Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sunoo was restless. He'd finished his practice, posted his new pictures to Weverse, updated his Instagram, and caught up on Twitter. So, what now?

His roommate/best friend was out with his girlfriend. His other close friend Jay was out of town for a few days, and he couldn't bring himself to call the girl he'd recently started seeing. Sure, she was a beautiful girl, and he liked her, but he's not in the mood for hours of her hinting about becoming his official girlfriend. That's all she appeared to be doing lately.

Stretching out his long limbs in front of him on his bed, feeling the satisfying crack of his joints, he refreshed his Instagram page. He already had twenty-two notifications, twelve of which were from Sunghoon, who had liked each and every one of the pictures he'd just posted.

Sunoo chuckled. Only Sunghoon would check his Instagram notifications in the middle of a date and like everything he'd been tagged in. Smiling to himself, he flicked through his favourite album.

Sunoo had only had his own account for 3 months, but most of the pictures predate, going back 1-year back, starting from a couple of weeks after they'd first met.

He has full of pictures of himself and Sunghoon. Selfies, excursions, nights out, nights in, hanging out with their friends during their breaks, momentous occasions had all been carefully captured by Sunoo's camera and documented in his account. There had been a lot of them. They were inseparable. Much to various girlfriends displeasure.

Sunoo smirked at his notification of Sunghoon liking his pictures at the top of his screen. Seconds later he received a private message.

Sunghoon: What you up to?

Sunoo: Nothing

Sunghoon: Sounds fun. I'll come and join you.

Sunoo: Buy me my favourite ice cream on the way back.

Sunoo turned on the television, set his laptop aside, and stripped down to his boxers to get comfy under the blankets, where he found a new k-drama to watch.

Sunghoon dashed into his room, juggling two pints of ice cream and snacks.

"I've returned!" He greeted Sunoo in classic Sunghoon fashion, climbing into his allotted side of the bed and handing Sunoo his Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.

"Good date?" Sunoo asked, knowing the answer without having to ask. After two years of friendship, each of them knew precisely what the other was thinking without having to say anything - but that would lead to hours of silent chats that would be very monotonous.

Sunghoon shrugged, "We grabbed coffee, sat in the park for a little, watched ducks," he sounded terribly unenthusiastic "What are we watching?" he asked, pepping up a little "Is this all you've done tonight?"

"You know I post our pictures," Sunoo mumbled as he scooped his ice cream. "You might annoy your girlfriend by liking them during your date," Sunoo joked.

Sunghoon's eyes crinkled as he laughed, "Ha! Yeah, she became a little snarky about it."

Sunoo's lips twisted into a half-smile as he nudged Sunghoon in the ribs, "Maybe if you pay her more attention, maybe she won't become upset with you."

"Maybe you shouldn't distract me whilst I'm out with her by posting pictures that I look hot in!" Sunghoon smirks.

Sunoo rolled his eyes and went back to watching the drama he is watching, pulling out his phone to send out a few random tweets.

Sunghoon shifted erratically next to him, shimmying out of his jeans whilst still under the covers. He accidentally kicked Sunoo in the process. Sunoo said nothing, he just gave Sunghoon more room to move and continued to tap his screen. Sunoo then took a selfie with Sunghoon beside him and post it on his Instagram story.

"Nice Sunoo, I'm going to get in trouble with that," said Sunghoon as soon as his phone notified him of the mention, then raised his hands to emphasize the point as he showed Sunoo his phone screen stating that Wonyoung is calling.

"Hi baby," he enthusiastically answered it and pretended to glare at Sunoo who was miming his over cheery face whilst holding his own phone to his ear.

"What you on about?" he asked "Sunoo? Yeah, he's right here. Do you want to talk to him?” Sunghoon asked her. “Okay, Sunoo?"

"Yup?" Sunoo's face was the picture of innocence.

"She says can you stop posting pictures of us in bed together on your story because it makes me look gay and it's embarrassing for her, " Sunghoon made a face.

"Sorry, baby!" Sunoo said jokingly.

"And she said stop calling her baby, she’s not your baby," Sunghoon laughed.

"Sorry, Wonyoung!" Sunoo chirped loudly.

Sunoo tried to swallow his laughter, that girl could be so insecure sometimes. He didn't listen in to the rest of the phone call but instead, he watched Sunghoon get bored with the conversation. Shifting around, fiddling with the duvet, picking up Sunoo's phone and starting to scroll Tiktok.

Finally, after twenty more minutes of constant agreeing, reassuring and eye-rolling, Wonyoung finally said goodnight and Sunghoon switched his phone off.

Without saying anything, Sunoo passed Sunghoon the bag of chips, he couldn't help but wonder why she had such a problem with him. He was only hanging out with his best friend. What was wrong with that?

The rest of the night continued like that. Chatting over ice cream and watching drama, singing along to the songs they played on Youtube, and finally falling asleep next to each other moments after the number one had been revealed. It was just a typical Tuesday.

"Alright, spill," Jay demanded, setting down his game controller and glaring at Sunoo and Sunghoon, who were sitting twisted up on the couch with identical melancholy expressions.

"Wonyoung dumped me," Sunghoon shrugged, "no big deal."

"And, I'm guessing, Sunoo suffers from sympathy pain?"

"Not exactly," Sunoo responded testily, "I told the girl I'm seeing last week that we weren't going to work out, which is why I didn't want to be her boyfriend," he looked down at his hands, "and she didn't take it well."

"What do you mean?" questioned Sunghoon, turning to face Sunoo, his hand absentmindedly playing with Sunoo's. "What did she say to you?"

"It doesn't matter," Sunoo answered calmly. "You can play my turn Ni-ki, I don't feel like it tonight," he said as he passed the controller to Ni-ki, who was waiting for him at his feet.

"Sunoo! What did she say to you?" Sunghoon was upset that his favourite person in the entire world was frowning because of a girl.

Sunoo looked up through his eyelashes and quietly surveyed the group of boys surrounding him. Jay was sitting beside Jungwon in the furthest armchair, Ni-ki had spun around to face him from the floor and Jake and Heesung was walking back in from the kitchen armed with more cans of drink. All of them were his best friends, all of them could be trusted.

"It's really stupid" he started, flushing a little in the face "But she said she wasn't surprised she said I wasn't up for a commitment because I was practically married..." He paused, snorted for effect and continued "to Sunghoon!" he laughed, expecting the others to join in, but instead only the sound of his own echoed around the silent room.

"Isn't that the most stupid thing you've ever heard?" Sunoo tried again.

Jake and Heesung were exchanging uneasy glances, Ni-Ki was stuffing his fist into his mouth to keep himself from laughing out loud, eyes watering from the strain and Sunghoon was looking at him with a strange look of wonder mixed with contemplation.

It made Sunoo feel suddenly very exposed and insecure. Like they all knew something that he didn't.

"What?" He suddenly asked flatly.

Sunghoon was the first to speak.

"That's so strange" he muttered, then shrugged. "Don't let it worry you," he finished and pulled Sunoo into his side, draping his arm around him "Wanna watch a movie tonight?"

"Why did Wonyoung dump you, Hoon?" Asked Jake sat beside him and leans forward in his chair and watching Sunghoon with interest.

Now Sunghoon was looking shifty.

"She didn't...erm...she didn't think all my friendships were appropriate," he shrugged. "Definitely her issue."

"Any friendship in particular?" pressed Jungwon, a smirk tugging on the corners of his mouth and shared a look with Jake again who just smile.

"Might have been Sunoo,” Sunghoon mumbled.

Sunoo looked devastated "She didn't like me?"

"No girlfriend appreciates competition," chucked Ni-Ki wisely from the floor, peeping up at them with wide, cheeky eyes.

"Hey," said Sunghoon gently stroking Sunoo's hand. "I don't care what she thinks, I'm not giving up my best friend for anyone. It's not your fault," he assured Sunoo. "She didn't bother to get to know you," he tugged Sunoo into his lap, pushing his head down so it was resting on his shoulder. "Are you, ok?" Sunghoon asked gently stroking Sunoo's back.

"And you don't see what the problem is?" came Heesung's sarcastic tone.

Both Sunoo and Sunghoon looked up in surprise.

"What?" They both asked in unison.

"Do you see me sitting on Heesung's lap acting like this?" Ni-Ki asked exasperated while pointing at them.

Sunoo and Sunghoon shared glances."But we always sit like this?" Sunoo argued, not making any sign of moving away from Sunghoon’s lap.

Sunghoon said nothing, but glared a little, clasping his hands around Sunoo’s narrow waist.

"Face it," Jake told them "You two act more like a couple than either of you two have with any girl you've dated. And there shit loads of evidence to back that up," he added.

Both Sunoo and Sunghoon made noises of disagreement.

"Oh, Jake Hyung and I have our own collection of evidence," exclaimed Ni-Ki, grabbing his phone out of his pocket "You both can’t even deny it!"

"Like what?" Sunghoon challenged. Sunoo frowned and took Sunghoon hand into his. "They're just messing with you Hyung. Don't get upset."

Sunghoon smiled at Sunoo, feeling calm as Sunoo nuzzled brushed his thumbs on his hand.

"Exhibit ‘A’,” Jay announced triumphantly indicating their display of affection.

"Exibit ‘B’" continued Ni-Ki scrolling through his phone "Behold this Tiktok post."

He held up his phone to show Jungwon and Jay first, then to Jake and Heesung.

"Oh yeah! That's a good one," nodded Jake.

"Can we see it?"

Ni-Ki held up the phone to the two glowering boys.

"What?" asked Sunoo indignantly "We have our own inside jokes, it's not our fault that our fans ship us. Isn’t it normal in the Kpop industry? People ship you with your own members?"

Then Sunoo pointed at Jungwon and Jay sitting side by side. “People ship them too, but they don’t get an intervention,” Sunoo tries to make a point.

"Okay, we are affectionate on camera, but we don't cling to each other 24/7,” Jay said dryly "Okay what about this picture on Instagram Sunoo posted.  Sunoo looks like he's definitely enjoying your hand, Hoon."

"Means nothing," Sunghoon shrugged off.

"He even captioned it Sunsun," Ni-Ki getting excited.

"Well that's self-explanatory" Sunoo pouted, "I thought it was funny because of the ship name they gave us. I want them to get a little crazy. "

"You make it obvious on the internet that something is definitely going on between you two," Jake told him like he was talking to a small child, to which Sunoo stuck out his bottom lip, starting to sulk.

Both Sunoo and Sunghoon glanced at each other.  Sunoo slid off his lap but kept his legs resting over Sunghoon’s.

"Just forget it," Jake sighed throwing his arms up in the air in defeat "Sunoo and Sunghoon are just going to turn a blind eye to their special friendship and forever wonder why they can't ever make something happen with a girl."

"What is wrong with us being close?" Sunoo asked Sunghoon softly "Is it really weird?"

"No," he shortly stroking his cheek and shooting a glare at the other three "They're just jealous."

Jay sighed, picked up his controller and started another game with Ni-Ki.

Suddenly, Ni-Ki turned his back around quickly, a bright look of inspiration on his face "Have you guys ever kissed?"

Sunoo and Sunghoon looked at each other, having a silent conversation.

"At this point, I’m pretty sure they did," Ni-Ki teased them making them feel awkward sitting there; questioning the question in their heads.

Sunoo and Sunghoon looked at each other, having a silent conversation.

"Oh my god, they have!" Jungwon squealed, jumping up and down whilst still sitting "Tell us! Tell us! Tell us! Who started it?  When was it? Were you drunk?  How many times?"

"Not saying a word," Sunghoon said coldly. "You're just going to take it out of context like everything else," he added

"Might as well just tell them?" Sunoo said bluntly. "Get it all out in the open.  Give them something else to obsess over," acting all confident.

"Well for starters it was strictly platonic and technical," Sunghoon defended them quickly. "It wasn't romantic."

"Drunken?" asked Ni-Ki gleefully "Was it your first kiss?" he asked Sunoo compassionately.

Sunoo rolled his eyes but looked uncomfortable.

"No," he told Ni-Ki stiffly "I was just teaching Sunghoon how to kiss.”

Heesung who doesn’t want to get involved was surprised and turn to them, “Wait, wait, wait, so you are telling me that Sunoo, our innocent-looking Sunoo is the one teaching Sunghoon how to kiss?” he almost burst.

"So, who’s your first kiss?" Jay asked interrupted Heesung unanswered question.

"You guys really be underestimating me, just because I’m not as manly as you guys?" Sunoo huffed pouting again, then looking shy.

“We just wanna know who?" Jungwon asserts.

"It was someone I dated back then, someone in my class," he said shyly.

Jay now got more invested in the story as they were classmates back then. "You had a girlfriend? And you told no one? And she's in our class?" Jay asked in disbelief.

"Hoon Hyung knew," Sunoo laughed and Jay turned to Sunghoon looking betrayed.

Sunoo smiled proudly, "It was Yuna, we had our fair share of good times together," Sunoo blushed as he recalls the memory; meeting in secrets, making out, it was quite scandalous.

Sunoo got Jay’s mouth wide open with his hands on his mouth, “You dated Yuna?” Jay asked in disbelief. "The confident, beautiful, gorgeous Itzy Yuna?” Jay asks again and Sunoo nods.

“When? How?” he asks. “I can’t even get her to talk to me,” Jay states.

"Well Jay, I got my own charms," Sunoo said proudly. 

"How far did you go with her?" Jake asks. 

Sunoo glared at him, "gentlemen never kiss and tell," Sunoon smirks.

Then suddenly Jay got up and clap his hands, “I really do underestimate you Sunoo.”

Sunoo took pride in Jay’s compliment.

“So, does this mean, Sunoo is Hoon’s first kiss?” Jake asks.

"Well, kinda," Sunghoon admitted. "But if someone asks, it's Wonyoung. I was upset and nervous okay about my date and I don’t know how to kiss. So, Sunoo taught me," Sunghoon explained defensively.

"Was it good?" asked Ni-Ki curiously.

“Hoon was a bit hesitant at the start, but he soon warmed up and he was perfect," Sunoo complimented Sunghoon and give him a fond look.

Ni-Ki rolled his eyes, "I'm asking Sunghoon Hyung."

“All I can say is that when I kissed Wonyoung after that, said that I was an amazing kisser,” Sunghoon proudly admitted. "And all thanks to Sunoo."

“Did you like it?" Jay grinned.

"Sunoo is an amazing kisser so of course,” Sunghoon poked at one of Sunoo’s cheeks with his finger as Sunoo preened, the slight hint of a blush on his cheeks.

"Did you feel anything?" asked Ni-Ki coolly.

"I didn't get a hard-on if that's what you mean!" Sunoo sounded indignant "We were just friends helping each other out.  Platonic and technical!" he emphasised

"Prove it" challenged Ni-Ki crossing his arms and raising one eyebrow "If you're just friends who kiss each other for platonic reasons then there is no reason why you can't show us."

"Pervert" muttered Sunghoon darkly, but Sunoo fixed his smouldering brown eyes on Sunghoon's darker ones and steadied their gaze.

Turned to Sunoo who shifted forward and Sunghoon slid one hand through the hair at the back of Sunoo's head, leaning his face forward, nosing at his best friends smooth cheek before gently pressing his lips to Sunoo.

They all watched, eyes wide, mouths open in astonishment.

Ni-Ki already had his camera filming them from the second Sunoo had shifted forward in his seat, internally squealing like a little girl.

Sunghoon smiled into the kiss and slowly licked into Sunoo's mouth, bringing up his hands to tug gently on his hair, enjoying how Sunoo's tongue was gently and sweetly caressing his - just like he'd taught him all those months before.  It wasn't a quick kiss by any means but Sunghoon ended it first, slowly and deliberately pressing a small precise kiss on Sunoo’s lips, then smiling as he drew away.

"See?” Sunoo addressed the boys "Strictly platonic."

An awkward silence fell around the room, as the other members smirked at each other in discomfort.  Funnily enough, they didn't stick around for long after that, and the night ended quite abruptly.

It was only when Sunoo was alone in bed that he received a message from Ni-Ki.  It was the video of him and Sunghoon that he had filmed of them kissing earlier.  Attached to it was a message:

Ni-Ki:   Now you can see what we see, can you see it yet?

Sunoo shook his head smiling.  Poor Ni-Ki, it was so blatant that he was wanting to fangirl over him and Sunghoon.  Silly romantic Ni-Ki.  He wondered if Sunghoon had got the same message.

Snuggling down in his duvet, he clicked play and watched as he saw his smiling face lean towards Sunghoon'.  It was almost as though he could feel Sunghoon's fingers still in his hair, the perfect way that their lips slotted together, the sweet taste of his tongue that both soothed and....excited him in equal measures.

He had been smiling when the video had started, but now his tummy was feeling a little odd, as though it was filled with thousands of fluttering butterflies.  Watching the video seemed to have made a different impact than what he'd felt making it.  Unlike making it, watching didn't feel platonic in the slightest.

Chapter Text

All seven of them were all sitting in the common area, watching a movie like their usual Friday night. When they notice Ni-Ki and Jake whispering with each other. 

"Ni-Ki has an idea, but he thinks you'll hit him,” Jake suddenly said out of nowhere, "over to you Ni-Ki.”

Sunoo and Sunghoon both shared an ominous look before looking at Jake and Ni-Ki.

"What?" They both deadpanned.

"Hello, everyone!" Greeted Ni-Ki giving them a little wave, "as you all know that chat we had the other night and the video memo I sent all of you?"

Sunghoon groaned, Sunoo went red and tried to hide his face behind his hands. Jungwon and Jay smirked and Ni-Ki cheerfully carried on.

"Well, Jake and I were thinking that maybe you should get together and see how it works out."

"Doesn't work like that Ni-Ki," Sunghoon replied without batting an eye "Just because it didn't work out with my girlfriend does not mean that I should go out with Sunoo. No offence," he finished stroking Sunoo’s cheek "I love you very much."

"Why do you keep going on about this?" Groaned Sunoo, tired of the constant texts and messages he'd received from Ni-Ki hinting about a relationship.

"Because you two are perfect for each other!" Ni-Ki told them passionately, being the number 1 ‘sunsun’ shipper. "You both love each other so much, you think the same things, finish each other sentences, you mirror each other, and that kiss was some steamy shit! You watched it! You know exactly what I'm talking about!  And think about it," he continued "What if you are exactly what you both want only you don't know it because you think this is just a normal friendship when it's totally different to everyone else.  You're both single, just be together for a few weeks, and then you can either tell me that I was full of shit or you can make me the best man at your wedding!"

Sunoo snorted.

"How many weeks?" Sunghoon asked like he just accepted a challenge.

Ni-Ki looked a little taken aback by this question, as did Jay, Jake, Jungwon and Heeseung.  However, no one looked more surprised than Sunoo did.

"Are you crazy?" Sunoo hissed at Sunghoon under his breath "What are you doing?"

"Right," Sunghoon asked after a pause, looking away from Sunoo and back to Ni-Ki. "Say that Sunoo and I date for a little while...."

"Not dating," interrupted Ni-Ki. "Dating is when you are getting to know someone, you know each other too well, it's gonna have to go straight to the relationship."

"Stupid," Sunoo glared at Ni-Ki.

Sunghoon wrapped his arm around Sunoo.

"Ok, say we are in a relationship for a while.  How long?"

"30 days," Jungwon plucked out of thin air, it sounded familiar anyway.

"This is a crazy idea," Sunoo muttered, trying to slide out of the way of the idea, shifting around uncomfortably in his position.

"What Jungwon said; 30 days," Ni-ki jerked his thumb at Jungwon, "and you have to go on dates at least three dates a week like a proper couple."

"I’m not dating him in public!" Sunoo squeaked looking aghast.

"Sorry, Sunghoon," he quickly said as Sunghoon looked a little stung by his outburst "But I don't want to actually create a Scandal. The girls I rejected would really take the piss out of that, and there's going to be questions and stuff about why I refuse to date them," he put his head in his hands. "They already telling people I might be gay. People are going to think it's because of..." he let the words hang in the air.

Sunghoon gave him a squeeze and looked thoughtful "What's in it for you guys?" he asked his other members. "Why is this such a big deal for you guys?  Are you guys part of a bet or something?" he accused.

“We just want to know what would happen if you did get together," Ni-Ki said kindly, "we love you and we don't want you to be missing out on something amazing because you are looking at it in the wrong light."

"and if we really are just friends?" Sunoo mumbled, "What if we are just really good friends?"

"Then we never mention it again" Jay promised.

Sunghoon shrugged and leaned back on the couch nonchalantly, "what the hell, I'm in."

Sunoo looked strangely at Sunghoon then shot backwards, and he got up, "this is fucking ridiculous!" Sunoo huffed storming off in the direction of his bedroom.

"Sunoo!" Sunghoon groaned. "I'm gonna go after him," he told the rest.

And with that, he walked to their room.

Sunoo was hiding under his duvet, not even a single curl peeking out when Sunghoon found him.  He cautiously sat next to the lump and patted where he expected the boy's shoulder to be "I want to do it," he said simply before falling quiet.  The lump under his hand stiffened.

"I mean, it's an idea,” Sunghoon carried on, frowning as he thought about it, "Who knows us better than they do?" he asked vaguely.

He could hear Sunoo mutter something, but Sunghoon had no way of hearing through the thick covers.

"What?" he asked.

The bed moved as Sunoo shuffled under the covers and although his head didn't make an appearance, a hand did, searching for Sunghoon blindly, then grabbing his arm and tugging at him.  Sunghoon got the hint and crawled into bed, making sure the duvet was high over his head too.  He couldn't see Sunoo's face in the darkness, just felt his warm breath on his cheek and feel their knees bump together.

"I said, we know each other better than they do," Sunoo repeated, and then fell silent.

"You know me better than anyone," Sunghoon agreed, reaching out with his fingers to find Sunoo's hair to play with, it feel soft and silky under his skin. "Maybe even better than I know me!"

"Same," murmured Sunoo. Sunghoon felt Sunoo's hand beginning to stroke his forearm.  It was so strange, he realised, that whenever they were together, they always had to be touching each other somehow.  He'd never recognised it before.

"Why do you want to do this?" asked Sunoo very quietly, holding Sunghoon’s hand tightly.

"Because I'm curious," Sunghoon started "and also because they won't shut up until we try.  and also because it would be awesome to tell everyone that I'm ‘The Kim Sunoo’s’ boyfriend."

Sunoo chuckled.

"But mainly.." Sunghoon voice lowered slightly as he wiggled right up close to Sunoo, taking the hand the boy held and resting it on his slender hip bone "Because for 30 days there's the possibility that you might let me do this..."

He trailed off, gently rubbing the tip of his nose against Sunoo's for a few seconds, before closing his eyes and sweetly kissing the younger boys lips before slowly retreating.

"You want to kiss me?" Sunoo's voice sounded horse and slightly strangled.

"I really do," whispered Sunghoon huskily, inching forward till he was pressed right up against Sunoo, from his ankles to his knee, to his chest, searching out Sunoo's soft, plump lips to slot between his own.  He found his target immediately, starting off slow and precise, barely letting his lips touch Sunoo's before drawing away a millimetre before beginning the kiss again, and although Sunoo's body remained rigid and unmoving, his lips were soft and supple, reaching out for his, making sure they touched that little bit longer each time, until Sunghoon swiped his tongue subtly along Sunoo's bottom lip, tangling his fingers in hair and pushing himself as far as possible into Sunoo's strong frame.  Immediately Sunoo responded, pressing one hand right in the middle of Sunghoon’s shoulder blades, holding him tight and close, letting the smallest of whimpers escape his lips as Sunghoon hungrily licked into his mouth.

"Sunoo?" asked Sunghoon, dizzy and lightheaded from the kisses that were rapidly changing his world one kiss at a time.  He tried to pull away, but Sunoo was keeping his mouth captured with his own and wouldn't let him stop.

Sunghoon had imagined the morning after as he had drifted off to sleep.  He'd awoken to a cold and empty bed, Sunoo had watched him awkwardly as he made his way into the kitchen, and their usual banter and chatter were stilted and awkward. 

The reality, however, was something that he never could have begun to imagine because a pair of soft, smiling brown eyes were the first thing his sight locked on to, as Sunoo sleepily stirred, stretching so his joints could crack.

"Good morning sleepyhead," Sunghoon grinned at him, holding out his phone and snapping a quick picture of Sunoo lazily smiling at him, hair disarray, cheek pressed against the sheets.  He looked so adorable, even more so when he stretched out a long arm and knocked Sunghoon’s phone away, but then the older one grabbed his hand and pulled him up close to him.

"Good morning to you too" Sunoo rasped, slow and....sexily.  How was Sunghoon only just noticing how Sunoo can sound sexy in the morning.

"I'm taking you out tonight," Sunghoon told him confidently stroking Sunoo’s defined shoulders under the covers not being able to ignore how Sunoo was leaning into his touch, closing his eyes, enjoying how Sunghoon is massaging them.

"As in a date?" Sunoo murmured snuggling closer to Sunghoon and pressing a face to his chest.

"Our first date then,” Sunoo confirmed "Wear something sexy," he joked.

Sunoo wasn't expecting the look that Sunghoon was wearing as he peeped up at him through his long, thick eyelashes.  It looked almost adoring.  There was a cute little blush to his cheeks and was biting down on his lower lip.  It was just all so endearing, Sunoo could feel the fluttering in his stomach, as he closed his eyes, tilting his head down to kiss that beautiful mouth.  Since when had Sunghoon ever been the cute and cuddly type?

"But we have practice today," he breathed against those lips, that so perfectly slotted between his.

Sunghoon nodded reluctantly "Yeah" he replied, but instead of sitting up and getting out of bed, he pulls Sunoo into a hug.

"Uh Sunghoon, I can't breathe," murmured Sunoo, and Sunghoon was only just aware that he was holding Sunoo tightly against him, pressing Sunoo’s face against his chest, so his voice came out muffled.

"Oops, sorry," Sunghoon let go and Sunoo rolled completely out of bed just to jump to his feet and pass Sunghoon his phone.

Chapter Text

A week had passed and Ni-Ki was quietly sketching while sitting like a pixie in the middle of the living room and Jay is singing to himself as he worked on lyrics for his music project.

Sunoo and Sunghoon had reappeared from the kitchen, Sunghoon wearing a sleepy little smile and Sunoo...looking uncharacteristically quiet.

Jay pretended not to but snuck looks at them over the top of his sketchbook.  Sunoo sat down first, looking every bit as rigid and irritable as he ever had.  His lips were huffed into an obvious pout and he was twitching his hands in his lap.  Sunghoon sat down beside him after looking for the remote which made Sunoo stop fidgeting.  When Sunghoon rested his cheek against Sunoo's shoulder, he visibly relaxed, slouching down further into the cushions and stretching out his long legs.  Finally, Sunoo smiled, but it was only because Sunghoon pulled Sunoo's arms around him.

That made Jay cock his head to the side and frown.  Something was different between the two of them.  Granted to the casual observer, nothing seemed to be amiss.  But Jay knew Sunoo, Sunghoon and their little ways, and subtle things were different.

Sunghoon wasn't hogging the remote but had handed it straight to Sunoo.  It was Sunghoon who wants to cuddle, not the other way around.

"Let's go out," suddenly exclaimed Ni-Ki who was getting bored. "Go get some new clothes!"

"I'm gonna stay in," Sunoo said a little too quickly for Jay's liking.

Sunghoon who had just opened his mouth and gone to stand up quickly closed it and sank back against Sunoo's chest.

'interesting' Jay thought to himself 'Their dynamic has altered'.

"I'll stay too" Sunghoon, only confirming his thoughts.

"Don't you want to go out?" Sunoo asked, a little too politely "Don't feel like you can't go because I'm not."

But Jay noticed how he'd gripped Sunoo a little tighter to him,  showing exactly what he was thinking what his words did not express.

Sunoo looked torn.  As though he really wanted him to go, but didn't want to upset Sunghoon by wanting him to.

Since when did Sunghoon cling on to Sunoo around like a faithful pet? 

Jay’s eyes widened with curiosity.  Was this a relationship thing?  It couldn't be, they had only been in a "relationship" for a week.  Why did it feel like they had both had a personality transplant?

"Sunghoon please take Ni-Ki out would ya?" Jay asked suddenly. "I need to concentrate and I can't do it with him bouncing around," he looked towards the place where he could feel eyes on him, and it was straight at Sunoo who glowering, in his direction.

"Mind if I stick around for a bit?" he asked smoothly, knowing that it was the last thing Sunoo wanted, but finding it more than necessary.

Sunoo shrugged and a bit reluctantly, he let go of Sunghoon to relax his hands behind his head.

Sunghoon turned to Sunoo - was he looking for reassurance?

Sunoo smiled at him - strained, but a smile - then nodded and Sunghoon scampered off to his bedroom. Jay remembered to note the way Sunoo's eyes had contently closed during the brief contact.

Half an hour later, Ni-Ki was bouncing out of the front doors with Sunghoon, promising they would text them so they could meet up later.

Sunoo returned to the living room "I'm going back to bed," he told Jay, who was still sitting comfortably in the same chair.

"Sunoo wait!" Jay called to him as the boy turned to leave "we need to talk about this."

"talk about what?"

"You tell me," Jay replied. "Come on they’re gone.  Tell me what's on your mind."

"I don’t know," Sunoo sighed and leaned his face in his arm that was leaning on the door frame, he clearly was not in the mood to talk, "I think maybe I’m the problem. I don’t think I’m the relationship material but I don’t know."

He stood there, glaring, almost daring Jay to say something else.  But he didn't.  Instead, Jay just shrugged and returned to his songwriting silently, listening to Sunoo stomp back to his bedroom and wondering how bad an idea this whole thing actually was.

"So, you and Sunoo, what’s the relationship status? No one mentioned it after what I suggested," Ni-Ki asked casually as he tucked into his plate of pancakes "what went down that night?"

Sunghoon sighed.  Ni-Ki was just not going to let this go.

"We just slept afterwards," he told Ni-Ki for what felt like the hundredth time "Nothing has changed, the whole week we had fun.  We always have fun when we hang out."

"But I heard you went on an official date," persisted the ’Sunsun’ number one shipper. "Your first date!  I want details! Did he kiss you? Did you feel anything other than friendship?"

Sunghoon glared at him, hoping to hide the blush that was heating his cheeks.

There was no way he was going to tell Ni-Ki about how he'd got all needy, and forced Sunoo into making out with him because he'd freaked out over his feelings about getting physical with his best friend.

He idly wondered if Sunoo actually wanted it after their first date... Or was he really just reading too much into it?

"You're too quiet," observed Ni-Ki. "If there was nothing to tell, you would be talking about something random.  You're just sitting there.  And you are letting me eat your food," he pointed out as proof, grabbing the second sausage off his plate.

"We are just friends Ni-Ki," Sunghoon persisted, wishing he was alone so he could properly process his thoughts. "Maybe this whole thing was a bad idea," he mused aloud, chewing more on his fork than on the food in front of him.

"Maybe you are still not in the right frame of mind," suggested Ni-Ki, optimistic as ever "Maybe..."

Whatever Ni-Ki was about to say was forgotten as Wonyoung approached them, clutching a takeaway cup of coffee in her hand.  She didn't bother to greet either of them or even smile.

"We need to talk," she said abruptly to Sunghoon "Now!"

Sunghoon muttered a curse under his breath, before putting on his most blank expression.  He really did not need a confrontation of this nature, right now.

"What about?" He asked flatly "I thought you had said everything when you broke up with me?"

"Things change," she said crisply, sitting down without being invited "You have explaining to do.”

"He doesn't have to tell you anything" piped up Ni-Ki glaring at the girl who had rudely interrupted his private, intimate chat with one of his best friends "Get lost."

"Am I talking to you right now, kid?" Wonyoung snapped "Please have some respect?"

Ni-Ki looked angry and then hurt.  He hated being dressed down in public or made fun of. Pressing his lips into a thin line, he turned to Sunghoon.

"You're on your own Hyung," he told him, getting to his feet. "Call me when you've gotten rid of her won't you."

"You had no right to do that," Sunghoon snapped, watching as Ni-Ki strode outside and sat down on a nearby wall, furiously jabbing at his phone and no doubt texting either Jake or Jay to complain about his ex-girlfriend's attitude.

"Well, someone told me that my ex-boyfriend is going out with the guy who split us up. So, I think I have every right to say whatever the hell I like," spat Wonyoung. "What the fuck was that little stunt about?"

"Little stunt?" Sunghoon spat back. "Hey, at least I'm not threatened by your friendships - some of which were decidedly dodgy from what I remember."

"You are not gay!" she states.

Wonyoung looked furious as she gripped the edge of the table and leant towards Sunghoon, red in the face from the anger that was starting to erupt from something that had obviously been bubbling inside her ever since she'd heard about the news.

"Don't you think it's funny that I accuse you of caring more about Sunoo than me, and all of a sudden you two are together?  Either I was right and you two are incredibly screwed up and actually do have some kind of vile attraction to each other, or you're just trying to piss me off!  Because you seem to have forgotten how straight you were when you were fucking with me!"

"Screwed up?" Sunghoon repeated.  He could feel his own anger coursing through him like poison.

"Screwed up," Wonyoung confirmed, taking a big gulp of her drink, "I told you to find better friends.  Friends that don't want to suck you off and make a play for you in front of your girlfriend!  When are you going to see that Sunoo is a leech? He probably wanted you all along to himself and happy that we broke up," she took a sit in front of him, and Sunghoon strongly resisted the urge to push her.

"Sunoo is not a leech," he growled "He is the kindest, most considerate man I have ever known my entire life and he treats me a damn lot better than you ever did!"

"I wish you knew, what I know," Wonyoung pointed out, a smirk playing on her mouth, which Sunghoon once thought was so pretty and sweet.  She took a brief look around the coffee shop they were in,  “Sunoo looks like he’s soft and innocent but you don’t know how many girls he stuck his penis in.  Is it the same for the guys too?" she asked, pretending to widen her eyes with surprise "Tell me, baby," she purred, reaching forward to stroke Sunghoon’s forearm with her finger "Were you cheating on me the whole time?  You did spend an awful amount of time in bed together!"

"Shut your fucking mouth!" Sunghoon managed to bite out, his whole face contorted with unbridled anger and revulsion.  Firstly because if this girl was a guy, he would have punched him in the face for what she had said about Sunoo, but secondly, how dare she call him baby. He is not her baby anymore. 

"Awww, baby, are you jealous?" sniggered Wonyoung cruelly. "Did my little Hoon bear think that he was the only person in Sunoo's life?  It's a good thing you're not a girl," she added, clearly not knowing when to shut up, or was she still intent on twisting that knife in Sunghoon’s heart a little further. "You would have been one of the hundreds to pass through his bedsheets!  I'm friends with a lot of girls in this industry, they told me things that would make your toes curl."

"Sunoo, don’t sleep around with girls," Sunghoon spat, all thoughts of telling this horrible girl to get the fuck out of his face vanishing as he heard the latest claim.

Wonyoung laughed.  A little too hard, and a little too sarcastically.

"Is that what he told you?" she asked sweetly "Because the girls told me that they spent a whole day and night together without leaving his bed.  He was so hard for them all," she got to her feet "Look at you all jealous," she put a hand on his shoulder and bent down to kiss him softly on the cheek. "You know Oppa, I'm only saying this because I care for you?" she said fondly, giggling as Sunghoon wiped the cheek where she had just kissed him "Because Sunoo might play with your feelings and get you all confused and probably leave you for one of the girls he slept with.”

Sunghoon was doing all he could to stay sitting down and not fly into a rage.  His legs were twisted up in a knot under the table, his fingers were gripping his chair so tightly that his knuckles had turned completely white and his teeth were clenched so hard together that his jaw ached.  But nothing could hide the furious anger that was blazing from his eyes or radiating from his red hot skin.

"Get the fuck out of my face!" his words hissed slowly out between his teeth, sounding hideously like the venomous snake he felt like, one that was coiled and ready to strike at any moment.

"With pleasure," Wonyoung told him, her expression haughty and sticking her nose high in the air, letting her smug smile speak volumes of her triumph, she sashayed across the shop and through the door.  Completely and delightedly aware of the deviation she had left in her wake.  Just like she had planned.

"Sunghoon?"

Sunghoon looked up from where he had been staring at the table, the echo of Wonyoung's words taunting him, shouting and laughing in his face.  He could still feel the small ring of her lips on his cheek.  It felt like burning acid.

"Jake?"

Jake's sturdy frame came into view out the corner of his eye, crouching down next to him. One fleetingly glances at him, showing Sunghoon’s red eyes before looking back at the table.

"Are you ok Hoon?" Jake's voice was gentle, calming "Ni-Ki called me," he explained "Are you ready to go?"

Sunghoon nodded distractedly and was helped to his feet by Jake, his legs numb from where he had tightly tangled them, and he let himself be led out of the shop and down the path.

"Where do you want to go?" Jake asked, soothing his troubled mind "Home?"

Home.  Sunghoon wanted to go home.  Sunoo was at home, and all he wanted to do was see Sunoo.  He wanted to cuddle with Sunoo and have his hair stroked as they snuggled together under the thick duvet of Sunoo's bed, locking out the world.  He wanted to hear Sunoo reassure him, tell him that it was going to be alright.  Tell him that he loved him.  He wanted to feel loved and safe.  He wanted to be with Sunoo.

But if he sees Sunoo now, then he would have to explain why he was upset.  He could never lie to Sunoo - they were too close, they knew each other too well.  Sunghoon didn't want to repeat any of the vile words to him.  He didn't want to see the hurt and devastation that would reflect in those compassionate brown eyes.

The only place he wanted to go - home - but it wasn't an option.

So where now?  He wanted to go somewhere where he could think, where he could over analyse and argue with someone about what he was feeling.  He wanted to drink and let his tongue go loose so he could speak his mind.

"Ni-Ki?" he asked weakly, "I think I need somewhere I can get a piece of mind."

Jake who had been quietly following the pair punched his fist into the air with delight.  Trying to make light of the situation. "Okay, I know a place," Jake announced enthusiastically, beginning to drag both Sunghoon and Ni-Ki to follow him.  "Let’s go to my parent's place," he assured Sunghoon, reading his mind as always. Jake suggested the place his parents bought for him, while he is in Korea while his parents are in Brisbane. Jake is too humble to call the place his because he did not buy the place with his own money.

"You can't tell Sunoo about this" Sunghoon stated as they walked "I don't want you to breath a word of this to anyone."

"Not a soul, mate," Jake promised, and Ni-Ki nodded in agreement.  They both knew Sunoo very well, and although he was sensitive and placid a great deal of the time, Sunoo is incredibly protective when it came to the people he cared about.  And there was no one that he cared for more than his Sunghoon.  The quieter this was kept, the safer it was for everyone involved.

But unfortunately, two promises were not enough.

"Feel better?" Ni-Ki asked Sunghoon handing him another bottle of beer, although he is not drinking. They had all taken to Jake’s balcony, basking in during the sundown and casually watching the world pass them by.

"Yeah" Sunghoon confirmed, talking a long smooth gulp. "I was never upset. Just angry that she of all people would talk about Sunoo like that"

"what did she say?" asked Jake, "you looked really angry, mate."

"Oh, you know, asking me if I'm gay, about Sunoo hooking up with girls behind our back," Sunghoon spat, his eyes flashing with refreshed anger. "Total bullshit of course. Sunoo doesn't sleep around, he's just had a lot of female friends. Who wouldn't want to be friends with him? He's freaking adorable! And..." he added with enhanced passion, "He's incredibly respectful towards the girls he had been with. I'm his best mate and he's never even mentioned to me about any girl he's ever been with! That speaks for itself!"

"Calm down Hoon," Jake soothed, putting a calming hand on his shoulder "We all know Sunoo is nothing like that. Don't let her get to you."

Sunghoon groaned "I gave her the reaction she wanted" he realised feeling stupid "She only said those things to make me mad."

"Enough talk about her!" Ni-Ki exclaimed, "I want to talk about you and Sunoo! I know you are hiding something, and do you know how I know?" He winked at Sunghoon, looking delighted.

"I would love to know too," Sunghoon replied dryly and took another gulp.

"That big ass stupid smile of yours every morning," Ni-Ki almost shouted out with glee "who the hell acts giddy in the morning," he laughed.

"No, I don’t," Sunghoon denied it.

Jake took out his phone, "there!" Jake presented him with his phone "your stupid smile."

Sunghoon eyed the evidence warily.

"Alright, maybe," he muttered.

"So you are attracted to him then?" Jake asked carefully "How far did you go?"

"Further than friends would, I think," Sunghoon admitted "This whole 30 days thing has its perks."

"Did I interrupt you this morning when I bang your door?" Ni-Ki suddenly asked, hopping in his chair "Is that why Sunoo was so off?"

"We were just sleeping," Sunghoon reminded him "So yes, you did interrupt that."

"Do you think of Sunoo differently?" asked Jake thoughtfully while reading a text he'd gotten from Jay.

Sunghoon took a deep breath. Once he said these things, he couldn't take them back. But Jake and Ni-Ki were his best friends. If he couldn't confide in them, he thought he might go crazy keeping his thoughts inside.

"Yeah" he nodded slowly, but quite determined "I don't just think of him as my best friend anymore. I think we could be a lot closer...I think I want to be a lot closer to him. I think I want to seriously find out where this could go."

Sunghoon couldn't read either of his friends’ faces. Both were staring at him blankly, almost like he hadn't spoken.

"Is that a bad thing?" He asked finally, feeling a bit nervous and drinking some more, eying his friends over the neck of his bottle "I thought this was what you wanted?"

"Is it what you want?" asked Jake, looking like he was having trouble putting a sentence together, but gave Sunghoon an encouraging smile, hoping he would continue.

"I already love Sunoo," Sunghoon voiced, his tone a little unsteady. "But maybe I realised that I could fall in love with him too."

A flicker of what looked like a triumph flitted across Ni-Ki's face, but Sunghoon could be mistaken.

"Are you gay Hyung?" Ni-Ki asked bluntly, and seeing Sunghoon had finished another bottle of beer, took it from him, replacing it with a fresh one.

"Does it matter?" Asked Sunghoon thoughtfully, his gaze looking far away into the sky at nothing in a particular bar the image of his own words scrawled across the horizon

"Love is love at the end of the day," Jake smiled, warmly, blissfully.

"I could find a million people that I like, but there will only ever be one Kim Sunoo. I love him more than anyone I have ever known," he stretched, shaking his head, bringing himself back down to Earth. "Honestly, I don't know" he admitted and gave a little smirk "Let's just say that him being a guy doesn't put me off him. At the moment, I didn't even think about it"

Ni-Ki was really examining his face "Love is love," he repeated, "That sounds like something Sunoo would say."

Jake’s face creased up into a huge adoring smile at the mention of Sunoo's name "It does, doesn't it" he beamed "Well, we always have thoughts alike."

"Who initiated the first kiss?" Ni-Ki wanted to know feeling more than excited about how this conversation was going.

Sunghoon frowned at Ni-Ki, opening and shutting his mouth slightly, pondering on the question.

"I guess I did," Sunghoon sounded surprised as he thought back "It's been me every single time."

Sunghoon found it so hard to actually believe he hadn't considered this before. Every single kiss he had shared with Sunoo had started by him - except the one in front of the boys, which he watched frequently thanks to Ni-Ki sending him the video.

"Explain?" asked Ni-Ki, almost being able to see cogs whirring through Sunghoon forehead.

"Sunoo actually didn't want to do this," Sunghoon told them "After that night you guys suggested the 30 days.. remember when he stormed off? I told him I wanted to do this thing," he started speaking hurriedly. "I told him it was because I didn't want to regret not doing it and because..." He closed his eyes before continuing. "And because I wanted an excuse to kiss him more. I kissed him to convince him to do this, and it was me who went to his bed, and I was even the one who was being affectionate."

The realisation was hitting him, blow after blow to the face.

"Was it you who also wanted to go further?" Jake couldn't help but ask, "Do you want something stronger than beer mate?" eying the collection of brown bottles by the leg of Sunghoon chair.

"Please," Sunghoon nodded gratefully, internally cringing as he heard himself uttering that word to a breathless Sunoo as he desperately kiss him. He accepted Jake’s offering of a glass of strong-smelling liquid thankfully.

"I wanted it," he admitted, not even embarrassed. "I liked how Sunoo kissed me back, like he wanted it," smiling fondly at the memory and feeling a warm glow from within, which wasn't just coming from whatever he'd just drank "I want more of this," he giggled, starting to get a bit tipsy.

He looked between Jake and Ni-Ki, suddenly bewildered by his own observation and crudeness.

"Why don't you look surprised?" Sunghoon demanded taking another swig and instantly screwing up his face.

"You want to go further than you have already?" asked Jake, sounding a little awkward at the intimacy of Sunghoon words.

"Ok, let me summarize," Jake snapped his fingers in front of a dazed, now mostly drunk Sunghoon to get his attention "You want this?"

"Yes" he slurred, dragging out the 's'

"Because you are physically attracted to Sunoo?" Ni-Ki asks.

Sunghoon nodded enthusiastically.

Chapter Text

It was 10 p.m and after an intense session of practising his part for their upcoming comeback, Sunoo spent most of the day wallowing in his bed a good couple of hours, he had to look why his phone hadn't alerted him to anything all day.

It turned out, his phone had been off and he'd missed two texts from Ni-Ki.

Ni-Ki: Heyy Sunoo Hyung! Can you come on over to Jake’s apartment? you can bring Jay Hyung, Jungwon Hyung and Heeseung Hyung along if they’re at home. You do not want to miss this.

Ni-Ki: If you haven't left already. Can you bring Sunghoon Hyung some new clothes? We're talking hoodie to boxers...explanation later! Hurry up! You're missing all the fun ;)

Less than 10 minutes later, here he was. Knocking on Jake’s front door, he only brought Heeseung as Jay and Jungwon had left the house without telling him.

Ni-Ki beckoned for Sunoo and Hee to follow him, a curious smile on his face.

Immediately, Sunoo heard hysterical laughter coming from the bathroom and popping his head through the open door, he found Sunghoon and Jake sitting, fully clothed in the bath, while Ni-Ki splashed water at each other from opposite ends.

"What the?" Sunoo muttered to Ni-Ki. Sunoo is amused that Ni-Ki is the one to supervise his two Hyungs.

"They’re drunk," Ni-Ki pointed out needlessly, “they’re all yours," he said cheerfully slapping Sunoo on the back and escaping to the safety of the living room.

Sunoo couldn't stop the loving smile stretching all over his face as he watched his Sunghoon who was still completely oblivious to his presence, cackling with laughter and drenching a howling Jake.

"My baby Ddeonu," he suddenly exclaimed delightedly, scrambling clumsily to leap out of the bathtub, clothes dripping where they were saturated, his thin t-shirt clinging to his skin, making him look so dishevelled and sexy.

Thanking Jake silently for preventing Sunghoon from making an almost fatal leap by pulling him back into a sitting position and holding him there. Sunoo dropped the bag of clothes onto the hall floor and approached the tub.

Sunghoon’s hair was drenched, stuck up in all angles and his fringe was plastered to his forehead. He looked so gleeful and carefree and simply ecstatic to see Sunoo, which pleased him no end.

"What are you doing?" Sunoo asked fondly, crouching down next to him and leaning over the side to tickle his sides, chuckling as Sunghoon giggled and squirmed.

"I wanted to go swimming," Sunghoon told him, all wide-eyed and innocent "But Ni-Ki said I was too drunk and might drown, so Jake said I could swim in the bathtub with him! And we did!" he shoved Jake sideways into the taps, causing the blonde to swear loudly "Get in!" He commanded, slapping his hand into the vacant spot of water next to him, causing a huge splash of water to cascade over Sunoo's surprised face!

Sunoo eyed Jake warily "How did he get this wasted?" he asked accusingly "Did you give him a special cocktail again?"

"Do you want one?" Jake slurred his words, standing up and wringing out his t-shirt, "Ni-Ki, hid all the bottles after our fourth!" he sulked. "they were some fucking nice shit. Heeseung Hyung! hug me!" he hollered without warning, climbing out onto the tiled floor and skidding out the door to Heeseung causing his shirt to be soaked.

"That’s enough for today Jake," Hee’s voice floated through the open door. "This house reeks!”

Sunoo turned his full attention to Sunghoon, wondering how this little drunken mess could look so wasted and uncoordinated, and yet so adorable and sweet at the same time.

"How about we get you out, and you come with me, and get dressed into some dry clothes," Sunoo suggested, sweeping his hand over Sunghoon's hair to get rid of excess water, before quickly towelling off his own face.

Shaking his head in amusement, he reached out for Sunghoon, who was stretching out his arms for him, making grabby hands and puppy eyes, "And then you can have something to eat and drink a lot of water!"

"I already have loads of water!" Sunghoon slurred, high pitched and shrill, and to prove his point, shoved his face below the surface, blowing bubbles made from non-sensical laughter.

Sunoo loved drunk Sunghoon. He loved his special lopsided drunken smile and his lazy spaced-out eyes. He loved how Sunghoon clung to him tightly as he effortlessly picked him up, not even caring that he was effectively drenching Sunoo's own clothes in the process.

Carrying him out into the hall, Sunoo gripped one hand tightly on Sunghoon's waist, to grab his bag and briefly stop by the airing cupboard to pick out a fresh dry towel, taking him straight into one of Jake’s bedrooms and shutting the door securely behind them, listening to Sunghoon gabble in his ear the entire time.

Sitting him down gently on the side of the bed, he crouched down in front of him, "Let's get you out of these wet clothes shall we?"

Sunghoon was gazing at him, a soft, heart-melting expression etched upon his perfect face.

Sunoo smiled back grabbing and taking the hem of his t-shirt, peeling it upwards and off over his head, tossing it quickly to the side. Next came the jeans, which were much harder to remove, due to the fact that Sunghoon was too drunk to support his own body weight, unable to lift his hips up off the bed without flailing.

"I love it when you undress me," Sunghoon stated, slurring his words and poking at his face with his finger, knocking Sunoo backwards making him fall to the floor with a thump, and quickly following so that they were both on the floor, Sunghoon straddling his hips, hotly lunging for Sunoo's mouth and kissing him hard. Sunoo could taste the strong remnants of alcohol on his tongue, and feel the icy wet coldness of Sunghoon’s nose against his warm cheek.

"Hyung, we need to get you dressed" Sunoo heard himself weakly protest, but it was so difficult to concentrate on that task.

"No clothes," Sunghoon whined, pulling pathetically at Sunoo's t-shirt "take them off!"

With no effort at all, Sunoo had got to his feet in one smooth, swift movement Sunghoon clasped in his arms. Sunoo couldn't stop staring into his bright eyes and flushed cheeks.

"You are so cheeky when you’re drunk, my Ice Prince. What makes you think I'm going to do exactly what you say?"

Sunghoon's pupils had dilated considerably, clearly enjoying how Sunoo was restricting him from moving.

"Because you always do what I want," Sunghoon replied cockily and dropped himself on the bed.

Sunoo ends up dressing passed out Sunghoon and tucking him in bed.

“Sunoo,” Sunghoon whispered slowly.

“Yes,” Sunoo stroked his hair gently.

“I love you,” Sunghoon said sounding desperate.

“I know,” is all Sunoo could reply and hoped Sunghoon won’t remember it the next day.

"Is anyone going to tell me how this happened?" asked Sunoo and looking around at his friends suspiciously "Why is Sunghoon super drunk?"

"He's just out of practice," Ni-Ki scoffed, thinking of how little they had actually consumed by their usual standards.

Sunoo didn't say anything, but he looked worried. "It's not like him to have drinking binges," he continued "Did something happen that I don't know about? Is he ok?" Sunoo asks again.

"Sunoo Hyung?"

Ni-Ki crossed the room and sat down next to him, "You can stop worrying" he said quietly but firmly "Sunghoon is very happy with you."

Sunoo looked up, immediately searching his friend's face for deception.

"I mean it," Ni-Ki promised "So whatever it is you are thinking, stop it."

"Nothing's happened?" Sunoo persisted, keeping his voice hushed, "You'd tell me right if something is wrong?"

"Of course, we would," Hee assured him, scanning the faces of the other boys around him.

"Is this to do with what's bothering you this morning?" Ni-Ki asked.

"I should get him home," Sunoo announced, brushing off Ni-Ki’s question "He's either going to be bouncing off the walls later or being disgustingly sick."

"You can both sleep in any room here," Jake offered as he started to sober up.

Sunghoon wakes up feeling like his head had been sat on by an elephant, which was not his favourite way to wake up. Sunghoon can't remember what happened last night. The last thing he remembers is wanting to go swimming. 

His head ached, the light was way too bright for his eyes and there was a knot of discomfort in his stomach that had nothing to do with his hangover.

On normal days, before they started dating, if he got drunk, Sunoo would bring him breakfast, reminding him of their schedules and which one he needed to attend- even going to the extent of packing his bag with all the relevant things he was going to need, sending him off with a long hug.

However today he woke up with an empty side of the bed and no breakfast.

As much as Sunghoon hated to admit it, he was kind of relieved that he would have a bit of time without Sunoo today. A lot of things had come to light in the past twenty-four hours that Sunghoon was adamant that he needed to address, and unfortunately, this was the one time he wasn't able to talk about it with his best friend. Because the route of all the issues was Sunoo.

His mind wandered, they had only been pretending to be boyfriends for a week.

A week!

And yet he had experienced more of a roller coaster of emotions in those short time than a whole month's worth of a relationship with anyone else. Even Wonyoung, who had by far been his longest relationship to date, spanning a few months.

Was this because Ni-Ki had been right all along? They knew each other so well, that dating was never going to be on the cards - was that why things had escalated so quickly? Because it didn't feel like three days. It felt as though he and Sunoo had always been together.

Why was it so physical then?

Sunghoon's mind boggled when he thought back upon what he and Sunoo had got up to during that short time. If it had been any other friend, Sunghoon would have been contemplated being cuddly with them.

Jake for example. Sunghoon loved him to death, but the thought of kissing him made him physically ill!

Sunoo, on the other hand, made his heart flutter.

But only since his friends had put the idea in his head that they could be more than just friends. Even when Wonyoung had complained, whined and bitched openly about his closeness with Sunoo, Sunghoon had just laughed it off and put it down to her insecurity and jealously. Now he would have admitted that she was right.

He couldn't imagine now, not having Sunoo touching him intimately. He was even craving his lips right there, wishing that he was pulling the collar of his jumper aside so he could nuzzle into his neck. He'd never wanted to worship Wonyoung like he wants to with Sunoo. He just wanted to go through the motions to make her happy. It hadn't felt like that at the time - but like everything else - the past was always clearer with hindsight.

Was this love?

Yes. There was no doubt about it. He was one hundred per cent in love with Sunoo. It should have been obvious from the start.

But from then on came the tricky questions that he just wasn't able to answer. The ones causing his stomach to knot and his brain to hurt.

How did Sunoo really feel about him?

Was Sunoo just playing his part really well and doing this so that their friends would finally put this topic to bed?

Why was Sunoo kissing him so passionately? Was it because he’s vulnerable at the moment? Was he using him as practice for another person he had his eyes on? Where do Sunoo see this going?

Sunghoon knew he wasn't as beautiful as Sunoo said he was. But why would Sunoo lie to him?

Then there was his problem with jealousy.

Sunghoon had written off everything that Wonyoung had cruelly told him as bullshit. But was there any truth to it? Behind every rumour, there always seemed to be a small true aspect. He and Sunoo looked like a couple because Sunghoon had been in love with his best friend all along.

And Sunoo had been secretly meeting a lot of girls since he had known Sunghoon. Now, Sunghoon felt sick to his stomach and it had only been a week.

He would wait. He would sit and watch and wait for Sunoo to show him something to prove that this was no longer a game.

There were still Twenty-two days left. Sunoo has twenty-two days to prove to Sunghoon what this really was.

Sunghoon couldn't even think about what would happen if he didn't.

The questions about Sunoo didn't stop playing through his mind throughout the day till the point that they consumed him, shutting out all people and happenings around him, trying in vain to rationalise his doubts.

"Sunghoon?"

Sunghoon was sitting in his favourite corner of the coffee shop, nursing a large mug of coffee and staring with glazed eyes at the toasted ham and cheese sandwich that had looked pretty tasty when he'd ordered it but was now cold and uninviting.

He glanced up warily.

"What could you possibly want?" He asked tiredly as he looked into the face of his bitter ex-girlfriend "If you want to talk trash about Sunoo, please don’t. I'm not interested."

Wonyoung didn't look bitter or angry now, Sunghoon couldn't help but note, in fact, she looked as tired and drawn as he felt.

"Can I sit down?" She asked in a small voice.

"Everywhere else taken?" Sunghoon asked dryly, pointedly looking at the multitude of vacant tables.

Wonyoung looked awkward but carefully sat down, making herself take up the least space possible and pushed a fresh mug of coffee and a large caramel and pecan cookie in front of him.

"What's that?" Sunghoon snapped shortly, glaring at the offering and then at her.

"An apology," she replied, voice shaking slightly under his icy stare "please can we talk?"

Sunghoon immediately huffed, folding his arms and looking away.

"I'm not interested in your bullshit lies Wonyoung," he told her sounding as completely disinterested as he had stated, "Go find someone else to gossip to, and about!"

"You used to be interested in what I had to say," she sobs.

Was that actually a choked sob he had heard.

"I used to care about you," Sunghoon spat at her.

"I still care about you," she replied.

Sunghoon said nothing. There was nothing to say to that.

"Why do you always hug him in front of others?" Wonyoung asked after an awkward silence. "You never showed me that kind of affection in front of anyone. But always with Sunoo."

"Are you seriously jealous because of that?" Sunghoon asked incredulously narrowing his eyes and looking at the girl with disdain.

Wonyoung opened her mouth to say something then closed it again. Sunghoon looked away.

"I was jealous that you showed more affection for him than you ever did for me."

Sunghoon pursed his lips together, then bit his lip, turning to look at his ex properly for the first time since she'd sat down.

"You broke up with me," he reminded her stiffly.

"It was either me dumping you, or waiting for you to dump me," she replied quietly, looking down at her hands "It was easier to just get it over and done with."

"Thanks," Sunghoon sneered, then frowned "What makes you say that I would have broken up with you?"

Wonyoung stared at him with wide eyes "Did you not see the way you were together?" she asked as though she was stating the obvious. "The way you looked at him! The way he looked at you! Hoon! Deaf and blind people would have been able to feel the sexual tension!"

"Don't be stupid," Sunghoon sighed, although wondering how true that statement was. "Evidence or it's not true."

Wonyoung rubbed her forehead and reached for her phone.

"Let's check out your Instagram, shall we? Here's Sunoo looking at you."

Sunghoon leaned forward, wondering what he was going to see and what he would feel when he saw it. Before when he had looked at photos, he immediately looked to see if he was looking all right. But this time his eyes went straight to Sunoo.

Ok, Wonyoung might have had a point with that one. But it was probably just one photo.

"And here are you looking at him," Wonyoung went on, flicking her finger to change the image.

"They're just photos babe," Sunghoon tried to tell her, but knowing deep down that neither of them believed his words.

"Here's what you posted of you and Sunoo," Wonyoung fiddled with her phone before showing him a picture that Sunghoon actually love. Maybe even more now than he had done before. It summed up to him and Sunoo perfectly. Happy and together. More simply. Happy together.

"And here," Wonyoung was now quite close to tears, "is what you posted of me and you.”

Sunghoon frowned looking at the photo. He remembered the day well, it had been taken back when she was all he thought about and he couldn't go a day without seeing her. They both were working together as MCs but still can’t get enough of seeing each other. He wondered how things had changed so rapidly. He hadn't even noticed things deteriorating.

"I really love that photo of us," he told her honestly as he smiles. He wasn't even trying to say things to make her happy. He really meant it.

"It's the only one of us you posted," Wonyoung told him tearfully "You posted hundreds of you and Sunoo, and I was your girlfriend, and you only put one up of me."

"Oh love, don't get upset" Sunghoon pleaded with her, reaching over to remove the phone from her hands so that he could hold them "I really cared about you...I just..." he stopped. How could he even begin to explain to his ex-girlfriend the exact extent of what he felt for his "best friend".

"I really love you, Hoon," Wonyoung told him, tears spilling over her eyelashes and cascading down her cheeks "But I knew you love him - even if you didn't know it yourself. It was so obvious. But I never....I never..." she stopped, snatching her hands out of his and pressing them to her face. "I never thought you would actually be together!"

"Love...me and Sunoo..."

Wonyoung removed her hands from her face, delicately wiping her eyes, "You and Sunoo are in a relationship," her lip trembled as she spoke "And you didn't even tell me. You should have told me!"

"There's nothing to tell," Sunghoon insisted, "Honestly, babe. It's just a rumour. It's not real. It's just for laughs," the lies were coming out of his mouth thick and fast. What he and Sunoo had was private and special, besides, he couldn't discuss it when he had no idea what was going on himself.

The crying stopped almost immediately.

"Really?" she asked, searching his face frantically "You're really not?"

Sunghoon bit his lip and slowly shook his head - his lip was getting sore, he must be biting it too much.

"Do you think we could be friends again?" Wonyoung asked hesitantly "I've really missed you."

"You promise not to talk shit about Sunoo?" asked Sunghoon seriously "Because as much as I'm sorry for you feeling this way, you said some really disgusting things about him."

"I know" Wonyoung whispered and looked down at the table again, tears welling once more at her eyes "I'm so so sorry Oppa. I was just so upset and so humiliated. Everyone is talking about you and Sunoo and it makes me feel like I'm not good enough...I was so jealous and angry..and I missed you so much. I'm so sorry!"

She grabbed hold of his hand and squeezed it, looking pleadingly into his eyes "Please forgive me and be my friend again?" she begged him.

Sunghoon leaned forward and wiped her tear-stained cheeks with his fingers.

"Want to get a drink and go walk at the park?" he asked, indicating to his discarded sandwich and not saying the words, but agreeing. He smiled as Wonyoung smiled happily, standing up and picking up her bag and phone.

It didn't take them long to walk to the local park. A place where they had often visited and sat on the same bench together and just talk for hours. It was fun, and to an extent, Sunghoon had indeed missed her company. But for some reason, it felt different now. It was more relaxed and casual and although the words she had sneered at him, still didn't sit comfortably with him, Sunghoon was beginning to remember how good a friend Wonyoung used to be.

"Oppa?" Wonyoung asked him after they had both decided to head home "I was wondering..."

"What baby?" Sunghoon asked, accidentally calling her baby out of habit, hoping to the maximum that she wasn't going to ask if they could get back together again.

"Can we take a photo of us together?" she asked shyly, getting out her phone.

Sunghoon smiled and put his arm around her to give her a small, friendly hug as she handed him her phone and put her arms around him so he could take the picture.

"Do you like it?" he asked, handing the phone back to her for approval "It looks good," he laughed "We actually look like friends in it!"

Wonyoung smiled "It's perfect," she told him. She turned to leave but quickly turned back "I'm really glad we're friends again Oppa," she smiled and give him a quick peck on his lips. 

Sunghoon grinned back, then walked in the opposite direction towards home and searched in his pocket for his phone, wondering if he'd missed any calls.

Four missed calls. Three texts. All from Sunoo.

Feeling a little bit guilty about not replying while spending time with his ex-girlfriend, Sunghoon rang Sunoo as he walked. It rang twice and then immediately went to answer the phone. That was odd. Why Sunoo ignore his call? Sunghoon quickly sped up. The knot in his stomach was back.

Chapter Text

Jay and Jungwon were walking side by side through the park on their way to town.  There was a new boutique shop that Jay wanted to check out and then they were going to get some food and spend some quality alone time together.

"Wonyoung and Sunghoon are looking pretty cosy over there," Jungwon told Jay, lifting his  hand and indicating to the ex-couple, who were sitting close together on a small bench and laughing "It's so nice they still get along...considering..."

She trailed off watching as Jay stopped in his tracks,  looking in the direction she had pointed in, a frown covering his attractive face.

"What's wrong?" Jungwon asked carefully, urging him to keep walking, but Jay was not going to move just yet.

"I thought they weren't speaking," Jay muttered, thinking back to the conversation he had with Ni-Ki.

"You mean after the whole Sunoo thing?" Jungwon asked, crinkling up his cute little nose. "I don't see why they wouldn't be.  I know they broke up, but Wonyoung was so upset and it wasn't like Sunghoon had done anything wrong.  Did he?"

Jay pulled Jungwon down so they were sitting on a nearby bench, his eyes focused on the boy and girl who Jay had been under the impression had hated each other.

"Well, isn’t Hoon saying he wants to be with Sunoo now isn't he?" Jay reminded Jungwon distractedly.

"I didn't know either of them was actually serious. I thought, everyone, is just joking about it.  It was so sudden."

Jay shrugged while watching as Wonyoung and Sunghoon posed for a selfie whilst hugging.

"He looks pretty straight to me from here," Jungwon commented watching as Wonyoung gave Sunghoon a kiss, "Maybe they're getting back together."

The crease between Jay's eyebrows deepened as did his frown.

"Maybe..." He said, more to himself.

A thought occurred to him "Can you open Wonyoung's Instagram or Twitter account right now?"

Jungwon gave him a questioning look, but Jay was too busy watching Sunghoon retreating back to see it, shrugged to himself and got out his phone.

"She's posted that selfie on her story," Jungwon told him, holding it out for him to see "and she also tweeted."

‘Love spending time catching up with my Ice Prince’

"Why are we stalking her again?" Jungwon pointed out.

"No reason," shrugged Jay.

Jay quickly examined the picture and then read the tweet that had been updated ten minutes ago.

"So," he said, turning to Jungwon and trying to swallow the lump of annoyance that felt lodged in his throat "Can we not tell anyone that we looked at this stuff or saw Sunghoon and Wonyoung?"

Jungwon nods.

"I hope no one saw the kiss,” Jay sighs. 

Sunghoon's heart was in his mouth as he banged continuously on Sunoo's room door because he know something is definitely wrong. He got a really bad feeling after meeting up with Wonyoung earlier.

Damn Kim Sunoo open the door, he thought in frustration. Just as Sunghoon was about to kick the door out of frustration, the door flew open and a very red-faced, tired-looking Heeseung stood in the doorway.

“Finally,” he breathed in frustration. “What are you doing in Sunoo’s room?” he asked.

“Because Sunoo's room is so cosy and I haven't cleaned my room.” 

“Where is him?” he asked. 

"Sunghoon," Jay grabbed his arm, as Sunghoon doubled back past him, checking both the bathroom and throwing open the door to Jay's bedroom.

"Where is he?" demanded Sunghoon. “He is not answering my calls, he's not at home and I need to talk to him."

"For fucks sake Hoon, what have you done now?" growled Jay. "Sunoo isn't here...as you can see. When I got back, he already left."

"Ni-Ki!" Sunghoon called out throwing open his bedroom door. "Do you know where Sunoo went?"

He went to shut the door behind him, but Jay still glaring had stuck his foot in the way.

"Jay now is not the time," Sunghoon groaned desperately as Jay muscled his way through into the room and joined Ni-Ki who was sitting up in bed looking confused.

"I need to talk to him," he glanced pointedly at Ni-Ki.

"I don’t know where he is, but I know what you did," Ni-Ki said looking annoyed with all the commotion.

"Hoon, I saw you," Jay admitted. “At the park.”

"What?!" Sunghoon asked astonished "Don’t tell me you told Sunoo about it?"

“I saw what happened too,” Ni-Ki asked tiredly. 

Jay turned his look at Ni-Ki, “How do you know?” 

“When I was playing games with Sunoo Hyung, an anonymous send a voice note of you denying dating him and pictures of you and Wonyoung kissing,” Ni-Ki explained. 

“I did not kiss her, she kissed me,” he explained. “But it was nothing, we’re just making amends.” he tried to defend himself.

"I honestly, don’t want to be involved anymore," Ni-Ki replied tiredly "I don't know what's going on anymore and I'm starting to regret pushing the idea of you guys dating."

"But...." Sunghoon looked devastated sitting down on Ni-Ki’s bed, head in hands.

“You said you like him and all," Ni-Ki told him calmly and sighs. "If you can explain yourself to him about what happened and how you feel, maybe you be able to sort things out. But at the moment all Sunoo Hyung can see is you being a big fat cheater who's stringing him along and planning to get back with his ex."

"No!" Sunghoon exploded jumping to his feet in anguish "No!  Why would he think that?"

"Can you really not see it?" asked Jay incredulously "Because you cannot deny the fact, you kissed her."

"She kissed me," Insisted Sunghoon verging on being hysterical "Plus, I would never cheat on Sunoo! I love him!"

"Knock knock!" Announced Jake cheerfully, sticking his head through the open door together with Jungwon. "Doors wide open guys," he commented, oblivious to the tension as he smiled around at the three boys "Ah cool, we're all here," he looked around "Where's Sunoo?" He asked, before adding "What?" In a very drawn out, suspicious manner.

Three pairs of eyes were silently staring at him.

"Are we interrupting something?" Jungwon asked carefully, eyes widening, first examining Ni-Ki's tired eyes, the vein that throbbed in Jay's temple when he was feeling especially frustrated, and finally a very twitchy glowering Sunghoon.

"Ok," Jake said finally after evaluating what he had just walked in on "Does anyone want to bring us up to speed?"

Jake was met with three nervous glances and a shuffling of feet.

"Does this have anything to do with Sunghoon kissing Wonyoung?" Jungwon finally asked bluntly "Because that would explain why Sunoo isn't here."

Finally, a response.

Sunghoon swore loudly before kicking Ni-Ki’s wardrobe and then leaning his arms against the wall, “everyone knows?”

"It's not what it looks like!" he pleaded to look quite rightly alarmed by his usually placid friend's outburst "she kissed me! I didn't kiss her!"

"Of course, you didn't," shushed Jake, putting his arms around the taller shivering boy "you would never cheat on Sunoo.  We all know that."

He paused, evidently waiting for Ni-Ki and Jay to voice their agreement.  Instead, he heard two just keep silent.

"Right," Jake continued in a no-nonsense manner "Talk to me.  We are all, not only civilised adults, but we are best friends."

"Someone anonymous sends the kissing picture to Sunoo," Ni-Ki huffed. 

Jake sat next to Sunghoon and put his arms around him.

"Hoon?" He asked quietly "Do you have any idea who might send them," He asked gently, giving his shoulders a comforting squeeze "It's ok, we're all friends here.  You can talk to us."

"I think it was a set-up," spat Sunghoon venomously.

"Obviously it’s your favourite ex, but you decide to meet up with her, so partially it's your fault," Ni-Ki's hard eyes not leaving Sunghoon’s.

Jake threw Ni-Ki a disgusted look "are you serious?" he exclaimed, clucking his tongue in annoyance, "don’t push it.”

"It was not planned, she came to my favourite cafe unannounced," Sunghoon bit out, teeth clenched, eyes trained on the floor.

"I believe you," Jake told him in his most caring tone "Why don't you go get a drink or something.  I need to talk to these two."

Sunghoon nodded slowly, and without looking at anyone, he left the room.  The sound of him banging around in the kitchen made Jungwon flinch.

"What is the matter with you?" Jake hissed turning to Ni-Ki. "I know the picture looks bad, but it was obviously a set-up. Where is Sunoo?  Did he actually think it was real?"

"I don’t know he just left," Ni-Ki said, clearly ruffled "But you know how he is, he gets upset and needs space.”

"Okay, both of them are our friends," Jungwon persisted. "There were bound to be some problems during the relationship - which may I add was your idea - and if anything you need to be the first one to support both of them.  This must be a very weird transition for the two of them, the last thing they need is for us to listen to idle gossip."

"But how? I’m already feeling guilty, I don’t want to be involved anymore," Niki's voice was strangely saddened.

"Jay, why don't you give Sunoo another call?" Jungwon suggested. "If he and Sunghoon have issues, they need to work through perhaps we can convince him to come and talk it out now."

Jay nodded.  No luck. He is not answering.

"I'm gonna call his parents,” he sighed "Maybe he went back home."

Jay was just about to make the call.

"I called his parents, and also sister," Sunghoon muttered as he came back into the room. "He's not  there and he is not answering his phone."

"Where the hell would he go, it's already super late right now," Jay sounded worried.

"Most probably he went to a hotel or something," Jungwon assumed, standing between the two of them. 

"I fucked it all up," Came Sunghoon’s tiny voice from Jungwon's left, softening his eyes instantly.

"It's ok," Jake assured him, pulling his friend into a hug, and seeing him tear up. "Everything will be ok Hoon.  I promise."

"Don’t worry too much if you did nothing wrong," Ni-Ki said quietly, sounding chipped and forced.

"Come on Hoon.  You should just rest. Sunoo probably will be back later or tomorrow," Jake pulled him out of Ni-Ki’s room.

Sunghoon gripped hold of Jake’s hand a little tighter "I don't know if I can not knowing where he is," he mumbled into his shoulder.

Jake nodded and patted his back, "do you wanna go to my place, just in case he is there?" Jake asked and he nods.

"You two try calling him again," he told them. "Text me if he answers," he paused after he'd ushered Sunghoon out of the door. "and boys, let’s not assume things before the other explains, okay?" he told them both sternly. 

Sunghoon and Jake left the flat without another word.

Sunoo knew Sunghoon well enough to know that Sunghoon will be back and try to find him when he start ignoring his calls. 

Sunoo knew once Sunghoon is back he had about five minutes.  That was all it would take for Sunghoon to search the flat and find Sunoo isn’t there.  Then he would start ringing him.  Sunoo turned his phone on silent.  He didn't want to speak to Sunghoon now.

What he felt when he saw the pictures was such a foreign feeling.  It wasn't pleasant.

Slinking out of his hiding place, Sunoo wondered what he was to do now.  He didn't want to be alone.  He didn't want to go home and he couldn't go back to his parent's house because that was exactly where Sunghoon would go once he found the flat empty.

So where could he go? Sunoo is now wandering the streets with no sense of direction.

The answer came to him, Sunoo reach into his pocket, takes out his phone and dial the only person that he could go to where no one would think of. 

“Hey, are you free right now? Can I come over?”

Chapter Text

Hope no one followed me here, Sunoo thought to himself hoping that him wearing his cap and a mask along with a hoodie would make him unrecognizable.  

Sunoo found the apartment and turn his head around hoping that no one saw him ring the door. About 20 seconds, the door opened and there she was with her comforting smile, "Hi," Yuna greeted him. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked in her soft voice, recognising the signs of unhappiness through Sunoo's expression. He did not say a word, he just sighs and nod. “Come in,” she invited him. 

Sunoo walked into her apartment hoping that no one saw or follow him. Yuna usually lives with her members in the dorm her company provide for her but when she is on her break, she would stay at the apartment her parents bought for her. Yuna loves living with her members but there are times when she needs her own personal space. Her place is the definition of comfort, with lots of pillows and blankets, and was littered with clothes, candles and...well... very feminine vibe.

"Find us a film to watch and I'll go get you hot chocolate. Do you want me to order the Tteokbokki that you like?"

Sunoo nodded realising how hungry he was. He turned on her tv and opened her Netflix account as he curled up on the couch, hugging a furry brown cushion to his chest wishing that he could have a cuddle - maybe the empty feeling inside wasn't just from being hungry after all.

Yuna was back in no time, with her oversized t-shirt and shorts and her hair in a ponytail. She has a mug of hot chocolate in her hands, and a large bar of chocolate clamped under her arm.

"Chocolate always helps," she told him without being asked. Sunoo nodded weakly, accepting the slab she passed him.

"Girl trouble?" she asked him while sitting down beside him and pulling a large fluffy blanket over them both.

“Not girl...," Sunoo was hesitant to answer, "boy problem,” he said quietly.

"Want to get something to eat before we talk?" Yuna asks.

Sunoo nodded more enthusiastically. Suddenly he felt unable to form words.

Sunoo has always been in contact with Yuna since high school, they’ve been really close friends since their relationship ends.

They both dated for a while in secret and had shared a fun time together exploring their sexual needs. When school comes to an end, they agreed that they are better off as friends, especially when both of them have really tight schedules to maintain the secret relationship.

For half an hour they both sat in silence, watching the horror Sunoo had selected until the Tteokbokki came, then they ate in silence until their bowls are empty.

Sunoo had been right. It wasn't lack of food that was making his insides ache.

"Did he hurt you?" Yuna asked, lifting her hand and combing Sunoo’s fringe out of his eyes "I've never seen you this quiet."

"I'm sorry," Sunoo mumbled leaning into her touch without realizing.

"Don't be," Yuna assured him "You look like you're hurting."

"It's Sunghoon," Sunoo almost felt like he was choking on his best friend's name. "Please, don’t be shocked about what I’m about to say but we are kinda dating right now."

Yuna's mouth made a silent 'O', trying to not be shocked by the information. “Your group member Sunghoon? I thought he’s dating Wonyoung,” she replied in disbelief.

Sunoo sighs, “They broke up and I don’t know if I’m the reason they broke up. My group members joked, that we should try dating and Sunghoon insist that he wants to try things with me and now it’s complicated. I don’t know,” Sunoo pouts.

Without saying another word, Yuna put her arms around him, tugging gently so that he was curled up into a tight ball, his head on her lap whilst she stroked his hair - rather like a mother would comfort their child.

"Then, what happened?" She asked carefully.

"An anonymous send a picture of him going out with Wonyoung and him kissing her," Sunoo squeezed his eyes tightly shut, willing himself not to cry.

"Oh babe," Yuna soothed, her ever so gentle fingers stroking his back, trying to calm his heaving back when the uncontrollable sobs finally erupted "I'm so sorry."

"Do the others know?" She asked, wondering if they noticed that he just left the dorm without telling anyone?

"I don’t know," Sunoo just about managed to choke out. "I just don’t want to be home right now, I cannot face them; especially Sunghoon."

“I'm sad because I think partially it’s my fault,” he admitted. “I’ve been ignoring his affections and his efforts. Yesterday, Sunghoon told me he loves me and I just shrug it off. ” 

Sunoo then sit up and looked down at his finger while fidgeting, “I do love him, but then I’m confused about what kind of love I am feeling. Whether it's brotherly love or romantic love because everything happens so fast. I do ask myself, am I happy with him? I do. Do I get butterflies when he kisses me and shower me with his affections? Well... I do.” he looked up at her looking confused.

“But today, when I saw those pictures, my heart dropped and it hurts. It feels like someone just ripped my heart out,” he confesses. “Is it jealousy?” he asks her. “Do I actually love him like that?” he paused, questioning his feelings.

"I think I just got scared," he admitted laying himself back on her lap and staring at the ceiling, "Hoon loves me the way I've always wanted and I threw it all away because I was scared.  I'm such a fool!"

"What scares you?" 

Sunoo chuckled darkly "losing him.  Isn't that ironic.  I was a bit distant because I couldn't handle the thought of losing him."

"You really love Hoon that much?" Yuna sounded a little surprised "Then why are you...."

"Been acting like a prick?"

"You’re not a prick," Yuna play with his muffled hair.

"Yuna, how am I going to explain everything to Hoon," he turned over to face Yuna.

"Sunoo," she smiled sympathetically "It's Sunghoon.  He's your best friend.  Trust me.  You just need to be upfront with how you feel. Maybe he's confused between you keep giving him mixed signals and his ex wanting him back. Maybe he is torn.”   

"Do you think he would wanna be with her more than me because of how I've been acting?”

Just when Yuna was about to answer him, Sunoo’s ringtone cut her off. 

Yuna eyed the screen. "It's Jay," she reported, “do you want to answer? they are probably worried you're missing."

Sunoo gulped. Contemplating if he is ready to face his members after being all dramatic and disappearing. 

"Sunoo?"

Sunoo shakes his head and the ring ended and he was snug down into the blanket tighter.  Yuna’s eyes thoughtfully watched him.

“As I was about to say just now, I think you should ask him that question yourself,” she suggested.  

“I think you know your feelings for him because you know only love makes you jealous and hurt like this right?” she assures him. “I understand your concern about getting hurt and losing him. I get it. Especially when both of you live together. It’s complicated.”

“Exactly,” Sunoo agreed to her answer. 

Yuna grabbed his face with both of her hands and turned his head to her, “But Kim Sunoo, you are one of the kindest, wise and amazing souls I know. Nobody would want to lose you from their life, even if it doesn’t work out, I know Hoon wouldn’t want to lose you from his life. You guys will work things out. I mean look at us, we are still good friends even though we dated.”

Sunoo nods and Yuna let his face go. Sunoo laughed a little at how dramatic she is sometimes and how her response always gives him comfort, he can feel the sincerity that shines through her.

“Plus Sunoo, you guys are already there. You both have agreed to date, you already put yourself out there. Now, that you know that you love him, might as well make the best of it. Whatever happens, it’s either a lesson or a blessing. Never a loss. Okay?” she adds.

“Thank you, Yuna. I really appreciate, you being there for me. You always know the right thing to say,” he gratefully thank her. 

"You do know that love isn't supposed to be this hard right?" She asked gently.

Sunoo nodded slowly.  He knew.

"And no matter what happens then I’m here for you" she pressed "Your other members too, I think they all love you. You should call Jay back, he is probably super worried."

Sunoo nodded and then let out a small wail, pressing his face into his hands.  His mind is temporally not on Sunghoon. “I’ll call him later when I’m ready,” he replied. “I’m embarrassed because I always end up doing something dramatic like this,” he adds.

Yuna just smothered a laugh. "Oh, you don’t have to worry, they all are used to this, including me," She exclaimed giving him a hug.

"Do you think Hoon is hurting right now? I did not let him explain, I assumed he cheated on me actually."

"I’m pretty sure he’s in a mess because he can’t explain himself," Yuna replied. "You should really let him explain first what happened first. If I’m still dating you, and assume you cheated but you did not but and I don’t give you the chance to explain, would you be upset?"

Sunoo nods, "But why did he even agree to go out with her when he told me he love me the day before?"

"That is something you need to ask him."

Sunoo played with his phone on his lap. Sunghoon texted and called him but he refused to check as his heart still ached.  Even if Sunghoon could explain, was he really worth all the pain and doubt?

Sunoo fell asleep on Yuna’s couch after staring at her ceiling for so long, overthinking the situation. Yuna then pulls the blanket on him to cover him, who is shivering in his sleep. As she was about to wrap Sunoo’s body, she sees his phone and placed it on the table. Then she remembered the call from Jay earlier.

Yuna went into her room grab her phone from the dresser table and start searching for Jay’s number.

“Hello,” Jay answered. “Who is this?” he asked.

“Hi, it’s Yuna. I don’t know if you remember me,” she replied.

“Oh, h-hi Yuna,” he stammered. “Why do you call me this late at night?”

She can tell the nervousness in his voice and it made her smile a little. "Uh, well— he’s over here at my place... Sunoo,” she said his name carefully, hoping that Jay don’t misunderstand their relationship.

“Oh, he’s at your place?” Jay’s voice turned serious.

“Well, he needed a place where no one could find him and also talk about the situation between him and —,”  she was hesitant to answer.

“Sunghoon?” Jay asked.

“Well yeah,” she replied. “He told me not to tell anyone where he is but I know you guys must be worried that he is missing. You can get him if you want, I’ll text you my address.”

“Where is he doing now?”

“He’s asleep on the couch,” she said as she took a peek on the couch, in case Sunoo is awake.

“It's late now, I’ll come tomorrow morning to pick him up. Thank you for calling me,” he thanked her.

“I hope you don’t misunderstand anything, between me and Sunoo, we are just great friends,” she said assuring him, like his opinion matters.

“Okay, thank you again, Yuna.”

Yuna

Hearing Jay says her name, somehow made her heart flutter. She blames his sexy sleepy raspy voice. 

Chapter Text

The smell of coffee pulled Sunoo out of sleep before the sunlight did.

For a second, he forgot where he was — the soft pink curtains, the quiet hum of the air-con, Yuna’s plants by the window. Then the ache in his chest reminded him. Right. Reality.

“Morning, sleeping beauty,” Yuna said softly from the kitchen, holding a mug.

Sunoo rubbed his eyes, voice raspy. “Did I… cry myself to sleep?”

“Yeah,” she said, “you also drooled on my couch, but I’m letting that slide because you looked tragic.”

Before he could answer, the doorbell rang. His stomach sank.

Yuna bit her lip. “That’s… Jay.”

Sunoo froze.

“He came to take you home,” she added carefully.

Jay’s voice echoed from the hallway — deep, tired, and a little worried.

“Yuna? Sorry for showing up so early.”

Sunoo’s heart skipped. He wasn’t ready to face anyone, especially not someone who could see through him.

Jay walked in, his expression softening when he saw Sunoo bundled up like a lost child. “Hey… you scared the hell out of us,” he said quietly.

Sunoo didn’t answer, just looked down, twisting the edge of the blanket.

“I— I didn’t mean to worry anyone,” he murmured.

Jay sighed, sitting beside him. “You don’t have to disappear every time you get hurt, you know. We’re not gonna let you go through stuff like this alone.”

Yuna glanced between them, sensing the heavy silence and decided to “suddenly” remember she had laundry to do — classic strategic exit.

As she left, Jay leaned closer. “Sunghoon’s been losing his mind since you left,” he admitted. “He just… wants to explain.”

Sunoo’s throat tightened. “I don’t know if I’m ready to hear it.”

Jay looked at him — firm, but kind. “Then at least let him try. Don’t end things based on a photo.”

“Give me ten minutes,” Sunoo muttered, clutching his bag as he headed to the bathroom to wash up. The door shut with a soft click, leaving Jay standing in the middle of Yuna’s living room like he’d accidentally walked into someone’s diary.

Yuna picked up empty mugs and set them in the sink. “He didn’t sleep much,” she said gently. “You could tell he’s been crying the whole night.”

Jay nodded, his usual confidence dimmed by worry. “Yeah… he looked wrecked before he left. Sunghoon’s been pacing like a man possessed since last night. None of us could sleep either.”

He tried to sound casual, but his voice cracked just a little — enough for Yuna to glance up, catching that flicker of genuine concern.

She smiled faintly. “You care about him a lot, huh?”

Jay leaned on the counter. “He’s like a little brother. The kind that acts like he’s fine and then implodes.”

Yuna chuckled softly. “Sounds familiar.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You mean me?”

She grinned. “You give off the ‘I’ll deal with my trauma later’ energy.”

That earned a quiet laugh out of Jay — low, warm, the kind that made her chest feel weirdly light. She looked away quickly, pretending to rearrange the fruit bowl that absolutely didn’t need rearranging.

“I’m glad you called,” Jay said after a beat. “If you hadn’t, he probably would’ve stayed here and blamed himself till morning.”

Yuna shrugged, wiping her hands on a towel. “You don’t leave someone like Sunoo alone when he’s hurting. He feels too deeply.”

Jay studied her for a second, the way her voice softened whenever she talked about Sunoo. “You two used to date, right?” he asked carefully.

Yuna blinked. “He told you that?”

“Not exactly. Just… the way you talk about him. It’s got that history tone.”

She laughed lightly. “We were kids. We both thought love meant holding hands in secret stairwells and texting at 2AM. It wasn’t serious — just soft and stupid.”

Jay smiled, half teasing. “Soft and stupid sounds kind of nice, actually.”

Yuna looked up at him then — really looked — and for a moment, the air shifted. His eyes were tired but kind, the kind that made you want to tell the truth.

“I didn’t think idols got to be soft,” she said quietly.

Jay shrugged, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “We don’t. That’s why we hide it in songs.”

Their eyes met again, lingering just a second too long before a door creaked — Sunoo emerging, hoodie pulled tight around his face like armor.

“I’m ready,” he said quietly.

Jay stood immediately, brushing off his jeans. “Let’s go, yeah?”

Yuna walked them to the door, her hand grazing Jay’s arm as she passed him Sunoo’s phone. “Take care of him.”

“I will,” Jay promised. His voice was steady, but when their fingers brushed, Yuna felt that stupid flutter again.

Sunoo slipped his shoes on silently. “Thank you, Yuna. For last night.”

“Anytime, Sunoo,” she said softly. “And don’t run away next time, okay?”

As they left, Jay turned back for just a second. “Maybe… I’ll text you later? Just to update you?”

Yuna smiled, trying not to sound too eager. “Sure. I’d like that.”

The door closed, and Yuna leaned against it, exhaling. The apartment felt too quiet now — just the faint smell of cocoa and something new she couldn’t name yet.

The engine hummed low, the kind of sound that fills silences you don’t know how to break. Sunoo sat slouched in the passenger seat, hood still up, mask tugged to his chin. His phone rested on his lap, face down — like it had personally betrayed him.

Jay drove quietly, hands steady on the wheel. The morning sun filtered through the windshield, catching in his hair, soft and golden.

For ten minutes, neither spoke. Only the sound of tires against asphalt and the faint hum of a playlist Jay had thrown on to make things less awkward — soft lo-fi beats that somehow made it more awkward.

Sunoo finally broke.

“Did Hoon say anything?” His voice was small, like he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer.

Jay hesitated. “He’s been calling non-stop. Didn’t sleep. Barely ate. He’s… kind of losing it.”

Sunoo stared out the window. “Good.”

Jay raised a brow. “Good?”

“He deserves to feel how I felt last night.”

Jay exhaled through his nose — not angry, just tired. “Yeah, maybe. But that’s not gonna fix anything, Sunoo.”

Silence again. Sunoo traced his finger on the fogged window.

“I just… I thought we were solid, you know? I trusted him,” he whispered. “Then I saw that picture, and my whole chest just—” he clenched his fist, “—collapsed.”

Jay glanced at him for a second. “And did you ever give him a chance to explain?”

Sunoo looked at him sharply. “Whose side are you on?”

“Yours,” Jay said calmly, eyes back on the road. “But being on your side doesn’t mean letting you self-destruct.”

Sunoo sank lower in his seat, guilt starting to bite through the defensiveness. “I’m not ready to face him yet.”

Jay hummed in understanding. “You don’t have to. But he deserves a conversation — not a disappearing act.”

The silence stretched again. This time, softer.

After a while, Jay asked, “You and Yuna… you two were close, huh?”

Sunoo’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Yeah. She’s my best therapist.”

Jay chuckled. “I can see that. She’s… got this calming thing about her.”

Sunoo side-eyed him. “Oh my god, you like her.”

Jay’s ears turned red instantly. “What? No— I mean, she’s just— she was nice, okay?”

Sunoo smirked, finally something like life flickering back in his eyes. “Jay, you’re blushing. You so like her.”

Jay groaned, gripping the wheel tighter. “Can we not do this right now?”

“Fine,” Sunoo teased softly. “But if I ever need you to confess your feelings to someone, I know where to find you.”

Jay shook his head, but the corner of his mouth lifted. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re predictable,” Sunoo shot back, voice lighter now — almost playful.

They drove in comfortable silence for the first time since leaving. The dorm came into view — tall, familiar, and heavy with everything Sunoo didn’t want to face yet.

As Jay parked, he turned to him. “You don’t have to go in yet,” he said quietly. “I can sit here with you for a bit.”

Sunoo looked at him — really looked — and realized that Jay’s strength wasn’t in being loud or bold. It was in showing up, quietly, when everyone else didn’t know how.

“Thanks,” Sunoo said, voice cracking just a little. “For coming to get me.”

Jay smiled softly. “Always.”

Chapter Text

When Jay parked, Sunoo just sat there for a second. The air in the car felt heavy, like stepping into a storm you can’t avoid anymore.

“Take your time,” Jay said quietly, squeezing his shoulder before getting out. “I’ll be inside if you need me.”

Sunoo watched him walk toward the building, then forced himself to follow. Every step up the stairwell echoed louder than it should have. By the time he reached their dorm door, his hands were shaking.

He took a deep breath, twisted the knob, and slipped in.

The place was quiet — too quiet. Normally, there’d be someone laughing, someone yelling about food, someone humming. But right now, it was just silence and the faint smell of coffee.

And then he saw him.

Sunghoon, sitting on the couch, elbows on his knees, still in yesterday’s clothes. His eyes shot up the moment the door creaked open. Relief, guilt, and exhaustion all flashed across his face at once.

“Sunoo…”

Sunoo froze near the door. “Hey.” His voice cracked. “You look like crap.”

Sunghoon huffed a laugh, standing slowly. “You disappeared all night. Of course I look like crap.”

For a second, neither moved. Then Sunghoon took a cautious step forward, like Sunoo might bolt again.

“Where were you?” he asked softly. “We were so worried. Jay almost called your sister.”

“I was with a friend,” Sunoo said. “Needed space.”

Sunghoon nodded, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. “You could’ve just told me you needed space. Instead of leaving without a word.”

That hit harder than Sunoo expected. “I didn’t think you’d notice,” he muttered.

Sunghoon blinked. “Are you serious? I— I’ve been calling you nonstop. I went back to that café just in case you went there. I didn’t even know if you were safe.” His voice cracked, and that made Sunoo’s chest ache.

Sunoo dropped his gaze. “Then why’d you kiss her?”

Silence. Just the hum of the fridge in the background.

Sunghoon’s shoulders stiffened. “So you saw that.”

“I did,” Sunoo said bitterly. “Whole internet saw that.”

Sunghoon took a breath, stepping closer. “It wasn’t what it looked like, Sunoo. Wonyoung came up to me, started talking about getting closure. She leaned in and I— I froze. I didn’t kiss her back.”

Sunoo scoffed. “So she just kissed you and you stood there like a statue?”

“Yes,” Sunghoon said, voice firm. “Because all I could think about was how you’d feel if you saw it. Which— clearly, you did.”

Sunoo wanted to stay mad. He wanted to throw something. But the way Sunghoon’s voice cracked near the end shattered something in him.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” he asked, quieter now.

“I tried,” Sunghoon said. “You wouldn’t answer. And honestly? I thought I’d lost you.”

Sunoo’s throat burned. “You almost did.”

They stood there — two idiots who loved each other and didn’t know how to stop hurting each other.

Finally, Sunghoon stepped closer until he was just a breath away. “I love you, Sunoo. That hasn’t changed. Not because of her. Not because of anything. But I can’t keep chasing you if you don’t want me to.”

Sunoo’s eyes filled before he could stop them. “You think I don’t want you?”

“I don’t know what to think anymore,” Sunghoon said softly. “You pull me close, then you push me away. I’m trying to keep up, but I’m tired, Sunoo.”

That’s when Sunoo broke. The tears came fast, ugly, and silent. “I was scared,” he confessed. “I thought if I got too close, I’d lose you like I lose everything else. So I pretended not to care — but I do. God, I do.”

Sunghoon’s jaw clenched, fighting tears of his own. He reached up, cupping Sunoo’s cheek carefully, like he was scared to break him. “Then stop running,” he whispered.

Sunoo closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. “If I stop, will you still be here?”

“Always,” Sunghoon said, without hesitation.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, Sunoo let himself believe it.

He stepped forward, resting his forehead against Sunghoon’s. “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” Sunghoon murmured. “Me too.”

The silence that followed wasn’t heavy anymore — it was healing.

For a while, they just stood there — neither moving, neither daring to breathe too loud. The tension that had once felt unbearable was now melting into something quieter. Fragile. Real.

Sunghoon’s hand was still on Sunoo’s cheek, thumb brushing away tears that wouldn’t stop coming.

“I hate seeing you cry,” he whispered.

Sunoo let out a shaky laugh, wiping his nose on his sleeve. “Then stop being the reason I do.”

That earned him a faint, watery smile. “Fair.”

Sunghoon exhaled, voice soft. “You have no idea how scared I was when you disappeared. Jay wouldn’t say it, but I saw the panic in his eyes. I thought something happened to you.”

Sunoo looked down at his fingers. “I didn’t mean to make you worry. I just… didn’t know how to face you. I thought I’d look at you and break all over again.”

“You could’ve broken with me,” Sunghoon said simply. “That’s what love is supposed to be — not perfect, not clean, just… together.”

Sunoo’s heart squeezed painfully. He hated how easily Sunghoon could make sense of the things he’d spent all night trying to untangle.

“Why are you always like this?” Sunoo muttered. “So calm when I’m falling apart.”

“Because if we both fell apart,” Sunghoon smiled faintly, “who’d drive us to practice?”

Sunoo blinked, then let out a short, surprised laugh — the first real one since the night before. It cracked through the tension like sunlight through clouds.

Sunghoon took that as his cue to move closer. “Come here.”

Sunoo hesitated only a second before letting himself be pulled into Sunghoon’s arms. It wasn’t the kind of hug that fixed everything, but it was the kind that said we’ll figure it out anyway.

Sunoo pressed his face against Sunghoon’s chest, breathing in that familiar scent — detergent and cologne and something that always felt like home.

“I missed you,” he mumbled.

“You were gone for like twelve hours,” Sunghoon teased gently, voice low.

“Yeah, but I missed you for all twelve of them.”

Sunghoon chuckled, and the sound vibrated against Sunoo’s cheek. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I learned from the best.”

They stayed like that — no rush, no words — just the quiet hum of something broken slowly stitching itself back together.

When Sunoo finally pulled back, his eyes were still red, but lighter somehow. “So… where do we go from here?”

Sunghoon thought for a moment. “We start over. No hiding, no mixed signals, no running away. Just us. For real this time.”

Sunoo nodded slowly, a soft smile forming. “I think I can do that.”

“Good,” Sunghoon whispered, brushing a stray tear off his cheek. “Because I don’t want anyone else.”

Sunoo rolled his eyes playfully, but his voice was gentle. “You’re lucky I love you.”

Sunghoon smirked. “I know.”

He leaned down, pressing a slow, tentative kiss to Sunoo’s forehead — not to claim, not to prove anything, but to say I’m here.

Sunoo closed his eyes, letting the warmth sink in. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn’t running.

When Sunoo and Sunghoon finally stepped out of the room, the dorm was louder again — voices, footsteps, the faint sound of frying oil. It smelled like burnt eggs and instant noodles.

“Jay’s cooking again,” Sunghoon murmured.

Sunoo sniffed. “More like committing arson.”

That earned a soft laugh from Sunghoon, but the sound died when they entered the kitchen. Jay, Jake, Jungwon, and Ni-ki froze like they’d been caught mid–crime scene.

“Oh,” Jake said slowly, spatula mid-air. “Look who decided to resurrect.”

Sunoo shot him a look. “Good morning to you too.”

Jay raised a brow but didn’t say anything, just quietly pushed a bowl of noodles toward Sunoo. “Eat first. Apologies later.”

Sunoo muttered a small thank you and sat down beside Sunghoon — close enough that their knees touched. The silence that followed was… not subtle.

Ni-ki leaned on the counter, arms crossed. “Sooo… are we just not gonna talk about the dramatic escape last night?”

“Ni-ki,” Jungwon warned, voice tired.

“What? I’m just asking! The tension was like a K-drama finale in here.”

Jake grinned. “Yeah, Sunghoon looked like he was about to tear the door off its hinges. I was ready to call Dispatch.”

Sunghoon sighed. “You guys are so dramatic.”

Jay snorted. “Says the guy who paced the dorm like a ghost on Red Bull.”

That made Sunoo snicker into his noodles — the tension slowly melting into teasing warmth. It felt good. Familiar.

Jay leaned against the table, arms crossed. “So, you two good now?”

Sunoo looked up, cheeks stuffed with noodles. “We’re… talking again.”

“Talking,” Jay repeated, unimpressed. “That’s what we’re calling it?”

Sunoo turned bright red, coughing into his bowl while Sunghoon just smirked, smug as hell.

Jake groaned. “Please tell me I don’t have to live through your soft-couple era again.”

Sunoo shot back, “You mean the era where you were third-wheeling us every weekend?”

Jake gasped. “Uncalled for.”

Even Jungwon cracked a smile. “As long as you both aren’t at each other’s throats anymore, that’s enough.”

Sunoo nodded quietly, smile small but real. “Yeah… we’re okay now. I’m okay now.”

Sunghoon glanced at him — proud, relieved, and stupidly fond.

Jay, pretending not to notice, muttered under his breath, “Yuna will be happy to hear that.”

Sunoo looked up instantly. “You texted her?”

Jay shrugged, too casually. “She asked for an update. She seemed worried. That’s all.”

Jake caught the faint pink on Jay’s ears and smirked. “You like her, don’t you?”

Jay groaned. “Can we not start another subplot right now?”

Ni-ki cackled. “Too late, hyung. We saw the blush.”

The room broke into laughter, and for the first time since everything went wrong, it felt normal again — chaotic, loud, and alive.

Sunoo leaned closer to Sunghoon, whispering, “I missed this.”

Sunghoon looked at him softly. “Then don’t run next time.”

Sunoo nodded, eyes warm. “Promise.”

Chapter Text

The practice rooms were almost empty when Sunoo walked in. Only one light was still on — the far corner, where Wonyoung stood, pacing in front of the mirror.

When she saw his reflection, she froze. “You came.”

“I needed to talk,” he said simply.

Her tone was flat. “About what? That you and Sunghoon are living your fairytale now?”

Sunoo blinked, taken aback. “I didn’t come to fight.”

“Then why are you here?” she snapped. “To rub it in? To tell me you won?”

Sunoo frowned. “There’s nothing to win, Wonyoung. You and I were never—”

“Exactly!” she cut in, voice cracking. “We were never anything! Not like you two. I tried everything — everything — to make him see me the way he looks at you!”

Sunoo stayed silent, heart pounding as her words poured out like venom laced with heartbreak.

“He used to tell me I was perfect,” she said bitterly. “The visuals, the charm, the image. And then one day, it just… stopped. And I realized it was because of you. His best friend. His brother, practically. Do you know how that feels?”

Her eyes shone, not with tears — but humiliation.

“I can’t compete with that. You didn’t even try and he fell for you. And it’s not just love, Sunoo — it’s the kind of love people write songs about. It’s the kind I begged for.”

Sunoo swallowed hard. “I didn’t plan this. I didn’t even know he—”

“Don’t lie,” she hissed. “You must have known. The way he looks at you like you hung the stars? Everyone saw it but me.”

He exhaled slowly, steady but firm. “I didn’t know. And even if I did, I never wanted to hurt you.”

Wonyoung laughed dryly, shaking her head. “You didn’t have to want it. It happened anyway. You took something I couldn’t have — not because you’re prettier, but because you’re him. His safe place. The one person he’d risk everything for.”

Her voice broke at the end, frustration twisting into something almost like grief.

Sunoo took a careful step forward. “You’re right. It’s not fair. But love never is, Wonyoung. You can’t force someone to feel something that isn’t there — not even when you’ve done everything right.”

She met his gaze — sharp, defiant, wounded.

“Do you know what hurts the most?” she whispered. “It’s not that he loves a guy. It’s that he loves you. Because now I’ll never be enough.”

Sunoo’s chest tightened. He wanted to hate her, but he couldn’t. He saw the pain under the pride. The rejection under the rage.

He spoke softly. “You were enough. Just not for him.”

For a moment, she said nothing — just stared at him through the mirror, eyes glassy but still proud.

“Then maybe it’s time I stop trying to be,” she murmured, and walked past him, perfume lingering in the air like the ghost of what they both lost.

Sunoo found Sunghoon in the dorm kitchen, hair still damp from his shower, sleeves rolled up, scrolling through his phone while waiting for the kettle to boil.

It should’ve felt domestic. Normal.

But Sunoo’s chest was tight.

“Hey,” Sunghoon said without looking up. “You okay? You disappeared after practice.”

Sunoo leaned against the counter. “I went to see Wonyoung.”

The phone dropped onto the counter with a soft clatter.

“…You what?”

“Relax,” Sunoo said gently. “We just talked.”

Sunghoon’s expression stiffened. “What did she say?”

Sunoo hesitated, then sighed. “She’s angry, Hoon. Not because of the photo, or even me. She’s angry because she tried so hard to make you love her… and you never did. And then you fell for me — without her even realizing it.”

Sunghoon’s jaw clenched. “That’s not fair to her.”

“I know.” Sunoo crossed his arms, watching him carefully. “You didn’t cheat, but you didn’t exactly end things clearly, either. You let her think she still had a chance. You let her hope.”

Sunghoon winced. “I didn’t mean to hurt her—”

“I know you didn’t,” Sunoo interrupted softly. “But you did. And I think you owe her a real apology. Not because she deserves it more than anyone else… but because you deserve to let that guilt go.”

Sunghoon exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “She said all that?”

“She said she felt humiliated. That it hurt her ego. That she wasn’t enough.”

He paused, voice quieter. “And I saw it, Hoon. She’s not being petty — she’s broken. She wanted to be loved the way you love me.”

Sunghoon’s eyes flickered with pain. “That’s the thing — I did care about her. But I kept pretending it was love because I didn’t want to deal with what I was really feeling.”

Sunoo raised an eyebrow. “Which was…?”

Sunghoon looked up at him, eyes steady. “You.”

Sunoo smiled sadly. “Then tell her that. Not to make her feel better — but to give her closure. So she can finally stop trying to chase something you can’t give.”

The kettle clicked off, the sharp ping echoing through the quiet. Sunghoon turned, pouring the water into two mugs, as if the motion could ground him.

“I’ll talk to her,” he said finally. “She deserves to hear it from me.”

Sunoo nodded, accepting his cup of tea. “Good. I think that’s what she needs.”

Then, a beat later, Sunoo looked up at him with a small smirk. “But you better not make it sound too sweet. I don’t want to start round two of jealousy.”

Sunghoon laughed under his breath. “Trust me, she’s the last person I want to confuse again.”

He reached out, brushing his thumb along Sunoo’s wrist. “You really are too good for me, you know that?”

Sunoo shrugged, smiling faintly. “Yeah, but lucky for you, I’m terrible at letting go.”

The café was nearly empty when Wonyoung walked in. No cameras, no staff, just faint lo-fi music and the smell of coffee.

Sunghoon was already there, sitting by the window. When he looked up and saw her, her expression didn’t harden like he expected. It just… dropped.

“You came,” he said quietly.

“I said I would,” Wonyoung replied, sliding into the seat across from him,“Thanks for meeting me.”

She gave a tiny nod, eyes on the steaming mug between her hands. “Sunoo told you what I said, huh?”

“He did,” Sunghoon admitted. “That’s why I wanted to talk. Not to defend myself — I just need to say what I should’ve said a long time ago.”

She looked up finally, eyes steady but tired. “Then say it.”

Sunghoon inhaled. “I’m sorry, Wonyoung. For everything. For not being honest sooner. For letting you believe I could love you the same way you loved me. That wasn’t fair.”

Her lips pressed together, but she didn’t interrupt.

“I did care about you,” he continued. “You were my comfort when things got too loud. You made me laugh. You made the world feel manageable. But… that’s not love — not the kind you wanted from me. And instead of ending things cleanly, I dragged it out because I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“You did anyway,” she said softly.

“I know,” he said, voice cracking just a bit. “And I’ll regret that forever.”

For a moment, they sat in silence. The kind that used to feel awkward, now strangely calm.

Finally, Wonyoung exhaled. “I was angry, you know. Not just at you — at myself. I tried so hard to be perfect, thinking if I just… looked the part, acted right, you’d love me. But you never could. Because your heart was already somewhere else.”

Sunghoon lowered his gaze. “It was. I didn’t understand it at first, but yeah… it was always Sunoo.”

She smiled faintly — not bitterly this time, but with a kind of tired peace. “You two make sense, you know that?”

Sunghoon blinked. “We do?”

“Yeah,” she said, sipping her drink. “He makes you softer. You make him braver. I hate that it hurt so much to realize it, but… I get it now.”

He smiled weakly. “You didn’t deserve any of that pain.”

She shook her head. “Maybe I did. It made me realize love isn’t something you can earn. It’s just something that happens — or doesn’t.”

The corner of his mouth lifted. “You sound like Sunoo.”

Wonyoung rolled her eyes playfully. “Maybe he’s rubbing off on all of us.”

They both laughed — quietly, but genuinely. It felt like breathing after holding it too long.

When it was time to leave, Wonyoung stood up first. “Hey, Hoon.”

He looked up.

“I hope you’re happy,” she said softly. “Really happy. Because now, I think I can finally try to be too.”

Sunghoon smiled — not forced, not guilty, just warm. “I hope you are, Wonyoung.”

And when she walked away, the ache in his chest didn’t sting anymore. It just felt… finished.

Chapter Text

By the time Sunghoon got back to the dorm, it was already dark. The city outside glowed through the blinds, the kind of gentle light that made everything feel softer, slower.

Sunoo was curled up on the couch in one of Sunghoon’s hoodies, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when the door opened.

“You went?”

Sunghoon nodded, slipping off his jacket. “Yeah. Just got back.”

There was a beat of silence. Sunoo set his phone aside. “How was it?”

Sunghoon hesitated, then crossed the room and sat beside him, their knees brushing. “Good,” he said finally. “Hard, but good.”

Sunoo tilted his head. “Did she scream?”

“No,” Sunghoon said with a soft laugh. “Actually… she listened. We talked. For real this time.”

Sunoo smiled a little. “And?”

“She said she understood. That she’s done being angry. That she wants to move on.”

He paused, gaze dropping to his hands. “She also said she hopes I’m happy.”

Sunoo’s expression softened. “You are, right?”

Sunghoon looked up — and there it was, the question that used to terrify him. But now, it didn’t.

He smiled. “Yeah. I am.”

He reached out, brushing a thumb over Sunoo’s cheek. “I think I’ve been trying to fix everything around me so much that I forgot what it feels like to just… be okay. You make it easy to be okay.”

Sunoo leaned into the touch, eyes glimmering. “I’m not perfect, you know.”

“I know,” Sunghoon said, chuckling. “That’s the best part.”

They sat there in quiet for a moment, listening to the hum of the city outside. It wasn’t grand or dramatic — just peaceful. A soft kind of real.

Then Sunoo broke the silence. “You did the right thing, Hoon. For her. For you.”

“I know,” he said, exhaling. “And for us.”

Sunoo smiled at that. “For us.”

He shifted closer, resting his head against Sunghoon’s shoulder. “So what now?”

Sunghoon thought about it — the mess, the healing, the way Wonyoung had smiled before leaving — and he smiled too. “Now? We stop surviving and start living.”

Sunoo hummed quietly, half-asleep already, and whispered, “Sounds nice.”

Sunghoon glanced down at him, warmth flooding his chest. “It will be.”

And for the first time in a long time, it didn’t feel like he was waiting for something to go wrong. It just felt right — quiet, certain, real.

The countdown started as a joke.

A game.

Thirty days to see what “being in a relationship” would feel like.

Now, standing here, Sunoo wished time wasn’t such a cruel thing.

They met on the practice room floor, long after everyone else had gone home.

The lights were dim, only the mirror’s reflection watching them. Sunghoon was stretching his legs out, scrolling through his phone. Sunoo sat beside him, pretending not to count the minutes left before midnight.

“So,” Sunghoon said quietly, “today’s the day.”

Sunoo let out a laugh that was a little too thin. “Yeah. Day thirty.”

“Didn’t think we’d actually make it,” Sunghoon teased.

“Didn’t think I’d actually…” Sunoo trailed off. He didn’t finish the sentence.

Sunghoon’s eyes lifted. “What?”

Sunoo shrugged, trying for lightness. “Didn’t think I’d actually like it this much.”

That earned a small smile. “Yeah,” Sunghoon murmured. “Me too.”

The silence that followed wasn’t uncomfortable, but heavy — like air right before it rains.

Sunoo forced a small laugh. “We should probably celebrate or something.”

Sunghoon didn’t answer. His gaze softened, searching Sunoo’s face like he was memorizing every tiny detail.

Then he said, “Do you really want it to end?”

That stopped Sunoo cold.

“What?”

Sunghoon took a breath. “Do you really want this to end, Sunoo? The calls, the texts, the late-night ramen, the way you steal my hoodies… do you want all of that to stop?”

Sunoo’s throat tightened. “We said thirty days—”

“I know what we said. But I also know what I feel,” Sunghoon interrupted gently. His tone wasn’t demanding — it was careful, raw. “And it’s not a game anymore.”

He took a few steps closer.

“Somewhere along the way, it stopped being an experiment and started feeling like home.”

Sunoo looked up at him, eyes glassy. “You don’t mean that.”

“I do.” Sunghoon crouched down in front of him. “You think I don’t notice how my day feels empty if you’re not next to me? You think I didn’t notice that I started checking my phone every five minutes just to see if you texted? You’re not just my best friend anymore, Sunoo.”

Sunoo’s breath hitched. “Then what am I?”

Sunghoon smiled faintly — not his teasing one, but the soft kind he only wore when his guard was gone.

“The person I fell in love with.”

The words landed heavy, filling every corner of the room.

Sunoo blinked, stunned. “You— you really mean that?”

“I’ve never meant anything more.”

And before Sunoo could talk himself out of it, before fear could crawl back in — he leaned forward.

Their lips met, slow and uncertain at first, then melting into something real — something that felt like exhaling after holding your breath for too long.

It wasn’t perfect; it was trembling and messy and so alive.

But it was them.

When they finally pulled apart, Sunghoon’s forehead rested against Sunoo’s.

“So,” Sunghoon whispered, a small grin tugging at his lips. “Day Thirty-One?”

Sunoo laughed — that real, bright laugh that Sunghoon adored. “No more countdowns,” he said softly. “Let’s just… date. For real. No games.”

“Deal.”

The clock struck midnight.

But instead of an ending, it felt like the first moment of something new — two best friends finally brave enough to stop pretending.

Sunghoon’s hand was still cupping Sunoo’s cheek, thumb tracing lazy circles against his skin.

Sunoo was smiling into the kiss now — the kind of smile that made Sunghoon feel like the whole world had just exhaled.

Neither of them heard the door open.

“Bro, you left your—” Jay’s voice froze mid-sentence.

Five full seconds of silence. Then:

“Oh my god,” Jake whispered dramatically. “They’re actually kissing.”

Ni-ki blinked twice. “Do we… clap or something?”

Heeseung groaned, dragging a hand over his face. “I told you this would happen before comeback.”

The sound made Sunoo pull back instantly, eyes wide in panic. His cheeks flushed bright pink as he realized the entire group was standing at the doorway — snacks in hand, jaws on the floor.

“Uh,” Sunghoon cleared his throat, still holding Sunoo’s hand because, honestly, letting go felt wrong now. “Hey, guys.”

Jay was the first to recover, smirking. “Hey? That’s all you got? We just walked in on the grand finale of a K-drama and you’re giving us a hey?”

Sunoo hid his face in his hands. “I’m going to die. Right here.”

Jake cackled. “No, no, don’t die. We’ve waited thirty days for this. You have no idea how annoying your pining was.”

“Exactly,” Heeseung added, deadpan. “You two invented tension. It was like living in a fanfiction.”

Ni-ki popped a chip into his mouth. “So are you, like, dating now? Or do we need to pretend we didn’t see that?”

Sunghoon glanced at Sunoo, who was still beet-red but smiling now — that tiny, shy smile that meant he was happy even if he didn’t know how to say it.

“Yeah,” Sunghoon said finally, voice calm but warm. “We’re dating. For real this time.”

A beat of silence — then chaos.

Jake cheered. Jay whistled. Ni-ki threw a cushion into the air like it was confetti.

Even Heeseung cracked a grin.

“About time,” he said. “Now maybe we can all sleep at night without the ‘does he like me?’ drama echoing through the dorm.”

Sunoo laughed, still a little breathless, and leaned into Sunghoon’s shoulder. “You guys are unbelievable.”

“Unbelievably supportive,” Jake corrected, grinning.

Jay raised a brow. “So when’s the first official date? Don’t say ramen at 2 a.m., that doesn’t count anymore.”

Sunghoon laughed, tightening his arm around Sunoo. “We’ll figure it out. But tonight…” he looked down at Sunoo, eyes soft, “…tonight’s enough.”

The others smiled — the kind of smile you give when you see two people finally stop running from what everyone else already knew.

Ni-ki snapped a photo on his phone, ignoring Sunoo’s horrified squeak. “For memories!” he said, dodging the pillow Sunoo threw at him.

And just like that, the dorm filled with laughter — loud, chaotic, and full of warmth.

Somewhere in the noise, Sunoo looked up at Sunghoon and whispered, just for him:

“I’m glad it’s you.”

Sunghoon smiled back, eyes glimmering. “It was always you.”