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Yin was usually not a particularly jealous person—or at least he tried to smother such feelings the moment they appeared, because otherwise he would probably spend far too much time being jealous when it came to War. After all, the entire world seemed completely obsessed with him. No matter where they went, people gravitated toward War, like moths drawn to a flame.
And who could blame them? Whenever War was in the room, Yin's gaze also found its way to him, as if he were magically drawn to him.
The difference, however, or so he told himself, was that War was always meeting his gaze.
Over the years, Yin had come to terms with the fact that War had a special effect on others—and he had always tried to dial down his jealousy, so that it very rarely surfaced.
Unfortunately, today was one of those days when he simply couldn't keep it in check. He wasn’t even sure why it was impossible to control it this time—maybe because there were too many secret glances directed at War, or maybe it was because Yin secretly feared that War might actually be interested for a change.
In Nanon.
Nanon, who was handsome, charming, and incredibly talented.
And who was holding War's arm tightly, as if he didn’t want to let go.
Yin watched the situation with an unpleasant feeling in his stomach, which he quickly identified as jealousy. But even though he immediately tried to push it away, knowing it was utterly ridiculous, the feeling remained when his eyes registered War also reaching for Nanon's arm. They exchanged a few brief words, smiling.
His stomach clenched uncomfortably.
That smile.
Yin had always thought that War's smile was something truly special. Somehow, it seemed to shine brighter than any other smile, no other face glowed as brightly as his. He would have loved to keep it all to himself, but such a smile, which made everything seem lighter and brighter just by looking at it, deserved to be seen. It was absurd, the power War's smile had over him—one single glance at it was enough to make his whole day.
And now it was directed at Nanon.
Yin gripped his shorts tightly as he watched the exchange with an almost impassive expression. He knew that in this room, phones were constantly pointed at them, seeing everything—it would probably even be enough for Yin to just glance in their direction for a rumor to spread on social media that he was jealous.
Except that in this case, it wouldn’t be 'just a rumor'.
Yin forced himself to look away and focus on other people. He feigned preoccupation, indifference, but registered out of the corner of his eye how War pulled away from Nanon and approached him.
As he sat down beside him on the bench, Yin was still gazing across the playing field, as if he hadn't even noticed War's presence.
“Nanon asked me if we want to grab something to eat after the event,” War's muffled voice sounded beside him, and Yin felt it more than he saw it, that War leaned closer to him, presumably so that others wouldn't overhear. His body heat radiated towards him, making Yin's nerve endings buzz.
His shoulders tensed as he let the words sink in. “Why are you telling me this? You definitely don't need my permission.” Even though he tried for an indifferent, almost bored tone, he heard himself that it sounded a little snarky. He resisted the urge to close his eyes in embarrassment, while still avoiding any glance in War's direction. He knew that if he looked at him, he would crumble immediately. War was his ultimate weakness.
“Huh?” The single word was pure confusion, and Yin didn't need to see War's face to know that he probably blinked in surprise. He could feel his gaze fixed on him with pure clarity. “What are you talking about?”
The question felt like ants crawling on his skin, and his neck tingled with embarrassment because he already regretted his overly harsh reaction.
When he didn't answer, War leaned forward slightly to look him in the face. A few moments of silence stretched between them, and with each passing second, Yin's unease grew. He felt a blush slowly creeping up his neck.
“Wait a minute,” War murmured softly, then Yin felt a feather-light touch on his arm, sending shivers down his spine. “Are you angry?”
Yin inhaled softly and ran a hand over his forehead to hide how red his face had probably become. “No.”
War’s answer was another intense scrutiny that Yin felt like a tingling sensation on his skin. War’s undivided attention had always been something that made him feel both nervous and alive.
When the silence lingered too long this time, Yin dared to glance in War’s direction, only to meet his far too attentive gaze, a gaze that surely noticed everything. Even though Yin wanted to look away in embarrassment, to prevent War from reading his every thought, he simply couldn’t. It was as if War's brown eyes held him captive; trapped in a spell from which Yin didn't know if he even wanted to break free. His heart began to beat faster under their intense eye contact.
And indeed, Yin's eyes seemed to be telling War something, because a softness seeped into his eyes with every passing second; a gentleness that Yin wanted to believe was meant for him alone. “Nanon asked if we wanted to grab dinner with him. He asked both of us, Yin.”
It took a few seconds for the meaning of War's words to sink in. And when it did, Yin wished he could simply disappear into the ground.
Of course, War saw everything. He had always seen Yin for who he was. He noticed things about him that others didn't. That's why they often understood each other blindly—because they knew each other and paid attention to details that usually remained hidden from others.
Therefore, it was no wonder that War, within a very short time and just because of a single sentence spoken in a somewhat snarky tone, understood what was going through Yin's mind. Yin hated this fact as much as he secretly loved it, because even though it was a vulnerable and frightening feeling to know that someone could read him so well, it was also special and wonderful that someone was paying him so much attention to be even capable of doing so.
A quiet smile spread across War's lips. A smile meant only for him this time—intimate, familiar, and knowing. War lowered his eyes and looked away, running his thumb along his nose; a sure sign that he was feeling a little flustered. “Idiot.” The word was just a whisper, meant solely for Yin's ears, and it carried so much affection that Yin's heart almost overflowed with emotion. The tension that had gripped him at the sight of War and Nanon began slowly, but not yet completely, to dissipate at the sight of his favorite person.
“He touched your arm,” Yin murmured softly, unsure whether he was justifying himself or encouraging War to further crush his jealousy.
War's gaze flickered back at him in surprise, as if he hadn't expected Yin to openly admit his jealousy. “It was a friendly gesture—nothing more,” he contradicted.
Yin grimaced. “Are you sure? That looked pretty intense. He held your arm for quite a while.”
The older blinked, his eyes flickering over Yin's face as if seeing it for the first time. Yin's skin still tingled under his scrutiny. “You're really jealous,” War observed, his eyes wide with astonishment. Then, slowly, a smile returned to his lips, transforming into a grin, but it looked less like he was mocking Yin and more like he was absolutely endeared by him. He grinned to himself, biting his lower lip.
“That makes you way too happy,” Yin snorted, but he too fought back a smile, because the sight of a happy War was all it took to make him happy.
“Can someone really be too happy?” War asked in return, that typical, beautiful sparkle in his eyes that made Yin feel strangely weak.
Warmth spread through his chest, his entire body filled with boundless affection as he basked in War’s smile. His gaze found the dimple in his cheek, and to the warmth in his chest came an intense feeling of longing that made him wish they were alone in the room. “I want to kiss you so bad right now. Preferably right in front of him.”
War smirked, batting his eyelashes at him flirtatiously. “Yeah? What's stopping you?”
“Very funny,” Yin murmured softly, far too aware of the people around them.
War's eyes darted demonstratively around the room, before Yin regained his full attention once again, an amused twinkle in his beautiful eyes. “I'm sure Nanon would have kissed me anyway,” he said cheekily.
Yin's eyebrows shot up, his fingertips tingling with a mixture of irritation and thrill. “Don't challenge me.”
War chuckled softly, then his gaze flickered to his hand, which was still resting on Yin's arm. “I've been holding your arm at least as long as his now,” he noted quietly, his tone unmistakably flirtatious. And still challenging.
“Yeah,” Yin exhaled. “And we're not just friends.”
War feigned innocent surprise by blinking at him. “Oh? We're not?”
Yin shot him a warning look. “Don't play with me.”
“Huh,” the older muttered, completely unfazed. He was having way too much fun. “What are we then?”
“War...”
War moved almost imperceptibly closer to him. As he pressed his leg against Yin's and looked up at him with dark eyes, Yin's pulse quickened. “What?” he whispered, his gaze flickering to Yin's lips.
Yin could hear his pulse pounding in his ears. His heart was beating too fast, and once again he was far too aware of the people around them. “Not here.”
War's face came dangerously close to his as he blinked at him with those wide, expressive eyes, a promise in them that made Yin's stomach flutter. “Then let's go somewhere else,” he rasped softly, his hand trailing along Yin’s arm before sliding into his.
Before Yin knew it, War pulled him off the benches and dragged him across the playing field.
This time, completely unbothered by all the curious and knowing stares that followed them.