Chapter Text
JAEHYUK POV
Jaehyuk is now in the kitchen with Yedam, he wanted to eat ramyun before sleeping because the hospital food wasn't that good. Yedam is still not allowed to eat unhealthy foods so he's just here to accompany him. Asahi is sleeping already, he doesn't want to disturb him.
"Hyung, I like you" Yedam stated
Jaehyuk was startled for a bit.
"I know, I'm your favorite hyung that's why you like me the most" Jaehyuk just laughed at Yedam's sudden confession
"No, It's not that, I like you like romantically, I'm being serious here"
"I was suppose to tell you yesterday but I got hospitalized instead"
"I love you hyung, I just felt like I need to tell you right now before I lose all my chances" Yedam continues
"Oh" Jaehyuk doesn't know what to say
"Thank you for liking me dammie, but sorry I can't reciprocate that, I already like somebody else" Jae said sincerely
Yedam smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. Jaehyuk felt sad at the view so he hugged the younger for comfort.
"I'm sorry"
"Its okay, I already know you'll say that but it hits different when I'm actually hearing it from you"
"Even though I can't give you back the love you're giving me, I can always be your hyung okay? we're still friends"
Yedam just nodded, Jaehyuk released his hug.
"You should sleep, you still need to rest" Jaehyuk said"Okay hyung and thank you for being honest with me"
Yedam left and Jaehyuk just ate his ramyun and pondered about what just happened. He's hoping Yedam is okay, both physically and emotionally.
He feels sad for Yedam but he wanted to be honest. He doesn't want to give him hope. Jaehyuk is a very caring hyung that's probably why Yedam fell for him. But Jaehyuk already has someone that he loves for a very long time now.
*Flashback*
Jaehyuk was happy to be a YGE trainee, he was one step closer to his dreams. He wasn't really interested at first but when a lot of agencies street casted him he considered and YGE was the best option.
Jaehyuk was a trainee for a year already when he met Asahi. Seven japanese trainees came to Korea to continue their training here and one of them was Asahi.
He was just fascinated by Asahi but the other is quiet and out of reach. They are of the same age and Jaehyuk was happy they took a lot of training classes together.
Jaehyuk did all his best to get to know him but he doesn't push Asahi much. He doesn't want the other to feel uncomfortable so he doesn't hover much. He gives Asahi the space whenever he needs it and slowly Asahi opens up to him.
They became best friends not long after. Weird to be honest, two persons with opposite personalities became close friends. They really complement each other, sometimes they argue but they don't make it a big deal and make up before the day ends.
They always meet halfway.
And Jaehyuk knows that he is falling for Asahi.
But he kept it to himself. He doesn't want Asahi to feel uncomfortable about it that's why he settled on being Asahi's best friend.
He is clingy and Asahi thought it's just how he is with his friends but Asahi didn't know that Jaehyuk is very much clingy specially to him.
The first time he held Asahi's hands the other was startled but he didn't protest.
Jaehyuk just asked "Can I?" and Asahi nodded.
The skinship became natural.... from hugs, forehead kisses, linked arms and fingers intertwined.
And for every touch of skin, Jaehyuk is getting burned.
And its okay to be burned by the one who holds his heart.
*end of flashback*
The next morning he went to Asahi's room to wake him up for breakfast. He knocked but no one was answering, so he went inside but no Asahi was in sight.
"Where is he?" Jae thought
He opened his phone and called Asahi but there's no answer. He just left a text asking where he is and breakfast is ready.
He also went to the other two younger members and woke them up for breakfast, they have practice today so they need to eat early. Hwanie was already up, he was always the earliest to wake up next to Asahi, so he asked if he knew where Asahi went.
"Oh, Sahi hyung went to Dorm 1 earlier, he said he'll just eat his breakfast there"
Oh. There's something wrong. He can feel it.
Asahi should have texted him or called him but he didn't. What's up with him.
Asahi already promised not to avoid him but here they are again. He can't help but feel disappointed because he doesn't know what Asahi's problems are and on top of that he's avoiding him. He can't help but feel angry and sad at the same time.
He saw Asahi at the practice room, he's in the corner again alone and buried in his phone. He's so frustrated right now so he approached him.
"Can we talk?" Jae is trying not to sound really angry
"Why?" Asahi looked up, he noticed Jaehyuk expression seemed a bit annoyed
"Do you really don't know why?" He's really really getting there, he can feel his ears burning from his surging emotions
"Let's go outside, we can't talk in here" Asahi noticed that he's about to blow up, so he stood up and dragged Jaehyuk outside.
They arrived at the playground near the building and sat at the two empty swings.
"Why are you avoiding me again?" Jaehyuk spoke first
"I'm not, I just-" Asahi explained
"You and your reasons. Am I even important to you? Am I that easy to dispose of when you don't need me anymore? Am I not your bestfriend? Why can't you even tell me what's wrong" He cut him off. He has so many things to say he just wants it all out.
He's also trying not to cry but it warranted at this point. He can't control his tears because he's so hurt by Asahi's actions.
"The first time you started not talking to me I didn't push you because I thought you're just stressed with work, you asked me to give you space and I did, but you promised not to do that again but you did" His lungs are already being drowned by his tears.
"At least give me some reason why you're avoiding me so that I know where I stand" He continues.
Now Asahi is crying too, but both are not talking after Jaehyuk's rant.
"If you're not gonna tell me anything then okay, we'd better off not talk to each other anymore"
"Let's just be civil when others are watching" He says
His heart is breaking into a million pieces, his knees are weak and he wants to run away.
Jaehyuk stood up and started to walk away but Asahi came after him and hugged him.
"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry Hyukie" Asahi says in between his sobs
"If you're really sorry then tell me what's wrong, did I do something wrong? I'm so tired of second-guessing" He removed himself from Asahi's hug and faced him.
He can see Asahi is thinking and clearly having an internal fight with himself. So he held both of Asahi's hands.
"Just tell me please" He looks at Asahi.
"I......."
Asahi looked right straight in his eyes
"I love you Jae, not just as a friend"
"I love everything about you and it's making me insane every second of every day"
Now Jaehyuk is dumbfounded, he's frozen in his spot for a few minutes while taking it all in. Did he hear it right? Asahi likes him? Asahi loves him? The love of his life likes him too? He doesn't know how to react with this information right now.
He was so ready to let go a few minutes ago and now he's over the clouds with the sudden confession.
"And I heard you and Yedam last night in the kitchen"
"So I decided deal with my own feelings alone that's why I was avoiding you"
Asahi has been avoiding him because of that? What did he even hear? Jaehyuk thought
"Did you even hear the whole thing?" Jae asks
"I...I didn't" Asahi says head bowed down
"I turned him down because I already like somebody else" Now Asahi looks up at his words, shadows crossed his face.
"Its you that I like sahiya, you're the one I love. I've been in love with you for a while now, even before we debuted actually" He heard Asahi gasped
"Why did you not tell me then?" Asahi asks
"Because I was afraid that you might not like me the way I like you, our friendship can be compromised and I can't bear the idea of losing you and the friendship that we have" Jae replied, tears coming back in his eyes.
"And I just realized you felt the same too. You were afraid, we were both afraid to cross the line and we're both dumb" He laughed at his own statement
"So thank you for being brave about it, it's probably something I can't do." He wiped his tears away.
He just hugged Asahi, he felt the other hugged back and buried his head on his shoulder.
"I love you Sahiya"
"I love you more"
"Let's go back inside before Jihoon hyung comes looking for us" He says releasing himself from the hug and holds Asahi's hand, intertwining their fingers. He smiles at the person he loves the most
"Okay" Asahi smiles back. Jaehyuk melts at the scene and his heart is so full.
The universe is on their side now, after all the twist and turns, the doubts and fears that stopped them from revealing their hearts to each other.... all of it are gone now.
Their hearts are in sync, beating for the love that's long overdue.