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They say some souls are written beside each other in the universe. Long before their bodies ever touch the earth, their names are already whispered together in the language of the cosmos. There’s an invisible thread—an unbreakable one, weaving through time and space, binding two fates into one story. It doesn’t shout, but only hums patiently, waiting for the moment when two wandering lives will find their way back to each other again.
And when it happens, it doesn’t feel like meeting someone new.
It’s just two halves of the soul recognizing each other long before the mind can even catch up.
Some would call them ‘destined pairs’. Others might say ‘soulmates’, or ‘fated mates.’
But for JL, they were ‘stars aligned’. The phrase encompasses everything he couldn’t put into words, for if the stars were aligned, then it only means their connection must have been written down by the stars a long time ago, and they were bound to find each other—destined to cross paths, to grow together, and become each other’s soulmate.
And that’s exactly what happened when he met Steven. At first, he thought they were simply two people meant to just cross paths on UL and nothing more. But as time went on, he realized it was more than that.
Because for once, he thought that maybe they were written by the stars.
And true to that belief, the stars had watched and waited patiently, tracing the delicate threads of fate, guiding their steps toward one another. And when their paths finally intertwined, it felt as if the universe itself exhaled a long, relieved sigh—like something that was long overdue had finally fallen into place.
“I like you, JL.”
That was the last thing JL heard before his entire world tilted on its axis. The words rang in his ears, louder than the frantic pounding of his own heartbeat. And before he could even process what was happening, his body betrayed him—his feet moved on their own, dashing out of their dorm in a haze of panic.
You see, JL liked Steven too. He had for as long as he could remember. But when the very person you’ve been quietly falling for suddenly confesses—when the dream you’ve rehearsed a hundred times in your head becomes reality—it isn’t always joy that floods you. Sometimes it’s fear.
An overwhelming, paralyzing fear.
And so JL ran. Just like that.
Now, days later, here they were at a fansigning event, standing only a breath away from each other, yet feeling miles apart. JL could sense the shift between them as clearly as the distance in Steven’s gaze. Steven wasn’t looking at him the way he used to. If anything, it felt like Steven was avoiding him.
The realization sank heavy in JL’s chest. His instinct told him to reach out, to explain, to make things right. But the weight of his own guilt pinned him down, convincing him to keep his silence. So he mirrored Steven’s distance, keeping himself at the edge of his presence, careful not to cross invisible boundaries.
Because the last thing JL ever wanted… was to be a burden to Steven. The last thing he wanted was to be nothing more than a nuisance to the person he loved most.
JL never planned on confessing to Steven. Not now. Not ever.
During the finale of the survival show, when the stage was glittered with falling confetti and the crowd roared with tears and cheers, JL found himself stealing one last look. Steven stood a few steps away, his eyes glistening, a smile evident on his trembling lips as he took in the sight of their dream finally being realized.
JL, with his heart swelling and breaking at the same time, mouthed the words he swore he would never let slip.
“I like you,” he whispered to no one but the air, so softly, so surely, as though speaking them aloud could finally ease the ache inside his chest.
Then Steven turned to face him. Their eyes met, and Steven flashed him a smile so genuine, so blindingly pure, that JL nearly forgot how to breathe. His chest constricted, and sheer panic shot through him.
Did he hear it? Shit. Did Steven hear him?
But Steven only lifted a finger, pointing at something in the crowd with the same excitement as before. JL exhaled in shaky relief.
From that moment, JL made a silent promise to himself: that would be the last time. The final confession. He would let those words exist once—just once—and from here on, he would be content to love and admire Steven quietly from a distance; as a brother, a teammate… and as his silent love.
But fate had other plans.
One night, when the dorm was quiet and their members were fast asleep, JL’s phone buzzed. Steven had asked him to meet at the veranda—alone. His chest tightened with nerves as he stepped outside, the night air cool against his skin.
He thought Steven might talk about their performance. Or maybe scold him for something he did wrong, something about being careless. JL braced himself for correction and the disappointment that will follow it.
But what he got instead shattered everything he thought he had under control.
Steven confessed.
The very words JL had longed to hear, the words he replayed in every daydream, spilled out from Steven’s lips with sincerity. JL’s mind went blank. His body froze, and for him, It was too much—too surreal—that his heart was screaming for joy while his thoughts drowned in the what-ifs.
That’s why he ran.
Before he could think, before he could respond, his feet carried him out of the dorm, down the street, through the empty night until the neon glow of a convenience store pulled him to a stop. There, bent over and breathless, JL tried to process what just happened.
His phone vibrated endlessly in his pocket. He didn’t check. He didn’t have to. He knew it was Steven. Who else would be calling him at this hour, when the world was asleep and their tight schedules demanded rest?
JL pressed his palms against his face, his heart hammering so loudly it hurt. He wanted this—God, he wanted this more than anything. But now that it was finally in his hands, he didn’t know how to fucking hold it.
Because when you’ve built a love on silence, sometimes, the truth feels like the scariest thing in the world.
Noong alas tres na ng umaga lang siya nagdesisyong umuwi. Pag-uwi niya, saka lang niya tiningnan ang phone niya habang naglalakad.
“JL, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have confessed.”
“JL, where are you? It’s dangerous out there. Please… just come home. If being near me makes you sick, I’ll stay out of your sight. I promise. Just… please come back. I’m sorry.”
“Yel. Come home. I’m begging you.”
Napasinghap siya nang malakas, halos mabaliw siya sa bigat na dala ng araw na ‘to.
Putangina. He really did fuck up this time.
At ngayon, sa kasalukuyan, naiirita siya, not with Steven but with himself—because he knew he shouldn’t be the one feeling awkward when it is just natural for Steven to avoid him. Sino nga ba namang didikit sa’yo matapos mong i-reject ang taong may gusto sa’yo without meaning to?
Naiinis siya, oo, pero dahil kasalanan niya. Naging isa siyang malaking duwag matapos ang gabing iyon. At ngayon, the person he loves was the one most likely punishing himself, thinking he’d done something wrong.
He hated it. He hated that Steven looked like he regretted everything when in truth, JL had been dying to tell him that he felt the same.
This won’t do. They needed to talk.
So they did.
After the fansign, habang naglalakad sila papunta sa sasakyan, JL’s chest tightened. He couldn’t take it anymore.
“Hyung…” he called softly.
Steven didn’t turn, didn’t even slow down. “Hm?”
That single hum sliced through JL’s nerves. So he reached out, almost desperately, and caught Steven’s wrist. The older froze, turning to look first at the hand gripping him, then up to JL’s face.
What Steven saw wrecked him more.
That expression. That guilty, nervous face…
Steven’s chest constricted painfully.
Fuck… he didn’t want this. He didn’t want JL to feel burdened by his feelings. Didn’t want him to look at him like that, like he owed him something. His confession wasn’t supposed to do this. The last thing Steven wanted was to make JL uncomfortable.
“JL…” he swallowed, voice low and breaking, “I’m sorry, but—”
“Hyung.” JL cut him off, eyes blazing, voice dropping into a harsh whisper, “Isang sorry mo pa, hahalikan na talaga kita.”
Steven blinked, startled. “W-what?” He heard the anger, the heat, but the words were foreign to him—he didn’t understand JL’s native language fully. He thought he just made things worse.
JL exhaled sharply, then tugged him into the nearest corner, away from cameras, away from wandering eyes. His grip never loosened, as if letting go meant losing him for good.
“Hyung. Please,” JL’s voice trembled now, laced with desperation. “Please listen to what I’m about to say first.”
Steven stiffened. His heart braced itself, hammering inside his ribcage. He’d been preparing for this moment, for the confrontation, for the rejection he thought he deserved.
But nothing could have prepared him for the words that came out of JL’s sweet mouth.
“Hyung,” JL whispered, voice already breaking but steady enough to cut through the air between them, “I like you, too. I’ve liked you since that very first day I chose to sit beside you in Universe League. Maybe you didn’t notice, but from that moment, I found myself drawn to you—and I never… stopped. For months, I carried this feeling in silence, loving you quietly in every moment I got to stand next to you. But when you confessed, I froze. Not because I didn’t feel the same, but because I did—and I was terrified. I didn’t have the courage then to say the words back, but if you’ll let me, I want to say them now.”
His thumb brushed unconsciously over Steven’s wrist, over and over again, as if grounding himself there. Steven shuddered at the contact, his breath coming out shaky.
“Yel…” he breathed, voice cracking, not knowing if he should cry, laugh, or just collapse right then and there.
“I’m not done yet.” JL’s tone sharpened, determination pushing through the fear. His chest rose and fell heavily as he forced the words out—the words he should’ve said that night, the words that had been choking him for so long.
“I’ve loved you for so long that I taught myself to bury it and lock it away where no one—not even you—could see. I was content just to admire you from a distance, even if it meant burning in silence.” JL confessed, his voice shaking. “I already accepted the fact that there’s zero chance you’d ever like someone like me. But then you confessed, and all my beliefs came crashing down. I needed a moment to think about your confession—pero hindi kinaya ng utak ko, so my emotions and the adrenaline took over. My only thought was to run, to get out of there before I completely lose myself over you.”
A wet laugh escaped him, half-broken and half-relieved.
“God, you don’t know how tempted I was to kiss you back then.” His gaze dipped lower, inevitably landing on Steven’s lips. His own tongue darted out, wetting his own as his throat suddenly turned dry. He swallowed audibly. “Halo-halo yung dumapo sa isip ko that time. Hahalikan ba kita? Sasabihin ko bang gusto rin kita? O tatakbo na lang ako paalis kasi hindi na kita kinakaya?”
When he looked up again, Steven’s face was a mix of confusion and wonder.
Right. Of course. His Tagalog was too much for Steven to follow.
JL took another shaky breath, steadying himself.
Well. Here goes nothing.
“Mahal kita, Steven…” he whispered softly, almost like a hushed prayer, his lips curving into a tender smile.
Steven’s eyes widened just slightly, then softened with a warmth that sent JL’s heart free-falling. He gently removed JL’s grip on his wrist—only to clasp JL’s hand firmly with his own.
“I know what that means, 3-pick,” Steven breathed, smiling as though he’d been waiting to hear it forever.
JL’s chest tightened in bliss, his own smile breaking wider, brighter.
Just then, they heard the voice of their manager echoing through the hall, looking for them.
Reluctantly, their fingers loosened, their hands slipping apart. JL let out a soft, dismayed whimper at the loss of contact.
Steven noticed immediately. He stepped forward, closing the small gap between them, his presence overwhelming. Then he leaned in, lips brushing the shell of JL’s ear, his whisper sending shivers straight down his spine.
“Later, at the dorms, come to my room. We have a lot to talk about.”
JL bit down on his lip hard, struggling to contain the stupidly wide grin threatening to take over his face.
God. He couldn’t wait.
“You two will be placed under a social media ban for a month,” the management declared, their voices firm but not unkind. “And during that time, you should limit being seen together in public, which means, no unnecessary outings and no fanservice that could fuel the rumors.”
The words hit heavier than JL expected. They had been summoned to this meeting after the management noticed how fans were “shipping” them a little too seriously. The internet had begun piecing things together and it was only a matter of time before whispers became headlines. The company decided to step in before things got out of hand.
“You know why we’re doing this, right?” their manager sighed, looking at the two with a mix of worry and authority.
JL lowered his head, the gravity of the situation suddenly pressing down on his chest. Of course he knew. This career was his lifelong dream. Becoming an idol meant sacrifices, and this was one of them. He bit his lower lip, holding back the tears that burned behind his eyes.
You really can’t have it all, huh?
He wanted to shout Steven’s name to the world. He wanted to hold him in the open, proudly, without fear of what others would say. After all, they had already made things official. It happened the night JL finally confessed his feelings. Later that evening, in Steven’s room, beneath the soft blankets and a star-scattered sky that cast its luminous glow through the window, they whispered to each other about their dreams, their fears, and about the love blooming between them, with their fingers intertwined and their heart strings tangled beneath the sheets.
Just then, Steven leaned in slowly to steal JL’s rambling away with a kiss. JL froze for a second, his heart stuttering in disbelief. When Steven pulled back and gave him that soft, sweet smile, JL couldn’t help but lean in again—this time more eagerly. Steven laughed wetly between kisses, their breaths mingling and hearts pounding too loudly that only the two of them could hear.
Then the next morning came and everything felt… different. The air in the dorm carried a new kind of tension. The members, who had always known the two were close, began to pick up on subtle changes. Small things gave them away—the way JL stayed a little too long by Steven’s side, the way Steven’s eyes always found JL in a crowded room. It was inevitable.
Day after day, their closeness became more visible. Their affection slipped through the cracks. On camera, they shared looks they used to hide, and when the cameras were off, they moved toward each other like there was a force they couldn’t resist. It wasn’t even intentional—their feelings just overflowed and slipped through in ways they couldn’t control.
And now, here they were, sitting in a tense conference room, their love under scrutiny.
JL felt Steven’s presence beside him like an anchor. When his hand unconsciously clenched under the table, Steven reached out and gently pried his fingers open, threading their hands together. The warmth that spread through JL’s palm almost made Steven’s resolve crumble.
Steven straightened his back and spoke clearly, embodying the leader he was. “We understand,” he said, his voice steady. “Thank you for looking after us. We’ll be more careful moving forward.”
JL glanced sideways, admiration swelling in his chest. Steven wasn’t just his lover; he was also the group’s leader—someone who carried responsibility not just for himself but for everyone. Even now, in this heavy moment, he held his head high. They both knew that whatever happens, the group is their utmost priority.
JL’s grip tightened, and Steven squeezed his hand back in assurance.
Yeah, they’ll manage.
So a gruesome month tested them. They forced themselves to act like nothing had changed. They told themselves that small interactions on stage or fansigning events were just fanservice. They tried so hard to believe their feelings were only a product of delusions of the mind.
But no matter how much they tried to stay away from each other, their habits kept resurfacing. The mannerisms they developed while taking care of each other were hard to erase. Even if not as lovers, anyone could depict how much they cared as teammates. True fans could tell how precious and strong their bond was.
Whether it was friendship or love, they felt like two halves of one soul. They were destined to debut together. Destined to look out for each other.
So they told themselves to endure.
One month. Just one month. That was all they needed to get through. One month of pretending, of pulling back, of acting like nothing had changed. And so they breathed through it.
JL kept replaying that one video he saw on X—the fansign call where a fan asked Woongki about the members’ chemistry. When his and Steven’s names came up, Woongki smiled and answered with a single word:
“Destiny.”
And just like that, JL was a goner.
He stood in the dorm kitchen, scrolling through the clip for what was probably the tenth time, a stupid grin plastered on his face. In one hand was his phone; in the other, a half-eaten crookie. The aroma of his Pancit Canton simmering on the stove filled the air, but his attention was locked on that video. Each replay made his chest flutter a little more.
Destiny.
Who would’ve thought his Woongki hyung—someone he deeply admired—would describe them that way? Because JL always thought so, too. But hearing it from someone else made it feel real. Almost fated.
“What’s making you giddy, Yeli?”
Steven’s soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He came up from behind, wrapping his arms around JL’s waist in a warm backhug. JL chuckled mid-bite, still scrolling through X as Steven rested his chin on JL’s shoulder to peek at his phone.
“Nothing,” JL said, grinning. “Just thought Woongki hyung is amazing.”
“Why?” Steven asked, curiosity lacing his tone.
“Did you know he told a fan that he thought of our chemistry as ‘destiny’?” JL’s voice carried a mix of excitement and disbelief, like he couldn’t quite get over it himself.
Steven let out a soft laugh, leaning in to press a feather-light kiss against JL’s jaw.
“Well, he’s not wrong. I always knew we’re destined, Yeli. I was destined to meet you. You were destined to join the survival program. We were destined to become a team. To be together. Well… that’s what I think.” Steven’s voice was soft, eyes fixed on the pot where the noodles had just begun to boil.
JL glanced at him, warmth curling in his chest. He nudged his own shoulder to make Steven look at him, and when Steven turned his head, JL stole a quick, chaste kiss. It caught Steven off guard—his cheeks flushed pink almost immediately.
“Yeah? You think we’re written by the stars? Think we’re soulmates?” JL asked quietly, gaze drifting to Steven’s lips. And honestly, who could blame him? All he wanted was to kiss Steven again, but he couldn’t. Soggy noodles were a tragedy he refused to allow.
“Mhm. I don’t care what other people think, JL. You’re it for me. If Woongki thinks we’re destined, then I guess… we really are meant to be. Don’t you think so too?” Steven’s voice dropped to a hushed whisper. The dorm was quiet—the other members had gone out with the maknaes—so it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of them.
JL felt Steven’s arms around his waist tighten, as if he was silently afraid of JL getting out of his grasp.
JL let out a light laugh, turning to face him more fully. Steven loosened his hold just enough to let JL move, but kept his arms securely around him. JL slipped his arms over Steven’s shoulders, drawing him closer.
“Yeah,” JL murmured, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. “I think so too, Yeup.”
Steven’s smile bloomed at that, contagious and warm. He leaned in until their foreheads met, eyes fluttering shut. The two swayed gently from side to side with no music, just the quiet and gentle thump of their hearts keeping time.
Everything feels so domestic. So surreal. So… beautiful.
Loving Steven is beautiful.
And loving JL is magical.
Steven leaned in to give JL a proper kiss this time, and JL welcomed him without hesitation.
“The noodles will get soggy…” JL murmured against Steven’s lips between kisses, breathless and smiling.
Steven only tightened his hold around him. “I’ll cook you another one. Give your man a kiss first.”
JL laughed, rubbing his nose against Steven’s followed by a light scrunch. “My man? Who? You?”
Steven leaned back slightly, feigning offense with an exaggerated gasp. “The fuck… Who else do you think it would be?”
JL burst into laughter, giddy and radiant in Steven’s eyes. His joy was infectious, lighting up the quiet kitchen. He reached up, hands sliding behind Steven’s nape to pull him in for another eager kiss.
“I’m just kidding. Here’s a kiss for my man.” He pressed his lips to Steven’s once more. “There. Feeling better?”
Steven just shook his head with a playful grin, refusing to let go as he continued swaying them gently from side to side.
JL thinks this is ridiculous. Dancing in the kitchen without music? It’s the kind of thing you’d see in a cheesy romance drama. But to him, it’s something so… domestic. Something unique, something only they could share and understand.
Something they could call theirs.
He used to wonder if loving Steven was worth the risk—if everything they had was something he could truly hold on to. But now, looking at Steven’s flushed face and feeling the steady warmth of his arms, he knows the answer.
Steven is worth it. Always.
And so he lets himself indulge in moments like these—hushed and tender moments that belonged solely to them. Moments they could only steal behind cameras, away from the world’s watchful eyes. It wasn’t often; their schedules left little room for romance. But JL always made sure to give Steven what he needed, to care for him in his own way—because he knew Steven had been quietly taking care of him too in his own ways, ever since they were in UL.
They basked in the warmth and silence, the world outside momentarily forgotten, until JL broke it softly. “How many more days left?”
“Three days,” Steven murmured, pressing a gentle kiss against JL’s cheek.
“Three more days, huh?” JL echoed quietly.
For them, nothing felt impossible. They could endure anything—as long as they had each other.
With one last lingering kiss, JL finally turned back to the stove, switching it off and straining the noodles from the pot. Steven stayed pressed against him the whole time, arms looped tightly around his waist, chin resting on JL’s shoulder as if he belonged there, quietly watching his love make his Pancit Canton.
Ah, nothing could get better than this.
“Hmn… the ban’s already lifted. Should we drop something?” JL murmured lazily, scrolling through his phone.
They were tucked away in the corner of the practice room, drenched in post-practice warmth. The others had already left, leaving the two of them in their own little world. Steven was sitting with his back against the mirrored wall, legs stretched out comfortably, while JL sat in between them, leaning back against Steven’s chest as if it were the most natural thing in the world. His head rested on Steven’s shoulder, phone in hand, as he absentmindedly played with Steven’s fingers.
“What are you thinking of?” Steven asked, voice soft, chin resting lightly on JL’s shoulder.
“Well…” JL drawled, a little grin tugging at his lips. “I edited a vlog of our date a few weeks ago. I was thinking of posting it. The fans already miss us, hyungie. I feel bad~” He said the last part in a whiny baby voice, cheeks puffed out, making Steven chuckle quietly.
“Alright, whatever you want, Yeli,” Steven answered warmly, pressing a fond kiss on top of JL’s head before tightening his arms around his waist.
JL smiled at the gesture. He lifted their interlaced hands to his lips and pressed a soft kiss on the back of Steven’s hand as a silent thanks. Then, with a little hum of excitement, he focused back on his phone, typing out a caption and uploading the vlog onto Weverse.
It didn’t take long. Within minutes, a flood of notifications exploded on his screen such as comments and outpour of love from fans who had clearly been waiting. JL laughed out loud as he scrolled through the replies, his laughter echoing softly through the empty practice room. He switched over to X, where things were even more unhinged. Memes, edits, screaming comments in all caps—he couldn’t help but quote some of it on his private account, snickering to himself.
Steven, curious, tilted his head to peek at the screen. His eyes caught a few English comments that made him burst out laughing, shoulders shaking behind JL.
“They’re so adorable. They really waited for us.” Steven managed between his snickers, clearly touched.
“Yeah.” JL answered with a grin, warmth blooming in his chest as he continued scrolling. There was something comforting about seeing the fans’ excitement mirror their own. It made everything feel worth it.
Steven buried his face lightly in the crook of JL’s neck, breathing him in. “I missed this,” he murmured.
“Hmm? Missed what?” JL turned his head slightly, confused.
“This. Us. Being able to share it again. Even just the little things.” Steven whispered, his voice quiet and sincere against JL’s skin.
JL’s smile softened. He placed his phone face down on his lap and turned a little to face Steven. “Yeah… me too.” he whispered back. He tilted his head upward, meeting Steven’s gaze with the kind of sincerity that could never be faked. His heart swelled as he spoke the words he’d never get tired of saying.
“Mahal kita, Steven.”
And Steven, understanding every layer of that confession, broke into a proud, tender smile. He dipped his head down, closing the distance between them to claim JL’s lips in the sweetest, most heartfelt kiss. When they parted, he whispered his reply.
“I love you too, my Yeli.”
They just stayed there for a few more hours with Steven’s arms around him, their fingers still laced, the dim lights of the practice room casting a gentle glow over them.
Two constellations wandering across the vast sky were destined to align when the universe decides it’s time. For Steven and JL, it was never a matter of “if”, only “when”.
From the very beginning, their paths seemed to mirror each other like twin stars orbiting one another. What they had was more than a coincidence—it was fate, threaded through time itself.
There were moments when the world tried to pull them apart, when distance and doubt cast shadows on their light. But like stars that shine brighter against a dark sky, they always found their way back. Love, for them, was never about perfection—it was about choosing each other, again and again, no matter the storms that came.
And as the years stretched on, their story became one that felt both ancient and ever new—a love whispered by the wind, carried by the night sky, and etched among the constellations.
For Steven and JL weren’t just lovers who met by chance.
They were written by the stars.
Bound by the universe that saw their souls and decided that, ah, they belonged together.