Work Text:
There’s a bug inside Noeul’s mind.
Prickly, annoying, and seemingly has a voice identical to his own that constantly whispers a single truth:
“You like Boss.”
At first, Noeul only heard it on certain occasions. In moments where a scene swayed his character so deeply it affected him, too. Or when Boss remembered his favorite brand of gummies after he'd mentioned it only once.
But now? The whispers are nonstop, and they’re only getting louder.
He heard it last week when Boss posted a gym workout. Noeul liked the post mindlessly, but the bug knew better.
“You like Boss.”
Yesterday, they were shooting a bed-cuddle scene. Having filmed for hours, Noeul had actually fallen asleep. Boss posted a picture of them—Noeul leaning into him, and Boss wearing an adoring smile.
It’s normal; it was for promotion, Noeul tells himself as he swallows hard. The bug disagrees.
“You like Boss.”
And earlier, Noeul messaged Boss to play a game. Boss declined as he has an early schedule tomorrow. Noeul tried to ignore the pang in his heart, but the bug always notices.
“You like Boss.”
Noeul wants to get rid of it. So badly now that the bug has started to say other things that is still always about Boss.
"Don't you just want to kiss Boss so bad?"
"You need to pat his head."
"Did we hug him today? We must hug him, c'mon!"
Noeul wants to put his head through a wall.
It's against his will. It's not me! It's always the bug! Noeul would defend himself from his own mind. And when the bug gets loud, Noeul fights with it.
Boss is my friend!
Hmm. Just friend?
There's no feelings! He's my work partner!
I lie better than that
But no matter how much Noeul fights it, the bug just won't stop. It goes on about its unending obsession over Boss. Until after a while, Noeul just accepts whatever the bug says.
Because after all, those are all his thoughts. He finally admits.
A love bug. It's what he calls it now.
And the bug? It didn’t need to shout anymore because Noeul was finally listening.
The next day on set, Boss was sitting in a folding chair, head tilted back as the stylist fixes his hair.
Without thinking. Without the bug even having to prompt him. Noeul walked over and placed a hand on Boss’s shoulder.
Boss opened his eyes, a sleepy, warm smile spreading across his face the moment he saw who it was. "Puen," Boss murmured, his voice low and intimate. "You're early."
"Couldn't sleep," Noeul admitted, his heart doing a slow, heavy thud against his ribs.
The bug whispered one last time, softer than a breath:
“See? You really, really like him.”
Noeul didn't argue. Instead, he reached out and gently straightened Boss’s collar, letting his fingers linger just a second too long against the skin of his neck.
"I know," Noeul whispered back to himself.