Archive of Our Own

Seungcheol had always been first. Top of the class, highest scores, the professors' favorite, the standard everyone else was measured against. He didn't brag about it—he didn't have to. His name at the top of the ranking sheet said enough.

Then Jeonghan transferred in.

Jeonghan was effortless in the most infuriating way. He didn't raise his hand often, didn't sit in the front row, didn't look like he was trying—yet every exam, every quiz, every presentation, his score was right there. Sometimes higher. Sometimes just one mark below. Always close enough to be a threat.

They started noticing each other through competition. Stolen glances during exams. Sharp comments disguised as politeness. Passive-aggressive smiles when grades were announced. The classroom became a battlefield where intelligence was the weapon and pride was the shield.

Group discussions turned into debates. Debates turned into verbal sparring matches that left the room buzzing. Professors deliberately pitted them against each other, pairing them up for projects just to "see what happened." What followed was chaos—arguments, late-night research sessions, coffee-fueled stubbornness, and a growing awareness that the only person who could truly challenge them... was each other.

Somewhere between correcting each other's mistakes and finishing each other's arguments, the rivalry shifted. The tension stopped being about grades and started being about space. About who sat closer. Who looked first. Who broke eye contact last.

Neither of them wanted to lose—to the class or to their feelings. But the more they competed, the clearer it became: this wasn't about being the best anymore.

It was about wanting the one person who refused to let them win easily.

He noticed Jeonghan before he meant to—lounging in his seat, a pen spinning lazily between his fingers, far too calm for someone who might steal first place again.

When the professor announced the next assignment, Seungcheol already knew what was coming; fate had never been subtle with him.
"Pairs," the professor said, his eyes flicking between them, amused.

Jeonghan turned then, finally looking at him, a slow smile curling across his lips like he'd already won.

Seungcheol exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening. This semester was about to become unbearable.

"You're already getting pissed, and all I did was look at you," Jeonghan chuckled with a smirk.
Seungcheol's grip tightened around his pen, his knuckles turning white as he slowly lifted his gaze to meet Jeonghan's. His voice was low, laced with quiet intensity.

"Pissed? Oh no. I'm far from pissed." A sharp smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "But you—always so damn smug when you think you've got the upper hand."

He leaned forward slightly, dropping his voice to a murmur meant only for them. "Careful. You might actually enjoy it if I stop playing nice."
"Who knows what I might like," Jeonghan shrugged. "But one thing I know is, I'd never like you."

Seungcheol huffed out a scoff, amused by Jeonghan's defiant tone. "And here I was, foolishly hoping you'd admit to at least the possibility."

He leaned back in his seat, crossing his arms over his chest.

"But no, you're too prideful for that."

His gaze sharpened, locking onto Jeonghan's. He knew exactly what buttons to push.

"What's the matter? Afraid that if you do, it'll ruin this whole rivalry act we have going on?"
"I do not fancy an arrogant jerk, Seungcheol. I never have, and I never will."

Seungcheol's smirk didn't waver—if anything, it grew sharper at the insult. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes glinting with challenge.
"Arrogant? Me?" He pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I just call things as I see them. And right now?"

He leaned in again, close enough that Jeonghan could feel the weight of his next words.
"You're lying through your teeth."

"About what? I have no intention of lying about anything. Especially not to an asshole like you who thinks he's better than everyone," Jeonghan said through clenched teeth, not moving back as Seungcheol leaned in.

Seungcheol's breath hitched—just for a second—at the proximity, at the fire in Jeonghan's words. But he recovered quickly, his voice dropping to something rougher, more dangerous.

"Better? Oh no," he murmured. "I don't think I'm better than everyone."

A pause. A heartbeat where they were too close to pretend this was just about rivalry anymore.
"I think I'm better than you."

And then he grinned—all teeth and no remorse—as if daring him to do something about it.
Jeonghan clenched his jaw, his eyes throwing daggers at him. God, he hated him.

"You're an asshole. A narcissistic, insensitive, inconsiderate asshole. And I will not work on an assignment with you. I'm doing it on my own."

A low, amused chuckle left Seungcheol's lips at Jeonghan's defiance. He leaned in even closer, his next words a soft challenge against Jeonghan's ear.

"Oh, you'll do the assignment with me, Jeonghan."

There was a hint of warning in his tone—almost like a promise of consequences if Jeonghan tried to back out. He pulled back just enough to lock eyes with him.

"Because I'm not about to let you beat me. I never lose, Jeonghan. Not to you."

Jeonghan's jaw clenched, anger flashing across his face.

"I will make you lose. To me. And I will do the assignment alone. And I'll do it better than you, so suck. it. up. loser."

Seungcheol's eyes narrowed at Jeonghan's defiant words, his jaw set in a hard line. He was used to winning, to being the best, and the thought of Jeonghan beating him—of Jeonghan being better—was infuriating.

"You think you can beat me? I've been at the top of my game since day one. I've got the grades, the awards, the reputation. You're just a pretty little newcomer who's gotten lucky a few times. That's it."

His tone was sharp, almost harsh. He wouldn't back down. He couldn't.

Jeonghan fumed, anger and disdain flooding his veins.

"I don't think you know, Seungcheol, but I always—and when I say always, I mean it—I always win at everything I do. I was at the top back at my old school, and here, I will be at the top again. You're no one to me, Seungcheol. You think you can beat me? Don't underestimate my pretty face. I'm more than that."

Seungcheol's patience frayed—he was used to people cowering in front of him, to people deferring to him. Jeonghan's confidence, his defiance... it was like a spark against dry wood.
"Your pretty face is the only reason anybody even remembers you," he snapped back, his voice rough and cold. "It's the only reason you get away with your smart-ass comments and your smug little smirk."

He leaned forward, his gaze intense.

"But looks can only take you so far, Jeonghan. Talent wins every time."

Jeonghan almost flinched, a flicker of hurt crossing his features at those words.

Your pretty face is the only reason anybody even remembers you.

It wasn't the first time Jeonghan had heard those words from someone. But that didn't make them hurt any less each time he heard them.

He masked it quickly. He always had.

"Keep underestimating me, Seungcheol. You're in for a surprise."

Seungcheol noticed the quick flash of hurt in Jeonghan's eyes—a moment of vulnerability that caught him off guard. He knew his words had hit a nerve, and a small, cruel part of him almost enjoyed it.

But then Jeonghan's expression hardened again, and Seungcheol mentally chided himself. Jeonghan was stubborn, just like him. This thing between them, whatever it was... it was far from over.

"'A surprise,'" he repeated, his tone almost mocking. "I can't wait to see it, pretty boy."
Jeonghan clenched his jaw and looked ahead, his eyes still narrowed, anger simmering in his veins.

Seungcheol watched Jeonghan closely, noticing the tension in his jaw and the anger in his eyes. He was used to getting under people's skin, but Jeonghan was different. His reaction was... intriguing.

He leaned back slightly, studying Jeonghan's profile. The sharpness of his jaw, the curve of his lips, the intensity in his gaze... Seungcheol pushed down the unwanted thought.

"You're cute when you're mad, you know that?" he said, his tone almost teasing.

Jeonghan didn't even react. He was too angry to respond. He kept his gaze fixed ahead, boring holes into the whiteboard where the professor was scribbling notes.

Seungcheol's smirk faltered for a second. He was used to getting reactions, to poking until Jeonghan snapped. But this? The cold shoulder? It irked him more than it should have.
"Fine," he muttered under his breath. "Be like that."

He turned away, focusing on the lecture as if he actually cared about today's topic. But his fingers tapped impatiently against the desk, restless.
Internally, his mind was racing. Why is he ignoring me now, of all times?

The rest of the class dragged on in silence. The lecture droned on, and Seungcheol's gaze occasionally flicked to Jeonghan's rigid form. He couldn't seem to concentrate, his thoughts consumed by the stubborn boy sitting next to him.

He knew he should be focused, should be paying attention. But his mind kept drifting back to Jeonghan—to his defiance, his confidence, his goddamn pretty face... Seungcheol mentally cursed himself. His thoughts were becoming increasingly... distracting.

Jeonghan didn't even so much as look at him. He was too angry. He hadn't thought Seungcheol would stoop that low and reduce him to nothing more than a pretty face. It hurt. It struck a nerve buried deep inside him.

Seungcheol's fingers stilled against the desk, his jaw tightening as he watched Jeonghan out of the corner of his eye. The silence between them was thick—too thick for just rivalry. His stomach twisted with something uncomfortably close to guilt.

He swallowed hard before finally muttering under his breath, "...I didn't mean it like that."

A pause. A reluctant admission—because pride be damned, Seungcheol didn't know how to fix this.

"You're not just a pretty face."

Jeonghan didn't reply. He heard him, but he wasn't going to soften. He was still angry. Extremely so.

Seungcheol exhaled sharply through his nose, frustration bubbling up—both at Jeonghan's stubbornness and at himself. He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
"Fine. Be pissed." A pause. "But you know I don't say shit I don't mean.

His fingers flexed against the desk like he wanted to reach out but stopped himself at the last second.

"You want an apology? Here it is: I shouldn't have said that about your face being the only reason people remember you."

"I don't want your half-assed apology!" Jeonghan snapped.

Seungcheol flinched—just slightly—at the venom in Jeonghan's voice. His pride warred with something else, something unfamiliar and uncomfortable.

"Half-assed?" he repeated, his own temper spiking again. "I just took it back! What more do you want from me? A written fucking note?"

He gritted his teeth before muttering under his breath,

"...Fine. I'm sorry."

A beat of tense silence followed.

"Shut up!"

Seungcheol's eyes narrowed as Jeonghan snapped again, his jaw clenching.

"You're a goddamn pain in my ass, you know that?" he retorted. "I'm trying to be nice here! I'm trying to fix this, but you're being such a stubborn prick, Jeonghan."

He leaned in, his voice lowering, sharp and biting.

"Is it so hard for you to accept an apology? Or are you just hell-bent on hating my guts no matter what I do?"

"You can't just be an asshole and then say sorry and expect me to be okay with it!" Jeonghan snapped, his voice loud enough for the whole class to fall silent. Everyone turned to stare at them.

He groaned and stood up, the chair screeching loudly against the floor as he grabbed his belongings and walked out of the classroom midway through the lecture.

Seungcheol watched Jeonghan storm out, his jaw clenched, his heart pounding in his chest. The entire class had fallen silent, eyes wide, and Seungcheol was keenly aware of the stares and whispers. He wasn't used to being the center of attention like this.

He exhaled through his nose, frustration and guilt warring within him. Ignoring the curious gazes, he stood up and followed Jeonghan, not even bothering to grab his bag.

He found Jeonghan in the hallway with his back turned, his shoulders tense. Seungcheol stopped a few steps away, hesitation warring within him.

"...Jeonghan."

His voice was low, almost soft—an almost unrecognizably gentle tone compared to his usual sharpness. He waited, watching Jeonghan's back, the rigid line of his shoulders. He had never been this unsure before, and it irked him—the vulnerability that Jeonghan effortlessly drew out of him.

Jeonghan turned around, the anger still evident in his eyes.

"What the hell do you want now?"

Seungcheol faltered at Jeonghan's cold response, his jaw tightening. He swallowed hard, trying to push down the unease stirring in his stomach.

"I..." he started, only to falter again, uncharacteristically at a loss for words. He took a step closer, his eyes locked onto Jeonghan's.

"I didn't come out here to argue." He hesitated, his voice suddenly quiet. "Look... can we just talk?"

Jeonghan forced himself to calm down, though his jaw remained clenched and his shoulders taut.

"Fine. Speak."

Seungcheol exhaled slowly, relieved that Jeonghan was at least willing to listen instead of simply walking away.

He ran a hand through his hair before leaning back against the wall, his eyes roaming over Jeonghan's still-tense form.

"I... I didn't mean what I said back there. About your face being the only reason people remembered you." He paused, almost hesitant. "That was... bitchy."

Another pause.

"It was also untrue."

His gaze flickered to Jeonghan's, carefully gauging his reaction. The anger was still there, simmering just beneath the surface.

"And I..." He hesitated again, the next words catching in his throat. His pride rebelled, protesting against admitting this vulnerability, but something deep within him pushed it aside. "...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I shouldn't have even implied that you're nothing more than a pretty face. That's not... fair to you. I let my pride and ego get the better of me."

Jeonghan hesitated before sighing, all the fight draining out of him.

"I... I'm sorry, too. I overreacted," he muttered.

It wasn't just what Seungcheol had said about him being nothing more than a pretty face. It was the trauma from his past that had angered him and made him lose his cool. He had heard those same words countless times—that he was just a pretty face and nothing more.

Seungcheol's expression softened at Jeonghan's quiet admission. The fight drained out of him as well, leaving behind something uncharacteristically gentle.

"You don't have to apologize for reacting," he murmured, his voice low and careful. "I... I get it now."

A pause settled between them as he studied Jeonghan's face—the exhaustion there, the weight behind his eyes. He swallowed hard before adding,

"...I won't say that shit again."

Jeonghan nodded, letting out a quiet hum in response.

Seungcheol watched him in silence, the weight of their earlier argument still lingering between them. He wanted to say something more, anything that might ease the exhaustion in Jeonghan's eyes, but something held him back.

Instead, he settled for leaning against the wall, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"Jeonghan-ah."

It was an almost tentative use of the old honorific. Seungcheol didn't use it often, but it slipped out now, tinged with a hint of softness.
Jeonghan's eyes shot up in surprise, a quiet vulnerability flickering in them.

"Hm?"

Seungcheol's breath hitched at the sudden vulnerability in Jeonghan's expression—the way his eyes widened, the softness there. It unnerved him, this shift between them.

"...Nothing," he muttered quickly, looking away as if he'd been caught doing something wrong.
A beat of silence passed.

"Just... don't storm out on me like that again."
His voice was gruff but lacked its usual edge—more tired than angry now.

Jeonghan's lips almost curled into a small smile. He simply hummed softly in response.

"Hmm."

Seungcheol's gaze flicked back to Jeonghan, catching the almost-smile playing on his lips. His stomach did an odd little twist, and he scowled, trying to regain his usual cool composure.

"Don't just 'hmm' at me," he huffed, folding his arms. "Say something."

Jeonghan's smile widened.

But just to spite him, he hummed again.

"Hmm."

Seungcheol narrowed his eyes in annoyance, the corners of his mouth twitching into a half-hidden smirk. He hated how Jeonghan was starting to get under his skin, how he was almost amused by Jeonghan's blatant defiance.

"Do you get off on pissing me off?" he muttered, his tone both warning and faintly teasing.
Jeonghan's cheeks flushed, and he couldn't help the cheeky—yet slightly shy—grin that spread across his lips.

"Hm."

Seungcheol's gaze flicked over Jeonghan's flushed cheeks. He noticed the shyness in that small grin, and it made something inside him twist again. He bit the inside of his cheek to hold back a smirk of his own.

"I hate you," he grumbled, but there was no real heat behind the words. If anything, they sounded... fond.

"Me too," Jeonghan mumbled back, but his words lacked any real heat. In fact, he sounded soft, almost like a whisper.

Seungcheol's breath caught at the softness in Jeonghan's voice. His chest tightened, and for a second, he forgot to breathe. He simply stared.
"...Liar," he murmured at last, his own voice quieter than before.

A beat of silence stretched between them as they simply looked at each other—too close once again.

Then Seungcheol huffed out a quiet laugh under his breath and looked away first.

Jeonghan couldn't help the giggle that escaped his lips when he heard Seungcheol laugh.

Seungcheol glanced back at him at the sound of that laugh. He was about to make a snide comment—it's what they always did—but the words got stuck in his throat. Jeonghan's laugh, the softness in his eyes, the way his hair fell over his face, the faint blush dusting his cheeks... it was distracting.

Seungcheol swallowed hard, mentally cursing himself when his eyes dropped to Jeonghan's lips for a split second.

Jeonghan noticed his gaze drifting to his lips and froze. His cheeks flushed an even deeper shade before he quickly looked away.

Seungcheol mentally berated himself for being so obvious, then internally panicked when Jeonghan immediately avoided his gaze.

Damn it.

He exhaled through his nose before muttering,
"Look at me."

The words came out more like a demand than a request.

Jeonghan almost flinched, startled by the sudden command, his eyes immediately lifting to meet Seungcheol's.

Seungcheol held Jeonghan's gaze, his own expression unreadable—sharp, yet searching. The air between them felt charged, too close for comfort.

"...I don't like you," he muttered after a moment of silence.

It was the weakest lie he'd ever told.

His eyes flickered down to Jeonghan's lips again before darting back up to his face as if burned by the thought alone.

Jeonghan hummed. "I didn't ask you. I already know."

Seungcheol's jaw clenched at the quiet defiance in Jeonghan's tone. He leaned in, close enough that his breath ghosted over Jeonghan's lips—too close for this to be about rivalry anymore.

"Yeah? Then why do you keep looking at me like that?" he challenged, his voice low and rough.
A beat of charged silence passed. Neither of them moved away first.

"Because you looked at me like that first."

"I can look at you however I want, too."

Jeonghan crossed his arms with a quiet pout and a look of defiance that only made him resemble an angry bunny.

Seungcheol's breath hitched at the sight. He almost chuckled at how the defiant expression made Jeonghan look more adorable than intimidating. His hands itched with the urge to reach out and pinch Jeonghan's puffed-up cheeks.

"You're such a goddamn brat," he muttered, an almost-smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"You are too!"

*Seungcheol finally cracked, a sharp laugh escaping him. The tension between them broke—just for a second.

"Tch," he huffed, shaking his head as he took half a step back. "Guess that makes two of us."

His smirk softened into something almost fond before he forced it back under control.
Jeonghan looked almost disappointed when Seungcheol took a step back, as though he hadn't wanted him to move away.

Seungcheol noticed the flicker of disappointment in Jeonghan's eyes.

For some reason, it made something in his chest twist, and—before he could stop himself—he stepped forward again, closing the distance between them until he stood even closer than before. His eyes locked onto Jeonghan's, sharp and unwavering.

"Did you want me to stay close?" he murmured, his voice low and gruff.

Jeonghan quickly looked away, as if he didn't want Seungcheol to be so close. "No. Why would I want that?"

Seungcheol didn't believe him. Not for a second. He'd been studying Jeonghan long enough to recognize his tells.

He lifted a hand, his fingers lightly cupping Jeonghan's chin before gently tilting his face up so they were looking at each other again.

"Liar," he murmured, his tone carrying both accusation and gentle teasing. His eyes roamed over Jeonghan's face as though searching for something.

Jeonghan's cheeks flushed beneath his intense gaze. "M' not..." he mumbled, his defense wavering, his voice quiet and almost shy.

Seungcheol let out a soft laugh at Jeonghan's weak protest and flushed cheeks, his grip on Jeonghan's chin still light but steady. He couldn't help finding Jeonghan adorable—that stubborn, defiant attitude he showed the rest of the world melting away whenever they were alone. It was almost addictive.

"Bullshit," he murmured, never taking his eyes off Jeonghan's face. "You're such a horrible liar, Jeonghan-ah."

Jeonghan's lips almost curled into a haughty pout, but it softened the moment he heard Seungcheol call him Jeonghan-ah again.
His next words were so quiet they were almost lost to the breeze.

"I like it when you call me that..."

Seungcheol's breath hitched at the sudden softness in Jeonghan's voice, at the quiet confession. A wave of something—fondness, protectiveness, possessiveness; he still couldn't quite name it—washed over him, making his fingers tighten ever so slightly around Jeonghan's chin. His eyes searched Jeonghan's expression carefully.

"...Then I'll keep calling you that," he murmured at last.

The words came out gentler than his usual tone, almost soft.

Jeonghan hummed again, his cheeks pink and his heart fluttering in his chest. He felt like a shy teenager talking to his crush for the first time.

Seungcheol's gaze softened as he took in Jeonghan's flushed cheeks and flustered expression. The corners of his lips curled into a faint smirk. He was enjoying the way Jeonghan seemed almost shy around him, shy in his presence. A part of him wanted to make Jeonghan even more flustered, just to see how much red would bloom across those cheeks.

"You're blushing, Jeonghan-ah," he murmured, his voice a low rumble with its usual teasing edge.
Jeonghan gasped as though he had only just realized he was blushing. He quickly covered his cheeks with both hands, feeling the warmth beneath his palms.

"M'not!"

Seungcheol snorted, his smirk widening at Jeonghan's flustered reaction. It was cute—almost unfairly so.

He reached out and gently tugged Jeonghan's hands away from his face so he could see him properly again. Wrapping one hand around both of Jeonghan's wrists, he held them carefully but firmly away from his cheeks.

"Mhm, sure you're not," he drawled, his eyes fixed on Jeonghan's reddened face.

"Shut up! Let go, we need to go to class!"

Jeonghan huffed, trying to pull his wrists free.
Seungcheol's smirk only widened at Jeonghan's attempt to escape. His grip remained firm—not enough to hurt, but enough to stop him from slipping away. Instead, Seungcheol leaned in closer, gently crowding Jeonghan against the wall.

"Not yet," he murmured, his voice low and almost intimate. "Let me look at you first, Jeonghan-ah."
"You always look at me! What's new on my face? Did I grow a horn or something?"

Seungcheol let out an amused snort at Jeonghan's retort. His gaze slowly traveled over Jeonghan's face, focused and almost unbearably intent.

"No horn," he replied, his voice barely above a murmur. His eyes lingered on Jeonghan's pouting lips, watching the way they moved as he spoke.

"But your cheeks are still pink."

"It's from the cold! It's February!"

Seungcheol's smirk returned at Jeonghan's excuse, his expression almost smug. He knew Jeonghan wasn't telling the truth.

"Liar," he murmured, leaning in even closer. "Your ears are red too."

"Stop talking!" Jeonghan frowned, looking like a very angry bunny with his puffed cheeks and pouty lips. "Let go!"

Seungcheol smirked at Jeonghan's expression, resisting the urge to laugh. He was tempted to squeeze Jeonghan's puffed cheeks with his free hand just to see his face turn even poutier, but he held himself back.

For now.

"Nah," he drawled, his grip on Jeonghan's wrists still firm, keeping him in place. He leaned in even closer.

"I'm not letting you go until you admit why you're blushing."

Jeonghan's eyes narrowed. He knew that, to make Seungcheol let him go—to make him blush just like he was—he only had to do one thing.
He leaned in, pressing a quick peck to Seungcheol's lips and letting it linger just a second longer than necessary.

Seungcheol's breath hitched at the unexpected move. His smug expression faltered for half a second as he felt Jeonghan's lips against his—soft and sweet, gone almost instantly.

Heat rushed to his face, and for a moment, he froze, completely unable to speak. The proximity, the brief and almost chaste touch of Jeonghan's lips against his, had him completely flustered, and he hated it.

He quickly regained his composure, pulling back slightly and glaring at Jeonghan.

"Cheap trick," he muttered.

Jeonghan giggled, breaking free from Seungcheol's grip when he loosened his hold in shock. He stuck his tongue out before walking back toward the classroom.

Seungcheol's jaw clenched as Jeonghan took advantage of his momentary shock and escaped his grasp. The sight of Jeonghan giggling and sticking his tongue out only annoyed him further.
"Little brat," he muttered under his breath, resisting the urge to chase after Jeonghan and drag him back.

Instead, he shoved his hands into his pockets and followed Jeonghan back to class, his gaze fixed on his back.

Jeonghan didn't look back as he walked, his hips swaying gently in a natural way that only he could pull off.

Seungcheol's gaze unintentionally lowered to Jeonghan's hips, his eyes tracing the movement. A part of him—the part he refused to acknowledge—wanted to reach out, to grab Jeonghan's narrow waist, to feel how it would fit in his hands, to touch, to—
He shook his head, clearing his mind of the dangerous thoughts.

He was better than this, goddammit.
But it was difficult when Jeonghan's hips kept moving so damn enticingly in front of him with every step, every sway, almost as if he was teasing him. Seungcheol clenched his hands inside his pockets, gritting his teeth.

He was so screwed, and he hated it. He hated how he couldn't seem to look away from Jeonghan.

"Little tease," he muttered, his voice low and almost gravelly.

Jeonghan glanced back at the mutter.
"Did you say something?"

Seungcheol's eyes locked with Jeonghan's for a second, his jaw visibly tightening. Jeonghan's innocent tone was infuriating, especially because of the damn hip sway that seemed to taunt him with every step.

"Nothing," he muttered in a low, gruff voice, looking away before his thoughts could get completely out of control.

"Okay," Jeonghan shrugged and continued walking.

When they finally reached the classroom, Jeonghan went straight to their desk and perched on the chair.

Seungcheol followed him into the classroom, his expression unreadable. He watched as Jeonghan sat there—too damn graceful, too damn effortless in every movement.

He dropped into his seat beside him with a huff, deliberately bumping their shoulders together just to be annoying. His jaw was still tight from earlier.

"Don't think I forgot what you did back there," he muttered under his breath so only Jeonghan could hear.

"What did I do?"

Seungcheol rolled his eyes at Jeonghan's obvious act of innocence, his jaw tightening again. He turned in his seat to face him, his eyes dark and intense, his gaze locked onto Jeonghan's face.

"Don't act like you didn't kiss me."

His voice was barely above a murmur, low and gruff. But there was an edge of irritation to it—he was trying desperately not to show how affected he had been by Jeonghan's little stunt.

"I didn't kiss you!" Jeonghan gasped. "Don't go around saying that! That was barely a peck, and I did it to distract you!"

Seungcheol huffed out a short, disbelieving laugh. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back, his eyes still fixed on Jeonghan.

"A distraction, huh? Don't try to downplay it," he retorted. His voice lowered, a dangerous edge creeping into it. "Your lips still touched mine, Jeonghan-ah."

"So? Doesn't mean it's a kiss. I didn't want to kiss you. It was just a peck to distract you. Nothing else. Don't go around telling people we kissed. It's embarrassing enough being seen with you. I don't want people to think I fancy you too."

Jeonghan delivered the words with his usual sass, bringing back the sharp, bratty attitude Seungcheol was familiar with.

Seungcheol's jaw clenched at Jeonghan's words, a sudden surge of annoyance and something dangerously close to hurt flaring in his chest. His eyes narrowed, his gaze never leaving Jeonghan's.

"Embarrassing to be seen with me, huh?"
He repeated Jeonghan's words, his voice dropping lower, almost becoming a dangerous rumble. His eyes briefly flickered down to Jeonghan's lips, the memory of that "peck" still lingering in his mind.

"You're really testing my patience, you know that?"

"Whatever. Shut up. You're annoying!" Jeonghan rolled his eyes and looked away, his usual snappy and bitchy attitude returning after their brief moment in the hallway.

Seungcheol gritted his teeth at Jeonghan's attitude, his irritation flaring again. He couldn't help but be annoyed by Jeonghan's constant shifts in behavior—from soft and almost shy one moment to a defiant, snarky little menace the next.

"And you're a goddamn brat," he retorted, his voice low. "One moment you're blushing and sticking your tongue out at me, and the next you're acting like you can't stand me. Make up your mind, Jeonghan-ah."

Jeonghan huffed before suddenly leaning closer, their noses almost touching.

"It's because I like arguing with you. Deal with it."

Seungcheol's breath hitched as Jeonghan moved closer, their faces barely an inch apart. The sudden proximity caught him off guard, making his heart race for an entirely different reason.

His eyes instinctively dropped to Jeonghan's lips, so close in front of him, but he quickly snapped himself out of it and narrowed his eyes.

"You like arguing with me?" he repeated, his voice almost a growl. "You like pissing me off on purpose?"

The corners of Jeonghan's lips curled into a smirk.

"Yeah. You look extra hot when you're yelling at me."

Seungcheol's breath hitched again at Jeonghan's bold words. His jaw tightened as warmth rushed through him at the unexpected compliment. He tried to maintain his usual composed expression, but Jeonghan's proximity and that damn smirk made it increasingly difficult.

"You're such a goddamn pain in my ass," he muttered through clenched teeth, his eyes fixed on Jeonghan's smug expression. "You enjoy getting under my skin, don't you?"

Jeonghan noticed the tension in Seungcheol's jaw and the way his expression shifted.

"You really are easy to rile up," he teased.

Seungcheol stared at him, trying to ignore how effortlessly Jeonghan managed to throw him off balance.

"You're impossible," he muttered.

Jeonghan only chuckled, clearly enjoying the effect he had on him. He leaned back with a satisfied smile.

"Later, Cheol."

Seungcheol's entire body stiffened at the nickname. The way Jeonghan said it—so casually, so teasingly—sent a strange jolt through him.

"You're unbelievable," he muttered under his breath.

Jeonghan heard him but didn't reply. Instead, he turned his attention back to the lecture, pretending to listen.

Seungcheol, however, struggled to focus for the rest of the class. His mind kept returning to Jeonghan's teasing words, his smug smile, and the way he seemed completely aware of the effect he had on him.

Time dragged painfully slowly, but eventually, the class came to an end.

Seungcheol was out of his seat within seconds. Before Jeonghan could even gather his things properly, Seungcheol had already grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the hallway.

Jeonghan let out a laugh, stumbling slightly as he followed.

"Yah, chill, nerd!"

Seungcheol didn't stop. His grip was firm as he ignored Jeonghan's complaints, focused only on finding somewhere away from the crowd.

"Shut up," he snapped.

He finally stopped when they reached an empty corridor, away from curious eyes.

Seungcheol turned toward him, his expression intense.

"You've been driving me insane," he murmured. "All goddamn day."

Jeonghan only smiled, completely unbothered.

"It's your fault you're so easy to rile up.”

Seungcheol let out a low, rough sound at that—half growl, half laugh. His fingers curled tighter into Jeonghan's shirt.

"Easy?" he repeated darkly, "You think I'm easy to rile up? Then you won't mind this."

Without another second of warning, he crushed his lips against Jeonghan's in a searing kiss—hot and demanding and far from the brief 'peck' earlier.

Jeonghan gasped at the sudden kiss, frozen in shock, eyes wide, mouth agape in the suddenness of it all.

Seungcheol took advantage of Jeonghan's surprise, tilting his head to deepen the kiss and licking into Jeonghan's mouth with no hesitation. His hands moved to hold Jeonghan's hips, pinning him harder against the wall and holding him in place as he kissed him.

His tongue explored Jeonghan's mouth hungrily, greedy and demanding, like he's been holding back from doing this all damn day—which he has, to be fair.

Jeonghan’s eyes widened further, his breathing coming out faster, his chest heaving with each heavy breath he took, suddenly surprised, shocked, scared, flustered, annoyed, irritated, feeling everything at once

Seungcheol could feel the way Jeonghan's chest heaved, and could feel how he trembled against him, but he couldn't stop himself. His grip on Jeonghan's hips tightened, almost bruising as he forced Jeonghan to press even closer, chest to chest, legs tangled together.

He kissed Jeonghan greedily, his tongue exploring every inch of Jeonghan's mouth like it's the only thing on his mind. His thoughts e
were a mess, a jumble of frustration and something far hotter, far more primal.

Jeonghan didn’t know what to do at all, all of his earlier bravado disappearing into thin air. He wasn’t expecting this at all and it was new and scary and intimidating but also exciting.

Seungcheol could feel how Jeonghan was completely stunned, his body tensing and still against him, and it excited him in the worst way. He felt desperate to make Jeonghan respond, to make him reciprocate—anything. So he bit down on Jeonghan's lower lip, not too hard, but just enough to sting.

Then he broke the kiss, pulling back slightly, keeping Jeonghan pinned against the wall with his body. His breathing was hard, eyes dark and hungry as he looked down at Jeonghan, studying his flushed face.

Jeonghan just stared at him with wide eyes, panting, pupils wide and stunned. "You-... W-what..."

Seungcheol's breathing was ragged, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he stared down at Jeonghan. The sight of him—lips swollen, eyes wide and dazed—made something primal in Seungcheol tighten.

"Finally speechless?" he muttered roughly, still holding Jeonghan against the wall with one hand while the other moved to brush a thumb over his kiss-swollen bottom lip. "That's new.”

"Y-you can't do that..." Jeonghan muttered, biting his lower lip and looking away, still shaken from the fact that Seungcheol had just kissed him. On the lips. With tongue and all.

Seungcheol's grip tightened slightly at Jeonghan's weak protest, his eyes darkening further. He leaned in closer again, his breath hot against Jeonghan's ear.

"Watch me," he murmured, "I'll do whatever the hell I want to you."

His fingers trailed down from Jeonghan’s lip to grip his chin firmly, forcing him to look back up at Seungcheol.

Jeonghan bit his lip harder, biting back a whimper that threatened to leave. Then, he said something unexpected. "That was my first real kiss..."

A pause.

Seungcheol's eyes widened, his brain briefly going on a temporary shutdown when Jeonghan's words fully sank in. His grip on Jeonghan's chin loosened a little as he processed this newfound information.

"What did you just say?" he asked, even though he heard him loud and clear. His voice wa low, rougher than normal, edged with both surprise and something darker, more possessive.

Jeonghan almost whined when he asked him to repeat. "I said that was my first kiss!"

Seungcheol's entire body tensed, his grip on Jeonghan's chin tightening slightly—not enough to hurt, but enough to make him feel the weight of Seungcheol’s reaction. His jaw clenched hard.

"You—" He cut himself off with a sharp exhale through his nose, eyes burning into Jeonghan’s face as if searching for any sign that he's lying.

"...And you let me do that?" he finally muttered in disbelief, "You could've stopped me.”

Jeonghan pouted. "I was shocked..."

The pout only made Jeonghan look even more vulnerable, even more... cute. It took everything Seungcheol had in him to not just shove Jeonghan against the damn wall and kiss him senseless again.

"You didn't push me away, though," he pointed out in a low tone, his body still pinning Jeonghan to the wall with no signs of moving.

"B-because you didn’t let me! You- it was sudden, I was shocked!" Jeonghan protested with a pout, grumbling like an angry little bunny.

That pout is going to drive him crazy, he swore.

He almost laughed, but somehow managed to keep himself together. His grip on Jeonghan's chin loosened, but he didn't completely let go. His thumb brushed over Jeonghan's lips, tracing the now red, swollen skin.

"You could've told me to stop. You could've pushed me away if it really bothered you that much," he murmured. "But you didn't say a word. You were just letting me do whatever I wanted.”

Jeonghan blinked. "I didn't say it bothered me.”

Seungcheol's eyes darkened at Jeonghan's words, his lips pulling up into a slight smirk. He leaned in closer, closing the already small distance between them so their chests brush together. His voice dropped into a low, rough rumble against Jeonghan's ear.

"You're telling me you didn't mind me kissing you? Touching you? Pressing you against the wall like this?”

Jeonghan’s cheeks flushed. But he looked away with a haughty pout. "No.”

Seungcheol's smirk widened at Jeonghan's defiant tone, the sight of that flushed, sulky expression just adding fuel to the fire. He leaned even closer, his body pressing even harder against Jeonghan's, leaving no room to escape.

"Look at you," he murmured, "all flushed and sulky and cute. You're driving me crazy and you don't even know it, do you, bunny?”

Jeonghan gasped at the pet name. "I'm not a bunny!" he said, pretending to be offended.

Seungcheol snorted at the offended reaction, his smirk turning into a full-blown grin. He leaned in so close that their noses brush together.

"You're literally pouting right now," he muttered, "Cheeks all puffed out like an angry little bunny."

A pause. His eyes flickered down to Jeonghan's lips again before meeting his gaze once more. "And I could kiss you until you forget how to argue with me.”

"Do it," Jeonghan challenged, looking up at him with a haughty pout that screamed 'bratty'. He just wanted to piss Seungcheol off.

Seungcheol's eyes darkened at Jeonghan's words, glinting with a sharp mix of challenge and hunger. He was not one to refuse a challenge, especially not from Jeonghan. His grip on Jeonghan's chin tightened slightly, his other hand moving up to grip his hip.

Then he was suddenly hauling Jeonghan against him, crashing their lips together in a bruising kiss. It was hot, demanding, and far from gentle as he nipped at Jeonghan's lower lip and licked into his mouth.

This time, Jeonghan couldn't help the whine that left his lips, eyes widening for a second before he slowly closed them. He tried to kiss him back but he didn’t know how to kiss so he just let Seungcheol kiss him.

Seungcheol groaned softly against Jeonghan's lips, the sound somewhere between a growl and a moan. The sound of Jeonghan's little whine had some kind of short-circuiting effect on Seungcheol, like he was going feral.

He pushed Jeonghan even harder against the wall, his body completely flushing against Jeonghan's in an almost possessive move, pinning him in place as he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring Jeonghan's mouth thoroughly and almost greedily.

Jeonghan just let himself relax and enjoy the kiss as Seungcheol took the lead. His hands came up to his arms, holding those strong biceps for balance as if that grip was the only thing keeping him sane.

Seungcheol felt the way Jeonghan's hands grip his arms, and it made him groan again—low and rough. The thought of Jeonghan clinging to him like he needed the support sent a sharp jolt of heat straight down his spine.

He pulled back just enough to murmur against Jeonghan’s lips, "Fuck, you feel so good." Then he dived back in, kissing him even deeper this time—hotter, messier.

Jeonghan whined when Seungcheol kissed him again without giving him time to breathe. The kiss was messy, their drool and spit mixing together and dripping down his chin. "C-cheol‐”

Seungcheol swallowed Jeonghan's whine, his tongue licking across his lips hungrily before delving into his mouth once more. The kiss was almost primal by now, all teeth and tongue and heat. Seungcheol's hands slid down to Jeonghan's hips, gripping them tightly—probably leaving bruises in their wake.

He pulled back just long enough to murmur against Jeonghan's wet, swollen lips, his voice low and rough. "What, bunny?”

Jeonghan whined even more when he pulled back from the kiss. "You're so dirty! My mouth feels like saliva!" he complained.

Seungcheol huffed out a rough, breathless laugh at Jeonghan's complaint, his thumb running over the other's kiss-swollen lips. "Then stop moaning and whining so goddamn much."

He paused, eyes raking over Jeonghan's flushed face. "You're still so damn loud, even when my tongue's down your throat.”

Jeonghan’s cheeks flushed at that, lips pouty. "You're shameless, talking like that”

Seungcheol's smirk widened at the sight of Jeonghan's pouty, flustered face. He leaned in closer, his breath hot against Jeonghan’s ear as he murmured, "Shameless?" He repeated. "You were the one begging for me to kiss you."

His teeth nipped lightly at Jeonghan’s earlobe before pulling back just enough to meet his eyes again.

"I was not begging. I was expressing my desires gracefully!!"

Seungcheol snorted at Jeonghan's retort. The way he tried to sound so innocent while still being a little bratty almost made him laugh.

"Gracefully, huh?" Seungcheol teased. "Is that what you call all the dramatic complaining from earlier?"

"Yes, you big guy!" Jeonghan shot back. "Now stop annoying me! That's harassment!"

Seungcheol let out a short, sharp laugh at the accusation. The dramatic way Jeonghan said it only made him look more like the brat he was pretending not to be.

"Harassment?" he repeated with an amused smirk. "You're the one who called me 'big guy' in that ridiculous tone."

His hand lifted, lightly flicking Jeonghan's forehead.

Jeonghan squeaked in surprise.

"Seungcheol, stop that!" he complained.

Seungcheol's smirk widened at the reaction, clearly enjoying himself far too much.

"Make me," he challenged, his tone teasing.

He reached out and flicked Jeonghan's forehead once more, earning another offended glare.

As much as he tried to keep his defiant expression, the flush on his cheeks betrayed him. He pouted, rubbing his forehead.

"Stop doing that. You're going to make my forehead sore!"

Seungcheol's smirk turned into a full grin at Jeonghan's protest. He leaned closer, resting his forehead against Jeonghan's for just a moment.

"Liar," he murmured. "You love complaining when I tease you."

Then he pulled away with an amused huff.

Jeonghan immediately whined when Seungcheol flicked his forehead again.

"I said stop!"

Seungcheol finally relented, letting out a quiet chuckle. His expression softened slightly as he noticed the faint redness on Jeonghan's forehead.

"Fine, fine," he muttered. "But you're the one who keeps making that face."

He tilted his head, looking at Jeonghan's pout.

"All dramatic and offended like an actual bunny."

He leaned slightly closer, his voice lowering.

"And I think you secretly enjoy arguing with me."

"Well, you're wrong," Jeonghan replied. "I don't like people ignoring me when I tell them to stop."

The teasing expression on Seungcheol's face faded slightly.

He paused, realizing the difference between playful teasing and pushing too far. His expression softened as he looked at Jeonghan.

"Hey," he said quietly. "I wasn't trying to upset you."

A small silence passed between them.

"I was just teasing," he admitted. "But I should've stopped when you asked me to."

Jeonghan hesitated, realizing his words may have sounded harsher than he intended.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way," he explained softly. "It's just... annoying when you keep doing something even after I say no."

He looked away for a moment before adding quietly, "I'm sorry."

Some of the tension in Seungcheol's expression disappeared when he heard Jeonghan's explanation. He exhaled slowly, his guilt easing into something gentler.

"Don't apologize," he murmured. "I should be the one apologizing."

His gaze stayed on Jeonghan.

"I got carried away."

A small, almost embarrassed smile tugged at his lips.

"I just... like teasing you. You make it too easy."

Jeonghan noticed the guilt lingering in Seungcheol's expression, and it made his own heart soften.

He huffed quietly before wrapping his arms around Seungcheol's neck and leaning closer.

"Don't look so guilty, Cheollie.”

Seungcheol's shoulders instantly relaxed at the sudden contact, his arms wrapping around Jeonghan's waist. He let out a low exhale as Jeonghan nuzzled into his neck, the nickname making something in his chest ache.

"Can't help it," he muttered, his voice softer than usual. "I didn't mean to upset you, bunny."

"I'm not upset, Cheollie," Jeonghan reassured him. "I was just a little annoyed. I'm fine now."

Seungcheol let out a slow breath at Jeonghan's reassurance, the remaining tension in his body finally easing. He held him a little closer, making sure Jeonghan knew he believed him.

"You sure?" he murmured, his voice still slightly gruff.

"Yeah, I promise."

Jeonghan hummed softly, leaning closer.

Seungcheol's expression softened at the simple reassurance. Something about Jeonghan being so willing to forgive him always caught him off guard.

"Good," he murmured. "I hate the thought of you being upset with me, bunny."

Jeonghan smiled shyly, hiding his face a little deeper against him.

"You used to piss me off so much," he teased. "What happened now?"

Seungcheol let out a short chuckle—half amused, half exasperated. He could feel Jeonghan's smile, the playful tone a complete contrast to the tension they had shared earlier.

"I still piss you off," he replied.

A small smirk tugged at his lips.

"You're just not as annoyed lately. And I have a guess as to why."

"Oh, you do?" Jeonghan asked, amused. "What's your guess then?"

Seungcheol hummed, narrowing his eyes slightly. A teasing smile appeared on his face as he leaned closer.

"My guess is that..." he began dramatically, "you've developed a teensy, tiny, itty-bitty little thing for me."

Jeonghan giggled.

"Teensy tiny itty-bitty little thing?" he repeated. "What 'thing' might that be?"

Seungcheol rolled his eyes at the obvious act of innocence, though the amusement in his expression gave him away.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about, bunny," he murmured. "A little crush."

Jeonghan giggled again.

"A crush?" he teased. "You're a delusional big guy, huh?"

Seungcheol let out a sharp laugh at the word.

"Delusional, huh?"

He shook his head, clearly entertained by Jeonghan's teasing.

"Then why is your face so damn red right now, bunny?"

"It's because I'm feeling hot," Jeonghan replied immediately. "That's why."

Seungcheol stared at him for a moment before a slow, knowing smile spread across his face.

"Right," Seungcheol said, clearly unconvinced. "Of course it is,” he snorted at the response, almost rolling his eyes—almost. Jeonghan's stubbornness and playfulness were both endearing and infuriating in the best possible way.

“Yes, it is!” Jeonghan huffed.

"Bullshit," Seungcheol muttered, narrowing his eyes. "You know damn well it's not the temperature that's making your face burn, bunny."

Jeonghan huffed, finally giving up.

"Fine! You're still annoying!"

Seungcheol's smirk widened at the surrender. His expression softened slightly as he leaned closer, his voice dropping into a teasing murmur.

"And yet you're still standing right here with me," he pointed out. "Still letting me bother you."

A pause.

"So who's really winning here?"

Jeonghan smirked back.

"Me."

He tilted his head, looking far too pleased with himself.

"Because I like it when you tease me."

Seungcheol's breath hitched at the unexpected confession. His teasing expression froze for a moment before shifting into something softer, something almost disbelieving.

"Seriously?" he muttered. "You're really not playing fair anymore. What else do you like then, hm?"

Jeonghan only smiled, clearly enjoying the rare moment where he managed to catch Seungcheol off guard.

Then he leaned closer and pressed a quick kiss to Seungcheol's lips.

"You," he whispered.

For a moment, Seungcheol's thoughts completely stopped.

His brain struggled to catch up with what had just happened. The teasing words, the softness in Jeonghan's voice, the simple honesty behind it all—it was enough to leave him unusually quiet.

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at Jeonghan.

"...Say that again."

Jeonghan giggled, amused by how easily he had managed to silence him.

"I like you," he admitted.

Then, as if remembering who he was talking to, he quickly added:

"But don't let it get to your head. I'm still going to beat you in every test and assignment."

Seungcheol stared at him for a moment before a slow smirk returned.

"You can try, bunny," he replied. "Just remember—I don't make losing easy."

"Me too," Jeonghan whispered, his smile turning mischievous. "I won't let you focus. I'll distract you until you give up and admit I'm better."

Seungcheol felt a spark of amusement at the challenge. Of course Jeonghan would turn a confession into another competition.

"You think you can break me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think a few distractions are enough to make me surrender?"

Jeonghan chuckled.

"You know you will, Cheollie," he whispered. "You're a weak, weak man."

Seungcheol's eyes narrowed at the nickname, his usual confidence faltering for just a second.

It was ridiculous how easily Jeonghan could get a reaction out of him. One little nickname, one teasing smile, and suddenly the person who was supposed to be his biggest rival had him completely off balance.

"Weak for you, maybe," Seungcheol admitted, his voice quieter than usual.

A small smirk tugged at his lips.

"You know exactly what you're doing, bunny."

Jeonghan immediately became flustered at the sudden sincerity. He looked away, trying to hide the smile forming on his face.

"Shut up!"

Seungcheol laughed softly, clearly pleased with himself.

"Make me."

His teasing expression returned as he watched Jeonghan try—and fail—to hide how affected he was.

For once, Seungcheol didn't mind losing a little.

Especially not if it meant losing to Jeonghan.

Jeonghan almost squealed when he was pulled closer again. He let out a small whine and leaned in to kiss him.

Seungcheol's brain short-circuited at the soft whine, the sound going straight to his chest and making something inside him ache. Jeonghan's body pressed against his own—small, so small, and so damn cute. Like he was made to fit in his arms.

When Jeonghan kissed him, he felt his entire body ignite like a fire's been lit under his skin.
"Damn you, bunny," he growled into the kiss. "You're not playing fair, either.”

Jeonghan giggled and kissed him harder and messier since he was still not used to kissing.

The giggling and messy, frantic kissing drove Seungcheol crazier by the second. Jeonghan's inexperience—how desperate and sloppy the kiss was—was so goddamn adorable. Seungcheol felt his heart ache and his brain go fuzzy as he kissed back with an almost bruising intensity.

He pulled Jeonghan in even closer, if that's even possible, and practically devoured his mouth.

Jeonghan whined, kissing him harder and pressing closer against him needily.

The whine, the way Jeonghan pressed his body against him so desperately– Seungcheol was pretty sure he was going insane. Every single ounce of patience and restraint he had left was slowly fraying and snapping.

He deepened the kiss, his tongue slipping into Jeonghan's mouth, licking and exploring hungrily. He pressed Jeongha against the wall, caging the smaller boy firmly with his body.

Jeonghan whimpered and whined, his breathing fast and rough.

Every little sound Jeonghan made, every damn one, was like a drug to him. Seungcheol knew he had gone far past the point of no return. There was no stopping this now—or ever.

He bit and sucked at Jeonghan's lower lip, his hands gripping the other's hips with a bruising grip. He could feel Jeonghan's body trembling against his, and the realization made something inside him go wild.

Jeonghan whimpered softly, his legs gave up from the intensity of the kiss since he's never experienced anything like this before.

Seungcheol caught Jeonghan as the smaller boy's legs almost gave out, a low growl escaping his throat as he caught him easily. The fact that Jeonghan is this affected just from a kiss… it drove him insane. He could feel Jeonghan shaking against him, so small and so goddamn hot and—

He gripped Jeonghan's thighs, lifting the other boy up like he weighed nothing and pinned him against the wall.

The way Jeonghan wrapped his legs around Seungcheol's waist, almost instinctively, just made him go crazier. He had Jeonghan basically straddling him, pressed up against the wall, and damn it all—Seungcheol knew he was getting hard. He could feel the heat of Jeonghan's body pressed right up against him, and the thought is more than a little obscene.

He let out a groan, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of Jeonghan's thighs. "Bunny," he muttered. "You drive me insane..”

Jeonghan whined and arched against him. "Cheollie..."

Seungcheol felt his breath get caught in his throat as Jeonghan arched against him, a desperate, needy whine escaping the smaller boy's lips. The sound was like a damn drug, a hot, sharp pang of heat coursing through his body.

His eyes raked over Jeonghan's face, gaze heavy with a mix of desire and possession.
"Jesus Christ, bunny," he murmurs, "You're gonna be the death of me, you know that?”

His hands squeezed Jeonghan's thighs, his grip tight and bordering on possessive. The urge to mark the other boy up—to claim him, to make him his—was starting to get too much to ignore.

His mouth found Jeonghan's neck, kissing and biting the soft, tender skin there. He sucked lightly on the sensitive patch of skin just under Jeonghan's ear, almost like he was trying to leave a damn love mark there.

Jeonghan gasped, realizing he's about to leave a mark. "Cheollie, no!”

Seungcheol's smirk widened as Jeonghan gasped—he found himself a weak spot.

He continued pressing open-mouthed kisses across Jeonghan's neck, his mouth moving along the sensitive skin with an almost predatory precision. He paused at a spot near Jeonghan's collarbone and sucked a small, light mark into the skin, not quite hard enough to really leave a love mark—but close enough that it could be one soon, with enough pressure.

"Why not, bunny?" he murmured, his hands gripping Jeonghan's thighs tighter.

Jeonghan whined. "I'll get caught~”

God, Jeonghan's whiny, desperate voice was driving him crazy. Seungcheol wanted to kiss the words right out of his damn mouth. He moved his mouth away from Jeonghan's neck and trailed his tongue along his jawline, almost teasingly.

"So what if you do?" he murmured against Jeonghan's skin. "You'd look so pretty, marked and claimed. Just for me.”

Jeonghan whined even more, squirming and trying to push him away. "Cheollie, stopp!"

Seungcheol instantly stopped when Jeonghan squirmed and pushed at him—not because he wanted to, but because Jeonghan said no. And as much as he loved teasing and messing with Jeonghan, he was not about to cross that line.

He pulled back completely, hands leaving Jeonghan's thighs to hold his waist gently instead. His jaw is clenched, breathing slightly uneven, but he managed to keep his voice steady.

"Alright," he muttered, "Alright, bunny.”

Jeonghan looked surprised when Seungcheol actually listened that quickly. He bit his lip shyly and leaned in to peck his cheek as a small thank you.

Jesus, Jeonghan was going to kill him with the switch-up. The way he went from desperate and begging to sweet and shy in a second was giving Seungcheol whiplash and making his heart pound impossibly faster. The innocent peck to his cheek made his chest ache. Seungcheol let out a slow exhale, eyes narrowing at Jeonghan in slight irritation, but mostly affection.

He couldn’t even say anything sarcastic or teasing, not when Jeonghan was looking up at him all wide-eyed and—god damn it, cute.

Jeonghan bit back another whine at the look Seungcheol gave him and nuzzled into his neck. "I just... didn't want my mom or dad to see it, Cheollie..." he mumbled into his skin, his voice small and muffled.

Seungcheol exhaled softly at the feeling of Jeonghan nuzzling against him. His quiet voice, muffled against his skin, made something in his chest tighten.

He wrapped his arms around Jeonghan's waist and pulled him closer—softer this time, gentler.

His fingers lightly combed through Jeonghan's hair as his voice dropped into something quieter.

"Fine," he muttered. "But only because you're cute when you get all shy like this."

A pause.

His lips brushed against Jeonghan's temple in a fleeting kiss.

"And I still win, though. You admitted you like me."

"Fine..." Jeonghan mumbled. "But you like me too."

He leaned back slightly to look at him.

"Right?"

Seungcheol's fingers tightened slightly around Jeonghan's waist at the question, as if he was afraid that letting go would somehow make Jeonghan disappear. His jaw tensed, his eyes locked onto Jeonghan's face with an intensity that made his usual confidence falter.

"Yeah," he admitted gruffly. "I like you too."

His thumb brushed lightly over Jeonghan's side, his expression softening.

"Annoying as hell, though."

Jeonghan immediately whined at that, hiding his face against Seungcheol's neck again.

Seungcheol let out a quiet laugh, his fingers threading through Jeonghan's hair as he pressed another kiss to his temple, lingering this time.

"You're spoiled," he murmured. "But yeah, I'll take the blame for that."

His tone shifted back into something teasing.

"Just don't expect me to stop annoying you."

"Mhm," Jeonghan hummed, completely unbothered.

He stayed right there, comfortable and warm in Seungcheol's arms, as if this was the most natural place in the world for him to be.

If Jeonghan got any cuter, Seungcheol was convinced he was going to lose his mind.

The tension that had always seemed to exist between them slowly faded, replaced by something warmer—something softer.

"You really like being held by me, huh?" Seungcheol teased, his voice low. "All clingy and cute."

Jeonghan nodded against his neck.

"Mhm... You're big and warm," he mumbled softly.

Seungcheol laughed quietly again, his arms tightening around Jeonghan and pulling him closer.

Jeonghan's words did something ridiculous to him. They made his heart race and his chest feel strangely light.

He shook his head, a small smile forming.

"You make me sound like a teddy bear or something."

"You are like a teddy bear!" Jeonghan exclaimed.

"Big and fluffy and warm and cozy!"

Seungcheol's entire expression scrunched up at the comparison—half offended, half amused.

"A teddy bear?" he repeated incredulously. "I'm literally the captain of the basketball team, not a damn plushie."

But then Jeonghan giggled against his neck, and Seungcheol's argument disappeared before he could finish it.

He sighed, completely defeated.

"Fine," he muttered. "I'm your teddy bear."

Jeonghan giggled at his reluctant admission.

"My teddy bear," he repeated proudly, pressing a small kiss to his jaw.

Seungcheol internally groaned.

God damn it. Jeonghan was going to be the death of him.

He let out a low laugh at the affection, the simple claim sending a strange warmth through him.

"Yours," he admitted quietly.

The word came out almost reluctant, but there was no hesitation behind it.

Jeonghan's eyes widened slightly before he squealed, the admission making him hide his face against Seungcheol's neck again.

The way Seungcheol had said it—so simple, so genuine—made something in Jeonghan's chest flutter.
Jeonghan’s pout faltered at the words.

For a moment, he just stared at Seungcheol, caught off guard by how easily the teasing disappeared and something much softer replaced it.

"You say the weirdest things sometimes," he mumbled, trying to hide the way his cheeks warmed again.

Seungcheol raised an eyebrow.

"Weirdest?"

"Yeah," Jeonghan said, still tucked comfortably against him. "You go from being the most annoying person I've ever met to saying things like that."

A small smirk tugged at Seungcheol’s lips.

"Sounds like you like both versions of me."

Jeonghan rolled his eyes, but he didn't move away.

"Don't get cocky."

"Too late."

"You’re impossible."

"And yet you're still here."

Jeonghan opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out.

Because unfortunately, Seungcheol was right.

He was still there.

Still wrapped in his arms. Still leaning into his warmth. Still feeling oddly safe in the embrace of the person who, just a few weeks ago, he had wanted to throw out of a window.

Seungcheol noticed the silence and looked down at him.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

Jeonghan huffed softly. "You really love calling me that, don't you?"

"Because you're terrible at lying."

"I am not."

"You are."

"I'm literally the smartest person in this class."

"That doesn't mean you're a good liar."

Jeonghan frowned, looking offended.

Seungcheol couldn't stop the laugh that escaped him.

There it was again.

That expression.

The one that made Jeonghan look less like the intimidating genius everyone feared and more like someone who just wanted to be teased.

"You’re laughing at me," Jeonghan accused.

"Yes."

"Wow. My own boyfriend is bullying me."

The words slipped out so casually that neither of them processed them at first.

Then silence.

Seungcheol blinked.

Jeonghan froze.

Slowly, both of them looked at each other.

"...Boyfriend?" Seungcheol repeated.

Jeonghan’s eyes widened slightly.

"I—"

A faint blush crept across his face.

"I didn't mean—"

Seungcheol's grin slowly grew.

"No, no. Don't take it back."

Jeonghan immediately looked away.

"Shut up."

"You called me your boyfriend."

"I misspoke."

"You did not."

"I did."

"You absolutely did not."

Jeonghan covered his face with his hands, groaning.

"You're so annoying."

Seungcheol gently pulled his hands away, smiling down at him.

"Say it again."

"No."

"Jeonghan-ah."

"No."

"Bunny."

"No."

"My bunny."

Jeonghan immediately looked at him.

Seungcheol smirked.

"Got you."

Jeonghan narrowed his eyes.

"You cheated."

"I used your weakness."

"You’re horrible."

"And you like me anyway."

Jeonghan tried to hold back his smile.

He failed.

Seungcheol noticed.

Of course he noticed.

He always noticed.

And somehow, that was the most terrifying part.

Because the same person who used to notice every mistake Jeonghan made in class now noticed every tiny change in his expression. Every hidden smile. Every moment where he needed reassurance but refused to ask for it.

Seungcheol brushed a strand of hair away from Jeonghan’s face.

"Hey."

"Hm?"

"You're not just a pretty face, you know."

The playful atmosphere faded slightly.

Jeonghan looked at him.

Seungcheol’s expression was serious now.

"You're brilliant. You're stubborn. You're annoying as hell." A small smile appeared. "But you're brilliant."

Jeonghan stayed quiet.

Because somehow, those words meant more coming from him.

The person who had once been his biggest competition.

The person who had challenged him every single day.

The person who had seen him as a rival before anything else.

"You're such an idiot sometimes, Seungcheol."

"I know."

"But..." Jeonghan's voice softened. "Thank you."

Seungcheol's expression softened too.

"Anytime, Jeonghan-ah."

And this time, Jeonghan smiled without trying to hide it.

♡♡♡

The next morning, the entire class knew something was different.

Not because Seungcheol and Jeonghan had announced anything.

They hadn't.

They were still Seungcheol and Jeonghan.

Still arguing over answers. Still correcting each other's mistakes. Still making sarcastic comments whenever the other got too confident.

But everyone noticed the small things.

The way Seungcheol always saved the seat beside him.

The way Jeonghan casually stole Seungcheol's coffee without asking.

The way Seungcheol complained every single time but somehow never stopped him.

The way Jeonghan smiled whenever Seungcheol called him "Jeonghan-ah."

Their rivalry hadn't disappeared.

It had just changed.

The classroom was still a battlefield.

But now, neither of them was fighting to win.

They were fighting because, somehow, arguing with each other had become their favorite way of saying, I see you.

A month later, the new rankings were posted.

As usual, a crowd gathered around the board.

Everyone waited.

Everyone already knew what they were about to see.

At the top were two names.

Seungcheol.

Jeonghan.

Again.

Someone in the crowd groaned.

"Seriously? You two couldn't give the rest of us a chance?"

Jeonghan looked at the board, then glanced at Seungcheol beside him.

"One mark difference," he said smugly.

Seungcheol crossed his arms.

"Temporary."

"You say that every time."

"Because every time, it's true."

Jeonghan scoffed.

"You're unbelievable."

"And you're obsessed with beating me."

Jeonghan turned toward him with an offended expression.

"Excuse me? You're the one who's obsessed with keeping up with me."

A familiar argument.

A familiar spark.

But this time, neither of them walked away angry.

Seungcheol simply smiled.

A real smile.

The kind Jeonghan rarely got to see before.

"Come on, bunny."

Jeonghan immediately narrowed his eyes.

"Don't call me that in front of everyone."

"Why? You hate it?"

Jeonghan opened his mouth.

Paused.

Then looked away.

"...No."

Seungcheol's grin widened.

"Thought so."

Jeonghan rolled his eyes, but the small smile on his lips betrayed him.

Everyone else saw two geniuses still competing for first place.

They saw the same arguments.

The same teasing.

The same impossible rivalry.

But they didn't see what happened after the classroom emptied.

They didn't see Seungcheol handing Jeonghan his notes because he knew Jeonghan forgot them.

They didn't see Jeonghan fixing Seungcheol's presentation slides because he knew Seungcheol would never admit he needed help.

They didn't see two people who had spent so long trying to defeat each other finally realizing they had found the one person who made winning feel less important.

Because Seungcheol had always been first.

And Jeonghan had always wanted to take that place from him.

But somewhere along the way, they both discovered something better.

They didn't need to stand above everyone else.

They just needed someone who would stand beside them.

And for two people who had spent months refusing to lose...

Maybe that was the only thing they were both willing to surrender to.

"Race you to the library?" Jeonghan challenged suddenly.

Seungcheol looked at him, amused.

"You're seriously challenging me again?"

"Obviously."

"You know I always win."

Jeonghan smiled, already walking backward.

"Keep dreaming, Cheollie."

And just like that, they were running again.

Still rivals.

Still idiots.

Still hopelessly, undeniably theirs.

And maybe that was the best part.

Because some stories weren't about finding someone who completed you.

Some stories were about finding the one person who challenged you, annoyed you, pushed you—

and somehow became the only person you never wanted to lose.