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The morning sun filtered through half-drawn blinds, casting linear shadows across Wonbin's sleeping face. He stirred, his delicate features scrunching slightly as consciousness crept in. The familiar scent of coffee wafted through the air, a scent that meant only one thing.
Eunseok was already awake.
It had become their unspoken morning ritual over the past semester. Wonbin would oversleep, and Eunseok would brew coffee strong enough to wake the dead. Not that Wonbin had asked for this arrangement, it just happened, like most things between them.
"You have class in forty minutes," Eunseok's deep voice carried from their shared kitchenette, steady and unrushed as always.
Wonbin buried his face deeper into his pillow, fighting the urge to smile. "Five more minutes," he mumbled, knowing full well that Eunseok would hear him. Their dorm room wasn't exactly spacious.
The sound of measured footsteps approached his bed. Wonbin kept his eyes firmly shut, his heart beginning its usual morning dance. He could picture Eunseok standing there, tall, composed, probably already dressed in one of his impeccably ironed button-downs, looking like he'd stepped out of a fashion magazine despite the early hour.
"Your coffee will get cold." A pause. "Again."
The slight emphasis on 'again' made Wonbin's lips twitch. He finally opened his eyes, meeting Eunseok's steady gaze. As expected, his roommate looked frustratingly perfect, dark hair neatly styled, wire-rimmed glasses sitting precisely on his straight nose, and that perpetually calm expression that made him look like he had all of life's answers tucked away in his brilliant mind.
"You could just let me sleep through class," Wonbin suggested, sitting up and running a hand through his messy hair. The sheet pooled around his waist, and he noticed Eunseok's eyes flickering away, probably annoyed at his state of undress. Wonbin had a habit of sleeping shirtless, regardless of the season.
"Professor Kim takes attendance," Eunseok replied simply, turning away to return to the kitchen area. "Your coffee's on the counter. Black, two sugars."
Wonbin swung his legs over the bed's edge, watching Eunseok's retreating back. It was strange how someone could know exactly how you took your coffee without ever being told. Strange how someone could care enough to remember, yet never say more than necessary.
The coffee was perfect, of course. It always was.
Wonbin took a sip, letting the warmth spread through his chest as he observed Eunseok gathering his books for his first class. Advanced Calculus, probably. Math came as naturally to Eunseok as breathing, while Wonbin struggled with basic algebra. Yet another difference between them.
"There's toast too," Eunseok added, not looking up from his backpack. "You need to eat before your morning classes. Your stomach growling disrupts the entire lecture hall."
"That was one time!" Wonbin protested, but he was already reaching for the perfectly golden slice of toast. It had just the right amount of butter, because of course it did. Everything Eunseok did was precise, measured, perfect.
As Wonbin ate, he caught his reflection in the window. His light brown hair was a mess, his full lips slightly pouty from sleep, and his eyes still held that dreamy quality that made him look younger than his twenty-two years. Next to Eunseok's put-together appearance, he probably looked like a kid who'd never learned to take care of himself.
Maybe that's why Eunseok felt the need to look after him. The thought should have bothered him more than it did.
"I have basketball practice after classes," Eunseok announced, shouldering his bag. "Don't wait up."
"I never do," Wonbin replied automatically, though they both knew it was a lie. He always waited, pretending to be absorbed in guitar practice or homework when Eunseok returned, sweaty and somehow even more attractive than usual.
Eunseok paused at the door, his hand on the handle. For a moment, it seemed like he might say something else, but he just nodded and left, closing the door quietly behind him.
Wonbin let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Another morning, another perfectly choreographed dance of words not said and feelings not acknowledged. He glanced at the clock and cursed softly, thirty minutes to get ready.
As he rushed through his morning routine, Wonbin couldn't help but wonder how long they could keep this up. This careful balance of dependence and distance, of caring without showing it too much, of wanting without ever reaching out to take.
He caught a glimpse of his reflection again as he hurriedly styled his hair. His cheeks were slightly flushed, and his eyes were brighter than usual. The same look he always had after interactions with Eunseok, no matter how brief or mundane.
"Get it together," he muttered to himself, adjusting the collar of his oversized sweater. "It's just coffee and toast."
But it wasn't just coffee and toast. It was never just coffee and toast.
It was Eunseok remembering exactly how he liked things without being told. It was waking up to the smell of coffee every morning, knowing someone cared enough to make sure he didn't miss class. It was the way Eunseok's eyes sometimes lingered a moment too long, the way he always seemed to know what Wonbin needed before he needed it.
It was everything they never said, wrapped up in the simple act of making breakfast.
Wonbin grabbed his bag, took one last look around their shared space, and headed out. Another day of pretending his heart didn't skip a beat every time Eunseok looked his way. Another day of wondering if maybe, just maybe, Eunseok felt it too.
But for now, he had a class to get to. And if he hurried, he might catch a glimpse of Eunseok crossing the quad to his own class, walking with that quiet confidence that made heads turn wherever he went.
Not that Wonbin was planning his route around that possibility.
That would be ridiculous.
The lecture hall buzzed with pre-class chatter, but Wonbin's mind was elsewhere. His fingers absently traced the edge of his notebook, where he'd doodled a series of mathematical symbols he'd seen on Eunseok's whiteboard. He didn't understand any of them, but something about their complexity fascinated him, much like their creator.
"Earth to Wonbin," Sion's voice cut through his reverie, accompanied by a light punch to his shoulder. "You're doing it again."
"Doing what?" Wonbin straightened in his seat, quickly flipping to a clean page.
Sion rolled his eyes, adjusting his silver-streaked black hair. "That thing where you space out thinking about your roommate while pretending you're not thinking about your roommate."
"I wasn't-" Wonbin started to protest, but Sion's knowing look silenced him. "Is it that obvious?"
"Only to everyone with eyes," Sion replied, pulling out his laptop. "You should see your face when he shows up at music club practice to pick you up."
"He doesn't pick me up," Wonbin corrected, feeling heat creep up his neck. "He just happens to finish basketball practice around the same time."
"Right. And he just happens to wait outside every single time, even though the gym is in the opposite direction from your dorm." Sion's fingers flew across his keyboard as he spoke. "Face it, bini. You two are the most obvious non-couple I've ever seen."
Before Wonbin could respond, Professor Kim entered the room, her heels clicking against the floor with purpose. The conversation died, but Sion's words echoed in Wonbin's mind throughout the lecture. He tried to focus on the discussion of contemporary literature, but his thoughts kept drifting to Eunseok.
Was it really that obvious? And if it was, did that mean Eunseok could tell too?
The thought made his stomach twist.
Later that afternoon, Wonbin sat in the music room, his guitar resting comfortably in his lap. The sun was setting, painting the practice room in warm oranges and deep purples. He'd been working on a new song, something that had been living in his head for weeks, demanding to be released.
His fingers moved across the strings, creating a melody that reminded him of early mornings and the scent of coffee. Of quiet moments and unspoken words.
"That's new," a voice commented from the doorway.
Wonbin's fingers stumbled on the strings as he looked up to find Eunseok leaning against the doorframe. He was still in his basketball practice clothes, black shorts and a fitted gray t-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders. A towel hung around his neck, and his hair was slightly damp from what Wonbin assumed was a post-practice shower.
"You're early," Wonbin managed, trying to ignore how his heart rate had suddenly doubled.
Eunseok shrugged, stepping into the room. "Practice ended early. Coach had a family thing." He moved closer, his presence filling the small practice room in a way that made it hard for Wonbin to breathe normally. "The song, what's it called?"
Wonbin looked down at his guitar, running his fingers along the smooth wood. "It doesn't have a name yet. It's not finished."
"It sounds..." Eunseok paused, and Wonbin looked up to find him searching for words, a rare occurrence for someone who usually knew exactly what to say. "It sounds like morning."
Something caught in Wonbin's chest. Of course Eunseok would hear exactly what he'd been trying to capture. Of course he would understand without needing an explanation.
"Yeah," Wonbin said softly. "That's kind of what I was going for."
Eunseok moved to sit on the piano bench near Wonbin's chair, close enough that Wonbin could smell his shower gel, something clean and subtle, like rain on concrete. "Play it again?"
It wasn't really a request, but it wasn't quite a demand either. Like everything with Eunseok, it existed in that space between, a suggestion that felt like gravity, pulling Wonbin along in its wake.
So he played. The melody flowed easier this time, perhaps because he wasn't alone with it anymore. His fingers found the notes that spoke of dawn light through blinds, of coffee steam curling in the air, of silence filled with everything they never said.
When he finished, the last note hanging in the air between them, Eunseok was watching him with an intensity that made his skin tingle.
"You should finish it," Eunseok said finally, his voice lower than usual.
"Yeah?" Wonbin cradled his guitar closer, using it as a shield against the weight of Eunseok's gaze. "Maybe I will."
Eunseok stood, and for a moment, Wonbin thought he saw something flicker across his usually composed features, something that made his breath catch. But then it was gone, replaced by his usual calm expression.
"Ready to head back? We should work on that project proposal tonight."
Right. The project. Professor Lee had paired them up for a cross-disciplinary assignment, combining Eunseok's mathematical expertise with Wonbin's creative approach. The irony wasn't lost on either of them.
"Just let me pack up," Wonbin said, carefully placing his guitar in its case. He could feel Eunseok's eyes on him as he moved around the room, gathering his things. It should have made him nervous, but instead, it felt... right. Like being watched over. Protected.
They walked back to their dorm in comfortable silence, the campus quiet in the early evening. Their shoulders brushed occasionally, sending little sparks through Wonbin's body each time. He wondered if Eunseok felt them too, but he didn't dare ask.
The sky had deepened to a rich blue by the time they reached their building, stars beginning to peek through the darkness. As they climbed the stairs to their floor, Wonbin found himself thinking about Sion's words from earlier.
The most obvious non-couple.
Maybe they were obvious. Maybe everyone could see what was happening between them except them. Or maybe they both saw it perfectly clearly but were too afraid to acknowledge it, too comfortable in their careful dance of almost-but-not-quite to risk changing the steps.
As Eunseok unlocked their door, Wonbin made a decision. Something had to give. Something had to change.
And maybe, just maybe, it needed to start with him.
The project proposal sat between them on Eunseok's desk, a blank document mocking their attempts at productivity. They'd been at it for an hour, but somehow the words weren't coming. Maybe it was because Wonbin couldn't stop thinking about the way Eunseok's fingers drummed against the desk when he was deep in thought, or how he pushed his glasses up his nose every few minutes.
"We could focus on the mathematical patterns in music," Eunseok suggested, breaking the silence. "The Fibonacci sequence in composition, or the relationship between frequencies and emotional response."
Wonbin turned in his chair to face him properly. "That actually sounds perfect. We could use some of my original compositions as examples, analyze the mathematical structures behind them."
Eunseok's eyes lit up slightly, the kind of subtle change most people would miss, but Wonbin had become an expert in reading these minor shifts in his expression. "Like the morning song?"
"I... yeah, if you want." Wonbin felt his cheeks warm at the thought of Eunseok analyzing that particular piece, of him possibly understanding the mathematics behind feelings Wonbin couldn't even put into words.
Eunseok reached for his laptop, his arm brushing against Wonbin's in the process. Neither of them moved away from the contact. "We should start with an outline. Break down the key concepts we want to explore."
But before they could begin, Wonbin's phone buzzed with a message. Then another. And another.
"Someone's popular," Eunseok commented dryly as Wonbin checked his messages.
"It's Sion," Wonbin said, scrolling through the rapid-fire texts. "He's with your friend Sungchan at Eclipse. They want us to join them."
Eunseok's eyebrows rose slightly. "On a Wednesday?"
"Apparently there's some special event tonight. Live music, half-price drinks." Wonbin glanced at Eunseok through his lashes. "Could be fun. We've been working hard lately."
He expected Eunseok to dismiss the idea immediately. Clubs weren't really his scene, and they did have the project to work on. But to his surprise, Eunseok was quiet for a moment, considering.
"We could use the break," he said finally. "And it might help with creative inspiration for the project."
Wonbin tried to contain his shock and excitement. "Really? You want to go?"
Eunseok stood, stretching in a way that made his t-shirt ride up slightly, revealing a strip of skin that Wonbin definitely didn't stare at. "Why not? But you're not wearing that."
Wonbin looked down at his oversized sweater and ripped jeans. "What's wrong with this?"
"Eclipse has a dress code." Eunseok was already moving to his closet. "Here."
He pulled out a black silk shirt that looked expensive and felt even more so when he handed it to Wonbin. "This should fit you. It's a bit small on me now."
Wonbin held the shirt like it might disappear, trying not to think about wearing something of Eunseok's, something that would smell like him. "Thanks," he managed.
"I'm going to shower first," Eunseok announced, gathering his things. "Text Sion back. Tell him we'll be there in an hour."
As soon as the bathroom door closed, Wonbin fell back onto his bed, clutching the silk shirt to his chest. This was not how he'd expected the evening to go, but he wasn't complaining. Maybe this was exactly what they needed, a change of scenery, a break from their careful routine.
He brought the shirt to his nose, inhaling deeply. It smelled like Eunseok's closet, a mix of cedar and that inexplicable scent that was purely him. Wonbin's heart raced as he thought about wearing it, about Eunseok seeing him in it.
About dancing together in a crowded club, where the darkness might make it easier to be brave.
He quickly texted Sion back:
We're coming. Both of us. Don't make a big deal about it.
Sion's response was immediate: Too late. Already making a huge deal. See you soon, lovebirds 😆
Wonbin groaned, falling back against his pillows. This was either going to be the best night ever or a complete disaster.
Knowing his luck, probably both.
The bass from Eclipse pulsed through the street as Wonbin and Eunseok approached the club. Wonbin was hyperaware of how Eunseok's silk shirt felt against his skin, how it clung to places his usual oversized clothes didn't. He'd caught Eunseok looking at him several times during their walk, each glance making his pulse quicken.
Eunseok himself looked devastating in a fitted black button-down and dark jeans that made his legs seem endless. He'd styled his hair differently, letting it fall slightly over his forehead instead of his usual neat arrangement. The overall effect was dangerous.
"ID?" the bouncer asked, though his eyes lingered appreciatively on both of them.
As they entered the club, the music enveloped them. The space was a maze of shadows and colored lights, bodies moving in sync with the heavy beat. Wonbin felt Eunseok's hand press against his lower back, guiding him through the crowd. The touch sent electricity down his spine.
"There they are," Eunseok said, his lips close to Wonbin's ear to be heard over the music. His breath was warm against Wonbin's neck.
Sion and Sungchan had claimed a booth in a corner, cocktails already in hand. Sion's face lit up when he saw them, his eyes widening at their appearance.
"Well, well," he drawled, making room for them to sit. "Look who cleaned up nice."
Sungchan, tall and striking with his model-like features, gave Eunseok a knowing look. "Interesting choice of shirt, Seok."
Wonbin felt his cheeks warm as he slid into the booth, very aware of Eunseok settling in beside him. The space was tight, forcing their thighs to press together.
"First round's on me," Sungchan announced, standing. "Eunseok, help me carry?"
As soon as they left for the bar, Sion pounced. "That shirt is definitely not yours."
"Shut up," Wonbin muttered, fidgeting with the silk cuffs.
"You look good in it," Sion said, more gently. "He thinks so too. Hasn't taken his eyes off you since you arrived."
Wonbin's heart stuttered. "He's probably just making sure I don't spill anything on his expensive shirt."
"Right. That's definitely it." Sion's sarcasm was palpable. "Just like he definitely needed to guide you through the crowd with his hand on your back."
Before Wonbin could respond, Eunseok and Sungchan returned with drinks. Eunseok placed a glass in front of Wonbin – something amber-colored with a twist of orange.
"Old fashioned," he explained. "You like bourbon."
Wonbin stared at him. He'd never told Eunseok his drink preferences. They'd never been out like this before.
"How did you-"
"You always smell like it after music club socials," Eunseok said simply, taking a sip of what looked like neat whiskey.
The fact that Eunseok knew how he smelled after nights out made Wonbin's head spin more than any alcohol could.
The night progressed in a blur of drinks and conversation. Sungchan told embarrassing stories about Eunseok from their high school days, revealing a side of him Wonbin had never seen. Apparently, the perfectly composed math genius had once started a small fire in chemistry class trying to impress a girl.
"In my defense," Eunseok cut in, "I was sixteen and hadn't yet realized I wasn't interested in impressing girls."
The casual admission made Wonbin choke on his drink. They'd never explicitly discussed sexuality, though he'd had his suspicions. Eunseok's hand found his back, patting gently as he coughed.
"Careful," he murmured, his hand lingering longer than necessary.
The music changed, shifting to something slower but still intense. Sion perked up. "Oh, I love this song! Come dance with me, Sungchan."
They disappeared into the crowd, leaving Wonbin alone with Eunseok in the booth. The air between them felt charged, heavy with possibility.
"Do you want to dance?" Wonbin asked suddenly, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. Maybe it was the bourbon making him brave, or maybe he was just tired of waiting.
Eunseok looked at him for a long moment, his dark eyes unreadable. Then, without a word, he stood and held out his hand.
Wonbin took it, letting Eunseok pull him to his feet and lead him to the dance floor. The crowd seemed to part for them, or maybe that was just how it felt with Eunseok's hand warm in his.
They found a spot in the middle of the floor, where the lights were lowest and the bass was strongest. Wonbin's heart threatened to beat out of his chest as Eunseok turned to face him.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Eunseok's hands found Wonbin's hips, pulling him closer. The touch was firm but gentle, like everything Eunseok did.
Wonbin let his arms drape over Eunseok's shoulders, their bodies swaying to the music. He could feel the heat radiating from Eunseok's skin, smell his cologne mixed with something uniquely him.
"You're good at this," Wonbin said, surprised by how naturally they moved together.
"I'm good at math," Eunseok replied, his voice low. "Dancing is just counting with your body."
The way he said 'body' made Wonbin's skin tingle. They were closer now, barely any space between them. Wonbin could feel Eunseok's breath on his face, could see the way his pupils had dilated in the dim light.
The music pulsed around them, but Wonbin could barely hear it over the sound of his own heart. Eunseok's hands tightened on his hips as someone bumped into them, pulling him even closer.
"Sorry," Wonbin whispered, though he wasn't sorry at all.
"Don't be." Eunseok's voice was rough. His eyes dropped to Wonbin's lips for a fraction of a second.
Time seemed to slow down. The crowd faded away until it was just them, moving together in the darkness. One of Eunseok's hands slid up Wonbin's back, burning through the silk shirt.
Wonbin let his fingers brush the nape of Eunseok's neck, feeling the soft hair there. Eunseok's breath hitched slightly, a tiny crack in his usual composure that made Wonbin bold.
He leaned in closer, until their foreheads were almost touching. "Eunseok..."
The song changed abruptly, the spell breaking as people around them cheered. They pulled apart slightly, both breathing harder than the dancing warranted.
"I need some air," Eunseok said, his voice strained. He kept one hand on Wonbin's waist as he led them off the dance floor, through the crowd, and toward a side door that opened onto a small outdoor smoking area.
The night air was cool against Wonbin's flushed skin. There were a few other people out there, but they were absorbed in their own conversations.
Eunseok hadn't let go of him.
"That was..." Wonbin started, not sure how to finish the sentence.
"Yeah," Eunseok agreed, understanding anyway. His hand flexed on Wonbin's waist.
They stood in silence for a moment, the muffled music from inside creating a soundtrack to their racing thoughts. Wonbin could feel something building between them, like a storm about to break.
"Wonbin," Eunseok said finally, turning to face him fully. His expression was intense, almost vulnerable. "I-"
"There you are!" Sion's voice cut through the moment like a knife. "We've been looking everywhere for you two!"
Wonbin had never wanted to strangle his best friend more than in that moment. Eunseok's hand dropped from his waist, leaving him feeling cold despite the flush still burning under his skin.
"Sorry," Sungchan said, appearing behind Sion. His knowing look suggested he understood exactly what they'd interrupted. "But we should head back. It's late, and we all have early classes tomorrow."
Eunseok nodded, his composed mask sliding back into place. But Wonbin noticed his hands were clenched at his sides.
The walk back to their dorm was quiet, charged with unresolved tension. Every accidental brush of their arms felt like a spark threatening to ignite something dangerous and wonderful.
When they finally reached their room, Wonbin's hands shook slightly as he unbuttoned Eunseok's silk shirt. He could feel Eunseok's eyes on him as he carefully hung it up.
"Thank you," he said softly, turning around. "For letting me borrow it."
Eunseok was closer than he expected, his eyes dark and intense. "Keep it," he said, his voice rough. "It looks better on you anyway."
Before Wonbin could respond, Eunseok disappeared into the bathroom, leaving him standing there with his heart racing and his skin burning where Eunseok's gaze had lingered.
As he got ready for bed, Wonbin couldn't stop thinking about how it felt to dance with Eunseok, to be held by him. About what might have happened if Sion hadn't interrupted them outside.
He lay in bed, listening to the sound of the shower running, wondering if Eunseok was thinking about it too.
Sleep was a long time coming that night.
Morning came differently this time.
Wonbin woke to silence instead of the usual coffee scent. Eunseok's bed was empty, already made with military precision. On his desk sat a note in his precise handwriting:
Gone for an early run. Your coffee's in the thermal mug. Don't be late to class.
Wonbin traced the words with his finger, noting how the usually perfect handwriting seemed slightly rushed, almost agitated. The thermal mug was indeed waiting on the counter, still hot, because of course Eunseok had timed even this.
Last night felt like a dream, the dancing, the almost-moment outside the club, the way Eunseok had looked at him. But the silk shirt hanging in his closet proved it had been real.
His phone buzzed with a text from Sion:
You alive? That sexual tension last night was INTENSE 🫢
Wonbin groaned, falling back onto his bed. Before he could reply, another message came through:
Coffee shop. 30 mins. You're telling me EVERYTHING
The campus coffee shop, The Daily Grind, was bustling with morning customers when Wonbin arrived. Sion had already claimed their usual corner table, two drinks waiting.
"Spill," Sion demanded as soon as Wonbin sat down. "And don't you dare leave out any details."
"There's nothing to spill," Wonbin muttered, though his cheeks heated at the memory of Eunseok's hands on his hips.
"Right. That's why you're blushing like a teenager." Sion leaned forward. "Something changed last night. I saw it. Sungchan saw it. The entire club saw it."
Wonbin took a sip of his drink to avoid responding, but nearly choked when he saw who had just walked in. Eunseok, fresh from his run, his black athletic wear clinging to his body in ways that should be illegal. Their eyes met across the space.
For a moment, neither moved. Then Eunseok started walking toward them.
"Well, well," Sion murmured. "This should be interesting."
"Morning," Eunseok said, his voice slightly rougher than usual. His hair was damp with sweat, a few strands falling across his forehead. "Did you get the coffee I left?"
"Y-yeah," Wonbin managed. "Thanks."
"Good." Eunseok's eyes lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary. "I'm heading back to shower. See you in the room later?"
Wonbin nodded, not trusting his voice. After Eunseok left, Sion kicked him under the table.
"'See you in the room later?' That sounded more like a proposition than a question."
"Shut up," Wonbin hissed, but his mind was already racing with possibilities.
The music practice room felt different that afternoon. Wonbin sat with his guitar, trying to focus on the song he'd been working on, but his fingers kept finding new melodies, something darker, more urgent than his usual compositions.
The door opened, and he knew without looking who it was. Eunseok's presence had a gravity to it that Wonbin could feel in his bones.
"New song?" Eunseok asked, closing the door behind him.
"Maybe." Wonbin kept playing, letting the tension between them flow into the music. "It's not quite right yet."
Eunseok moved closer, leaning against the piano. "It sounds different from your usual style."
"Yeah, well..." Wonbin's fingers stilled on the strings. "Some things changed."
The air in the room felt heavy, charged with everything they weren't saying. Eunseok pushed off from the piano, moving to stand behind Wonbin's chair.
"Play it again," he said softly.
Wonbin started playing, hyper-aware of Eunseok behind him. The melody was raw, almost desperate, all the feelings he couldn't voice spilling out through his fingers.
He felt Eunseok's hands on his shoulders, strong and steady. The touch sent electricity down his spine, but he kept playing, even as Eunseok's fingers began tracing patterns on his neck.
The music faltered when Eunseok leaned down, his breath warm against Wonbin's ear. "Why did you stop?"
"You know why," Wonbin whispered, his heart thundering in his chest.
Eunseok's hands tightened on his shoulders. "Say it."
Before Wonbin could respond, his phone rang, their project advisor calling about their proposal. The moment shattered like glass.
Eunseok straightened up, his hands falling away. "You should answer that."
By the time the call ended, the sun was setting and they had to head to the library to work on their project. The walk across campus was silent, but Wonbin could feel Eunseok's eyes on him every few steps.
The library was nearly empty when they arrived, most students having left for dinner. They found a quiet corner in the mathematics section, surrounded by books filled with equations Wonbin couldn't begin to understand.
"We should focus on the proposal," Eunseok said, his voice carefully neutral as he spread their notes across the table.
But focusing was impossible. Every time their hands brushed reaching for the same paper, every accidental knee touch under the table, every shared glance, it all felt magnified in the quiet library space.
After an hour of pretending to work, Wonbin couldn't take it anymore. "About last night-"
"Not here," Eunseok cut him off, but his voice was gentle. "Not now."
"Then when?" Wonbin didn't mean to sound so desperate, but he was tired of dancing around this thing between them.
Eunseok looked at him for a long moment, his eyes dark behind his glasses. Finally, he gathered their papers. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see."
They ended up on the roof of the mathematics building. Eunseok had a key, apparently being a math genius came with privileges. The city spread out below them, a tapestry of lights under the darkening sky.
"I come here sometimes," Eunseok said, leaning against the railing. "When I need to think."
"And do you?" Wonbin asked, moving to stand beside him. "Need to think?"
"All the time." Eunseok turned to look at him. "Especially about you."
The admission hung in the air between them, heavy with possibility. Wonbin's heart was racing so fast he thought it might burst.
"Eunseok..."
"Let me finish," Eunseok said quietly. "I've been thinking about you since the day you moved into our room. About how you leave your clothes everywhere but always remember to water my plants. About how you practice guitar at midnight when you think I'm asleep. About how you pretend not to wait up for me after basketball practice."
Wonbin's breath caught in his throat.
"I think about making your coffee every morning," Eunseok continued, moving closer. "About how you look wearing my clothes. About how it felt to dance with you last night."
He was so close now that Wonbin could see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"Why didn't you?" Eunseok countered, his hand coming up to cup Wonbin's face.
The first brush of their lips was gentle, questioning. Then Wonbin made a soft sound in the back of his throat, and something in Eunseok snapped. He pulled Wonbin closer, kissing him properly, deeply, desperately, like he'd been wanting to do it for ages.
Wonbin wound his arms around Eunseok's neck, pressing closer as Eunseok backed him against the railing. The metal was cold against his back, but Eunseok's body was warm against his front, and his mouth was hot and perfect and everything Wonbin had dreamed about.
When they finally broke apart, both breathing heavily, Eunseok rested his forehead against Wonbin's.
"Stay with me tonight," he whispered.
"We live in the same room," Wonbin pointed out, laughing slightly.
"You know what I mean." Eunseok's voice was rough as he pressed kisses along Wonbin's jaw. "Stay in my bed. Let me hold you properly for once."
Wonbin's heart felt too big for his chest. "Yes," he breathed. "Yes to everything."
Morning light filtered through the blinds differently when viewed from Eunseok's bed. Wonbin blinked slowly awake, aware of strong arms around his waist and steady breathing against his neck. His body was deliciously sore in ways that made his cheeks heat as he remembered the night before.
They hadn't done everything, both agreeing to take things slow, but what they had done... Wonbin shivered at the memory of Eunseok's hands mapping his skin, of desperate kisses and whispered confessions in the dark.
"You're thinking too loud," Eunseok murmured against his neck, tightening his hold.
"Sorry," Wonbin whispered, turning in his arms to face him. Eunseok looked different in the morning light, softer, his usually perfect hair mussed from sleep and their activities. There was a mark on his collarbone that Wonbin distinctly remembered leaving.
"Don't be." Eunseok's voice was rough with sleep as he traced patterns on Wonbin's bare back. "I like watching you think."
"That's creepy," Wonbin teased, but he pressed closer, tangling their legs together.
"Mm, maybe." Eunseok kissed his forehead, then his nose, then finally his lips. "But you like it."
The kiss deepened naturally, morning breath forgotten as Eunseok rolled them over, pressing Wonbin into the mattress. His hands were everywhere, relearning the paths they'd discovered the night before.
Wonbin gasped as Eunseok's mouth found his neck. "We have class..."
"We have time," Eunseok murmured against his skin, and Wonbin decided that being late once wouldn't kill them.
The campus coffee shop was crowded when they finally made it to meet their friends for lunch. Sion took one look at them and started laughing.
"Well, well," he drawled, eyes fixing on the barely, concealed mark on Wonbin's neck. "Look who finally figured it out."
Sungchan just smiled, sliding a coffee toward Eunseok. "About time. You've been pining for months."
"I don't pine," Eunseok said dignified, but his hand found Wonbin's under the table.
"Please," Sungchan scoffed. "You literally learned to make coffee exactly how he likes it after hearing him complain once about the campus café getting his order wrong."
Wonbin turned to stare at Eunseok, who was suddenly very interested in his drink. "You did?"
"It's just coffee," Eunseok muttered, but his ears were pink.
"Right," Sion grinned. "Just like it was 'just helping out' when you waited outside every music practice. Or 'just being practical' when you gave him your shirt last night."
"Speaking of last night," Sungchan leaned forward, "what exactly happened after we left? Because Eunseok wasn't answering his phone this morning, which never happens."
Now it was Wonbin's turn to blush. "We, uh..."
"We talked," Eunseok said simply, squeezing Wonbin's hand.
"Talked. Right." Sion's grin was wicked. "Is that what they're calling it these days?"
"Don't we have that project meeting?" Wonbin asked desperately, looking at Eunseok.
"Yes," Eunseok agreed quickly, standing. "We should go."
Their friends' laughter followed them out of the coffee shop, but Wonbin couldn't bring himself to care, not when Eunseok pulled him into a hidden alcove behind the science building and kissed him breathless.
The project meeting went better than expected, their professor enthusiastic about their idea of combining mathematical patterns with musical composition. As they walked back to their dorm, Wonbin couldn't help but notice how different everything felt.
It wasn't just that they were holding hands, or that Eunseok would occasionally pull him close to steal quick kisses. It was in the way the air between them had changed, the tension was still there, but it was different now. Sweeter. Full of possibility instead of uncertainty.
"What are you thinking about?" Eunseok asked as they climbed the stairs to their floor.
"Us," Wonbin admitted. "How different everything is now."
Eunseok stopped on the landing, turning to face him. "Different good?"
"Different perfect," Wonbin said, and was rewarded with one of Eunseok's rare full smiles, the kind that made his eyes crinkle at the corners.
They barely made it through their door before Eunseok was kissing him again, backing him against the wall. Wonbin melted into it, his hands finding their way under Eunseok's shirt.
"We should work on the project," Wonbin gasped as Eunseok's mouth found that sensitive spot behind his ear.
"We should," Eunseok agreed, not stopping. "Or..."
His hands slid down to Wonbin's thighs, lifting him easily. Wonbin wrapped his legs around Eunseok's waist, marveling at his strength.
"Or?" he prompted, running his fingers through Eunseok's hair.
"Or I could show you what I've been wanting to do to you for months."
Wonbin's breath hitched. "The project can wait."
Later, much later, they lay tangled in Eunseok's sheets, their skin cooling in the evening air. Wonbin traced the lines of Eunseok's abs, still amazed that he was allowed to touch now.
"You know," he said thoughtfully, "we still haven't finished that song."
"Which one?"
"The morning one. Though I think it needs a different ending now."
Eunseok propped himself up on an elbow, looking down at Wonbin with soft eyes. "Play it for me?"
Wonbin reached for his guitar, not bothering to put on more than one of Eunseok's discarded shirts. As he played, the melody evolved, still speaking of morning coffee and unspoken words, but now there was something more. Something that spoke of kisses in hidden alcoves and tangled sheets, of mathematical patterns in music and love.
When he finished, Eunseok was watching him with that intense look that made his skin tingle.
"Perfect," he said softly, taking the guitar and setting it aside. "Just like you."
"Sap," Wonbin accused, but he went willingly when Eunseok pulled him close.
"Only for you," Eunseok murmured against his lips. "Only ever for you."
Outside their window, the campus was settling into night, students heading to evening classes or late dinners. But in their room, in their own little world of rumpled sheets and shared breaths, time seemed to stand still.
They had assignments to complete, projects to finish, friends to meet. But for now, they had this, each other, finally, after months of waiting. Everything else could wait.
Wonbin curled closer to Eunseok, breathing in his scent. "I love you," he whispered, saying it for the first time.
Eunseok's arms tightened around him. "I love you too," he said, his voice rough with emotion. "Have for a while now."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Eunseok kissed him softly. "Since the first morning you complained about my coffee being too strong."
Wonbin laughed against his lips. "It was too strong."
"And yet you drank it anyway."
"Because you made it for me."
They smiled at each other in the growing darkness, both thinking the same thing: how many moments they'd shared, how many signs they'd missed, how perfect it felt to finally be here.
"Stay with me tonight?" Eunseok asked, echoing his words from the rooftop.
Wonbin kissed him in answer. He wasn't going anywhere, not tonight, not ever.
They had time now. Time to learn each other properly, to explore this new dynamic between them, to figure out how to be together in all the ways they'd both been wanting.
And in the morning, there would be coffee. Perfect coffee, made exactly how Wonbin liked it, because Eunseok had been paying attention all along.
Just like always.