×Heeseung's pov×

They sank onto the couch, the silence between them a comfortable weight.

"Wow. Your house is really beautiful."

Heeseung said, trying to break the ice. Sunghoon chuckled, a soft sound that made Heeseung’s heart flutter.

"Yeah, it is."

They talked for a while, their conversation flowing effortlessly, their laughter filling the quiet living room.

As Heeseung spoke, he noticed Sunghoon’s eyes, the way they seemed to flicker down to his lips every few seconds. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was enough to make Heeseung’s pulse quicken. He stopped talking, his gaze locking with Sunghoon’s.

"You keep staring at my lips."

Sunghoon’s cheeks flushed a bright red. He looked down, his hands fidgeting nervously.

"I, uh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to."

Heeseung leaned in, Sunghoon obviously panicking, and Heeseung spoke, his voice a low murmur.

"If you want to kiss me, just do it."

Sunghoon’s eyes widened, and he instinctively leaned back. He shook his head, his voice barely a whisper.

"No, I… I can’t."

Heeseung’s smile faltered, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. But then, he did something unexpected. He leaned in even closer, their faces a breath away.

He could feel Sunghoon’s hot breath on his skin, smell the faint scent of his cologne.

"Why not?"

Heeseung whispered, his voice husky with desire. Sunghoon’s lips parted slightly, but he didn’t say a word.

His eyes, wide and filled with a mix of fear and longing, were fixed on Heeseung’s face.

Heeseung’s heart ached with a longing he couldn’t explain. He had to respect Sunghoon's boundaries, even if it felt like his heart was breaking. He pulled back slowly, a sigh escaping his lips.

"It’s okay."

He forced a smile, trying to hide the disappointment gnawing at him. Sunghoon's eyes filled with a look of relief, as if he had held his breath waiting for Heeseung to back down. He looked away, his face still flushed.

"I… we should get some sleep. I'll give you some clothes to change to, so you can be comfortable."

He mumbled, getting up from the couch. Heeseung watched him go, his heart heavy with unspoken words and unfulfilled desires.

He knew he couldn’t push Sunghoon, but he couldn’t help but hope that someday, maybe, just maybe, Sunghoon would give in to the unspoken attraction that shimmered between them.

Heeseung had never experienced the feeling of love. He was sure he would never fall in love with anyone, since no one treated him the right way.

But that night, Sunghoon was so kind to him, even drove him home because he was drunk. He treated him so nicely.

Sunghoon came back, a pair of black sweatpants and a white t-shirt on his hand, and a smile on his face.

"You can use the bathroom if you want. And there's a free bed in Jay's room. You can sleep there."

"Wow... Thank you so much... I... I'll probably just go take a bath now then."

"By the way, are you hungry?"

Heeseung shook his head no, taking the clothes from Sunghoon's hand, slowly heading to the bathroom.

Heeseung stood in the bathroom, the warm water cascading over him, washing away the remnants of the night's events.

He ran his fingers through his wet hair, the steam swirling around him, a hazy curtain obscuring the world outside. It was a world where he felt lost, a world where his heart ached with a longing he couldn't explain.

He was drawn to Sunghoon, strangely. The way his eyes softened when he looked at Heeseung, the way his lips curved into a smile that could melt away all of Heeseung's anxieties. Was this the start of something deeper? Was it even something he wanted?

Heeseung had always been content with his independence, his solitary existence. But with Sunghoon, there was a spark, a flicker of something that felt both terrifying and exhilarating.

It mirrored the conflicting emotions he felt: anticipation mixed with trepidation, a desire for connection battling with the fear of vulnerability.

Heeseung stepped out of the bathroom, feeling refreshed but still burdened by the unspoken tension.

"Hey, are you on the phone?"

"Mhm, with Jay. Are you done with the bathroom?"

"Oh, yeah. You can go if you want. Say hi to Jay from me."

Sunghoon nodded, and headed to his room to grab some clothes and a towel, before going to the bathroom.

The house was eerily quiet. Heeseung, left alone in the living room after Sunghoon had retreated to the bathroom, felt a wave of unease wash over him.

He got up, his bare feet padding across the soft carpet, and began to explore. He wandered through the hallway, admiring the photographs lining the walls – a younger Sunghoon, with a cute grin, standing at the edge of an ice rink, one with Jay, and many more.

Sunghoon emerged from the bathroom, his face damp and hair tousled. He caught Heeseung staring at the photo of him and Jay, a blush creeping up his neck.

"Don't look at that, we look so weird we are too young."

"Nah, you're super cute."

Sunghoon scoffed, and they both went to their rooms. Heeseung headed to Jay's, a familiar scent of cologne and laundry detergent greeting him.

The bed was soft and inviting, but the silence was deafening. He laid down, his phone in hand, but scrolling through social media didn't soothe the growing emptiness in his chest. He missed Sunghoon's presence already, the warmth of his quiet company.

He turned on the bedside lamp, the light slicing through the darkness. He kept scrolling, pretending to be absorbed in the screen, but his eyes kept darting towards the door, listening for any sound. He just wanted to be near Sunghoon, to feel the comforting weight of his silence.

The door creaked open, and Sunghoon stood in the doorway, his sleepy eyes widening at the sight of Heeseung awake and illuminated.

"Hyung, why aren't you sleeping?"

Sunghoon asked, his voice laced with concern. Heeseung swallowed, his heart beating faster.

"I... I rarely sleep when I'm alone."

He mumbled, his eyes cast down at his phone. Sunghoon, despite knowing that Heeseung wasn't technically alone, seemed to understand.

He stepped into the room, his movements hesitant, and laid down on the bed, his warm body settling beside Heeseung.

Heeseung turned to him, a silent question in his eyes. Sunghoon smiled, his eyes twinkling with understanding.

Heeseung felt a wave of warmth wash over him, a feeling like being enveloped in a soft blanket.

He let out a soft sigh of contentment, finally able to relax, with Sunghoon's presence a silent reassurance that he wasn't truly alone. He closed his eyes, the warmth of Sunghoon's body next to him a balm to his loneliness, and for the first time that night, he drifted off to sleep.