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The streets were quiet at night.
And not just empty, it's calm.
Like the calmness that makes you breathe better and your muscles relax.
The soft buzz of streetlights filled the silence while the convenience store sign glowed faintly at the end of the road.
It had become a routine by now. Almost every night, Keonho and Juhoon would slip out together, hoodies on, hands shoved into their pockets against the cold air.
They never planned it.
One of them would just text:
“You awake?”
And a few minutes later, they’d be walking side by side through sleeping streets.
Tonight was no different.
Juhoon licked melting vanilla ice cream from the corner of his mouth while Keonho carried a plastic bag filled with snacks neither of them really needed.
“You’re eating too slow again,” Keonho said quietly.
Juhoon glanced at him. “You always say that.”
“Because you always eat too slowly and it drips on your hands.”
Juhoon laughed softly.
Keonho liked that laugh.
Too much, probably.
“See?” Keonho proved his point as the Ice cream melted to Juhoon’s fingers.
Juhoon just smiled softly as he just stood still as Keonho wiped his hands gently. Keonho may sometimes complain but he never stops taking care of Juhoon. He loves taking care of him. And Juhoon just let him.
They crossed the street slowly, their shoulders brushing every few steps. The night air smelled faintly like rain even though the sky was clear.
Juhoon suddenly spoke.
“Do you think people change easily?”
Keonho looked at him. “That’s random.”
“You avoid questions when you don’t know the answer.”
“I know the answer,” Keonho replied. “I just think too much before saying it.”
Juhoon smiled faintly. “Then think.”
Keonho stared ahead at the empty road.
“I think people change,” he said eventually. “But only if something matters enough to them.”
Juhoon went quiet after that.
Not awkward quiet.
Just thoughtful.
That was another thing Keonho liked about these walks. Conversations with Juhoon never felt forced. They could talk for hours or say nothing at all and it still felt comfortable.
They ended up sitting on the low railing near the park like they always did.
Juhoon swung his legs slightly. “You know,” he murmured, “these night walks became important to me.”
Keonho’s chest tightened a little.
“Yeah?”
Juhoon nodded. “They make bad days feel smaller.”
The words hit harder than they should have.
Keonho looked down at his hands. He had imagined this moment before. Too many times.
But now that it was here, fear crawled into his chest so quickly he almost stood up and walked away from it.
Instead, he turned toward Juhoon.
“Juhoon hyung”
“Hm?”
“You know what?”
“Hm?”
“You're my favorite,” he grinned.
Juhoon stared at him a bit and chuckled.
“You're actually my favorite little brother too Keonho”
Keonho smiled, but followed with sadness.
“Little brother…” he repeated in a whisper.
“Why? You don’t want to be my favorite little brother?”
Keonho waited a bit before he responded,“I do want to be your favorite, but maybe not without ‘the little brother’ he laughed awkwardly.
Juhoon raised his eyebrows.
“Okay, You're my favorite person then”, he smiled.
Keonho didn’t expect that. He blinked multiple times, speechless. Before he could even think, he leaned in. And before he could stop himself, he kissed Juhoon
It was brief and careful.
The second he pulled away, panic crashed over him.
Juhoon looked surprised.
Keonho is not sure if he's upset.
But he knows he looked surprised.
Keonho’s stomach dropped instantly.
“I- I’m sorry,” he breathed out quickly. “I shouldn’t have-”
His hands were shaking.
Actually shaking.
He hated that Juhoon could probably see it.
For one horrible second, Keonho thought he had ruined everything.
Then Juhoon’s expression softened completely.
Like warmth spreading slowly.
He reached forward and gently took Keonho’s trembling hand into his own.
Keonho froze.
Juhoon intertwined their fingers carefully, like he was trying to calm him down without words.
And then Juhoon leaned in this time.
He kissed Keonho back.
Slowly. And soft enough to make Keonho’s chest ache.
When they pulled apart, Keonho could barely process what had happened.
Juhoon smiled a little, eyes warm under the streetlights.
“You really panic fast,” he whispered.
Keonho let out the most nervous laugh imaginable.
“You looked surprised.”
“I was.”
Juhoon squeezed his hand gently.
“But not in a bad way.”
The cold night suddenly didn’t feel cold anymore.
They went back, hand in hand.
Warm hands, warm hearts, flushed cheeks
And somehow, the walk home felt shorter than usual.
END.
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