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Well, Seongje and Sieun’s relationship had always been discreet. It was there, it existed, it just wasn’t visible to other people’s eyes
They never even showed physical affection when they were in public and, unfortunately for Seongje, it was even harder when they were alone.
In Sieun’s apartment, Seongje was sprawled out on the couch while Sieun was studying, as always.
Keum was bored from sitting there doing nothing and stopped to pay attention to his boyfriend.
His back curved forward, eyebrows furrowed in concentration, a firm grip on the pen with which he wrote in his notebook, lips red from being bitten too much out of focus, and long lashes resting against his cheeks.
Seongje found himself thinking about how he managed to win over the white mamba. Well, he was the mad dog.
Besides being a complete delinquent, he always did everything he could to irritate Sieun, and he always succeeded. And in the end, here they were.
What frustrated him was that he had been the first in everything.
He was the one who took Sieun on their first date, he was the one who confessed his feelings first, and he was the one who kissed Sieun first.
And Sieun? Well, he showed nothing. He always tried to avoid Seongje’s kisses and hugs, but it got worse when Seongje finally said “I love you.”
For some people, that might have been too soon, but come on, they were completing one year of dating. And do you know what Sieun said?
“It’s okay.”
Simple. And with a sigh. How was he not supposed to feel frustrated?
For Seongje, that wasn’t the first “I love you” he had ever said in his life, since he always made sure to say it to his grandmother, who had already passed away.
But for Sieun… well.
He had never said it. Not even to his family. And, in fact, no one in his family had ever said it to him.
Still, he didn’t show the shock he felt when his boyfriend said those words and, not knowing what to say, he only replied with an “it’s okay.”
He felt bad about the disappointed expression Seongje made, but what could he do? He had never said it. He had never received it.
He thought about it every night and every time his boyfriend came over to his apartment. And at that moment, he wasn’t paying any attention to his notes.
He sighed and put the pen down, then turned to look at Seongje, who was still lost in his thoughts.
Well, he didn’t know how Seongje managed to win him over either. A delinquent, the way he was.
But the simple fact that Seongje could understand him, could make him react to something, and could love him was already enough.
He noticed it, yes. He noticed when Seongje got frustrated because he couldn’t hug him or when it was always him who took the initiative to ask him out.
It had been one year like that. And Sieun finally decided to act.
“Seongje,” he called, making his boyfriend immediately lift his eyes.
“Hey, Sieun. You can talk,” he replied softly, giving a small smile, curious.
“Come here,” Sieun said, opening his arms, inviting him into a hug.
Seongje’s breath failed automatically.
He froze for a second, as if his brain had short-circuited trying to process that impossible scene.
Sieun. The same Sieun who always pulled away. Now he was there, arms open, waiting.
He stood up slowly, almost afraid that any sudden movement would make it disappear. When he got closer, he hesitated for a brief moment… and then accepted the invitation.
The hug was restrained, careful, but real. Enough to make Seongje’s chest tighten and the old frustration turn into something far too intense to ignore.
Sieun closed his eyes as he ran his fingers through his boyfriend’s hair and then began to speak.
“You know, Seongje, I never wanted you to think that I don’t like you,” he said quietly while stroking his hair. Seongje just listened.
It was Sieun’s moment to speak and vent. And Seongje would never interrupt.
“I like you a lot, your way of being and how you show things. Even if it’s too much for me… you understood me. And that’s enough for me to like you. So never think that I don’t want you anymore, okay?”
When Sieun finally finished speaking, he felt the heavy weight lift from his shoulders.
He looked at Seongje, who was staring at him with bright eyes. He was happy. That was the best thing he had ever heard in his life.
Seongje stood up, grabbed Sieun by the hand, and dragged him toward the bedroom.
“Let’s lie down, come on,” Seongje said softly.
Under the covers, he wrapped his arms tightly around Sieun’s waist, resting his head on top of Sieun’s head, and spoke.
“I’m happy you said that, Sieun. Really. I love you.”
He said it even knowing Sieun probably wouldn’t say it back, but he didn’t expect—
“I love you too, Seongje,” Sieun said.
His first “I love you.”
For Seongje, that was literally the best thing in the world. He almost jumped with happiness right then and there, but he knew his boyfriend would be offended, so he just smiled and gently stroked Sieun’s head.
“Good night, Sieun.”
“Good night, Seongje.”
Damn. My boyfriend is going to kill me one day with these surprises.