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During their I-LAND days, Sunoo was very vocal about wanting to grow closer to Sunghoon.
The first I-LANDer he met was Jake hyung, and he immediately noticed how easily Jake and Sunghoon clicked. He couldn’t deny how handsome Sunghoon hyung was—and he truly admired him. Sunoo wanted to be close to him too.
Who could forget that unexpected moment in I-LAND when, out of all the members, he chose Sunghoon to dance with the group? The concept wasn’t even Sunghoon’s style—it was far from it! Yet Sunoo picked him anyway. The moment left everyone shocked and laughing.
There were so many times when Sunoo initiated conversations, trying to get closer to him.
His iconic line—“Be careful not to fall for me”—was met with Sunghoon’s equally classic reply: “I won’t fall for you.”
But what went wrong?
Why did things shift so suddenly—why is Sunoo now all over Jay instead of Sunghoon?
They’re always together now—eating out, spending time just the two of them—while the rest of the members are left back in the dorm.
When he and Jake returned from an overseas event as part of their Tiffany & Co. promotions, he was genuinely expecting Sunoo to be there waiting for them. For him. He thought Sunoo would bombard them with questions—asking how the event went, what the place was like. He had been ready to spend the whole night talking, sharing stories, laughing.
But when he walked through that door, they were greeted by the other members but not Jay and Sunoo.
“Where’s Jay and… Sunoo?” he asked casually—but the truth was, he was only really looking for the younger.
“Ah, Sunoo hyung asked Jay hyung if they could check out the new perfume store, and Jay hyung agreed,” their leader replied.
Ah. They were probably checking out that one perfume Jay kept raving about—the one he bought for him. The one he wouldn’t stop talking about because of how good it smelled.
It was already 11 PM, but the two still hadn’t returned.
Why does he have to wait for them anyway? He should be resting by now—he knows he’s tired from traveling and from the event he and Jake just attended.
But he can’t help it. He can’t ignore the nagging thought in his head—the one that keeps replaying over and over.
Sunoo doesn’t seem eager to get close to him anymore. Don’t get him wrong—they’re still on good terms, they still talk. But if he were to rank Sunoo’s closeness with each member right now, he’s sure he’d be at the bottom of the list.
Is Sunoo… avoiding him?
He doesn’t know.
But he feels it.
Sunoo is becoming distant. They barely spend time alone together anymore. And on the rare occasions they’re in the same space, there’s always someone else around—one or two more members, like a buffer.
Never just the two of them.
Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe he’s just overthinking—reading too much into the little things.
But then again, Sunoo used to always come to him first. With random stories, with new songs he discovered, with questions about things he already knew the answers to—just for the sake of talking.
Now?
Now he laughs louder with Jay.
He leans more on Heeseung.
He clings to Jungwon when they’re backstage.
And him? He’s just… there.
Was it something he did? Or something he failed to do?
The worst part is, he doesn’t even know when the shift happened. There wasn’t a specific moment—no fight, no misunderstanding, no cold shoulder. Just a slow, quiet drift. Like two ships that once sailed side by side but gradually veered off course.
He sighs, leaning back against the couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
“Why do I even care this much?” he whispers to no one in particular.
But the answer is clear in the silence that follows.
Because it used to matter to Sunoo. And now, he’s not sure if he matters to Sunoo at all.
The front door finally clicked open around 11:43 PM.
Sunghoon didn’t move right away. He stayed curled on the couch, phone in hand but screen untouched. Only when he heard the familiar voices echo through the hallway did he slowly lift his head.
Laughter.
Sunoo’s laughter.
He couldn’t help the way his stomach twisted.
Jay’s voice came first. “I told you it would smell amazing on you.”
Sunoo giggled, “Okay, okay, you were right—but it’s still a bit too strong for me!”
They stepped into the living room, surprised to see Sunghoon.
“Oh? Sunghoon, you and Jake got back already?” Jay asked, brows raised.
“Yeah,” Sunghoon replied, his voice quiet.
“So how was the event overseas?” Jay asked.
“It’s… it’s good,” he replied shortly.
“I think I’ll head up first.” He said goodbye to the two and briefly looked at Sunoo, who glanced back at him.
Maybe if I just rest, I’ll feel better.
* * *
It was morning, and everyone had begun gathering around the dining table for breakfast. Sunoo was already seated, calmly sipping water as he waited for the rest. In the kitchen, Jay moved around, finishing up something on the counter. Jake was focused on pouring coffee into mugs, while Jungwon and Ni-ki set the plates and spoons in place. Across from Sunoo, Heeseung had already settled into his seat, casually scrolling through his phone.
Sunghoon emerged and took in the scene with a quick glance. His eyes landed on the two vacant seats on either side of Sunoo. Without much thought, he began walking toward them, planning to take one of the spots.
But just as he was a few steps away, he watched as Jay swooped in and casually dropped into one of the seats. At the same moment, Ni-ki slid smoothly into the other.
Sunghoon stopped mid-step, his lips pressing into a thin line.
He didn’t say anything, but he was clearly a little pissed off at his two members.
“The company will send three vans later to pick us up at the dorm since we have a schedule,” their leader announced.
“So, who’s riding together later?” Jungwon asked.
“I’ll go with Sunoo.”
Before anyone else could respond, Jay had already decided.
“Then I’ll go with Jungwon hyung and Heeseung hyung,” Ni-ki muttered.
“Alright, then Jake hyung and Sunghoon hyung will ride together,” Jungwon added, finalizing the arrangement.
Just like that, it was settled.
But someone wasn’t entirely satisfied.
Who was Jay to decide for Sunoo? Why did he have to go with him again?
Sunghoon couldn’t deny it—Jay had been getting on his nerves lately.
The reason? He couldn’t shake the feeling that Sunoo was slowly slipping away from him, spending more and more of his time with Jay instead of him.
* * *
Things were in full swing on the filming set. Staff moved quickly, adjusting cameras and props while the boys got into position.
Sunoo had just taken his mark for a solo scene near a raised platform with scattered decorative glass panels. As he stepped back, his foot landed awkwardly on a loose piece. In a flash, his ankle twisted, and he stumbled, falling onto his side with a sharp gasp.
“Cut!” a voice shouted, but Sunoo was already clutching his ankle.
“Sunoo!”
Sunghoon’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. He was the first to reach him, dropping to his knees beside him, eyes wide with panic.
“Are you okay? Where does it hurt?” he asked, hands hovering nervously.
Sunoo winced. “I—I think I twisted it. It hurts a little, but I’m okay…”
“No, you’re not,” Sunghoon muttered, more to himself.
The staff rushed in, checking his injury.
“It’s not serious, but he should rest and avoid putting weight on it. We’ll cancel his solo shots for today.”
Sunoo opened his mouth to protest, but they quickly added: “We’ll resume his part another day.”
“I’ll go with him,” Jungwon offered.
“I can go, too,” Jay chimed in.
“I’ll take him.”
Sunghoon’s voice was firm, final.
The tone left no room for argument.
He gently slipped his arm around Sunoo and helped him up.
“You didn’t have to—”
“I wanted to,” Sunghoon interrupted softly. “Just let me do this, okay?”
Sunoo didn’t argue. He let him.
It was a very quiet ride back to the dorm.
Sunoo closed his eyes, pretending to sleep to avoid the awkwardness.
He woke up when he felt someone tapping his shoulder.
“Sunoo-yah. We’re here.”
Still a bit dazed, he stretched, about to open the door—only for Sunghoon to beat him to it.
“I got it.”
“It’s okay, Sunghoon hyung, I can manage.”
“Just let me do it.”
He didn’t argue anymore. Sunghoon supported his waist, keeping him steady. It had been a while since they’d been this close.
“Wait here. I’ll get some ice.”
Sunoo nodded, still unsure how to feel.
When Sunghoon came back with a cold compress, he knelt in front of him and gently pressed it against his ankle.
Sunghoon cleared his throat.
“Sunoo-yah… did I do something wrong?”
“Huh?”
“Do you still like talking to me?”
“Of course I do, hyung. Why would you ask that?”
“Because it doesn’t feel like it. You don’t come to me like before. You’re always with Jay or the others. And when we’re together… it’s never just us anymore.”
The question lingered.
Sunoo bit his lip. “I didn’t think you noticed.”
“How could I not?” Sunghoon laughed hollowly. “You used to say I was the one you wanted to get close to. I didn’t realize I’d end up being the one left out.”
“It wasn’t on purpose. I just thought… I don’t know. You didn’t really respond much before. I thought I was bothering you.”
“You weren’t.”
“I guess you don’t like me… and that you’d rather be with Jake hyung than with me.”
That was the biggest lie.
“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way, Sunoo-yah.”
“If only you knew how much I wish you’d cling to me like before.”
“I hate it when you’re always around the others—around Jay—but not with me.”
Sunoo couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“You know, hyung… we can still be like we were before, right?”
Sunghoon looked at him.
“And I’ll make it up to you.” He smiled—the kind of smile that never failed to make Sunoo’s heart flutter.
* * *
The next morning, they were in the living room for a movie. Sunoo on the left, Heeseung on the right, the others on the floor.
Jay was about to sit beside Sunoo when, quick as lightning, Sunghoon slipped into the spot, resting his arm along the backrest.
Sorry, dude. Not today. You’ve already spent too much time with my Sunoo.
Jay chuckled, shaking his head. Instead, he sat with Ni-ki on the floor.
Meanwhile, Sunghoon rested his head on Sunoo’s shoulder.
“Hyung, you know you’re being clingy, right?”
“I know, Sunoo-yah,” he murmured.
And this time, he had no intention of letting him go.
* * *
“Jungwon, you don’t really mind if we switch rooms, right?”
The younger blinked. “Why, hyung?”
“I want to be roommates with Sunoo.”
Jungwon laughed. Finally, someone’s getting braver.
“Yes, hyung, I don’t mind. You can share this room with Sunoo anytime you want.”
That was all Sunghoon needed to hear. He felt nothing but happiness.
All he wanted was to spend more time with Sunoo than anyone else. He wanted to reclaim his spot—the one he used to hold—as Sunoo’s favorite.