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"Woonhak, what are you doing?"
Woonhak froze. His heart lurched into his throat. He was absolutely certain no one was supposed to be in the dorm right now. Both his hyungs had explicitly said they'd be out for a while, leaving him blissfully alone. His hands moved on autopilot, shoving his little 'project' hastily under the mattress. Footsteps echoed from the living room—hurried, and... multiple? Who else could be here besides Jaehyun and Leehan?
"Kim Woonhak! Get out here, or we're eating all this food without you!"
We? The footsteps were getting closer, heading straight for the room he shared with Leehan. Panic propelled him upright. He smoothed down his clothes, took a breath, and stood facing the door in what could only be described as an awkward, guilty stance.
The door swung open. "Hey, how many times do we have to call you?" Jaehyun's voice was cheerful as he rattled the doorknob, revealing his dongsaeng's sheepish grin. His eyes narrowed, scanning Woonhak from head to toe. "What were you doing? Why are you acting so weird? Watching porn?"
The younger boy's face erupted in flames. Before he could even sputter a denial, Jaehyun grabbed his arm and yanked him out of the room, depositing him in the living room. The sight that met him made his jaw drop. All five of his hyungs were there, sitting on the floor in a circle, surrounded by bags of takeout and convenience store snacks.
"Huh? There are other hyungs too?" he blurted out, bewildered.
Taesan raised an eyebrow, already chewing on a slice of watermelon. "So? What's so strange about us all being here?"
No. That wasn't what Woonhak meant. Why... why did the five of them look so... coordinated? Like they'd planned this?
"We ran into each other on the way," came the calm explanation from behind him. Woonhak turned to find Riwoo's knowing gaze fixed on him, as if he'd plucked the very question from Woonhak's stunned mind. "Sungho and I were coming back from clothes shopping. Leehan—well, you know where he was coming from. Taesan and Jaehyun were leaving the office building. If you're wondering why it looks like we all went out together..." He trailed off with a slight shrug, a small smile playing on his lips. "Seems only I know what's going on inside this snowman's head." He tilted his head, his eyes warm. "So? Are you going to eat, or what?"
Snapping out of his daze, Woonhak nodded eagerly. "I am! Don't you dare finish it all!"
Later, bellies full and content, the six of them were sprawled across the living room floor. The earlier commotion had faded into comfortable silence, broken only by the sounds of a movie playing on the TV and the occasional rustle of snack wrappers. Then, Jaehyun struck.
"So?" he began, his voice deceptively casual. "What were you really doing in your room all alone? Seriously, were you watching porn?"
The question landed like a bomb. Six pairs of eyes snapped to Woonhak. A nearby cushion flew through the air, barely missing Jaehyun's smirking face as he ducked.
Sungho's jaw dropped. "Hey, I know you're growing up, but do you have to do it in the middle of our hangout? If your... urges... aren't properly channeled, it could become a real problem," he said, his tone caught between teasing and genuine concern.
The others nodded in solemn agreement, their expressions a mixture of amusement and curiosity.
Woonhak's face crumpled into a pout. "I wasn't watching porn! Hyung Jaehyun just made that up! Why do you all instantly believe that snake?!"
Jaehyun just grinned, thoroughly pleased with himself.
Leehan, who had been quietly observing, spoke up. His gaze was direct, making Woonhak squirm. "So? What were you doing while we were gone? You weren't doing anything weird, right? Don't forget, I still have to share a room with you."
Woonhak shook his head quickly, too quickly. Leehan's stare felt like a spotlight, exposing every guilty thought. Any excuse he gave, besides the truth, would sound suspicious. What could possibly be normal to do alone in a room?
"I was just watching my fancams," he mumbled, his voice small.
A wave of laughter washed over him. Woonhak ducked his head, his cheeks burning. "What's so funny?! What's wrong with watching my own videos?"
No one answered, which somehow made it worse. The silence was punctuated by stifled giggles.
"Which one? Which fancam?" Riwoo's voice was gentle, cutting through the teasing. "Let's watch it together."
Before Woonhak could react, his phone, which had been lying innocently beside him, vanished. Taesan and Jaehyun held him back, laughing, as Leehan cheerfully unlocked it—thankfully, it was already open—and started scrolling through his YouTube history. Their faces morphed from mischief to confusion.
"What's this?" Leehan asked, frowning at the screen. "It's just... origami tutorials? What are you making?"
Woonhak groaned, his head falling into his hands. "Okay, fine! I confess! I've been getting into origami lately! Now give me my phone back before I shove this leftover bread in your mouth, hyung!"
The movie played on, a low hum of dialogue and the occasional sound effect. One by one, the others succumbed to the combined weight of a full meal and a free day, their breathing evening out into soft snores. Soon, only Riwoo and Woonhak remained awake, the blue glow of the television painting their faces in shifting shadows.
"I like watching fancams too," Riwoo said quietly, not taking his eyes off the screen.
Woonhak turned his head, startled. Was he still on about the earlier conversation? But they'd already found out he was lying about that. Did Riwoo think he was still hiding something?
"Don't be embarrassed," Riwoo continued, his voice a low murmur. "Watching fancams has a lot of uses. Some people analyze movements, others study facial expressions. There's nothing wrong with it."
Woonhak fell silent, his heart doing a strange little flutter.
Oh. Right. Had he mentioned that the youngest member of this group harbored a rather significant crush on one of his hyungs? If not, allow him to introduce himself. The young man currently frozen, staring at the side of Riwoo's face, was Woonhak. And the slightly smaller, yet older, figure beside him was Riwoo, the second oldest in the group. And Woonhak was head-over-heels, completely and utterly gone for him. No one knew. Or so he thought.
"So?"
Woonhak's focus shattered as Riwoo turned to look at him, his dark eyes searching.
"Huh? Yeah, hyung?"
"You agree with what I said?"
"O-of course!" Woonhak stammered, his voice a little too high. "Only Riwoo hyung understands me!"
Riwoo nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. Then, without warning, he stood up, still holding Woonhak's gaze.
"Help me get some blankets for these sleeping beauties," he said, gesturing to the pile of bodies on the floor.
"Okay!" Woonhak scrambled to his feet, his heart still doing that annoying fluttery thing.
The next morning found all six of them at the company building, rehearsing for an upcoming performance. Sleep deprivation was etched into every face—they were tired, so visibly tired—but work was work.
"Bathroom," Leehan muttered, shuffling toward the door.
"Don't watch anything weird in there," Jaehyun called after him. "Sometimes habits are contagious when you share a room—OW!"
Sungho had smacked him with his cap. "Don't say weird things at the office!"
Jaehyun pouted, rubbing his head, before their manager appeared and whisked him away. Taesan, meanwhile, was walking in the opposite direction from everyone else.
"Studio," he explained when they looked confused. "Forgot my cap. If I'm late, it means I'm revising something Woonhak complained about yesterday."
Woonhak stiffened. "I was just giving feedback! Just you wait, hyung—I'll change everything to things you hate!"
Taesan stuck out his tongue and disappeared into the elevator, laughing.
The remaining three made their way to the practice room. Stretching. Drinking water. Chatting with their instructor—or rather, Woonhak rehashing a minor mistake from their last performance, angling for either sympathy or a scolding.
"Any progress?"
Riwoo startled slightly, turning to find Sungho standing directly behind him. He shook his head.
"Nothing?" Sungho's eyebrows rose. "I thought you two talked for a while last night. Before the blanket incident."
"You weren't asleep?"
Sungho grinned. "Thanks for the blankets, by the way."
"We took forever finding them because Woonhak forgot where he put the extras. Had to dig through every storage box."
"So." Sungho's voice dropped, taking on a pointed edge. "Besides talking about fancams in front of the TV, you just... helped him find blankets? Nothing else?"
Riwoo shrugged, crumpling his empty paper cup. Sungho let out a heavy sigh, his eyes filled with a knowing frustration.
Because here's the thing. If you thought no one knew about Woonhak's massive, all-consuming crush on Riwoo, you'd be very, very wrong. It wasn't that Riwoo himself knew—not yet. But never, ever underestimate Sungho's intuition.
He'd noticed the way Woonhak's gaze would sharpen whenever Sungho got a little too close to Riwoo, a flicker of something possessive in his young eyes. He'd tested it, sometimes deliberately seeking Riwoo's attention just to watch Woonhak's reaction—his angry pout was honestly adorable.
And then there was the orange hair incident. When Riwoo had dyed his hair that vibrant shade, Woonhak had been through it. One moment he'd be glowing, practically attached to Riwoo's side. The next, he'd be sulking for an entire day because other people had gotten to Riwoo before he could.
Too many clues. Sungho was certain. Their youngest's feelings for Riwoo were different, deeper, than his affection for the rest of them.
But watching Riwoo remain so utterly oblivious to these signals—signals only Sungho seemed to pick up on—was maddening. So, late one night when neither of them could sleep, Sungho had padded to Riwoo's room and laid out his entire case.
Riwoo had dismissed it, of course. Chalked it up to Sungho being bored and overanalyzing. But after that conversation, something had shifted. Riho started noticing things too. The lingering glances, the way Woonhak always seemed to gravitate towards him. He didn't pull away, didn't encourage him either. He just... waited. Watched. Let whatever it was unfold naturally.
Woonhak's assumption that his secret was safe? Completely wrong.
After his conversation with Sungho ended, Riwoo settled at the edge of the practice room and pulled out his phone. Practice seemed delayed—the instructor was still deep in conversation with Woonhak and Sungho. Jaehyun and Taesan hadn't returned. Leehan was probably still in the bathroom, regretting the sheer volume of food he'd consumed the night before.
Riwoo focused on a video of their previous practice, analyzing his own movements. He was so engrossed he didn't notice Woonhak watching his reflection in the mirror. After finishing his 'debate' with the instructor, Woonhak walked over slowly and sat down beside him, stretching his legs out.
"What video are you watching, hyung?"
"Yesterday's practice. I want to see if there's anything off with my moves."
Always practicing. Riwoo's dedication was immense, even if he never showed it. He always seemed fine until he pushed himself too far, and only then, with prompting, would he admit he needed help.
"After you're done with yours, could you pay attention to mine too, hyung?" Woonhak asked, his voice hopeful.
Riwoo cleared his throat in acknowledgment. A couple of minutes passed. Then Riwoo lowered his phone. Woonhak blinked, confused. Was his analysis really that fast? He was still staring at the phone when he realized Riwoo was now staring at him.
"Eh? W-why, hyung?"
"Why?" Riwoo's lips curved into a small smile. "You said after I checked mine, you wanted me to pay attention to you?"
You wanted me to pay attention to you. The words echoed in Woonhak's head, short-circuiting his brain. His hands flapped uselessly as he tried to explain what he'd actually meant. Riwoo chuckled softly, a quiet, warm sound, and Woonhak's heart hammered against his ribs. His daily dose of glucose was definitely met just by seeing that smile.
"Tomorrow's schedule is empty, and I'll be in my room all day, so don't worry bout me." Taesan announced as they stumbled back into the dorm after another grueling practice. Riwoo and Sungho nodded, letting him disappear into his room.
Riwoo flopped onto the sofa in the living room, sprawling out, while Sungho busied himself in the kitchen. "But," Sungho called out, his voice casual, "aren't you curious if it's true or not?"
"If what's true or not?"
"That Woonhak likes you, Riwoo."
"Seems like it's true."
Sungho froze, whipping around. Taesan stood in the hallway, holding a small plastic bag of trash, having just emerged from his room. Riwoo sat up abruptly, equally startled.
Taesan looked between them, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What?"
"You... heard what we were saying?" Sungho asked, his voice carefully neutral.
"Yeah, I did."
The silence that followed was heavy. Taesan sighed. "Hold on. Let me throw this out first."
When he returned, Sungho and Riwoo were sitting side-by-side on the sofa, their expressions a mixture of anticipation and unease. Taesan sat cross-legged on the floor in front of them, ready to explain.
"How do you know Woonhak likes Riwoo?" Sungho demanded.
Taesan shrugged. "Didn't hear it from anyone. It's just obvious."
Six words. That's all it took to render them speechless. Sungho nodded in agreement, a knowing look on his face. Riwoo just ducked his head, resigned.
"Honestly," Taesan continued, a hint of amusement in his voice, "it's been going on since last year. And they're still stuck in this... whatever this is."
Sungho leaned forward. "He probably doesn't know how to tell Riwoo. He probably never even expected to catch feelings for a member of his own group. Confessing probably never even crossed his mind."
"That's true. He's pretty open about some things," Taesan agreed.
"Yeah, but this? He never saw it coming."
Sungho sighed. "Anyway, does he really have to confess?"
Taesan's lips curled into a sly smile. "Well, before someone else confesses to you first, hyung."
"Who?!" Sungho's eyes widened with curiosity.
Taesan just shrugged, stood up, and walked back to his room, closing the door behind him. He left Riwoo and Sungho staring at each other, utterly bewildered.
The next morning, a soft knock echoed through the quiet dorm. Riwoo, already awake, peered through the peephole. No one was visible. He checked again. Then he saw him. Woonhak. Without a word, he opened the door.
"What's up? You want to hang out?" Riwoo asked, already turning to walk back inside.
"Um, no, hyung. It's just..."
Riwoo paused, glancing back. Woonhak was still standing on the threshold, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "Come in. Why are you standing out there?"
As he said it, Riwoo realized that when he'd looked through the peephole, Woonhak's hands had been behind his back. Now, slowly, carefully, Woonhak brought them forward, revealing what he'd been hiding.
A bouquet. But not just any bouquet. It was made of paper, of origami—intricate folded flowers in a riot of colors. Dangling from his other hand was a string of origami cranes. Dozens of them.
Riwoo stared, speechless. Woonhak's panic began to rise.
"These... these are for you, hyung," he stammered. "I need to tell you something."
"Come in." Riwoo reached out, gently pulling Woonhak inside by his sleeve and closing the door. He led him to the living room. The air crackled with unspoken words.
"What do you want to tell me?" Riwoo's voice was soft. "Sungho's probably awake, but he's still in his room. Taesan... I don't know. He said he didn't want to be disturbed all day." He spoke calmly, as if he already knew, already understood.
Woonhak's heart was a frantic drum against his ribs. The silence was deafening. He was terrified his voice would shake, that Riwoo would hear the wild thumping in his chest. His hands were ice-cold. He felt like he might faint.
"What do you want to tell me?" Riwoo asked again, patiently.
Okay. He could do this. He'd practiced all night in the studio. He'd actually managed to sleep. He'd eaten just enough to keep from throwing up in front of Riwoo. He could do this.
"Woonh—"
"I like you, hyung."
Riwoo blinked. "Huh?"
"I like you. I have a crush on you. Not like how I like the other hyungs, but... I love you, hyung. I love seeing you smile. I want you to be happy. I want you to always be healthy and bright in your everyday life."
The words tumbled out in a rush, his breath coming in short gasps. He thrust the bouquet and the string of cranes towards Riwoo, his hands trembling slightly. Riwoo was silent, his expression unreadable, as if waiting for more.
"I know it's probably selfish to ask for more than just being friends," Woonhak continued, his voice barely a whisper, "but... I want to ask you, hyung... if you feel the same way I do... would you be my boyfriend?"
Silence descended again, thick and heavy. It felt like the monthly evaluations he'd endured as a trainee, but a thousand times more terrifying. He didn't dare meet Riwoo's eyes. His gaze fixed on the origami in his own hands—still not accepted—and he squeezed his eyes shut.
Oh no. Why wasn't Riwoo answering? Did he not feel the same? No, that was fine. That was his choice. But was he just not open to this kind of thing? Had he made a huge mistake coming here this morning? He should have thought this through more.
A warm touch on his hand made his eyes fly open.
"Look at me," Riwoo said softly.
Woonhak forced himself to lift his head, to meet Riwoo's gaze. His lips parted to speak, but Riwoo silenced him with a gentle look.
"Wait. Don't cry yet. I want to. I have feelings for you too, Woonhak."
Woonhak's eyes widened, disbelief and joy warring on his face. Riwoo took the origami bouquet from his trembling hands, examining the delicate paper flowers with a soft smile.
"Don't look too closely, hyung," Woonhak mumbled, embarrassed. "They're still not very good..."
"They're perfect," Riwoo said quietly. "It means you made them yourself, just for me. Thank you."
Woonhak nodded shyly, still clutching the string of cranes. Riwoo glanced at them. "These? For me too?"
"Yes!" Woonhak's voice regained some of its usual energy. "I was planning to make a thousand before I confessed to you. But I ran out of time, so I only made 143 for now. Because... 143 means I love you."
Riwoo's smile widened. "I love you too. But why a thousand?"
"A thousand paper cranes is called Senbazuru, hyung. It symbolizes peace and wishes. I wanted to give you all of that."
"Thank you. You're so sweet. You're usually such a tease." Riwoo chuckled.
Woonhak beamed. "I can be whatever you want me to be, hyung! Just tell me!"
Riwoo laughed softly. "Okay, okay. So why the rush?"
Woonhak's expression shifted. He glanced around nervously, then leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Is Taesan hyung in his room?"
Riwoo shrugged. "I think so. He said he was staying in all day. I don't know if he left before I woke up."
Before Woonhak could reply, Taesan's door swung open. He stood there, hair a mess, a sleepy but mischievous glint in his eyes. Woonhak paled.
"Scared I was here, huh?" Taesan said, stretching. "So, hyung, yesterday, you know how I knew Woonhak liked you? Well..." He paused, enjoying the moment. "Turns out my phone was on a call with Woonhak the whole time we were talking. He heard everything. He knew that you knew. And after that conversation, he got all angry at me, yelling—you should be thanking me, really. Look, he finally made a move."
Woonhak hung his head in defeat. Riwoo turned to him, eyebrows raised. "So... yesterday you panicked, thinking someone else might confess to me first?"
Woonhak nodded miserably. "So I came here this morning, as early as I could, to confess. I texted Taesan hyung and he said only you were in the dorm. Liar."
Taesan just smirked, walking past them towards the door. He paused to clap Woonhak on the shoulder. "Be good to me. If it weren't for me, you two wouldn't be here right now." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And you be good to Riwoo hyung. Remember what I said." With that, he slipped out the door, leaving them alone.
Woonhak blinked. "What did he say?"
"Nothing, hyung. He's just rambling. He just woke up."
Riwoo laughed, a soft, genuine sound that made Woonhak's heart soar. "Well, anyway. I'm your boyfriend now, just like you wanted. This is my first time in a relationship like this, so... let's figure it out together, okay?"
He looked at the string of cranes in Woonhak's hand. "And about the thousand cranes... we can finish them together. We have plenty of time until..." He let the sentence hang, his hand reaching out to gently take Woonhak's, his thumb tracing slow circles on his skin. He leaned in, slowly, deliberately, and pressed a soft kiss to Woonhak's cheek.
Woonhak's face erupted in a blush so deep it reached his ears.
"Until we get married, maybe?"
Woonhak thought his heart might actually explode. Right there, in the middle of the living room. And he wouldn't have had it any other way.