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The air in the practice room was thick with unspoken words. Sungho, usually a whirlwind of energy, was slumped in a corner, his gaze fixed on the chipped floor.
The carefree laughter that usually echoed through the space had died down, replaced by a quiet hum from the speakers playing the latest song they were practicing. It had been weeks since Jaehyun, their leader, had started distancing himself. It was subtle, yet undeniably present, like the slow fading of a cherished melody.
Jaehyun, the ever-smiling leader, was now radiating an unfamiliar aura. He was always kind, always considerate, but now there was a new layer to his warmth, a gentle, almost shy distance that felt like a barrier between them. And to make matters worse, he’d started talking about Sohee, Jaehyun one of co- host for their music show, with an almost obsessive enthusiasm.
“Sohee is such an interesting guy,” Jaehyun would say, his voice soft, his eyes shimmering with something Sungho couldn’t quite decipher.
“He’s quiet, but incredibly thoughtful. He always remembers everyone's names, even the staff.”
Jaehyun would then launch into a detailed recounting of Sohee's day, his every word painting a picture of a delightful, introverted guy with a twinkle in his eye. It was as if Sungho had ceased to exist in Jaehyun’s world, replaced by this new, glowing image.
“He’s cute, you know,” Jaehyun would add, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. “He even brought me a cake.”
Sungho’s heart would clench with each detailed description, each whispered compliment. Their usual playful banter, the shared glances, the unspoken understanding, had evaporated, leaving behind a bitter ache in his chest.
He’d been falling for Jaehyun for months, his heart fluttering with every playful nudge, every encouraging smile. But now, he felt like a silent observer in his own life, watching the love he had held so close slip away.
He really can't avoid getting hurt; Sohee is always the topic whenever they talk, or even when the whole group is together. I mean, Sohee is really cute, everyone loves him, even their members, he can't blame Sohee.
Jaehyun doesn't compliment him like he used to either. The distance between them wasn’t something Jaehyun had intentionally created. He genuinely enjoyed Sohee’s company, praising him sincerity and genuine nature. But, to Sungho, it felt like another blow to his already bruised heart. "Something Between Us" – a George song that captured the fragile, unspoken feelings he held for Jaehyun – played on repeat in his head.
He always listen that song for a weeks already.
——
One evening, Riwoo found sungho staring forlornly at the practice room wall.
“You’ve been pretty quiet lately,” Riwoo observed, his tone gentle. “Is everything alright?”
Sungho hesitated, his eyes filling with a sadness that Riwoo knew all too well.
“Jaehyun,” he finally choked out, “he’s been… different.”
Riwoo knew exactly what he meant. He had noticed it too, the shift in Jaehyun’s demeanor, the unspoken longing in his eyes when he looked at Sungho. Riwoo had suspected that Jaehyun was harboring feelings for Sungho, feelings that were perhaps just as deep as Sungho’s.
“Maybe you should talk to him,” Riwoo suggested, his voice hesitant. “It’s always best to clear the air.”
"But, everything Jaehyun likes is already with Sohee."
"Are you perhaps in love with Jaehyun? Is that why you're feeling like that?"
"I-it's not that... okay fine, I like him. I only realized it after you made up with Leehan."
"I know when Leehan and I made up, I kept hearing you listening to 'Something Between Us' by George. At first, I thought it might just be your new favorite song, but I realized you liked him when we were all at the noraebang (karaoke). You suddenly sang that song, but you were only looking at Jaehyun while you sang it. And another thing, Sion from NCT wish asked for your number, but you declined it even though he gives off the same vibes as NCT 127 Jaehyun sunbaenim. Even Park Hanbin from EVNNE did the same thing, and you still turned him down."
"I hung out with Sion hyung once, he's a good guy and we have special stage together in mcountdown but..."
Riwoo cut him off, "You're afraid Jaehyun will misunderstand your closeness with Sion?"
"Maybe," Riwoo sighed deeply.
"I said you should talk to him. It's always best to clear the air."
in the other hand, leehan will talk jaehyun he is always observant, and he is confused as well because the last thing he knew jaehyun really likes sungho but why suddenly jaehyun increasingly frequent mentioned sohee, and always complementing him infront of sungho.
"Jaehyun, you've been talking about Sohee non-stop," Leehan pointed out one evening, his voice barely a whisper. "Do you think Sungho might…?"
Jaehyun froze, his eyes widening in apprehension. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice laced with a sliver of panic.
"Maybe… maybe he likes you," Leehan suggested, his voice barely louder than a sigh.
Jaehyun scoffed. "Sungho? Like me? No way," he said, his laughter forced. "He's always annoyed when I compliment him. How could he possibly like me?"
Leehan just sighed and didn't respond after what Jaehyun said.
-
The next day, during their music show practice, Jaehyun and Sohee and Hanbin were practicing their MC script. Sungho watched from afar, his heart clenching with each look they exchanged. Jaehyun's voice was warm, his eyes sparkling with mirth, Sungho have special stage with other idol, and it’s sion from nct wish.
Suddenly, Jaehyun noticed Sungho watching them. "Hyung!" he called out, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks, and approached sungho "Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something wrong?"
"Nothing," Sungho mumbled, his gaze dropping to the floor. He couldn't bring himself to voice his suspicions, to expose the fragile thread of hope that had taken root in his heart.
Jaehyun chuckled, his voice softening as he approached Sungho. "You know, Sohee’s really funny," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "He's always saying the most random things. He's such a cutie”
Sungho's stomach twisted with a mix of jealousy and longing. He wanted to scream, to shout, to tell Jaehyun that he was the one who was interesting, the one who deserved his attention. But he simply nodded, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.
"Sungho, let's go now," Sion called out, making Sungho immediately turn to see who called him. He saw Sion smiling at him.
"Hi Sohee," Sion greeted Sohee, who smiled at him and waved. Before Jaehyun could say goodbye to Sungho, Sion had already pulled Sungho away.
Jaehyun felt jealous and approached Sohee again.
"Where’s Hanbin hyung?"
"Hao hyung is calling right now, he just answered his phone." Jaehyun nodded, and he and Sohee resumed their practice and chatting.
Sion took Sungho outside, leading him to a place where there were no people and no one could see them.
"Hyung, why did you bring me here?" They both sat on a bench.
"You're jealous of Sohee and Jaehyun, am I right?" Sungho couldn't answer immediately.
"I think I'm right. After our practice earlier, I was watching you and I caught you looking at them. You know, it's easy to read your eyes; I knew right away that you were hurt when you saw them together. It seemed like you were about to cry anytime I heard Jaehyun compliment Sohee. And now I get why you didn't give me your number; it's because of Jaehyun. If you want to cry, I'm here, my shoulder is free for you to cry on," Sion said, holding Sungho's head and resting it on his shoulder. Sungho remained silent.
Sion then felt Sungho's tears.
"Sometimes it's okay to cry to lighten the heavy feeling you're carrying, and you should try to ask him if he likes Sohee or not, How will you know if you don’t try asking?”
They didn't know there was a person watching them from afar, witnessing the scene as his heart shattered.
—
As the music show approached, the tension between Sungho and Jaehyun seemed to thicken. Sungho found himself avoiding Jaehyun's gaze, his heart heavy with unspoken emotions. He knew he had to say something, but the words wouldn't come.
Later that night, after their performance, Sungho found himself alone in the dorm. The silence was deafening, amplifying the ache in his chest. He couldn't take it anymore. He had to know. He grabbed his phone and dialed Jaehyun's number, his fingers trembling.m
"Hyung? Is something wrong?" Jaehyun's voice sounded worried, tinged with a hint of concern.
"Jaehyun," Sungho said, his voice barely audible. "Do you…" He hesitated, his mind racing. "Do you like Sohee?"
There was a silence on the other end, followed by a soft sigh.
"I… I don't know," Jaehyun said, his voice laced with uncertainty. "He's just… special. I think."
Sungho's heart sank. He hung up the phone, feeling a sense of despair wash over him. He had hoped, with all his heart, that Jaehyun would confirm his feelings. But the truth was far more painful.
The weight of Jaehyun's words settled heavily on Sungho's chest, a suffocating blanket of uncertainty. He stared at his phone, the faint glow reflecting in his tear-filled eyes. The "I don't know" echoed in his mind, a cruel reminder of the blurry line between friendship and something more.
He knew he shouldn't have called, shouldn't have exposed his vulnerability. But the need to know, to have a definitive answer, had been too strong. Now, he was left with a gaping hole in his heart, a void that Jaehyun's ambiguous answer had only widened.
He cried for just a few minutes, but he can't give up. Sion said he must not give up, whether he gets rejected or not. What matters is that he said what he wanted to say.
He remembered the lyrics of "Something Between Us" by George. The song was about the struggle to gather the courage to confess feelings to someone special, feeling awkward and out of place, and the difficulties of expressing oneself genuinely. Just as the song's narrator felt clumsy and nervous, yet deeply willing to go the extra mile for the person they cared about, he found himself in a similar emotional state. The song’s portrayal of navigating misunderstandings and insecurities resonated deeply with his own experiences. It reminded him of how his relationship with this person had grown and evolved, and how he would have been profoundly changed if they had never met. Inspired by the song, he decided to use it as a way to convey the depth of his emotions and the significance of their connection, hoping it would help bridge the gap between them and express his true feelings.
He texted Jaehyun, asking him to meet him at the rooftop of their dorm. As Jaehyun arrived, Sungho was already there, staring out at the city lights.
“Jaehyun, I have something to tell you,” Sungho said, his voice trembling slightly. “I’ve been listening to this song a lot lately, and this is what I want to tell you.”
Sungho played the song "Someone Between Us" by George on his phone. The melody filled the air, a bittersweet reminder of their unspoken feelings.
(I recommend to listen the song first and read the english lyrics here is the link: https://youtu.be/d1RsSf4Gm0s?si=ZnmpMpJoyfpDfKXF)
As the song ended, Sungho turned to face Jaehyun, his eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear.
“Jaehyun, I think there’s someone between us. And it’s you.”
Jaehyun's eyes widened in surprise, his gaze fixed on Sungho. He didn't say anything, but his silence spoke volumes.
“I know I haven’t been myself lately,” Sungho continued, his voice filled with emotion. “I’ve been so confused and lost. But I realized that I’ve been falling for you for months now. I’ve been trying to ignore it, but I can’t anymore.”
Jaehyun’s gaze shifted to the ground, his expression unreadable.
Sungho admitted, his voice cracking slightly, "I know you’ve been talking about Sohee a lot lately, and I’m so jealous. I miss your constant compliments, I miss you being clingy with me, I miss you being annoying, but now you’ve suddenly distanced yourself, and it hurts me a lot." Sungho was still smiling, but tears were already streaming down his face. "I like you so much, Jaehyun. You’re the only one who made me feel this way. It really hurts to see you with someone else. It really hurts that you always compliment Sohee but not me anymore. I like you, Jaehyun."
Sungho waited for Jaehyun to respond, but he remained silent. His smile faded, and he started crying even more.
“I want your answer. Why aren’t you responding?!”
Jaehyun still didn't answer, maintaining a blank expression.
“Okay, I get it. You don’t like me, right? I’m sorry. Just forget this,” Sungho said through his tears, turning and walking quickly away from the rooftop, still crying.
When Jaehyun realized Sungho was no longer in front of him, he immediately ran to catch up.
“Wait, Sungho!” Sungho didn’t turn around. Jaehyun ran even faster, and when he finally caught up, he grabbed Sungho's wrist and turned him to face him.
“It’s not like that. Do you really like me?”
“Of course, I do. Would I have mustered the courage to confess if I didn’t like you? It’s so frustrating, Jaehyun,” Sungho said, still irritated and crying.
“I just didn’t process it immediately, but I like you too, Sungho.”
“Please, if you’re just feeling sorry for me, don’t do this. I’m begging you, Jaehyun.”
“No, I love you so much. From the moment I first walked into the training room and saw you there, I knew right away that I liked you. You looked so beautiful dancing; you looked like an angel while singing. I love you, and I’m also jealous of you and Sion because you’re so close. I hate seeing you with him outside, sitting on a bench with your head on his shoulder. I hate it. Now that I know you like me too, I’ll never let you go.” Jaehyun was crying, not expecting that Sungho would reciprocate his feelings.
Suddenly, Sungho hugged Jaehyun, and they cried together out of happiness.
“Let’s be boyfriends. I’ve waited for this for so long, but it’s still your choice, love. If you want us to be together,” Jaehyun said as they released their embrace.
“I want it. I want us to be together,” Sungho said with a happy smile. Jaehyun was so thrilled that he almost jumped for joy but stopped himself, instead kissing Sungho on the forehead.
“I love you so much,” Jaehyun whispered.
“I love you too, so much,” Sungho breathed back, his voice a soft melody in Jaehyun's ear. Sungho's fingers, warm and strong, intertwined with Jaehyun's. He pulled Jaehyun's head closer, his eyes holding a love so intense it made Jaehyun's breath catch in his throat.
Sungho leaned in, and their lips met softly. Jaehyun was initially shocked but quickly overcame his surprise and kissed Sungho back.
Jaehyun's hand cupped Sungho's cheek, his thumb gently stroking his jawline. Sungho leaned further into the touch, his entire being surrendering to the warmth of Jaehyun's presence.
Their kiss deepened, becoming a slow, sensual dance of tongues and teeth. Jaehyun's hand moved down Sungho’s neck, tracing the curve of his spine, while Sungho's fingers ran through Jaehyun's hair, tugging gently and sending a shiver down his spine. The kiss was filled with a quiet intensity, a silent language of love and desire that only they understood.
As their lips parted, they gazed at each other, their faces flushed with a newfound intensity. They didn't need to say anything more. The kiss, a language understood only by them, had spoken volumes. It was a promise, a declaration, a testament to the love that bloomed in the quiet spaces between them. And as the night deepened, they knew that this love, silent and powerful, would forever bind their hearts together.
“We’re together now, mi amore” Jaehyun said.