Chapter Text
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I. The Hallway Where Everything Begins
The hallway after third period was always a mess, a thundering river of uniforms, sneakers, laughter, half-open notebooks, and the faint smell of cafeteria fries.
But today, it felt quieter to Seonghyeon.
Maybe because he was there.
Keonho stood by the lockers, one earbud in, head slightly tilted as if he could hear the world’s secrets through the music. His hair was perfectly chaotic, the kind only boys who didn’t even try to look good somehow managed to pull off. He leaned against Seonghyeon’s locker like he owned the space.
Seonghyeon felt his heartbeat jump.
Of all the lockers, of course it had to be his.
“Hey,” Keonho said when he noticed him approaching.
He straightened, slipping the earbud out. “Took you long enough.”
Seonghyeon blinked. “Why are you here?”
Keonho shrugged, stuffing the earbud in his pocket. “Because I wanted to see you.”
Just like that. No hesitation. No embarrassment.
Seonghyeon hated how his stomach flipped like someone had tossed glitter inside it.
The hallway noise muted. The lights felt softer. The air warmer.
“Don’t say stuff like that,” Seonghyeon muttered, opening his locker just to have something to look at that wasn’t Keonho’s annoyingly pretty face.
“Why not?” Keonho asked, shameless. “It’s true.”
And Seonghyeon knew he was doomed.
II. After School Coffee and Other Dangerous Activities
It started with one question.
“You free later?” Keonho asked, walking beside him as they left the building. “Let’s get iced coffee.”
“Do you even drink coffee?” Seonghyeon asked.
“No,” Keonho admitted. “But you do. And I want to hang out with you.”
Seonghyeon looked away, pretending he didn’t hear the way his heart tripped over itself.
They ended up at the small café three blocks from campus—the kind with fairy lights and a plant wall that made people feel effortlessly aesthetic.
They sat across from each other, knees accidentally bumping under the table.
Keonho didn’t pull away.
Seonghyeon did.
And Keonho smirked.
The drinks came, iced and sweet. The atmosphere melted. Keonho started talking—not loud and confident like at school, but softer, more real.
“I think I like you,” he said suddenly, mid-sip, completely unprompted.
Seonghyeon almost choked on his drink. “Wh—why would you say that out of nowhere?!”
Keonho placed his cup down. “Because it’s true.”
It was the same answer from before. The same tone. The same honesty.
“I always feel better when you’re around,” he continued. “Like everything else gets kinda blurry but in a good way.”
Seonghyeon shook his head, cheeks burning. “Stop talking.”
“But you haven’t told me you don’t feel the same,” Keonho replied.
Seonghyeon froze.
Keonho’s smile softened. “See? You’re not denying it.”
A dangerous boy, really.
III. The Problem With Having a Crush on a Boy Like Keonho
The problem was simple: Keonho made everything confusing.
He’d linger too close in class, cheeks brushing sometimes.
He’d steal one of Seonghyeon’s pens and hold it hostage until he agreed to walk home together.
He’d send messages late at night:
— u asleep?
— can’t stop thinking about the way you looked today lol
— your hair is cute btw. don’t change it.
— i think i really like u.
That last one kept Seonghyeon awake until 2AM.
He didn’t reply.
He couldn’t.
He was scared he’d say too much.
But then came the day everything snapped open.
IV. The Rain That Told the Truth
It was pouring after school, sheets of water hitting the pavement like tiny bullets. Students rushed around with umbrellas and jackets, but Seonghyeon had forgotten his at home.
Great. Perfect. Exactly what he needed.
He was about to make a run for the bus stop when someone grabbed his wrist.
Keonho.
Holding one umbrella.
Which … wasn’t even open.
“Walk with me,” he said.
“In the rain?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re insane.”
“Probably,” Keonho said, smiling. “But I don’t wanna go home yet.”
They stepped into the rain.
It soaked them instantly, but neither cared.
Their footsteps splashed in sync; their shoulders brushed again and again.
Then Keonho stopped walking.
“Seonghyeon,” he said quietly. “Can you look at me?”
He did.
And everything slowed.
“I like you,” Keonho said.
“A lot. Not as a joke, or because it’s fun, or because we hang out all the time. I really like you.”
Raindrops slid down his hair, his cheeks, his lashes.
He looked unreal. Too good. Too honest.
“I think about you all the time,” Keonho continued.
“And sometimes I feel stupid about it. But I don’t care. I just—”
“Stop,” Seonghyeon whispered.
His voice cracked.
Keonho froze instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t say things like that in the rain,” Seonghyeon muttered.
“It feels like a confession scene from a drama.”
“It is,” Keonho said softly. “At least for me.”
Seonghyeon’s breath caught.
“You’re impossible,” he whispered.
“And you’re avoiding my question,” Keonho replied. “Do you like me or not?”
The rain roared.
The world held its breath.
Finally, Seonghyeon whispered. “I do.”
Keonho’s eyes widened. Then softened.
Then lit up like someone turned on all the streetlights at once.
“Good,” he said, stepping closer. “Because I love you so bad.”
The words hit harder than the rain.
“Shut up,” Seonghyeon muttered, face burning despite the cold water.
“Make me,” Keonho murmured, leaning in just enough for their foreheads to meet.
The moment stretched.
Fragile. Warm.
And then—
He kissed him.
Soft. Careful.
Like he’d been waiting the whole world for this.
They walked the rest of the way home under one umbrella—finally opened—shoulders pressed together, fingers secretly intertwined in the pocket of Keonho’s jacket.
Neither spoke much. They didn’t have to.
Everything had already been said.
V. The Hallway Where It All Comes Back
The next morning, Seonghyeon found Keonho leaning against his locker again.
Same pose.
Same smile.
But this time, when he approached, Keonho didn’t greet him with a casual “Hey.”
He said. “Come here.”
And pulled him into a hug.
In the middle of the hallway.
Where everyone could see.
“Keonho—!”
“Let them look,” he whispered into his hair.
“They’re just jealous I get to be your stupid boyfriend.”
Seonghyeon’s face turned crimson.
“But you like me too,” Keonho added. “So I win.”
“You’re an idiot,” Seonghyeon said.
“Your idiot,” Keonho corrected.
And as the bell rang, neither moved.
Because this time, neither wanted to leave the moment behind.
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