Chapter Text
Minseok sat cross-legged on the carpet between the sofa and the low table facing the television, absentmindedly eating Greek yogurt topped with blueberries. A replay of the football match he’d missed the night before flickered across the screen. He’d been looking forward to it all week, and now that he finally had a quiet morning to himself, he was determined to watch it before anyone spoiled the result.
The peaceful silence was broken only by the soft commentary from the television until footsteps descended the stairs. Suhwan appeared in the living room a moment later.
At that hour, they were the only ones still home. Sanghyeok, Hyeonjun and Hyunjoon had already left for the day. Sanghyeok had been called into an emergency meeting at work, Hyeonjun had laboratory duties, and Hyunjoon was off to basketball practice. Minseok’s schedule, fortunately, was clear that morning, and Suhwan’s first class wasn’t until later.
The five of them had shared the house for eight months now. Sanghyeok, the eldest, had lived there the longest. Hyunjoon and Minseok moved in together when they entered university, Hyeonjun followed a year later, and Suhwan became the last piece of the household only eight months ago. Somehow, the rhythm of living together has settled around them so naturally that it was hard to remember a time before it.
“Good Morning, Minseok-hyung.”
Minseok looked up briefly, offering a small smile before returning his attention to the screen.
“Morning, Suhwan-ah. There’s still some yogurt in the fridge. Grab one before the others get to it.”
Suhwan hummed in acknowledgment. He retrieved a cup of yogurt from the refrigerator and returned to the living room, sinking into the sofa behind Minseok as naturally as if it were his designated seat.
“Is that last night's match?”
“Yeah.” Minseok’s eyes never left the television. “I missed it. Everyone keeps saying it was an absolute banger.”
Suhwan chuckled quietly and settled back, eating his yogurt while the commentator's excited voice filled the room.
After a comfortable stretch of silence, Minseok spoke again.
“You’re still coming later, right?”
“Oh.” Suhwan blinked, pulled back from his thoughts. “Right. I’ll meet you guys after class, hyung.”
It had become something of a tradition. No matter how hectic life became, the five of them carved out one day each week to disappear into the same PC bang and spend hours playing League of Legends together. It wasn’t much, but somehow those few hours managed to reset the week.
“What time does your class end?” Minseok asked, still watching the match. “I’ll come pick you up.”
Silence settled between them again. This time, Suhwan didn’t answer right away.
Every time Minseok offered to pick him up, he found himself hesitating before saying yes. It should have been an easy answer. After all, they belonged to the same faculty. Minseok, now in his third year, and Suhwan, only just beginning his first. Their schedules often overlapped, their classes were in the same building, and it wasn’t unusual for them to leave campus together.
At least, it wasn’t unusual for Minseok. For Suhwan, it was an entirely different story. Three months ago, he had finally admitted something to himself, something he’d spent weeks trying to dismiss as admiration, gratitude, or simple fondness.
He had a crush on Minseok.
The realization hadn’t come all at once. It had crept in quietly, unnoticed, until one day he found himself paying attention to the way his heart raced whenever Minseok did something unexpectedly kind. It was never anything grand. Just little things.
Giving Suhwan the last slice of pizza, even though everyone in the house knew it was Minseok’s favorite. Dragging him out to the convenience store for late-night snacks because Suhwan had casually mentioned he was hungry. Remembering the dishes Suhwan once said he wanted to try, only to come home days later carrying them as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
None of those moments mean much on their own. But together, they lingered. Quietly. Patiently. Until Suhwan realized his heart had started collecting them long before he had noticed.
“I don’t know what time my class will end yet, so don’t worry about it, hyung. Let’s just meet at the PC bang.”
It was easier to dodge the offer than to accept it.
Minseok glanced back at him, eyebrows lifting ever so slightly, before turning his attention to the television again.
“Okay.” That was all he said.
He didn’t press for an explanation. He simply accepted Suhwan’s answer without another thought, completely unaware of the quiet turmoil behind it.
After finishing his yogurt, Suhwan rinsed the empty cup and returned it to the kitchen before slinging his bag over one shoulder.
“I should get going now, hyung. See you later.”
“Yeah. See you later.”
Without taking his eyes off the match, Minseok lifted a hand in a casual wave as Suhwan walked toward the front door. The door clicked shut behind him. Only then did Suhwan let out the breath he’d been holding.
Minseok pushed open the door to the PC bang and headed straight for the room they always used. As expected, Uijin, the owner, had already reserved it for them. Sanghyeok had been friends with him for years, so saving the room every week had long since become an unspoken routine.
“Yo.”
Hyunjoon barely glanced away from his monitor as Minseok stepped inside before immediately returning his focus to the game he was already queued into.
“You’re here early.”
“So are you,” Minseok replied with a faint chuckle.
He took the seat beside Hyunjoon and set his backpack on the floor before pulling out his keyboard and mouse. He always brought his own peripherals. He was particular about his gear, and after years of playing, he’d become convinced he played better with equipment he was familiar with.
“You’re not coming with Suhwanie?”
“Nope.”
Minseok answered without looking up, calmly setting up his keyboard and mouse before joining the queue himself.
“Oh.” Hyunjoon’s lips curled into a knowing grin. “You got rejected.”
Minseok finally looked over.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he scoffed.
Hyunjoon laughed.
“Come on. You know exactly what I mean.”
With that, he put his headset back on and returned to his solo queue, clearly satisfied with getting under Minseok’s skin.
They had known each other for over five years, ever since high school. Back then, they had shared the same classroom. Now they belonged to different faculties in the same university, but nothing between them had really changed.
Words had never been much of a necessity between them.
A glance, a sigh, a raised eyebrow. They always understood what the other was thinking. Their constant teasing had become second nature, but beneath every joke was a friendship built on years of quiet trust.
Which was exactly why Hyunjoon had figured it out long before Minseok did. Long before Minseok admitted it to himself. Hyunjoon already knew that his best friend had fallen for the youngest member of their household.
After a while, Hyeonjun finally arrived, with Suhwan following close behind. The two had run into each other at the entrance and walked in together.
Unlike the endlessly bickering Minseok and Hyunjoon, Hyeonjun and Suhwan shared similarly quiet personalities. They had clicked almost immediately after meeting, finding an easy comfort in each other’s company. Hyeonjun was the second oldest in the house and attended the same university as the others, though he was pursuing his master’s degree.
If Sanghyeok was the heart of the household, Hyeonjun was the one who kept everything in order. He had a habit of tidying up after everyone and never hesitated to nag the others whenever they left dishes in the sink or clothes lying around. Thanks to him, the house was almost never a mess, even Sanghyeok wasn’t exempt from being scolded.
As they stepped into the room, both offered soft greetings.
“Hey.”
“Hyungs.”
Minseok and Hyunjoon barely spared them a glance, their attention still fixed on their matches. Each simply gave a small nod in acknowledgment before returning to their screens. Used to the familiar routine, Hyeonjun and Suhwan exchange an amused look before settling into their own seats and setting up their games.
As always, they waited until all five of them arrived before queuing as a full team. Which meant they were waiting for one person. Sanghyeok.
Being the only one with a full-time job, he was almost always the last to arrive. No one complained anymore, it had simply become part of their weekly routine. Nearly an hour later, the door finally slid open.
Sanghyeok stepped inside, carrying himself with the same quiet composure he always did. There was nothing particularly flashy about him, yet his presence alone seemed to settle the room.
Outside of work, however, he was something of a legend within the LOL community. Despite never pursuing a professional career, his mechanics, game sense, and consistency had earned him recognition from players and even professionals alike. Many believed he could have gone pro if he wanted to.
“Sorry,” Sanghyeok said as he walked in, setting his bag beside his chair. “Things ran a little longer at work.”
The younger four greeted him with cheerful waves, happy to see their eldest finally arrive.
Despite the noticeable age gap, Sanghyeok had never felt like an older brother they had to tiptoe around. If anything, he was more like a dependable friend, calm when everyone else was chaotic, yet goofy enough to laugh at the dumbest jokes. Whenever something went wrong around the house, he always seemed to have a solution.
With everyone finally present, they queued up as a full five-man party. As expected, the matches were absolute chaos. The five of them had built quite a reputation in the local LOL community. People joked that they looked more like a professional roster than four university students and one overworked office employee spending their Friday nights at a PC bang. The truth was much simpler, they were just five friends who genuinely loved the game and happened to be ridiculously good at it.
The room was filled with laughter, overlapping callouts, and playful arguments after nearly every team fight. Mostly from Minseok and Hyunjoon.
“Yah! You almost threw the last game!” Hyunjoon groaned, pulling off his headset.
Minseok burst into laughter.
“Sorry! I got too excited, okay? That’s on me.”
“You say that every week.”
“And yet we still won.”
“Because I carried”
“In your dreams.”
The room dissolved into another round of laughter. After two matches, they called it a night and ordered dinner. They gathered around the low, round table in the private room, bean bags scattered around it as always. Before long, the table disappeared beneath plates of crispy fried chicken, sizzling gopchang, spicy tteokbokki with sundae, and steaming bowls of ramyeon.
Apparently, everyone had been hungrier than they realized. It was Friday night, after all. None of them had classes or work the next morning, so there was no reason to hold back. Tonight belonged to the five of them.
Hyunjoon suddenly looked between Minseok and Suhwan.
“...You two have something going on?”
The room fell silent. Sanghyeok paused with a piece of chicken halfway to his mouth, while Hyeonjun looked up from his bowl, following Hyunjoon’s gaze between the two of them.
Minseok froze. Suhwan did too.
Minseok blinked, completely caught off guard. “What are you talking about?”
Beside him, Suhwan quietly lowered his eyes to his bowl.
Hyunjoon clicked his tongue.
“You two have been completely out of sync all night.” He pointed his chopsticks at them. “Our bot lane was a mess.”
A beat of silence.
“...That’s what you meant?”
Minseok let out a relieved sigh, slumping back into his bean bag.
Hyunjoon frowned. "What else would I mean?” The confusion in his voice sounded convincing enough.
Suhwan kept his head lowered, burying his face in his bowl as he quietly prayed no one had noticed the heat creeping onto his cheeks.
“It happens, okay?” Minseok said, reaching for another piece of chicken. “There’s nothing wrong with us.”
For the briefest, his eyes flickered toward Suhwan.
Suhwan gave a small nod, pretending to be engrossed in his food while willing his heartbeat to calm down.
“It’s just not their best day,” Hyeonjun said casually. “Besides, they’ve been an unbeatable bot lane for months.”
As he spoke, his gaze lingered on the two of them for just a second longer than necessary.
“Agreed,” Sanghyeok replied simply before helping himself to another piece of chicken.
Across the table, Hyunjoon rested his chin on one hand, watching the pair from the corner of his eye. Truthfully, he wasn’t as oblivious as he pretended to be. That question hadn’t been entirely innocent. He had only wanted to test the waters.
The way Minseok froze. The way Suhwan suddenly forgot how to look up. That was all the answer he needed. Hyunjoon bit back a sigh.
These two idiots…
One had been hopelessly in love for months without realizing it until recently. The other had fallen just as hard and was somehow even worse at hiding it. And somehow, despite living under the same roof… Neither of them had any idea the feeling was mutual.
The streets were quieter by the time Minseok and Suhwan left the PC bang, walking side by side toward the drugstore a few blocks from home. The errand itself has been Hyunjoon’s idea.
They had run out of hangover medicine, and after one too many glasses of beer, Sanghyeok had finally been defeated by alcohol. Hyeonjun and Hyunjoon stayed behind to help the eldest get home while sending the other two to buy what they needed.
Neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn’t uncomfortable. It never really was. Yet tonight, it carried an unfamiliar weight. Perhaps it was because of Hyunjoon’s teasing during dinner. Or perhaps it was simply because they were finally alone.
Their footsteps echoed softly along the quiet sidewalk. The silence reminded Suhwan of the day they first met. Back then, Minseok had already been living in the house. Suhwan, on the other hand, had only just begun searching for a place to stay. Sanghyeok happened to hear about it through Jihoon—a junior at work and Suhwan’s cousin—and, knowing there was one vacant room in the house, offered it to him without much hesitation.
As if fate had arranged it that way. Minseok had been the one waiting at home when Suhwan first walked through the front door.
Their home was a spacious two-story house with a well-kept garden stretching across the front yard. The first thing Suhwan noticed was the number T1 mounted neatly on the front gate, the house number that somehow felt more like a name.
His first impression was simple. Warm. Comfortable. The house already felt lived in, filled with the kind of warmth that only came from people who had spent years sharing the same space.
Then the front door opened.
“Ah, you must be Suhwan.” A bright smile greeted him before he could even introduce himself.
Minseok. There was an easy cheerfulness about him, like an excited puppy welcoming a new friend home. It was the kind of smile that naturally put people at ease. That morning had been unusually quiet. Sanghyeok, Hyeonjun, and Hyunjoon had already left for work and university before Suhwan arrived.
Before leaving, Sanghyeok had asked Minseok to wait for their newest housemate, give him a tour of the house, and apologize on his behalf for not being there to welcome him in person. Minseok gladly took the responsibility.
He had already heard from Sanghyeok that Suhwan was shy and soft-spoken, so he did his best to keep the atmosphere light. Instead of filling every silence with conversation, he let Suhwan settle in at his own pace, chatting only when it might help ease the younger man’s nerves.
“This will be your room.”
Minseok stopped in front of a bedroom on the second floor.
“I’m right next door, and Hyunjoon’s room is across the hall.”
He pointed toward the staircase.
“Sanghyeok-hyung and Hyeonjun-hyung have the rooms downstairs.”
From there, he walked Suhwan through the rest of the house, explaining the small routines everyone followed. The cleaning schedule, where groceries were kept, the unwritten rule of replacing anything you finished, and the little habits that had naturally formed after years of living together. By the time the tour ended, the unfamiliar house no longer felt quite so unfamiliar.
Minseok was the first to break the silence.
“So,” he began, glancing at Suhwan, “how have classes been?”
Suhwan let out a quiet sigh, the kind that carried more exhaustion than frustration.
“They’ve been manageable.” A small smile tugged at his lips. “The assignments just keep piling up.”
Minseok chuckled knowingly.
“Sounds about right. Honestly, the first year was the toughest for me.”
“It gets better?”
“It doesn’t get easier.” Minseok laughed. “You just get used to suffering.”
That earned a quiet laugh from Suhwan. After a brief pause, he turned the question around.
“What about you, hyung?” he asked. “I heard Professor Kim has been giving you a hard time over your paper.”
Minseok groaned dramatically.
“So the rumors have already spread.”
Suhwan smiled to himself.
“I heard it from the seniors.”
“They’re exaggerating…” Minseok muttered before letting out a defeated sigh. “...Well, maybe not by much.”
The conversation came easier after that.
One topic drifted into another until the awkwardness between them quietly dissolved, as though it had never existed in the first place. This was how they had always been. Comfortable. Effortless. Perhaps that was why nothing between them had ever changed.
Neither of them wanted to disturb the quiet certainty they already shared. Some feelings were easier to keep hidden than to risk speaking aloud. If those feelings weren’t returned, they could lose something far more precious than the chance at love. The familiarity they had built together. So they stayed exactly where they were. Close enough to matter. Too afraid to move any closer.
After picking up the hangover medicine, they began the walk home at an unhurried pace.
The night had grown quieter, leaving only the sound of their footsteps and the occasional breeze rusting through the trees.
As they reached the front gate, someone was pacing back and forth. The figure looked strangely familiar.
“...Yechan-hyung?”
Suhwan slowed to a stop, narrowing his eyes to make out the face beneath the streetlight. The man immediately looked up.
“Oh.”
A smile spread across his face.
“Suhwan-ah!”
Yechan was one of the people Suhwan trusted most.
They had first met years earlier during Suhwan’s six month high school exchange program in China. In a country that had felt completely unfamiliar, Yechan had been the first Korean to welcome him with open arms.
Their parents had known each other for years. Since Yechan was already living in China, they had asked him to look after Suhwan throughout the exchange program. Yechan was five years older than Suhwan and had already started his first full-time job by then, naturally slipping into the role of an older brother. Even after returning to Korea, they had never lost touch.
“I’m sorry, hyung.” Suhwan scratched the back of his neck sheepishly as they stepped into the house. “My phone died, so I didn’t realize you’d been trying to reach me.”
Yechan smiled and waved the apology away.
“It’s fine. I only got here a little while ago. Besides,” he said with a light chuckle, “you sent me the address, so I knew where to find you.”
Minseok had been quietly following behind them when Suhwan suddenly stopped.
“Oh, right.” As if only just remembering, Suhwan turned around.
“Yechan-hyung, this is Minseok-hyung.”
He then looked back at Minseok.
“Hyung, this is Yechan-hyung.”
For a brief moment, Yechan’s expression froze. The name sounded familiar.
Not because they had met before, but because he had seen it countless times in Suhwan’s messages over the past few months. Minseok’s name came up surprisingly often, in stories about university, the house, late-night meals, and their weekly games at the PC bang.
Everything except the feelings Suhwan had carefully kept to himself.
Realization flickered across Yechan’s face before it softened into a warm smile.
So… this is Minseok.
He stepped forward and offered his hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Minseok-nim”
“Nice to meet you, too.”
The two exchanged a polite handshake.
Suhwan invited Yechan to sit in the living room while Minseok quietly excused himself to the kitchen, placing the hangover medicine and the other things they had bought onto the counter.
He lingered in the kitchen a little longer than necessary. Not that there was much left to put away. From where he stood, he could hear the faint murmur of their conversation drifting in from the living room. Curiosity kept him there. It was already close to midnight. Who would make a house call at an hour like this?
“I’m sorry for dropping by so suddenly,” Yechan said apologetically. “I should’ve let you know earlier.”
He reached down and placed a cardboard box on the coffee table.
“I have to catch the first flight back to China tomorrow morning, and tonight was the only chance I had to see you.”
Suhwan looked down at the box. Inside were neatly packed bags of dried snacks and other foods from China. All of them were things he had once mentioned missing.
“I remembered you saying you couldn’t find these in Korea.”
“Wow…” Suhwan looked down at the box, a smile spreading across his face. “You really didn’t have to do all this, hyung.”
Yechan waved him off.
“It’s not just for you. Your parents are getting some too.” He chuckled. “I happened to be back in Korea for a short business trip, so bringing these wasn’t much trouble.”
His smile softened.
“I just wanted to see how you’ve been doing with my own eyes.”
Suhwan’s expression relaxed.
“How are your parents?”
"They’re doing well.” Yechan nodded. “Healthy as ever. They’ve asked about you a few times.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
A comfortable silence settled between them before Yechan suddenly tilted his head toward the kitchen.
“...So.”
He lowered his voice.
“Is it him?”
Suhwan blinked.
“Huh?”
“The Minseok you’ve been talking about.”
A teasing smile slowly spread across Yechan’s face.
Instinctively, Suhwan followed his gaze.
In the kitchen, Minseok stood with his back to them, carefully arranging stuff. He looked suspiciously busy for someone who had finished putting everything away minutes ago.
Realizing exactly what Yechan meant, Suhwan’s ears turned bright red.
“H-Hyung…”
Before he could stop himself, he looked toward the kitchen. At almost the same moment, Minseok happened to glance back. Their eyes met. For the briefest second, neither of them moved. Minseok quickly looked away. Something tightened unexpectedly in his chest.
From where he stood, all Minseok had seen was Yechan leaning close enough to whisper into Suhwan’s ear. Then Suhwan smiled. And now… They were looking at each other. He wasn’t sure why the sight bothered him. It just did.
Meanwhile, Suhwan’s heart hammered wildly against his ribs. He could only hope Minseok hadn’t somehow overheard the conversation.
Yechan didn't stay long. After exchanging a few more words, he wished them good night and disappeared beyond the front gate.
The house returned to its familiar silence. It was the same silence that had always welcomed them home after a long day. Only this time, it didn't feel quite the same.
Long after Yechan left, Minseok found himself wondering about the older man.
Who was he to Suhwan?
Why did Suhwan smile so comfortably around him?
Why had seeing the two of them together left such an unfamiliar ache in his chest?
He couldn’t answer any of those questions.
Not yet.