❗ CHAPTER 01 :: ❗

"Sunoo-yah!"

The familiar voice echoed in the nearly empty practice room. It was soft but filled with a kind of energy that only one person could carry. Sunoo turned around, already smiling before he even saw who it was.

There he was. Sunghoon.

He walked in with a towel hanging around his neck and a water bottle in his hand. His hair was slightly damp from training, and his white T-shirt clung to his frame. The way his eyes crinkled when he smiled made something inside Sunoo flutter, even though he told himself to stop letting it happen.

"You're late again," Sunoo said, raising an eyebrow.

Sunghoon dropped his bottle to the side and sat down beside him on the floor, dramatically leaning back with a sigh. "Blame vocal class. The new trainer is terrifying. I nearly cried."

Sunoo laughed softly and shook his head. "You always nearly cry."

"But I didn't," Sunghoon replied proudly, then paused. "Did you practice without me?"

"Of course. I didn't want to waste time just sitting around."Sunoo stood up, walked to the speaker, and pressed play. Music filled the room, and he began to dance, every move sharp yet graceful. His movements were fluid, practiced, yet filled with quiet emotion.

He didn't look at Sunghoon, not once, but he knew he was being watched.

Sunghoon leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his knee. Watching Sunoo dance was like watching a painting come alive. His body spoke in ways words couldn't. Every step, every turn, every breath - it was beautiful.

When the music stopped, Sunoo stayed in position for a moment, chest rising and falling with exhaustion. Then he turned around slowly.

"Well?" he asked.

"You're beautiful."

Sunoo's eyes widened. "What?"

Sunghoon blinked. "Your dancing. It's beautiful. That's what I meant."

Sunoo gave a short laugh and looked down, trying to hide the warmth rising to his cheeks. He didn't say anything for a few seconds.

"You always say things like that," he mumbled. "And you don't even realise how it sounds."

Sunghoon tilted his head. "Do I?"

"You do."

There was a pause between them. One of those silences that felt full of everything they weren't saying.

Sunghoon stood up and walked over to the mirror, stretching a little. "Are we practicing the duet today or not?"

"Yeah... yeah, of course," Sunoo said, clearing his throat.

They began practicing the routine together. It was a soft choreography, full of delicate touches and synchronized steps. Too intimate, maybe. Or maybe just intimate enough to make Sunoo's heart ache a little.

Because when Sunghoon looked at him during the routine, smiling without a second thought, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.

And for a moment, Sunoo almost forgot.

Forgot that someone else had already said "I like you" to him first.Forgot that his heart was already tied to another.

Almost.

But not completely.

Because when the practice ended and Sunoo checked his phone, a message popped up.

"Miss you. Can we call later? <3"

Sunoo stared at the screen for a while, thumb hovering above the reply button.

Then he heard Sunghoon laughing behind him, playfully teasing one of the younger trainees who had just walked in. That laugh. That energy. That presence.

Sunoo smiled to himself, placing his phone back in his pocket without replying.Not yet.

Because right now, with Sunghoon next to him, it was harder than ever to choose.