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Daeyoung and his brother couldn’t be any more different. Their similarity stops at them having the same birth father. Sion has this air of effortlessness with him, whereas Daeyoung is more timid and unassuming. While the both of them are undeniably good-looking, the latter “pales in comparison” when they’re side by side as so many have implied.
Sion is just on a whole other level and Daeyoung had long accepted his fate of forever being under his shadow. He may have better grades than him but they’re really not worth celebrating either. Perhaps the only edge he has against the older is a few centimeters in height (thank God for his miraculous growth spurt in eighth grade).
Because of the constant comparisons, the two brothers started to drift apart as they got older. But it’s not like they were close when they were children anyway. They don’t even disclose the fact that they’re related anymore, it’s just become an open secret.
The last two years offered them a reprieve when Sion started high school. If Daeyoung hadn’t skipped second grade then they wouldn’t even have to cross paths again after elementary school. Screw him for being a gifted child. Too bad his star faded soon as he entered middle school.
He just has to get through this year and they’ll be free of each other for good once Sion leaves for college.
Honestly, Daeyoung’s being overly dramatic because his first year of high school had actually gone better than he was expecting. He could somewhat keep up with his classmates without feeling like he was drowning. The occasional whispers about him in the hallways still bother him but they aren’t anything he hasn’t heard before. “Isn’t that Sion’s brother?” “They look nothing alike.” "He’s taller than him, I guess.”
Applying for the newspaper club was a spur-of-the-moment decision, taking Daeyoung by surprise for putting himself out there for once. Although what’s more surprising is that he was accepted after submitting a sloppy poem he wrote some years ago. Maybe they were just in dire need of members, he thought. His suspicions were proven to be correct when he was randomly delegated a spot in the sports section.
Building up his self-esteem is a step in the right direction and all but the most exciting thing about Daeyoung’s freshman year so far is that for the first time in his life, he has a crush.
Yes, that’s right.
So Daeyoung might have faked a crush or two in the past but what else is he supposed to do? Spilling crushes seemed to be the only thing his classmates cared about and he’d be called weird if he didn’t have one. There should be a few people who caught his attention over the years but no one really gave Daeyoung that feeling. Not like the feeling he gets when he sees Riku, at least.
Oh, that’s the other complication. Because he is very much gay.
Daeyoung has known he liked boys for as long as he can remember. Having a crush on them never felt right or safe, though. It was for that reason he wouldn’t be caught dead crushing over a guy. Besides, there really wasn’t a single decent boy around him. Until Riku.
Girls are pretty and nice but Daeyoung could never bring himself to fully commit to the idea of being with them no matter how much he forced it. Sion, with his dashing looks and charm, has always been popular with the ladies. But that isn’t to say that Daeyoung did not have admirers of his own.
Daeyoung cringes every time he remembers agreeing to be someone’s boyfriend in sixth grade. She was so pushy that he just gave in as if he was held at gunpoint. They broke up the following day because he felt unprepared (and scared) at the prospect of being in a relationship. Crying in front of that girl as he tried explaining himself is definitely not one of his finest moments.
Then Maeda Riku came into the picture. An upperclassman from Japan with tan skin and striking facial features. It’s not too much of an exaggeration that Daeyoung forgot how to breathe when he first laid his eyes on him. Everything suddenly made sense after Riku. The way Daeyoung’s heart skipped a beat then drummed loudly in his chest was all the confirmation he needed. Who is he to deny himself of falling for someone, even if they’re a guy?
It isn’t exactly a gay awakening per se, more of a gay affirmation. At fifteen, Daeyoung finally accepted this part of himself and it’s all because of Riku.
What’s funny is that Daeyoung’s first actual interaction with Riku left a bittersweet taste in his mouth. It was after his third time watching one of the latter’s swimming competitions (for his feature on the school paper of course). He noticed that the boy with goggles had been scanning the bleachers from time to time throughout the event. Daeyoung found it odd because the athlete was never distracted like this during a meet.
In the end, their star swimmer still won three silver and two gold medals. If only that was all the information he needed for the article because Daeyoung had been instructed that time to interview Riku afterwards as well. Joining the newspaper club was becoming quite the inconvenience.
He supposed that Riku was made aware of the arrangement beforehand. Could he have been searching for Daeyoung among the spectators, and for what reason? The answer to his curiosity came in the form of a punch to the face.
Waiting silently in the locker room was uncomfortable to say the least. Not only was it stuffy and absolutely reeked but Riku could come in at any moment and Daeyoung could piss his pants in anticipation too.
To his relief, the interview actually went smoothly with no hiccups. For starters, Daeyoung didn’t stutter over his words. He also didn’t stare at Riku for longer than necessary (very hard) or avoided eye contact with him either! If anything, it was Riku who appeared nervous the whole time.
The questions were basic stuff like how the athlete prepared for the competition, how he feels about the medals he won, and what motivates him when things get tough. More than anything, what surprised Daeyoung is Riku’s soft-spokenness which juxtaposed his intimidating image. When the other smiles or giggles over something he had said, it’s hard to reconcile him as being the same boy Daeyoung built up in his head. Not that it’s a bad thing because he found that he quite likes this side of Riku.
As with everything in Daeyoung’s life, it had gone better than he expected until it took a turn for the worse.
“Can I ask a favor from you?” Riku dared to meet his eyes, an eyebrow slightly raised. Then he crossed the room and retrieved something from a locker behind Daeyoung.
When he turned around, there was a paper bag in Riku’s hands which the boy handed out to him. “You see, I baked some cookies. I was wondering if you could give them to your brother? There’s some for you too! Just… tell him I’m cheering for him on the CSAT.”
By a stroke of luck, the first person that genuinely piqued Daeyoung’s interest just had to like his half-brother. It shouldn’t come off as a surprise, really. Everyone and their mothers like Oh Sion but this hits Daeyoung differently.
He couldn’t care less about his brother being beloved by the entire nation or whatever. Still, that doesn’t change how he feels about the unfairness of the situation. Why can’t things ever go his way?
Treating it like it’s some minor inconvenience came easy for Daeyoung, that’s how he managed to get by all this time. Maybe it’s not that big of a deal for a stupid crush. He doesn’t have the courage to pursue Riku anyway. His sexuality is a well-kept secret that he had only recently come to terms with too.
Daeyoung hopes his feelings fizzle out quickly. It has to if he wants to continue playing Cupid for Sion and Riku.
Riku’s request to follow Daeyoung’s Instagram arrives on a snowy winter night, to which the latter waits for exactly half an hour before accepting. Daeyoung doesn’t want to appear desperate even though he’s freaking out inside. He then follows Riku back although he already does on another account (obviously).
As Daeyoung expected, the DM he promptly received had to with the favor Riku asked of him. Well, whatever. So what if this is all because of Sion? What matters is they’re mutuals now!
In all seriousness, Daeyoung doesn’t have the heart to tell Riku that while he did give the box of cookies to his brother, he made no mention of who they were from. Sion must have found his random act of kindness unusual but the words just wouldn’t come out of his throat then.
Sion hyung said he appreciates it!
Daeyoung lies through his teeth but he swears he’s not usually like this. Luckily, this conversation had been through text as he surely won’t be convincing otherwise. He adds that Sion did decently on the test for good measure.
The replies from Riku come in rapid succession,
Oh, really??
I’m glad then (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) .ᐟ.ᐟ
I was worried my baking might have made him sick or idk gave him back luck (╥﹏╥)
Daeyoung immediately refutes his claims, saying that his chocolate chip cookies tasted amazing. The cookies were indeed a delight, chewy and perfectly sweet with a sprinkle of sea salt on top. It was thoughtful of Riku to also prepare a separate box for him and yet he couldn’t even grant him his simple request of delivering the message. He feels guilty for not doing his end of the bargain now. Some Cupid he is.
YAY ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ it makes me happy that you enjoyed them !
Riku texts so cutely that it takes everything in Daeyoung not to bite his screen to contain himself.
Unexpectedly, their conversation doesn’t end there. It switches to other mundane topics like how they’re spending the break, what time they sleep and wake up these days, their plans for college, and resolutions for the coming new year. Not once did Sion’s name come up again in their texts that also moved to KakaoTalk. There’s a strange feeling in Daeyoung’s stomach throughout it all.
Before either of them knew, it was already past two in the morning. Have they really been talking for three whole hours? They wish each other a good sleep but Daeyoung cannot do so. Staring blankly at his phone long after it turned off, he processes what had just happened.
A couple months ago, he wouldn’t have dreamed of even exchanging smiles in passing with Riku and here he is now having spoken to him in person and through chat. Who really cares if it all had to do with Sion? Speaking of which, his name wasn’t even mentioned again in their messages… Which could mean nothing.
Anyway, it was nice to have an actual conversation with his crush that didn’t circle back to his brother. If Daeyoung can’t be involved with Riku romantically, then he’d love for them to be friends at least. And judging from their back-and-forth earlier, they have quite a lot in common that it’s not far-fetched to picture them becoming friends in the future.
Daeyoung hasn’t felt a connection like this with anyone in so long. It’s such a shame things had to be this way.
Daylight is already starting to slip through the curtains and Daeyoung takes that as his cue to quell the thoughts inside his head. Falling asleep took effort but he got there eventually. The next thing Daeyoung registers is laying down in a field of soft grass right next to a boy who smells of sunshine and spring.
Perhaps what’s more shocking is that the messages don’t stop after that. Daeyoung learns more and more about Riku, and vice versa. Conversation between them just flows and doesn’t feel forced at all. It’s actually unfair how similar they are, from something as simple as liking jellies to more serious stuff like their worries for the future. The fact that they’re born in the same month is the icing on top. Naturally, they don’t agree on everything but being able to see things from another perspective is nice too.
Riku shares how he got into swimming one night out of the blue, recalling that he never intended to be competing in championships at all. Now, it’s his ticket to getting into a prestigious university.
In contrast, Daeyoung has been a relatively average student with average grades and occasional extracurricular roles. He used to be considered “wise for his age” but accelerating a grade did more harm than good. It was difficult for Daeyoung to mingle with his classmates who are a year older. Not to mention the topics learned which quickly became unmanageable for him.
High school had started out great though. He’s finally feeling like he’s on top of things for the first time in a while. His first bold move had been joining the newspaper club.
But while it has been a great compromise for his creative writing itch, Daeyoung isn’t sure if he’ll be staying next year. He’s been eyeing to join the school band or maybe the drama club. All the older offers him as advice is to follow his heart. Fair enough.
Of course, Riku slips in questions about Sion here and there. Instead of feeling bummed about it, Daeyoung considers those as gentle reminders that he can’t let himself become too attached. They both know that Riku only befriended him to get close to his brother. He should stop entertaining delusions.
Anywho, winter break is ending soon and Daeyoung is actually glad for it. As a matter of fact, he’s excited to come back to school next week. But what he’s really looking forward to is their school field trip at the end of the month. If the opportunity presents itself, he’ll ask Riku to spend the day with him. But not as on a date. Daeyoung plans on tagging Sion along so he can set the two of them up.
Worst case scenario is his brother being weirded out at him wanting them to spend time together. Seeing that as a very likely possibility, Daeyoung starts closing the gap between him and Sion little by little. His sudden friendliness hopefully doesn’t push Sion away more.
Daeyoung does make some progress with his endeavor. Rekindling their relationship was far easier than he thought. They start walking to school every morning and have lunch together sometimes. Their father doesn’t comment on the unexpected shift but he seems pretty pleased by it.
He hasn’t crossed paths with Riku once since school started again but they remain in touch. The latter teases him that his public display with Sion has been all the talk among the students. I’m doing all this for you, he wants to say.
The field trip is steadily approaching. Now all that’s left for Daeyoung to do is ask his brother and his crush to accompany him. If nothing good comes out of this, at least he finally fixed his relationship with Sion.
Given that the amusement park is the last stop of the field trip, one would think that the students would be left with little to no more energy for it. Alas, even the chilly winter air cannot hamper the enthusiasm of the high school students running around the park like wild animals.
In the museum and temple they visited prior, you had to stick with your class and that’s nonnegotiable. It’s a good thing they now have the freedom to interact with everybody else as long as they all gather at the designated meeting place of their respective classes before eight-thirty.
Everyone’s draped in a minimum of three layers of clothing—Daeyoung and his companions included. They’re currently in line for the roller coaster and Jisung asks Daeyoung something he doesn’t quite catch because he’s frantically demanding Riku’s whereabouts.
YA WHERE ARE YOU
Hyung you’ll miss the roller coaster (˶°ㅁ°)!!
Hurryyyy
“What was that again, Jisung hyung?” he looks up from his phone with a sheepish smile.
“I said, you’ve gotten a lot taller since the last time I saw you,” his brother’s best friend repeats himself.
Sion, who was next to him, ruffles his hair. “Yeah, it wouldn’t be long before he surpasses you too.”
Daeyoung isn’t used to the attention so he just laughs it off. A few more awkward exchanges with Sion and Jisung later, Riku finally arrives at the scene.
“There he is!” Daeyoung raises an arm to let the latecomer know where they are. There’s only five people behind them so they decide to move to the back of the line so they can wait with Riku.
The boy has his hands on his knees, panting for dear life. “Our bus fell way behind. I rushed here the second I got your texts.”
“Hey, why don’t you drink some water?” Sion offers him his bottle, a worried expression on his perfect face.
Riku accepts the plastic bottle hesitantly, mumbling a silent thank you without looking at Sion directly. Conflicting emotions manifest inside Daeyoung which he immediately chokes down before he even knows what they are. All he knows is they can’t be good. Those are not worth his time. He has a mission to fulfill here, damn it!
Maybe Jisung has already read the situation or that’s just how he looks around strangers. Regardless, Daeyoung feels bad for him so he clears his throat to try and get the ball rolling.
“Everyone, this is Riku hyung of the swim team!” Daeyoung proudly introduces him as if they don’t already know the Maeda Riku.
“Nice to meet you, Riku. I’m Sion, Daeyoung’s older brother,” Sion wields that signature smile of his as he holds out his right hand. “Oh, and this is Jisung, my dear friend.”
A couple handshakes later, the line starts moving and they barely make it to the next batch of riders. Sion and Jisung get in the same car before Daeyoung could come up with an excuse to have Riku and his brother sit with each other. Man, he genuinely sucks at this. When Riku occupies the spot next to him, he whispers sorry to him.
For what? Riku mouths.
At that, Daeyoung makes vague gestures to Sion and the seats. It takes the other a second to understand what he’s trying to say but he just dismisses it with a wave of his hand. Daeyoung releases a sigh. What is he feeling so guilty for?
Enough of that, he has to focus on the present and the fact that he’ll probably die of a heart attack from riding this roller coaster.
“I’m actually terrified,” Daeyoung admits after the operator finished checking their restraints and seat belts.
Riku chuckles at him, shaking his head. “Just close your eyes and hold my hand.”
That’s a bad idea. An electronic voice lets them know that they’re going for launch soon. Daeyoung does take Riku’s hand when the train steadily moves up an incline. He also takes Riku’s other advice and closes his eyes for their inevitable drop once they reach the highest point. Except it doesn’t happen.
Daeyoung pries one eye open to inspect the situation and oh, this is nice. The track is just straight ahead with no end in sight but Daeyoung keeps his guard up. He allows himself a few moments to admire the magnificent hills to their left. A smooth turn guides them to a view of the entire park some fifty meters up in the sky. Shit, Daeyoung got distracted.
The sound that comes out of him when they suddenly descend is unrecognizable. From then on, the roller coaster takes them on a series of twists and turns so fast it’s like his soul is left behind him. As they go up once more, Daeyoung has his eyes shut, submitting himself to their fate. The second drop is even worse for some reason but he doesn’t let out a pathetic shriek again (he still screams though). Daeyoung is holding on to Riku’s poor hand like a lifeline, wishing for it to end already.
After what felt like an eternity, the ride comes to a stop, taking them back to where they started. Now that Daeyoung has calmed down, that was actually more thrilling than terrifying. He may sound insane for this but the feeling he got from riding the roller coaster cannot compare to the way his stomach dropped when he found out Riku liked his brother. And the latter doesn’t even elicit a reaction from him anymore.
“Let’s go again?” Daeyoung laughs awkwardly. His only consolation is Sion being a million times more shaken than he is.
Riku looks at him fondly, “I never pegged you for a scaredy-cat.”
Daeyoung doesn’t even try getting himself out of this one. Instead, he chooses to dig at his brother. “At least you weren’t paired up with hyung.”
Once the four of them were up and running, it was clear that Sion had enough for the day. Jisung assures them he’ll take care of him and to have fun on their own. With some regret, the pairs split up.
“I may have forgotten to mention that Sion hyung’s not so good with heights,” Daeyoung says when he’s alone with Riku. They’re walking side-by-side with no real destination. “Would you like something to eat first?”
“Aww… I wanted to ride the ferris wheel!!” his date companion whines. “And nope. No food unless you want me barfing all over the place.”
“Not even some cotton candy?”
“Okay, maybe some cotton candy. But I’m paying.”
The two of them share a swirl of pink and baby blue cotton candy on a stick. In hindsight, they should’ve gotten one each because it disappears in a matter of seconds. Well, they’re not intending to get stuffed anyway.
Riku snaps a quick photo of the big spinning wheel and the setting sun on its back.
“We could still ride the ferris wheel, you know?” Daeyoung remarks with a mouthful of sugar.
“Oh, you won’t be screaming your lungs out?”
“I’m not afraid of heights! Extreme rides just aren’t my thing.”
“Whatever you say.”
The people lined up for the ferris wheel could probably fill up their school auditorium. This will most likely be their last ride before the curfew which is perfectly fine for Daeyoung. His only regret is them not grabbing a more filling snack as they’ll probably spend forever standing in line.
“I’ve read your article, by the way!” Riku lights up like he just remembered. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were glazing me up with how you wrote about me.”
Act cool, Daeyoung. Act cool. He’s at a loss for words. Riku caught him completely off guard.
“It’s not like I didn’t mean any of them… You’re such an incredible swimmer if you didn’t already know.”
“Yeah?”
Now the other’s just messing with him. The grin on Riku’s face is a telltale sign. Wait, why is it warmer all of a sudden? Hoping that his cheeks and ears are an acceptable color, Daeyoung removes his scarf for some relief.
When Riku decides he’s had his fun, he shifts to a different topic. They must have talked about everything under the sun before they’re finally guided inside a compartment. Once they’ve settled down on opposite ends, Daeyoung becomes aware of the closeness of the space.
“Sion hyung would’ve passed out not even halfway up,” he jokes to cut through the tension.
“I’d rather that than him tearing my hand off.”
“Oh, he would’ve done that too.”
Silence.
“Sorry, I know this isn’t exactly what we had planned,” Daeyoung feels like a fraud. He knows he could’ve done better. This was supposed to be a night for Riku and his brother to get closer. “You didn’t spend any valuable time with him. Even worse is you’re stuck here with me.”
“What are you talking about?” Riku tells him like he’s just said the funniest thing ever. “Maybe I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t spend more time with your brother but I like spending time with you too.”
Really?
“Really?”
“Yes, Daeyoung. Now stop getting mopey on me,” Riku searches his bag and pulls out two keyrings. “I got these in a package from home. Keep one and give the other to your Sion hyung, hmm?”
Oh right. Riku mentioned something about not getting the chance to go to Japan for the break. It surely had been lonely for him to spend the holidays without his family. Daeyoung accepts the gifts with grateful hands. One is a tiny Kuromi plush while the other is a Tamagotchi character who looks an awful lot like his brother.
“This one is Sion hyung’s for sure,” he remarks.
They’re at the peak of the ferris wheel now. The breathtaking view outside their window would’ve been perfect in the company of someone’s lover.
So Daeyoung has gone out of his mind. For Valentine’s Day, every club at their school came up with all sorts of gimmicks to raise funds. Whoever in the broadcasting club suggested the idea of a song request station can go to hell. Actually, whoever suggested it is very clever and Daeyoung will take all the blame for this one. It’s entirely his fault that he filled up a song request form online. At least he left out his name, right? And he made sure to use an email that wouldn’t trace back to him.
Even so, it doesn’t change the fact of the matter that he has fallen head over heels for a certain Maeda Riku. All that repressing and denying and playing Cupid did him no favors. But this doesn’t mean that he’ll confess his undying love for the boy of his dreams tomorrow. The song request would have to suffice. Daeyoung might have accepted his feelings but at the end of the day, he and Riku would never work out. What’s the point of messing with something that isn’t broken?
More importantly, Daeyoung registered Riku for the kissing booth of the dance club. There’s a lottery system for it but he pulled some strings for Riku’s name to be picked. Bribing Jisung turned out to be the hardest part of his gig as of yet.
Everything was perfect. Sion is behind a kissing booth decorated in every sense of the word. Needless to say, the spectacle drew in a bit of a crowd. Around a quarter of the student population congregated at the gym to watch the event unfold. The bleachers are full but the floor is cleared out for Sion and the aspirants. Sitting right next to Daeyoung is Riku who’s oblivious about the whole thing.
A stage had been set up as well with Yizhuo doing the honors of hosting. So far, she has done an excellent job hyping up the crowd and shushing them when they go overboard. Seven have already been called, Daeyoung wonders why it’s taking so long. After the seventh girl receives her kiss, Yizhuo rummages inside the fish bowl containing the entries to pick the next lucky winner.
“Maeda Riku,” the petite host drawls into the mic. “Do we have a Maeda Riku here? Come out and collect your kiss~”
Cheers erupt from every direction of the gym. Meanwhile, the boy beside Daeyoung tenses. He puts a firm hand on his shoulder. “Hyung, get over there!”
Riku doesn’t look at him right away. When he does, his face is indecipherable and he makes a run for it. But not to get his kiss from Sion. Every single person in the room is left confused when Riku bolts out of the door instead.
“That’s weird,” Yizhuo chuckles nervously.
Daeyoung is as weirded out as everyone else before his legs take him out of the gym to go after Riku. Where could he possibly have ran off to? He first checks the bathroom but Riku isn’t in any of the stalls. All the rooms he’s passed by are either empty or locked. Just when Daeyoung’s about to lose hope, an idea pops up in his head.
The flights of stairs seem endless but Daeyoung only has one goal in mind. He bursts the door to the rooftop open, the bright sunlight attacking his eyes. When his vision has adjusted, it is Riku’s face that greets him.
“Hello, Daeyoung-ah.”
“Hyung, what are you doing out here? You were about to have a kiss from Sion hyung!”
Riku doesn’t speak.
What gives? Shouldn’t he be more ecstatic about it? Daeyoung’s plan worked for once yet Riku ruined it himself. He was just going to say something when Riku drops the bomb.
“It’s not Sion hyung that I like.”
Daeyoung doesn’t understand what’s happening.
“What do you mean—”
“I just pretended to have a crush on your brother,” Riku ignores him. “...so I could have an excuse to get close to you.”
WHAT?
“Why didn’t you just tell me you liked me?” Daeyoung practically cries out.
“I guess I wasn’t sure if you were into someone like me,” the older murmurs, unintelligible, but Daeyoung understands him. “Also, I didn’t wanna come off as a creep!”
The idiots that the two of them are. So much of their problems wouldn’t exist if they had just been honest from the start. Nonetheless, both of them can't really be blamed for being scared and reluctant to come clean with their feelings.
“Sorry, I can’t comprehend how someone like the Maeda Riku could like some mediocre guy like me.”
Riku slaps his arm. “Don’t say that! You’re too hard on yourself. I don’t know if you noticed but there’s so many out there crushing on you.”
“I only want you, though.”
“Oh yeah?” Riku giggles.
Daeyoung steps forward and asks his crush the burning question. “Can I kiss you?”
Riku’s eyes flutter close as he shyly nods. Cupping his face with both hands, Daeyoung leaves no room for second-guessing, he leans in and seals the deal. Their lips touch and it’s like all of Daeyoung’s senses turned up. He becomes distinctly aware of everything about Riku. The way his lashes rest on his cheeks, the citrus scent of his cologne, and the rhythm of his heartbeat that syncs with his.
It was a chaste kiss but it was all they needed. The smile they share when they pull apart is disgustingly sweet.
“Let’s go?”
“Mmhmm.”
The speaker on the rooftop connected to the school sound system comes alive the moment Daeyoung’s hand reaches for the door knob.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! This is Sohee and I won’t waste any more of your time with talking. I know everyone’s been waiting for their song requests so why don’t we pick up where we left off?”
Fuck. Daeyoung completely forgot about this. But there must be a ton of requests so his may not even be read today.
“We have a song request for Maeda Riku. Huh, this doesn’t say where it’s from. Anyway! I hope you like this song picked out for you by your secret admirer, Riku-ssi.”
'I like you' by DAY6 plays and Daeyoung fights the urge to jump from the rooftop. Why is he so embarrassed as if they don’t already know each other’s feelings?
“I’m guessing that was from you, Daeyoung-ah?” Riku grins, amused.
“Yeah, yeah. I like you if you didn’t know already.”
Valentine’s Day turned out way different than what Daeyoung had expected. He was resigned to his fate of only getting to confess to his crush through a song request. He was also sure he would have to watch said crush make out with his brother. Weirdly enough, neither of those happened today.
The fact that he actually scored Riku still doesn’t feel real to him. He might have to remind himself each waking day of it. Above all, he’s excited for what the future holds for them. Daeyoung has been waiting for someone like Riku his whole life.