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Yu had known Tomoya since that chaotic first week of university orientation, when the two of them had bonded instantly over lukewarm coffee from the campus café and a mutual loathing for anything resembling a 8 a.m. lecture.
Their friendship had grown into the kind of easy, unbreakable rhythm that only comes from late-night study sessions turning into Mario Kart marathons, endless debates about pineapple on pizza that somehow stretched into philosophical territory, and the sort of banter that made even the most boring group projects feel like an adventure.
So when Tomoya shot him a text that afternoon: “Dude, ditch the library and come to my place. We’ll smash this joint project way faster here,” Yu didn’t think twice.
He tossed his laptop, his lecture notebook, some spare pens, and snacks into his bag. He grabbed his car keys and drove over to the modest two-story house in the quiet neighborhood just off campus.
The place felt lived-in and welcoming the moment he stepped inside: creaky wooden floors that groaned underfoot, a living room dominated by a massive TV, empty energy drink cans scattered like trophies on the coffee table, and blankets piled haphazardly on the couch from some recent lazy afternoon.
Tomoya’s mom was away for the weekend, leaving the house to the two of them, and they wasted no time spreading their laptops and notes across the low coffee table, firing up some chill lo-fi beats on the speaker, and diving in.
For the first solid hour, they actually made real progress. Typing up sections of their marketing analysis, trading ideas back and forth, and occasionally pausing to fact-check citations like responsible uni students.
But true to form, the session quickly devolved into their usual chaos.
By the second hour, the laptops were half-forgotten as they switched to the Switch hooked up to the TV for a heated Smash Bros tournament. The controllers gripped tight while they hurled insults and victory dances across the room.
Yu was laughing so hard at one point that soda nearly came out of his nose, and Tomoya was trash-talking him mercilessly about his “pathetic skills,” the kind of stupid, perfect immature shit that made time disappear.
They snacked on chips and leftover pizza, argued over nothing important, and let the afternoon slip away in that comfortable haze.
It was around the three-hour mark since they started. Yu was mid-gesture with a half-eaten bag of chips in one hand, trying to explain a key point about consumer behavior trends, when the soft creak of footsteps on the stairs pulled his attention upward.
He glanced over casually at first, expecting maybe that Tomoya’s mother had managed to get in without him noticing, or Tomoya had a pet he wasn’t aware of. But the figure descending from the upstairs hallway made every word in Yu’s throat evaporate.
‘’Oh yeah, that’s my baby brother, Sogeon’’ Tomoya says casually without even glancing over his shoulder after noticing Yu was fixated on the figure emerging from upstairs.
‘’You have a younger brother? Why wouldn’t you tell me this?’’ Yu felt betrayed, both because he thought he had gotten to know Tomoya pretty well in the 6 months they’ve known each other and because this so-called baby brother Sogeon was pretty.
Sogeon was nothing like his older brother. Where Tomoya was broad and loud and built from spending time at the gym with his jock friends, Sogeon was lean. Almost delicately thin, with bleach-blonde hair falling in soft, messy waves over his eyes, the color catching the late afternoon light and turning it into something ethereal, like pale sunlight on fresh snow.
Yu could see that his nails were painted a glossy black from where the boy held onto the railing next to him. The manicure chipping just enough at the edges to look effortlessly cool rather than careless.
He wore an oversized black hoodie that draped off his narrow shoulders in loose folds, the sleeves swallowing his palms completely, paired with joggers that hung low on his hips as if deliberately bought a few sizes too big.
A small silver nose ring glinted sharply at him when he tilted his head, drawing Yu’s gaze straight to the sharp line of his jaw and the full curve of his lips, which were pressed into a neutral, distant line.
But it was his face, those dark, expressive eyes scanning the room with quiet detachment, the subtle flush of his cheeks, that hit Yu like a freight train.
He was absolutely gorgeous, in a way that felt almost unfair, like someone had pulled him from an indie album cover or a late-night poetry reading. Yu’s stomach twisted into a tight, fluttering knot, heat rushing up his neck as his brain short-circuited on the spot.
How could Tomoya not tell him he had a younger brother? And Yu had spent months practically glued to him, basically his best friend, without hearing a single word about him?
The realization sent a fresh wave of panic and something warmer, more electric, surging through him. He was going to have a full-blown crisis right here on the living room floor, heart hammering so loudly he was sure it echoed off the walls.
Tomoya barely looked up from his controller, as unbothered as ever. “Yo, Sogeon,” he called out lazily. “Don’t be a dick- say hi to Yu. We’re working on that project i told you about together.”
Sogeon paused at the bottom of the stairs, one hand resting lightly on the railing, his posture relaxed but guarded, like he was already halfway mentally checked out. His eyes flicked over Yu for the briefest moment, cool, polite, with just a hint of disinterest that didn’t quite hide the subtle curiosity beneath.
Then he lifted his fingers in a small, lazy wave. “Hi,” he said, voice soft and even, carrying the bare minimum of warmth to be civil without inviting anything more. “Don’t break anything down here.” He padded into the kitchen without another glance, the oversized hoodie swaying around his frame as he grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, twisted off the cap, and took a slow sip.
Yu watched, transfixed, as Sogeon turned and headed back upstairs, socked feet making that faint shuffle on the wooden steps until the sound faded into the hallway above. The living room felt suddenly quieter, the lo-fi beats doing nothing to drown out the whirlwind spinning in Yu’s head.
His thoughts raced in chaotic loops: confusion, undeniable attraction that made his palms sweat and his throat tighten, and a quiet thrill at the way Sogeon’s nose ring had caught the light like a secret. He forced his eyes back to the TV screen, but the damage was done, every round of Smash after that was a complete disaster, his focus shattered as he lost spectacularly to Tomoya’s whoops of victory.
The afternoon melted seamlessly into evening, the project still only halfway finished as they abandoned the laptops for more games and mindless snacking.
Yu kept stealing subtle glances toward the stairs every so often, half-hoping for another glimpse of Sogeon and half-dreading the way his pulse spiked at the mere thought. But the house stayed quiet upstairs, and before long, midnight had crept in, the street outside dark and still.
Tomoya stretched out on the floor with a dramatic groan, rubbing his eyes. “Dude, it’s way too late to drive back to the dorms now. Just crash here. My mom won’t care, we can finish this crap in the morning.” Yu hesitated for only a heartbeat, his mind flashing briefly to the mysterious brother somewhere above them, before nodding with a casual shrug.
“Yeah, sounds good. Thanks, man.” They dimmed the lights except for the soft glow of the TV, and Tomoya queued up some dumb horror movie he’d been hyping to him for weeks. The kind with terrible CGI ghosts and over-the-top jump scares that were more laughable than terrifying.
They settled in comfortably: Yu sprawled on the couch with a pillow behind his head, Tomoya on the floor with his arm flung over his face. For a while, they stayed like that, cracking jokes at the bad acting and sharing the last bag of chips between yawns.
But twenty minutes in, Tomoya’s snoring kicked in like clockwork, loud and rhythmic, his body going completely limp on the rug as he passed out cold.
Yu stayed awake, staring at the flickering screen without really seeing it, his thoughts drifting back to that brief encounter earlier in the day. The way Sogeon’s oversized clothes had hung off his lean frame, the glint of that nose ring, the soft detachment in his voice. It all replayed on a loop, stirring up a confusing mix of nerves and a deeper, warmer pull that Yu hadn’t felt in ages.
He was just starting to wonder if he should try forcing himself to sleep when he heard it again: the faint, telltale shuffle of socked feet on the wooden flooring upstairs, growing steadily closer as someone descended. Yu turned his head instinctively toward the sound, his pulse quickening before his brain could catch up.
He wished immediately that he hadn’t, or maybe he didn’t wish that at all, because there was Sogeon, rounding the corner from the stairs into the dim, blue-hued light of the living room.
He was dressed for bed in a pair of short black pajama pants that rode high on his slim, pale legs, exposing the smooth lines of his thighs, and a big, loose black tank top that kept slipping off one sharp shoulder, revealing the elegant curve of his collarbone.
His face was shiny and fresh from what must have been a recent skincare routine, cheeks faintly flushed under the TV’s glow. Headphones rested over his ears. In one hand, he held his phone, thumb scrolling lazily through what looked like music playlists or social media feeds. In the other, he casually gripped a perfectly rolled blunt, unlit but clearly intended for the night ahead.
Their eyes met across the quiet room, and Yu felt his breath hitch in his chest.
Sogeon paused mid-step, then reached up to tug one side of his headphones down with a single finger, his expression softening just a fraction into something almost soft.
“My brother’s already out cold?” he asked quietly, voice low enough not to disturb the snoring figure on the floor, a hint of dry amusement threading through the words like smoke.
Yu nodded, swallowing hard before he could find his voice. “Yeah, he tapped out like twenty minutes in. Movie’s… not great, honestly. The scares are pretty weak.” Sogeon’s mouth twitched at the corners, almost forming a real smile this time, and he let out a soft, surprised chuckle that sent an unexpected spark straight through Yu’s veins.
“It’s total garbage,” he agreed, glancing briefly at the screen where some actress was screaming dramatically at a shadow. “The acting is painful- like she’s being murdered by a wet sock or something equally terrifying.” Yu laughed quietly despite himself, the sound escaping before he could stop it, genuine and lighter than he’d felt all evening.
“Right? I was thinking the exact same thing earlier. The effects look like they were slapped together in someone’s basement with free editing software and a prayer.” For a lingering moment, they just stood there in the half-dark, sharing that small bubble of amusement while the horror movie droned on, forgotten in the background.
Yu’s mind was a whirlwind of excitement and nerves, the flutter in his chest growing as Sogeon actually engaged with him, his dark eyes holding Yu’s gaze a beat longer than necessary.
Then, to Yu’s complete and utter surprise, Sogeon lifted the blunt in his hand slightly, tilting his head toward the stairs in a casual, almost inviting gesture. “You wanna come smoke with me? If you’re not too busy watching… whatever this mess is supposed to be.”
The offer hung in the air between them, simple and unexpected, and Yu’s heart performed a full, embarrassing somersault.
Every rational part of him whispered that he should probably say no. That he should probably stay downstairs like a responsible guest, keep things safe and platonic.
But the pull was stronger, that simmering curiosity and attraction winning out as the words left his mouth before he could overthink them.
“Yeah, sure. Why not?” Sogeon gave a small nod, that almost-smile lingering at the edges of his lips, and disappeared back up the stairs without another word, leaving Yu sitting frozen on the couch for three full seconds, processing the rush of adrenaline and the giddy twist in his stomach.
He sat there for a while longer, looking over at Tomoya, a sort of guilt pulsing through him for a second. Then, decided, he whispered “fuck it” under his breath, stood up carefully to step over Tomoya’s snoring form, and followed Sogeon, each step up the wooden stairs feeling like it carried more weight than it should.
Sogeon was already waiting by an open window in the upstairs hallway, the cool night air drifting in with a faint breeze that carried the distant scent of pines.
“Through here,” he said simply, swinging one leg up and out the open window. Sogeon climbed onto the roof with the easy familiarity of someone who’d done it a hundred times before, his movements fluid and unhurried.
Yu hesitated for half a second at the edge, second-guessing the height, the whole impulsive situation, the way his pulse was already racing, but the magnetic pull of Sogeon’s quiet invitation and the lull of his cologne won out.
He climbed out after him, the roof tiles cool and slightly rough under his palms as he settled a careful distance away from Sogeon. Close enough to comfortably talk but not so close that it felt intrusive.
Sogeon was already half-lounging against the slight incline of the roof, legs stretched out casually in front of him, the blunt now lit between his manicured fingers. Thin ribbons of smoke curled lazily around his face in the soft moonlight, softening the sharp angles of his features and making the silver nose ring sparkle faintly.
Yu’s pulse thrummed steadily in his ears as he sat there, hyper-aware of every small detail: the way the oversized tank top pooled loosely around Sogeon’s lean frame, the black nail polish catching the light on his fingers, the subtle rise and fall of his chest as he exhaled.
Sogeon reaches over and holds out the lit blunt between his fingers towards Yu, a silent offering for him to take it. Yu does, grabbing it between his thumb and pointer finger and bringing it up to his lips for his first full drag of the night.
They passed the blunt back and forth in comfortable silence for a while, the weed settling in gradually and loosening the tension in Yu’s shoulders until the night felt softer, more intimate around them.
It was Yu who broke the quiet first, his voice steadier than he expected as the high began to wrap around his thoughts like a warm blanket.
“So… how old are you, anyway?” he asked, genuinely curious now that the barriers felt a little less solid. Sogeon took a slow drag, holding it for a moment before exhaling a long plume of smoke through his nose that drifted between them in the cool air.
“Twenty-one,” he replied, voice low and relaxed, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
“Two years younger than you guys. It feels like I’m always playing catch-up, but whatever.” Yu nodded, surprised at how close in age they actually were, the detail making Sogeon feel somehow more accessible.
“You’re in uni here too, right? Same campus?”
“Mhm,” Sogeon said, passing the blunt over with a casual brush of fingers that sent a tiny spark up Yu’s arm.
“Photography and Visual Arts major. Different building from whatever business hell you and Tomoya are in, but yeah- same school.” The conversation unfolded from there like a gentle current, easier and warmer the higher they both got, the shared smoke creating a hazy, private bubble on the roof that made everything feel a little more honest, a little more charged.
Yu leaned into it, asking about school, an easy and casual topic he could use to get to know Sogeon more. Sogeon happily gave what Yu asked, talking about the exchange program he had the chance to do in high school. Getting the chance to study in Korea of all places, Yu listened with rapt attention as Sogeon described the wild stories: getting completely lost in the bustling streets of Seoul at 2 a.m. because he’d followed a stray cat down a narrow alley instead of checking Google Maps for his way back home.
The slight culture shock of trying street food that was somehow so very different from back home, and the quiet nights in a tiny host family apartment where he’d practiced his Korean by whispering lyrics to underground K-indie tracks.
“It was chaotic but… freeing,” Sogeon admitted, his dark eyes reflecting the moonlight as he glanced over at Yu, a rare spark of genuine enthusiasm lighting them up. “Like, no one there knew me as ‘Tomoya’s little brother.’ I could just be me, dye my hair whatever color I wanted, take photos of random alley cats at midnight.”
Yu chuckled softly, passing the blunt back and feeling the warmth of Sogeon’s fingers linger just a fraction longer than necessary against his own. “That sounds incredible. I’ve never been anywhere outside Japan like that. Most of my ‘adventures’ are just getting lost on the way to class.”
Sogeon’s laugh was soft and surprised, a real one this time that made Yu’s chest tighten with a flutter of something deeper, more electric. “You should try it sometime. Korea’s got this energy… everything feels possible at night.”
From there, the questions flowed naturally between them, the attraction simmering just beneath the surface in every shared glance and quiet pause. Yu asked about his major next, what kind of photography he was into these days, and Sogeon promptly and excitedly pulled out his phone.
He began scrolling through a few shots with a shy sort of pride: moody black-and-white street scenes from campus at dusk, close-ups of rain-slicked leaves that looked like abstract art, even a candid of Tomoya mid-snore on the couch that made them both laugh and lots of adorable pictures of Sogeon petting stray cats he meets on his way home.
“I like capturing the stuff people usually ignore,” Sogeon explained, voice dropping a little as he leaned in slightly to show Yu the screen, their shoulders brushing in the process. The contact was brief, accidental, but it sent a warm rush through Yu that had nothing to do with the weed.
“The in-between moments. Makes me feel like I’m actually seeing the world instead of just walking through it.” Yu nodded, his gaze lingering on Sogeon’s profile, the way the moonlight traced the edge of his jaw, the subtle flush on his skincare-shiny cheeks.
“That’s really cool. I mean, I’m just grinding through business classes because it seemed practical, but you’re out here making art. It suits you.” The compliment landed softly, and Sogeon glanced up, eyes meeting Yu’s for a held breath, something flattered and almost shy flickering across his face before he looked away with a small, pleased smile.
They kept talking as the blunt made its way around again, the conversation growing more personal, more comfortable. Yu asked what kind of music Sogeon was listening to lately, and Sogeon described his rotating playlists. Indie rock with dreamy guitar riffs, lo-fi beats that mirrored the ones they’d had playing downstairs earlier, even a few K-pop tracks he’d picked up during his exchange year that he admitted he still blasted when he needed to unwind.
“What about you?” Sogeon asked in return, turning the questions back on Yu with a tilt of his head that made his bleach-blonde hair fall messily over one eye.
“You don’t strike me as the type to just vibe with whatever Tomoya puts on.”
Yu laughed, feeling seen in a way that made his stomach flip pleasantly, and shared a bit about his own tastes, some alternative rock from high school that he still loved, the occasional late-night electronic mix when he was pulling all-nighters.
“Honestly, hanging with Tomoya means I hear a lot of whatever sports hype playlist he’s into,” Yu admitted with a grin. “But this… this is way better.” Sogeon’s eyes crinkled at the corners, and he bumped Yu’s shoulder lightly with his own, the touch sending another quiet spark through the air between them.
“Yeah? Good. I don’t usually invite Tomoya’s friends up here.”
The higher they got, the nicer the flow became, the simmering attraction building in the small spaces between words: the way Yu’s gaze kept drifting to the slip of Sogeon’s tank top off his shoulder, the casual brush of fingers when passing the blunt (or whatever remained of it). The way Sogeon’s voice softened as he talked about what it was really like living with Tomoya.
“He’s loud and leaves his socks everywhere, but he’s not the worst. He’s always babying me and trying to drag me into his dumb group hangs, but I’d rather be up here taking photos.”
Yu shared a little of his own life in return. The pressure of keeping up with classes, the quiet relief of having a friend like Tomoya who made everything feel less heavy. Sogeon listened with that same quiet intensity, nodding along, asking follow-up questions that showed he was actually interested, not just polite.
“You seem like you get it,” Sogeon said at one point, voice low and thoughtful as he exhaled smoke toward the stars. “Most of his friends just see me as the weird emo little brother who paints his nails and stays upstairs. You actually… asked. It’s nice.” Yu felt a flush creep up his neck at the words, his heart beating a little faster. He wanted to reach out, to say something more direct, but the moment stayed in that perfect, simmering tension. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from Sogeon’s arm, far enough to let the night breathe.
Eventually, after what felt like hours but was probably closer to one hour, Sogeon let out a big, genuine yawn, stretching his arms overhead like a cat waking from a long nap. The movement made his tank top ride up just enough to reveal a sliver of pale skin at his waist, and Yu’s eyes flicked there involuntarily before he caught himself, cheeks warming.
“I should probably go to bed,” Sogeon murmured, voice softer now, a little raspy from the smoke and the late hour. He stood up carefully and brushed roof grit off his short pajama pants. He paused before heading back to the window, glancing over his shoulder with that same small, genuine smile from earlier.
Almost under his breath, like it was a secret he wasn’t sure he should share but couldn’t quite hold back, he added, “You really aren’t like any of Tomoya’s other stupid jock friends, you know.”
Yu looked up at him from where he sat, cheeks warm from the compliment and the lingering high, his heart doing that familiar, embarrassing flutter again. “Is that… good?” he asked, half-teasing but mostly hopeful, the words carrying more weight than he intended.
Sogeon’s gaze lingered on him for a long second, dark eyes soft in the moonlight, before the corner of his mouth curved upward. “Yeah,” he said quietly, almost tenderly. “It’s really good.”
Then he slipped back through the window with one last glance, leaving Yu alone on the roof with the lingering scent of smoke, the cool night air brushing his skin, and a head spinning with bleach-blonde hair, silver nose rings, and the electric promise of something new and unspoken.
Yu climbed back downstairs a few minutes later, moving carefully so as not to wake Tomoya, his body buzzing not just from the weed but from the giddy rush of connection that felt bigger than the night itself.
He collapsed onto the couch, staring up at the ceiling with a stupid, uncontrollable smile he couldn’t wipe off his face even if he tried, the horror movie long since ended on the silent TV.
Tomoya was still snoring peacefully on the floor, completely oblivious. Somewhere upstairs, Sogeon was probably already asleep, headphones maybe back. Yu pressed the heels of his hands over his eyes and let out a quiet, disbelieving laugh into the dark room, heart still racing with that teenager-with-a-crush energy he thought he’d outgrown.
He was so, so screwed,
The next morning arrived with soft sunlight filtering through the living room curtains. Yu woke up on the couch with a slight crick in his neck, the remnants of last night’s high still clinging to the edges of his mind like a pleasant fog.
He listened for any movement upstairs, footsteps, the creak of a door, even the faint shuffle of socks on wood. But the house remained stubbornly quiet.
Tomoya eventually stumbled downstairs, having woken up in the middle of the night to sleep in his own room. He yawned loudly as he scratched at his messy bedhead, and when Yu casually asked where his brother was, Tomoya just shrugged with a lazy grin.
“Sogeon? Probably asleep, he never wakes up before 12 unless he has lectures or classes. Don’t worry about him.” Yu forced a casual nod, but inside, he felt a quiet pang of disappointment settle in his chest.
He’d been hoping, maybe even half-expecting, to catch another glimpse of that bleach-blonde hair over breakfast or while they finished the last bits of their project.
The absence left an odd emptiness, like the night on the roof had been a dream he wasn’t ready to let go of. Still, he told himself it was fine. He’d definitely make it his mission now to hang out at Tomoya’s place more often, finding any excuse to come over if it meant the chance to see Sogeon again.
The thought alone sent a small, giddy spark through him, even as he helped Tomoya clean up the living room and headed back to his dorm with that secret resolve humming beneath his skin.
-
A couple of days later, Tomoya mentioned in passing that one of his classes had assigned a heavy book report, something dense and analytical that he was already dreading. Yu wasn’t in that class, but the offer slipped out of his mouth before he could stop it: “I can help you with it if you want. I’m pretty good at breaking down that kind of stuff.”
Tomoya didn’t even blink twice, just grinned and said, “Sure, dude! Come over tomorrow after my afternoon lecture. We’ll order pizza.” Yu’s heart gave a hopeful little jump at the invitation, though he tried to play it cool.
The next day, he showed up right on time, laptop in hand and a bag of snacks under his arm, telling himself he was there purely as a good friend. They settled into the living room again, spreading notes and the thick assigned book across the coffee table, the familiar lo-fi playlist humming in the background.
But Yu was distracted the entire time.
His eyes kept drifting toward the stairs, ears straining for any sound of movement from upstairs. Noise like a door opening, footsteps, even the faint strum of music leaking from a speaker.
Hours passed, the afternoon light slowly faded into golden evening hues, and still there was no sign of Sogeon. Not a single creak, not a glimpse of oversized black clothes or bleach-blonde hair.
Yu’s focus on the assignment grew thinner with every passing minute, his contributions to their discussion half-hearted as his mind wandered back to the rooftop, the shared smoke, and the way Sogeon’s quiet laugh had made everything feel warmer.
When it finally got dark outside, and the living room lamps cast long shadows across the floor, Yu couldn’t hold the question in any longer. He set his pen down and tried to sound casual.
“Hey, where’s your brother? I haven’t seen him around at all today.” Tomoya leaned back against the couch, cracking open a fresh can of soda with a shrug.
“Sogeon? Probably out at some party or hanging with his artsy friends. He does that often. He disappears for a night. Comes back reeking of weed and soju.”
The words landed heavier than Yu expected, a quiet sadness twisting in his gut like a slow ache. He pictured Sogeon somewhere else, laughing with other people under different lights, maybe with that same soft, detached smile he’d given Yu on the roof.
It stung more than it should have for someone he’d only spoken to like… twice (in the same day). Still, he pushed the feeling down and nodded, forcing a laugh. “Oh alright.”
They finished the assignment not long after that. The relief of being done, however, was overshadowed by Yu’s lingering disappointment. To celebrate, Tomoya grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge, and they switched over to video games.
They trash-talked their way through several rounds of Mario Kart and some fighting game Yu kept losing at on purpose, just to keep the mood light. A few beers in, the exhaustion from the long day caught up with him. Yu felt his eyelids growing heavy on the couch, the room blurring around the edges, until he drifted off without meaning to, the sounds of the game fading into distant background noise.
Tomoya passed out shortly after in the corner armchair, one leg dangling over the armrest, snoring softly with the controller still loosely gripped in his hand. The house fell into a deep, quiet stillness, broken only by the occasional creak of settling wood.
Hours later, probably well past 3 a.m., Yu jolted awake to the gentle but insistent shake of a hand on his shoulder.
He blinked rapidly, eyes adjusting to the dim lamplight, and found himself staring up at none other than Sogeon.
The blonde was leaning over the couch, a lazy, lopsided smile spreading across his face like he was sharing the world’s best secret. His hair was tousled, falling messily over his forehead, and that silver nose ring caught the low light with every small movement.
In his hand he held a small baggy of weed, clearly raw and unrolled, the faint herbal scent already drifting between them. Sogeon already looked unmistakably high, pupils a little blown, cheeks flushed, movements loose and fluid in that dreamy, unbothered way, but his smile was warm, almost giddy, as if he’d been hoping Yu would still be there.
“Hey,” Sogeon murmured, voice soft and slightly raspy, cute. Amusement threading through every syllable. “Want to smoke again? I’ve got good stuff tonight.” Yu’s heart slammed against his ribs, sleepiness vanishing in an instant.
He was a weak man when it came to Sogeon, apparently, because the refusal never even crossed his mind. “Yeah,” he breathed immediately, sitting up with a quiet laugh. “Hell yes.” Sogeon’s smile widened, and he jerked his head toward the stairs, already turning to lead the way.
They climbed up quietly, careful not to wake Tomoya, and slipped out the same hallway window onto the rooftop. The night air was cooler than before, carrying a faint breeze that rustled the leaves of nearby trees.
Yu settled against the incline, watching, more than a little mesmerized, as Sogeon moved with practiced ease to prepare their blunt.
Even slightly stoned, he handled the task like second nature: grinding the weed in a cute pink grinder with careful fingers, packing it neatly into the rolling paper, his black-painted nails flashing in the moonlight.
Yu’s gaze lingered far too long when Sogeon brought the paper to his lips, tongue darting out to seal the edge of the rolling paper with a slow, deliberate lick. The image burned itself into Yu’s mind, the shine of his lips, the casual intimacy of the motion.
He had to shift his posture, clearing his throat as heat crept up his neck. Sogeon didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he only smiled wider as he lit the freshly rolled blunt and took the first slow drag, smoke curling around his face like a halo.
They passed the blunt back and forth in that easy rhythm again, the smoke thick and sweet between them. Sogeon, clearly riding a stronger wave than last time, started talking almost immediately, his usual quiet detachment replaced by a loose, adorable openness.
“So… how’ve you been since the other night?” Sogeon asked, exhaling a slow plume of smoke toward the stars before handing the blunt over. His voice was softer than usual, a little dreamy, a little devastating.
“You and my brother finish that project yet, or is he still dragging you into endless Smash tournaments?”
Yu took a drag, the warmth spreading through his chest as he smiled. “We finished it. Barely. He kept pausing to ‘strategize’ which basically meant yelling at the screen. How about you? You kind of vanished the next morning.”
Sogeon let out a quiet laugh, leaning back on his elbows so his oversized hoodie slipped further off one shoulder. “Yeah… I tend to do that. Sorry if it was weird. I don’t really do mornings well.” He tilted his head, looking at Yu with those glassy, dark eyes.
“What classes are you even taking this semester? Tomoya never tells me anything useful.”
“Mostly business core stuff like marketing, finance, statistics. It’s not as bad as it sounds, but the lectures can drag. I’m also doing this elective on digital media that’s actually pretty fun.”
Yu passed the blunt back, their fingers brushing again, lingering just a second longer than necessary. “What about you? Still photographing random alley cats?”
Sogeon’s face lit up, a genuine, stoned grin breaking across his lips. “I wish. No cats this week, but I’ve been shooting a lot on campus at night. The light from the streetlamps hits the buildings weirdly… makes everything look kinda lonely but beautiful, you know? I’m trying to build a series for my portfolio’’
‘’And you? Do you ever take photos, or is your camera roll just memes and screenshots of your grades?”
Yu chuckled, feeling the high loosen his tongue. “Mostly memes and bad selfies with Tomoya and my sisters. But I like your stuff. That one you showed me last time- the rain on the leaves, it looked like art. You make normal things feel… important.”
Sogeon glanced over, something soft and flattered flickering in his expression. He took another hit, holding it before speaking again.
“Thank you. Most people just tell me it’s ‘cool’ and move on. You actually sound like you mean it.” He paused, then rambled on, the words tumbling out easier now.
“Classes are kicking my ass, too, though. Critique days are brutal. Everyone sits in a circle and tears your photos apart like it’s their job. Last week, someone said my composition was ‘too safe.’ I wanted to disappear’’
“That’s like when my professor told me my presentation slides looked like they were designed by a toddler on sugar,” Yu admitted with a laugh. “I spent three hours on those. I wanted to die. But hey, at least no one cried over it like I heard happens in art critiques.”
Sogeon giggled, wholeheartedly giggled, and nudged Yu’s shoulder with his own. The contact sent a warm spark through both of them.
“Yeah, people cry sometimes. It’s dramatic but kinda funny after the fact. You should come sit in on one sometime. I’ll warn you first, so you don’t get roasted by proxy.” He took another drag and kept going, voice growing more animated.
“Speaking of, what do you even do when you’re not helping my brother with assignments or losing at video games? Do you have, like, hobbies? Or are you one of those people who just studies and sleeps?”
“I try to have hobbies,” Yu said, smiling at how easily the conversation flowed.
“I play guitar sometimes, badly. I dance sometimes. And I like going for late-night walks when the campus is quiet. Clears my head. What about you? Besides photography and sleeping in until lunch?”
Sogeon’s laugh was bright and unrestrained this time. “Okay, fair. I listen to music a lot. Like, obsessively. I’ll put on headphones and zone out for hours, making playlists that match my mood.’’
‘’Right now it’s a lot of indie stuff with dreamy guitars and soft vocals. And I sketch sometimes when I’m not shooting. Nothing serious, just doodles in the margins of my notes. Oh, and I cook ramen at 3 a.m. Tomoya thinks it’s weird, but it hits different when you’re high, and the kitchen’s all quiet.”
Yu watched him as he spoke, mesmerized by the way Sogeon’s hands moved when he talked, the black nail polish catching the moonlight, the way his bleach-blonde hair fell across his forehead. “I might have to try that sometime.”
“You should,” Sogeon said softly, turning to look at him directly. Their eyes held for a long moment, the air between them feeling thicker. “I could show you my playlist sometime. Or… you know, we could just hang up here again. Without the whole ‘let’s get stoned’ excuse.”
Yu’s heart stuttered at the quiet invitation. “I’d like that. A lot.” He passed the blunt back, their fingers brushing once more, neither of them pulling away quickly.
“So… where exactly were you tonight? Tomoya said you might be at a party.”
Sogeon exhaled slowly, smoke curling around his face. “I was at a friend’s place to pick up some of her weed. Ended up getting stoned by accident- well, maybe not totally by accident. Their stuff is strong, and we kept passing the bong around while watching old anime. Time just… disappeared. I didn’t mean to stay that long.” He shrugged, but there was a sheepish little smile on his lips. “Sorry if you were waiting… or something.”
Yu shook his head, unable to stop smiling. “I wasn’t waiting, I guess. But… I’m glad you showed up anyway. This is way better than sleeping on the couch and listening to Tomoya’s snores.”
Sogeon’s cheeks flushed a little deeper, though it could have been the weed. “Good. Because I kinda hoped you’d still be here.” He rambled on again, switching topics effortlessly.
“You know, you’re really easy to talk to. Most of Tomoya’s friends I’ve met don’t really give enough of a shit to indulge in a conversation. You actually ask stuff. Like about Korea, or my photos, or what music I like. It’s… refreshing. Makes me feel less like the weird little brother in the background.”
“You’re not in the background,” Yu said quietly, the words slipping out with more honesty than he planned. “At least not to me.”
Sogeon looked at him again, that soft, knowing smile returning as he handed the blunt over. The silence that followed wasn’t awkward, it was warm, charged, full of things neither of them said out loud yet.
They kept talking long after the blunt had burned down to nothing, the conversation drifting from favorite late-night snacks to embarrassing childhood stories, from dreams they were too scared to chase to the way the city lights looked prettier from this rooftop than anywhere else.
Sogeon’s voice grew softer as the night deepened, but his smiles came more freely, and Yu felt himself leaning closer without realizing it, drawn in by the warmth radiating from the blonde beside him. Every small touch, shoulders brushing, fingers grazing when passing what was left of the smoke, felt electric.
They talked and talked until the first hints of dawn painted the horizon in soft pinks and golds, the stars fading one by one. Sogeon finally yawned widely, stretching his arms overhead as the early light caught in his bleach-blonde hair and made it glow.
“Shit… sun’s coming up already,” he murmured, voice thick with exhaustion and lingering smoke, but his eyes were still bright when they met Yu’s. “We should probably head in before Tomoya wakes up and starts asking questions.”
Yu nodded, reluctant to let the moment end, his chest tight with that same giddy, teenage-crush feeling amplified by the long night.
They climbed back through the window together, moving quietly through the sleeping house. As Sogeon paused at the top of the stairs, he glanced back one last time, that soft, knowing smile returning. “Night, Yu. Or… morning, I guess.” Yu whispered back a quiet goodnight, watching Sogeon disappear down the hallway before collapsing onto the couch again, heart racing and mind replaying every word, every glance, every brush of skin.
He was falling, hard, and he no longer cared how obvious it was becoming.
-
Another few weeks slipped by in a haze of lectures, half-finished assignments, and late-night study sessions that Yu powered through with a well-stocked fridge of energy drinks.
He kept finding excuses to swing by Tomoya’s house. Dropping off notes, “forgetting” a charger, even offering to help with yet another group project. But Sogeon remained elusive, either locked in his room or out with his own friends.
The memory of those two nights on the roof lingered like smoke in Yu’s chest, sweet and impossible to shake. He replayed Sogeon’s quiet laugh, the glint of his eyes in the moonlight, the way his black-painted nails looked against the rolling paper, until the ache of wanting to see him again became a constant, low hum beneath his daily routine.
One afternoon, while Yu sat in the back row of his marketing lecture trying to stay awake through a slideshow on consumer psychology, his phone buzzed against his thigh. He glanced down at the screen, expecting a message from Tomoya or a group chat reminder.
Instead, it was an unknown number.
Unknown: hey. are you free right now?
Yu frowned, thumbs hovering. He typed back quickly.
Yu: who is this?
The reply came almost instantly.
Unknown: Sogeon. stole your number from Tomoya’s phone while he was in the shower lol. Don’t be mad at him
Yu’s heart slammed against his ribs so hard he nearly dropped the phone. He stared at the message, heat rushing up his neck as a ridiculous smile tugged at his lips. Sogeon. Actually reaching out. To him.
Before he could overthink it, another text popped up.
Unknown: meet me by the bike racks near the arts building? if you’re not busy
Yu glanced up at the projector screen, then at the clock. Class still had forty minutes left. The professor was droning on about brand loyalty. Sogeon, right now, was waiting somewhere across campus for him, pretty blonde hair resting cutely over his eyes, nose ring catching the sunlight, looking unfairly gorgeous like always.
Yu didn’t even hesitate.
Yu: yeah i’m on my way
He shoved his laptop into his bag, whispered a half-assed excuse to the guy next to him about feeling sick, and slipped out the back door of the lecture hall like a man on a mission.
His pulse raced the entire walk across campus, a giddy mix of nerves and excitement bubbling in his stomach. Was he really ditching class for a guy he’d only hung out with twice? Yes. Yes, he absolutely was. And he didn’t regret it for a single second.
When he finally rounded the corner near the arts building, he spotted Sogeon immediately. The blonde was leaning casually against the bike racks, one foot propped up behind him, looking far too sexy to be real in the middle of an ordinary campus afternoon.
He wore an oversized black sweater that hung off his narrow shoulders, the sleeves pushed up to his elbows to reveal those slender wrists and black-painted nails. A pair of loose black pants completed the look, making him appear effortlessly cool and a little untouchable. Yu’s mouth went dry. He had to remind himself to keep walking instead of freezing in place like an idiot.
Sogeon looked up as Yu approached, that familiar small, almost-shy smile curving his lips. “You actually came,” he said, voice soft but warm. “I wasn’t sure if you’d ditch class for me.”
Yu laughed, a little breathless and spoke before his brain even caught up with him. “Clearly, I have zero self-control when it comes to you.”
Sogeon’s smile widened, pleased, cheeks flushing just slightly. He pushed off the bike rack and fell into step beside Yu as they started walking. “Good to know’’ before Yu could spiral and internally die, Sogeon kept going.
‘’Want to go get boba? There’s a place not far from here that does the brown sugar kind really well.”
Yu would have agreed to anything Sogeon suggested at that moment. “Yeah. Sounds good.”
As they walked, Sogeon pulled a cigarette from a slim black case in his pocket, lighting it with practiced ease. He took a slow drag, the smoke curling elegantly from his lips as he held the cigarette between two manicured fingers.
Yu couldn’t stop staring. He’d never found smoking particularly attractive before, usually it just smelled harsh and made him wrinkle his nose, but on Sogeon, it looked inexplicably sexy. The way he held the cigarette so casually, the contrast of black nails against white paper, the relaxed tilt of his head as he exhaled… everything about it made Yu’s stomach flip.
“Ugh, I just ditched my photography critique class,” Sogeon started yapping, voice light and animated as the cigarette dangled from his fingers. “The professor tore my latest prints apart in front of everyone. Said the lighting was ‘too moody’ and that I was hiding behind shadows again. Like, sorry I don’t want to shoot everything in harsh daylight like an influencer. I needed fresh air after that.”
Yu nodded, only half-listening because his attention kept drifting to Sogeon’s hand, the elegant way his fingers moved, the glossy black polish catching the sunlight. “That sounds brutal. But your stuff isn’t moody. It’s… atmospheric. I like it.”
Sogeon glanced sideways at him, a teasing glint in his dark eyes. “You’re just saying that because you want more rooftop time with me.”
“Maybe,” Yu admitted with a grin. “But I also mean it.”
They reached the boba shop a few minutes later, ordered two brown sugar milk teas with extra pearls for both of them, and continued their walk through the quieter parts of campus, sipping their drinks as the afternoon sun warmed their shoulders.
The conversation flowed easily, naturally, like they’d been doing this for months instead of just a couple of stolen nights. They talked about mundane things at first: the ridiculous price of textbooks for the new semester, the worst cafeteria food on campus, how Sogeon’s exchange year in Korea had ruined him for regular instant ramen forever.
But the flirtatious teasing crept in without effort.
Sogeon bumped Yu’s shoulder lightly as they walked. “You know, you’re a lot cuter when you’re not half-asleep on our couch.”
Yu nearly choked on a tapioca pearl. “Excuse me? I look great half-asleep.”
“You look like a confused golden retriever,” Sogeon teased, laughing softly. “It’s endearing.”
Yu felt his cheeks heat, but he fired back. “Sorry not everyone can look like they stepped out of a music video, especially when only complaining about their professor on a random Wednesday. It’s unfair.”
Sogeon’s smile turned a little shy, but he didn’t deny it, like he knew he looked good. Or rather, made sure he looked good. He took another sip of boba, then glanced down at his own hand holding the cup. Yu’s eyes followed automatically, drawn once again to those black nails.
“I’ve been meaning to ask,” Yu said, trying to sound casual even though his heart was doing embarrassing things. “What’s with the nails?”
Sogeon lifted his hand, wiggling his fingers so the polish caught the light. “Started painting them when I was trying to stop biting my nails back in high school. It was supposed to be a temporary thing, just something to keep my hands busy. But I liked how they looked, so I kept doing it. Now it’s just part of the routine.”
He paused, then reached out without warning and gently took Yu’s free hand in his own, turning it over to compare. His touch was warm, fingers sliding lightly over Yu’s palm. “You have pretty hands, Yu. Long fingers. They’d look good painted.”
Yu’s brain short-circuited at the casual contact. Sogeon’s skin was soft, his grip gentle but confident, and the compliment sent a rush of warmth straight through him. He was a complete simp, and he knew it.
“Next time you come over,” Sogeon continued, still holding Yu’s hand a moment longer than necessary, “let me paint your nails. I have a bunch of colors. Black would look hot on you, or maybe a deep red or something shiny.”
Yu didn’t even hesitate. “Yeah. Okay. I’d like that.”
Sogeon’s eyes sparkled with quiet delight as he finally let go, though their fingers brushed one last time.
They kept walking and talking. Going on about the worst professors they’d ever had, silly dreams like running away to a cabin in the mountains for a week with nothing but music and film cameras.
The amped up flirtation between them now wove through every sentence: Sogeon teasing Yu about how easily he ditched class today, Yu countering that Sogeon made it impossible to say no. Every laugh felt lighter, every glance lingered a little longer.
Eventually, they reached the edge of campus where their paths would split. Sogeon finished the last of his boba and tossed the cup into a recycling bin with casual grace.
“I should head back,” he said, though he didn’t sound particularly eager to leave. “Got a shift at the campus darkroom later.”
Yu nodded, but his mood plummeted the moment the words left Sogeon’s mouth. The afternoon had felt too short, too perfect, and the idea of going back to ordinary classes and empty evenings without that quiet, magnetic energy made his chest ache. “Yeah… I should probably go pretend I didn’t ditch my lecture.”
Sogeon gave him one last soft smile, the silver nose ring catching the light. “Text me next time you’re free. Or just show up. You know where my place is.”
“I will,” Yu promised, already mentally calculating how soon he could make that happen.
They parted ways with a small wave, Sogeon heading toward the arts building while Yu walked back toward the main campus path. The second Sogeon was out of sight, Yu’s shoulders slumped. His mood dropped like a stone, the giddy high of the afternoon fading into a quiet longing that settled deep in his stomach.
He replayed every moment. Sogeon’s laugh, the casual touch of their hands, the way he’d said “you have pretty hands” like it was the simplest truth in the world, and felt that familiar teenage-crush flutter all over again.
He was completely gone for Sogeon, and he didn’t even want to fight it anymore.
-
The following weekend arrived with a quiet buzz of anticipation that had been building in Yu’s chest since the boba walk. He was sprawled across his dorm bed, half-heartedly scrolling through lecture notes he wasn’t really reading, when his phone lit up with a new message from Sogeon.
Sogeon: Moya and mom are gone for the day. house is empty. if you want to come smoke and hang out… and take me up on the nail painting offer… door’s open :)
Yu stared at the text for all of three seconds before a stupid grin split across his face. His heart did that familiar, embarrassing flip it always seemed to do whenever Sogeon’s name appeared on his screen. He didn’t even pretend to think about it.
Yu: be there in 10
He was already grabbing his keys and jacket before the message sent.
The drive over felt longer than usual, every red light an annoying delay. When he finally pulled up to the familiar house, he took a steadying breath before knocking.
The door opened almost immediately, and there was Sogeon, looking prettier than Yu’s brain could handle on a random Saturday afternoon.
He wore a delicate, slightly cropped black tee that clung softly to his lean frame, the hem riding up just enough to show a sliver of pale skin above the waistband of his low-slung jeans. Those jeans were covered in faded paint splatters and random small tears that somehow looked intentional and effortlessly cool.
His hair was a little messy, curling at the ends. Yu’s mouth went dry. Sogeon always looked good, but today he looked extra good. Softer, more touchable, like he hadn’t tried too hard and still managed to ruin Yu’s ability to form coherent thoughts.
“Hey,” Sogeon said, voice warm and a little shy, stepping aside to let him in. “You came fast.”
“Couldn’t exactly say no,” Yu replied, stepping inside. Before he could say anything else, Sogeon reached out and gently grabbed his hand, fingers sliding between Yu’s with easy confidence.
The touch sent a spark straight up Yu’s arm.
“Come on,” Sogeon said, excitement lighting up his face as he tugged Yu toward the living room. “I already set stuff up.”
The coffee table was a beautiful mess. A huge pile of nail polish bottles in every color imaginable were scattered across the surface, glittering under the light like tiny jewels.
In the middle sat an ashtray with a freshly lit blunt, thin smoke curling lazily upward. Sogeon let go of Yu’s hand only long enough to drop onto the couch and pat the spot beside him.
“Pick a color,” he said, gesturing at the pile with a giddy little wave. “Anything you want.”
Yu sat down, suddenly nervous in the best way. He leaned forward and started sorting through the bottles. Blacks, reds, metallics, pastels, glitters. There were so many.
His eyes kept drifting back to the classic black, the safe and easy choice, but something made him pause. He wanted to impress Sogeon a little. After a long moment, he picked up a deep, rich navy blue that shimmered subtly when it caught the light.
“This one,” Yu said, holding it up.
Sogeon’s eyes widened, then he clapped his hands together once, genuinely excited, looking almost childlike in his delight. “Navy! I love that, great choice.”
He got right to business, shifting so he was facing Yu on the couch. With careful movements, he took Yu’s left hand and rested it on his own folded knee, holding it like it was something fragile and precious.
The gentleness surprised Yu. Sogeon’s touch was feather-light. His fingers brushed over Yu’s knuckles, his palm, steadying each finger one by one as he uncapped the polish and started painting with slow, deliberate strokes. It was oddly intimate.
Yu could feel the slight tremble in Sogeon’s hand, the way he concentrated with the tip of his tongue poking out between his lips just a little.
He was nervous. Yu found it impossibly endearing.
“You’ve never painted anyone else’s nails before, have you?” Yu asked softly, watching Sogeon’s focused expression.
Sogeon glanced up, cheeks faintly pink. “Nope. Just my own. Am I doing okay?”
“You’re doing great,” Yu said, meaning it. “You’re really gentle. You should do this for a living. People would pay for hands this careful.”
Sogeon let out a quiet, pleased laugh, ducking his head as he moved to the next nail. “Shut up. You’re gonna make me mess up.”
They sat like that for a while, the blunt burning slowly in the ashtray between them. When the first coat was done, they took turns smoking, passing it back and forth while the polish dried.
Soft music played from Sogeon’s phone, dreamy indie tracks with gentle guitar and hushed vocals. They giggled over nothing and everything. At the way Yu’s fingers looked comically large next to Sogeon’s slender ones, how the navy polish somehow made Yu’s hands look “fancy,” stupid stories from their weeks apart.
Every now and then, their knees would brush, or Sogeon’s fingers would linger a second longer while checking if the polish was dry. The touches were shy, tentative, like two teenagers testing the waters of a first crush. Small, electric, and addictive.
Eventually, Sogeon glanced toward the front door, a little paranoid. “We should move to my room. Just in case Tomoya or my mom come back early. I don’t really want to explain why you’re here getting your nails done.”
Yu nodded, heart picking up speed at the invitation to Sogeon’s room. They cleaned up their things and then Yu followed Sogeon upstairs.
Sogeon’s room was exactly what Yu had imagined. Dim lighting, posters of indie bands and film stills on the walls, a messy desk covered in camera equipment and sketchbooks, and a soft rug covering most of the floor.
They kept smoking, Sogeon bringing out more weed for them. They kept talking, kept laughing quietly as the afternoon faded into evening and then into night. The music switched to one of Sogeon’s calmer playlists. Slow, atmospheric tracks that wrapped around them like a blanket.
At some point, they ended up lying on the carpeted floor side by side, both of their legs perched up on the edge of Sogeon’s bed. The room was still hazy with smoke and the low glow of a single lamp spread a calm, warm light through the room. Yu’s eyes were closed, the high making colors swirl gently behind his lids in time with the music. He felt warm, loose and impossibly content.
Sogeon was quiet for a long moment, just looking at him. Leaned onto one side slightly to get a full view of Yu’s side profile. Yu could feel the weight of his gaze, fond, a little smitten, heavy with something neither of them had named yet.
Then Sogeon moved.
Yu heard the soft rustle of clothes as Sogeon sat up. He didn’t open his eyes, only let out a lazy hum of curiosity towards him.
A second later, Sogeon leaned over him. Yu felt the faint warmth of his breath, the brush of soft hair against his cheek, and then the softest, lingering peck landed on his lips.
It was almost too cute, too gentle, like a shy question asked with touch instead of words. Sogeon pulled back almost immediately and flopped back down onto the carpet beside him.
Yu’s eyes flew open in shock. He pushed himself up onto his elbows, staring at Sogeon, who was now lying there with a hand over his mouth, trying and failing to hide a giddy smile.
“What… was that?” Yu asked, voice cracking slightly with surprise and something warmer.
Sogeon dissolved into quiet giggles, the sound bright, nervous and utterly adorable. Yu couldn’t help it and started laughing too, both of them giggling like stupid, lovestruck teenagers experiencing their first real crush.
Only they weren’t teenagers anymore, but the feelings were there all the same.
The air between them shifted, suddenly thicker, sweeter, charged with possibility, but neither of them pushed further. They didn’t kiss again. They didn’t talk about it. They just let the moment settle around them like the smoke still lingering in the room.
Sogeon scooted a little closer on the floor until their shoulders touched. He started humming softly along to the song playing from the speakers, one hand reaching out to play with Yu’s hair. His fingers gently carded through the strands in slow, soothing strokes. His pupils were still blown wide from the weed, dark and soft in the low light.
Yu closed his eyes again, a small, uncontrollable smile tugging at his lips. The gentle humming, the careful touch in his hair, the warmth of Sogeon lying beside him. It all lulled him slowly toward sleep. He felt safe. He felt wanted. He felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
They both drifted off like that, lying on the carpeted floor of Sogeon’s room in the early hours of the morning, soft music still playing quietly in the background, matching smiles on their faces and the memory of that too-cute peck lingering like a secret between them.
-
Yu woke slowly, a dull ache spreading through his back and shoulders from spending the night on the carpeted floor. The room was quiet except for the faint mechanical clicks and whirs coming from somewhere nearby.
He blinked a few times, trying to orient himself, and realized he was still in Sogeon’s room, the soft morning light filtering through the half-closed curtains. His navy-painted nails caught his eye first. Last layer of color slightly smudged now from sleep, but still there as a reminder of the night before.
A small, contented hum escaped his throat as he shifted, stretching his stiff muscles.
The clicking stopped. Sogeon turned around in his desk chair, looking over at him with a gentle smile. He had clearly been up for a while. His hair was damp and slightly tousled from a recent shower, a few strands clinging to his forehead.
He’d changed into soft gray sweatpants tied securely around his waist and an oversized black shirt that swallowed his lean frame, making him look softer, more approachable than the cool, distant boy Yu had first seen descending the stairs weeks ago. Everything about him this morning felt quieter, more intimate.
‘’Morning’’ Sogeon placed down the camera he was fidgeting with and offered a warm smile. Yu turned onto his side, arm curling under his head for support. ‘’Hi’’ he supplied back, voice still thick from sleep and slightly raspy from all the smoking last night and a very clear lack of moisture.
Sogeon stood up slowly without a word and crossed the short distance to the floor, lowering himself to sit beside Yu. He pulled his knees up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Yu could feel the tension humming off him.
He sat up, to be level with him, moving so he was sat next to him. Yu nudged Sogeon’s elbow lightly with his own, trying to catch his eye. “Hey… what’s wrong?”
Sogeon hesitated, biting the inside of his cheek. His gaze flicked down to his own hands, then back up to Yu’s face. When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet, almost hesitant.
“Do you… remember what happened last night?”
Yu’s heart gave a little stutter. Of course, he remembered. The memory flashed behind his eyes instantly. The soft press of Sogeon’s lips against his in that shy, lingering peck, the way it had been almost too gentle, too sweet, like a question neither of them had been brave enough to ask out loud. He had wished, even in his half-asleep haze, that it had lasted longer. Much longer.
He nodded slowly, meeting Sogeon’s eyes. “Yeah. I remember.”
Sogeon let out a shaky breath, arms tightening around his knees. “Okay… good. Because now that we’re both sober, I just… I wanted to ask if you’d… if you’d kiss me again. Like, on purpose this time.” The words tumbled out faster as his nerves took over, the usual calm detachment cracking wide open. “I mean- not that the one last night wasn’t on purpose, but it was quick, and I was high, and you were too, and I didn’t want to make it weird or assume anything or-”
Yu couldn’t help it. A soft chuckle escaped him, warm and fond, cutting through Sogeon’s spiral. The blonde looked so cute like this, rambling, cheeks faintly pink, eyes wide with anxious hope. It made something tender bloom deep in Yu’s chest.
“Geon-ah,” Yu said gently, using an unfamiliar nickname that had slipped out naturally before Yu could even stop himself. Sogeon’s eyes crinkled at the corners, a fond, surprised smile breaking across his face at the sound of it.
“I don’t mind that you kissed me last night. I liked it. A lot. And I’d like it even more if you kissed me again.”
The relief that washed over Sogeon’s expression was immediate and beautiful. His shoulders relaxed, the nervous hunch melting away as he realized Yu did actually feel the same, had been feeling the same for weeks now, probably. He wasn’t being weird. He wasn’t alone in this.
Yu reached out, brushing his thumb delicately under Sogeon’s right eye, tracing the faint smile lines there with careful reverence. His palm cupped the side of Sogeon’s face, feeling the warmth of freshly showered skin and the faint dampness of his hair. Sogeon leaned into the touch like he’d been waiting for it. And maybe he had been.
Then Yu leaned in.
Their lips met properly this time. No hesitant peck, no half-asleep surprise. It was slow and intentional, a real kiss that had been building since that first night on the roof, since the boba, since every stolen glance and brush of fingers.
They melted into it at the same moment, sighing softly against each other’s mouths as weeks, months, of tension finally gave way. Sogeon’s hand came up to rest lightly on Yu’s wrist, holding him there, while Yu’s fingers threaded gently into the damp strands at the nape of Sogeon’s neck.
The kiss deepened naturally, unhurried and sweet, full of all the things they hadn’t said out loud. Curiosity, affection, the giddy spark of something that felt a lot like the beginning of love.
When they finally pulled apart for air, both of them a little breathless and smiling, Sogeon rested his forehead against Yu’s. Neither of them spoke for a while, they continued to smile like idiots at each other. Until Sogeon opened his mouth and mumbled, voice low and warm with quiet disbelief.
“I’m so fucking glad I used all my good weed as an excuse to talk to you.”
Yu let out a bright, helpless laugh, the sound mingling with Sogeon’s own soft giggles. They sounded like absolute losers. Two idiots who had spent several long weeks dancing around each other, only to end up here on a bedroom floor with matching manicures and pounding hearts. It was perfect.
Yu leaned in again without hesitation, kissing Sogeon once more. Shorter this time, but no less happy, no less giddy. He could feel the smile against his lips, could taste the shared joy and the quiet promise of more mornings like this.
They stayed like that for a long while, foreheads touching, breathing each other in, the early morning light painting the room in soft gold around them. Neither of them said anything more. They didn’t need to. The air between them felt different now. It was lighter, warmer, full of possibility.
And for the first time in weeks, Yu wasn’t thinking about the next time he’d get to see Sogeon.
Because he was already right where he wanted to be.