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Seo Kyoungbae loved being good at what he did. To others, he was the perfect all-rounded student, the one everyone knew and expected to be valedictorian.
Top of the class? No, make that almost top in the grade. Most popular kid in the school? Check. Star basketball team player? Check. Amazing dancer and singer? Well, Girls would trip over their own feet to hear his voice outside the music rooms. His dancing videos always got tens of thousands of likes on social media.
Kyoungbae was everyone’s favourite. He charmed people easily without even realising it. Decorated with trophies, medals, letters and love, the boy shone through high school with Yeojun and Minwook, who were equally accomplished and well-liked.
Kyoungbae never accepted any of the flowers or chocolates from the confessions. He flashed that stupidly charming grin, the one that made everyone fall in love with him, and apologised sincerely that he didn’t feel the same. Over and over again. (That’s probably why everyone called him the resident heartbreaker.)
Song Seungho, on the other hand, kept to himself. Mysterious, sometimes got better grades than Kyoungbae, otherwise tied or in second place. He never spoke much, stayed in the dance studio and the library, but no one paid too much attention to that. He stuck to his three friends, smiled at people, did what he had to do and left. He led the student council with a quiet, confident air and a kind smile, helped others quietly, and noticed little things. He walked to classes together with Kenshin, and had lunch with Sungmin and Jingxiang, laughing and planning council initiatives with them between inside jokes. He made sure there was peace and harmony while quietly laughing, his eyes sparkling when he got particularly excited about certain things.
Seungho and Kyoungbae never thought their paths would cross apart from their shared classes and ranking boards.
That is, until both boys decided to use the dance studio at the same time.
That was the time they had their first real conversation.
It was a Wednesday afternoon, Seungho’s usual practice time. He was always in the studio until at least five, working on his dances, watching himself intently in the mirror until he deemed his dancing absolutely perfect.
Seungho, who was mid-chorus (If I Say, I Love You by BOYNEXTDOOR), stopped the moment Kyoungbae walked into the studio, the latter dripping with confidence, flashing that famous smile that made almost everyone love him. “Hey, Seungho-ssi. Mind if I practice too? I won’t disturb you, I promise.”
Seungho nodded and smiled politely, going back to his practice, watching himself in the mirror while going over every step in his head. Even the tiniest details were etched into his mind, replicating themselves in his movements, reflected in the mirrors of the studio.
Seungho would probably describe dancing as his first love, his sanctuary. It helped him forget about academic pressure and deadlines and the thought of having to be a responsible model student. The studio was his safe space, somewhere he could be himself, let go and just move until he forgot about everything else and just dance.
His arms flexed as he moved, hitting every angle perfectly, so focused he didn’t even notice Seo Kyoungbae staring at him, mouth slightly open in what looked like shock and admiration and a little more. Seungho danced like he had nothing left to give, like someone who truly loved it.
“Holy crap, Seungho. I didn’t know you were this good.” Kyoungbae murmurs, clapping slowly when Seungho stopped, pushing his hair back as he took a sip of water. “Your moves are so clean… and I really like your style too. We should dance together someday.” The younger boy grinned and stretched out his hand.
And Seungho agrees with a smile, taking the high-five, and nodding at the younger boy before going back to his other choreographies.
The boys practice on opposite sides of the studio, one in absolute focus while dancing his heart out, one smiling and glancing at the other as he moves by muscle memory.
Kyoungbae doesn’t notice the light pink dusting Seungho’s cheeks, right underneath the mock nonchalance.
𖤐
A week blurs by in pop quizzes and assignments and basketball games, that the two mostly ace while Kyoungbae is crowned team MVP and receives approximately three more failed confessions. The two boys don’t cross paths again until the student council announces that they’re opening auditions for performers at the school’s 100th anniversary concert. Music, dance, magic tricks, anything — the council wished to showcase the students’ talents and show that there was more to school than just studying. Seungho makes the announcement over the PA system, his voice calm as always, encouraging his fellow students to step up and perform.
”The performance will be happening on the 12th of February, two and a half months from now. This will also double as a graduation concert for the seniors.”
So, the first thing Seo Kyoungbae did when he heard this was to drop a note in Song Seungho’s locker. Number 127, labelled with Seungho’s name and a Pochacco sticker, just a few lockers down his own very decorated 143.
Seungho opened his locker to a brown square piece of paper falling to the floor, folded neatly into quarters. The handwriting on it was small, neat, and slightly slanted, like it was written in a rush. A little puppy doodle decorated the bottom right corner of the note.
“Meet me at the studio today after school. Let’s discuss something. - KB”
Seungho tucked the note away in his pocket as soon as he saw it, a tiny smile forming as he went to change into his dance gear. He doesn’t do a good job at hiding it. “Ooh, looks like someone’s received a love letter.” Kenshin laughs, raising an eyebrow teasingly.
Kenshin earned himself a painful smack on the shoulder, laughter ringing through the hallways.
Fifteen minutes and a lot of Kenshin’s teasing later, Seungho found himself at the studio’s doors, his hand raised, hesitant to knock and interrupt, yet wanting to find out what the school’s star boy could possibly want from him.
Kyoungbae saved him from the dilemma by pushing the door open, smacking Seungho squarely in the face.
“Ow-“ “Shit, I’m so sorry-“ “What the hell, Kyoungbae.” “I’m sorry! I thought I heard your voice outside!”
Kyoungbae found himself face-to-face with a pissed off Seungho, who was rubbing his forehead in exasperation. “Seriously, Seo? Seriously?”
Kyoungbae was panicking, not just because he’d probably just ruined his chances of convincing Seungho to do anything with him, but also because he’d likely gotten on the bad side of the student council president. Granted, he did look extremely hot when he was pissed, but—
Wait. What?
“I’m so sorry, oh my gosh.” Kyoungbae pushed that thought down, back into the depths of his head where it was sure to resurface sometime soon. “Come in, I wanted to talk to you about something… I’ll get you a cold towel for that.”
Five minutes and a lot of grumbling and apologies later, Kyoungbae finally started talking.
“So, I asked you to come because, well… remember I said that I wanted to dance with you sometime?”
“Mhm?” Seungho pressed the towel to his cheek, wincing slightly at the sharp feeling.
“I want to perform with you for the school concert.”
So that’s why.
Seungho realised he’d been staring when Kyoungbae stayed silent for too long. He blinked too fast, nodding as he talked, praying that the heat on his cheeks wasn’t showing. “Uh, I guess that’s fine. But I need to know your style and how you dance. And if you can choreograph.”
“Oh, I can show you something I’ve choreographed, if that helps.” Kyoungbae’s phone was already plugged into the speaker system, and he picks it up, looking for the music.
”Yeah. Sure.”
(Dude, he is NOT nonchalant about this at all. The most popular boy in the school is asking him to dance together for the school concert. This could be huge.)
‘Hollywood Action’ by BOYNEXTDOOR starts playing on the speakers as Kyoungbae sets his phone on the floor.
Needless to say, Seungho was impressed. Kyoungbae moved with an effortless ease, making even the hardest moves look simple as he danced. His moves were still clean, but not as sharp as Seungho’s. Instead, he was more flowy, moving like water to the beats thumping in the music.
Seungho knew Kyoungbae was very different from himself. Seungho hit every angle perfectly, his lines sharp and clean. Kyoungbae moved freely, sometimes not fully reaching the “perfect” lines, but still following the rhythm to a T.
Seungho clapped when Kyoungbae ended the routine. “Whoa. Guess I underestimated you, Seo.” A small smile materialized on Kyoungbae’s face as he nodded. “Thanks, Song. Nice of you to compliment me.”
They ended up spending the next ten minutes bickering over what song to choose for the showcase. Kyoungbae wanted to choose a BTS song. Seungho insisted on BOYNEXTDOOR or ENHYPEN.
They eventually settled on doing a Fake Love and Given-Taken. A full seven-minute performance of two boys with completely different styles trying to mesh a cohesive choreography together.
This could either go amazingly well or horribly wrong.
But Seungho was willing to do it with Kyoungbae.
He didn’t know why either.
𖤐
The next two weeks blur past in a flurry of dance practices, worksheets, notes, and advanced classes.
Seungho found himself spending a lot more time with Kyoungbae. They studied together in classrooms during breaks, casually asked “what was your answer to question five?” during practice, and stayed in the dance studio until 6p.m. thrice a week to choreograph and practice.
He didn’t hate it. He actually found it quite nice.
They started to warm up to each other, smiling at each other when they passed by in the locker hallways, and sometimes even stopping to chat. They weren’t strangers to each other anymore, and they actually talked. They didn’t do much either — acknowledging each other as partners and classmates, and perhaps even friends now.
Then Kyoungbae’s grades slipped to high eighties in math and low eighties in chemistry, instead of his usual nineties. While Seungho was still first in both.
Seungho’s first reaction was to bring Kyoungbae to the library, sit him down, and make Kyoungbae study alongside him instead of spending all his free time choreographing. Seungho didn’t question him or blame him. He just quietly worked with Kyoungbae, without explaining himself or sayin anything. They made a shared playlist on Spotify (which Kyoungbae insisted on naming ‘disco disco’) and did their homework together on days they didn’t have practice. Kyoungbae asked Seungho questions he was unsure of, and Seungho patiently walked him through everything, step by step.
Even though the sessions were mostly silent, a soft warmth hung in the air, like an invitation.
Seungho didn’t know why he wanted to help Kyoungbae, someone who could potentially surpass him as valedictorian.
It got to the point where they’d spend every day either studying together or working side by side. They’d walk together in school, and the hallways felt less empty with two. Kyoungbae still received confessions and flowers every other day, sometimes in front of Seungho, but he politely rejected every single one. Even from the prettiest girls in the school. Which confused Seungho a lot.
Kyoungbae would quietly work on practice problems. His pencil would quietly scratch against white printed paper, numbers forming in his head. One hand wrote while the other punched in numbers on a calculator. When he’d get stuck, he’d look at Seungho with an almost helpless expression in his eyes, which made Seungho almost always stop whatever he was doing and scoot his chair a little closer. He’d take a look at Kyoungbae’s workings, quietly point out what went wrong, and patiently go over the steps in a low voice. He’d repeat the explanations until Kyoungbae understood everything, and he never once complained or made Kyoungbae feel like a burden.
For once, Kyoungbae felt like someone was actually seeing him. Not the popular, shining athlete who was also smart and good looking. Not the Seo Kyoungbae most people claimed they knew.
It was a different Kyoungbae, the one only his closest friends and family got to see.
Kyoungbae started showing up to student council meetings, and no one questioned it. He’d sometimes give his own insights or suggestions, or just work quietly in the corner while waiting for Seungho. Seungho would smile and occasionally glance at him just to check on him, which didn’t go unnoticed by any of the council members.
Sungmin and Jingxiang exchanged knowing looks while working. Kenshin giggled behind his laptop as he typed away on documents. Minwook and Yeojun smiled at each other, and Seungho swears he heard Minwook say, “Oh, young love.”
Seungho made Minwook and Yeojun swear to never tell anyone about the blush that spread across his cheeks when he said that.
They spent the first snow together, leaving school with dance gear underneath their thick jackets. Tiny snowflakes landed in Kyoungbae's hair as he looked up at the sky, his expression unguarded, pure and joyful.
Seungho doesn’t know why his heart skips a beat, but it does.
And Kyoungbae’s smile was the most beautiful thing he’d seen in a long time.
Meanwhile, Yeojun is having the time of his life teasing Kyoungbae about this. “You’ve been spending so much time with Seungho lately, I’m starting to think you two are dating.”
Kyoungbae turns an impressive shade of red. “No, we’re not- he’s just a friend-“
Yeojun laughter is loud as he walks away, using his sing-song voice that Kyoungbae absolutely hated. “Ooh, Seo Kyoungbae! Someone’s in love~! You’re so obvious!”
Kyoungbae just punches Yeojun’s shoulder.
𖤐
Finals season arrives, and they start seeing less of each other. Between exams, teacher consultations and studying, they stop practicing as much, their progress stagnating. Kyoungbae texts — multiple times — but Seungho’s responses are short, hurried. He rushes past Kyoungbae in the hallways instead of stopping or saying hi, always organising his notes or frantically replying to messages on his way to his next class.
The week of finals, they meet once in the studio.
Seungho keeps messing up.
Too many times.
His mind kept moving to exams, math, things he still had to revise and look through. His lines got sloppier, not moving as he should. He doesn’t grab Kyoungbae’s hands properly during one of the duo parts in Given-Taken.
Kyoungbae ends up falling over on the floor. He’s like a crumpled piece of paper, his legs folded inwards as his hands press hard against the wooden flooring.
Seungho snaps out of his daze, dropping to his knees immediately, his hands by Kyoungbae’s side. “Oh gosh, I’m so sorry-“
“What is wrong with you?”
Seungho stops.
He’s never heard Kyoungbae’s voice this cold before.
It’s lost its usual warmth.
”Wha-“
“Are you even interested in this anymore? I haven’t seen you in ages. Your mind is everywhere. You’re not focused. You’ve been repeatedly messing up for the past hour,” Kyoungbae bites out, his voice shaking.
“Kyoungbae, I swear, I do want to do this with you! I just-“
“Just what? What are you busy with? I also have finals, but at least I’m still trying. I don’t know if you are. You don’t even reply to my texts properly anymore. You don’t acknowledge me. You’re just too busy with being a council president and top student, aren’t you? Too busy to care anymore?” A tear rolls down Kyoungbae’s cheek as he picks himself up from the cold wooden floors of the studio.
“I’m done. I’m not going to try anymore. Since you won’t.”
Kyoungbae picks up his things and left the studio. The door closed with a soft, almost mocking click.
Seungho is left standing there, alone.
He has no partner now.
𖤐
Finals week flew by, almost dizzyingly. Seungho spent more time than ever in the studio, practicing, choreographing the very last parts of the songs. He didn’t want to ask Kyoungbae to come. He knew Kyoungbae was mad.
Kenshin told him to apologise. Sungmin said to keep practicing, and maybe try to talk to Kyoungbae. Jingxiang straight up called Seungho an idiot.
So Seungho did what he did best.
He danced.
He practiced every single part over and over until it was etched into his muscle memory. Until he could do every drop, every jump, and every move by heart. Until he could truly own the rhythm. Until it was perfect. And it was obvious that he had tried.
The days passed sluggishly, their friends dancing around them carefully. Kyoungbae stopped showing up to council meetings, while Kenshin kept urging Seungho to talk. The studio became Seungho’s second home, while Kyoungbae avoided the usual Studio 7, using the other smaller ones instead to practice.
But Seungho waited.
Because he knew that Kyoungbae would come eventually.
He knew Kyoungbae wouldn’t want to talk. He knew words weren’t enough.
Kyoungbae wanted to see him try.
So he would show him.
And then, again, Seungho was right.
The younger boy walked into the studio, only to be met with Seungho moving into a graceful leap — a move Kyoungbae had incorporated into the choreography.
Seungho moved gracefully, less rigid than the last time Kyoungbae had seen him.
“So you finally decided to try.”
Seungho turned around. He landed on one foot, hands moving down to his sides from their previous positions, stopping to look.
“You came.”
“You didn’t know I would.”
“I did. I waited. I would have waited as long as you needed to scream at me in your head before coming.”
The two boys were still staring at each other, one panting softly, the other just at the door, which clicked shut softly.
Seungho crashes into Kyoungbae, wrapping the younger boy in a tight, warm embrace. Kyoungbae’s arms were slack at his sides for a moment, before he brought them up to return the hug, a soft smile forming on his face.
“I’m sorry for letting you down, Kyoungbae. I promise, it’s never happening again.”
𖤐
Seungho kept his promise.
He showed up every day, smiling at Kyoungbae, every touch in the choreography perfectly firm and warm. Every time they locked arms or brushed against each other, it was warm, and it was normal. Everything they did felt like that now. Familiar and comfortable.
Every day for a week, they would dance together, sometimes in comfortable silence, sometimes with the speakers playing their favorite songs in the background, and sometimes, accompanied with light, breezy laughter.
They went for another full run of the performance.
This was their last practice before the showcase.
Three days until the concert.
At some point in Fake Love, Kyoungbae’s phone dropped from where it was resting haphazardly on the barres, the plug detaching as the speakers halted into silence.
“Oh.” Seungho breathed out as Kyoungbae’s hand remains on his waist, their breaths mixing, fanning over each other as they stared, a tangle of limbs and sweat and hard work.
“You’re really pretty.” Kyoungbae murmured, playing with a few strands of Seungho’s hair. He looked at the older boy for a moment. The boy who could match him in every way, but chose to stay low and quietly do his best. The boy he’d grown to admire and love through their dance practices and study sessions. The boy he’d fallen for over the course of a few months.
Kyoungbae just never had the chance to stop and appreciate the boy in front of him. Because they always moved too fast. Like nothing was needed but to continue dancing.
“I’m sorry?” Seungho stopped, looking up at Kyoungbae.
“I like you, Seungho.” Kyoungbae said, his voice soft and earnest. “I really do. In case you didn’t know. And… I think you’re amazing. I think you’re pretty and talented and I’m sorry I don’t know how to confess properly—“
Seungho doesn’t let him finish, leaning in and gently pressing his lips against Kyoungbae’s.
Kyoungbae melted almost immediately, his hands gripping tighter on Seungho’s waist as he kissed back. It’s soft and sweet and everything that they’ve ever wanted, and Seungho couldn’t believe any of this was happening. They held on and stumbled back slightly and never let go.
“You loser.” Seungho giggled softly as he pulled back just slightly, their noses brushing against each other as he spoke. “You don’t have to. I know. And I like you too. A lot.”
Kyoungbae leaned in again, his back pressed against a mirror as he kissed the only person he’s ever loved so hard. Seunho’s fingers curled into Kyoungbae’s shirt, and they kissed like they’d been waiting their entire lives just for this. They breathed each other’s air, melting into each other, holding close like they never wanted to let go. Seungho could feel the smile against his own lips, and he let out a breathy laugh, leaning his forehead against Kyoungbae’s.
”So pretty.” Kyoungbae murmured, gently kissing Seungho on the cheek.
Seungho turns an impressive shade of pink.
“Let- let’s focus on practice.” Seungho detached himself from Kyoungbae. With great difficulty, because apparently Kyoungbae doesn’t like letting people go after he already has them in his arms. “Come on, Kyoungbae. We can do this when we’re done.”
“We can wrap up now.” Kyoungbae whines slightly, and Seungho almost melts on the spot.
Almost.
“One more round. To make up for… just now.” Seungho shoots back.
“Ugh. Fine.”
Seungho would really like to be in Kyoungbae’s arms again.
But he does the last run with all his energy, making sure his soul was incorporated into every single move he did.
Seungho was too giddy to think straight, and Kyoungbae just laughed as they packed up their things and left the studio. Kenshin happened to be walking past, and the moment he saw their faces, redder than usual and smiling like two idiots, he immediately cracked up.
“Yah! Xiang! Sungmin! It finally happened!” Kenshin shouted behind him, and the two older boys seemed to materialise out of nowhere, immediately clocking the situation.
“Young love.” Jingxiang rolled his eyes, but patted Seungho on the shoulder. “Treat your new boyfriend well. Don’t mess up too much. Good luck to both of you.”
“What is that supposed to mean?!” Seungho yelled indignantly, but the three boys had already left, their laughter still echoing in the hallway.
“Oh well.” Kyoungbae laughed, and the sound was so comforting that Seungho almost immediately forgot about the other three. “Do you… wanna get ice cream?”
Seungho just nodded, his cheeks dusted with pink.
Ten minutes and a lot of bickering over who would pay later, Seungho tapped his card first triumphantly, each boy having an ice cream cone in hand. They laughed and sat outside in the cold, their breaths visible in the air as they slowly ate the freezing cold dessert.
“So.” Kyoungbae turned to Seungho. “What are we now… now that we’ve. You know.” He doesn’t need to say it directly, because they both know.
They’re hopelessly in love with each other.
”…Boyfriends?”
“Sounds good.”
Seungho tasted strawberry ice cream and a hint of vanilla on Kyoungbae’s lips.
𖤐
The day of the concert came. A little too fast.
Six hundred in the audience, at least fifty backstage helpers and thirty performers gathered in the auditorium of their high school, the performers all in smaller backstage dressing rooms that had LED lights and makeup tables and felt a little too cramped if you had more than three people in there.
Seungho was fidgeting with his outfit — a white, long-sleeved shirt underneath a cropped suit jacket, dark blue tie and black pants. Kyoungbae’s was almost identical, with a longer jacket and pants that were just two shades different from Seungho’s. Kyoungbae had insisted on Seungho wearing his glasses for the performance and ditching them when the songs transitioned from Given-Taken to Fake Love, which Seungho compromised to (buying a pair of fake plastic glasses online because he was Not tossing his actual ones on stage and risking breaking them).
Kyoungbae did his final touches of makeup and secured his own outfit, turning to Seungho. “Need help with that, love?”
The affectionate name sent Seungho’s face into a deep shade of pink. “Uh. Yeah. Thanks.” He lett his now-boyfriend take over, and for some reason Kyoungbae just had to give him another light kiss. He always took pleasure in watching Seungho get all shy and red. Kyoungbae helped to touch up the last parts of Seungho’s makeup, fixed up his outfit to look just right, and put on that fake pair of glasses, which still looked unfairly good. Kyoungbae pressed one last, gentle kiss to Seungho’s forehead.
“Let’s do this, Seungho. Just like we practiced. Just like we tried.”
The performance went amazingly well.
Seven minutes of intense dancing, floor choreography, jumps and moves that wowed the audience. Every last practice, every little moment they spent together, every second they spent in the practice room, led to this final moment. They’re both in their ending poses, backs pressed to each others’. The audience burst into applause, and they see Kenshin, Sungmin and Jingxiang in the first row, with the loudest cheers in the room.
They turned and bowed to the audience, and Seungho got a little intrusive thought while the audience was still clapping.
He turned and kissed Kyoungbae. In front of the entire audience. In front of six hundred people.
And Kyoungbae kissed him back, just for a few moments, before they bowed again, this time to slightly shocked faces and Kenshin’s voice yelling, “That’s my favourite couple!”
They’re backstage, giggling and smiling, when Minwook and Yeojun walked past them to perform as the next act. “Okay, lovebirds. We get it. Congrats.” Minwook rolled his eyes, but pat Koungbae on the shoulder anyway. Yeojun just winked at Seungho. “Invite us to your wedding.”
This time, Seungho was too breathless to retort.
𖤐
two years later !
Seo Kyoungbae woke up from his slumber to the smell of pancakes and coffee in the rental apartment he shared with his boyfriend, Song Seungho.
Kyoungbae walked out of the bedroom to see his boyfriend in the kitchen — sleeves rolled up, glasses on, eyebrows slightly furrowed as he poured batter into a pan, careful not to put too much. It was unfair how attractive Seungho was. Especially at eight in the morning.
Seungho was flipping another pancake when he felt a familiar warmth from behind, then arms wrapping around his waist as Kyoungbae rested his head on Seungho’s shoulder. “Morning, love.” Kyoungbae murmured softly, pressing a gentle kiss to Seungho’s cheek. “Thanks for making breakfast.”
”No problem. Give me ten more minutes, okay? Go wash up first.” Seungho smiled, his voice warm and affectionate.
So Kyoungbae did. And when he walked out of the washroom to see the table already neatly set, two plates of pancakes and his coffee already done (he knew that Seungho always made it exactly how he liked), he wondered how he’d managed to bag such a wonderful man.
”Thank you so much, love.” Kyoungbae doesn’t sit down immediately. He moves to give Seungho a soft, sweet kiss, his arms resting on his boyfriend’s waist. “I love you.”
And when Seungho murmurs “I love you too” against his lips, Kyoungbae knows he is exactly where he wants to be.
Home.