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The practice room started emptying out one by one.
Jay grabbed his bag, Ni-ki complained about being hungry, the lights dimmed slightly as members trickled out with tired laughs and promises to shower quickly. Sunoo waved after them, still catching his breath, cheeks flushed from dancing.
“Don’t stay too late,” Jungwon called. Always being their cautious leader.
“We won’t,” Sunoo said automatically.
The door shut.
Sunoo turned around—and froze.
Sunghoon hadn’t moved. He was still sitting on the floor, stretching lazily, watching Sunoo with that familiar, unreadable expression. The room felt bigger all of a sudden. Quieter.
Sunoo laughed nervously. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Sunghoon hummed, finally standing up. “I was just thinking.”
Sunoo narrowed his eyes. “That’s dangerous.”
Sunghoon snorted. “You should worry more about yourself.”
Sunoo scoffed, grabbing his water bottle. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Sunghoon stepped closer, just enough to make Sunoo aware of him—close enough to be annoying on purpose. “You mess up one move and suddenly you’re making that face again.”
“What face?” Sunoo asked, immediately defensive.
Sunghoon grinned. “That one.”
Sunoo realized too late that he was pouting.
He groaned. “Stop looking at me like that!”
Sunghoon tilted his head. “Like what?”
“Like you’re—” Sunoo stopped, flustered, heat crawling up his neck. “Like you’re making fun of me.”
“I am,” Sunghoon said easily. “It’s cute.”
Sunoo’s entire brain short-circuited.
“Yah—!” He swatted at Sunghoon’s arm, mortified. “Don’t say stuff like that so casually!”
Sunghoon laughed, low and fond. “Why not? It’s true.”
Sunoo turned away to hide his face, pretending to fiddle with his bag. His heart wouldn’t slow down. Sunghoon always did this—teased him just enough to leave him dizzy, then acted like it meant nothing.
But today felt different.
The air settled. The playful energy softened into something quieter. Sunghoon didn’t step back. He didn’t joke again.
Sunoo chanced a glance.
Sunghoon wasn’t smiling anymore.
He looked… thoughtful. Almost nervous.
That alone made Sunoo’s stomach flip.
“Hyung?” Sunoo asked softly. “What’s wrong?”
Sunghoon hesitated.
It was such a small thing, but Sunoo noticed it immediately—the way Sunghoon’s fingers curled slightly at his side, the way his gaze flicked away and then came back.
“I was teasing you,” Sunghoon said slowly. “But I didn’t mean it like that.”
Sunoo blinked. “Mean what?”
Sunghoon exhaled, steadying himself. “I don’t tease you just to tease you.”
Sunoo’s breath hitched.
The room feels warmer. Or maybe it was just him.
Sunghoon stepped closer again, closing the space between them until Sunoo had to tilt his head up to meet his eyes. There was no laughter now. No playfulness. Just honesty.
“I tease you because you're the only one on my mind,” Sunghoon said. “Not in a joking way. Not in a ‘we’re just close’ way.”
Sunoo’s mind went blank.
“Oh,” he whispered.
Sunghoon swallowed. “I'm in love with you, Sunoo. Always have been.”
Sunoo’s heart was pounding so loudly he was sure Sunghoon heard it. Everything suddenly clicked—the way Sunghoon always stayed behind with him, the way his teasing felt different, softer. The way he looked at him when he thought Sunoo wasn’t paying attention.
Sunoo looked down at his hands, fingers trembling. “You can’t just say things like that.”
Sunghoon smiled faintly. “I know. I’m sorry.”
Sunoo shook his head quickly. “No—I didn’t mean—” He took a breath, forcing himself to look up again. His cheeks were burning. “I just… I didn’t know if you meant it.”
Sunghoon didn’t look away. “I do.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy but not uncomfortable.
Sunoo let out a shaky laugh. “You’re really unfair, you know that?”
Sunghoon raised an eyebrow. “How?”
“You tease me all the time,” Sunoo said quietly. “And then you say something like this, and now I don’t know what to do.”
Sunghoon’s expression softened completely. “You don’t have to do anything,” he said gently. “I just wanted you to know.”
Sunoo’s chest tightened.
“…I love you too, hyungie.” he admitted, barely above a whisper.
Sunghoon froze.
“Yeah?” he asked, hopeful but careful.
Sunoo nodded, eyes shining. “I think I have for a while. I was just too scared to say it.”
Relief flooded Sunghoon’s face, so obvious it made Sunoo smile despite himself. He reached out slowly, giving Sunoo time to pull away.
Sunoo didn’t.
Their fingers brushed, then intertwined—warm, natural, like they’ve always belonged there.
Sunghoon squeezed his hand gently. “You’re really cute when you’re flustered.”
Sunoo groaned, but he’s smiling now. “You’re impossible.”
“Yeah,” Sunghoon agreed softly. “But you love me.”
Sunoo laughed, leaning just a little closer. “I do.”
Sunghoon squeezed Sunoo’s hand once, grounding.
“Come here,” he said quietly—not demanding, just sure.
Sunoo’s heart stuttered anyway.
He stepped closer without thinking, close enough now that he felt Sunghoon’s warmth, the steady calm in the way he stood like he had already decided where Sunoo belongs. Sunghoon lifted their joined hands slightly, thumb brushing over Sunoo’s knuckles in a slow, deliberate motion.
“You’re shaking,” Sunghoon murmured.
Sunoo laughed softly, embarrassed. “Whose fault do you think that is?”
Sunghoon smiled, fond. “Mine.”
He let go of Sunoo’s hand only to place it gently at his waist instead, guiding him closer with a light pressure that made Sunoo’s breath catch. Sunghoon’s other hand came up, fingers tilting Sunoo’s chin just enough to bring his gaze up.
Sunoo’s cheeks were burning. He doesn’t look away.
Sunghoon leaned in slowly, stopping just short, giving Sunoo time—always giving him time. “Is this okay?” he asked quietly.
Sunoo nodded immediately. “Yeah.”
That was all Sunghoon needed.
The kiss was soft, unhurried. Careful in the way that showed he’s in control of it, but gentle enough that made Sunoo melt into it without even realizing he’s moved. Sunghoon kept it brief for now, just a brush of lips, like he was savouring the moment.
When he pulled back, Sunoo was still leaning forward, eyes wide and dazed.
Sunghoon smiled at the sight. “Cute,” he said again, brushing his thumb over Sunoo’s cheek.
Sunoo pouted fondly at the endearment. “You’re really not going to stop saying that, are you?”
Sunghoon gave those pink, pouty lips one more kiss. “No,” he replied easily, wrapping both arms securely around Sunoo’s waist. “Not when it’s true.”
He pressed one more soft kiss to Sunoo’s hair, holding him there like he was not letting go anytime soon.
And Sunoo didn’t want him to.
Sunoo woke up feeling warm, sated, and sore in all the right places with the weight of a strong arm draped across his waist. His body ached in a way he still felt floaty, his brain still processing the fact he spent the night with Park Sunghoon.
Sunoo smiled to himself as the memories from last night replayed in his mind. He has never felt the way Sunghoon made him feel and he wanted it to last forever.
He lazily drew lines over the veins in Sunghoon’s hand before he felt a smile press to the back of his neck and got pulled in closer to the other’s broad chest.
“Mm, good morning.” Sunghoon mumbled, his voice raspy from sleep.
Sunoo’s cheeks flushed from thinking how even his morning voice is attractive. He slowly shifted in the sheets, lying on his back and looking up at Sunghoon with heartfelt eyes.
“Morning.” He whispered with a smile.
Sunghoon couldn’t help but smile as well. “How are you feeling?” He tried to slide a hand between Sunoo’s thighs, but it was immediately smacked away.
“Don’t.” Sunoo laughed, a little breathless. “My body hurts in places I didn’t even know could hurt.”
Sunghoon softly chuckled as he nuzzled his face into the crook of Sunoo’s neck. “But a good hurt?”
Sunoo wrapped his arms around Sunghoon’s shoulders. “The best.”
Sunghoon pressed a smile against his neck before he was kissing Sunoo again like he had all the time in the world.
Because they did. And he was not letting go of Sunoo anytime soon.