Archive of Our Own

“What are you doing?”

Seonghyeon tried to free himself from Keonho’s grip, but the younger boy had him cornered near the sink of the quiet public restroom.

“Just one kiss, Hyeonieeee.”

Keonho’s voice came out in a whine, his eyes fixed stubbornly on Seonghyeon lips.

Seonghyeon rolled his eyes. “You’re going against the rules. We’re just friends outside our room, remember?”

Keonho groaned. “There’s no one here right now.”

“That doesn’t mean someone couldn’t walk in.”

“Please, Hyeonie.”

Seonghyeon tried to keep a straight face, but the corner of his mouth betrayed him.

“You’re so annoying.”

With that Seonghyeon smashed his lips to Keonho's and Keonho immediately groaned as he kissed him back. His hands roaming all over Seonghyeon's back as he pulled him flush against his chest. Seonghyeon had his one hand around Keonho's jaw cradling his face while the other was in his hair as he gently ran his fingers through it.

Their lips moved against each other in a familiar rhythm. After a minute Seonghyeon was out of breath and he softly tapped Keonho's shoulder. Keonho instantly broke the kiss and before completely pulling away he kissed the corner of Seonghyeon's mouth. Keonho looked into Seonghyeon's eyes, his gaze soft with genuine affection.

“You're impossible,” Seonghyeon muttered, though there was no real annoyance in his voice.

Keonho only smiled and pulled him into a tight hug, burying his face against Seonghyeon’s shoulder.

Seonghyeon let out a quiet laugh and patted his back.

“Yah. Get off me. The others must be waiting outside. We still have to look around the town.”

Keonho shook his head.

“I wanna stay like this forever.”

His voice softened.

“And I hate that we have to pretend in front of everyone.”

The playfulness disappeared from Seonghyeon’s expression. He sighed and ran his fingers gently through Keonho’s hair.

“Don’t do this, Keonho. You know we’ll tell them when the time comes.”

“I know.”

“It’s too risky right now.”

Keonho finally pulled back and looked at him with a small pout.

Seonghyeon smiled despite himself and ruffled his hair.

“Come on.”

Keonho’s pout deepened.

“You're mean.”

“Sure. Now move.”

He caught Keonho gently by the wrist and led him toward the door. The moment they stepped outside, however, Seonghyeon released him. Their expressions changed almost automatically, slipping back into the familiar dynamic everyone else knew.

They crossed the street toward the three friends waiting for them.

Martin immediately sighed dramatically.

“What took you so long? We’ve been waiting forever.”

Keonho rolled his eyes. “Oh, please. It wasn’t that long.”

Seonghyeon answered before Martin could complain again.

“Keonho was doing his makeup inside.”

Keonho whipped his head toward him.

“What the— I didn't do that!”

Seonghyeon burst out laughing.

The others followed, and Keonho stared at him in disbelief before muttering something under his breath.

Soon, they were walking together again, their earlier moment already hidden behind their usual teasing and laughter.

“I wanna see Mount Fuji so bad,” James said dramatically.

“We're only in Japan for two more days,” Juhoon pointed out. “We should make the most of it.”

“Then let's go early tomorrow,” James suggested.

Juhoon nodded. “We can have breakfast at a café nearby afterward.”

Seonghyeon hummed in agreement as they continued down the street, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings.

A little later, Martin pulled out his phone and started recording.

They stopped somewhere quieter, away from the heavier flow of people, and lingered there, chatting and joking around while Martin recorded them.

“Seriously, I can't believe I got scammed,” Seonghyeon complained, looking down at the jacket he'd bought and was wearing now.

The others laughed.

“You should've checked the tag first,” Juhoon said calmly.

Seonghyeon pouted. “I didn't really think of that.”

James laughed and casually draped an arm over Seonghyeon's shoulders.

“It's okay, bro. It's happened to me plenty of times too.”

Martin snickered behind the phone.

Keonho didn't laugh.

His gaze dropped to James's arm resting around Seonghyeon's shoulders. He stared at it for a second longer than he should have, his expression tightening.

Then he stepped closer.

A light shove against Seonghyeon's shoulder was enough to make James's arm slip away.

James glanced at him.

Seonghyeon gave Keonho a warning look.

Keonho ignored it.

He nudged Seonghyeon again.

Seonghyeon pushed him back.

Martin was already giggling behind his phone while Juhoon watched them with an amused smile.

James let out an exaggerated sigh.

“The twinz are fighting again.”

“He pushed me first!” Seonghyeon complained.

Keonho laughed and pushed him back.

This time, though, he used a little too much force.

Seonghyeon's smile vanished.

His heel landed awkwardly on the uneven ground. His eyes widened as he lost his balance.

“Wait—”

Juhoon reached for his arm, but everything happened too quickly.

Seonghyeon fell backward, landing hard on the ground.

A pained groan escaped him.

Martin's laughter stopped instantly.

Keonho realized his mistake instantly and was beside him almost immediately, dropping into a crouch.

“Hyeonie—”

He reached for Seonghyeon's hands, but Seonghyeon pulled away and pushed himself upright on his own.

Keonho froze.

Seonghyeon glared at him.

“Sorry, Hyeonie. I didn't mean to—”

“Keep it to yourself!”

Keonho sucked in a breath.

He stared at him.

Seonghyeon had never spoken to him like that before.

James immediately stepped closer.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

James looked at Keonho, his expression turning serious.

“Keonho, why would you push him that hard?”

“I didn't mean to.” Keonho shook his head quickly and stood up. “I don't even know how that happened-"

“I'm okay, hyung. Don't worry.”

Seonghyeon cut him off again.

Keonho looked at him helplessly.

“Seonghyeonie... I'm sorry.”

He took a cautious step closer.

Seonghyeon only looked at him.

No teasing smile. No soft expression. Nothing.

“Guys, let's not fight right now, please,” Martin said quietly.

He slipped his phone into his pocket. He'd stopped recording the moment Seonghyeon hit the ground.

The others fell silent.

After a moment, Seonghyeon nodded and started walking.

The others followed.

Keonho stayed a step behind him.

For the rest of the walk, he kept trying.

“Hyeonie, I'm really sorry.”

No response.

“I didn't mean to push you that hard.”

Nothing.

“Are you sure you're okay?”

Seonghyeon didn't even look back.

Keonho's chest felt increasingly heavy.

Finally, when the others were far enough ahead that they couldn't hear clearly, he lowered his voice.

“Baby, I'm sorry.”

Seonghyeon stopped for half a second.

He turned his head slightly, his expression stern.

“It's okay, Keonho-ya.”

The words should have relieved him. They didn't.

There was something cold in Seonghyeon's voice that made Keonho's stomach twist.

He knew him too well.

That wasn't okay.

“Baby, you're not okay.”

Seonghyeon's eyes narrowed.

“Don't call me that here.”

Keonho immediately went quiet.

He nodded.

“Okay, Hyeonie. But—”

“We'll talk once we get back.”

Keonho swallowed and nodded again.

There was nothing else he could say.

He knew better than to argue with Seonghyeon when he was genuinely upset.

So he followed quietly, his earlier jealousy replaced completely by guilt.

⊂⁠(⁠・⁠▽⁠・⁠⊂⁠)

They went straight to a restaurant for lunch.

The place was warm and pleasantly crowded, filled with the low hum of conversations, the clinking of cutlery against plates, and the occasional burst of laughter from nearby tables. They claimed a round table tucked away in a corner and settled into their seats while they looked through the menu.

Seonghyeon sat between Martin and James, with Juhoon beside Martin. Keonho ended up directly across from Seonghyeon.

Usually, sitting across from him would have made Keonho happy.

Today, it only made things worse.

Seonghyeon was smiling and talking normally, laughing whenever one of the others said something funny. He seemed completely fine. But he barely glanced at Keonho.

Not once did their eyes meet for more than a second.

Keonho lowered his gaze to the table.

He felt even worse.

And, annoyingly, he was starting to feel jealous again.

It's not that big of a deal.

He had already apologized. More than once.

Why is he acting like this?

Keonho knew he'd messed up. He knew the push had gone too far, and he hadn't meant for Seonghyeon to fall. But he'd said sorry. He'd apologized properly.

So why did it bother him so much that Seonghyeon could smile at everyone else while barely looking at him?

Why was everyone else getting his attention when Keonho couldn't even get a proper glance?

Their food arrived soon after, and the table gradually filled with steaming dishes. The smell of freshly cooked food rose around them, but Keonho barely noticed.

Everyone started eating.

Everyone except him.

Keonho's eyes kept drifting back to Seonghyeon.

He didn't even realize how long he'd been staring until Juhoon gently nudged him from beside him.

“Keonho.”

Keonho blinked and looked at him.

“You haven't even touched your food.”

Keonho followed his gaze down to his plate.

He hadn't.

“Oh.”

He picked up his chopsticks with a quiet sigh and finally started eating.

Or, at least, he tried to.

He moved his food around more than he actually ate, picking at small pieces and chewing slowly. Everything tasted bland.

Maybe the food wasn't very good.

Or maybe it was just his mood.

He glanced up again.

And immediately regretted it.

James was leaning close to Seonghyeon, almost half-hugging him as he reached toward the plate in front of him. He had picked up one of the shrimp and was carefully peeling it for Seonghyeon before placing it back onto his plate.

Seonghyeon smiled. His dimples appeared.

Keonho's chopsticks stopped halfway to his mouth.

Hmph.

He won't even look at me, and he's being all giggly with James hyung.

His expression tightened.

He stared at them for another moment, the irritation building before he even had time to think about it.

And then the words left his mouth.

“Hyung, why are you being so clingy?”

The entire table seemed to go still.

Keonho swallowed.

“You can do this while staying at a distance too.”

James blinked.

He slowly pulled away from Seonghyeon, his body moving before his mind seemed to catch up with what Keonho had said.

The laughter around the table disappeared.

Seonghyeon's smile vanished.

He turned his head and looked directly at Keonho.

It was worse than before.

Much worse.

Keonho's eyes widened slightly as the meaning of his own words finally sank in.

What did I just say?

Martin looked between them.

“Keonho, is this the way to talk to James hyung?”

Keonho bit the inside of his lip.

His grip tightened around his chopsticks.

Why am I acting like this today?

What's wrong with me?

He looked at James.

“I'm sorry, hyung.”

The apology came out quietly, barely carrying over the noise of the restaurant.

Seonghyeon suddenly placed his chopsticks down.

The small sound made Keonho look at him.

Seonghyeon pushed his chair back and stood.

“I'm done. I'm going back to the hotel.”

Keonho immediately stood too.

“Hyeonie—”

Seonghyeon only glanced at him.

Then he turned and walked toward the exit.

Keonho's heart dropped.

He wanted to follow him immediately, but his feet stayed where they were for a second.

He looked back at James.

“I'm sorry, hyung. I didn't mean it like that.”

James looked at him.

There was disappointment in his expression, and somehow that made Keonho feel even worse.

Before Keonho could say anything else, Juhoon reached over and gently took his hand.

He gave it a small squeeze.

“Go to Seonghyeon.”

Keonho looked at him.

Juhoon's expression was calm.

“We're okay.”

Keonho stared at him for a moment before giving him a small, grateful smile.

Then he turned toward the exit and hurried after Seonghyeon.

⊂⁠(⁠・⁠▽⁠・⁠⊂⁠)

“Seonghyeon.”

Keonho’s voice came out firmer than he intended as he stepped into their hotel room.

He had followed him all the way there, calling his name more than once, but Seonghyeon hadn't stopped. He had simply kept walking, his expression unreadable, until they reached their room.

Keonho slipped inside after him and pushed the door shut. The latch slid into place with a soft metallic click.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Seonghyeon walked straight toward the wardrobe as if Keonho wasn't even there.

Keonho watched him silently as he pulled out a change of clothes, shutting the wardrobe with a quiet thud before turning toward the bathroom.

“Seonghyeon, wait—”

The bathroom door slammed shut.

The sound echoed through the room.

And then there was nothing.

Just silence.

Keonho stood there for a few seconds, staring at the closed door.

The hotel room suddenly felt much bigger than it had when they'd first entered it. Two single beds stood beside each other, separated by a small nightstand. A dresser sat against the opposite wall, while their bags were scattered near the foot of the beds.

Keonho slowly walked over to Seonghyeon's bed and sat down on the edge.

Shit.

He rubbed his palms together nervously.

What am I supposed to do now?

His eyes kept drifting toward the bathroom door.

Five minutes passed.

Then ten.

Keonho tried lying back against the pillows, but he couldn't stay still for more than a few seconds. He sat up again, fingers twisting together in his lap.

I fucked up.

The thought kept circling through his head.

He hadn't meant to act that way.

He hadn't meant to hurt Seonghyeon.

But he'd done all of it.

After what felt like forever, the bathroom door finally opened.

Keonho immediately looked up.

Seonghyeon stepped out wearing a loose T-shirt and comfortable pants, his damp hair falling over his forehead. He looked considerably calmer now, though the tension in his face hadn't disappeared completely.

Keonho swallowed.

Seonghyeon didn't look at him.

He crossed the room and walked toward the dresser, opening one of the drawers and pulling out the hair dryer.

The soft hum of the machine soon filled the room.

Keonho watched him through the mirror.

Seonghyeon stood with his head slightly lowered, running his fingers through his wet hair while the warm air blew across it. The familiar sound somehow made the silence between them feel even heavier.

Keonho stood up. He took one step forward. Then stopped.

His hands curled nervously at his sides.

“Seonghyeonie…”

The hair dryer continued humming.

“I'm sorry.”

Seonghyeon's hand stilled.

He slowly lowered the dryer and looked at Keonho through the mirror.

His expression wasn't angry anymore. That somehow made Keonho feel worse.

“Don't say it,” Seonghyeon said quietly, “when you don't understand what it means.”

Keonho's chest tightened.

“I do.”

Seonghyeon turned the dryer off. The sudden silence was almost jarring.

“I mean it, Seonghyeon.” Keonho's voice softened. “I just… I don't know what happened to me.”

Seonghyeon placed the dryer back into the drawer. His hair was still dripping slightly, dark strands clinging to his forehead. He closed the drawer and turned around.

“Are you sure you don't know?”

Keonho hesitated.

Seonghyeon waited.

Keonho slowly walked toward him until only a small space remained between them.

He had been half-expecting Seonghyeon to step away.

He didn't.

That tiny bit of reassurance gave Keonho enough courage to speak.

“I…” His eyes dropped to the floor. “I was jealous.”

Seonghyeon let out a quiet sigh.

“Exactly.”

Keonho looked up.

“There's nothing wrong with being jealous, Keonho.” Seonghyeon's voice was calmer now. “You can feel jealous. You can feel angry, upset, insecure....whatever. Those feelings aren't something you can just switch off.”

Keonho's fingers fidgeted.

“But the way you deal with those feelings matters.”

Keonho's shoulders sank.

“Baby, I just couldn't think straight.” His voice became smaller. “James hyung kept clinging to you, and I—”

Seonghyeon scoffed softly.

“There. You're doing it again.”

Keonho blinked.

“Doing what?”

“Making excuses.”

“I'm not—”

“You're still talking about James hyung like that.”

Keonho fell silent.

Seonghyeon took a breath, trying to keep his frustration from getting the better of him.

“You keep saying you were jealous because James was close to me. I understand that. I really do.” He paused. “But that doesn't change what you did.”

Keonho looked down.

“I'm sorry.”

Seonghyeon's eyebrows pulled together.

“See?”

“But I mean it.”

“I know you mean it.”

“Then why—”

“Because saying it doesn't fix what happened.”

Keonho's lips pressed into a small pout.

Seonghyeon stared at him for a moment before his expression softened slightly.

“You can be genuine when you apologize,” he said. “But an apology isn't just saying the words because you feel guilty.”

Keonho listened quietly.

“It means you understand what you did wrong.” Seonghyeon reached for his hands, gently taking them in his own. “And more importantly, you try not to do it again.”

Keonho's fingers relaxed in his grasp.

“If you keep making the same mistake,” Seonghyeon continued, “and then apologize every single time, eventually the apology stops meaning anything.”

Keonho swallowed. He knew Seonghyeon was right.

“So…” His voice was barely above a whisper. “What should I do?”

Seonghyeon squeezed his hands gently. “Don't repeat your mistake.”

Keonho's eyebrows furrowed. “You want me to stop getting jealous?”

“...”

“But I can't control that, baby.”

“I know.”

“Then what do you want me to do?”

Seonghyeon gave him a small, patient look.

“You can't always control what you feel. But you can control what you do because of it.”

Keonho stared at him.

“Next time you're jealous, take a breath. Walk away if you need to. Come talk to me when you've calmed down.” His thumb brushed over Keonho's knuckles. “Just don't let your emotions make decisions for you.”

Keonho nodded slowly. “I'll try.”

“I need you to do more than try.”

Keonho looked at him. “I will.”

Seonghyeon held his gaze for another moment before sighing.

“And there's something else.”

“What?”

“You're forgetting our rules again.”

Keonho's brows knitted together.

“What rules?”

Seonghyeon's expression turned serious.

“Our relationship.”

Keonho's eyes widened slightly like he just realized they were supposed to hide it.

“We're not supposed to let anyone know yet.”

Keonho opened his mouth, but Seonghyeon continued.

“You were acting so strange today, Keonho. You kept staring at me, getting annoyed whenever James came near me, and you nearly—”

He stopped himself.

“You were being obvious.”

Keonho's stomach dropped.

“What if someone notices?” Seonghyeon's voice wasn't harsh anymore, but there was unmistakable concern underneath it. “What if they figure it out before we're ready to tell anyone?”

Keonho stared at him.

It was as if he'd only just realized how serious that part of his behavior had been.

“Oh my God…” His face paled. “Hyeonie, I didn't think about that.”

Seonghyeon gave him a tired look.

“Exactly.”

“I—I wasn't thinking.”

“I know.”

“I didn't mean to—”

“That's the problem, Keonho.”

Seonghyeon sighed and continued.

“You act on impulse first and think afterward.”

Keonho's eyes lowered.

“You need to be a little more logical sometimes.”

His voice was firmer now.

“Because your jealous ass is going to ruin everything if you keep acting like this.”

The words hadn't been meant to hurt him. Seonghyeon had only wanted Keonho to understand. But the moment he looked at him, he knew something had gone wrong.

Keonho's lips trembled.

His eyes filled so quickly that Seonghyeon barely had time to react.

“Keonho…”

“I’m sorry.”

A tear slipped down his cheek.

“Seonghyeon, I'm so sorry.”

Another followed.

“Because of me…”

His voice cracked.

“Because of me, our secret got exposed.”

Seonghyeon's eyes widened.

“Yah! Why are you crying?”

He immediately reached for Keonho's face, wiping away the tears with his thumbs.

“They don't know.”

Keonho sniffed.

“But—”

“They still don't know.”

Seonghyeon sighed.

“I said that because I wanted you to understand what could happen if you keep acting without thinking. I wasn't saying that they actually found out.”

Keonho's eyes remained wet.

“Really?”

“hmm.”

“But I almost…”

“it's okay."

Seonghyeon brushed another tear away.

“It's okay baby.”

Keonho sniffed again, then suddenly caught Seonghyeon's wrists, pressing his hands against his cheeks.

Keonho closed his eyes for a moment, leaning into his warmth.

“Don't move.”

Seonghyeon's expression softened.

“I wasn't going to.”

Keonho's breathing gradually steadied.

“I really am sorry. I didn't want to hurt you. I just…”

Keonho opened his eyes.

“I know I was being stupid..."

His expression changed immediately.

“Keonho…”

Keonho looked at him.

Seonghyeon gently pulled his hands away from Keonho's cheeks only to wrap his arms around him.

Keonho melted into the embrace almost instantly.

He buried his face against Seonghyeon's shoulder, his fingers gripping the back of his shirt as though he needed the reassurance of something solid beneath his hands.

Seonghyeon rested his cheek against his hair.

“Also I pushed you and hurt you."

Keonho mumbled against his shoulder.

“I'm sorry.”

Seonghyeon sighed.

“Stop apologizing.”

“But—”

“Just listen to me.”

Keonho went quiet.

“You're allowed to be jealous.” Seonghyeon's hand moved slowly through his still-soft hair. “You're allowed to feel insecure sometimes. But next time, talk to me instead of letting it turn into something else.”

Keonho nodded.

“I will.”

“And think before you act.”

Another nod.

“Okay?”

“Okay.”

They stayed like that for a few quiet seconds.

Then Keonho lifted his head slightly.

“Did you forgive me?”

There was something so small and vulnerable in his voice that Seonghyeon couldn't help the faint smile tugging at his lips.

“Hmm…”

Keonho stared at him anxiously.

Seonghyeon pretended to think about it.

“I guess I did.”

Keonho's eyes brightened.

“Jinjja?”

“Yes.”

He brushed Keonho's hair away from his forehead.

“But only if you promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“Don't do this again.”

Keonho nodded immediately.

“I promise, baby.”

Seonghyeon raised an eyebrow.

“Don't make promises you can't keep.”

“I can keep this one.”

Keonho wrapped his arms around him again.

“I won't ever do this again.”

Seonghyeon smiled quietly and held him a little tighter.

“Good.”

⊂⁠(⁠・⁠▽⁠・⁠⊂⁠)

By the evening, Keonho had managed to calm down considerably.

Seonghyeon had forgiven him. They had talked things through, held each other for a while, and even shared a few quiet kisses before getting ready for dinner.

Everything between them was fine.

At least, that was what Seonghyeon had told him.

Keonho still couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling sitting in his chest.

It wasn't the argument with Seonghyeon that kept bothering him anymore. That part, he thought, they had worked through. It was James.

Every time Keonho remembered the way he'd spoken to him at lunch, his stomach twisted.

Hyung, why are you being so clingy?

He could still hear his own voice, sharp with irritation.

What made it worse was that James hadn't treated him any differently afterward.

He hadn't become distant. He hadn't made a sarcastic comment or acted offended. He'd simply carried on as usual, joking with Martin, chatting with Juhoon, and asking Keonho whether he wanted to stop by a convenience store on the way back.

As if nothing had happened.

Somehow, that made Keonho feel even worse.

He almost wished James would get angry with him. At least then, he would know what to do with the guilt.

Instead, James had continued being James, and Keonho had been left alone with the knowledge that he was the one who had made things awkward.

The restaurant they chose for dinner was a small, cozy place tucked into a narrow street not far from their hotel.

Warm yellow light spilled through the windows, illuminating the wooden tables inside. The air smelled of grilled meat, steamed rice, and something savory simmering in a pot near the kitchen. Every now and then, the door slid open, letting in a cool evening breeze and the distant sounds of the busy street.

They settled around a table near the back.

This time, Keonho sat beside Seonghyeon.

The arrangement was completely ordinary. They had sat next to each other countless times before, long before either of them had admitted what they felt. No one paid particular attention to it.

Keonho picked up his chopsticks and took a small bite of rice.

He chewed slowly.

Across from him, Martin was already deep into a story about something that had happened earlier that afternoon.

“—and then the woman had the audacity to tell me that the jacket looked better on the mannequin.”

James snorted. “Maybe it did.”

“Yah!”

Martin slapped a hand against the table, nearly knocking over his glass.

“Why are you always against me?”

“I'm not against you. I'm just saying the mannequin probably didn't complain about the price.”

Juhoon chuckled, while Seonghyeon shook his head and reached for a side dish.

Keonho smiled faintly. He tried to focus on the conversation, but his attention kept slipping. Every so often, he glanced at James.

James was eating normally, occasionally joining in whenever Martin said something ridiculous. He looked perfectly comfortable.

He's really not treating me any differently.

Keonho lowered his gaze to his plate. That should have made him feel better. It didn't.

Without thinking much about it, he picked up a piece of meat and placed it on Seonghyeon's plate.

“Here.”

Seonghyeon glanced down.

"You don't have to..."

Seonghyeon protested weakly.

“Just eat, Hyeonie.”

Seonghyeon huffed a quiet laugh and picked up the piece with his chopsticks.

“Bossy.”

“You're welcome.”

“Did I thank you?”

“No, but you should.”

Seonghyeon rolled his eyes and ate the meat anyway.

Their little exchange went unnoticed by the others. They had always shared food like this, stealing bites from each other's plates and passing things back and forth without needing to ask.

It was nothing new.

And, for a brief moment, Keonho almost managed to relax.

Martin continued talking, his hands moving dramatically as he described the incident at the clothing store.

“And then the lady looked at me like I was the problem. Me! Can you believe that?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Juhoon said.

“Jju!”

James laughed into his glass.

Seonghyeon leaned forward to grab another piece of meat, and Keonho instinctively shifted the plate closer to him.

“Careful,” Keonho muttered. “You're going to spill the sauce.”

“I can see that,” Seonghyeon said, then lowered his voice so only Keonho could hear him. “Don't worry, baby.”

Heat rushed to Keonho's face. He immediately looked away, earning a quiet, self-satisfied smile from Seonghyeon as he leaned back in his chair.

Juhoon, when Martin had finally paused to take a drink of water, spoke calmly.

“Are you two okay now?”

The question came so casually that Keonho's chopsticks stopped for a moment.

Seonghyeon, however, smiled.

“Yeah. We're fine.”

Juhoon nodded, seemingly satisfied.

“Good. You two were being weirdly quiet earlier.”

“We weren't being quiet,” Keonho muttered.

“You were,” Martin said. “You looked like someone had stolen your passport.”

“Why would someone steal my passport?”

“That's not the point.”

Seonghyeon laughed softly.

Keonho glanced at him, relieved to see that his expression was easy and relaxed.

Then Seonghyeon added, with a teasing tilt of his head, “He didn't get any sleep last night. That's why he was acting like that.”

Keonho's head snapped toward him.

“Hyeonie!”

Martin burst out laughing.

“Seriously? Did he keep playing games again?”

“It's not funny,” Keonho grumbled.

“You should get proper sleep next time, Keonho-ya,” Martin said, still grinning.

Keonho let out an exaggerated huff and returned his attention to his food.

“I slept perfectly fine.”

“Sure you did,” Seonghyeon murmured.

Keonho nudged his knee beneath the table.

Seonghyeon glanced at him with a barely concealed smile.

“Stop that.”

Keonho whispered.

“I was defending you.”

Seonghyeon whispered back.

“By telling everyone I don't sleep?”

“It's better than telling them the truth.”

Keonho immediately went quiet.

The words were harmless on the surface, but they carried a meaning only the two of them understood.

Seonghyeon noticed the shift in his expression.

Before he could say anything else, James spoke.

“He was clearly jealous, though.”

The words landed so abruptly that Keonho nearly choked on his food.

He coughed into his fist and looked up. “..What-?”

James continued eating as though he hadn't just dropped a bomb in the middle of the table.

Keonho turned toward him. “What do you mean, hyung?”

Seonghyeon had gone still beside him.

His chopsticks hovered above his plate.

James glanced between them.

“What?”

Keonho gave a nervous laugh. “Why would I be jealous?”

James raised an eyebrow.

“I didn't say you were jealous of anything specific.”

“Then why did you say it?”

“Because you were acting jealous.”

“Me?”

Keonho pointed at himself, his expression full of exaggerated disbelief.

“Hyung, I was just—”

“Being weirdly protective?” James offered.

“Protective?”

“Possessive, maybe.”

“Yah!”

Keonho spoke, his heart beating loudly in his ears.

Martin slowly lowered his glass.

“Oh, this is interesting.”

“Martin, don't,” Juhoon warned.

Martin immediately pressed his lips together, though the amusement in his eyes remained.

Keonho shifted in his seat.

“I wasn't being possessive. I was just joking around.”

James gave him a look. He remained silent for a second and then muttered.

“Okay.”

That okay sounded far less convincing than James probably intended.

Keonho looked helplessly at Seonghyeon. Seonghyeon was staring at James now, his expression caught somewhere between surprise and alarm.

“Hyung, what are you talking about?”

James shrugged.

“Nothing. I'm just saying what I saw.”

James took another bite of food and chewed thoughtfully.

“You kept pushing Seonghyeon away from me.”

“Because you were hanging all over him!”

The words escaped before Keonho could stop them.

Silence.

Keonho's eyes widened.

Oh, shit.

Seonghyeon's head turned toward him.

James slowly swallowed his food.

“...Hanging all over him?”

Keonho's mouth opened. Nothing came out. Martin stared at him.

Juhoon looked down at his plate, though the slight curve of his mouth suggested he was trying not to laugh.

Keonho hurriedly shook his head.

“I mean— not like that. I just meant you had your arm around him, and—”

“And that bothered you?” James asked.

“No!”

The answer came far too quickly.

James leaned back in his chair.

“Okay.”

“Hyung, seriously, I wasn't—”

“Keonho!”

Seonghyeon's voice was quiet, but the warning in it was unmistakable.

Keonho stopped. He looked at Seonghyeon. For a second, their eyes met.

Seonghyeon's expression wasn't angry. He was simply telling him to stop talking.

Keonho swallowed and lowered his gaze.

James let out a small sigh.

“Whatever. I'm not trying to make a big deal out of it.”

He picked up his chopsticks again.

“Just don't look at me like I'm stealing him or something.”

Keonho froze.

Seonghyeon nearly dropped his chopsticks.

"Hyung.."

“What?” James looked around, genuinely confused by the reaction. “I said like. It's an expression.”

Juhoon coughed into his fist.

Keonho's face had gone hot.

Seonghyeon stared at his plate, his ears turning faintly pink.

James looked at the two of them again. For just a moment, his expression became more thoughtful. Then he shrugged.

“Anyway, I'm not mad, Keonho. Don't worry about it.”

Keonho looked at him.

“Huh?”

“You apologized earlier. We're good.”

“But I—”

“Seriously.”

James waved a hand dismissively.

“Eat your food before it gets cold.”

Keonho stared at him for another moment.

“...Okay.”

James nodded and returned to his meal.

Martin, sensing the conversation had reached a dangerous level of awkwardness, immediately launched into another story.

“Anyway! As I was saying, the mannequin wasn't wearing the jacket better than me, apparently—”

“Oh, we're still on this?” Juhoon asked.

“Yes, because nobody has properly apologized to me for agreeing with that woman.”

“You're so dramatic,” Seonghyeon muttered.

“Thank you.”

The table slowly returned to its usual rhythm. Martin continued yapping. Juhoon interrupted him every now and then. James joined in with the occasional sarcastic remark.

No one seemed particularly bothered by what had just happened. No one except Keonho.

He picked up his chopsticks again, but his appetite had almost completely disappeared.

He knows I was jealous.

The thought made his stomach twist.

He didn't know how much James had actually noticed. He didn't know whether his behavior had seemed suspicious or whether James genuinely thought he was just being overly protective of a close friend.

And he definitely didn't know what Seonghyeon was thinking.

Keonho stared at his plate.

Beside him, Seonghyeon quietly reached for another piece of meat.

Then, without looking at him, he brushed the back of his hand against Keonho's.

It was barely anything. A brief touch. A silent reminder.

I'm here.

Keonho's fingers shifted slightly until they rested against Seonghyeon's.

Seonghyeon didn't pull away. He simply continued eating as though nothing had happened.

Keonho let out a slow breath. The tightness in his chest eased, just a little.

He glanced at Seonghyeon from the corner of his eye.

Seonghyeon was listening to Martin complain about the restaurant's portion sizes, nodding along with a faint smile on his face.

⊂⁠(⁠・⁠▽⁠・⁠⊂⁠)

They were back in their hotel room now.

Seonghyeon had changed into his nightwear, a loose T-shirt and a pair of comfortable shorts. The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the air conditioner and the occasional sounds of traffic drifting in from outside.

Keonho sat on the edge of his bed, watching him.

Seonghyeon noticed his stare as soon as he turned around. He studied Keonho for a moment, taking in the way he sat there with his shoulders slightly hunched and his expression lost in thought.

“Stop overthinking, baby,” he said softly.

Then he walked over to Keonho’s bed, climbed onto it, and stretched out against the pillows.

Keonho’s eyes followed him. After a moment, he shifted closer and lay down beside him. Without saying anything, he slipped an arm around Seonghyeon’s waist and pulled him against his chest, holding him as though the contact alone could quiet everything running through his mind.

“But James hyung definitely knows about us now,” Keonho murmured.

Seonghyeon let out a quiet sigh. He reached up and gently ran his fingers through Keonho’s hair, slowly combing through the soft strands.

“Keonho-ya…”

“He was looking at us like he knew something.” Keonho tightened his hold on him. “And that thing he said at dinner…”

“He was teasing you.”

“He wasn’t.” Keonho’s voice grew quieter. “I think he knows.”

Seonghyeon continued stroking his hair, his touch unhurried and soothing.

“Even if he does, it’s okay. We were eventually going to tell them anyway.”

Keonho shook his head and pulled back slightly, just enough to look at Seonghyeon properly. His brows drew together, and there was a faint crease between them that Seonghyeon had learned to recognize.

“But it wasn’t supposed to happen now.” Keonho swallowed. “Not like this. Only if I didn’t—”

Seonghyeon immediately lifted a hand and pressed a finger gently against his lips.

“Don’t.”

Keonho fell silent.

“It’s not your fault,” Seonghyeon said, his voice firm despite its softness. “You made a mistake, baby. That doesn’t mean you have to keep punishing yourself for it.”

Keonho looked away, his eyes dropping to the space between them.

“But I made things complicated.”

“Things were always going to get complicated eventually.” Seonghyeon brushed his thumb over Keonho’s cheek. “And James isn’t going to force us to tell anyone before we’re ready.”

Keonho’s gaze flickered back to him.

“You think so?”

“I know so.” Seonghyeon gave him a small, reassuring smile. “He might tease you about it, but he won’t push us into revealing anything. So stop worrying about that.”

Keonho’s shoulders slowly loosened. The tension in his face eased, though the guilt still lingered in his eyes.

“Promise?”

Seonghyeon tilted his head. “You’re asking me to promise that James won’t expose us?”

Keonho nodded.

Seonghyeon sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Yes, baby. I promise.”

That seemed to be enough for the moment.

Keonho moved closer again, burying his face in the crook of Seonghyeon’s neck. He wrapped both arms around him and held on tightly, his breath warm against Seonghyeon’s skin.

Seonghyeon settled back against the pillows and resumed running his fingers through Keonho’s hair.

For a while, neither of them said anything.

Then Seonghyeon gasped softly when he felt Keonho's lips on his shoulder. He left small kisses there snuggling more into the warmth. Seonghyeon tilted his neck slightly to give him more access and Keonho took this chance to take a small of Seonghyeon's skin around the neck between his teeth. He sucked on it softly.

Seonghyeon's hand in Keonho's hair tightened slightly.

"....Keonho, you know we have to wake up early tomorrow."

Keonho pulled back and looked at Seonghyeon. His eyes were slightly different from earlier now.

"We can be a little late. Don't worry"

Seonghyeon rolled his eyes but the small twitch of his lips gave him away.

"You're so annoying"

Keonho smiled a little and leaned closer to capture the older's lips in a kiss. Seonghyeon melted into the kiss, his fingers still tangled in Keonho’s hair. For the first time that evening, Keonho’s mind finally went quiet.