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"Hyung, I love you."
The first time it happened, well, Changuk pretends not to hear. He definitely heard it even as a soft mumble, but he didn't spare a glance. Very Changuk of him. He almost genuinely didn't hear it if he wasn't so attentive. It was just so out of the blue.
He continues watching whatever Youtube gives him and Dongyun didn't say anything else either, just sitting there and maybe watching too from the side. That wasn't just a hallucination of his, was it? No, he's totally whipped but not to that extent.
Just to make sure he's not a total jerk towards the younger, Changuk made it a mission to cuddle with the other boy that night to somehow make it up to him.
The second time around, Changuk wasn't able to hide his reaction. He turns to him upon hearing his voice out of instinct, then quickly turns his head away in regret when his brain registers the words. Maybe just a bit of regret since he can't afford to miss that priceless look but you didn't hear that from him.
And to be fair, Dongyun was very much aware that the older heard him last time as well. It may not have been obvious by the way he didn't say anything, but the faint smile and the pink tinted cheeks were a giveaway.
So he calls him again, more determined.
"Sorry, you were saying something?" Changuk answers, his words sounding too monotonous than intended.
Dongyun pouts at the reply. He doesn't buy that act one bit. I mean, no one would.
"Hyung, I'm sure you heard me. I already know you well."
The older male hums quietly, thinking of what to say. He can just stop being a bitch and say it back but no, he gotta avoid it like his whole life depended on it.
The two are already dating, sure, but how was he supposed to say it back? He already finds saying thank you extremely difficult, what more the L word?
"Of course you do. I'd be disappointed if you don't."
"That's not even the point!"
So he's screwed.
"Okay, I heard you." Changuk says in defeat, ruffling his boyfriend's hair to ease him a bit. "But it was so sudden, you know? You can't just do that. So I..."
Dongyun looks at him in anticipation.
Well, there goes yet another unfinished sentence. Dongyun heaves a small sigh. Not that he's surprised. That was, again, very Changuk of him. What an annoying tsundere.
Dongyun thought that his boyfriend will never say it back unless required to, and so for the third time, he wanted to make sure he gets an I love you too.
"Changuk hyung!" He calls, running towards the older like the puppy that he is. Smiling brightly, he wastes no time in saying the three words.
Changuk pretends not to like it, putting on a sour look on his face. For like two seconds. Being the totally whipped boy that he is, he couldn't help but coo and pinch the younger's cheeks.
"Ah hyung~ Say it back!" Dongyun whines. What he receives, however, is only a compliment on how cute he is.
In the end, the younger momentarily gave up on this whole agenda.
Well, not for long. The fourth time happened sooner, much to Changuk's dismay. He can only scratch his nape awkwardly when Dongyun started to sulk about him not saying it back.
Look, they both know how the older isn't one to express through words. He will say all these cringey pick up lines from the internet but other than that? Never in a thousand years.
"But if you say that and I actually do it, wouldn't it sound forced?"
"Next time then! I swear if you still don't-"
"That's forcing too."
"I hate you hyung."
Dongyun huffs and turns to his side, upset. Changuk quickly wraps his arms around the other, tilting his head to look at Dongyun from behind.
"Wanna go eat outside? My treat."
The younger boy is still pouty and all but breaks free from his hold to stand up and get ready anyway- even before Changuk himself. Indeed, food is the best way to pacify an upset Dongyun.
He can't do that all of the time though. For the the fifth time, instead of giving in, he still avoids it like a cold prick and instead asks Dongyun-
"Why do you want to hear me say it back so much anyway?"
He's genuinely curious. Changuk can surely express his love some other way, but after all this time, he still finds it a bit awkward to say it directly like that. Was this Dongyun's kind of revenge for the daily "You're the cutest out of 7 billion people" line he had him put up with for months?
The younger looks at him questioningly.
"Maybe say it first?"
"But-"
"It's gonna sound forced again, okay, I get it."
Just as he finally decided to say it back, Dongyun stands up and leaves. Changuk's hand dejectedly falls to his side. This definitely has to be the last time this ever happens.
Night came, and Changuk went to visit the other room.
"Already asleep?" He softly asks, sitting on the edge of the bed. The other boy doesn't move an inch, so he takes it as some sort of confirmation.
Changuk knew that Dongyun was really upset this time. He gently moves a few strands of hair messily straying on his boyfriend's face, staring at him in pure adoration.
"Alright then, maybe I'll just talk to you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, Dongyun ah."
He gives one last look before proceeding to stand up, ready to go back to his room and rethink his life choices.
Then he stops.
The existential crisis can wait. Changuk crouches down on the floor to face the younger boy again.
"You know I love you too, right?" He quietly whispers, careful not to wake the other up. "Next time, I'll make sure to say it back. I hope you still love me by then though."
The room was so silent he could hear his own voice ringing in his ears. It sounded too vulnerable to his liking. But then again, he's really just too scared to lose Dongyun. Maybe if it wasn't so hard to say those three words...
"I can't believe I almost missed that if I was really asleep."
Dongyun shifts from the bed and is now glaring at his poor boyfriend, just a tiny bit mad after hearing those sincere words.
"I... thought you were asleep." Changuk mumbles, looking away in embarrassment.
How can he resist his hyung anyway? Dongyun shakes his head and gestures the other to climb the bed, the two then dozing off comfortably with each other in their arms as if nothing happened.
That night, Dongyun secretly cheers in victory.