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1.
The first time Martin ever laid his eyes on Juhoon, one word filled his mind.
Pretty.
Juhoon was the last member to join CORTIS, it was normal for him to feel shy and awkward around the other members who had already known each other for quite some time.
Whenever Juhoon was near Martin's vicinity, he'd observed the older—his eyes almost resembling an eagle.
Juhoon joining the group latest—resulted in lacking confidence in his dancing skills. He would wait till the members got back at the dorm, then he could finally practice and improve his own skills.
He moved his body to the rhythm of the song until he suddenly tripped over his own foot. As he landed on all fours, he heard stomps heading towards him.
He looked up and there was a tall blonde towering over him, also known as Martin—his fellow 08 liner.
"Hey, you alright?" Martin reached out his hands, hoping the older would hold his hands.
The latter did eventually, this resulted in Martin's ears heating up.
"I'm fine, thank you." Juhoon slowly let go of his hands.
"...I thought everyone left." Juhoon added.
"Yeah uh...I was about to go then I saw you inside so I wanted to keep you company but uh you were dancing so I kind of watched for a few seconds..."
Juhoon stared at him for a few seconds before slowly nodding.
"Wait, now I sound like a creep. I promise I'm not–"
Martin was cut off by Juhoon's soft laugh. Martin felt his heartbeat rapidly increase, Juhoon laughing infront of him so eloquently could make Martin drop to his knees.
"I'm not a creep haha..."
"I believe you."
Martin nodded before suggesting they sit down on the couch. Their feet brought them to the nearest couch inside the studio.
There was a few seconds of silence when they say before Martin spoke.
"What are you doing here so late?"
"Oh uh... I just wanted to catch up."
"Catch up?" Martin tilted his head a bit in confusion.
"It just feels like I lack in dancing especially when I'm beside our members. I did join the latest after all..."
Their knees brushed.
Neither of them moved away.
Martin glanced down for a moment before looking back at Juhoon, who was still rubbing the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation.
“You know you don’t have to be good at everything right away, right?”
Juhoon looked at him.
“We’ve only just started training together. You joined later than the rest of us, so of course there’s going to be stuff you haven’t caught up on yet.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.” Martin leaned back against the couch, his voice softer now. “You don’t have to compare yourself to everyone else every time you make a mistake. You’re learning. That’s what we’re here for.”
Juhoon lowered his gaze, his fingers picking at the edge of his sleeve.
“But what if I’m always behind?”
“Then we’ll wait.”
Juhoon’s head lifted.
Martin shrugged, like it was the simplest thing in the world.
“We’re a group, aren’t we? You don’t have to catch up by yourself.”
For a moment, Juhoon simply stared at him.
Then his lips curved into a small smile.
“Thank you.”
Martin smiled back.
“Don’t worry about it, hyung.”
The word slipped out naturally, but something about saying it made Martin suddenly more aware of how close they were sitting.
Juhoon was older than him by only a few months. Barely enough to matter, but enough that Martin had to remember not to call him anything else.
“And besides,” Martin continued, trying to ignore the sudden warmth in his ears, “you’re doing fine.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Juhoon seemed to relax a little, his shoulders finally dropping from where they’d been held so tensely.
Martin watched him for a few seconds.
Then, without really thinking about it, his hand lifted toward Juhoon’s face.
Juhoon blinked when Martin gently brushed a stray piece of hair away from his forehead, tucking it neatly behind his ear.
Their eyes met.
Martin suddenly realized just how close they were.
Up close, Juhoon looked even prettier than he had from across the studio. His eyes were softer than Martin had expected, and there was still a faint flush across his cheeks from dancing.
Martin’s fingers lingered for barely a second before he pulled his hand away.
“…You’re pretty.”
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
Juhoon’s eyes widened.
“What?”
Martin’s ears immediately turned red.
“I said you’re—”
“I heard you.”
“Oh.”
Silence settled between them.
Martin looked away, suddenly very interested in the floor.
Juhoon stared at him for another few seconds before a quiet laugh escaped him.
“You’re weird.”
Martin covered his face with one hand.
“Yeah, well…” He peeked at him through his fingers. “You’re still pretty, Juhoon."
2.
Several months after their debut, the group decided to film at a rest house tucked away inside the forest.
They were all aware they were being filmed, but somehow, it wasn’t enough to stop Martin from showing his affection.
He followed Juhoon around the house all morning, his excuse being that he was “just making sure he didn’t need any help.”
“Hyung, you’re not a puppy,” Keonho stated.
“Stop following Juhoon hyung and help us with the grill!” Seonghyeon shouted from outside.
Martin rolled his eyes at the two 09z before finally stopping in his tracks.
Juhoon, on the other hand, only chuckled before reaching over to pat Martin’s shoulder.
“Go help them, Tin.”
“But…”
Martin’s hands slowly found their way to Juhoon’s waist, pulling him closer.
Juhoon’s hand immediately rested against Martin’s chest.
“He’s not gonna vanish, Martin.”
The two turned their heads toward James, the oldest member, who stood nearby with an amused expression.
“You don’t know that, hyung,” Martin rebutted.
James sighed.
“Whatever, Martin. Help me wash the vegetables, Juhoon.”
Juhoon nodded in response before turning back to Martin.
“Go on. I’ll call you when I need help.”
His hand lingered on Martin’s shoulder for a moment before he gently patted it.
Martin reluctantly let go, retreating his hands in defeat before making his way outside toward the backyard.
Filming content the whole day also meant keeping Martin away from Juhoon.
At least, that was what the others tried to do.
Martin kept stealing glances at Juhoon from across the yard, quietly admiring everything he did. Even from a distance, his eyes seemed to naturally find him.
Every time Juhoon laughed, Martin found himself looking over.
Whenever Juhoon called for someone, Martin instinctively turned his head.
And whenever Juhoon was busy doing something, Martin somehow always ended up watching.
His thoughts were interrupted when Keonho suddenly shot him with the huge Nerf gun in his hands.
“The fuck?"
Martin immediately grabbed another Nerf gun and fired back.
“COME BACK!"
“You started it!”
“You shot me first!”
“Because you weren’t helping!”
The two chased each other around the yard, completely forgetting about the cameras for a moment.
Seonghyeon, meanwhile, was laughing his ass off while continuing to grill the meat.
James and Juhoon watched from afar, both of them eventually breaking into quiet laughter at the sight of their leader and youngest member bickering like children.
By the time the sun finally set, everyone was exhausted.
After cleaning up, the members slowly made their way toward their respective rooms, ready to collapse after an entire day of filming.
Juhoon reached his room and turned the doorknob.
The moment he stepped inside, a pair of hands suddenly caught his arms and pulled him forward.
The door clicked shut behind him.
“Martin, you scared me…”
Martin didn’t answer.
He simply rested his head against Juhoon’s shoulder, his arms still loosely wrapped around his waist. After being surrounded by cameras and the others all day, the quiet of the room felt almost unfamiliar.
“I missed you.”
Juhoon blinked.
“You’ve been following me around all day.”
“Exactly.”
A quiet laugh escaped Juhoon as his hands came up to rest over Martin’s arms.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I couldn’t even sit beside you during lunch.”
“You were supposed to be helping with the grill.”
“I was helping.”
“You were staring at me.”
Martin lifted his head slightly before speaking.
“I can multitask.”
Juhoon shook his head, a smile still lingering on his lips.
“You’re lucky the cameras weren’t always pointed at you.”
“They were.”
Martin’s arms tightened around him for a moment before he finally pulled back enough to look at him.
Juhoon’s hair was slightly messy from the long day, and there was a faint tiredness around his eyes. Even like that, Martin couldn’t help but stare.
“You’re tired.”
“So are you, tin."
“I’m fine.”
“You’ve been running around all day.”
“Because someone kept disappearing.”
Juhoon stared at him.
“I was literally in the same house.”
“You weren’t beside me.”
“That is not the same thing.”
“It is to me.”
Juhoon laughed again, quieter this time.
“You’re so clingy.”
Martin smiled.
“Only with you.”
That made Juhoon’s expression soften.
For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The voices of the others could still be heard faintly through the walls, but inside the room, everything felt calmer.
Juhoon’s fingers gently brushed through Martin’s hair.
“You know, you don’t have to worry about me every second.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you?”
Martin looked at him for a moment before shrugging.
“Because I like looking at you.”
Juhoon’s eyebrows lifted.
“That’s your reason?”
“Yeah.”
“Martin…”
“What?”
“You’ve been staring at me all day.”
“I know.”
Juhoon shook his head, but he was smiling.
Martin reached up and gently fixed a strand of Juhoon’s messy hair.
“Besides, you’re pretty. What am I supposed to do?”
Juhoon’s cheeks immediately warmed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“And you’re still pretty.”
“Stop.”
“You’re pretty when you’re embarrassed too.”
“Martin.”
“What?”
“Stop talking.”
Martin laughed softly, pulling him closer again.
“Okay.”
He paused.
“…Pretty.”
Juhoon groaned, hiding his face against Martin’s shoulder while Martin quietly laughed.
“You’re annoying.”
“But you like me anyway.”
Juhoon stayed quiet for a moment before his arms slowly wrapped around Martin.
“Unfortunately.”
3.
Martin had recently taken boxing classes. Naturally, according to him, this meant he was qualified to teach everyone else.
Juhoon was the first one he managed to convince.
The dorm living room had been cleared for their lesson, with the coffee table pushed to the side.
“You’ve only been taking classes for a few weeks…” Juhoon said while Martin carefully secured the gloves around his wrists.
“That’s enough to know the basics.”
“Er… okay…”
“Trust me, Jju.”
Martin finished tightening the strap before deliberately pressing a gentle kiss to Juhoon’s wrist.
“Okay. First, put your fists up like this.”
He demonstrated the stance.
“Like this?”
“A little higher.”
Martin stepped closer, gently taking Juhoon’s wrists and adjusting them.
“Yeah. There.”
“Like that?”
“Perfect.”
Juhoon smiled.
“What’s next?”
Martin noticed a strand of hair falling across Juhoon’s eyes.
“Hold on.”
He reached up and tucked it behind his ear.
“What was that?” Juhoon looked at him suspiciously.
“Your hair.”
“I think you just wanted to touch me.”
Martin smiled, his thumb briefly brushing across Juhoon’s cheek.
“That too.”
Juhoon laughed.
“Okay, coach. What’s next?”
“Jab.”
Martin raised the focus mitts.
Juhoon threw a careful punch.
“Was that good?”
Martin stared at him.
Juhoon’s expression was so openly hopeful that Martin couldn’t help smiling.
“Yeah.”
“Really?”
“For a beginner.”
Juhoon grinned.
Martin lowered the mitts.
“…Actually, we’re done.”
Juhoon blinked.
“What?”
“I can’t do this.”
“Was my punch really that bad?”
“No.”
Martin sighed as his hands settled around Juhoon’s waist.
“You’re just too pretty.”
Juhoon laughed.
“That’s your excuse?”
“It’s not an excuse.”
Martin tugged him closer.
“It’s a genuine problem.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe.”
He helped Juhoon take off the gloves before guiding him toward the couch.
“You barely taught me anything.”
“I taught you how to punch.”
“Once.”
“That counts.”
Juhoon laughed as he sat down beside him.
Martin immediately leaned against his shoulder.
“You’re clingy.”
“I’m tired.”
“You’ve been sitting down for two seconds.”
“Still tired.”
Juhoon shook his head, smiling.
Before he could say anything else, his phone lit up on the coffee table.
A notification appeared from the group chat. It was Seonghyeon sending their behind the scenes photos from their shoot earlier.
“Oh,” Juhoon said, reaching for his phone. “The pictures.”
Martin immediately lifted his head.
“Pictures?”
“Yeah.”
Juhoon opened the chat.
The first few photos appeared on the screen.
Martin leaned closer.
He went quiet.
Juhoon glanced at him.
“What?”
Martin pointed at the screen.
“…Pretty.”
Juhoon smiled.
“That’s me?”
“Obviously.”
He looked at the next one.
“Pretty.”
Juhoon laughed.
“You don’t have to say it every time.”
Martin scrolled again.
Another picture.
“Pretty.”
Another.
“Pretty.”
Juhoon looked at him.
“Martin.”
“What?”
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Calling me pretty every two seconds.”
Martin frowned slightly.
“But you are.”
Juhoon laughed and continued scrolling.
The next picture showed Juhoon laughing with the other members.
Martin smiled.
“This one.”
“You like it?”
“Yeah.”
He paused.
“You look really pretty.”
Juhoon’s smile softened.
“Thanks.”
Martin kept looking at the picture.
Something about seeing Juhoon like this made the word feel almost insufficient.
Pretty had become strange in Martin’s head.
It didn’t feel like just one word anymore.
It was almost like his brain had invented an entire language around Juhoon, and somehow every word translated back into the same thing.
Pretty.
Pretty when he smiled.
Pretty when he laughed.
Pretty when he was tired.
Pretty when he was concentrating.
Pretty even when he was doing absolutely nothing.
Martin blinked and looked at Juhoon beside him.
Pretty.
He smiled.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re staring again.”
“I know.”
Juhoon laughed.
Martin leaned back against his shoulder.
“Show me another.”
Juhoon scrolled.
Martin immediately pointed.
“Pretty.”
“You didn’t even see it properly.”
“I did.”
“You looked for half a second.”
“That’s all I need.”
Juhoon laughed.
“You’re biased.”
“Very.”
Martin reached down and loosely took Juhoon’s hand, their fingers fitting together naturally.
He continued looking at the pictures with his head resting against Juhoon’s shoulder.
Another photo.
“Pretty.”
Juhoon squeezed his hand.
“You’ve said it so many times.”
Martin smiled.
“Still true.”
Another picture.
“Pretty.”
Juhoon shook his head.
“Seriously.”
Martin looked up at him.
“What?”
“You’re never going to get tired of saying it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Martin shrugged.
“I like telling you.”
Juhoon went quiet.
Then he gently brushed Martin’s hair away from his forehead.
“Okay.”
Martin smiled.
“Pretty.”
Juhoon laughed.
“You’re impossible.”
Martin leaned against him again.
“And you’re pretty.”
The boxing gloves remained on the floor where they’d been left.
Neither of them bothered picking them up.
+1
Nothing beats the comfort of knowing that the day wasn't waiting for any schedules the moment you wake up.
Juhoon sluggishly rubbed his eyes when he woke up. He was about to continue his usual routine, immediately sitting up after waking up to avoid bed rotting for the whole day.
As soon as he tried to sit up, he felt a warm limb tightly restricting his torso.
He turned around.
Martin was still asleep, one arm wrapped around Juhoon’s waist. His face was relaxed against the pillow, hair falling messily over his forehead. Without the usual energy that seemed to follow him everywhere, he looked almost unfamiliar.
Almost.
Juhoon reached over and carefully brushed the hair away from his eyes.
His fingers lingered.
“You’re pretty.”
Martin shifted slightly, but didn’t wake.
Juhoon smiled to himself.
He wasn’t sure why he’d never said it out loud before. Martin was usually the one making comments about how pretty Juhoon looked, usually with that annoying little grin that made it impossible to take him seriously.
But looking at him now, Juhoon couldn’t understand how he’d never noticed just how easy it was to say it.
“You really are,” he murmured.
Martin’s brows twitched.
Juhoon traced his thumb lightly over his cheek.
“And handsome.”
That finally made Martin stir.
His eyes opened slowly, unfocused at first. He stared at Juhoon for a few seconds before a sleepy smile appeared.
“Was that for me?”
Juhoon looked away.
“No.”
“Pretty sure it was.”
“You were asleep. You weren’t supposed to hear it.”
Martin’s smile widened as he shifted closer, resting his chin against Juhoon’s shoulder.
“Say it again.”
Juhoon glanced at him.
His hair was sticking up in three different directions now, his eyes were barely open, and he was still holding onto Juhoon like letting go would somehow ruin the morning.
Juhoon smiled.
“You’re handsome.”
Martin’s expression softened almost immediately.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He reached up again, smoothing down the hair that refused to cooperate.
“Even like this.”
Martin let out a quiet laugh. “Like what?”
“Messy. Sleepy. Half-dead.”
“That’s romantic.”
“I wasn’t finished.”
Martin quieted.
Juhoon gently tucked another strand behind his ear.
“I like you like this.”
The teasing disappeared from Martin’s face and continued to stare at him.
Then, very quietly, “You’re making me blush.”
Juhoon smiled.
“I know.”
Martin buried his face against Juhoon’s shoulder.
“You’re usually the one I get to embarrass.”
“I thought I’d try it for once.”
“You’re good at it.”
Juhoon laughed softly, wrapping an arm around him.
“I’ve had a good teacher.”
Martin stayed quiet for a moment before lifting his head again.
“You really think I’m pretty?”
Juhoon didn’t tease him this time.
He simply brushed his thumb across Martin’s cheek.
“I think you’re beautiful.”
Martin went still.
Juhoon leaned closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead before settling back against the pillow.
“And handsome.”
Another kiss, this time to his temple.
“And very, very cute when you’re trying not to smile.”
Martin failed immediately.
His lips curled upward as he tucked himself closer into Juhoon’s side.
“I like this version of you.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re finally admitting I’m pretty.”
Juhoon smiled and ran his fingers through his hair again.
“I’ve always thought it.”
Martin looked at him.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you already talk enough.”
Martin laughed, hiding his face again.
Juhoon watched him for a moment, then quietly added,
“But I’ll tell you more often.”
Martin peeked back at him.
“Promise?”
Juhoon nodded.
“Promise.”
Martin smiled, looking completely content as he settled back against him.
After a moment, Juhoon whispered, almost to himself,
“Pretty.”
Martin’s arms tightened around him.
“Handsome.”
A quiet hum.
“My favorite.”
Martin finally lifted his head.
“You know…”
“Hm?”
“I think we’re kind of lucky.”
Juhoon looked at him.
“Why?”
“That we found each other.”
The words were simple, almost sleepy, but they settled warmly between them.
Martin looked down at their hands, his fingers slowly intertwining with Juhoon’s.
“Sometimes I think we’re soulmates.”
Juhoon’s smile softened.
“Sometimes?”
Martin laughed quietly.
“Okay. Always.”
Juhoon squeezed his hand. "I think so too."
Martin looked at him, his expression suddenly much softer than before.
“Guess we’re stuck with each other.”
“For the rest of our lives, apparently.”
“Sounds terrible.”
“Awful.”
Neither of them moved away.
Martin smiled and tucked himself closer against Juhoon, while Juhoon rested his cheek against the top of his head.
Outside, the morning continued without them.
For once, neither of them had anywhere else to be.
And somehow, Juhoon thought, there was nowhere he’d rather be anyway.