Then back at Seonghyeon.
“…Why are you two sitting like that?”
Both of them froze.
Slowly, very slowly, Keonho looked down.
At some point while talking, they'd unconsciously shifted closer. Keonho was almost like directly in Seonghyeon’s lap.
Like...
Really close.
Their shoulders were pressed together.
Seonghyeon immediately moved away.
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Martin repeated.
“Yes.”
Martin narrowed his eyes.
“…You guys are acting weird lately.”
Absolute silence.
Keonho felt his soul briefly leave his body.
Seonghyeon blinked once.
Twice.
Then—
“You should go pee.”
Martin stared at them another few seconds.
“…I’m watching you.”
Then he shuffled away toward the bathroom.