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Sanghyeok didn’t mean to make it a habit.
It started with one night. Too many solo queue games, too much thinking, not enough wins. The streets were quiet at 2 a.m., the street dim and humming softly, when he found the place tucked between a convenience store and a closed salon.
A small eatery. Warm lights. Fogged windows.
Inside, an old lady greeted him like she’d been expecting him.
“Late?” she asked.
He nodded, sitting down without thinking.
That was how it started.
After that, he came back.
Not every night, but often enough that the old lady stopped asking questions and just brought him food. Something warm. Something simple. Soup, rice, sometimes noodles.
It became part of his routine.
Queue. Lose. Win. Think. Leave.
Walk. Sit. Eat.
Breathe.
The place was always empty at that hour.
Until one night, it wasn’t.
Sanghyeok pushed the door open, the small bell chiming softly above him. He stepped inside, already expecting the usual quiet and stopped.
Someone was there.
Not just anyone.
Jihoon.
For a second, Sanghyeok just stared.
What is GenG’s Chovy doing here?
Jihoon looked up at the sound of the door, equally surprised. Their eyes met, and there was a brief pause, just long enough to feel awkward.
Then Jihoon blinked, straightening a little.
“Oh…Hyung?”
Sanghyeok let out a small breath, stepping further inside. “Jihoon.”
Another pause.
The place suddenly felt smaller.
There were only a few seats, and Jihoon was already at the center table. The others felt too far, too deliberate to avoid him.
Sanghyeok hesitated.
Then he walked over and sat across from him.
The old lady came out from the kitchen. “Ah, you’re here.”
Sanghyeok nodded, still a little distracted.
Jihoon glanced at him. “You… come here often?”
“…Sometimes.”
Jihoon added, “It's my first time here.”
That somehow made it more awkward.
The old lady placed Sanghyeok’s usual in front of him. Steam rose between them.
Jihoon spoke first again.
“The food’s really good here.”
“…Yeah.”
Then, a little more naturally, Jihoon added, “Have you been playing much solo queue?”
Sanghyeok let out a quiet breath. “Too much.”
Jihoon smiled faintly. “Same.”
Another pause, but this one felt easier.
“The meta’s kind of annoying right now,” Jihoon said, poking at his noodles. “Too many scaling picks.”
Sanghyeok nodded. “Games go too long.”
“And if one lane falls behind early…” Jihoon trailed off, shaking his head.
“It’s hard to recover,” Sanghyeok finished.
Jihoon glanced up at him, just for a second, like he was quietly pleased they thought the same.
Then, almost casually—
“Jihoo— I mean, Easyhoon…seonsu is back, right?”
Sanghyeok blinked, a bit surprised by the sudden shift. “…Yeah.”
Jihoon nodded slowly, like he already knew but wanted to hear it anyway.
Then Jihoon added, a little quieter, “Are you guys close?”
Sanghyeok hesitated, just slightly. “…Well, he was my teammate.”
Jihoon hummed in response, looking back down at his food.
Silence settled again.
Not heavy.
Just… thoughtful.
Jihoon finished first, setting his chopsticks down neatly.
“I should go,” he said, standing up. “I have a meeting early.”
Sanghyeok nodded. “Okay.”
Jihoon paused for a second, like he might say something else, but didn’t.
The door chimed softly as Jihoon left.
The place felt quiet again.
Sanghyeok looked down at his food, then toward the empty seat across from him.
He wasn’t sure why—
but he found himself wondering
if he’d see Jihoon here again.
The next night, Jihoon wasn’t there.
Sanghyeok noticed it the moment he stepped inside.
He didn’t mean to.
It wasn’t like they made plans. They didn’t say they’d meet again. It was just… coincidence.
Still, his eyes lingered a second longer than usual before he sat down.
Only one other person was there this time, a random older man in the corner, still in work clothes, quietly eating his meal.
Everything felt the same.
And not.
The old lady placed his food in front of him.
“You’re quiet today,” she said.
Sanghyeok shook his head. “Hmm? I’m the same.”
She watched him for a second, then asked, almost casually, “Are you looking for someone?”
Sanghyeok paused.
“…No.”
He picked up his spoon and continued eating.
The conversation ended there.
He came back the next night.
And the night after that.
A few nights later.
Sanghyeok arrived earlier than usual.
The place was empty again, the quiet familiar. He sat down, already halfway through his bowl of kalguksu, steam rising gently in front of him.
Then the door chimed.
He looked up.
Jihoon.
Jihoon paused for a second when he saw him, then smiled, just a little.
“Oh… you’re here.”
Sanghyeok nodded. “Hi.”
Jihoon stepped inside, brushing a hand through his hair like he’d come in a bit of a rush. He glanced at the counter.
The old lady asked, “What will you have?”
Jihoon looked at Sanghyeok’s bowl, then back at her. “Same as him.”
“Kalguksu?”
“Yes, please.”
Jihoon took the seat across from him again, like it was the most natural thing.
“You came early today,” Jihoon said.
“Mm.”
“I didn’t see you the past few days,” Sanghyeok said, almost casually.
Jihoon blinked slightly.
“…You were looking?”
Sanghyeok froze for half a second, then shook his head quickly. “No. I just—noticed.”
Jihoon didn’t say anything.
But he didn’t look away either.
The old lady brought Jihoon’s food, setting it down between them.
“Eat while it’s hot.”
"Thank you." Jihoon picked up his chopsticks. “Still good,” he said after the first bite.
Sanghyeok nodded. “It is.”
The conversation didn’t need to be long.
Not yet.
They ate quietly for a while, the warmth of the soup settling in.
Sanghyeok glanced up without thinking.
“…Your hair’s getting longer.”
Jihoon paused mid-bite. “Is it?”
He lifted a hand, brushing his bangs lightly, pushing them back only for them to fall again just as easily.
Sanghyeok watched the small motion.
Then, before he could stop himself—
“Yeah. It’s… cute.”
Jihoon froze.
“…What?”
Sanghyeok blinked, like he hadn’t meant to say that out loud.
Jihoon slowly lowered his chopsticks. “What?”
Sanghyeok looked down at his bowl. “Nothing.”
Jihoon leaned forward slightly. “You think I’m cute?”
“…No. Just the hair.”
Then Jihoon pouted, just a little, but there was a smile there too, like he didn’t quite believe him.
“Ah, okay,” Jihoon said, dragging it out, clearly unconvinced.
Sanghyeok kept his eyes on his food after that.
But he could still see it. The way Jihoon’s lips curved slightly, the way his bangs kept falling back into place no matter how many times he brushed them away.
And, quietly...
Yeah.
Jihoon was cute.
Jihoon didn’t always come.
And Sanghyeok told himself that was normal.
It wasn’t like this place was the only one here, he had better options, after all. Team meals at T1 HQ, late-night hotpot at Haidilao. But ever since his doctor told him to cut back, he’d been craving something simpler.
Something like this.
One night, he brought company.
“Hyung, are you serious?” Minseok asked as they stood outside the small eatery. “This place?”
Suhwan leaned in, curious. “It smells good though.”
“I said I’d treat you,” Sanghyeok replied simply. “Just come in.”
They had just won their weekly series, both Suhwan and Minseok earning POMs. It felt right.
The bell chimed as they stepped inside.
Sanghyeok stopped.
Jihoon was already there.
Jihoon looked up and for a brief second, surprise crossed his face.
Not at Sanghyeok.
At who he brought with him.
Behind Sanghyeok, Minseok and Suhwan froze too.
“…Wait,” Minseok whispered. “Is that—”
“Ah...,” Suhwan muttered, eyes wide.
They sat anyway.
Minseok leaned forward immediately. “Do you guys normally eat here?”
Sanghyeok didn’t hesitate. “Yup.”
Like it was nothing.
Minseok and Suhwan exchanged a look.
A look.
Jihoon, meanwhile, went back to eating like he hadn’t heard anything.
Sanghyeok sat beside him this time, not across. Close enough to feel the small shift in space.
The old lady came over. “More today?”
“Yes,” Sanghyeok said. “Three more bowls please.”
He glanced at the menu briefly, then added a few dishes.
Before he could finish—
Jihoon spoke quietly, not looking at him.
“Suhwan will probably like the rice meals.”
Sanghyeok paused, then nodded. “Oh, okay.”
He added it to the order.
Food came quickly. The table filled.
Minseok and Suhwan were still a bit stiff at first, but food helped.
Soon enough, Minseok was talking loud, animated, waving his hands.
“I’m telling you, the concert was insane. I was this close,” he said, holding up his fingers. “NCT dream —hyung, they’re really good-looking in person.”
Suhwan laughed. “You always say that.”
“Because it’s true!”
Their voices filled the small space.
Too loud.
Too bright.
Sanghyeok barely noticed at first.
Until—
“I didn’t know you’d bring them here.” Jihoon’s voice was low. Almost lost under Minseok’s talking.
Sanghyeok turned slightly. “Hm?”
Jihoon didn’t look at him. Just kept his eyes on his bowl. “…Nothing.”
Sanghyeok frowned a little. He didn’t understand. They were his teammates. Former teammates for Jihoon.
It wasn’t strange. Right?
Minseok’s voice rose again in the background, excited about something else now.
Sanghyeok tried to focus, but—
“I thought… it was our place.” This time, softer. Almost swallowed by the noise.
Sanghyeok stilled. He wasn’t sure if he heard it right.
When he turned, Jihoon was already eating again, expression calm, like nothing happened. Like he hadn’t said anything at all.
Sanghyeok looked at him for a moment longer. Then back at the table.
But the food tasted different now.
And for the first time, the place didn’t feel as simple as it used to.
The next week, Minseok brought it up again.
“Hyung, that place—can we go again?” he asked, almost casually.
Sanghyeok didn’t even look up. “No.”
“Why not?”
“I already treated you.”
Minseok clicked his tongue. “So stingy.”
But he let it go anyway. He wasn’t about to pay for it himself.
Sanghyeok didn’t argue. If anything, he felt… relieved. He wasn’t sure why.
Maybe he just wanted to go back alone. Maybe he wanted to figure out what Jihoon meant that night.
Or maybe, he just wanted to see if he’d be there again.
The bell chimed softly as he opened the door. Jihoon was already there.
He wasn’t eating yet, just sitting, slightly leaned over his phone.
And—
he was giggling.
Soft, quiet, the kind that slipped out without thinking.
Sanghyeok paused near the entrance. Something about it made him hesitate. Like he wasn’t supposed to see that.
He took a step forward.
Then slowed. For a second, he wasn’t sure if he should sit next to him or just leave him alone.
The floor creaked slightly.
Jihoon looked up.
And froze.
In one quick motion, he locked his phone and pulled it down, almost hiding it.
“…H-hyung.”
Sanghyeok raised a brow.
He walked over anyway and sat down.
“Girlfriend?” he asked, tone light, almost teasing.
Jihoon blinked, then immediately shook his head, a little too fast.
“Wha—no! It’s not—”
He cut himself off, looking away, ears faintly red. “It’s not like that.”
The old lady arrived just in time, placing Jihoon’s bowl in front of him.
Jihoon grabbed his chopsticks quickly, focusing on his food like it could save him.
Sanghyeok watched him for a second.
Then looked away.
Ah…
Of course.
Jihoon was tall, handsome, good at the game. It wasn’t strange.
But for some reason, Sanghyeok felt irritated. He couldn’t explain it.
The old lady came to take his order.
“The usual?”
“…Yes.”
He paused.
“…And a beer.”
She nodded.
Sanghyeok leaned back slightly, glancing at Jihoon again.
Jihoon was still focused on his food.
Too focused.
The space between them felt… different tonight.
Not awkward.
Not quite distant either.
Just—
off.
And Sanghyeok didn’t know why it bothered him this much.
Jihoon changed the topic easily after that.
Like nothing happened.
He started talking about solo queue, some unlucky streak, a game that dragged too long, a misplay that cost everything. Then somehow it shifted to an anime Sanghyeok had never heard of.
Sanghyeok listened.
He always did.
Jihoon talked more when he got comfortable, hands moving a little, voice softer, more natural. And Sanghyeok found himself responding, short but enough.
Jihoon didn’t seem bothered by it.
He never was.
It felt normal again. And easy.
Sanghyeok preferred it like this.
Except, every now and then his mind drifted back. To Jihoon earlier.
Giggling at his phone. Hiding it. Blushing.
“…Ah.”
Sanghyeok took a sip of his beer.
He didn’t like that thought.
The next morning at the dorm, Sanghyeok noticed it again.
Suhwan.
Their maknae sat at the table, phone in hand, smiling—no, giggling—at the screen.
The same way.
The exact same way.
Sanghyeok stopped mid-step.
…No way. This kid has a girlfriend too?
Suhwan looked up suddenly.
And just like Jihoon, he froze.
Quickly lowering his phone, like he didn’t want it seen.
“…Good morning, hyung.”
“…'morning.”
Sanghyeok grabbed a glass of water, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
But—
Am I the only single person in this team?
The thought lingered. Unpleasant.
Suhwan bit into his toast, chewing quietly.
Then, out of nowhere—
“Are you going to see Jihoon hyung later?”
Sanghyeok blinked. “What?”
“I mean…” Suhwan shrugged. “At the eatery. At midnight?”
Sanghyeok frowned slightly. “…Maybe. Why?"
"Uhm, he told me—" Suhwan shook his head quickly. “It's nothing. Just wondering.”
Then Sanghyeok added, “Do you want to come?”
Honestly, he didn’t mind treating Suhwan again. Better than Minseok complaining about money.
But Suhwan shook his head even faster.
“No, no.”
Suhwan hesitated, then, under his breath, almost like a mumble. “I’m not gonna bother your alone time.”
Sanghyeok looked at him. “What?”
Suhwan immediately straightened. “N-nothing.”
He took another quick bite, stood up, and grabbed his things.
“I’ll go ahead first.”
And just like that. He left.
Silence filled the kitchen.
Sanghyeok stood there, still holding his glass. What was that?
“So… I started reading neuroscience books.”
Jihoon said it casually the next night, like it wasn’t a big deal, as he stirred his noodles.
Sanghyeok looked up. “Really?”
Jihoon nodded, then immediately added, a little too fast, “Suhwan told me you like those— I mean, he just mentioned it.”
Sanghyeok hummed. “Mm.”
They ended up talking about it.
Jihoon mentioned a beginner book he started, stumbling a bit over the title, and Sanghyeok found himself recommending a few more ones he liked, ones he thought were easier to follow.
This time, it was Sanghyeok talking more. Explaining. Sharing.
Jihoon just listened, chin resting lightly on his hand, eyes on him.
"I like your voice,” Jihoon said suddenly.
Sanghyeok paused.
Jihoon smiled a little. “When you talk about things you like… outside League.”
Sanghyeok looked down at his food.
“Oh…thank you.”
Then, after a small pause—
“Me too.”
Jihoon blinked. “Me too?”
“I like talking to you,” Sanghyeok said, quieter. “Outside League.”
This thought lingered longer than he expected.
For a moment, Sanghyeok imagined it. What if they didn’t play League? What if they were just… normal people?
Jihoon hummed softly.
“I think I’d still like you.”
Sanghyeok looked at him. “What?”
Jihoon froze.
“I mean—” he panicked immediately, words tripping over each other. “Not like that—I mean, as Lee Sanghyeok? Not Faker. I mean—hyung. Maybe you’d be my sunbae at school or work or something, and you’d treat me like your dongsaeng—something like that.”
He grabbed his water and drank it in one go.
Sanghyeok stared at him for a second.
Then looked down again.
He thought about it.
A different life. Maybe they still played games, just casually, not professionally. Maybe they finished college. Maybe he’d already done his military service. Maybe he’d write something—books, maybe.
And Jihoon—
Jihoon would probably read it.
“…Maybe I’d like you too,” Sanghyeok said.
Jihoon choked.
“HUH?!”
He said it loud enough that even the old lady in the back glanced over.
Jihoon quickly bowed his head. “Sorry—sorry.”
Then, quieter, “What?”
Sanghyeok blinked, confused. “I mean… I’d like you. And my team. And my past teammates. We’d all be friends. Just no pro gamers”
“Oh.”
Jihoon’s shoulders dropped.
“Oh… yeah. That’s what you mean.” He nodded slowly. “Yeah. Me too.”
Sanghyeok frowned slightly. “Why?”
Jihoon scratched the back of his neck, avoiding his eyes. “I thought you meant… like, like me.” He winced. “You know? Like… like like. Ah—forget it. I don’t know how to say it.”
“I’m sorry?” Sanghyeok said, still confused.
Jihoon waved it off quickly. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”
He picked up his chopsticks again. “Yeah, I’d be friends with my teammates too.”
A pause.
“…Maybe not Jaehyuk hyung or Siwoo hyung. I’d bully them in every timeline.”
Sanghyeok let out a small laugh.
One morning at the dorm felt unusually normal.
Too normal.
Minseok was on the couch half-watching TV, phone in hand. Suhwan sat nearby eating toast, still in sleep-messy hair, scrolling through his messages with a faint smile.
Sanghyeok walked into the kitchen, still half-awake, reaching for a cup of coffee.
That’s when it happened.
Suhwan looked up and casually said, “Jihoon hyung likes chatting with me about you.”
A beat.
Then—
“…Oops. Sorry.”
The room froze.
Minseok slowly turned his head. “Oh shit.”
Suhwan blinked. “I mean—he just talks about Sanghyeok hyung, uh..a lot in chat.”
Another pause.
Suhwan stiffened. “Wait, I shouldn’t have said that?”
Sanghyeok, who had just walked in with his cup, stopped mid-step. “…What?”
Minseok sighed like this was obvious. “Well, he likes you—.oh shoot.”
Silence.
Then Sanghyeok slowly turned his head toward them. “…What!?”
“Yeah, Jihoon hyung likes you,” he said quickly. “I like Jihoon hyung too. Minseok hyung likes him too.”
Minseok groaned. “That’s not helping.”
“B-but!” Suhwan insisted.
“It’s not—” Minseok scratched his head. “I mean, he literally threatened to burn my girl group photocards if I keep showing up to your ‘2 am morning date’ thing.”
Sanghyeok blinked. “…He did what?”
All eyes shifted to Suhwan.
Suhwan froze.
“…I just like reading his messages,” he said carefully. “He looks really happy when he talks about you. It's quite...funny.”
Sanghyeok frowned slightly. “Happy?”
“He just chats with me,” Suhwan said. “About you. A lot. Like… a lot.”
Minseok added flatly, “Too much love in those messages, hyung.”
Suhwan nodded. “Yeah, like… really really happy.”
Minseok said, “Extremely down bad.”
Suhwan replied “Minseok hyung said that, not me.”
Minseok added,“It’s implied.”
Sanghyeok went quiet. Then softly—“but…why?”
Neither of the botlane answered immediately.
Minseok leaned back into the couch.
“I don’t know,” he said honestly. “But I do know one thing.”
He pointed at Sanghyeok again.
“You’re both idiots.”
Sanghyeok didn’t respond right away.
He just stood there, thinking.
Then, like it was the simplest conclusion in the world, he said, “Well… I just think, Jihoon likes talking to me.”
“…Of course, duh, he likes you,” Minseok said immediately, like it was obvious and Sanghyeok had just been late to the answer.
Minseok slowly turned his head.
Suhwan stopped chewing.
Even the TV in the background suddenly felt too loud.
Jihoon’s voice.
Jihoon arriving just a little too happy when he showed up.
Jihoon asking questions that lingered longer than normal.
Jihoon staying.
“…Of course?” Sanghyeok repeated quietly.
Minseok sighed, rubbing his face. “Yeah. Of course.”
Suhwan whispered, “Oh no.”
And just like that—
something that had been vague for weeks suddenly wasn’t vague anymore.
Sanghyeok said."…I see.”
Minseok immediately sat up straighter. “No—don’t ‘I see’ that calmly—”
But Sanghyeok had already started thinking again.
Because now, one thought kept repeating itself:
Jihoon likes who?.
And for the first time. Sanghyeok stood there quietly through all of it.
Processing.
Too many pieces clicking at once.
Then he exhaled slowly.
“Oh.”
The next morning, he stood outside the eatery alone.
Inhale.
Exhale.
So this was it. He wasn’t even sure what “it” was yet.
But he had to confront Jihoon. Or at least understand.
Or maybe not come at all.
Maybe it was easier to just eat at HQ.
Forget this.
No.
He pushed the door open.
The bell chimed.
Warm air hit him immediately.
And Jihoon was already there.
Sitting. Waiting. Like usual.
“Hi,” Jihoon said, like nothing had happened at all.
Sanghyeok paused slightly.
Did those kids not tell him anything?
“Uhm…Hi,” Sanghyeok replied. Then walked over and sat down.
The old lady came, already knowing his order. He thanked her quietly.
Jihoon stirred his noodles slowly.
“I thought you weren’t going to show,” he said casually.
Sanghyeok looked up. “…Hm?”
The lady bought him his food and he nodded politely.
Jihoon didn’t answer immediately. Just lifted his chopsticks, mixing his ramen like he was thinking.
After the lady left Jihoon said, “I was expecting you to reject me."
That made Sanghyeok stop.
His spoon froze halfway to the bowl.
What.
“…Reject you?”
Now this was different.
Sanghyeok set his spoon down slowly. “…No,” he said finally. “Not like that.”
Jihoon eyes still on his food, like he was trying to avoid Sanghyeok's eyes, like he was getting ready for the worse.
Sanghyeok continued, more carefully now. “I wouldn’t reject someone who didn’t confess properly.”
Jihoon blinked. “…Properly?”
Sanghyeok took a small sip of soup, buying time.
Then added, calmer now. “Maybe… ask me properly? Take me somewhere.” He looked up Jihoon slightly. “So I can think about it.”
Then...
“…What?” Jihoon stared at him. And for the first time that morning. his composure cracked.
Just a little.
“…Really?”
Sanghyeok met his eyes.
“I deserve better than a confession heard through other people, Jihoon.”
That made Jihoon freeze.
Then slowly, a small smile formed.
Warm. Real. Cute.
“Of course,” Jihoon said softly.
The air changed again.
Not awkward nor tense.
They ate for a moment in quiet. Like something had finally been acknowledged without either of them running away from it.
Then Jihoon leaned slightly forward.
Still smiling.
“…Hyung.”
Sanghyeok looked at him.
Jihoon’s eyes were steady now. Hopeful.
Clear.
No more hiding.
“Do you want to go on a date with me?”
Sanghyeok wore non–T1 clothes, but still kept it simple, his favorite plain white shirt, jeans, denim jacket, mask on just in case someone recognized him.
The park was quiet in the morning air.
He walked slowly along the path and then stopped.
Jihoon was already there.
Sitting on the bench like he had been waiting.
Wearing a black cardigan instead of his usual hoodie, simple pants instead of checkered ones, proper shoes instead of slippers. His hair was slightly messy, like he had tried to fix it but gave up halfway.
Sanghyeok blinked.
Then smiled.
“…You suddenly look normal.”
Jihoon turned immediately. “Hyung.”
His voice came out a little offended, soft, not serious.
He quickly brushed his bangs down again like that would fix everything.
Sanghyeok let out a small laugh.
He stepped closer and, without thinking too much, reached out to fix Jihoon’s hair.
Fingers brushing gently through it.
“…It’s still messy.”
Jihoon froze.
Just slightly.
Then leaned in a little without realizing it.
Closer.
Too close.
Sanghyeok’s hand paused.
Jihoon was looking at him now.
Calm eyes. Soft expression. No teasing this time.
Sanghyeok’s chest tightened a little.
“…Let’s go before this gets too fast,” he cleared his throat, pulling his hand back.
Then added, trying to act normal again. “Let’s go?”
Jihoon blinked once, like he was waiting for more. Then smiled. “…Okay.”
They started walking. Side by side. Not touching.
But close enough that Sanghyeok was aware of every step Jihoon took next to him.
After a moment, Jihoon spoke.
“What do you want to eat?”
He paused.
“…Except Haidilao.”
Sanghyeok snorted softly. “Tsk.” He thought for a second. Then said, “Chicken.”
“Alright then,” Jihoon replied immediately.
They walked on.
The morning air was warm, light brushing through the trees. People passed them without looking twice.
But Sanghyeok kept thinking about Jihoon leaning closer earlier.
About how easy it would be to just reach out again.
And somewhere between steps he found himself thinking, faintly, almost like a promise he hadn’t said out loud yet:
Next time… I’ll say yes properly.