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Sunwoo woke up with a headache, a dry mouth, and a sinking feeling in his stomach that something horrible had happened the night before.
He cracked one eye open and immediately realized three things:
1. He was way too warm.
2. He was practically wrapped around Eric.
3. Eric was awake and looking directly at him.
Sunwoo blinked, brain still booting up.
Eric smirked. “Morning, clingy.”
Sunwoo’s soul left his body.
Panic flooded his system as memories from the night before came rushing back—the drinking, the way he practically attached himself to Eric, the way he kept calling him warm and safe, and then—
Oh no.
Oh no.
He confessed.
He actually confessed.
Sunwoo let out a strangled noise and immediately tried to roll away, but Eric caught his hoodie sleeve with ease.
“Where are you going?” Eric teased, tilting his head. “You seemed pretty happy staying here last night.”
Sunwoo buried his face into the nearest pillow. “I need to disappear.”
Eric laughed. “So, you do remember?”
Sunwoo groaned, still muffled against the pillow. “Please tell me I didn’t actually say it.”
Eric hummed in fake thought. “Say what exactly?”
Sunwoo curled into himself. “Eric.”
Eric leaned back casually, arms behind his head. “You’re gonna have to be more specific, man. Do you mean the part where you said I was the coolest? Or the part where you called me pretty? Or—oh! Maybe you mean the part where you straight-up told me you like me.”
Sunwoo violently kicked at the blanket. “STOP.”
Eric just grinned, completely unbothered. “You were so soft, dude. It was kinda adorable.”
Sunwoo peeked out from under the pillow, face burning. “And you’re not freaking out?”
Eric shrugged. “Nah.”
Sunwoo blinked. “...Why not?”
Eric gave him a look. “Because I already knew?”
Sunwoo gawked. “What?!”
Eric chuckled, shaking his head. “Dude. You think I haven’t noticed the way you act around me?”
Sunwoo floundered for an excuse, but Eric kept going.
“You always sit next to me,” he said casually. “You let me steal your fries, but no one else. You text me at stupid hours just to tell me dumb things. You literally cling to me whenever you’re tired. And let’s not forget how you always steal my hoodies but never give them back.”
Sunwoo gaped at him, horrified. “You knew?”
Eric raised an eyebrow. “It was obvious.”
Sunwoo flopped onto his back, staring at the ceiling in defeat. “Kill me.”
Eric snorted. “No can do, buddy.”
Sunwoo groaned. “So, what now? You just get to hold this over me forever?”
Eric hummed in thought, then grinned. “I could.”
Sunwoo whined, covering his face. “I hate you.”
“No, you love me.”
Sunwoo twitched. “You suck.”
Eric just smirked, nudging him. “But you love me.”
Sunwoo groaned dramatically. “I regret everything.”
Eric laughed, reaching over to ruffle his hair. “Nah, I don’t think you do.”
Sunwoo scowled but didn’t move away.
“…So,” he muttered after a moment, voice quieter. “You’re really not weirded out?”
Eric tilted his head, looking at him with something softer in his gaze now. “Why would I be?”
Sunwoo hesitated. “…Because we’re best friends?”
Eric rolled his eyes. “Best friends who like each other.”
Sunwoo tensed. “Wait.”
Eric smirked again. “You thought I didn’t?”
Sunwoo’s brain short-circuited. “You—you like me?”
Eric just sighed dramatically, flopping onto his back beside him. “Wow. The smartest idiot I know.”
Sunwoo sat up abruptly, staring down at him. “You like me?”
Eric turned his head, eyebrow raised. “I just said that.”
Sunwoo’s mind raced. “Since when?!”
Eric smirked. “Since forever, dumbass.”
Sunwoo felt like his brain was melting. He had spent so long thinking Eric would never feel the same, that he had just ruined everything—but he had been wrong this whole time?!
He smacked Eric’s arm. “Why didn’t you say anything?!”
Eric laughed. “Why didn’t you?”
Sunwoo sputtered. “Because I—I didn’t know!”
Eric grinned. “Well, now you do.”
Sunwoo groaned and flopped back down beside him. His heart was racing, his face still hot, but there was something else now—something light, something relieved.
“…You’re not just messing with me, right?” he asked quietly.
Eric turned his head again, looking at him seriously this time. “No, dumbass.”
Sunwoo bit his lip, glancing away. “…Okay.”
Eric smirked. “Okay?”
Sunwoo huffed, rolling onto his side so he didn’t have to look at him. “Shut up.”
Eric just chuckled, slinging an arm around his waist and tugging him closer. Sunwoo let out a surprised yelp, but Eric only tightened his hold.
“If you run away after this, I will chase you down,” Eric warned, voice teasing.
Sunwoo groaned into his hoodie. “God, I hate you.”
Eric just grinned. “Love you too, clingy.”
Sunwoo groaned louder, but this time, he was smiling.