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It started small—so small that if you weren't looking directly at them, you would have missed it entirely.
They were doing a group stream in the main studio room.
Keonho and Seanhyeon were sitting up higher on the back sofa, throwing in casual commentary, while Juhoon, James, and Martin were lined up on the lower chairs directly in front of the camera.
James sat right in the middle, animatedly answering a fan Comments from the tablet on his lap.
Martin glanced over James’s shoulder, his eyes cutting past James to catch Juhoon’s side profile.
At the exact same moment, Juhoon turned his head. Their eyes met right in the center frame.
It was automatic. A soft, knowing smile pulled at the corner of Martin's lips, and before Juhoon could catch himself, a matching smile broke across his own face. It lasted barely two seconds, but the quiet, unprompted warmth exchanged right over James's head didn't go unnoticed.
Up on the sofa behind them, Seanhyeon caught it first. He nudged Keonho's arm with his elbow, pointing with a slight tilt of his chin.
The two youngest shared a quick, silent look—eyes wide with amused realization—before Keonho leaned forward, narrowing his eyes at the pair with a smirk.
"What are you two smiling at each other for?" Keonho called out, his voice cutting through the stream chatter. "James hyung is the one talking."
James paused mid-sentence, looking back and forth between Martin and Juhoon with a raised eyebrow.
"Wait, did I miss something?",he asked confused.
Juhoon felt a sudden, cold panic spike behind his ribs—not just embarrassment, but the terrifying image of fan edits, clip breakdowns, and online hate.
He quickly pulled up a light laugh and shook his head at the camera. "Nothing, Keonho’s just making things up. hyung."
Martin laughed out loud, leaning back comfortably in his chair and throwing an arm over the back of James's seat. "Yeah, don't mind us, James.its nothing."
Throughout the rest of the stream, Juhoon did his job seamlessly.
But every time his eyes drifted back to Martin, his mind spiraled. Juhoon loved him—deeply, genuinely, and completely—but in an industry that demanded perfection and offered zero mercy for mistakes, romantic loving one of his own members felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.
By late July, that silent anxiety had settled deep into their routine.
It was past two in the morning in the quiet, dim living room. Juhoon was sitting on the rug, leaning back against the couch, staring blankly at the glowing TV screen.
His head was heavy with the weight of constant expectations, the fear of backlash, and the terrifying reality of what would happen if the company or fandom ever found out about how they both love each other not a love that members should have towards each other but a romentic one.
Martin Footsteps sounds came from the kitchen, as he came to sat right beside him on the rug.
Without asking, Martin pulled a fleece blanket over both of their legs and looped a strong arm around Juhoon’s shoulders, pulling Juhoon’s head down to rest against his chest.
Juhoon didn't pull away. He loved this warmth too much. He sank into it, reaching up to grip the hem of Martin's shirt, breathing in the familiar scent of his soap.
They have realised their love each other even it's has not been said out loud yet, cause juhoon is afraid of lebel that might come with the confession and martin knows it and that's why he never pushes juhoon.
Martin reached over, his warm hand sliding up to cup Juhoon’s jaw, his thumb resting over the fast, anxious beat of Juhoon's pulse.
"You're overthinking again," Martin whispered into the dark, his voice low and steady. "Are you thinking about the fans? Or the management?"
Juhoon swallowed hard under Martin's touch, his throat tight. "Everything," Juhoon admitted softly, looking up into the eyes of the person he cherished most. "If we put a label on this... if we let this become real... it only takes one mistake for people to hate us and drag us down. This industry doesn't want us exist, Martin."
"Martin, they wouldn't even need a mistake, they would just hate us because of our love and it's might effect the whole group",he had tears in his eyes by now.
Martin didn't minimize his fear or tell him he was being dramatic cause he couldn't, martin also knows what juhoon's saying is true that can never change.
Instead, he leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against the side of Juhoon's temple, his thumb smoothing over Juhoon's jawline.
"Then we don't put a label on it yet," Martin murmured into his hair, holding him firmly against his chest. "We keep it right here between us. I'm not going to force you into a corner, Juhoon-ah. You can take all the time you need until you feel it's safe for you and us."
Juhoon let out a long, trembling breath, closing his eyes as he held onto Martin's waist, letting his loved one be his ultimate buffer against the world.
Martin kept his word. He never pushed for titles or public risks, but in private, his affection was constant, grounded in deep care.
They shared quiet moments away from the cameras—Martin slinging a heavy arm over Juhoon's shoulders in the hallway, Juhoon resting his chin on Martin's shoulder while they made late-night food, Martin pulling Juhoon into long, grounding hugs after high-stress rehearsals.
Yet, keeping their love unlabelled and hidden created a different kind of fear inside Juhoon.
A few days later, during a break between concept shoots, the members were lounging in the dressing room. James was on the sofa, and Martin was leaning over the armrest next to him, laughing loudly at a video on James's phone.
A staff member walked in with schedule sheets. "By the way, Martin, the styling team asked if you wanted to dye your hair dark for the next promotion. Fans on Weverse are calling you boyfriend material."
Martin grinned, throwing his head back with an easy laugh. "Boyfriend material? Maybe I should start dating then, give them something real to talk about."
James shoved Martin's shoulder, laughing. "As if you have time for a girlfriend right now or maybe ever."
"Hey, you never know," Martin teased back.
"Someday for sure."
Across the room, Juhoon stopped signing album inserts. He froze, his pen hovering over the paper as a cold, sharp ache hit his chest.
Someday soon.
A girlfriend.
Because they had no label—because Juhoon's fear kept them hidden—the terrifying realization hit him: Martin was protecting him and them, though even Martin wouldn't wait in this unspoken space forever .
Someday, the world would expect Martin to settle down with someone normal.
Someday, Martin would give that warm, protective love to a girl, and Juhoon would have to step back, hiding his heartbreak while watching the person he loved belong to someone else.
The thought of losing his loved one hurt far more than any fear of the industry ever could.
Juhoon spent the rest of the day quiet and withdrawn, unable to shake the suffocating fear of losing Martin.
He might not lose him now but someday for sure he would if he continues to be so afraid.
When they returned to the dorm, Juhoon went straight to his room, sitting on the edge of his bed in the dark.
A moment later, the door opened softly.
Martin walked in, immediately sensing the heavy atmosphere. He walked straight over and sank onto his knees on the rug by Juhoon's legs, placing his large, warm hands gently on Juhoon's knees.
"Juhoon-ah," Martin said softly, looking up with genuine concern for the person he cared about most. "What's wrong? You've been quite all day, did something happened."
Juhoon looked down at Martin's hands, his voice bare, emotional, and vulnerable. "I heard what you and James talking about.... getting a girlfriend. About dating someday."
Martin blinked, seeing the raw fear of loss in Juhoon's eyes, and his expression softened completely.
Moving up onto the bed, Martin wrapped his arms tightly around Juhoon's waist, pulling him in until Juhoon was pressed flush against his chest. He buried his face in the crook of Juhoon's neck, holding his loved one with a firm, protective grip that left no space between them.
"I was just bantering with James," Martin whispered into Juhoon's skin, his voice thick with undeniable devotion. "I don't care about expectations, and I don't care about anyone else. I love you, Juhoon-ah. I'm not looking for anyone else, and I'm right here waiting for you."
The confession hit Juhoon's emotional core like a warm wave, washing away every last cold fear of the industry and the hate outside.
Juhoon raised his arms, wrapping them tightly around Martin's neck, burying his face into the crook of Martin's shoulder as a small, breathless laugh escaped him.
"I love you too," Juhoon whispered softly into Martin's skin, holding onto his loved one without holding back anymore.
"It frightens me," Juhoon whispered, his voice barely audible, his genuine feeling nature completely laid bare. "How much space this take up in my head ......so I am going to ask it."
"What..?" Martin ask.
"Martin would you be my boyfriend?,"juhoon said in a low voice.
Martin thought he was hearing things,"what?"
Juhoon laughed"I asked would you be my boyfriend?" As he repeats again.
"Seriously?"martin was surprised,happy, excited and suddenly a frown Formed on his temple. Even juhoon was amused with how many expressions he could see on Martin's face. "Are you sure, i can wait till you are really ready to put lebel, there's no need to rush you know?"
"I know martin and that's why I love you so much and thats why I think I am ready now"juhoon said hugging him.
" though we can't make it public and will have to pretend sometimes or maybe many. we can atleast not run in circle around it, i am sure members are thinking that too" he said lifting his hand to touch Martin's face.
"You think so?,"martin let out a chuckle.
"Yeah they know for sure, why do you think James has not coming to the bed even though it time to sleep and keonho you know he doesn't like being left out and well seanhyeon he mighty just be on the bed,"juhoon replyed.
Martin just laughs as he leans to plant a kiss on juhoon's lips.
James's voice came from the living room," juhoon are you done I really want to sleep now or i am coming to get my pillow and blanket to sleep on the couch."
They both hear him, Martin's face turn slight red and juhoon just laughs.
"See I told you, let's get out or he might go crazy," juhoon said with his face still Buried in martin neck as he leaves soft kiss there.