Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Est had known the meeting would be difficult from the moment he stepped into the room. He had simply expected the difficulty to come from presenting in front of LYKN. Not from being watched by nearly every member of LYKN at once.

The marketing director began with an overview of the campaign, explaining the brand’s new range of flavored milk and the playful concept they hoped to build around the group. Presentation slides appeared on the screen, bright with pastel colors, product mockups, and possible promotional slogans.

Est should have been listening closely.

He was part of the team. He had helped organize several of the reference materials now being shown. His notebook sat open in front of him, pen ready to record any feedback from the members or their management.

Instead, Est was becoming increasingly aware of the eyes directed toward him from across the table.

At first, he thought he was imagining it. He kept his gaze on the screen, nodding when his supervisor mentioned the campaign’s target audience. Then he glanced up briefly and found Hong looking at him.

Hong smiled. Est smiled back politely. Hong immediately turned toward Tui and murmured something too quiet for Est to hear. Tui looked at Est next. His expression was more measured, but there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes. Est lowered his gaze to his notebook.

Perhaps they recognized him from the fan chat.

That was possible. He had stood in front of all five members less than a month ago. He had spoken to each of them, though his interaction with Nut had probably been the most memorable due to Est temporarily losing control of both his voice and dignity. The thought made heat crawl onto his cheeks.

He wrote the phrase youth-focused campaign in his notebook even though it was already printed clearly on the slide. When Est looked up again, Lego was watching him. Lego did not even pretend otherwise. The youngest member smiled brightly and gave Est a tiny wave beneath the table.

Est blinked. Then, because he did not know what else to do, he tiny-waved back. AndLego’s smile widened.

Across from him, Nut noticed. Est knew the exact moment it happened because Nut’s attention shifted from the presentation to Lego, then followed Lego’s gaze directly toward Est. Their eyes met. And Nut’s mouth curved. Not his usual warm public smile. This one was teasing. Knowing.

Est’s heart lurched. He quickly looked back at the screen. This was terrible. Nut remembered him. More importantly, Nut remembered what kind of fan he was. Est became suddenly, painfully aware of the photocard clipped to his bag. It hung beside his chair, Nut’s face clearly visible inside the transparent holder. He had forgotten it was there.

Normally, the photocard came with him almost everywhere. It had lived on that bag for weeks, protected behind layers of plastic and decorated with two small silver charms. Est had not considered removing it before the meeting because he had been too busy worrying about his presentation notes.

Now Nut was sitting less than two meters away. The real Nut. And the tiny cardboard version was dangling from Est’s bag like a public declaration of devotion. Est slid his foot carefully toward the bag and attempted to push it farther beneath the table. The bag barely moved. Nut’s eyes dropped toward it. Then returned to Est, his teasing smile deepened.

Est wanted the floor to open and accept him.

The director changed slides and invited LYKN’s members to share initial impressions. Nut spoke first, offering a thoughtful comment about the overall concept. He sounded professional and calm, which somehow made Est’s embarrassment worse. When Nut finished, his gaze flicked toward Est again. Est looked down so quickly that his pen slipped from his fingers. It landed beneath the table. Perfect.

He bent to retrieve it, using the brief escape to draw in a slow breath. He was a professional. This was a business meeting. Nut was a client. LYKN was a client. Technically. He can do this. He was a grown 25 year old man. He can do this. Yes.

Est straightened and returned the pen to his notebook. Then he looked directly at William. And that was a mistake. Because William had been watching him too. And unlike the others, he did not look amused. He looked intensely focused.

His hand was wrapped around a bottle of strawberry milk, but he had not taken a sip in several minutes. His body angled slightly forward in his chair, attention fixed on Est with such complete concentration that the rest of the room might as well have vanished. Est’s pulse jumped.

William’s expression was impossible to read. There was warmth in it. Too much warmth. His eyes were soft around the edges, bright with something almost eager, but beneath that softness sat the same sharp intensity Est had noticed onstage. He looked as though he wanted to cross the table. What he planned to do after that was less clear. Hug Est, perhaps.

William had always seemed affectionate with the members. Est had watched enough livestreams to know William regularly leaned against them, wrapped his arms around their shoulders, or followed them around with the devoted persistence of a puppy.

But William was not looking at Est like a puppy. Not entirely. There was something more powerful beneath the sweetness. Something distinctly alpha. Est could not decide whether William wanted to pull him into his arms or eat him alive. The truly alarming part was that Est did not know which option would be worse for his heart.

William caught him staring. His lips curved slowly, making Est’s breath stuck.

The smile was not broad or playful. It was small, almost private, as though William had been waiting for Est to finally look at him. Est dropped his gaze to his notebook again. He had written nothing for the past five minutes. The page contained three useless phrases, one crooked line, and a small mark where his pen had remained pressed too long against the paper.

His supervisor began explaining the possible filming locations. Est forced himself to focus. A bright studio. A convenience-store set. Individual member concepts based on different flavors. He could do this.

Then the director mentioned that each member would likely be paired with members of the marketing team during development to refine their individual concepts. Est’s stomach tightened. Across the table, William sat even straighter. And Nut’s gaze moved from William to Est, and the teasing expression returned with fresh force. Hong hid a smile behind his drink. Tui looked down, shoulders shifting with what might have been silent laughter.

Est’s suspicion sharpened. They knew something. He did not know what, but the members were exchanging the kind of looks people used when they had shared information that someone else had not received.

William continued staring at him. Est tried to avoid his gaze, but it kept pulling at him. Whenever someone else spoke, William listened for a few seconds before his attention drifted back. When Est’s supervisor introduced him as one of the coordinators who had helped develop the campaign research, William’s face brightened with open delight.

Est gave a small bow from his seat. William smiled at him. Nut looked between them again. Ugh. This was becoming unbearable.

By the time the presentation reached the proposed schedule, Est’s heart had spent nearly an hour running laps inside his chest. Nut was aware of the photocard. The other members seemed to find something deeply entertaining. William looked one breath away from climbing across the meeting table.

Est needed distance. A hallway. An elevator. Possibly another province.

The director asked whether anyone had final questions. William opened his mouth. Est immediately looked at him in alarm. William paused. His smile widened.

“Will the same marketing team be working with us throughout the campaign?” he asked.

The question sounded professional enough. Est did not trust it for a second.

“Yes,” the director replied. “The core team will remain the same.”

William’s gaze settled on Est. “Good.”

One word. That was all. It still sent heat rushing from Est’s throat to the tips of his ears. Nut leaned back in his chair, looking far too entertained. The meeting finally ended a few minutes later.

Chairs shifted. Laptops closed. Staff members began exchanging polite farewells while discussing the next round of scheduling. Est packed his notebook with more speed than grace. His only plan was escape.

He would leave the room, find somewhere quiet, drink cold water, and remind his heart that eye contact was not a medical emergency. He reached for his bag. The Nut photocard swung cheerfully from the strap.

Across the table, William’s eyes dropped to it. Then lifted to Est. His expression changed. The softness remained, but now there was a challenge in it. Est’s fingers tightened around the bag. He had the sudden feeling that whatever had begun at the fan chat was not over. It had barely started.

Which was exactly why Est needed to leave before his poor heart discovered how much faster it could beat.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

People always said that meeting your idols in real life was dangerous. Est had never understood why.

Because surely meeting someone you admired could only make the experience better. You could confirm that they were kind beyond edited videos, that their smiles looked the same without filters, and that the warmth fans loved was not something manufactured for cameras.

Then Est walked into a meeting room containing LYKN and finally understood the warning.

The danger was not discovering that his idols were disappointing. It was discovering that they were far too real.

When Est first learned his team would be handling the flavored milk campaign, his excitement had been immediate and entirely unprofessional. He had read the email three times. LYKN. Not merely an adjacent team or a member of their management staff. The group themselves would attend the initial meeting.

Est had thought of Nut first. Of course he had. He would see Nut again, this time without a barricade, a moving fan-chat line, or a staff member gently urging him to hurry. He might have the opportunity to speak to him normally. Professionally. Perhaps even prove that he was capable of forming complete sentences in Nut’s presence.

Then, before Est could stop it, another thought had slipped in. He would see William again too. That realization had produced a far more confusing kind of excitement. Nut was Est’s bias. Nut had been his favorite for years. Est liked his performances, his personality, and the steady way he cared for the other members.

But his feelings for Nut were simple. Safe. Est could fanboy over him, collect his photocards, praise his outfits, and replay his fancams without wanting anything beyond the joy of admiration. Nut could smile at him and turn Est’s thoughts into sparks for several minutes, but the feeling always settled again.

William did not settle. William stayed.

His gaze from the brand event had followed Est home. His excitement during the fan chat had returned to him at strange moments, usually when Est was trying to sleep. Even the tiny puppy drawn beside William’s signature had begun to feel less like a souvenir and more like evidence of something Est was afraid to name.

He liked William. Actually liked him. Not as an idol safely contained behind a screen. As a man. That was precisely why Nut remained the safer person to stan. There was no risk in Nut. William was all risk.

And now he sat across the table, watching Est as though he had been waiting weeks for him to reappear.

Est fixed his attention on the presentation screen. His colleague was explaining the campaign’s consumer profile, moving through slides filled with graphs, demographic breakdowns, and purchasing patterns. These were familiar numbers. Est had helped compile them. He knew exactly which age group preferred the chocolate flavor and which promotional channel had performed best during the previous launch.

He could focus on this. He would focus on this.

A quiet whisper came from across the table. Est kept his eyes on the slide. Another whisper followed, accompanied by what sounded suspiciously like muffled laughter. He refused to look.

The LYKN members had been exchanging glances since the meeting began. Nut’s smile had become increasingly teasing. Hong and Tui kept leaning toward one another, and Lego had watched Est with open curiosity. William did not whisper nearly as much. William simply stared. And that was so, so much worse.

Because somehow Est could feel his attention like warmth against his skin, persistent enough to make the room seem smaller. His colleague changed slides.

“The strongest engagement came from consumers between eighteen and twenty-five,” she  explained.

Est nodded and wrote the figure down despite already knowing it. Across the room, someone murmured, “Perfect age range.”

Another voice answered, “Very convenient.”

Est’s pen paused. That had sounded like Hong and Tui. He continued writing. He would not react. They were clients. Famous clients, yes, but still clients. Est was here because he had earned his place on the marketing team, not because he owned far too many Nut photocards or because William’s smile made his heart behave like faulty machinery.

The presentation moved into the market-data section. Est’s name appeared at the bottom of the next slide. His stomach tightened. He would have to speak. His supervisor glanced toward him, and Est rose from his chair with his notes in hand. He made one decision immediately. He would not look at LYKN. Not Nut. Not William. Especially not William.

Est positioned himself beside the screen and directed his attention toward Koko, LYKN’s manager, and the GMMTV staff seated near the end of the table.

“As you can see from the latest figures,” he began, pleased when his voice emerged steadily, “the flavored milk market has shown its strongest recent growth through limited-edition products and personality-led campaigns.”

He moved to the next graph. “The audience is not only purchasing based on flavor preference. They are also responding to collectibility, member association, and social-media participation.”

Koko nodded thoughtfully. A GMMTV representative asked whether assigning a specific flavor to each member would risk limiting general sales. Est answered without hesitation.

“We recommend presenting the individual pairings as entry points rather than fixed categories. Each member can lead one flavor concept, but group content should encourage fans to try the entire collection.”

Professional. Controlled. Safe.

Est kept his gaze moving between Koko, the brand director, and the management staff. He did not look toward the five men seated directly in front of him. Still, he could hear them. A chair shifted. Someone whispered, “He’s really avoiding this side.” Another voice, unmistakably Nut’s, replied, “I wonder why.”

Est clicked to the next slide with slightly more force than necessary. “Our projections also suggest that collectible packaging will increase repeat purchases, particularly if the campaign includes randomized inserts.”

“Photocards?” the brand director asked.

“Yes,” Est replied.

A tiny laugh came from Nut’s direction. Est stared firmly at the graph. He had included the photocard suggestion himself several weeks ago. At the time, it had seemed like an excellent marketing strategy. Now, with Nut’s limited-edition card dangling from his bag beneath the table, it felt like a trap he had personally constructed.

“We would recommend multiple versions,” Est continued, “with both individual and group designs.”

“Would you collect them?” William asked.

Est’s thoughts scattered. It was the first time William had spoken directly to him during the presentation. Est kept his eyes on Koko.

“Our consumer research indicates that collectors are likely to purchase repeatedly until they complete their preferred set.”

“That isn’t what I asked,” William said.

A few people laughed. Est could hear the smile in William’s voice. His supervisor looked amused rather than concerned, clearly interpreting it as harmless engagement with the campaign.

Est finally risked the smallest glance toward William. That was another mistake. William sat with his chin resting lightly against one hand, eyes fixed on Est. His expression was bright and openly interested, the intensity softened by a playful curve of his lips.

He looked pleased that he had finally forced Est to acknowledge him. Est’s heart leapt into his throat.

“I would probably collect them,” he admitted.

William’s gaze dropped briefly toward the Nut photocard on Est’s bag. “Only one member?”

The room seemed to grow very quiet. Nut covered his mouth. Hong looked down at the table, shoulders trembling. Est’s face burned.

“The data,” he said carefully, turning back toward the screen, “shows that most consumers begin with a preferred member but often purchase additional versions.”

It was an excellent answer. Neutral. Professional. It answered the marketing question while refusing to acknowledge William’s real one. William hummed. Est could still feel his stare. He finished the final two slides without looking at any of them again.

When he returned to his seat, his colleague whispered that he had done well. Est thanked her, opened his notebook, and fixed his gaze on the next section of the presentation.

He had survived. Barely. The meeting continued around him, filled with budget estimates, filming schedules, and product samples. Est listened carefully. He took notes. He nodded when required. He ignored Nut’s teasing smile, Hong and Tui’s pointed glances, and Lego’s barely concealed curiosity.

Most of all, he ignored William. Because people were right. Meeting your idols in real life was dangerous. Nut had become even easier to admire. William had become impossible to escape.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

The meeting ended with the usual polite chaos.

Chairs scraped against the floor. Laptops snapped shut. Business cards changed hands. The brand team gathered around the general manager to clarify dates while Koko spoke quietly with one of the GMMTV representatives near the screen.

William remained seated for exactly three seconds. Across the table, Est was already packing. Packing with purpose.

He shoved his notebook into his bag, wound the charging cable around his hand with impressive speed, and closed his laptop before the final slide had fully disappeared from the screen. His movements were controlled enough to appear professional, but William saw the urgency beneath them.

Est was escaping. William leaned toward Nut. “He’s leaving.”

Nut glanced across the table. “People generally leave after meetings.”

“No. He’s leaving leaving.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means he’s trying to get away before we can talk to him.”

Nut followed William’s gaze. Est had already slipped the strap of his bag over his shoulder. The Nut photocard swung cheerfully beside his hip, adding insult to an already difficult situation. William’s mouth tightened.

He had finally found Est after weeks of searching every audience, and Est was preparing to vanish before William could speak to him for more than thirty seconds. That could not happen. Earlier that morning, before the meeting began, William had told Nut and Tui that he wanted to ask Est to coffee afterward.

He had said it quietly. Privately. Or what William had believed was privately. Hong had been close enough to hear. Lego had overheard Hong asking whether William had decided what he was going to say. By the time they entered the meeting room, all four members knew.

William had regretted mentioning it immediately. Not because he was embarrassed. Mostly. He simply did not need help. He could ask someone for coffee by himself.

He was twenty-one years old. He performed in front of thousands of people. He handled interviews, press conferences, and live broadcasts without fear. He could surely approach one beautiful marketing coordinator and ask whether he wanted to spend twenty minutes drinking something together.

The problem was that every time William imagined doing it, the words rearranged themselves into nonsense. Coffee? Would you like coffee? Do you drink coffee? I watched you fanboy over Nut and then searched his hashtag until I found your account. Would you like coffee?

None of the options felt ideal.

So William had said, “I want to ask Est to get coffee after the meeting.”

Nut and Tui had exchanged one look. That should have warned him. Now Est bowed politely to his colleagues and moved toward the door. William stood. Nut stood too. Then Tui. Hong and Lego followed, because apparently LYKN now moved as a coordinated hunting party whenever William developed feelings.

William looked at them. “Why are all of you coming?”

Nut adjusted the cuff of his shirt. “We’re getting coffee.”

“You didn’t want coffee ten minutes ago.”

“I changed my mind.”

Tui picked up his phone. “So did I.”

Hong grinned. “I’ve always wanted coffee.”

“You said this morning that you’re cutting back.”

“I’ve suffered enough.”

Lego slipped his bag over one shoulder. “I want cake.”

William narrowed his eyes at all of them.

They looked entirely too pleased.

“This is not necessary.”

Nut clapped him on the shoulder. “You told us you wanted to ask him.”

“I did not tell you to stalk him to the elevator.”

“No one said stalk,” Tui replied.

“You are all standing up at the same time.”

“The meeting ended.”

William looked toward the door. Est had disappeared into the hallway. His heart surged forward in alarm. “Move.”

He hurried around the table. Behind him, Nut laughed.

William heard the others following and considered turning around to stop them, but that would cost precious time. Est had already demonstrated impressive escape instincts. If William delayed, he might reach the lobby and vanish into the city before William caught up.

They left the meeting room together. The hallway outside was quieter, lined with glass offices and framed promotional posters. Several brand employees walked in the opposite direction, bowing when they recognized LYKN. William returned each greeting automatically while scanning ahead.

There.

Est stood near the elevator bank, repeatedly pressing the call button as though increased pressure might make the elevator arrive faster. His shoulders were slightly tense. The photocard on his bag bounced with each movement.

William’s heart lifted simply from seeing him again. Then Est glanced over his shoulder. He saw all five members of LYKN approaching. His eyes widened. William almost laughed at the expression. Est looked like someone who had spotted an advancing natural disaster and realized the building’s emergency exits had been sealed.

The elevator chimed. The doors opened. Est stepped inside immediately.

“Hold it,” Nut called.

Est’s hand shot toward the button panel. For one suspicious second, William thought he might press the close button. Instead, Est held the doors. Polite even under pressure. William reached the elevator first and stepped inside, followed by Nut, Tui, Hong, and Lego.

The space had not been designed for five idols, one increasingly nervous marketing coordinator, and all the unspoken intentions crowding around them. Est moved toward the back wall. LYKN filled the rest. The doors slid closed. And silence settled.

William stood beside Est, close enough to catch the clean, subtle scent of his cologne. His pulse immediately became unreasonable. Est looked straight ahead. William looked at Est. Nut looked at William looking at Est. Tui looked at everyone. Hong was visibly trying not to smile. Lego pressed the button for the lobby.

William inhaled. This was his opportunity. He had planned to ask Est himself. Calmly. Respectfully. Without making him feel cornered. The fact that Est was currently physically cornered at the back of an elevator by the entire group was unfortunate.

William opened his mouth. But Nut spoke first. “Are you busy now, Phi Est?”

Est turned toward him so quickly that the photocard holder tapped against his bag. “Uhh.. No krub.”

The answer came automatically, powered by Nut-bias reflex. William’s eyes narrowed. Nut smiled.

“We’re getting coffee.”

Est blinked. “Uhh.. okay?”

Nut glanced at William. “We thought you might want to join us.”

William gave Nut a warning look. We? That had not been the plan. William had wanted to ask Est for coffee, not invite him to a surprise group outing staged by four extremely entertained bandmates.

Est’s gaze moved between them. “All of you?”

“Apparently,” William muttered.

Hong smiled brightly. “We finished earlier than expected.”

They had not. The meeting had ended exactly when scheduled.

Tui leaned against the elevator wall. “It would be useful for us to get to know someone from the marketing team.”

William stared at him. That was the thinnest professional excuse he had ever heard. Est seemed to think so too. His lips parted, but no answer came.

Lego added, “There’s a café downstairs with good cake.”

Nut nodded solemnly. “Lego needs cake.”

“I do,” Lego confirmed.

Est looked toward the changing floor numbers above the doors. William could practically see him measuring the distance to freedom. Guilt nudged at William’s excitement. He had not wanted this. Not like this.

He wanted Est to agree because he wanted to spend time with them, not because five famous men had followed him into an elevator and collectively stared until refusal became impossible. William shifted slightly, creating more space between Est and the wall.

“You don’t have to come,” he said.

Four heads turned toward him. William ignored them. He kept his attention on Est.

“Really. They’re being strange.”

“We’re being welcoming,” Hong protested.

“You chased him.”

Nut folded his arms. “You were in front.”

“Because I wanted to talk to him.”

The words escaped before William could soften them. Est looked at him. William’s face warmed. The elevator suddenly felt much too small. He cleared his throat.

“I mean, I wanted to ask whether you would like coffee. But you can say no.”

The teasing atmosphere quieted slightly. William forced himself not to look away. Est still seemed nervous. His fingers curled around the strap of his bag, brushing close to the photocard holder. William’s gaze dropped toward Nut’s face trapped in plastic.

Then returned to Est. “I don’t want you to feel pressured,” William continued. “Especially because they decided to turn it into an ambush.”

“It’s not an ambush,” Nut said.

Tui considered. “It is a little like an ambush.”

“Thank you,” William replied.

Nut looked betrayed. The elevator passed another floor. Est’s eyes softened.

“I don’t feel pressured.”

William studied him carefully. “You looked like you were trying to escape the building.”

“I was leaving quickly.”

“That is just escaping with better choreo,” Tui said.

Lego laughed. Est looked down, but William caught the small smile he tried to hide. The tension in William’s chest eased.

“Do you need to go back to work?” he asked.

“No. The meeting was my last task here today.”

“Do you have somewhere else to be?”

Est shook his head. William tried not to appear too hopeful. He failed.

“Then coffee?”

Est looked at him for a moment. William had the strange feeling that everyone else had faded from the elevator, even though Nut stood close enough to step on his shoe. Est’s gaze moved across William’s face, lingering briefly on his eyes. William wondered what he saw. Cool? Intimidating? Unapproachable?

William softened his expression deliberately. He resisted the urge to smile too widely. Est’s mouth curved.

“Okay.”

One word. And William’s stomach butterflies reacted as though Est had agreed to a lifelong bond. Warm satisfaction rushed through him. His shoulders straightened, and a smile broke across his face before he could control it.

“Okay?”

Est laughed softly. “Yes. I’ll get coffee with you.”

“With us,” Nut corrected.

William turned toward him. Nut’s expression was innocent. But William knew better.

The elevator doors opened into the lobby. A few people waiting outside froze when they saw all five members crowded around Est. Nut stepped out first, followed by Hong and Lego. Tui paused beside William and leaned closer.

“You’re welcome.”

“I did not need help.”

Tui glanced back at Est, who was following Nut toward the lobby. “You were going to spend the whole elevator ride staring at him.”

William frowned. Tui patted his shoulder and walked away. William remained beside Est as they crossed the lobby. He was pleased. Far too pleased. He also knew exactly what the other members were doing.

Nut had not suddenly developed an urgent need for coffee. Tui had not become passionate about team bonding. Hong had abandoned his supposed caffeine reduction with suspicious enthusiasm, and Lego could have found cake anywhere. They were here to watch. To interfere. To turn William’s first attempt at speaking privately with Est into an afternoon of live entertainment.

William should have been annoyed. And he was annoyed. A little. But Est was walking beside him. And that mattered more.

Outside the glass entrance, the shopping complex connected to the office building was busy with afternoon crowds. Their manager arranged for a staff member to accompany them, while the members pulled on masks and caps before stepping farther into the public area. Est slowed.

“Will it be difficult for you to go to the café?”

“We use it sometimes,” Nut said. “There’s a private room.”

Of course Nut knew that. Nut seemed determined to manage the entire outing. William moved closer to Est.

“You can still change your mind.”

Est glanced at him. “Do you want me to?”

“No.” The answer came too fast.

Est’s eyes widened slightly. William lowered his voice. “I’ve wanted to speak to you again.” There. Honest. Not too much. Hopefully.

Est’s fingers tightened on his bag strap. The Nut photocard swung between them. William looked at it. Est noticed. His face reddened.

“I forgot that it was there. I uh… usually keep it on the bag.”

“I noticed.”

Est touched the plastic holder as though considering hiding it. William surprised himself by reaching out and stopping him. His fingers brushed Est’s. A spark raced up William’s arm. Est went still. 

William looked at the photocard again. Nut smiled smugly from inside the holder. William disliked the expression, even though it was only a printed image.

“Keep it,” he said.

Est looked uncertain. “You don’t mind?”

William smiled. “I didn’t say that.”

Est laughed. The sound struck William with the same force as it had during the performance weeks earlier. Ahead of them, Nut glanced back. His eyes moved from William’s hand near Est’s bag to William’s face. Then he grinned. William knew that grin. Nut had just found enough material to torment him for months.

William withdrew his hand and followed the group toward the café. He had wanted time alone with Est. Instead, he had Nut, Tui, Hong, and Lego surrounding them like curious chaperones who had appointed themselves without permission. It was not ideal. Still, Est had agreed. He was here. He was walking beside William, smiling softly, cheeks still pink from their brief touch. William could work with that.

The afternoon had begun with Est trying to flee the building. Now he was going to coffee with all of LYKN because William’s members had hunted him down at the elevator and refused to let the opportunity escape.

William did not approve of the method. Not completely. But as Est looked toward him again, warm and shy and wonderfully real, William decided he could forgive the others.

Just this once.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

The café’s private room was small, warm, and far too intimate for Est’s peace of mind.

A round table occupied most of the space, surrounded by a curved sofa and three mismatched chairs. The frosted glass door muted the sounds from the rest of the café, leaving Est enclosed with all five members of LYKN and the increasingly certain feeling that he had made a terrible decision.

Not a bad decision. Terrible implied something more dramatic. Something that made his heart pound and his palms warm and his thoughts scatter every time William shifted closer to him on the sofa. Est had somehow ended up sitting between William and the wall. He suspected this had not happened accidentally.

Nut had entered first and claimed the chair across from them. Tui sat beside him, while Hong and Lego squeezed together along the other side of the curved sofa. William had waited for Est to choose his seat. Then he had taken the place directly beside him. Their shoulders were separated by barely a few centimeters, close enough that Est remained painfully aware of the heat from William’s body.

A server arrived with menus. Est accepted one gratefully and stared at it as though the list of drinks might provide instructions for surviving the afternoon. It did not.

“What do you normally order?” William asked.

Est looked up. William had not opened his menu. He was looking at Est instead.

“An iced oat-milk latte.”

“Sweet?”

“A little. With vanilla or mocha.”

William nodded seriously, committing the information to memory.

Across the table, Nut watched them with the same teasing smile he had worn throughout the meeting. Est lowered his gaze. Perhaps he could quietly dissolve into the sofa.

The server returned to take their order. Nut chose an Americano. Tui ordered tea. Hong asked for something blended and far too elaborate, while Lego immediately began negotiating for both cake and waffles. William ordered strawberry milk. Everyone looked at him.

William glanced around. “What?”

“You brought a sample bottle from the meeting,” Hong said.

“That was different.”

“It was also strawberry milk.”

“This one is from a café.”

Nut leaned back in his chair. “Did the brand meeting inspire you?”

William’s eyes moved briefly toward Est. “Yes.”

Est looked down at his menu again, although the server had already taken it. His face was becoming warm.

Once the orders were placed, a silence settled over the table that lasted approximately three seconds. Nut folded his hands in front of him.

“So, Phi Est.”

Est straightened instinctively. “...Yes?”

“How long have you worked for the brand?”

“A little over two years.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes. I’m part of the marketing team, so the work changes depending on the campaign.”

“What did you study?”

“Marketing and Arts.”

Hong leaned forward. “Which university?”

Est answered. “Mahidol, khap.”

Tui followed immediately. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-five.”

William’s head turned toward him. “You’re twenty-five?”

Est nodded. William smiled. Est did not understand why that information seemed to please him.

Lego tilted his head. “So we should all call you Phi, except maybe the staff.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Phi Est,” Lego tested.

Hong joined in. “Phi Est.”

Tui nodded thoughtfully. “It suits him.”

Est’s ears heated. William said nothing, but Est saw the way his lips moved silently around the title. Phi Est. Something about the imagined sound in William’s voice made Est’s pulse skip. Nut continued before Est could recover.

“Do you live nearby?”

“Not very far.”

“Alone?”

Est hesitated. William’s gaze snapped toward Nut. “Why do you need to know that?”

Nut shrugged. “I’m just making conversation.”

“You sound like you’re conducting a background check.”

“I’m interested in our new marketing coordinator.”

“You didn’t ask anyone else in the meeting where they lived.”

“No one else carries my photocard.”

Est nearly dropped the glass of water he had just lifted. Hong laughed. Lego looked toward Est’s bag, which had been placed on the floor beside his chair. The photocard remained visible. Est wanted to kick the bag under the table. Instead, he held the glass with both hands and tried to smile.

“I’m sorry if it seemed unprofessional.”

Nut’s expression softened immediately. “It didn’t. I’m teasing you.”

“I should have taken it off before the meeting. I am so sorry.”

“Why?” Nut asked. “I like it.”

William made a quiet sound beside Est. Kinda like a scoff. Nut heard it. His smile returned.

“William likes it too.”

“I did not say that.”

“You told him to keep it.”

Est looked at William. William stared at Nut with the expression of someone reconsidering several years of friendship. Tui lifted his tea, though it had not arrived yet, remembered the cup was empty, and placed it down again. Hong openly grinned. Est’s heart beat harder.

“How did you know that?” William asked.

“We have eyes,” Tui replied.

“You were twenty steps ahead.”

“We looked back.”

William’s jaw tightened. Nut turned toward Est again. “How long have I been your bias?”

The directness of the question nearly stopped Est’s breathing. William went very still beside him. Est curled his fingers around his water glass.

“Since your first single, May I.”

Nut looked pleased. “Why?”

Est felt every pair of eyes settle on him. This was exactly what he had feared. It had been easy to explain his admiration for Nut through a screen. He had written posts about it, recorded short messages, and spoken during the fan chat when nerves had loosened his tongue. Saying it here, with Nut directly across from him and William pressed close at his side, felt entirely different.

“You always take care of everyone,” Est said softly. “You notice when someone is uncomfortable or needs help. Even when you’re teasing them, it never feels cruel.”

Nut’s teasing expression faded. For a moment, he looked genuinely touched. “Thank you.”

Est smiled shyly. William shifted beside him. “You know I take care of them too.”

Est turned. William’s expression was serious. Hong choked on his drink despite the fact that it had not arrived either.

“You do,” Est said carefully.

William’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “I gave Lego my dessert once.”

Lego nodded. “Half.”

“It was the best half.”

“You ate the strawberry.”

“That wasn’t part of the sacrifice.”

Est tried not to laugh. He failed. William’s face brightened immediately.

The server arrived with their drinks and food, briefly rescuing Est from the attention. Plates crowded the table, along with cups, glasses, and a towering dessert Hong insisted everyone help finish. Est stirred his latte. William placed a straw into his strawberry milk and watched him. Est looked at the drink. Then at William.

“You really like strawberry milk?”

William’s eyes held his. “Recently.”

Nut covered his mouth. William kicked him beneath the table. Nut’s chair jolted.

“Violence is never the answer, my Nong,” he announced.

“No one touched you,” William replied.

The conversation resumed as they began eating, but the questions did not stop. Hong wanted to know whether Est had always worked in marketing. Tui asked what kind of campaigns he preferred. Lego asked whether Est had seen their latest concert. Nut asked which LYKN song was his favorite. Whenever Est answered, another question followed.

They were not unkind. If anything, their interest was almost too warm. Each member listened closely, remembered his answers, and used them to build the next question. It felt less like meeting celebrities and more like being inspected by an unusually attractive family.

The problem was that Est could not keep up. His cheeks remained hot. His answers grew shorter. He became increasingly aware that William had barely touched his drink because he was watching Est respond to the others.

“So you like photography?” Hong asked.

“A little. I used to do more of it at university.”

“Portraits?”

“Mostly events and street photography.”

“Do you still have a camera?”

“Yes.”

Tui leaned forward. “Could you take our pictures?”

Est blinked. “Professionally?”

“No. Just to see whether you make Nut look better than the rest of us.”

Nut smiled. “He probably would.”

William set his drink down. “He would not.”

Est glanced at him. William’s expression had become faintly sulky. Nut noticed too.

“Would you?” Nut asked Est.

“I try to photograph everyone well.”

“That was diplomatic,” Tui said.

Hong rested his chin in one hand. “Who photographs best?”

Est’s gaze moved helplessly between them. They all waited. Even Lego. Est considered every possible answer and found danger in each one.

“Your official photographers are very talented.”

Hong burst out laughing. “He avoided it.”

“He’s been avoiding us all afternoon,” Nut said.

“I haven’t.”

“You gave your entire presentation to Koko.”

Koko was not here to save him. Est gripped his latte. “I was speaking to management.”

“You looked at the wall more than you looked at us,” Tui added.

“There were uhh.. graphs on the wall.”

“The graphs were behind you.”

Est’s face burned. The members laughed. Not cruelly. That somehow made it worse. William’s smile disappeared.

“All right,” he said.

The tone was not loud, but everyone quieted. Est looked at him. William sat back, one arm stretched along the sofa behind Est without touching him. His expression had softened, but there was a hint of alpha authority beneath it that immediately drew the room’s attention.

“You’re making him uncomfortable.”

Nut opened his mouth. William gave him a look. Nut closed it again.

“We’re only asking questions,” Hong said.

“You’re asking ten at once.”

“We want to know him.”

“You can know him slowly.”

The words settled over the table. Est’s heart gave a heavy, uneven beat. Slowly. The implication was small enough that perhaps no one else should have noticed it. Everyone noticed it. Tui’s eyebrows rose. Nut’s mouth curled. Lego looked between William and Est with open delight. William seemed to realize what he had said a second too late. His ears turned red. Still, he did not take it back.

Instead, he reached for Est’s water glass and quietly refilled it from the bottle on the table. “Drink,” he murmured.

Est obeyed before thinking. The cool water helped. A little.

“Sorry,” Nut said, and this time the apology was sincere. “We got carried away.”

“It’s okay.”

“We don’t usually get to meet William’s crush.”

Silence crashed into the room. William froze. Est nearly inhaled water. Hong’s eyes widened. Tui slowly turned toward Nut.

Lego whispered, “Phi.”

Nut blinked. For the first time that afternoon, he looked uncertain.

“I meant…”

William’s alphaness came forward with terrifying speed. “Nut.”

The single word was low and sharp.vNut lifted both hands. “His crush…ingly favorite marketing person. I misspoke earlier.”

Est stared at his glass. His pulse roared in his ears. Crush. There was no chance he had misheard it. William’s crush. Nut’s expression suggested he had revealed something true, not invented an innocent joke. Est could feel William beside him, every muscle tense. He should say something. He had no idea what.

Hong saved them by shoving a spoonful of dessert toward Nut. “Eat this and stop talking.”

Nut accepted the punishment. Tui redirected the conversation toward the campaign schedule, though the smile threatening at the corners of his mouth remained visible. Est tried to listen. He truly did.

But William’s crush repeated through his thoughts until nothing else had room. William did not look at him for several minutes. That alone felt like confirmation.

When Est finally risked a glance, William was staring into his strawberry milk with a wounded expression. Est’s heart softened. Without thinking too carefully, he nudged William’s elbow with his own. William looked at him. Est offered a small smile. William’s entire face relaxed.

The intensity returned to his gaze, warm and hopeful. Est looked away before the others could notice. They noticed. Of course they did.

The rest of the coffee passed with fewer questions and considerably more teasing directed at William rather than Est. Whenever William reached for something, Nut asked whether Est wanted it first. When William offered Est half of a pastry, Tui murmured something about acts of service. Hong began humming a romantic LYKN song until William threatened to spill coffee on him. Lego asked whether Est preferred strawberry or chocolate milk and looked delighted when Est chose strawberry.

William tried to appear annoyed. He failed because he could not stop smiling.

By the time they finished, Est’s nerves had settled enough for him to enjoy himself. 

The members were loud, affectionate, and constantly interfering with one another. Nut was every bit as observant as Est had believed, but also far more troublesome. Hong laughed with his entire body. Tui delivered quiet comments capable of destroying everyone at the table. Lego was sweet but clearly learning dangerous habits from the older members.

And William kept taking care of Est without drawing attention to it. He moved a plate closer when Est could not reach it. He warned him when his drink was near the edge of the table. When the air-conditioning grew colder, William subtly shifted closer, his warmth pressing along Est’s arm. Est noticed everything. That was the problem. They eventually left the café together, masks and caps returned before entering the main shopping area.

Est assumed they would separate in the lobby. Instead, Nut asked where he had parked.

“The company lot.”

“We’ll walk you,” William said.

Est looked at him. “You don’t have to.”

“We’re going that way.”

They were not. Their staff van waited at the building’s private entrance on the opposite side. Est knew this because the brand team had received security instructions earlier. Tui looked toward William. William ignored him.

“We’ll walk you,” he repeated.

The entire group followed Est toward the parking elevators. He did not know why all five needed to accompany him, but no one appeared willing to separate. The underground lot was cooler and quieter, their footsteps echoing between concrete pillars.

Est located his car several rows away. “There,” he said.

The members slowed. A strange awkwardness settled over the group. The outing was ending. Est had not expected to feel disappointed. Nut hugged him first. It was quick and friendly, but Est still went rigid with surprise.

“See you at the next meeting,” Nut said.

Est nodded, face warming. “See you.”

Hong and Tui offered casual goodbyes. Lego reminded him to bring his camera someday.Then the four of them moved several steps away. Not far. Just far enough to pretend they were giving Est and William privacy while remaining close enough to observe everything.

William stayed beside Est’s car. His hands disappeared into the pockets of his trousers. For the first time all afternoon, he looked nervous. The sight was startling. William, who could command a stage with one glance, rocked slightly on his heels.

Est waited. William looked toward the others. Nut gave him an exaggerated encouraging nod. William’s eyes narrowed. Then he turned back to Est.

“Can I ask you something?”

Est’s heart began racing again. “Yes.”

William cleared his throat. “We’ll probably need to discuss things for the campaign.”

Est nodded slowly.

“Schedules, ideas, the individual concepts,” William continued. “Sometimes it’s faster to talk directly.”

“That makes sense.”

“I could ask Koko to contact your manager.”

“You could.”

William frowned slightly, apparently dissatisfied with Est’s cooperation. “Or…”

Est waited. William removed one hand from his pocket and held out his phone.

“You could give me your number.”

There it was. The professional excuse was thin enough to see through. Est looked at the phone. Then at William. William tried to appear casual, but his gaze was far too intent.

“For the brand deal?” Est asked.

William’s ears reddened. “Yes.”

Behind him, someone coughed suspiciously. William ignored it. “Mostly.”

The honesty in that single word made Est’s chest flutter. He accepted the phone. Their fingers brushed. Again. William seemed to feel the contact just as sharply as Est did. His eyes dropped to their hands before returning to Est’s face.

Est entered his number. 062-031-7745. For a brief moment, he considered saving himself simply as Est from Marketing. Instead, he typed Est and added a small milk emoji. He handed the phone back. William looked at the contact. His smile appeared slowly, bright enough to transform his entire face.

“I’ll message you.”

“For the campaign?”

William met his eyes. “Mostly.”

Est laughed softly. Behind William, the members erupted. Hong made an exaggerated cheering noise. Lego clapped. Tui muttered, “Finally.”

Nut called, “Make sure to ask later whether he got home safely.”

William turned. “I know.”

“You forget things when you’re excited.”

“I do not.”

“You forgot the host’s question at the event.”

Est blinked. William looked alarmed. Nut smiled sweetly. Est remembered William staring toward his section during the performance. The stumble. The missed question. The way his eyes had kept returning. His heart went into overdrive all over again. William stepped closer to the car door, blocking Nut from Est’s view.

“Please ignore them.”

“I’m trying.”

“They’re normally less embarrassing.”

“No, we’re not,” Hong called.

William closed his eyes. Est smiled. “I had fun.”

William looked at him immediately. “You did?”

“Yes.”

“Even with the interrogation?”

“Even with that.”

William’s shoulders relaxed. “Good.”

Est opened his car door. Before getting in, he looked toward William once more. The others had begun walking toward the elevator, but William remained beside him.

“Drive safely,” William said.

“I will.”

“And message me when you arrive.”

Est lifted an eyebrow. “I thought you were going to message me.”

“I am.”

“Then you’ll know whether I arrived when I answer.”

William considered this. “That works.”

Est sat inside the car and closed the door. William stepped back, but he did not leave. He waited as Est started the engine, waving when Est looked through the window.

Nut appeared behind him and rested an arm across his shoulders. William shoved him away. And Est laughed to himself as he reversed out of the parking space.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

William’s first message arrived before Est had even reached the main road.

Hi, Phi Est. This is William. For the brand campaign.

Est smiled despite himself. Then another message appeared.

Mostly.

The smile became harder to contain. He saved the number as William LYKN, stared at it for several seconds, then removed the group name and left only William. That felt too personal. Est added LYKN again. Then deleted it once more. In the end, William remained.

Their first conversation genuinely began with work. William asked about the campaign schedule, the individual flavor concepts, and whether Est’s team needed anything from him before the next meeting. Est answered carefully, grateful for the professional distance the subject provided.

It lasted eleven minutes.

Est: Do you actually like strawberry milk? 

William: I do now.

Est: That sounds suspicious.

William: It is your campaign’s fault.

Est: Our campaign has not launched yet.

William: Then maybe it is someone on the marketing team’s fault.

Est stared at the message. He could almost hear William’s voice behind it, warm and teasing, carrying that unmistakable confidence that made Est’s heart stumble. He reminded himself that William was naturally charming.

William flirted with cameras, fans, his members, and probably furniture if a livestream became quiet enough. It did not mean anything. Est typed:

The marketing team accepts no responsibility.

William sent three dramatic stickers and a photograph of himself drinking strawberry milk with a wounded expression. Est saved the photo before he could stop himself.

That became the beginning of their friendship. At first, William messaged only once or twice a day. Then the messages multiplied. He sent photographs from rehearsals, usually crooked and poorly lit. Nut looking annoyed. Hong laughing. Tui asleep in a chair. Lego wrapped in a blanket between schedules. Est sent pictures in return. Coffee beside his laptop. Rain against the office windows. A quiet alley glowing beneath yellow streetlights. The sunset during his commute home. William reacted to every one.

You make ordinary things look pretty.

Est’s fingers paused over the screen.

Est: That is what photography is supposed to do.

William: Then take my picture someday.

Est: You already have professional photographers.

William: I want to know how you see me.

Est locked his phone and placed it facedown on his desk. His heart continued racing for several minutes. William had no idea what he was doing to him. Or perhaps he did. That possibility was worse.

Est tried to control his growing feelings by assigning every message a harmless explanation. William was friendly. William was affectionate. William enjoyed meeting new people. William called him Phi because Est was older, not because the word sounded unbearably soft when William said it. 

When William sent good-morning messages, Est told himself he probably sent them to everyone. When William asked whether he had eaten, Est blamed the question on politeness. When William stayed awake talking to him after midnight, Est decided the idol must simply be bored.

The excuses became thinner each day. William slipped into Est’s routine with alarming ease. Est woke expecting a message. He checked his phone during lunch. He began noticing things he wanted to photograph because William might like them.

That was when Est became frightened. William was an idol. His life belonged beneath cameras and stage lights. His every movement could become a headline, a rumor, or a problem for the people around him.

Est knew how fans behaved when they believed someone had grown too close. He had seen strangers dissect blurry photographs and turn ordinary interactions into accusations. He had watched idols apologize for things that should never have required apologies.

Whatever warmth existed between him and William could not become more. It would be unfair to William. It would also break Est’s heart. So Est tried to create distance without making it obvious. He waited longer before replying. He shortened conversations when they drifted too late. He stopped sending photographs unless William asked first.

William noticed immediately.

William: Busy today, Phi?

Est: A little.

The next morning:

William: Did I bother you yesterday?

Est: No. Work was hectic.

Then, that evening:

William: Are you sure?

Est stared at the question. William’s sensitivity surprised him. Beneath all the confidence and puppy-like affection, he seemed capable of noticing the smallest change in Est’s tone.

Est: I’m sure. Don’t overthink.

William: You took four hours to answer.

Est: Some people have jobs na Nong.

William: I have a job.

Est: Your job involves being fed snacks on camera hehe.

William: It is very demanding.

Est laughed, and the distance he had tried to build crumbled before it had properly formed. Their friendship continued through the campaign meetings. At the next one, William waited outside with two drinks. He handed Est an iced latte.

“A little sweet,” William said.

Est looked at the cup. “You remembered?”

William frowned. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Before Est could answer, Nut appeared behind him. “Did you buy anything for us?”

“No.”

Nut nodded thoughtfully.

“Good morning, Phi Est. As you can see, William believes in equal treatment.”

William glared at him. “You all know where the café is.”

“So does Est.”

“That is different.”

Nut’s smile widened. “How?”

William opened his mouth and failed to answer. Est looked down at his coffee before either of them could see his expression. The teasing grew worse after that. Hong began announcing Est’s arrival whenever he entered the studio.

“William, your favorite department is here.”

“I am one person,” Est protested.

“The only person in that department that he notices,” Tui replied.

Lego started sitting beside Est during breaks and asking questions about his conversations with William. “Does Phi William send you selfies too?”

William’s head snapped up from across the room. “Lego!”

Lego smiled innocently. “You heard that from very far away.”

William threw a cushion at him. Est laughed with the others, but each joke landed too close to the feelings he was trying to hide. The members knew William liked him. Perhaps not seriously. Perhaps only as a new friend who had caught his attention. But they saw something. Nut saw the most.

One afternoon, while William was changing for the campaign shoot, Nut sat beside Est and glanced at the phone in his hand.

“You know he waits for your replies.”

Est’s pulse jumped. “He must message a lot of people.”

Nut gave him a knowing look. “Not like this.”

Est lowered his gaze. Before he could answer, William appeared and immediately moved closer.

“What are you telling him?”

“Nothing important,” Nut said.

“You have your interfering face.”

“I have a handsome face.”

“You can have both.”

Nut walked away laughing. William dropped into the seat beside Est. Their shoulders touched. Est should have moved. He did not.

“Did he bother you?” William asked.

“No.”

“What did he say?”

“That you wait for my replies.”

William went quiet. Est looked at him. For once, William appeared uncertain. His fingers played with the edge of his sleeve, and the alpha confidence Est had come to expect softened into something almost shy.

“I do,” he admitted.

Est’s heart folded helplessly around the words. He wanted to ask why. He wanted to hear William say something impossible. Instead, Est smiled lightly.

“You’re impatient.”

William looked relieved. “Only with you.”

There it was again. Another sentence Est would carry home and examine in the dark. Another dangerous little hope.

That night, William messaged after rehearsal.

William: Finished.

Est had promised himself he would not wait awake. He had waited anyway.

Est: Go home and sleep.

William: You stayed up.

Est: I woke up.

William: Liar.

Est smiled into his pillow.

Est: Good night, William.

William: Good night, Phi Est.

A heart appeared beneath the message. Est pressed the phone against his chest and closed his eyes. Their friendship was blossoming into something bright, tender, and increasingly difficult to control. Est could feel himself falling.

So he kept repeating the truth until it hurt. William was an idol. And this could never happen.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

The final video shoot for the flavored milk campaign took place inside a studio transformed into a bright, colorful convenience store.

Pastel bottles filled every shelf. Oversized fruit props decorated the aisles, and each section had been arranged to match the flavor assigned to one of the LYKN members. The entire set looked cheerful, playful, and perfectly designed for the campaign.

Est had been there since early morning. He moved between the director’s monitors and the set, checking that labels faced the camera correctly, reviewing product placements, and answering questions from the production staff. It should have been easy to remain focused.

Then William arrived. From the moment he stepped onto the set, William kept finding reasons to be near Est. When Est adjusted the bottles on a display, William appeared beside him.

“Do you need help?”

“You’re already dressed,” Est said. “You shouldn’t touch anything.”

“I can move bottles without ruining my clothes.”

“You’re wearing white.”

William looked down at himself. “I’m careful.”

From behind him, Hong laughed. “You spilled coffee on yourself yesterday.”

“The lid was broken.”

“You put it on wrong,” Tui corrected.

William ignored them and reached for a bottle anyway. Est quickly took it from him.

“Go sit down.”

William smiled, looking far too pleased by the instruction. “Yes, Phi Est.”

The title sounded deliberately soft. Est turned away before William could see the effect it had on him. Throughout the morning, William continued trying.

He offered Est the first bottle of strawberry milk opened for the shoot. He saved the seat beside him during breaks. Whenever Est crossed the studio, William’s gaze followed with an intensity that made it difficult to breathe normally. Est noticed. He noticed far too much.

But he kept reminding himself that William was naturally affectionate. Their friendship had grown close, but William was still an idol. Est could not afford to mistake warmth for something more.

Then Nut was called onto the set for his individual scene. The director wanted him positioned beside one of the refrigerated displays, holding the bottle toward the camera. When a stylist questioned whether the label was angled correctly, Est stepped in to fix it.

He moved the bottle slightly in Nut’s hand. “Like this, Nong.”

Nut looked at the label. Then at Est. “Can you stay here?”

Est blinked. “Why?”

“So I don’t forget.”

“You only need to hold it in the same position.”

“I might need help.”

Nut smiled slowly. Est’s carefully maintained professionalism began slipping through his fingers.

“Nut….”

“What?”

“You know how to hold a bottle.”

“Maybe I perform better with encouragement.”

Est could feel heat spreading across his cheeks. Nut had always known exactly how nervous Est became around him. Since discovering the photocard on Est’s bag, he seemed to take particular delight in teasing him whenever the opportunity appeared.

“You’re still shy around me,” Nut said.

“I’m not.”

Nut lifted an eyebrow. Est looked down at the bottle. And Nut’s smile widened. His attention dropped toward Est’s bag, which rested beside the monitors.

“You changed the photocard.”

Est followed his gaze. A different Nut card hung from the strap that day, protected inside a clear case decorated with small silver stars.

“You noticed?”

“Of course.”

The answer sent Est tumbling directly into fanboy mode.

“It’s from the limited album version,” he explained. “I didn’t pull it originally, so I traded with another fan. It took me weeks to find someone who wanted the card I had.”

Nut listened with obvious amusement. “You worked that hard for my picture?”

Est’s face grew hotter. “It’s a good photocard.”

“So you think I look handsome?”

Est nearly forgot they were surrounded by an entire production crew. Before he could answer, a sharp sound came from behind the monitors. Someone had set down a bottle with more force than necessary. Est glanced over. William stood beside the refreshments table, arms folded across his chest. His expression had darkened.

When their eyes met, William immediately looked away. The director called Nut into position, ending the conversation before Est could understand what had just happened. Nut stepped onto his mark with a satisfied smile.

Est returned to the monitors, but his attention remained on William. William avoided him for the rest of the shoot. It was subtle at first.

When Est approached to explain a change to the group scene, William turned toward Lego and began discussing the choreography. When Est offered him water, William said he already had a bottle without meeting his eyes.

During filming, he remained flawless. He smiled at the camera, performed each movement perfectly, and delivered every line with his usual charm. The moment the director called CUT, the brightness vanished.

Est became increasingly uneasy.

William was normally impossible to keep away from him during campaign work. He followed Est through the studio, sent messages even while they were in the same room, and used every break as an excuse to sit beside him. Now he would not even look at Est.

By the afternoon break, William had disappeared from the set completely. Est found Nut near the refreshments table.

“Have you seen William?”

Nut glanced at him over the rim of his cup. “I thought you were too busy talking to me.”

Est’s cheeks warmed again. “Nong Nut, please na.”

Nut laughed softly. “He went into the back hallway.”

“Is something wrong?”

Nut’s expression became far too knowing. “He’s sulking.”

“I noticed. But why?”

“Can you really not tell, Phi Est?”

Est’s heart skipped. Before Est could ask what that meant, Nut turned back toward the set.

William stood at the far end of the back hallway, near several stacked equipment cases. The noise from the studio was muted there, reduced to distant voices and music filtering through the walls. Est approached carefully. 

William noticed him but did not smile. “What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I was looking for you.”

“Why?”

“Because you disappeared.”

“I wanted some air.”

“There are no windows here.”

William looked away. Est stopped in front of him. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

“I’ve been working.”

“You wouldn’t even take water from me.”

“I already had water.”

Est studied him. William’s mouth was pulled into a small, unmistakable pout. “You’re sulking.”

William’s head snapped toward him. “I do not sulk.”

“Then look at me.”

William did. The force of his gaze made Est’s breath catch. There was frustration in it, but something else burned beneath the surface. Something warmer, heavier, and far more dangerous. Est’s voice softened.

“Did I do something?”

“No.”

“Then why are you upset?”

“I said I’m not upset.”

“You’ve ignored me for nearly two hours.”

William’s jaw tightened. Est took another step closer. “William.”

Something in him appeared to break. William caught Est gently by the wrist and pulled him farther down the hallway, behind a partition stacked with unused set pieces. They were hidden there, separated from the production crew and the members.

Est’s back nearly touched the wall. William stood directly in front of him, still holding his wrist. His alpha presence filled the narrow space, powerful enough to make Est’s pulse race.

“You really don’t understand,” William said.

“Understand what?”

“I have been trying to make a move on you all day.”

Est stared at him. William released his wrist and dragged a hand through his hair.

“I brought you drinks. I kept asking you to sit beside me. I tried to get you alone during every break.”

“I thought you were being friendly.”

William gave a frustrated laugh. “I am not that friendly.”

Est’s heart began pounding. William stepped closer. “And then Nut smiles at you for five minutes, and suddenly you forget how to speak.”

“He’s my bias.”

“I fucking know.” The words burst out of William with wounded irritation. “I know because his face is hanging from your bag. I know because your account is full of him. I know because every time he looks at you, you turn into a complete fanboy.”

Est’s eyes widened. “My account?”

William froze briefly. Then his expression tightened again. “That is not the point.”

“You found my account?”

“I searched Nut’s hashtag after the fan chat.”

Est could only stare. William looked almost embarrassed, but his jealousy was stronger. “I wanted to find you,” he admitted. “You didn’t come to any of our events afterward. I kept looking for you, and you were never there.”

The confession beneath the confession struck Est silent. William continued before Est could speak.

“I tried to show you I wasn’t intimidating during our livestream. I was sweet to everyone because you said I looked unapproachable.”

Est covered his mouth as understanding dawned. “You were doing that for me?”

“Yes.”

William’s pout deepened. “And all you did was comment about how cute Nut was.”

A laugh escaped Est before he could stop it. William looked offended. “This is not funny.” 

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re still laughing.”

Est lowered his hand, but his smile faded when he saw the raw frustration in William’s face. William stepped closer again. There was barely any space left between them.

“I almost stumbled the first time I saw you,” he said. “I spent the whole performance trying to make you look at me. Then you came to the fan chat, and I thought…”

He stopped and swallowed. “I thought maybe you were there for me.”

Est’s heart clenched.

“But you walked straight to Nut and looked at him like he had personally hung the moon.”

“William…”

“I have been trying ever since.”

William’s voice lowered, losing its irritation until only vulnerable honesty remained. “The livestream. The messages. The coffee. Every time I waited outside a meeting with your drink. Every time I tried to sit beside you.”

His hand curled at his side. “I wasn’t just being friendly.”

Est could not move. All the moments he had explained away rearranged themselves inside his mind. William’s gaze held his, intense enough to strip away every excuse Est had built.

“I like you,” William said.

The words came out frustrated, sulky, and completely sincere.

“I liked you the moment I saw you in the crowd.”

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

William had been trying to make a move on Est all morning. A real move. Not another message disguised as a question about the campaign. Not another coffee handed over with the excuse that he had accidentally bought an extra one. Not another carefully chosen seat that happened to place him beside Est during a meeting.

Today, William intended to make his interest obvious.

The final flavored milk advertisement was being filmed inside a studio transformed into a colorful convenience store. Pastel bottles filled the shelves, enormous fruit props decorated the aisles, and each member had been assigned an individual section based on his flavor.

William’s was strawberry. He had taken this as a good sign.

Est arrived early with the marketing team, wearing a headset around his neck and carrying a clipboard beneath one arm. William noticed him the moment he walked through the studio doors. He always noticed Est first now. Est’s hair was styled away from his forehead, his sleeves folded neatly to his elbows. Nut’s photocard hung from his bag as usual, swinging beside his hip with every step. William glared at it. The tiny printed Nut smiled back.

“Still fighting cardboard?” Tui asked beside him.

William looked away from the bag. “I’m not fighting anything.”

“You’ve been staring at it for a full minute.”

“I was looking at Est.”

“That is not better.”

William ignored him and crossed the studio. Est was adjusting bottles on one of the shelves when William appeared beside him.

“Do you need help?”

Est glanced at his white outfit. “You shouldn’t touch anything.”

“I can move bottles.”

“You’re already dressed for the shoot.”

“I won’t spill.”

Behind him, Hong laughed. “You spilled coffee yesterday.”

“The lid was broken.”

“You put it on incorrectly,” Tui said.

William turned toward them. “Why are you all here?”

“To watch,” Nut answered.

William narrowed his eyes. They knew what he was trying to do. He had made the mistake of telling Lego that he wanted to finally move things forward with Est during the shoot. Lego had told Hong, Hong had told Tui, and Nut had somehow learned everything before breakfast.

Now all four of them were treating William’s romantic life as free entertainment. Est took the bottle from William’s hand.

“Go sit down.”

William looked at him. “Yes, Phi Est.”

Est’s cheeks warmed before he turned away. William smiled. Progress. For the next few hours, William tried everything. 

He offered Est the first opened bottle of strawberry milk. Est thanked him and carried it to the director. William saved him a seat during the first break. Est sat there for less than a minute before someone from the marketing team called him away. William followed him around the set whenever he could, asking questions about scenes he already understood and volunteering to help with tasks no one trusted him to perform while wearing white.

Every time Est smiled at him, William’s confidence grew. He only needed a moment alone. A few minutes without members, staff, cameras, or Nut’s laminated face watching from Est’s bag. Then the director called Nut for his individual scene.

William had been standing near the monitors, waiting for another opportunity to approach Est, when a stylist asked someone from marketing to check the product angle. Est stepped onto the set. William watched him adjust the bottle in Nut’s hand. That should have been all. Instead, Nut looked directly at Est and smiled.

“Can you stay?”

William’s eyes narrowed.

Est blinked. “Why?”

“So I don’t forget the angle.”

“You only have to hold it.”

“I might need encouragement.”

William slowly lowered the strawberry milk in his hand. Nut knew exactly what he was doing. William could see it in the smug curve of his mouth. Est, unfortunately, could not. Or perhaps Est could and simply did not care, because his entire face was already turning pink.

“You’re still nervous around me?” Nut asked.

“No,” Est replied far too quickly.

Nut lifted an eyebrow. Est looked down and something inside Willliam stirred with immediate irritation. This was supposed to be William’s day. He had been circling Est since sunrise like a determined puppy, offering drinks, saving seats, and searching for the perfect moment to finally say something meaningful.

Nut smiled once, and Est forgot how language worked. Then Nut noticed the photocard.

“You changed it today.”

Est’s expression lit up. “You noticed?”

“Of course.”

William tightened his grip around the bottle. Est began explaining the card, speaking faster as he described the limited album version and the trade he had arranged with another fan.

Nut listened with exaggerated interest. “You worked that hard for my picture?”

“It’s a good photocard.”

“You think I look handsome?”

William placed his bottle onto the table with a sharp crack. Several people glanced toward him. He did not care. Est looked over. Their eyes met. And William saw the lingering fanboy excitement on his face and felt something inside him sink. He looked away before the disappointment became too obvious.

Fine. If Est wanted to spend the entire day blushing over Nut, William would stop trying. He could do that. Probably.

For the next two hours, William avoided Est with the same determination he had previously used to follow him. When Est approached to explain a change in the group scene, William spoke to Lego instead. When Est offered him water, William said he already had some. He did not. He remained perfect whenever the cameras rolled. His expressions were sharp, his timing flawless, and his voice bright during every take.

The moment the director called cut, William’s mood dropped again. He hated how childish he felt. Est had done nothing wrong. Nut was his bias. William had known that from the beginning. He had found the fan account, endured hundreds of Nut posts, and watched Est become breathless during the fan chat.

Still, knowing it and witnessing it from a few meters away were very different experiences. By the afternoon break, William needed distance. He slipped into the back hallway and stood near several equipment cases, arms folded tightly across his chest.

The hallway was quiet, the sounds of filming softened by walls and storage partitions. William stared at the floor. He should return before someone came looking for him. He did not move.

Footsteps approached. William looked up. Est. His heart reacted before his pride could stop it.

“What are you doing here?” William asked.

“I was looking for you.”

The answer softened him immediately. William resisted it. “Why?”

“Because you disappeared.”

“I wanted air.”

Est glanced around the windowless hallway. “There’s no air here.”

William looked away.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” Est said.

“I’ve been working.”

“You wouldn’t take water from me.”

“I already had water.”

Est came closer. William could smell his cologne now, clean and faintly sweet beneath the lingering scent of milk from the set.

“You’re sulking.”

William’s head snapped toward him. “I do not sulk.”

“Then look at me.”

William did. Est’s expression was soft with concern, his eyes fixed entirely on William. That only made everything worse. William had spent weeks trying to earn that attention. Now he finally had it because he had behaved like an injured animal in a hallway.

“Did I do something?” Est asked.

“No.”

“Then why are you upset?”

“I said I’m not upset.”

“You ignored me for nearly two hours.”

“Est.”

The name came out sharper than he intended. Est did not retreat. Instead, he stepped closer.

“William.”

Something inside William snapped. He caught Est gently by the wrist and pulled him behind one of the storage partitions, farther from the set and any curious staff members. Est’s back nearly touched the wall. William released him immediately, but the narrow space kept them close.

“You really don’t understand anything,” William said.

Est stared at him. “Understand what?”

“I have been trying to make a move on you all day.”

The words escaped before William could plan them. Est’s eyes widened. William dragged one hand through his hair.

“I brought you drinks. I saved you a seat. I tried to get you alone during every break.”

“I thought you were being friendly.”

William laughed in disbelief. “I am not that friendly.”

Est’s lips parted.

“And then Nut smiles at you once,” William continued, “and suddenly you forget how to speak.”

“He’s my bias.”

“I fucking know.” The answer burst out of William with weeks of accumulated frustration.

“I know because his face hangs from your bag. I know because your account is almost entirely about him. I know because every time he looks at you, you become a complete fanboy.”

Est froze. “My account?”

William realized his mistake too late. He closed his eyes briefly. “That is not the important part.”

“You found my account?”

“I searched Nut’s hashtag after the fan chat.”

Est stared at him. William’s embarrassment burned beneath his jealousy, but there was no point hiding anything now.

“I wanted to find you,” he admitted. “You didn’t come to our events afterward. I kept looking for you, and you were never there.”

Est’s expression changed. William continued before fear could silence him. “I tried to prove I wasn’t intimidating during the livestream. I acted sweet with everyone because you said I looked unapproachable.”

Understanding dawned across Est’s face. “That was for me?”

“Yes.”

“And I commented about Nut.”

“Repeatedly.”

Est covered his mouth, but William saw the smile. “You’re laughing.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You’re not.”

William stepped closer. He had started this. He would finish it.

“I almost stumbled the first time I saw you,” he said. “I spent that entire performance trying to make you look at me. Then you came to the fan chat, and I thought you might be there because of me.”

His voice tightened. “But you walked straight to Nut.”

“William…”

“The messages, the coffee, waiting outside your meetings, following you around this set. I wasn’t being friendly.”

Est had gone completely still. William met his eyes, letting every defense fall away.

“I like you,” he confessed. “I liked you from the first moment I saw you in the crowd.”

The words remained between them. For several seconds, Est said nothing. William’s confidence began collapsing one piece at a time. He had imagined confessing differently. Something calmer. Sweeter. Possibly involving flowers, a carefully chosen location, and enough preparation that he would not accidentally reveal his private account stalking habits in the same conversation.

Instead, he had dragged Est behind a storage partition and released weeks of jealousy in one breath. 

Est was staring at him. His face was flushed, his lips slightly parted, but William could not tell whether the expression came from surprise or discomfort. William took a small step back.

“You don’t have to say anything. You can think about it.”

“I’ve already thought about it.”

William went still. Est lowered his eyes for a moment, fingers curling against the edge of his clipboard.

“When you first saw me at the event, I thought I was imagining your attention,” Est said quietly. “You kept looking at me, but you’re an idol. Making fans feel noticed is part of your job.”

“It wasn’t part of my job.”

“I know that now.”

William waited, afraid to interrupt. Est drew in a slow breath. “The truth is, I liked you before that day.”

William blinked. “What?”

Est’s cheeks grew darker. “I have liked you for a while.”

William stared at him. The statement did not fit with the evidence William had collected over several painful weeks. The Nut photocard. The fan account. The endless posts. The fanboying dramatic enough to make Est nearly drop a gift during the fan chat.

“But Nut is your bias. And your username is NUTiEST.”

“I knoww...”

“Your entire account is practically a Nut museum.”

Est pressed his lips together, clearly trying not to laugh. William folded his arms.

“I’m confused.”

“That was the point.”

“The point was to confuse me?”

“No.” Est shook his head. “The point was to confuse myself.”

William’s sulk softened into bewilderment. Est leaned back against the wall, still keeping his voice low enough that no one outside the partition could overhear.

“When I first became a fan of LYKN, I noticed you immediately,” he admitted. “You were charming and talented, but there was something about you that felt dangerous.”

William frowned. “Intimidating again?”

“Not like that.”

“Then how?”

Est looked directly at him. “Because I didn’t only admire you.”

William’s breath caught.

“With Nut, it was easy,” Est continued. “I liked watching him perform. I liked his personality and how he cared for the members. I could collect his cards, post about him, and fanboy as much as I wanted without feeling anything more.”

Est’s grip tightened around the clipboard. “It was safe.”

“And I wasn’t?”

“No.”

The immediate answer sent warmth rushing through William’s chest. Est looked embarrassed, but he did not take it back.

“I knew that if I started collecting your photocards and following your schedules too closely, I would only become more attached,” he said. “So I chose Nut.”

William slowly processed the confession. “You chose a bias strategically?”

“It sounds ridiculous when you say it like that.”

“It is a little ridiculous.”

Est gave him an offended look. William’s mouth began curving despite himself.

“So all those posts about Nut…”

“Were genuine. I do admire him.”

William’s smile weakened. Est noticed.

“But I never wanted Nut,” he added softly.

William looked at him again. Est’s voice dropped. “I only wanted you.”

William’s heart stopped. Then restarted with enough force to make his entire body feel weightless. Est glanced away, suddenly shy.

“I stanned Nut in public because it was easy,” he said. “And I liked you quietly because that was the only way I thought I could handle it.”

William stepped closer. Est continued before William could speak.

“When you started messaging me, I tried to convince myself you were only friendly. Every time you flirted, I found another explanation. That you are charming with everyone.”

“I told you I waited for your replies.”

“I thought you were impatient.”

“I said only with you.”

Est gave him a helpless look. “That was when it became harder.”

William’s heart surged forward, not with jealousy this time but bright, overwhelming joy.

“You loved me in private?” he asked.

Est’s eyes widened. “I said liked.”

“You said you wanted me.”

“That is still not the same word.”

William moved closer until barely any space remained between them. Est’s back pressed fully against the wall. William’s voice softened.

“Say it again.”

Est’s blush deepened. “No.”

“Phi Est.”

“You’re being greedy.”

“I spent weeks competing with a photocard. I deserve compensation.”

Est laughed and the sound loosened the final knot inside William’s chest. He reached for Est slowly, giving him enough time to move away. Est did not. William wrapped both arms around him and pulled him close.

The hug was tighter than he intended, but Est immediately relaxed against him, his clipboard trapped awkwardly between their bodies. William buried his face near Est’s neck.

“You really liked me all this time?”

“Yes.”

“And you chose Nut because I was too dangerous?”

“Yes.”

William smiled against his skin. “I like that answer.”

Est’s arms came around William’s back. The simple pressure made William hold him even more tightly. All the disappointment from the fan chat, the Nut-filled profile, the missing events, and the miserable livestream dissolved at once. Est had liked him. Est had wanted him. Every time William had been trying to win Est’s attention, part of Est had already belonged to him.

William finally loosened the embrace enough to look at him. Est’s face was still flushed. His eyes were warm, softer than William had ever seen them. William lifted one hand toward Est’s cheek, then paused.

“Can I kiss you?”

Est looked startled. For one terrible second, William worried he had moved too quickly. Then Est nodded.

“Yes.”

William leaned in carefully. 

Their first kiss was softer than his confession. His lips touched Est’s with a tenderness that surprised even him, brief at first, as though both of them needed proof that this was real. Est’s fingers tightened in the back of William’s shirt.

William kissed him again. This time, Est met him fully. The kiss remained gentle, but warmth spread through William’s entire body. Est’s lips were soft, his breath unsteady, and William could feel the shy smile beginning between them.

When they separated, William rested his forehead against Est’s. “You could have saved me a lot of suffering,” he murmured.

Est’s eyes curved. “You could have asked instead of investigating Nut’s hashtag.”

“I was emotionally compromised.”

William closed his eyes. Est laughed. William kissed him once more simply to stop the sound. It did not work.

Est smiled against his lips, and William decided that was even better.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 

Est barely had time to recover from the kiss before William caught his hand.

“Come with me.”

Est blinked, still breathless. “Where?”

William did not answer. He simply laced their fingers together and pulled Est out from behind the storage partition with the unstoppable determination of someone who had just won an argument against the universe.

“William,” Est whispered, stumbling after him. “Slow down.”

“I’ve been patient for weeks.”

“You confessed five minutes ago.”

“Exactly. That was already too long.”

Est’s face warmed.

The noise of the studio grew louder as they approached the set. Crew members moved between lights and cameras, preparing for the final scenes. Most were too busy to notice William dragging a member of the marketing team down the hallway by the hand.

Nut noticed immediately. He stood near the monitors with Hong, Tui, and Lego, drinking from a bottle while they waited for the director’s next instruction.

His gaze dropped to their joined hands. Then lifted to William’s face. A slow, satisfied smile appeared. William came to a stop directly in front of him. Nut looked between them.

“Well?”

William pulled Est closer to his side. “I have a boyfriend now.”

Est’s soul briefly left his body. “William!”

The announcement was loud enough to make all four members react at once.

Hong’s mouth fell open before he broke into delighted laughter. Lego clapped both hands over his mouth, eyes shining. Tui merely raised an eyebrow, though the smile at the corner of his lips betrayed him.

Nut took another calm sip of his drink. “A boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

William sounded unbearably proud. Est tugged weakly at his hand. “We did not discuss that.”

William turned toward him. “You said you liked me.”

“Yes.”

“You kissed me.”

“You kissed me.”

“And you kissed me back.”

Est glanced around desperately. All of LYKN were watching. Worse, they were enjoying themselves.

“That does not mean you can announce it before asking me.”

William’s expression changed at once. The smugness disappeared, replaced by a flash of uncertainty.

“Do you not want to be my boyfriend?”

Est’s heart softened immediately. William looked genuinely worried, his fingers loosening around Est’s as though preparing to let go if Est asked. Est sighed.

“I didn’t say that.”

Hope returned to William’s face. “So you do?”

Est could feel the attention of four extremely invested witnesses. He wanted to hide. Instead, he squeezed William’s hand.

“Yes.”

William’s grin became brilliant. “There. I have a boyfriend.”

Nut began laughing. Hong reached over and slapped William’s shoulder. “You survived.”

“Barely,” William said.

Tui looked at Est. “Are you certain?”

“Phi,” William protested.

“We should confirm he understands what he agreed to.”

“I understand,” Est said, though his face remained hot.

Lego stepped closer, smiling widely. “Congratulations, Phi Est.”

“Thank you.”

“And congratulations, Phi William.”

William nodded as though accepting an award. Nut looked down at Est’s bag. The photocard still hung from the strap.

“So what happens to me?”

William followed his gaze. His expression immediately became suspicious.

“You stay inside the plastic.”

Nut placed a hand over his chest. “Cruel.”

“You’ve had enough attention.”

“I was his bias first.”

“You can remain his bias.”

William pulled Est closer. “And I will remain the boyfriend.”

The possessive satisfaction in his voice sent another wave of warmth through Est. Hong laughed.

“He’s going to say that every day.”

“I earned it.”

“You confessed because Nut flirted for five minutes,” Tui said.

William frowned. “He was doing it on purpose.”

“Of course I was,” Nut replied.

Est turned toward him. “You were?”

Nut gave him a patient look. “William had been following you around like a puppy since morning. He needed encouragement.”

“You made me think you were flirting with him,” William accused.

Nut lifted his bottle in a small toast. “You’re welcome.”

The members began talking over one another, replaying William’s behavior from the past several weeks with increasing cruelty. Hong described the livestream campaign. Lego revealed how often William refreshed Est’s profile. Tui announced that William had once spent an entire van ride debating whether Est’s use of a heart emoji meant anything.

William defended himself loudly. Est stood beside him, caught between embarrassment and helpless affection. Then a colder thought slipped beneath the happiness. William was an idol. This was no longer a private crush Est could keep safely contained behind a screen. It was real now. Fragile and dangerous in ways ordinary relationships were not.

Est’s smile faded. William noticed immediately.

“What’s wrong?”

The teasing quieted. Est hesitated before lowering his voice. “Will this cause problems for you?”

William frowned. “What do you mean?”

“With your career.” Est glanced toward the active studio beyond them. “If anyone finds out, people might react badly. The company might not approve. Your fans…”

He did not finish. William’s hand tightened around his. For once, there was no teasing in his expression. 

“Est.”

The use of his name without Phi made Est look at him.

“I know what my job is,” William said. “I know things can become complicated.” William moved closer, shielding Est slightly from the others without shutting them out.

“If anything happens, I’ll handle it.”

“You can’t control everything.”

“No.” William’s voice softened. “But I can protect what matters to me.”

Est’s breath caught. William lifted their joined hands between them. “You matter to me.”

The answer was simple. Certain. Est felt the last of his resistance dissolve. Nut stepped closer and rested a hand on Est’s shoulder.

“We’ll protect both of you,” he said.

Hong nodded. “He’s annoying, but he’s ours.”

“And you’re apparently ours now too,” Tui added.

Lego smiled. “Welcome to the family, Phi Est.”

Est looked at all of them. The warmth in their faces was real. His worry did not disappear entirely, but it became smaller, surrounded by something stronger. William tilted his head.

“Better?”

Est nodded. “A little.”

“I can fix the rest.”

Before Est could ask how, William leaned in and kissed him. Right there. In front of Nut, Hong, Tui, and Lego. The kiss was soft and happy, carrying none of the uncertainty of the first one. Est heard cheering around them. Hong whooped. Lego clapped. Tui muttered something about finally being free from William’s sulking. Nut called, “Don’t forget who brought you together.”

William lifted one hand without breaking the kiss and pointed blindly in Nut’s direction. Est laughed against William’s lips. William smiled too. When they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against Est’s.

“My boyfriend,” he whispered proudly.

Est’s cheeks warmed one final time. “My idol,” he answered.

Behind them, Nut made an offended sound. “Still your bias?”

Est looked at William’s hopeful face, then at the photocard hanging from his bag. “Nut is still my bias.”

William’s mouth fell open. Est kissed him again before he could complain. “But William is my favorite person.”

That silenced him.

For nearly three full seconds. Then William wrapped both arms around Est and held him tightly while the rest of LYKN cheered around them.

THE END :)