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The winter wind howled outside, rattling the windows of Pledis' practice room like skeletal fingers. Inside, however, the atmosphere was warm, thick with the comforting hum of the heater and the soft glow of fairy lights strung across the mirrors. Jeonghan, bundled in a fluffy oversized sweater, sat curled up on the plush practice mats, a well-worn copy of "Little Women" propped against his knees.
Seungcheol, still radiating warmth from their recent shower together, padded over, a mug of steaming hot chocolate cradled in his hands. He knelt beside Jeonghan, offering the mug with a small smile.
"Thought you might be cold," he said, his voice a low rumble.
Jeonghan reached out, his fingers brushing against Seungcheol's as he took the mug. "Thanks, Cheol," he murmured, his gaze flitting from the book to Seungcheol's face and back again. The stolen glances, the lingering touches – these were their unspoken language, a secret melody playing out only between them.
Seungcheol settled down beside him, their shoulders brushing. He didn't need to ask what Jeonghan was reading; he knew every nook and cranny of his heart, every bookwormish obsession. Instead, he started absentmindedly tracing patterns on Jeonghan's sweater with his index finger, a silent conversation blooming between their fingertips.
Jeonghan leaned into the touch, a contented sigh escaping his lips. The silence wasn't empty; it was filled with unspoken understanding, a shared warmth that transcended words. They sat like that for a while, the only sounds the crackling of the heater and the occasional rustle of pages.
Finally, Jeonghan closed his book, marking his place with a finger. He turned to Seungcheol, his eyes soft and inviting. Seungcheol met his gaze, his heart skipping a beat. In that unspoken question, Jeonghan poured a thousand unspoken desires.
Seungcheol leaned in, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, snowflakes of warmth melting on their skin. It was a secret shared in hushed whispers, a stolen moment in the quiet hum of the practice room. They pulled away slowly, foreheads resting against each other, their breaths mingling in the cool air.
"This feels..." Jeonghan started, his voice barely a whisper.
"Good?" Seungcheol finished for him, a husky chuckle escaping his lips.
Jeonghan nodded, a shy smile playing on his lips. He scooted closer, burrowing into Seungcheol's side, seeking the warmth radiating from his larger frame. Seungcheol wrapped his arm around him, pulling him close, their bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces.
In that embrace, under the soft glow of the fairy lights, their secret felt less like a burden and more like a shared treasure. They were two souls finding solace in each other's arms, a whispered melody amidst the chaos of their idol lives. And as they cuddled closer, the winter wind outside seemed to lose its bite, replaced by the warmth of their hidden love.
Jeonghan winced as he gingerly stretched his leg, the aftermath of a recent surgery still a faint twinge. In the Seungcheol followed after him, the scars on his knee a stark reminder of their shared hardship.
"Feeling stronger?" Seungcheol asked, his voice laced with concern.
Jeonghan nodded, forcing a smile. "Like a newborn baby giraffe, maybe. A clumsy one."
Seungcheol chuckled, ruffling his hair. "More like a cute see creature learning to swim."
Their laughter echoed in the empty room, a bittersweet sound. Being back at Pledis after their surgeries was a relief, yet apprehension gnawed at them. They craved normalcy, to rejoin the team, be Carats' Seventeen again. But the fear of their closeness amplified after their many shared moments during the forced break raising eyebrows lingered, a dark cloud hovering over their joy.
"About the others..." Jeonghan started, his voice hesitant.
Seungcheol understood. "We can't stay apart forever," he said, his gaze serious. "But we need to be careful."
They fell into a comfortable silence, their shared anxieties weaving a delicate thread between them. Suddenly, Jeonghan's face lit up.
"Remember that interview when Woozi caught us holding hands under the table?"
Seungcheol laughed, the memory flooding back. "And you pretended it was because you were cold?"
"And you almost dropped your drink!" Jeonghan giggled, "We were terrible at it."
A playful glint entered Seungcheol's eyes. "Maybe not," he said, reaching for Jeonghan's hand. "Maybe we can use our... let's call it 'terrible acting skills' to our advantage."
Jeonghan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Explain."
Seungcheol leaned in, whispering his plan, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. Jeonghan listened, his initial apprehension melting into cautious excitement. As their whispers faded, a new determination settled in their eyes.
The next day, Seungcheol tripped 'accidentally' into Jeonghan, their hands brushing for a beat longer than necessary. Jeonghan 'dramatically' helped him up, a worried frown etched on his face. The members, ever observant, exchanged curious glances. Later, while practicing, Jeonghan 'struggled' with a move, Seungcheol offering 'support' by holding his waist a little too long. Whispers swirled, questions lingered in the air.
Throughout the day, they played their roles: the overly concerned friend, the clumsy yet grateful one. It was awkward, exhilarating, and strangely… fun. Their forced interactions were filled with hidden meanings, inside jokes woven into their worried expressions. It felt like a secret language, spoken only through stolen glances and lingering touches, their unspoken bond blooming amidst the confusion.
As the days turned into weeks, the suspicion died down. The 'accidents' became less frequent, replaced by comfortable closeness that felt natural, not fabricated. The members saw their support as genuine friendship, oblivious to the secret melody playing beneath the surface.
One evening, after a tiring practice session, Seungcheol found Jeonghan sitting alone on the rooftop, gazing at the star-studded sky. He sat beside him, a comfortable silence settling around them.
"This is crazy," Jeonghan said, a smile tugging at his lips.
"A little," Seungcheol admitted, taking Jeonghan's hand in his. "But maybe..."
"Maybe being careful doesn't have to mean hiding," Jeonghan finished, their eyes meeting.
And under the vast expanse of the universe, their hands intertwined, they knew. Their love, though whispered, was real. And one day, they would find the courage to let it sing, not in hushed tones, but in a melody clear and beautiful, for the world to hear. Until then, they would write their love story in stolen glances, secret touches, and shared laughter, two souls dancing under the stars, waiting for the right moment to take the stage, hand in hand.
The future was uncertain, but as long as they had each other, they knew they could face anything, together. And in that shared belief, they found the courage to dream of a future where their love wouldn't have to be a secret, where they could hold hands freely under the warm summer sun, their love story written not in stolen glances but in the open pages of their lives.