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sunwoo and changmin were entering two years into their relationship. they were both members of the k-pop group the boyz. their group has gained popularity over the years. as their popularity rises, it becomes harder for the two to keep their relationship a secret.
in fact, not even the whole group knows about their relationship. only sangyeon, younghoon, and chanhee know about it. it’s not like they don’t trust their members, but it’s easier if only a few know.
their dates would be disguised as a friendly date, oftentimes they would ask chanhee to come with them so it wouldn’t be suspicious. they shared a lot of secret kisses, but they were very careful in public.
but of course, hiding can grow tiring. especially for sunwoo. he had always wanted to shout his love for changmin to everyone. sadly, he can’t. changmin is very career oriented, and he respects that. the only thing they can do right now is hold hands subtly, kiss each other secretly, hug as friends, pray and hope that no one suspects them of anything.
“sunwoo’s birthday is coming up next week, do you have a gift already?” chanhee asks changmin.
“i haven’t. hyunjun and i will buy our gifts together tomorrow.” changmin answers.
“does hyunjun know?”
“yeah… i told him last year.”
“do you… ever wish you guys can go public?”
“of course. i love sunwoo and he deserves the best. he deserves to be loved in every way… but we can’t. we knew that before getting into a relationship.”
“i know. don’t you ever get tired of hiding?”
changmin raises an eyebrow, why is chanhee asking these questions all of a sudden?
“of course i do. but there are grave consequences and i would not risk it.”
“i see. do you want me to go with you and hyunjun tomorrow?”
“sure. are you buying him a gift too?”
“of course. your boyfriend would whine if i didn’t get him anything.”
that night, sunwoo snuck into chanhee and changmin’s room, wanting cuddles.
“love… are you awake?” sunwoo whispered.
“what… sunwoo?”
“of course, unless you have another love in your life.”
“silly. what about kevin?”
“he’s drinking with jacob and haknyeon hyung.”
“okay, only because your birthday is near. do you want to be the big or little spoon?”
“big spoon. continue your sleep. i love you.” sunwoo said and kissed changmin’s cheek.
“i love you.”
“gross. please let me sleep in peace.” chanhee complains.
changmin woke up the next day, sunwoo still cuddling him. his heart melted at the sight of his boyfriend, who was visibly still deep in dreamland. he kissed sunwoo’s forehead and got out of the bed.
when he went to the kitchen, there was a hungover kevin staring at his cup of water.
“morning kevin!” he chirps.
“morning changmin. did sunwoo sleep in your room? he’s not in our room.”
“yep. you guys drank yesterday?”
“yes, i don’t remember if i puked on him yesterday…”
“oh wow. you guys really drank a lot. sunwoo said he got scared of being alone in the dark. the lightbulb seems to be flicking.” changmin lies.
“oh? i guess i was too drunk to notice.”
“do you want anything for your hungover? i’m going out with chanhee and hyunjun today.”
“oh! say hi to hyunjun for me. can you get me ramen?”
“of course. i’ll go out in a while. drink lots of water.”
“yes boss!”
changmin grabbed a bottle of coffee, he plans to have breakfast with chanhee and hyunjun before shopping.
“chanhee! are you getting ready already?” he knocks on their bathroom.
“yes! i’ll be out in a minute!”
“where are you guys going?” juyeon asks, it was obvious he just woke up.
“to the mall with hyunjun. getting a gift for sunwoo.”
“oh i see. i got him a gift yesterday. say hello to hyunjun for me.”
“will do. can you tell sangyeon hyung later if he asks?”
“sure. i’ll go get breakfast with kevin.”
“choi chanhee! what’s taking you so long?” changmin bangs on the door.
“calm down! beauty takes time, you know?”
“yada yada. let’s get breakfast first.”
“okay okay. i’ll get ready.”
a few moments later, changmin and chanhee were both ready. hyunjun was going to pick them up.
“hmmm.. where are you guys going?” sunwoo asks, still half asleep.
“out with hyunjun. do you want anything?”
“ice cream.”
“okay love. continue your sleep, it’s still early.” changmin lies, it was already 10 AM but he knew sunwoo needed more rest.
“bye everyone! don’t miss us too much!” chanhee bids goodbye to the group.
“hyunjun!!” chanhee greets him.
“well isn’t it my favorite 98 liners!” hyunjun answers.
“don’t let juyeon and kevin hear that.” changmin giggles, “let’s get breakfast first.”
“okay okay, let’s go to a private place owned by my friend.”
a few hours later, they finally found a gift for sunwoo. hyunjun decided to give him a new jacket. chanhee bought him a new pair of earrings. changmin decided to give him a new phone case, and of course, he plans to give him hugs and kisses.
“how are you sunwoo doing?” hyunjun asks.
“going strong.”
“good for you two. i wish i could find love like yours.”
“my my! are you in love, hyunjun?” chanhee teases.
“yeah… but i don’t think they know.” hyunjun says.
changmin gets this feeling that he’s talking about chanhee.
“why don’t you confess? maybe they like you back.” chanhee asks, not getting the hint.
“they don’t.” hyunjun smiles.
their hangout was cut off short by hyunjun’s schedule, but he was able to drive them back to their dorm.
“bye hyungs. see you on sunwoo’s birthday.” hyunjun bids goodbye.
“see you!” they both say.
the next day, majority of the members left the dorm early for their solo schedule. leaving only the five of them home, changmin, sunwoo, chanhee, sangyeon and younghoon. meaning, changmin and sunwoo could freely act as a couple.
changmin was washing the dishes when sunwoo came to hug him from his back and rest his head on changmin’s shoulder.
“did you sleep well, baby?” changmin asks.
“no. i wanted to cuddle with you.”
“awe shush. you know we can’t cuddle every night.”
“i know. but that doesn’t mean i can’t miss it.”
“do you guys want delivery- oh… ah. continue please. don’t mind me.” younghoon walks into the kitchen.
“get me bulgogi, younghoon hyung!” changmin answers.
“noted! continue your lovey dovey thing!”
“love… can i get my birthday gift early? like today?” sunwoo whines.
“oh? wait. i’ll finish washing the dishes. go wait at the balcony.”
sunwoo obeys his boyfriend and stands at the balcony of their dorm. nervous of the gift that he was about to ask.
“alright love. what do you want for your birthday?” changmin asks with a smile, oblivious on what is to come next.
“let’s make our relationship public.”
“what? sunwoo, are you out of your mind?”
“no. i’m dead serious, changmin. i can’t… i can’t hide anymore. i’m so tired.”
“you knew what’s in for you the moment you asked me to be your boyfriend. we can’t sunwoo… we can’t.”
“why? what are you so scared of? don’t you… don’t you want everyone to know i’m your boyfriend?”
“of course i do! but i can’t lose everything, sunwoo… i can’t…”
“changmin please. i’m so tired of hiding!” sunwoo raises his voice.
“sunwoo, my career is on the line! my career, our career! don’t be selfish!” it was changmin’s turn to raise his voice.
“i know that!”
“i only have my career. my family relies on me… i can’t… career is the only thing i have.”
“you have me.”
“you’re not enough!”
“oh.” silence followed. their fight echoed all through the dorm. sangyeon, younghoon, and chanhee were all listening.
“i didn’t mean it like that and you know it!”
“i know. but i still hoped i would be enough for you.”
“sunwoo please.”
“i’m tired, changmin. i can’t do this anymore.”
“are you… are you breaking up with me?”
“i am. i love you but i can’t live like this. i can’t love in secret.”
“i see. i see… i thought you would be more mature than this.”
“call me immature and all. but i refuse to be loved in private. don’t worry, i’ll act civil and act like nothing happened.”
“sunwoo…”
“here.” sunwoo hands him his promise ring. the promise ring that changmin gave him.
“i really love you. but i can’t do this anymore.” sunwoo says and leaves.