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Junhyuk had a habit of turning everything into a competition.
It didn’t matter what it was—dance, stamina, who finished practice first, who got praised more. If there was a way to win, he’d find it.
So when he realized he’d grown taller, even if it was only by a few centimeters, of course he made it a thing
“Seonghyeon, how’s the weather down there?”
“Wassup, short-hyeon?”
“Careful, I almost didn’t see you.”
At first, Seonghyeon didn’t mind.
Junhyuk had been weirdly excited about it—grinning, standing up straighter, brushing their shoulders together like he was checking the difference every five minutes. It was… kind of cute. Annoying, but harmless.
But then it didn’t stop.
Not during practice. Not during breaks. Not even when they were alone.
It was constant.
And somehow, Junhyuk always said it like it was a joke—but looked at him like it wasn’t.
Like he was enjoying the reaction more than anything.
The little frown. The quiet glare. The way Seonghyeon would roll his eyes but never actually snap back.
Cute.
That’s what Junhyuk thought.
Until—
“Seonghyeon, I’m getting so tall, you could ne—”
“Junhyuk.”
His voice wasn’t loud.
But it cut clean through the sentence.
Junhyuk blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
“…can you stop?”
There was a pause.
Seonghyeon didn’t look at him at first, just zipped his bag with a little more force than necessary before finally glancing up.
“You’re getting really annoying with it.”
Junhyuk let out a small laugh, like he thought it was still part of the bit. “Why? You jealous—”
“No.”
That time, it came sharper.
“I’m not jealous. I’m just tired of hearing about it all the time.” His jaw tightened slightly. “It’s like it’s the only thing you talk about lately.”
The words hung there.
For a second, Junhyuk didn’t respond.
Didn’t smile.
Didn’t laugh.
“…ah.” He shifted his weight, the playful edge gone from his voice. “Okay. Sorry, Hyeonie.”
It sounded genuine. Almost.
He reached out, patting Seonghyeon’s shoulder—light, quick—before grabbing his bag.
And then he left.
Just like that.
No argument. No pushback.
Which somehow felt worse.
Seonghyeon stood there for a moment longer, staring at the door after him.
His chest felt… off.
Annoyed, sure.
But not just that.
Because Junhyuk hadn’t argued.
Hadn’t insisted he was right.
Hadn’t stayed.
⸻
The next day was a day off.
Which meant, for some reason, chaos.
“Seven minutes in heaven,” Yoochan announced like it was the most normal suggestion in the world.
No one questioned it.
They should have.
But they didn’t.
The pairs went by quickly—Minjae with Wonbin, Yoochan with Yonghoon—and then—
“Seonghyeon, Junhyuk.”
There was a brief pause.
Not long enough for anyone to notice.
But long enough for both of them.
⸻
The closet was small.
Too small.
There was a dim lamp in the corner, barely enough to see by, casting soft shadows that made everything feel closer than it actually was.
Seonghyeon stepped in first.
Junhyuk followed.
The door clicked shut behind them.
Silence.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Seonghyeon glanced up.
Junhyuk was already looking at him.
Their eyes met—and just as quickly, Junhyuk looked away, clearing his throat.
“You know…” he started, voice quieter than usual, “I kinda like it when you look up at me like that.”
Seonghyeon blinked.
Junhyuk let out a small breath, like he was thinking as he spoke. “That’s why I kept joking about it. Not to mess with you, just…” He hesitated, then huffed out something almost like a laugh. “You look—”
He stopped himself.
Too late.
Seonghyeon’s gaze dropped slightly, something shifting in his expression.
“…really?” he said after a second, softer now. “I thought you were just… making fun of me.”
Junhyuk watched him carefully.
The way his shoulders had relaxed.
The way his lips pressed together, like he wasn’t sure what to do with that information.
Cute.
“…no,” Junhyuk muttered.
And then he stepped closer.
Not much.
But in a space that small, it felt like everything.
One hand came up, resting against the wall beside Seonghyeon’s head. The other tilted his chin up just enough—
god, those eyes.
Seonghyeon’s breath hitched, just slightly. His gaze flickered—down, then back up again.
Junhyuk noticed.
Of course he did.
A faint smirk tugged at his lips, but his voice, when he spoke, was lower now.
More controlled.
“But you have to admit…” he murmured, leaning just a little closer, “you like it better like this.”
Seonghyeon didn’t answer.
Didn’t move.
Just watched him.
Junhyuk’s thumb pressed lightly under his chin, holding his gaze in place.
“Don’t you?” he added quietly.
The air felt heavy.
Too close.
Too warm.
Seonghyeon swallowed.
“Use your words before i take them out of your mouth myself.” Junhyuk cut in, softer this time, but no less firm.
“…yeah,” Seonghyeon admitted, barely above a whisper.
Junhyuk’s smile deepened, just a little.
“Thought so.”
“That’s what I thought…”
Junhyuk’s voice trailed off.
His gaze dropping to Seonghyeon’s lips.
He didn’t think for long.
Gentle at first. Careful. Like he was testing the waters.
Seonghyeon’s breath caught.
Then he melted, eyes fluttering shut as he leaned into the kiss. His hands came up, resting lightly against Junhyuk’s chest.
Junhyuk’s hand slid down slowly. From Seonghyeon’s jaw to the hem of his fitted zip-up turtleneck sweather.
Warm fingers dragged along bare skin at his waist.
He knew they didn’t have much time.
But he wanted to touch him so badly.
Seonghyeon softly moaned.
Both hands slipped under Junhyuk’s t-shirt. Trembling fingers traced along the curve of his waist.
Junhyuk unzipped the top of Seonghyeon’s sweater. Just enough to reveal his neck and collarbones.
Then his mouth was there—kissing, sucking, marking the sensitive skin.
Seonghyeon couldn’t help the moan that slipped out.
Junhyuk’s hand quickly covered his mouth.
“You moan so pretty,” he whispered hot against Seonghyeon’s ear. “But you need to keep quiet right now.”
Seonghyeon’s breath hitched.
Suddenly, Yonghoon’s voice shouted from outside.
“Thirty seconds, guys!”
They barely heard it.
Too immersed. Too lost in each other.
If they hadn’t…
Junhyuk pressed a few more rushed kisses to Seonghyeon’s neck.
Then he pulled back and zipped the sweater up again.
⸻
The door opened right on time.
Junhyuk stepped out first — casual, like nothing had happened.
Seonghyeon followed, cheeks flushed red. Looking like a lost puppy.
They sat back down in the circle.
“So? How did it go?” Semin asked.
“Hm.” Junhyuk shrugged. “Nothing special. Just talking.”
Seonghyeon nodded beside him. Still trying to compose himself.
“Oh… I see,” Semin said. He didn’t ask anything else.
After the game ended, everyone went back to their rooms.
Later that night, Junhyuk’s text came through.
“I hope you don't grow anymore. i want to be taller than you forever, i like it better.