My Neighbor's Obsession Is My Happy Ending (I Think)

by Clarince

Summary:

In a world where happy endings are anything but a fairytale, three love stories unfold.

For Sunoo, romance and stalking are two sides of the same coin, thanks to a childhood neighbor who just won't quit following him.

Jay's parenting strategy consisted of a single Google search bar not until he found a co-pilot for all his frantic, middle-of-the-night queries.

And for Jake, love is the most dangerous game of all: silently wishing your crush will finally crush you back.

Chapter 1: 🦊- Start Arc 1

Sunoo, a delicate flower of twelve summers, had always considered Niki, his perpetually sticky-fingered younger neighbor, a minor annoyance. Like a tiny, energetic puppy that refused to slow down. 

Now, eight years and an apparent genetic lottery later, that puppy had evolved into a full-blown, alpha male dire wolf. And Sunoo was its favorite squeaky toy.

Niki's transformation wasn’t just physical (though the sudden appearance of broad shoulders and a jawline that could cut glass was definitely noteworthy).

It was… behavioral. Obsessive. Utterly, terrifyingly obsessive.

Exhibit A: The CCTV cameras. Not just one strategically placed for “security,” mind you, but a network worthy of a maximum-security prison, all beaming live footage directly to Niki’s phone.

Exhibit B: Sunoo’s social media, now a digital ghost town, thanks to Niki’s relentless reporting of “unauthorized use of cuteness” (Sunoo’s own selfies being the alleged offense).

Exhibit C: Sunoo’s friends, scattered to the winds like dandelion seeds, intimidated by Niki’s constant, silent, and frankly unsettling presence during their hangouts.

“Niki,” Sunoo pleaded one afternoon, after Niki had materialized from behind a potted plant to glare intensely at Heeseung attempting to teach Sunoo a new dance move, “breathe! You’re going to hyperventilate!”

Niki, flexing a bicep that looked suspiciously like a bowling ball, simply declared, “You’re my precious!”

 

The tipping point arrived during a seemingly normal hangout with Sunghoon. Suddenly, Niki became the embodiment of every dominant alpha character ripped straight from the pages of Sunoo's most questionable fanfiction.

He didn't exactly growl, but a wave of palpable energy radiated from him, a potent cocktail of cologne mixed with a dash of teenage bravado,  that seemed to physically push the air aside.

He inserted himself between Sunoo and Sunghoon with the grace of a newborn giraffe on roller skates. JJ, Sunoo’s usually chill cat, promptly bolted through a closed window. The neighbors, hardened veterans of Niki's… episodes, simply muttered, "Another Tuesday" and kept walking. Niki, chest puffed out like a very proud (and slightly confused) pigeon, declared, "Sunoo is mine! "

 

From then on, it was a descent into madness. Niki marked Sunoo’s belongings with his initials (covering everything from his phone to his textbooks to, much to Sunoo’s horror, his toothbrush). He growled to anyone, causing some to develop a nervous twitch.

And, the pièce de résistance, he constructed a “Sunoo Shrine Appreciation Corner” in his bedroom, complete with framed photos, candles, and what appeared to be a lock of Sunoo’s hair (Sunoo shuddered to think where he’d gotten that).

Sunoo, bewildered, considered drastic measures. He briefly contemplated faking amnesia, but realized he'd probably just end up with Niki patiently re-introducing himself every five minutes.

Hiding under his bed proved equally futile; Niki had a surprisingly good sense of smell. Finally, in a moment of sheer desperation, Sunoo enlisted the help of Niki’s own friends, bribing them with copious amounts of snacks.

Seeing the sheer terror in Sunoo’s eyes, coupled with the mounting evidence of his own slightly… intense behavior (the shrine was a bit much, even he had to admit), a lightbulb finally flickered on in Niki’s head.

“Whoops,” he said, sheepishly scratching the back of his neck. “Maybe I got a little… carried away.”

 

 

The aftermath was… interesting. There were awkward apologies, a lot of giggling, and a firm but gentle discussion about personal space. Eventually, a new kind of normal emerged. Niki learned to express his affection in less… flamboyant ways, and Sunoo learned to appreciate Niki’s unwavering devotion (from a safe, but still huggable, distance).

One quiet evening, as they were sharing a bowl of popcorn and watching a cartoon about talking puppies (with Niki sitting a respectable three feet away), Sunoo giggled, a genuine, heartfelt giggle.

“Come here…” he murmured, shaking his head with a fond smile.

The words were barely out when Niki was suddenly right beside him, beaming, leaning in just a little too close.

 

“Forever yours hyung!”

 

Sunoo groaned inwardly, playfully rolling his eyes, but a warm, genuine smile spread across his face.

After all, life with Niki was never boring. And, deep down, Sunoo knew his life was definitely brighter… or at least more illuminated with Niki around.

Chapter 2: 🦊

Summary:

Lost and lonely. Niki stumbled upon the best thing to ever happen to a lost kid: Sunoo.

The world was a confusing maze of legs. Big legs, small legs, legs in pants, legs in skirts.

Niki, all of six years old, clutched his mother’s hand tightly as they navigated the bustling Korean market.

The vibrant colors, the exotic smells, and the cacophony of voices were overwhelming, a stark contrast to the quiet streets of his old neighborhood in Japan. He wasn’t exactly scared, but a knot of unease tightened in his stomach.

Then, his mother stopped to examine a stall overflowing with brightly colored fabrics. Niki, momentarily distracted by a basket of fluffy chicks peeping from a nearby cage, loosened his grip. When he looked back, his mother was gone.

 

Uh oh.

 

A little zap of panic tickled his chest, like the time he’d accidentally eaten the last cookie and then blamed it on his sister (but Mom always knew).

He spun around, trying to find her. Where was she? All he saw were big legs and lots of grown-up faces he didn't know. The market, which had been so much fun with its bright colors and interesting smells, suddenly felt…big. Really big.

He only knew how to say “please,” “thank you,” and “Can I have a lollipop?” He didn't know how to ask for his mom. The thought of being alone made his tummy do flip-flops.

He wandered aimlessly, his lip wobbling, trying to remember where they’d gone but each stall looked the same, each face a blur. He was lost. Truly, utterly lost.

 

A wave of panic had washed over him. He stumbled into a relatively quiet corner and the tears finally came, hot and fast, accompanied by loud, hiccuping sobs and a generous amount of snot.

He wants his mom. More than ice cream. More than staying up late. He buried his face in his hands, his small shoulders shaking. The world was just blurry colors. Red, yellow, green. All mixed up.  

He felt utterly alone, adrift in a sea of strange sounds and unfamiliar language.

 

Then, he felt something soft against his face. A gentle pressure, wiping away the tears and, mercifully, the snot. He blinked his eyes open, still blurry with tears, and looked up.

Standing before him was a boy, a little taller than him, with dark hair that fell across his forehead and eyes that were a warm, inviting shade of brown, slanted slightly like a fox’s. 

He held a small, clean handkerchief in his hand, the one he’d used to wipe Niki’s face. He looked…nice.

The boy said something softly, his voice gentle. Niki blinked, titling his head a little. He didn’t understand a single word but the tone was kind, concerned and it sounded like a song, almost, with soft ups and downs. 

The boy smiled at him, a flash of warmth in his brown eyes, then pointed a finger at his own chest. He repeated the motion a couple of times, as if saying, "Me." Then, he moved his lips slowly and deliberately, forming a word.

 

Soo-noo.

Niki didn't recognize the sound, but the action was unmistakable. It had to be his name. He swallowed, his throat still a little tight from crying, and whispered his own name. "Niki."

The boy’s smile brightened. He pointed at Niki, then at himself, saying each name clearly. “Niki… Sunoo.”

Niki copied him, poking a finger at his own chest, then pointing a slightly wobbly finger at the boy. "Niki… Soo-noo," he said, trying his best to get it right. A big smile spread across his face, and the boy smiled back.

Sunoo neatly folded the handkerchief, tucking it into his pocket and then took Niki’s hand, holding it gently. 

 

Sunoo led Niki through a secret passage between two stalls, like they were entering a hidden world. The market's hustle and bustle faded, replaced by the happy chatter of kids.

They were in a small playground, a burst of sunshine and bright colors. Sunoo hopped onto a swing, his legs going a mile a minute.

He grinned at Niki and patted the empty swing next to him, as if saying, "Come on, the fun's this way!" Niki settled onto the swing, feeling a little less like a lost puppy and a little more like he might actually have some fun.

Sunoo called out to a group of kids by the climbing frame, and they all looked over, their faces full of smiles. Sunoo gave Niki a quick thumbs-up and then led him over. In a flash, Niki was caught up in a game of tag, his worries disappearing like magic.

Soon, the world became a blur of whooshing air and squeaky metal. Niki and Sunoo chased each other around the swings, their laughter echoing across the playground. They pumped their legs as hard as they could, trying to touch the sky, their hair flying in the wind.

Then, a voice cut through the happy noise, sharp at first, then melting into pure relief.

 

“Niki!”

 

Niki turned to see his mom hurrying towards him, her face a mix of "Oh, thank goodness!" and "Don't you ever do that again!" She scooped him up in a big hug.

Niki knew he had to go. Words were hard, so he gave Sunoo the biggest hug ever, with a grin that went all the way to his ears! He gave a little wobbly wave too.

He really, really hoped he’d see Soo-noo again. This giggling, super-nice boy had made his sniffly day way better.

Holding his mom’s hand tight, Niki looked back one last time. Sunoo was still waving, his hair all shiny in the sun, and his eyes twinkled like tiny stars. 

Niki waved back as big as he could, and a warm, tickly feeling spread through his tummy. He squeezed his fingers together in his pocket, wishing, wishing so hard he could see Soo-noo again.

Chapter 3: 🦊

Summary:

Instant noodles, Pokémon cards, and… a blast from the past? 

The world for Sunoo had gone from a vibrant, bouncy castle of joy to a deflated, slightly soggy bouncy castle of mild disappointment.

It wasn't terrible, but it certainly lacked the usual oomph. The reason?

Heeseungie hyung, his next-door neighbor and purveyor of superior paper airplanes (Sunoo’s tended to resemble crumpled birds shot down by invisible snipers), had moved.

Gone. Vanished. Like a magician’s rabbit, but less exciting and more… permanent.

Sunoo now navigated his days like a tiny, melancholic snail, leaving a trail of dramatic sighs in his wake.

His once-sparkling eyes, usually brimming with mischief were now perpetually clouded with the kind of deep existential angst usually reserved for brooding poets and teenagers contemplating the meaning of life (or lack thereof).

His older brother, Jake, wasn’t helping matters. Jake and Heeseung had been a dynamic duo, a tag team of video game prowess and shared inside jokes that Sunoo only partially understood but desperately wanted to be a part of.

Sunoo would frequently “pop in” on their hangouts, armed with a juice box and the unwavering belief that he was an integral part of their bro-fest.

He’d wedge himself between them, transforming their dynamic duo into a slightly bewildered trio. Jake would ruffle his hair, Heeseung would offer him a candy (the good kind, the ones that turned your tongue a delightful shade of Smurf), and all was well in the world.

Now, though, Jake was a walking, talking embodiment of teenage angst, minus the actual teenage part (he was only twelve, but he was working on it). He’d stare out the window at the empty house next door with the intensity of a Shakespearean actor delivering a soliloquy, occasionally letting out dramatic sighs.

Sunoo, being the highly empathetic (and slightly mischievous) little brother, would mimic these sighs, creating a symphony of shared misery that echoed through the house like a ghostly choir.

It was a truly impressive performance, complete with dramatic hand gestures and mournful facial expressions that could melt even the coldest of hearts (or at least elicit a chuckle from their dad). This symphony of sadness, however, was about to be abruptly interrupted.

 

One afternoon, Sunoo overheard a hushed conversation between his appa and a neighbor. His ears, usually attuned to the sound of ice cream trucks and the rustling of candy wrappers, perked up at the mention of the empty house next door.

“They’re moving in next week,” his appa whispered, his voice full of neighborly gossip, carefully glancing to make sure Sunoo wasn’t within earshot (a futile attempt, as Sunoo’s ears had the uncanny ability to function as highly sensitive radar dishes).

“A family with… oh, I think it’s three children! All around Sunoo’s age, I heard.”

Sunoo’s internal hard drive did a rapid reboot. The melancholic program he’d been running crashed spectacularly, replaced by a surge of pure, unadulterated excitement.

Three children! That wasn’t just a potential new friend; that was a potential gang of new friends! A veritable army of playmates! He instantly transformed from a miniature raincloud into a tiny, hyperactive sunbeam.

Forget the ghostly choir of shared misery; Sunoo was now conducting a one-man orchestra of pure, unadulterated joy.

He bounced around the living room, humming a cheerful tune (which sounded suspiciously like a sped-up version of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” mixed with the jingle from a particularly catchy ramen commercial), his eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“Hyung! Hyung!” Sunoo exclaimed, grabbing Jake’s hand and practically vibrating with excitement, nearly causing Jake to spill his lukewarm bowl of instant noodles (a poor substitute for Heeseung’s expertly cooked Shin Ramyun Noodles).

"Did you hear? New people are moving next door! And they have… three kids!"

 

Jake, still wallowing in his Heeseung-induced melancholy, blinked slowly, a single tear threatening to escape. He clutched a crumpled, empty Shin Ramyun packet, a relic of happier times.

“So? We don’t even know them. They probably only eat the bland kind of noodles.” He shuddered dramatically.

Sunoo rolled his eyes (a skill he’d perfected by observing Jake’s dramatic teenage impressions).

“But they’re kids, Hyung! That means… playdates! Games! Maybe even… sleepovers! And think of all the potential taste testers for my new snack inventions!”

He gasped dramatically, clutching his chest as if the very thought was too much to bear. He had recently developed a fascination with combining seemingly disparate food items, with mixed (and often disastrous) results.

Jake remained unconvinced. He mumbled something about preferring the company of robots and people who understood the true art of the perfectly cooked noodle, but Sunoo was too caught up in his own whirlwind of excitement to notice.

He spent the next few days in a state of near-constant anticipation, peering out the window at the empty house, imagining all the amazing adventures he was about to embark on with his new neighbors.

He even stopped mimicking Jake’s sighs, which, to Jake’s slight confusion, actually made him feel even more dramatically sad, as if his performance was now lacking a crucial supporting actor. 

He also started practicing his introductions, trying out different greetings in the mirror, ranging from a formal “Greetings, fellow humans, I offer you my expertise in the field of mint chocos” to a more casual “Wanna see me do a cartwheel?”

 

The day the moving van finally arrived was like Christmas, his birthday, and every other holiday rolled into one. Sunoo watched with bated breath as boxes were unloaded and furniture was carried into the house.

He even offered to “help,” which mostly involved getting in the movers’ way, asking them if they had any kids, and offering mint choco candies as a snack. 

Finally, a family emerged from the house. There was a mom, a dad, and… yes! Three children! Sunoo’s heart did a little happy dance, a tiny jig of pure, unadulterated excitement that almost resulted in him tripping over his own feet. 

He couldn’t wait to meet them, to introduce himself, to unveil his meticulously organized collection of Pokémon cards (he had a holographic Charizard that was so shiny), to discuss the finer points of instant noodle preparation (specifically, the optimal time to add the egg for maximum yolk-y goodness), and to finally put an end to the reign of the ghostly choir and usher in a new era of joyous, neighborly chaos. 

He watched as the family unloaded the last of their belongings, a slightly battered cardboard box labeled “Dance Studio Stuff” which Sunoo found particularly intriguing. 

The children, two girls and a boy, seemed a bit shy, huddling close to their parents like ducklings on a pond. One of the girls, the youngest, kept glancing over at Sunoo with wide, curious eyes, as if trying to decipher whether he was a friendly human or some sort of bizarre, bouncy-ball-wielding creature.

Sunoo took a deep breath, smoothing down his already perfectly smooth hair. He was about to make his grand entrance, his debut as the friendly neighborhood ambassador of fun, instant noodle expertise, and Pokémon card supremacy, when he noticed something that made him freeze mid-smooth.

One of the kids… he looked familiar. Really familiar. Like a half-eaten bag of chips you find at the back of the pantry – familiar, but you’re not quite sure how familiar.

Sunoo squinted, tilting his head slightly, almost losing his balance in the process. Where had he seen that face before?

The slightly unruly brown hair that seemed to have a mind of its own, the bright, inquisitive eyes that sparkled with mischief, the way he kept fidgeting with the hem of his slightly-too-big shirt… it was like a memory was trying to claw its way out of the dusty attic of his brain, bumping into old toys and forgotten birthday presents along the way.

And then it hit him. Like a thunder attack from Pikachu, it all came rushing back. The bustling market, the pungent aroma of kimchi mixing with the sweet scent of ripe mangoes, the cacophony of vendors hawking their wares, the throngs of people jostling through the narrow aisles, a small figure sitting near a mountain of watermelons, looking utterly lost. The boy, with his messy brown hair and wide, slightly panicked eyes, clutching his shirt with his tiny hands. 

Sunoo remembered it clearly now. It was Niki!

 

Sunoo’s jaw dropped dramatically. Niki, the lost boy from the market, the boy full of snot was his new neighbor? 

A wide, slightly bewildered grin spread across Sunoo’s face. This wasn’t just going to be a new era of neighborly chaos; this was going to be an era of reunited chaos! He waved enthusiastically, nearly dislocating his shoulder in the process, a burst of pure, unadulterated joy bubbled up inside him.

“Niki!” he called out, his voice ringing with the excitement. This is gonna be so fun! 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 4: 🦊

Summary:

One minute they're playing tag, the next Sunoo's running for his life.

Notes:

Merry Christmas!

The air crackled with Christmas cheer, but not the frantic, wild-eyed kind that sent Sunoo's dad dashing through stores with bulging shopping bags, looking like a wild man.

No, this was the good stuff—the kind that make Sunoo's toes tap and his whole body wanna twirl and sing "Jingle Bells" super loud, even if he only knew the first verse (and then just…sang it again, louder).

Today was like two awesome days rolled into one! It was a Christmas neighborhood potluck party and a super-duper welcome feast for Niki and his family! Everyone had brought their best, most delicious dishes, ready to show Niki's family just how amazing their new neighborhood was.

While the adults were talking about grown-up stuff. Stuff with words like “mortgeyj” and “intrest reyts” that made Sunoo’s eyes glaze over. A few kids (practically teenagers, so, you know, dinosaurs) were on kid-patrol.

Over the corner, Sunoo spotted his big brother Jake, glued to his phone, a goofy grin plastered across his face. His legs swinging back and forth like a ballerina’s, a clear sign that he was in the midst of a very important (and probably very giggly) phone call with Heeseungie hyung.

The “emo” phase was officially over, banished by the fact that Heeseung’s new house was actually a mere bike ride away.

 

Yuck, love stuff. Sunoo thought, wrinkling his nose like he'd just smelled old socks. He scanned the room for an antidote to all this mushy gushiness, and then—BAM—his gaze, usually a hyperactive pinball bouncing from one distraction to the next, locked onto a group of kids playing house.

Now that was more like it. The pretend phone ringing, the clinking plastic dishes… he could practically hear the tiny domestic symphony. He was practically buzzing, his whole body vibrating with the need to get closer, maybe even be the dad (but a cool dad, who liked video games and ate all his vegetables, because, you know, responsible parenting).

But then, a weight settled on his arm. Niki. Oh, right. Niki.

Now, Sunoo liked Niki, he really did. He was funny, and they had fun together. But Niki was… extra. Extra clingy. Extra enthusiastic. Extra everything. 

Like drinking a whole bottle of super-sweet soda in one go. Yummy at first, but after a while, you started to feel a little fizzy. And maybe a tiny bit tummy-bubbly. In a fun way, of course. Mostly.

Sunoo hadn’t even managed to wrestle his sneakers off earlier– those stubborn things always seemed to have a personal vendetta against him – when bam! Niki was latched onto him like a particularly enthusiastic koala. It was a super-tight hug, the kind that squished all the air out of Sunoo’s lungs and made his eyes go a little bit blurry. 

 

Suddenly some kids yelled, “let's play hide and seek!” which sounded like a recipe for awesomeness – running, yelling, maybe even super-sneaky ninja moves! 

Sunoo’s feet were already doing little happy bounces, ready to join the chase But then, Niki’s voice, small and insistent, pulled him back.

"Ddeonu hyung, let's play something else." Niki tugged gently on Sunoo's sleeve, his eyes going full puppy-dog.

Sunoo knew that look. It was the same look Niki gave his mom when he wanted extra dessert. He's weaponizing cuteness, Sunoo thought grimly. Niki even shuffled closer, his small face etched with a look of hopeful anticipation.

Sunoo sighed, a tiny puff of air that barely ruffled his bangs. Being eight was serious business, and he considered himself quite mature, especially when dealing with his bestie, Niki.

He knew Niki was still a bit shy. New house, new neighborhood, new everything. And Sunoo was his first friend here. So, being the super-duper mature and responsible friend he was (most of the time, anyway), Sunoo decided to be understanding.

It was like being a superhero, but instead of saving the world, he was saving Niki from his shyness.

 

Sunoo chuckled. "Alright, you're it!" With a delighted shriek, Niki darted around the corner of the sofa, Sunoo hot on his trail. They weaved between the coffee table and the armchair, their laughter bouncing off the walls like hyperactive ping-pong balls. But then…

 

OH. MY. GOSH.

 

A splash of sunshine yellow assaulted Sunoo's vision. Perched on a nearby seat, a plush duck radiated an almost blinding fluffiness, like a miniature sun made of feathers. Its downy plumage seemed to practically glow, and its little black eyes stared out with an irresistible charm, whispering promises of cuddles and quiet contemplation.

The world began to narrow, blurring slightly, as if Sunoo was looking through a telescope made of cotton candy. Then, a dramatic piano riff, straight from one of his Appa and Dad’s most melodramatic K-dramas, pierced through the sounds of the chase, pulling his attention fully inward. Time seemed to stop. The air crackled with unspoken emotion. Sunoo’s feet skidded to a halt, frozen in place, utterly captivated by the sheer, pure duckness of it all.

Niki, still running (and now using Sunoo’s back as an impromptu speed bump), bounced off him like a rogue bouncy ball. He blinked, disoriented for a moment, then squinted to see what had so abruptly halted their game.

His gaze landed on the source of Sunoo’s betrayal: a duck. Just a duck. That was it. A duck. Niki’s face scrunched up in disbelief, then morphed into an expression of pure, unadulterated betrayal.

His hands balled into tiny fists. His bottom lip started to tremble, then descended into a full-blown pout. He stomped over to the bench, snatched the duck, and hurled it with the dramatic flair.

It didn’t go very far, landing with a pathetic thump a few feet away, but the sheer melodrama was impressive.

 

“Hey!” Sunoo gasped, his eyes wide with horror, as if Niki had just committed a major felony against fluffiness.

 

And then… total chaos erupted. Sunoo lunged for the dukie, Niki tried to stop him, and they ended up in a mini wrestling match on the rug, a tangle of limbs, pouts, and stray feathers. It was like a miniature tornado of childish fury.

Just then, the living room door swung open, and Niki’s dad walked in, carrying a platter piled high with sizzling, mouthwatering barbecue.

He somehow managed to balance the precarious mountain of meat while simultaneously trying to decipher the babbling explanations coming from the two miniature wrestlers (Sunoo’s explanation was a high-pitched flurry of words and frantic pointing, Niki’s consisted mainly of pointing furiously at the dukie and emitting indignant squeaks).

 

“Niki,” his dad said gently, his voice a soothing balm in the midst of the chaos, “you have to share.”

 

The transformation was instantaneous. Niki’s face crumpled. Tears, hiccups, gasps. The full package. 

He wasn’t really mad; he was just having a severe case of ducky envy. The duck had stolen his hyung’s attention, and in Niki’s world, that was a capital offense.

Sunoo felt a pang of guilt. Duck regret. He immediately went over to Niki and gave his arm a little pat, feeling like a traitor.

 

“It’s okay, Niki,” he said softly. "It's okay"

 

He then pulled Niki into a big hug. Niki, whose face now resembled a discarded tissue, clung to him, his small body shaking with dramatic sobs. After a moment, he pulled away, hiccupping and eyes still red but looking slightly less tragic.

Niki looked up, his nose running like a leaky faucet. “Hyung,” he whispered, his voice all wobbly.

"Wipe it.” he demanded, pointing at his snotty nose with a dramatic flourish.

 

“Ew, no way! That’s super gross!” Sunoo wrinkled his nose in mock disgust, subtly inching away.

 

Niki’s eyes widened.

 

“Then… kiss?” he suggested, as if it was the most obvious and logical solution to all of life’s problems. That’s what his Mommy does when he's sad.

 

Sunoo’s eyes went wide. A KISS?! This was a level of affection he was not prepared for.  Before he could politely decline (or faint), Niki puckered his lips and leaned in, aiming for Sunoo’s face with the accuracy of a heat-seeking missile locked onto its target.

And that’s when he booked it. He ran as fast as his little legs could carry him, out of the living room, down the hallway, and towards the front door, leaving a trail of scream in his wake.

Behind him, he heard Niki’s determined little voice echoing.

 

“Sunoo hyung! Kiss! Kiss!” followed by the rapid pitter-patter of his tiny feet. 

 

And that's how this party was officially turning into a crazy adventure. He knew he’d have to talk to Niki about not kissing people who didn't want to be kissed… someday. But right now, outrunning a six-year-old on a mission for a kiss was way more important.

 

 

Chapter 5: 🐶- Start Arc 1

Summary:

Jake just wanted to go back to a time when his biggest problem was which Lego set to build.

Notes:

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that this fic will explore multiple pairings alongside the main story. Each pairing will have its own arc, but they're all interconnected and tied to the central narrative of Sunoo and Niki.

Hope you enjoy the ride!

Jake and Heeseung’s origin story wasn’t your typical meet-cute. It involved a lost toddler, a frantic search party, and a very confused Heeseung standing on their doorstep.

Jake’s younger brother, Sunoo, a whirlwind of boundless energy and questionable decision-making, had managed to escape the confines of their backyard and embark on a solo adventure. Panic ensued. Jake, then a slightly less panicky version of his current self, joined his parents in the frantic search, calling Sunoo’s name until his voice was hoarse.

Then, a knock echoed through their house. There stood a slightly older boy, looking a bit bewildered, holding a very happy, very muddy Sunoo by the hand.

 

"I… uh… found him trying to climb a tree in our yard," Heeseung explained, a small, slightly nervous smile playing on his lips. 

 

From then on, they were inseparable. Two peas in a pod who shared everything from Lego creations to bowls of instant noodles.

Even after Heeseung’s family moved to a different part of town a few years back, their friendship remained strong. They made an effort to stay connected, meeting up on weekends and keeping in touch through messages.

Heeseung always made time for Jake and Jake always made time for Heeseung. They were best friends, and that was that. 

 

But as they entered high school, things began to subtly shift. It wasn't a dramatic explosion, no shouting match or tearful goodbye.

It was quieter, a gradual fading, like two ships slowly drifting apart on a still ocean – or, more accurately, like one ship suddenly sprouted wings and soared into the sky while the other remained stubbornly tethered to the dock.

Heeseung, with his natural athleticism, easy charm, and striking good looks, had become a star. The “ace” they called him.

He excelled at everything he tried, from basketball to singing, effortlessly drawing attention and admiration wherever he went.

He was the quintessential popular kid, surrounded by friends and admirers, his name a constant buzz in the school hallways.

Jake, on the other hand, gravitated towards the quiet corners of the science club and the soothing melodies of his violin. He became the quintessential "nerd," content in his world of equations and classical music.

He wasn't unpopular, but he certainly wasn't in Heeseung's league. The difference in their social standing created a subtle but undeniable distance between them.

 

 

Their shared time dwindled. The easy drop-ins, the spontaneous adventures, were replaced by carefully scheduled, increasingly rare meetups.

These meetings, once filled with easy laughter and shared secrets, now felt strained, forced.

Heeseung was always busy, a whirlwind of activity, his eyes constantly darting to his phone, his attention elsewhere.

While Heeseung wasn't intentionally excluding Jake, the thought offered little comfort.

He was simply… preoccupied.

 

Basketball practice, games, team dinners, parties. His life had expanded, filling with new experiences and new people, leaving less room for the quiet intimacy they once shared. 

 

 

Each passing day felt like another brick being added to the wall separating them. 

 

The Lego sets they used to build together gathered dust on Jake’s shelves. 

 

The chat window, once buzzing, now stared back, blank and cold.

 

Their ramen sessions became a distant memory. 

 

He misses his best friend, the boy who now seemed to exist on a different plane.

 

And then there was something else, something Jake couldn't quite put his finger on. He started seeing Heeseung differently.

Chapter 6: 🐶

Summary:

Heartbreak, served with burgers.

The school bell rang, a jarring sound that snapped Jake out of his reverie.

 

He’d been staring at Heeseung again, a hollow ache in his chest as his friend recounted a funny story from his weekend to a group of laughing students at the table—a table Jake no longer shared.

The laughter used to include him, woven into shared jokes and inside references. Now, it felt like a cruel echo, mocking the distance that had irrevocably grown between them. 

Heeseung’s eyes flickered across the cafeteria, landing briefly on Jake before sliding away, as if acknowledging a distant acquaintance rather than a once-inseparable friend. The casual dismissal stung more than any harsh word could have.

He quickly looked away, busying himself with packing his books into his backpack, the smooth, cool leather a stark contrast to the clammy sweat of his palms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You okay, Jake?” a voice asked.

 

It was Heeseung, having detached himself momentarily from his throng of friends. He’d had to weave through the crowded cafeteria to reach Jake, a small gesture, but in the vast, noisy space, it felt significant. His brow was furrowed with genuine concern, a brief oasis of the old Heeseung in the sea of popularity. But even that concern felt tainted, laced with a pity Jake desperately didn’t want.

 

“You’ve been quiet today.”

 

“Yeah, just tired,” Jake mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

 

He felt a blush creeping up his neck, a familiar heat that always accompanied his interactions with Heeseung these days, a blush born of both longing and self-loathing.

He cursed himself for being so transparent, so easily flustered. He knew he was different–he was an outsider among Heeseung’s friends—the athletes, the student council members, the effortlessly cool upperclassmen who always seemed to orbit him like planets around a sun.

 

Jake was… Jake. The guy who aced every physics test, who spent his lunch breaks in the library, who preferred the company of books to large crowds. And now, he was also the younger kid, trailing behind Heeseung as he navigated the complexities of high school, a kid who no longer even shared a lunch table with him.

 

“We could grab some ramen after school, if you’re up for it. I have something to say too,” Heeseung offered, a hopeful glint in his eyes.

 

But even as he said it, his gaze flickered back towards his waiting friends at their table, a silent acknowledgment of the pull they held.

 

The unspoken difference in their grade levels, coupled with the stark visual of their separate lunch tables, hung in the air between them, a subtle reminder of the diverging paths they were now on.

 

“Actually, uhm…” Jake stammered, fiddling with the zipper of his backpack, his fingers trembling slightly. “I… I have to… yeah.” He trailed off, the lie hanging awkwardly in the air, thick with unspoken emotions.

 

He couldn't even bring himself to make up a convincing excuse. He just felt… awkward, trapped in the suffocating space between their past friendship and their current strained interactions.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Heeseung’s face, quickly masked by a polite, almost pitying smile.

 

“Oh, okay. Maybe next time.” He gave a small wave before rejoining his friends at their table, their laughter washing over him as they continued their conversation, a wave that crashed against Jake, leaving him feeling cold and alone in the crowded corridor, feeling the crushing weight of the empty space at their table, a space that felt like a gaping hole in his chest.

 

Later that evening, Jake lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He tossed and turned, the sheets twisting around him, mirroring the knots in his stomach. He replayed the awkward interaction with Heeseung over and over in his head, berating himself for his clumsy response, for his inability to simply say what he felt.

The silence from Heeseung since their cafeteria encounter had been deafening, amplifying the echo of Jake’s own perceived failures. He felt a familiar pang of loneliness, a hollow ache that settled deep in his chest.

Just as he was sinking further into his lament, his phone buzzed. The sudden vibration startled him, pulling him from his spiraling thoughts. He glanced down, and his heart leaped into his throat. It was a message from Heeseung.

He immediately sat up, pushing himself against the headboard, his eyes widening as he read the message:

Hey, are you free this weekend? I was thinking maybe we could… hang out?

٩( ᐛ )( ᐖ )۶

 

The air seemed to rush back into his lungs. Heeseung was asking him to hang out. The surprise was so intense it momentarily short-circuited his brain. All the self-recrimination and despair of the past few hours vanished, replaced by a surge of disbelief and a hesitant flicker of hope. He blinked, rereading the message just to be sure he wasn't imagining things. It was real. Heeseung actually wanted to spend time with him.

A small, disbelieving smile spread across Jake’s face. He could feel the tension draining from his shoulders, replaced by a nervous flutter of excitement. He quickly typed back a reply, trying to keep his fingers from trembling:

Yeah, sounds good! (◍•ᴗ•◍) What did you have in mind?

 

He pressed send, then immediately regretted it. Had he sounded too eager? Too casual? He chewed on his lip, anxiously awaiting Heeseung's response. The wait felt like an eternity, each passing second amplifying his self-doubt. His phone buzzed almost immediately. It was Heeseung:

How about we just chill at your place? We could watch some old movies or play some video games, like we used to.

 

Jake's heart did a little flip. Like we used to. That simple phrase sent a wave of warmth through him. It was exactly what he'd been longing for—a return to the comfortable familiarity they'd once shared. The thought of just hanging out at his place, doing the things they used to do, felt like a balm to his aching heart.

 

He quickly typed back:

Yeah, that sounds perfect! What time?

(❁´◡`❁)

 

Heeseung responded with a time, and they finalized the plans.

A wave of nervous excitement washed over Jake, a feeling he hadn't experienced in what felt like ages. He found himself replaying their message exchange, a small, hopeful smile playing on his lips. He even dug out some of their old favorite movies and dusted off his rarely used game console, picturing them side-by-side on his couch, controllers in hand.

It was during these moments of anticipation, of envisioning a return to their easy camaraderie, that the truth he’d been so desperately avoiding finally surfaced.

 

He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it started, but a disquieting feeling had taken root within him, blooming whenever Heeseung was around, or even when he simply thought of him.

He started seeing Heeseung differently. It was subtle at first – a lingering glance, a sudden awareness of Heeseung’s smile, the way his hair fell across his forehead when he looked down.

But it grew, becoming a constant hum beneath the surface of their interactions, a constant ache in his heart. He’d catch himself staring at Heeseung during their rare hangouts, noticing the way the light caught the gold flecks in his eyes or the way his laughter made his whole face light up, details he’d never paid attention to before, details that now felt like tiny daggers twisting in his gut.

It was a physical sensation as much as an emotional one—a warmth that spread through his limbs, a dizzying sense of disorientation, and a nervous flutter that vibrated in his chest. He couldn't quite place it, but he stubbornly refused to acknowledge what it might be, turning away from the truth as if it were a blinding light.

It’s just… missing our old friendship

 

He told himself, the familiar mantra a flimsy shield against this unsettling feeling. He tried to Google it once, typing in vague phrases like “feeling weird around my friend” and “suddenly noticing details about someone.”

The results were… unsettling. Words like “crush” and “romantic attraction” popped up, making his stomach churn with a mix of denial and a terrifying, dawning realization.

No. Absolutely not.

 

He quickly slammed the laptop shut, as if physically silencing the intrusive thoughts. It was ridiculous. They were friends. Best friends. Nothing more. The very idea sent a shiver down his spine.

 

The anticipation built throughout the rest of the week. But as the weekend drew closer, the initial excitement began to fray at the edges, replaced by a flutter of nerves, a knot tightening in his stomach. The thought of being alone with Heeseung now felt daunting, a stark contrast to the comfortable ease he’d initially imagined.

He wasn't sure he could handle the intensity of being just the two of them, the potential for unspoken feelings to hang heavy in the air. He needed a distraction, a shield against his own burgeoning emotions.

 

As if summoned by his anxiety, a knock at the door revealed Sunoo, who was seeking help with an assignment. An idea sparked in Jake's mind: a buffer.

He casually invited Sunoo to hang out with him and Heeseung over the weekend, hoping the extra company would diffuse the tension he felt brewing within him. Sunoo's face lit up.

 

“Sure! I miss Heeseungie hyung too,” he exclaimed, then added, “Can Niki come too?”

 

 

 

 

The day passed like a blur. Each class felt like an eternity, yet somehow, before Jake knew it, it was already Friday evening, then Saturday morning. The weekend he’d both longed for and dreaded had arrived.

Sunoo and Niki gave him a once-over as he came downstairs, their eyes widening slightly.

 

“Hyung,” Sunoo started, tilting his head with exaggerated curiosity, “why are you wearing cologne?”

Niki nodded in agreement, squinting slightly. “And your best shirt? You even styled your hair. We’re just hanging out at your house. Are we expecting royalty?”

Jake felt a wave of panic. He hadn’t even realized he’d gone full peacock.

 

He stammered, “Uh, well, you know… it’s the weekend. I just… felt like… smelling nice? In my own house? Is that illegal?” He tugged at his collar, suddenly feeling like he was wearing a full suit of armor.

“Besides, we might go out later, you never know. Like, to the kitchen. For snacks.” It was a weak excuse, and he could practically see the thought bubbles above their heads filled with question marks, but thankfully, they didn’t press further.

 

The convenience store hummed with the buzz of fluorescent lights, their glare reflecting off the cellophane wrappers of chips and the condensation on brightly colored drinks. Jake wandered the aisles, ostensibly searching for the perfect snack, but his gaze kept flicking to his phone. He’d checked it so often in the last five minutes, he was surprised the battery hadn’t drained. Each passing second stretched, thick with anticipation.

Finally, a vibration in his pocket. He snatched his phone out, a smile already forming as he saw Heeseung’s name… but it quickly faded as he read the message:

Hey Jake, something came up, I won't be able to make it today. So sorry.

 

 

 

 

Jake’s heart sank. The giddiness from the previous night evaporated, leaving a hollow ache in its place. He typed back a quick

No worries. ᕕ( ՞ ᗜ ՞ )ᕗ

 

trying to mask his disappointment, but his fingers trembled slightly as he did. He shoved his phone back into his pocket, the weight of it suddenly feeling heavier than before.

 

The walk home was quiet. Sunoo and Niki chatted about some game they were playing, but Jake barely registered their words. He was lost in his own thoughts, a dark cloud settling over him. He’d been so excited. He’d even picked out Heeseung’s favorite chips, the spicy ones he always devoured in seconds. It was stupid to get his hopes up.

The thought lingered, a bitter taste on his tongue. He kicked at a loose pebble on the sidewalk, a small, futile act of frustration.

 

And then, as they rounded the corner, he saw him. Heeseung was sitting outside a nearby burger fast food chain, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun and the restaurant's neon sign.

He was laughing, his head thrown back slightly, a genuine, unrestrained laugh that Jake hadn't heard directed at him in what felt like forever.

 

Jake’s breath hitched. It wasn't just the laughter that caught his attention, though. It was the girl sitting across from Heeseung.

He didn’t recognize her. She had long, dark hair that cascaded over her shoulders, and she was leaning forward, her eyes sparkling as she listened to Heeseung speak.

The scene unfolded slowly, agonizingly, before Jake’s eyes. Heeseung said something that made the girl giggle, a soft, melodic sound that seemed to fill the air. Then, she reached out and touched Heeseung’s shoulder.

It was a brief touch, a seemingly casual gesture, but her hand lingered there for a moment longer than necessary. Just long enough for Jake to notice the way Heeseung’s laughter softened, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners as he looked at her.

A strange, unfamiliar emotion twisted in Jake’s gut. It wasn’t anger, not exactly. It was… something else. Something sharp and unpleasant that settled like a stone in his stomach, a cold, hollow feeling that spread through his limbs. He didn’t like it. It hurt. It was a deep, aching hurt, a pain that felt strangely personal, as if he’d been physically wounded. He also felt an almost uncontrollable urge to roll his eyes at the casual touch, the easy intimacy between them, an intimacy that used to be his and his alone.

Heeseung turned his head slightly, and for a heart-stopping moment, Jake thought their eyes might meet. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. He could see the gold flecks in Heeseung’s eyes, even from this distance, the way his smile lit up his entire face. Details he’d memorized, cherished, now felt like shards of glass piercing his heart.

Niki and Sunoo, oblivious to the turmoil raging within him, started to wave enthusiastically at Heeseung. 

Jake’s stomach clenched. He couldn’t bear the thought of Heeseung seeing him like this, seeing the raw, exposed hurt on his face. In a surge of irrationality, a desperate need to escape the scene playing out before him, he grabbed both Sunoo and Niki by the arms and pulled them back, hard and not daring to look back.

“Come on,” he hissed, his voice low and urgent, laced with a desperation he couldn’t hide. “Let’s go.”

 

 

Jake ran until he broke. 

 

 

 

Chapter 7: 🦊

Summary:

Sunoo's romance plan:

Step 1: Find true love.
Step 2: Ace algebra.

(Priorities, people.)

Sunoo twirled in his room, a whirlwind of giggles and freshly-ironed fabric. He hummed, the melody swelling in his mind like his own dramatic soundtrack.

 

Middle school! It was finally here! His new middle school uniform felt like a costume for the most important role of his life: lovestruck protagonist.

 

“Grades over dates” his Daddy always says, the pronouncement enshrined in a glitter-covered frame above Sunoo’s desk—a constant, shimmering reminder of his (or rather, his parents’) priorities. But Sunoo was a master multitasker. He could study and dream. 

Giggling aloud, he almost drooled at the sheer perfection of his imagined scenarios.

 

The hallowed halls where first love bloomed like cherry blossoms in spring (at least, according to every webtoon he’d ever devoured). The dramatic slow-motion encounters, accidental hand-holding, and maybe even a confession under a sparkling, starry sky.

 

He struck a pose, one hand confidently on his hip, the other extended in a dramatic flourish, pointing towards an imaginary horizon.

“My love,” he declared to his reflection, his voice ringing with theatrical longing, “where are you?” He winked, a small, delighted squeak escaping his lips. Yes, this year was definitely going to be his year. His fortune cookie had told him so, and fortune cookies were never wrong.

 

Just then his door opened. It was his Appa, who usually had to perform an elaborate wake-up ritual. Waking Sunoo was usually an Olympic sport, involving multiple alarms, nudges, and sometimes even a cold towel. So, when his Appa opened the door to find Sunoo already dressed and meticulously perfumed, radiating excitement, he nearly tripped over his own feet.

 

“Sunoo-yah! Are you…are you feeling alright? Do you have a fever? Are you… possessed?” he stammered, his voice laced with theatrical concern.

 

Sunoo beamed, utterly oblivious to his Appa’s dramatic display. “I’m fine, Appa! I’m just…excited!” bouncing on the balls of his feet. His Appa’s eyes softened, a wide grin spreading across his face as he reached out to pinch Sunoo’s cheeks.

 

“Aigoo, look at you!” he chuckled, his voice thick with affection. “All grown up and ready for middle school! But you’ll always be my giant baby,” he teased gently, ruffling Sunoo’s carefully styled hair.

 

Sunoo playfully swatted his Appa’s hand away, but couldn't help the smile that stretched across his face. He grabbed his bag and headed out the door, waving goodbye to his Appa, who was still beaming in the doorway. He hadn't even made it past the front gate when a high-pitched scream pierced the air.

 

"SUNOO-HYUNG,” he wailed, “DON'T LEAVE ME! WHAT IF I GOT LOST WITHOUT YOU?"

 

Sunoo groaned. It was Niki. Of course, it was Niki. Niki, all eleven years of him, was currently clinging to Sunoo’s backpack strap, his lower lip trembling. 

Sunoo sighed. He loved Niki, he really did. But Niki’s clinginess was reaching epic proportions.

 

“Niki,” he said gently, peeling the younger boy’s fingers off his bag, “we’re literally going to schools two minutes away from each other."

“But I'm going to miss you" Niki mumbled "I’m coming with you!” Niki declared, his grip surprisingly strong. Sunoo giggled, rolling his eyes playfully.

 

Time for a dramatic escape.

 

With a burst of speed, he gently slipped his hand from Niki’s and skipped down the street, calling over his shoulder,

 

“You’ll be fiiiiiine! I'm going to miss you too!”

 

He glanced back to see a tiny, disgruntled duck looking Niki at the crosswalk, looking utterly betrayed. A fleeting twinge of guilt. Briefly but he didn’t stop running until he was safely within school grounds. 

 

 

 

The first few weeks of middle school were…underwhelming. Sunoo had envisioned hallways filled with swoon-worthy classmates, but the potential “first love” candidates were either too focused on their homework, too obsessed with sports, or, in one unfortunate case, had a habit of picking their nose. Tsk.tsk.tsk. Definitely no Prince Charming in sight.

And then there was Niki. Every day, as soon as the final bell rang, Niki would appear at Sunoo’s school gate, his eyes wide and brimming with dramatic longing.

 

“Sunoo-hyung!” he’d cry, loud enough for the entire class to hear. “I’ve missed you more than a fish misses water!”

 

Sunoo’s school mates found it hilarious. Sunoo found it slightly mortifying.

 

 

One afternoon, seeking refuge from Niki’s post-school enthusiasm and the general lack of romance in his life, Sunoo found himself in the library, sprawled across his favorite beanbag chair, with a book about mythical creatures—not because he was a voracious reader or anything. Oh no. It was simply the perfect, quiet, and blessedly air-conditioned place for a solid nap.

The librarians had long since given up trying to shoo him out, recognizing him as a harmless fixture, a sleeping cherub amidst the towering shelves.

Sunoo was halfway to Dreamland. His cheek was now pressed against the cool, smooth surface of a thick, leather-bound volume on ancient mythology – a subject he cared little for, but one that provided excellent cushioning. When the door of the library creaked open, its hinges groaning a low, mournful sigh that sliced through the tranquil atmosphere.

Sunoo’s eyelids fluttered open, reluctantly pulled back from the warm embrace of sleep. He shifted slightly within the beanbag, the soft beads rustling beneath him. He lifted his head just enough to peek over the edge of the mythology book, his vision still slightly blurry.

 

And then he saw him.

 

He was standing just inside the entrance, bathed in the soft, diffused light filtering through the tall arched windows. 

Sunoo’s inner scream was so loud he felt his entire body vibrate. Okay, maybe he was overreacting (just a little), but the boy was stunning. He was tall, with shiny dark hair. His skin was incredibly smooth, bright, and… wow, it was white... very white. Sunoo blinked. He was ethereally... beautiful. He was dotted with moles that Sunoo instantly decided looked like constellations. And his teeth! They were so white and sharp, he looked like a… a ridiculously handsome vampire.

 

Sunoo’s breath hitched. This was exactly the kind of boy he’d imagined. He could practically hear the dramatic background music playing in his head. He wondered if this was what it felt like to short circuit.

As the boy walked away, Sunoo clutched his hand to his chest, his heart doing a little flutter-kick. This was it. This had to be it. This was the start of his own real-life romance. He just knew it. He had finally met his first love.

Chapter 8: 🦊

Summary:

Niki was pretty sure his best friend had been abducted by aliens and replaced with a lovesick squirrel who only had eyes for a penguin… and he wasn't sure which was worse.

Niki’s fingers were a blur on the controller, tiny button presses and joystick wiggles sending his digital kart careening around the track.

Crumbs clung to his cheeks, evidence of the chip massacre happening on the coffee table. The cola was disappearing fast, the ice clinking a cheerful tune as he took another noisy slurp.

Sunoo's place was the ultimate gaming HQ.

 

Newest consoles? Check.

Massive TV screen that made you feel like you were inside the game? Double-check.

Enough snacks to feed a small army? Triple-check.

 

Ahhhh. Perks of having a dad with deep pockets. This was the life.

He was about to pull off a super-cool drift, a move he’d been practicing for weeks, and he knew his Sunoo hyung would be impressed.

He glanced over, expecting a high five or at least an enthusiastic “Ooooh!” But Sunoo was lost again in his own little world. His eyes were unfocused, his lips curved into a soft, dreamy smile, and he was tracing patterns on the carpet with his finger, completely oblivious to the roaring engines and cheering crowds on the screen.

He was giggling softly, a sound that usually made Niki smile, but now just made a weird knot form in his stomach. It was a familiar sight, Sunoo often got lost in his own little world, but this time… this time it felt different. It was like Sunoo’s focus had shifted, like an invisible string had pulled his attention away, far beyond the confines of the gaming room, beyond even Niki himself.

And just like that, Niki’s world shrunk.

 

It used to be a vibrant, sprawling landscape filled with Sunoo’s laughter, their shared secrets, and endless games. Now, it was confined to the periphery of Sunoo’s new obsession, a constant, dull ache in his chest.

Niki felt like a forgotten toy, left in a dusty corner while a shiny new one took all the attention.

The change in Sunoo was subtle at first, like a fart in the wind. Niki, however, noticed everything. He was always watching Sunoo, after all. It was his favorite pastime.

 

Before, their after-school routine was a sacred ritual. Niki would burst through the gates of his elementary school, knowing Sunoo would be waiting by the big oak tree across the street, near the middle school.

He’d launch himself into a hug that Sunoo would receive with a mix of exasperation and fond indulgence. They’d walk home together, Niki chattering about his day, Sunoo listening with half an ear while simultaneously narrating his own imagined dramas.

Now, though… now things were different. Sunoo still waited by the oak tree, but he walked with a strange, distracted air, his eyes constantly darting around like a cute, nervous squirrel, twitching this way and that.

He barely registered Niki’s presence, his responses to Niki's stories were short, mumbled, and completely devoid of his usual dramatic flair. It was as if a crucial part of Sunoo, the part that made him Sunoo, had gone missing.

And then there was the… Niki didn’t even know what to call it. It wasn’t exactly stalking, but it was close.

 

Niki started to notice this a few days after that strange pickup. Sunoo would suddenly freeze mid-sentence, his eyes widening as he stared intensely at something in the distance, somewhere on the middle school grounds.

Niki, naturally curious, would follow Sunoo’s gaze, only to find him staring at… a very pale, very lanky boy. The boy was always alone, usually reading in some quiet corner or sometimes, he’d just be staring blankly into space, like he was lost in his own world.

He had dark hair that fell into his eyes, and skin so pale it looked almost translucent. He also had a strange habit of swaying slightly, his arms held out at his sides, as if he was trying to keep his balance on an invisible ice rink.

It made Niki think of a penguin, a very tall, very pale penguin.

 

Sunoo would watch him from afar, his expression a bizarre mix of awe and creep, like he was observing some rare and dangerous creature. He’d hide behind pillars, crouch behind bushes, even pretend to be engrossed in a random textbook just to get a closer look.

It was, Niki decided, the most awkward and unconvincing spy performance he’d ever witnessed.

 

One afternoon, Niki, unable to contain his curiosity any longer, tugged on Sunoo’s sleeve as they were “spying” (again) on the pale boy from behind the large oak tree.

“Hyung,” he whispered, his voice barely audible, “why are you always looking at that hyung?”

Sunoo jumped, nearly dropping the textbook he was pretending to read (it was a math textbook, which made the performance even less believable).

He turned to Niki, his eyes wide with panic. “Shhh!” he hissed, placing a finger over his lips. “He might hear you!”

 

“But… why?” Niki persisted, tilting his head. Sunoo hesitated, glancing back at the pale boy, who was now spacing out again.

A dreamy expression crossed his Sunoo hyung's face.

“He’s…” Sunoo began, his voice barely a whisper, “he’s… perfect.” Niki frowned.

 

He didn’t see it. The boy looked… pale. And thin. And kind of… spooky when he stared into space.

He certainly wasn’t as bright and bubbly as Sunoo.

He wasn’t Sunoo.

 

A strange feeling settled in Niki’s stomach, a cold, twisting sensation he’d never experienced before. He didn't understand it but it was like a glitch, like when the game froze right before you were about to win, and you had to restart the whole level.Frustrating.

“But… I thought I was your favorite,” Niki mumbled, his voice small and hurt.

 

Sunoo blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. He seemed to finally register Niki’s presence, truly see him for the first time in days.

“Niki-yah,” he said softly, reaching out to ruffle Niki’s hair.

“Of course you are. You’re my best friend.”

 

But the words felt hollow, devoid of the warmth they usually held. Sunoo’s eyes quickly drifted back to the pale boy, who had now stood up and was swaying slightly, arms outstretched, before walking towards the library.

Sunoo’s eyes followed him, his body tensing as if he was about to spring into action. Niki watched him, his heart sinking. He knew, with a certainty that chilled him to the bone, that he had lost something.

He had lost Sunoo’s undivided attention, his playful teasing, his genuine warmth. He had lost his hyung. He didn't understand why this pale, penguin-like boy, who either read or stared blankly into space, was so important to his hyung.

He didn't understand why his hyung didn't want to play with him anymore. He didn't understand this new, strange feeling inside him, this aching emptiness that grew with each passing day.

It was like his Sunoo had suddenly switched to a different game, one with completely different rules, and Niki hadn't been given the instruction manual. He was stuck on the loading screen, unable to join.

All he knew was that he missed his hyung, the real Sunoo, the Sunoo who used to look at him with bright eyes and a wide smile. And he desperately wanted him back. 

Chapter 9: 🐶

Summary:

Over burgers and broken promises, a friendship crumbles.

Notes:

Well, this is embarrassing! I seem to have a talent for uploading the wrong files.

I realized after re-reading the chapters (to remember the angst) that I'd accidentally posted an earlier draft of the Heejake scenes.

The Heejake arc was supposed to be… well, let's just say it's now closer to what I envisioned (aka more angst). The correct version (Chapter 6) is up now. Please forgive my forgetfulness!

The clatter of trays and the boisterous chatter of the canteen pressed in on Heeseung, a familiar cacophony he usually navigated with ease.

But today, a knot of guilt tightened in his stomach as his gaze fixed on a lone figure seated at their table—the one tucked away in the corner by the emergency exit.

It was the table they’d claimed as their own for years—a silent testament to countless shared lunches, whispered secrets, and inside jokes.

Lately, though, those shared lunches had become less frequent, the whispers less intimate, the jokes fewer and further between.

 

Heeseung knew he was to blame. Between preparing for graduation, college applications, and spending more time with his other friends, he’d let his connection with Jake… drift.

Now, seeing Jake alone at their table, a sharp pang of regret pierced him. Jake was fumbling with his bag, stuffing textbooks and notebooks inside with a jerky, almost frantic motion. His brow was furrowed in concentration, his lips pressed into a thin line.

A strange tug, a pang of something Heeseung couldn’t quite name, pulled at his heart. It felt… wrong, seeing Jake there alone, at their table. Especially now, with graduation just around the corner, looming like a guillotine over their shared history. Heeseung knew he needed to fix this, to mend the frayed edges of their friendship before it was too late.

 

Heeseung hesitated for a moment, then pushed away from his own table, a half-hearted apology to his friends beside him. He walked towards Jake, the noise of the canteen fading into a dull hum as he approached.

The closer he got, the more he noticed the small details: the way Jake’s fingers trembled slightly as he zipped his bag, the way his shoulders slumped as if carrying an invisible weight. The fact that Jake was a junior, a year below him, suddenly felt like a vast, unbridgeable chasm.

Heeseung was leaving, moving on to a new chapter, while Jake was still here, rooted in this place, in their shared past… a past Heeseung had been neglecting.

 

“You okay, Jake?” he asked, his voice gentle, laced with a hint of apology he hoped Jake would pick up on.

 

Jake startled slightly, his head snapping up. His eyes, usually bright and full of life, were dull, shadowed. He offered a weak smile, a fleeting flicker that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Yeah, just tired.” The response was clipped, dismissive. It wasn’t the Jake he knew, the Jake who would usually greet him with a wide grin and a playful jab. This Jake was guarded, distant.

Heeseung noticed Jake’s gaze flick down to the table, a brief, almost mournful glance at the worn surface, before quickly looking away.

 

It was their table, their space, a physical embodiment of their fading connection—a connection Heeseung desperately wanted to rekindle.

Heeseung felt a pang of disappointment. He’d been hoping to bridge the growing gap between them, to recapture some of the easy camaraderie they used to share at this very table. He tried again, a hopeful note creeping into his voice.

 

“We could grab some ramen after school, if you’re up for it. I have something to say too,”

 

He added, hoping to pique Jake’s interest, hoping to draw him back to this shared space, to their shared history, before it was too late.

Jake mumbled something unintelligible, his gaze shifting away again. He picked at a loose thread on his sleeve, avoiding Heeseung’s eyes. Heeseung watched his fingers twist and pull at the thread, a nervous habit he’d never seen Jake display before.

The fact that he was leaving, that this might be one of their last interactions in this familiar setting, pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe. He had to make this right.

 

“What was that?” Heeseung asked, leaning in slightly, his voice softening.

 

He wanted to reach out, to touch Jake’s arm, but he held back, unsure of how his touch would be received.

The distance between them felt palpable, a thick, invisible wall—a wall Heeseung himself had helped build.

 

“Just…” Jake started, then trailed off, his gaze fixed on the thread in his hands. He took a deep breath, and Heeseung could see the hesitation in his eyes, the awkwardness radiating off him in waves.

He didn’t want to. Heeseung could see it clearly.

 

A wave of disappointment washed over Heeseung, but he understood. He could feel the tension, the unspoken barrier between them. He forced a small, understanding smile.

 

“Yeah, okay. Maybe next time,” he said, his voice laced with a hint of sadness and self-reproach.

 

 

He didn’t want it to be next time.

He wanted it to be now.

 

But he couldn't force Jake. He knew he'd created this distance, and it was his responsibility to try and repair it.

Later that night, fresh from a shower that did little to soothe the lingering ache in his chest, Heeseung picked up his phone and opened his messaging app, finding Jake’s contact. He hesitated, then dismissed the thought. Why prolong the agony?

 

Hey, are you free this weekend? I was thinking maybe we could… hang out?

٩( ᐛ )( ᐖ )۶

 

Almost immediately, Jake replied:

 

Yeah, sounds good! (◍•ᴗ•◍) What did you have in mind?

 

Relief washed over Heeseung. This was going better than he’d expected.

 

How about we just chill at your place? We could watch some old movies or play some video games, like we used to.

 

Yeah, that sounds perfect! What time?

(❁´◡`❁)  

 

How about 2 PM on Saturday? 

Perfect! See you then. （☆/＞u＜/）

 

Heeseung put his phone down, a small, almost disbelieving smile playing on his lips.

He’d done it. He’d reached out, and Jake had responded with enthusiasm.

This weekend. It felt like a lifeline, a chance to rewind, to reconnect, to finally understand what had been going on between them. He felt a surge of optimism, a renewed hope that maybe, just maybe, things could go back to the way they were or perhaps, something even better.

 

The anticipation built throughout the week, a constant flutter of excitement in Heeseung’s stomach.

He found himself thinking about what they would do, what they would talk about. He even woke up early on Saturday morning, a rare occurrence for him. He spent extra time getting ready, carefully choosing his outfit and even reaching for the expensive cologne he’d been saving for a special occasion.

This, he decided, was definitely a special occasion.

 

A chance to show Jake he cared, that he valued their friendship. He was just about to leave his house when his phone rang.

It was his Soojin, her voice tight with panic. Her car had broken down miles outside the city, and she was stranded on a deserted highway. She was alone, scared, and still reeling from the devastating news of her parents’ impending divorce, a situation that had shattered her world and left her feeling utterly lost and vulnerable.

She desperately needed someone, anyone, to be there for her. Heeseung’s heart sank. He knew he had to go. He couldn’t leave her stranded and alone, not in a situation like this, especially not in her fragile emotional state.

He knew he had to cancel on Jake. The thought sent a wave of guilt crashing over him, heavier than before, knowing he was breaking a promise he’d been so eager to make.

 

He quickly typed a message to Jake:

Hey Jake, something came up, I won't be able to make it today. So sorry.

 

He didn't elaborate, not wanting to get into the details over text. He just hoped Jake would understand.

He drove for what felt like hours, finally finding Soojin huddled by the side of the road, shivering despite the mild weather.

He got her car towed and took her to the nearest burger joint to warm up and calm down.

They sat across from each other, the warmth of the diner a stark contrast to the cold she’d just endured.

Heeseung did his best to distract her, telling silly stories and making goofy faces until a genuine laugh finally escaped her lips. It was a small victory, but it eased the heavy atmosphere between them.

As he watched her smile, a sense of relief washed over him. He’d done the right thing.

Then, as Heeseung’s gaze drifted towards the window. He saw him.

 

Jake.

 

He was across the street, walking with Sunoo and Niki. Heeseung’s heart leaped into his throat. He saw Niki and Sunoo attempt to wave at him with bright smiles, their hands already raised in greeting.

But before their hands could fully extend, Heeseung saw the expression on Jake’s face. It wasn’t anger, not exactly.

 

 

 

It was… hurt. Deep, palpable hurt.

 

His eyes were fixed on Heeseung. Then, as if realizing he’d been seen, Jake’s expression hardened.

He abruptly tugged Sunoo and Niki along with him, practically dragging them away, down a side street, disappearing from Heeseung’s view entirely.

As Heeseung watched the spot where they’d vanished, a cold dread settled in his stomach.

 

Heeseung knew he’d messed up.

Chapter 10: 🦊

Summary:

One stolen grape. One desperate hug. One year of plotting revenge. Sunoo's New Year's Eve romantic ritual just turned into a hilarious disaster.

Notes:

Happy New Year everyone~
ヾ(〃^∇^)ﾉ

The air crackled with the joyous chaos of a New Year's Eve celebration.

Since Sunoo and Niki's families were practically neighbors—a mere hop, skip, and a jump across the perfectly manicured lawns that separated their houses—they’d decided to combine forces: more people, more fun, definitely more food.

The combined households were a symphony of laughter, clinking glasses (of sparkling cider, mostly), and the tantalizing aroma of festive dishes.

Sunoo, however, had a secret mission. He’d heard whispers of a magical tradition: eating twelve grapes under the table at the stroke of midnight to ensure good luck for the coming year. More specifically, romantic luck.

 

He'd invited his older brother, Jake, to join him, but Jake was nowhere to be seen. Sunoo considered inviting Niki, but then scoffed internally. Niki? Please. What did an elementary school kid know about the complexities of love and longing? Probably still thought cooties were a legitimate threat.

Sunoo grabbed his grapes, a determined glint in his eye, and dove under the dining table with a dramatic flourish, narrowly avoiding a collision with a stray foot (and a rogue meatball that had clearly escaped its intended destination).

Sunoo carefully arranged twelve plump, green grapes on a small plate, guarding them like precious jewels.

"Appa, don't touch these!" he’d warned earlier, his eyes wide and serious.

 

He felt a bubbly excitement fizzing inside him, a feeling that something wonderful was about to happen. As the countdown began, Sunoo stealthily began munching, focusing on each grape and making silent, heartfelt wishes.

He was halfway through, picturing himself sharing a quiet moment with his crush, perhaps sharing a single, dramatically lit french fry, when a sudden shadow fell across his grape-filled haven.

 

"Sunoo-hyung, what are you doing?"

 

It was Niki, his face scrunched up in confusion, his head tilted slightly as if he were trying to decipher some bizarre alien ritual.

Sunoo, mid-chew, explained the tradition, his voice muffled by grapes. Niki's brow furrowed even deeper.

Sunoo popped the tenth grape into his mouth, then the eleventh. He held the final grape between his thumb and forefinger, admiring its perfect roundness. He brought it to his lips, ready to complete the ritual, to seal his romantic fate… but before the grape even touched his tongue, Niki’s hand darted out with lightning speed. He snatched the very last grape, popped it into his own mouth, and chewed with a triumphant grin.

 

Sunoo let out a full-mouthed scream, a sound somewhere between a shriek and a sputter. He was about to scramble out from under the table to grab more grapes – it wasn’t too late, was it? – when Niki suddenly lunged forward.

Niki wrapped his arms and legs around Sunoo in a tight, unexpected hug, effectively pinning him to the spot. He began a silent, desperate wrestling match, trying to dislodge Niki while simultaneously stretching an arm upwards, fingers grasping at the edge of the tablecloth above, desperate to reach the bowl of grapes still sitting on the table.

He wiggled, he squirmed, he even tried a few strategic pushes against Niki’s surprisingly solid stomach, all while reaching, reaching, reaching for the grapes.

He was convinced Niki must have been some kind of arboreal creature in a past life.

 

“Are you a koala!?Are you a monkey!? Why are you doing this to me!?”

 

Sunoo screamed, his voice muffled by the tablecloth and Niki’s surprisingly firm grip.

But it was too late. Just as his fingertips brushed the edge of a grape, the booming cheers of "Happy New Year!" erupted from above.

Niki, grinning widely, suddenly released Sunoo from his grip and scrambled out from under the table, disappearing into the crowd of celebrating adults.

 

Sunoo was left alone under the table, surrounded by grape stems and the lingering scent of Niki.

Oh.Oh, he was definitely getting revenge. He’d hide Niki’s favorite shoes. Or maybe replace his toothpaste with wasabi. Or… he’d have a whole year to plot.

Chapter 11: 🐶

The Bunsen burner flickered beneath the glass beaker, casting dancing shadows on the lab table. Jake stared at the bubbling liquid, the faint chemical smell stinging his nostrils, but his mind was a whirlwind of frustrated thoughts. He was supposed to be measuring the rate of reaction, meticulously recording the data in his notebook. Instead, all he could see was Heeseung across the street, in the warm glow of the burger joint, focused on… a girl.

 

He didn't recognize her.

 

Saturday. The word echoed in his head, a hollow ache in his chest. He’d spent the entire week meticulously planning their hangout.

It wasn’t just a casual get-together; it was a carefully orchestrated attempt to rekindle their fading connection.

He’d spent hours researching the perfect two-player games, agonizing over which would offer the right balance of fun and conversation. He’d even begged his Appa and Dad for an extra allowance, promising to do extra chores, so they could get some decent snacks. He’d even gone above and beyond, scouring the internet for new recipes to elevate their usual ramen fare, envisioning the impressed look on Heeseung’s face when he presented his culinary creations.

 

But it hadn’t happened.

 

A simple text, cold and impersonal, had shattered his carefully laid plans. Hey Jake, something came up, I won't be able to make it today. So sorry.

No explanation, no further details, just… nothing. It was the lack of explanation that stung the most. It felt dismissive, as if their plans, his efforts, were so insignificant that they didn't even warrant a proper excuse.

Jake had reread the message countless times, searching for some hidden meaning, some indication that Heeseung actually regretted canceling.

 

But there was nothing. Just empty words.

 

Now, the image of Heeseung with the unknown girl replayed in his mind like a broken record. Seeing Heeseung with someone else, seeing that unguarded joy, ripped away the carefully constructed walls he’d built around his own feelings.

It wasn’t simply the broken promise that stung, nor the ease with which Heeseung had replaced him—a stark testament to his place in Heeseung’s life. It was something deeper, more agonizing. He actually liked Heeseung.

 

More than a friend.

 

The truth, finally wrestled into the light, felt like a shard of glass twisting in his chest, each jagged edge scraping against his heart. This truth was made infinitely worse by its sheer impossibility.

Heeseung saw him only as a friend, perhaps even a brother. The casual way he spoke of his crushes, always girls, was a brutal, recurring reminder. Heeseung didn't swing that way. This wasn’t just disappointment; it was a profound, gnawing despair, a suffocating sense of finality. A dead end.

 

He couldn’t even confess. The very thought sent a chill of dread through him. Confession would only guarantee rejection, a crushing blow that would irrevocably shatter what remained of their fragile, unstable connection. He couldn’t risk losing their friendship, tenuous as it already was, hanging by a thread that frayed a little more with each passing day.

Even if that thread was barely holding, even if their friendship was already so precarious, it was still everything he had.

 

Frustration boiled inside him, a hot, acidic rage directed at himself, at the unfairness of it all.

He slammed his textbook shut, the loud thump echoing through the lab. Heads turned, including the teacher’s, who raised a questioning eyebrow. Jake didn’t care. He grabbed his bag, shoving his lab notebook inside haphazardly, and mumbled a quick apology before storming out of the lab.

The hallway was crowded with students rushing between classes, a sea of noise and movement. Jake pushed his way through the throng, his heart pounding in his ears. He just wanted to get out, to escape the suffocating feeling of betrayal that clung to him like a second skin.

It wasn’t just that Heeseung had canceled. It was that he’d clearly chosen someone else over him. He’d seen the way Heeseung had looked at the girl, the undivided attention, the genuine concern. It was a look Jake desperately longed for, a look he felt he hadn't received from Heeseung in a long time.

As he rounded a corner in the hallway, he froze. Heeseung was there, leaning against a row of lockers, alone. Heeseung's gaze was fixed on the floor, his expression troubled. When he looked up, his eyes meeting Jake’s, a flicker of something – relief, perhaps, or maybe guilt – crossed his face. He opened his mouth, as if about to speak.

 

But Jake couldn’t bear it.

 

He couldn’t face Heeseung’s excuses, his apologies. He couldn’t stand the pity in his eyes. A lump formed in his throat, and his eyes began to sting. He felt dangerously close to tears, a vulnerability he desperately wanted to hide.

The image of Heeseung with the girl, so happy, so carefree, flashed through his mind again. It felt like a slap in the face. All the effort he had put in, the research, the begging, the anticipation, felt like it had been for nothing. He had to get away, before he broke down right there in the hallway.

He turned abruptly, his back to Heeseung, and started walking quickly in the opposite direction. He could feel Heeseung’s gaze on his back, a silent plea. He could almost hear him calling his name. But he didn’t stop. He didn’t look back.

He just kept walking, the image of Heeseung’s hopeful expression burning in his mind, now tainted with the bitter taste of betrayal and the even more bitter knowledge of his own unspoken and unrequitable feelings.

He felt used, like his efforts had been a cheap joke. He’d put his heart into planning their day, and Heeseung had just thrown it away.

 

 

Chapter 12: 🐶- End Arc 1

Heeseung watched Jake’s retreating back, a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. He’d been hoping, praying, that he’d get a chance to explain.

He’d rehearsed the words in his head a hundred times, trying to find the right way to convey the urgency of his cousin's situation without minimizing the hurt he knew he’d caused Jake.

He'd even considered texting him again, a longer, more detailed message, but he knew a face-to-face conversation was the only way to truly make amends.

He’d been leaning against the lockers, lost in his own troubled thoughts, when he saw him around the corner.

 

Jake.

 

A wave of relief washed over him. This was his chance. But the relief quickly turned to dismay as he saw the expression on Jake’s face – or rather, the lack thereof.

Jake hadn’t even met his eyes properly; his gaze had been distant, almost glazed over. Heeseung had opened his mouth to call out to him, to say something, anything, but the words caught in his throat.

He saw the way Jake’s shoulders were slumped, the way his hands were clenched at his sides, his knuckles white where he was balling his fists. He saw the almost imperceptible tremble in his posture, the telltale sign that Jake was holding back tears.

It was a sight that twisted a knife in Heeseung’s gut. 

 

And then, Jake had turned, abruptly, his back now fully to Heeseung. He could feel Jake’s hurt radiating off him in waves, a palpable force that pushed him back, making it impossible to bridge the distance between them.

Heeseung sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew he’d messed up badly. He hadn’t meant to hurt him, but he knew that intentions didn’t matter.

 

The damage was done. But as he watched Jake disappear down the hallway, a far more terrifying thought took root:had he irrevocably broken their friendship?

 

The next morning, driven by an almost irresistible urge, Heeseung found himself walking towards Jake’s house. He didn’t have a plan. He just knew he needed to see him, to talk to him, to try and make sense of everything.

He arrived at Jake’s house and hesitantly rang the doorbell. The door opened to reveal Sunoo, who was wearing sleepwear and had his hair sticking up in all directions. He was glaring at Heeseung, a surprisingly fierce expression on his usually cherubic face.

 

“Jake hyung is still asleep,” Sunoo said, his voice flat.

 

He didn’t invite Heeseung in, but he didn’t close the door either, holding it open just a crack. It was clear Heeseung wasn't exactly welcome, but he wasn't being turned away either.

Heeseung shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. “Oh… okay. Is it alright if I… wait?” he asked, feeling a little foolish standing on the doorstep like a lost hamster.

 

The silence stretched between them, thick and uncomfortable. Heeseung fidgeted, picking at a loose thread of his shirt. He couldn’t believe he was actually scared of a thirteen-year-old kid. Sunoo, with his fox pajamas and messy hair, looked more like a disgruntled plush toy than an intimidating interrogator. And yet, Heeseung felt a genuine sense of dread under his intense stare. Suddenly, Sunoo broke the silence, his voice small but firm.

 

“My big brother is sad,” he said, his glare in full force. “And I really don’t like it.” He crossed his arms over his chest, his little fox slippers tapping impatiently against the floor.

Heeseung swallowed hard. “I… I want to explain,” he managed, his voice barely above a whisper.

 

Sunoo didn't respond immediately. Instead, he glanced back into the house, just for a moment. In that briefest of glimpses, Heeseung saw a figure move quickly away from the hallway, disappearing into a corner.

 

It was Jake.

 

Heeseung’s heart sank. Sunoo turned back to Heeseung, his expression now tinged with a raw, almost painful sadness.

 

“You hurt him,” he said, his voice quiet, almost a whisper, as if the words themselves were a burden.

 

It wasn't an accusation, but a statement of fact, a reflection of the pain he was witnessing in his own brother.

 

“He doesn’t want to talk to you,” Sunoo retorted, his voice sharp, regaining its previous edge.

 

“Just leave him alone. Okay? Just… go, please.”

 

Heeseung looked past Sunoo, hoping against hope to catch another glimpse of Jake, but the hallway behind the younger boy was empty.

He sighed, a heavy weight settling in his chest. He knew arguing with a Sunoo was pointless, especially when that kid was clearly acting out of protectiveness for his older brother.

He gave a small nod, a gesture of defeat, and turned away, his heart heavy with regret. He knew, with a sinking heart, that he had to give Jake space. So he did.

 

He kept his distance, avoiding the usual spots where they might have crossed paths. He stopped going to the canteen, opting to eat with his other friends, the laughter and chatter around him sounding hollow and distant.

He even started taking a different route home, just to avoid the possibility of running into Jake.

 

It was torture.

 

Every time he saw Jake in the hallways, his heart would leap with a desperate urge to approach him, to explain, to apologize. But then he’d remember that look, the cold indifference that had replaced the warmth in Jake’s eyes, and he’d force himself to turn away.

The days blurred into weeks. Heeseung existed in a haze of guilt and regret, the memory of Jake’s hurt expression a constant, haunting presence. He’d replay the scene in his mind, torturing himself with every detail.

He’d imagine different scenarios, different ways he could have handled things, different ways he could have explained himself to Jake. But each scenario ended the same way: with Jake turning away, his face a mask of cold indifference.

 

 

It felt like an eternity since he’d last seen Jake smile, since he’d last heard his laughter.

Then, one morning, Heeseung woke up with a start. The light streaming through his window was different, brighter, somehow. He felt…

 

disoriented. 

 

He glanced at the calendar on his desk, his eyes widening in disbelief. Months. More than a month had passed. His breath hitched.

He blinked, focusing on the date. His fingers traced the numbers, a cold dread creeping into his stomach.

His gaze drifted to the floor, where a half-packed box—his moving box—lay open, filled with neatly folded clothes, college textbooks, and a photo when he was younger—both of them grinning, arms slung around each other, at some long-forgotten school event. Jake’s hand was giving him a playful noogie in the picture. Staring at it, the realization slammed into him: He left.

 

Without a word, without explanation, without even a backward glance to Jake.

 

He’d let so many weeks slip by, weeks that could have been spent mending their broken bond. He’d allowed the silence to fester, widening into an unbridgeable chasm. He’d clung to the naive hope that time would heal, but time had simply run out.

The weight of it all—the unspoken words, the crushing silence, the lost friendship—settled on him, heavy as the shadows lengthening across the room. His shoulders slumped.

 

Heeseung knew he’d messed up.Again.

Notes:

Well, folks, we've reached the
end of HeeJake Arc
✧*｡٩(๑˙╰╯˙๑)و✧*｡

I'm not entirely sure what just happened, but we got here! As for what the future holds... honestly, your guess is as good as mine. I'm going to go lie down for a bit and try to remember where I left the plot.

If I find it, I'll let you know. If not, maybe we can just pretend this was a fever dream.

*˙︶˙*)ﾉ

Chapter 13: 🐱- Start Arc 1

Summary:

In the crook of his father's neck, a little boy finds the safest place in the world.

The late afternoon sun, filtered through the pale blue curtains, cast long, soft shadows across the cool bedroom. Outside, cicadas buzzed their summery song, a gentle lullaby to the quiet scene unfolding within. Five-year-old Sunoo, a bundle of soft limbs and a head of dark hair the color of midnight, lay nestled against Jungwon.

 

The air conditioning hummed softly, a welcome respite from the summer heat, creating a pocket of coolness that contrasted beautifully with the comforting weight of Jungwon beside him. Sunoo’s small hand, still slightly sticky from the peach he’d devoured earlier, was tucked securely in Jungwon’s larger one. Their fingers were intertwined, a silent promise of closeness.

 

Sunoo had been playing in the garden just an hour ago, chasing butterflies with boundless energy. Now, exhaustion had caught up with him, his eyelids drooping like flower petals at dusk. He’d crawled into bed beside Jungwon, who was already resting, and without a word, snuggled close, seeking the familiar warmth and comfort.

 

Jungwon, half-asleep himself, instinctively wrapped an arm around Sunoo, pulling him closer. He felt the soft rise and fall of Sunoo’s chest against his side, the gentle warmth radiating from his small body. It was a familiar comfort, a feeling of pure, unconditional love that settled deep in his heart.

 

Sunoo’s breath hitched slightly, and he nuzzled his face into the crook of Jungwon’s neck. A small, sleepy sigh escaped his lips. Jungwon gently brushed a stray strand of dark hair from Sunoo’s forehead, his touch feather-light. He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Sunoo’s temple, a silent blessing.

 

“Appa…” Sunoo murmured, his voice barely a whisper, thick with sleep. It was a simple word, spoken unconsciously, but it resonated deeply within Jungwon. A warmth bloomed in his chest, a feeling of pure, unadulterated joy. He tightened his hold on Sunoo just slightly, a silent affirmation of his love.

 

Sunoo’s eyelids fluttered closed, his breathing becoming slow and even. He felt safe, enveloped in the warmth and security of his appa’s embrace. The cool air of the room, the soft touch of Jungwon’s hand in his, the gentle rhythm of his appa’s breathing – it was a symphony of comfort.

 

Jungwon closed his eyes too, his own weariness pulling him under. He felt Sunoo’s small body pressed against his, their hands still clasped tightly. He brought their intertwined hands closer to his chest, feeling the small pulse of Sunoo’s heart against his own.

 

He leaned down again, this time pressing a soft kiss to Sunoo’s dark hair. It smelled faintly of sunshine and peaches, a sweet reminder of the summer afternoon they’d shared. He pulled Sunoo even closer, their bodies fitting together perfectly, like two pieces of a puzzle.

 

With a final, contented sigh, Jungwon drifted off to sleep, the warmth of his pretty baby, a comforting anchor beside him. The room was filled with the quiet rhythm of their breathing, a peaceful haven in the midst of a warm summer afternoon. And as the cicadas continued their gentle song outside, the air itself seemed to hum with the quiet magic of their love, a warmth that lingered long after they’d both fallen into the deepest, sweetest of dreams.

Notes:

I know, I know, where's the JayWon? They're currently in the green room, prepping for their big scene. This is just the opening act. Try the snacks. ☆(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*

Chapter 14: 🦊

Summary:

Sunoo's dance practice just became a live performance—for the only person he didn't want to see it.

The front door clicked shut, the familiar sound of Jake’s key turning in the lock echoing through the house.

 

Sunoo, lost in his own world, didn’t even flinch. He was sprawled in the middle of the living room, currently engaged in a full-blown, no-holds-barred rendition of the latest K-Pop hit. Headphones blasting, he was a whirlwind of exaggerated movements, sharp angles, and dramatic facial expressions.

 

 

 

 

He executed a perfect (in his mind) body roll, dipping low to the ground before snapping back up with a flourish, his imaginary microphone clutched dramatically in his hand. He then transitioned into a series of intricate hand gestures, mimicking the choreography with impressive (again, in his mind) precision. He was living his best idol life, completely oblivious to the world outside his headphones.

 

He only snapped back to reality when a deeper voice cut through the muffled music, making him jump so high he nearly knocked over a nearby lamp.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Sunoo, we have a visitor.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunoo ripped off his headphones, his face flushed, his hair slightly disheveled. Jake stood in the doorway, a wide grin plastered on his face, trying very hard not to burst out laughing. Behind him, a figure stood silhouetted against the fading afternoon light.

 

 

 

 

Sunoo’s breath hitched. His heart performed a complicated dance routine of its own, a chaotic mix of frantic leaps and dizzying spins. It couldn’t be.

 

But it was.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standing in his living room, looking utterly bewildered but undeniably real, was Park Sunghoon. He was here, in the flesh, the prince charming of Sunoo’s life. Hyung knows him?!

Sunoo’s mind short-circuited. Every single dance move he’d just executed replayed in his head in excruciating detail. The dramatic hair flip, the intense gaze into the nonexistent camera, the overly enthusiastic finger hearts – all of it was now permanently etched into Sunghoon’s memory. Inner scream.

 

He felt his cheeks burn with an intensity that could rival the sun. He wanted the floor to swallow him whole.

He wanted to rewind time. He wanted to become invisible. Inner scream intensifies. 

Jake, still struggling to contain his laughter, clapped Sunghoon on the shoulder.

 

 

 

 

“Sunoo, this is Sunghoon. He’s in my history class. Sunghoon, this is my little brother, Sunoo.”

 

 

 

 

Sunghoon offered a small, hesitant smile, his eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and… something else. Sunoo couldn’t quite decipher it. Was it amusement? Confusion? Pity?

 

 

 

 

“Hello S-S-Sunghoon hyung,” Sunoo managed to squeak out, his voice cracking slightly. He hesitantly reached out and shook Sunghoon’s hand.

 

 

As Sunghoon’s firm but gentle grip brushed his fingers (thank you, Lord!), a jolt of electricity shot through Sunoo, sending a shiver down his spine.

He stared at his hand, stunned, his eyes wide. I will never wash this hand again.

 

Sunoo quickly retracted his hand, feeling his cheeks burn even hotter. He felt a strange mix of mortification and a bizarre sense of exhilaration. I had just touched Park Sunghoon!

Jake, oblivious to the internal turmoil raging within his younger brother, nudged Sunoo playfully with his elbow, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

 

“Don’t just stand there like you’ve seen a ghost. You were just showing us your… moves.”

 

Sunoo groaned inwardly. He wanted to bury himself six feet under. He stammered,

 

“I… I was just… practicing… for… uh… a… thing.” He gestured vaguely at the empty space, as if he expected a performance stage to magically materialize.

 

A small smile played on Sunghoon’s lips. God he is so handsome. 

 

“It looked… energetic,” he said, a hint of amusement, and perhaps a touch of impressed bewilderment, in his voice.

 

 

Unable to bear the scrutiny any longer, the heat in his cheeks now threatening to spontaneously combust, Sunoo mumbled a hasty,

 

“I… uh… I have to… go… uh… water my… fish,”

 

even though he didn’t own any fish, and then promptly turned and fled. He tripped over his own feet halfway down the hallway, narrowly avoiding a face-plant into the wall before scrambling to his feet and disappearing into his room, leaving Jake and a thoroughly bewildered, yet undeniably amused Sunghoon in the living room.

 

Inner scream. Level 100.

 

Chapter 15: 🦊

Summary:

Code Red: Niki's got feelings (and they involve Sunoo and ice cream).

Notes:

Warning: Fluff emergency!

My fluff reserves have officially hit critical levels, meaning uploads might be a bit sparse for the next few days. Apparently, adulting drains one's fluff supply faster than a leaky faucet.

Back to work = back to angsty me.

 

BUT! To tide you over, here's a DOUBLE UPDATE!

I'm currently undergoing mandatory fluff replenishment therapy (aka hiding under a blanket and pretending the world doesn't exist), so please bear with me while I recharge my whimsical nonsense batteries.

Jake was sprawled on his bed, phone in hand, completely engrossed in the latest chapter of his favorite webtoon.

It was a heartwarming story about two dog-owning neighbors and the slow burn of their developing romance. He was right at the peak of the story, a pivotal moment of almost-confession, when a rapid series of knocks echoed through his room.

 

Bang bang bang!

 

It wasn't a casual knock; it sounded like someone was trying to break down his bedroom door with their knuckles.

 

He jolted upright, startled, nearly dropping his phone. The dramatic music from the webtoon still played softly in his earbuds, clashing jarringly with the insistent banging.

 

"Who in the world…?" he mumbled, pausing the webtoon and pulling out his earbuds.

 

He cautiously approached the door, peering through the small gap between the door and the frame (his door had a tendency to stick).

What he saw made his eyebrows shoot up in surprise. It was Niki, his young neighbor, looking absolutely terrified. His eyes were wide, his face pale, and he was practically vibrating with anxiety. He was also still banging on the door, a frantic rhythm of bang-bang-bang-bang!

 

Jake quickly unlocked the door and pulled it open. Niki stumbled inside, practically falling into the room. He slammed the door shut behind him and leaned against it, breathing heavily as if he’d just run a marathon.

 

“Niki! What’s wrong?” Jake asked, his voice laced with concern. He crouched down to Niki’s level, trying to get a better look at him.

 

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

 

Niki’s eyes darted around the room, still wide with fear. He clutched his chest, his small hand gripping his shirt tightly.

 

“JAKEYHYUNG!EMERGENCY!CODERED!I’M… I’MFEELING!” he finally managed to gasp out, his voice a panicked whisper.

 

Jake sighed internally. This wasn't the first time Niki had burst into his room in a state of high alarm, though usually it involved a lost toy or, more often than not, a particularly energetic chase with Sunoo. This time, however, the look on Niki's face was genuinely unsettling.

 

"Feeling? What kind of feeling?" Jake asked, trying to keep his voice calm. "Did you eat a bad grape again?"

 

“No! Worse! It’s… inside me!” Niki clutched his chest dramatically.

 

“It’s like… butterflies doing the tango in my stomach, and my face feels like it’s on fire, and I keep thinking about… about Sunoo hyung!”

 

Jake blinked. Butterflies doing the tango? That was a new one. He sat back on his heels, considering this.

 

"Okay," he said slowly, "Let's break this down. You're thinking about Sunoo. And when you think about him, you feel… butterflies?"

 

"And my face gets hot!" Niki added, touching his cheeks.

 

"And sometimes I get all clumsy and drop things. And… and I get really sad when Sunoo follows… that lanky, pale boy. The one who looks like a penguin." Niki's lower lip trembled slightly.

 

Jake rubbed his chin, a flicker of amusement and then a more serious thought crossing his mind.

 

"Hmm. Butterflies, hot face, clumsiness, sadness when he's with someone else… and you’re thinking about Sunoo specifically? Is it like… you want to be around him a lot?"

 

"Yes!" Niki exclaimed. "And I want to show him my new eraser, but then I also want to keep it because it smells like strawberries!"

 

Jake chuckled. "Okay, so you want to share something with him, but you also value it yourself. And these feelings only happen when you think about Sunoo?"

 

Niki nodded vigorously.

 

"Well," Jake said, drawing out the word for dramatic effect,

"it sounds like… you might have what people call a 'crush."

 

He paused, a sudden thought striking him. He pictured Sunoo, giggling as he chased after the aforementioned "penguin boy," his eyes sparkling. Wait a minute… does Sunoo… have a crush too?! Jake thought, his eyes widening slightly.

His baby brother? Having a crush? The thought was both hilarious and slightly alarming. He shook his head slightly, pushing the thought aside for now. He had a more pressing matter at hand.

 

“A… crush?” Niki tilted his head, looking utterly perplexed. “Like when you step on a bug?”

 

“No!” Jake said, trying to suppress a grin.

 

“It’s… it’s like when you really, really like someone. You want to be around them all the time, you think they’re special…”

 

Jake struggled to find elementary-school-appropriate metaphors. “It’s like… wanting to share your best candy with them, but also wanting to keep it for yourself so you can look at it.”

 

Niki’s eyes widened. “So, like when I found that super-rare holographic Pokémon card, and I wanted to show it to Sunoo hyung, but I also wanted to keep it safe in my binder?”

 

“Exactly!” Jake beamed. “And when you see them, your heart beats faster, right?”

 

“Like when I run to catch the ice cream truck?” Niki asked, pumping his arms in a running motion.

 

Jake facepalmed. This was going to be a long afternoon. “Okay, maybe not. But it’s a good feeling, mostly. It means you care about someone.”

 

“So, caring is like wanting to keep something shiny and running fast?” Niki scribbled furiously in a small notebook he’d produced from his pocket. “Got it.”

 

Just then, the familiar tinkling melody of an ice cream truck drifted in through the open window. Niki’s ears perked up, and a hopeful look replaced the earlier panic on his face.

 

Before either of them could say anything, they heard the rapid pit-pat of feet approaching the door. It swung open to reveal Sunoo, his face flushed with excitement.

 

“Hyung! There’s an ice cream truck! Let’s go buy ice cream!” he exclaimed, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.

 

Niki's face lit up completely. The earlier distress was forgotten, replaced by pure, childlike joy. He looked at Jake, his eyes shining. "Ice cream!"

 

Jake, still slightly bewildered by the emotional rollercoaster of the past few minutes, couldn't help but smile. It seemed the universe was determined to provide a sugary resolution to Niki's existential crisis.

 

He glanced out the window and saw the brightly colored truck parked just down the street. It did look rather tempting.

 

“Okay, okay,” Jake chuckled, standing up.

 

“Let’s go before they run out of the good stuff.” He looked at Niki.

 

"You still have to go home after, though."

 

Niki's face briefly fell at the reminder, but then brightened again. The promise of ice cream was clearly a powerful motivator.

 

As they headed out, Jake couldn't help but notice the way Niki kept glancing at Sunoo, a small smile playing on his lips.

 

He recalled the earlier conversation, the butterflies and the hot face, and the way Niki had gotten sad when Sunoo was with the "penguin boy." It was becoming increasingly clear that Niki’s “feeling” was indeed centered around his little brother.

 

And then, there was the way Sunoo had practically vibrated with excitement at the prospect of ice cream, a similar energy to Niki's earlier frantic state.

Wait a minute… does Sunoo… have a crush too?!

Jake thought again, a mixture of amusement and mild concern swirling in his mind. He shook his head slightly. This was getting complicated. He’d have to keep an eye on these two.

 

 

Chapter 16: 🦊

Summary:

Love, according to an elementary kid, involves pockets, candy, and a healthy dose of misinterpretation.

The triple scoop ice cream was melting faster than a snowman in July. Sunoo, ever the neat one, delicately licked his cone, while Niki’s face was smeared with chocolate and strawberry, looking like a delicious abstract painting. Jake, having finished his considerably less messy single scoop of mint chocolate chip, checked his watch.

 

“Alright, you two, I gotta head back. My webtoon isn’t going to read itself.”

 

He ruffled Sunoo’s hair and gave Niki a playful nudge. “Don’t cause too much trouble.”

 

With Jake gone, an almost comfortable silence settled between Sunoo and Niki. They stood by the roadside just outside Sunoo’s house, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows.

 

Sunoo, having finished his ice cream, watched as Niki valiantly attempted to consume the remainder of his melting mountain of frozen delight.

 

“You know,” Sunoo said, breaking the silence,

 

“you always get the biggest ice cream. Even bigger than Hyung’s.” Niki paused mid-lick, a glob of strawberry clinging precariously to his chin. Biggest ice cream means biggest happiness, right? he thought, trying to justify the sticky mess.

 

“It’s because… I like it a lot,” he mumbled through a mouthful of ice cream.

 

Sunoo giggled. “I can tell.” He reached over and gently wiped the smear of ice cream from Niki’s chin with a napkin.

 

“There you go.”

 

Niki’s stomach did a weird flip-flop, his fingers tightening around the melting cone.

 

He remembered Jake’s words from earlier: “It’s like… wanting to share your best candy with them, but also wanting to keep it for yourself so you can look at it.”

 

He looked at Sunoo, his gentle smile, the way the sunlight caught in his hair, and a strange feeling bubbled up inside him. He did want to share his ice cream, but he also… wanted to keep Sunoo’s attention all to himself. Like a really cool toy he doesn't want anyone else to touch.

 

“Sunoo hyung,” Niki said, his voice suddenly serious, “do you… like ice cream?”

 

He blinked, slightly taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. “Uh, yeah? It’s pretty good.”

 

“Like… really good?” Niki persisted, taking a small step closer to Sunoo. “Like… the best thing ever?”

 

He chuckled. “Well, not the best thing ever. But I like it a lot.”

 

Niki’s brow furrowed. He remembered another of Jake’s explanations: “And when you see them, your heart beats faster, right?”

 

His heart was beating faster, but he wasn’t sure if it was from the sugar rush or something else entirely.

 

“Does your heart…go fast?” he asked, placing a hand over his own chest.

 

Sunoo placed his own hand over his heart, feigning seriousness.

 

“Hmm, let me check… Nope, seems pretty normal.” He grinned. “Are you okay, Niki?”

 

Niki nodded quickly, his mind racing. He was trying to piece together the puzzle of these new, confusing feelings.

 

Jake had also said: “It’s a good feeling, mostly. It means you care about someone.”

 

He definitely cared about Sunoo. They played together all the time, they shared secrets, they even sometimes shared toys (though Niki was usually reluctant). But this… this felt different. It felt… more.

 

“Sunoo hyung” Niki said again, this time his voice quieter,

 

 

“I think… I think I want to keep you.”

 

 

 

Sunoo’s smile faltered slightly. “Keep me? Like… keep me where?”

 

 

Niki, completely misinterpreting Jake’s candy metaphor, elaborated.

 

“Like… in my pocket! So I can look at you whenever I want! And… and share my best candy with you! But also… keep it for myself… so I can look at it.” Like my favorite marble, but… alive.

 

He nodded, a look of dawning understanding on his face. “That’s… that’s what Jake Hyung said love is.”

 

Sunoo's eyebrows shot up, a small smile playing on his lips as he looked at Niki. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.

 

“Niki…,” Sunoo began, tilting his head slightly, “I don’t think that’s what love is.”

 

But the seed had been planted. In Niki’s mind, love translated directly to a mission of unwavering close proximity. From then on, he shadowed Sunoo’s every move, an almost unsettlingly earnest fixture by his side, whether Sunoo wanted him there or not.

 

Back in his room, Jake, completely oblivious to the sheer comedic chaos he’d wrought, was happily engrossed in his webtoon. He had no idea he had accidentally created a tiny, sugar-fueled, and hilariously devoted (and slightly concerning) love monster.

Chapter 17: 🐱

Summary:

Jay's perfectly gray life was about to get a whole lot messier—and a whole lot more colorful.

Jay’s world was a perfectly respectable shade of… well, gray. His apartment? Gray. His couch? Gray. His clothes? Gray. Even his toast, if he wasn't careful, tended towards a pale, ashy gray. 

 

His days unfolded with the gentle rhythm of a lullaby. Work, home, sleep, occasional grocery run, repeat. 

 

He had no hobbies, no friends to speak of, no family to disturb the quiet hum of his existence. His routine was a steady, unwavering melody, a carefully curated tranquility that suited him perfectly. 

 

 

 

Until one particularly ordinary Sunday morning, the insistent buzz of the doorbell, not a polite chime but a relentless, demanding brrrring, shattered the quiet and nudged him from sleep.

 

Jay still half-asleep, groggy and disoriented  blinked. He wasn't expecting anyone. He never expected anyone.

 

He tried snuggling deeper beneath his gray duvet, hoping the interruption would simply vanish like a dream. But the buzzing persisted, growing a tad louder, a tad more insistent. 

 

Jay, now fully awake, sighed and reluctantly emerged from his warm cocoon. He padded softly to the door, his bare feet whispering against the cool gray floor.

 

His finger pressed the small, sleek screen by the door, and it sprang to life, displaying a live feed from the camera outside, revealing… nothing. 

 

Half-convinced it was a phantom thing, a trick of the drowsy gray mind, Jay began to walk back. But as he was about to return to the comforting embrace of his gray duvet, a door knock—not a polite tap, but a firm, insistent thump against his gray door knock nudged him to check back.

 

With a sigh of resignation, he reluctantly opened the door to a blast of harsh, bright light and the sight of an empty hallway. 

 

He gave a short, dismissive snort, pinching his eyebrows together in a brief frown. Kids these days, he muttered, certain it was just another prank. But then he heard it. A giggle. 

 

A bright, tinkling sound, like tiny bells giggle. 

 

Jay’s gaze slowly drifted downwards… first to a shock of crimson… then to the source of the sound. At his feet sat a bright red duffle bag, looking ridiculously cheerful against the gray concrete floor. And beside it, a baby.

 

A small baby, maybe eight or nine months old, was bundled in a bright blue jacket and a cheerful yellow beanie. His eyes, the warm, rich brown of chocolate, were wide and curious as he gazed up at Jay. Rosy cheeks framed a gummy smile that stretched across his face, revealing two tiny bottom teeth. The smile was a jolt of pure warmth, a feeling he hadn't experienced in… he couldn't even recall... 

 

The baby giggles again, a bright, bubbling sound that seemed to chase away the shadows clinging to the corners of Jay’s vision. And suddenly, everything to Jay was… not gray.

Chapter 18: 🐱

Summary:

For Jay, chaos was a misplaced comma. Then a baby showed up.

Jay stared, utterly bewildered. He was used to finding parcels on his doorstep. This… this was not a parcel. This was a baby. He hadn’t ordered a baby. He didn’t even know any babies.

 

His social life consisted of… well, nothing, really. Unless you counted meticulously alphabetizing his spice rack and precisely calibrating his coffee maker social activities. Which, to Jay, they were.

 

He didn’t even have a boyfriend, let alone a sex life that could conceivably result in… this.

So why was there a baby in front of him! ?

 

Jay was a creature of habit. Surprises were threats, loud noises assaults, and schedule changes apocalyptic. He had a specific time for his morning toast (7:17 am, precisely golden brown), a designated chair for reading the newspaper (the one with the slightly less lumpy cushion), and a rigid schedule for… well, everything.

So why was there a baby in front of him! ?

 

This was an existential crisis of epic proportions. His life was a fortress against chaos, every minute planned, every sense shielded. Predictability was his sanctuary. He even had a spreadsheet for his sock drawer, categorized by color, thickness, and level of fluffiness.

So why was there a baby in front of him! ?

 

A tiny, gurgling, undeniably real baby, bundled in a bright yellow blanket, wearing a tiny blue jacket and a ridiculously oversized yellow beanie, lying in a ridiculously oversized laundry basket.

 

It looked like someone had raided a sunshine factory and then accidentally dropped a small, bundled-up cloud on his doorstep.

 

And, Jay had to admit, he was… undeniably cute. All chubby cheeks and big, curious eyes. But cute or not, it was a baby. A tiny, unpredictable human being who threatened to dismantle his carefully constructed world with a single, high-pitched squeal.

 

Jay was pacing back and forth, his bare feet padding softly against the hardwood floor. He never thought he would wake up from something like this. He’d had nightmares about running out of decaf coffee, about the newspaper arriving five minutes late, but never… this. This was beyond the pale.

This was… baby.

 

As he paced, carefully avoiding stepping on the laundry basket (and therefore, the baby), he noticed a bright red duffle bag beside it. It looked like something a particularly flamboyant elf might carry.

 

Instinctively, and with a deep sense of foreboding, he opened it. Inside, nestled among a mountain of tiny, impossibly cute clothes, was a white crumpled envelope.

 

He gingerly picked it up, as if it might explode. It was addressed simply to:

“Mr. Park Jay”.

 

Well, that was him. He reluctantly unfolded the letter. The text was printed in a clear, sans-serif font, like something generated by a computer.

 

 

“Dear Jay,

Surprise! It’s your cousin’s baby, Sunoo. I am unable to care for him at this time due to unforeseen travel plans. I honestly don’t know when I’ll be back. You are the only available relative. He enjoys being sung to, dislikes tummy time, and is fascinated by shiny objects. The duffle bag contains formula, diapers, and a detailed instruction manual. I’ll send money whenever I can, so please don’t worry about expenses.

Sincerely,

Mina (Your Cousin)

 

 

Jay blinked. A nephew… or rather, his cousin’s baby? Unforeseen travel plans with an unknown return date? A cousin he barely remembered meeting at some excruciating family gathering a decade ago?

 

This was worse than running out of coffee and the newspaper being delivered on the wrong day. He looked from the letter to the baby, who was now cheerfully chewing on his own fist, the ridiculously oversized yellow beanie threatening to swallow his entire head.

 

He gurgled, a sound that, under normal circumstances, Jay would have found utterly disruptive. But right now, it sounded…almost…like a question. A tiny, gurgling question mark that threatened to rewrite his entire existence.

 

The fact that Mina mentioned sending money was… well, irrelevant. Jay was more than comfortable financially; it was the baby part that was throwing him.

 

He cleared his throat. “Well, Sunoo,” he said, his voice a little shaky. “It appears we have a situation.” He looked down at Sunoo, who was now staring at his bare feet with wide, fascinated eyes. He wiggled his toes experimentally. Sunoo giggled. Jay sighed.

 

This was going to require a serious schedule adjustment. And possibly, a new spreadsheet. One titled: “Operation: Baby (Indefinite Duration).”

Chapter 19: 🐱

Summary:

Penniless, diaperless, and publicly humiliated? Luckily, a diaper angel was watching from aisle three.

Jay was struggling. Hard. His perfectly ordered world had been overthrown by a tiny, drooling, diaper-wearing tyrant. Sleep was a distant memory. His apartment was a disaster zone. And he was pretty sure he hadn’t showered in three days. He needed help. Desperately.

 

Just yesterday, as baby Sunoo unleashed his inner demon—a relentless torrent of cries that drove Jay to a moment of sheer desperation bordering on madness—he picked up his phone and called Mina’s parents. Hoping against hope that they would take Sunoo. He barely knew them, but hey, grandparents, right? Wrong. The phone call had been… unpleasant.

 

The words “sin,” “disgrace,” and “unforgivable” echoed in his ears long after he’d hung up, his hand shaking. He could still feel the heat of his anger, a rare and unsettling emotion that felt like a rogue element in his otherwise ordered world. Sunoo’s grandparents wanted nothing to do with him, their grandson, because he was conceived out of wedlock. They’d even dared to suggest…an orphanage. The word hung in the air, heavy with cruelty. The thought of abandoning Sunoo, this tiny, innocent baby, in such a cold, impersonal place made something inside him snap.

 

He looked at the playmat where Sunoo was now happily gurgling, oblivious to the family drama unfolding around him, batting at a brightly colored toy like nothing was amiss. This tiny, vulnerable human being, rejected by his own grandparents, tossed aside like a slightly used fruitcake. No. Absolutely not. He was Sunoo’s family now.

 

He would be everything those cold, heartless people refused to be. He would be present. He would be supportive. He would be the dad. This was it. There was no other choice. It was a big responsibility, he thought, a sense of quiet determination settling over him as he watched the gurgling baby. A very big, very small, very drooly responsibility. And he was going to nail it.

 

So, he did the only logical thing a sleep-deprived, newly single parent could do: he filed for leave. Which triggered a Code Red in his company's HR. Jay Park, requesting time off? Jay Park—Is he dying?

 

They were halfway through dispatching an ambulance to his apartment – fearing the worst, naturally – when he managed to clarify that he wasn’t expiring, but merely… parenting.  

 

The transformation was instantaneous... 

 

The company chat, previously a desolate landscape of project updates and passive-aggressive meeting invites, was now a vibrant hub of baby-related chatter. Unsolicited advice on everything from sleep training to organic baby food (and, bafflingly, breastfeeding) flooded his inbox. They were incredibly supportive, of course, presenting him with a surprisingly comprehensive "Jay's Parental Leave Contingency Plan" binder. He explained his plan to dedicate himself to Sunoo until he found a suitable nanny, and they were completely supportive, assuring him his job was safe and enthusiastically proposing a company-wide diaper-changing workshop.

 

The next few days were then a blur of sleep deprivation and baby-induced chaos. Sleep was a distant legend and meals were a culinary tragedy of cold leftovers consumed one-handed while bouncing a demanding tiny demon human.

 

He’d just finally managed to wrestle squirmy baby Sunoo onto the makeshift changing pad, ready for a fresh diaper, when he discovered the true test, the ultimate parental trial by fire: no diapers. Jay stared at the empty bag, its plastic crinkling mockingly in the sudden silence. A single, high-pitched, almost bird-like, hysterical laugh escaped his lips. He never thought he could be driven mad by a diaper deficiency. He’d imagined madness would involve interpretive dance or a sudden obsession with collecting spoons. Not this.

 

Looking like he'd crawled out of a tired, spit-up-covered dumpster, Jay bundled Sunoo into his arms. His hair resembled a bird’s nest, dark circles rimmed his eyes, and a constellation of dried milk and spit adorned his already questionable t-shirt. He and baby Sunoo trudged towards the nearby convenience store to get the needed diapers. That was it. One simple task. Easy right? No it's not. 

 

Jay staggered into the convenience store, the automatic doors sliding open with a sigh that mirrored his own. He grabbed the diapers, imagining the sweet relief of a clean baby. At the checkout, as the cashier began scanning, Jay reached into his pocket… and time stopped. The world went silent. A dramatic spotlight shone down on the empty space where his wallet should have been. He’d left his wallet – and his phone – at home.

This was how his life ended: penniless, diaperless, and publicly humiliated in aisle three.

 

“Is everything alright, sir?” the cashier asked, her voice laced with the kind of practiced concern that suggested she’d seen this rodeo many times before.

 

Jay could only manage a weak, strangled whisper, “I… I forgot my wallet.” He braced himself for the inevitable walk of shame. Before he could even begin, a voice, calm and unexpected, spoke up from behind him.

 

“I can get that.”

 

Jay turned, blinking through his near-tears, to see a young man with striking, cat-like eyes, offering a warm smile. He was dressed in jeans and a simple t-shirt

 

“It’s no problem,” the man said, reaching into his own wallet. His breath caught in his throat, and his eyes stung. He felt a lump forming, and he swallowed hard, trying to dislodge it. A wave of heat rushed to his face, making his ears burn.

 

“Oh, no, I can’t…” he managed, his voice barely a whisper. His hand trembling, he gestured toward the diapers and the cashier.

 

“I mean, I can pay you back. I just… I don’t have my phone either… I can run home…” he stammered, his words tumbling over each other in his haste. He could feel the cashier’s polite, but undoubtedly pitying gaze, and the thought made the flush on his cheeks deepen to crimson.

 

The man just smiled again, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and glanced down at Sunoo, who, bless his oblivious heart, was now babbling happily and reaching out a chubby hand towards the stranger. “It’s a gift,” he said, his voice warm and friendly. “He’s so cute.”

 

With a final nod and dazzling smile, the man vanished into the crowd, leaving Jay stunned and clutching the diapers like a winning lottery ticket. He didn’t know what to say but he felt like he’d just been rescued by a diaper-angel.

 

Back in the apartment, Jay carefully lowered the sleeping Sunoo onto the futon, a soft exhale escaping his lips. The living room resembled the aftermath of a pillow fight gone nuclear—plush toys lay strewn across the floor, pastel blankets draped over furniture like defeated flags, and colorful plastic gadgets littered every surface. He began tidying, tossing a squeaky hamster into a basket, folding a blanket, then scrubbed the mountain of dishes that had been steadily accumulating. As he scrubbed at a particularly stubborn bit of dried formula, he found himself replaying the day’s events: the phone call, the forgotten wallet, the… diaper angel. He shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

 

With the apartment slightly tidier, a hot bath beckoned. He tested the water and gently lowered the now-awake Sunoo in. The moment the warm water touched his skin, Sunoo transformed into a splashing, giggling miniature aquatic ninja. Jay chuckled, the sound genuine despite the lingering smell of baby formula. Watching Sunoo’s pure joy was… well, it was kind of amazing. The lavender-scented wash creating a small sanctuary.

 

Later, clean and dressed in fresh clothes too, Jay lay on the playmat, utterly spent, staring at the ceiling. He felt as though he could sleep for a week, the day’s events having drained him to his core.

 

Then suddenly, a gentle tug on his shirt interrupted his drowsiness. He looked down to see Sunoo, looking impossibly small and sweet in his fresh onesie, reaching out and grabbing Jay’s pinky finger. He held on tight, his big eyes fixed on Jay’s face. In his other hand, Sunoo clutched the TV remote, occasionally hitting a button and causing the TV to flicker with static. A gummy smile spread across his face, revealing two tiny bottom teeth.

 

Something in Jay’s chest loosened. The initial drowsiness gave way to a warmth that spread through him, chasing away the last vestiges of exhaustion. It was a feeling he’d never quite known before, a deep, quiet joy that resonated in his very bones. He looked down at Sunoo and smiled back, his heart overflowing. He gently scooped Sunoo up into his arms, and as he did, Sunoo let out a soft, delighted giggle, a soft, delighted sound that went straight to Jay’s heart.

 

The weight of him, the soft scent of baby powder, the quiet warmth radiating from Sunoo—it was all he needed. A gentle wave of sleepiness washed over Jay, pulling him towards the edge of slumber. On his chest, Sunoo’s breathing deepened, his small body relaxing completely. He may have been covered in puke and emotionally drained just hours before, but he wasn't alone. He had Sunoo, his small anchor in the encroaching darkness. And as they both slipped into dreamland, that was everything.

 

Notes:

SunSunKi returns next week, and the sparks are about to fly. ♡(*´ω｀*)/♡

Chapter 20: 🦊

Summary:

One wants strawberry milk, the other wants true love. What could possibly go wrong?

The gymnasium of Seoul High buzzed with the chaotic energy of the annual School Festival. The latest K-pop hits blasted from the sound system, mixing with the squeak of sneakers on the polished floor and the excited chatter of students. Amidst the chaos, Sunoo, now fifteen and a sophomore, found himself trapped in a purple-shawled prison. His class, in a fit of fundraising frenzy, had decided a fortune-telling booth, inspired by the mystical vibes in K-pop MVs, was the way to go. And they’d, of course, chosen him.

 

“You’re dramatic enough,” a classmate had chirped, handing Sunoo a dusty box of tarot cards she’d “borrowed” from her aunt.

 

“Just throw in some mystical hand gestures, maybe quote some lyrics from a K-pop song, and boom! Instant cash! Think of it as a… comeback stage, but for your wallet!”

 

She’d even provided a crash course in fortune-telling lingo, a bizarre mix of vague pronouncements and made-up prophecies, peppered with references to popular K-pop concepts like soulmates, past lives, and destined encounters. She also promised him a commission for his troubles. So, Sunoo had to admit, the prospect of earning some extra cash for that limited-edition strawberry milk (the one with the cute character packaging) was rather tempting.

 

Sunoo, with his flair for the dramatic but zero actual psychic abilities, reluctantly agreed. He couldn’t exactly say no to his classmates. And, he had to admit, the prospect of earning some extra cash for that limited-edition strawberry milk was rather tempting.

 

So, armed with the questionable tarot deck, his classmate’s dubious advice ringing in his ears, and a purple shawl that smelled faintly of mothballs, Sunoo set up shop in a quiet corner near the refreshment stand, right next to the booth selling photocard sleeves. He’d commandeered a small table and draped it with a velvet cloth, creating a makeshift fortune-telling booth. A single desk lamp, precariously balanced on a stack of textbooks (including his well-worn copy of “Theories of K-Pop Fandom”), cast long, dramatic shadows, adding to the (fake) air of mystery. To his surprise, business was… booming.

 

He was about to declare a strawberry milk break when the makeshift curtain of his booth was yanked open.

 

And there stood Niki. Sunoo’s eyes widened in horror. Standing before him, framed by the now-flapping curtain and looking utterly bewildered, was the bane of his existence, the human equivalent of a particularly persistent mosquito. Niki. Of all the people at Seoul High, it had to be him.

 

Sunoo didn’t really get Niki. Even now, as a thirteen-year-old freshman, Niki was still… Niki. Clingy. But now, that clinginess was accompanied by a new, unsettling layer of teasing. Sunoo chalked it up to puberty. He was older, fifteen now, and he just didn’t understand these newfangled teenage boy behaviors.

 

Add that it was especially annoying because Niki was getting taller. Alarmingly so. He was catching up to Sunoo’s height, a fact Niki took great delight in pointing out. Sunoo momentarily bowed his head, a hand coming up to ruffle his own hair in a gesture of exasperated resignation. He let out a small sigh, finally lifting his gaze to meet Niki’s grinning face.

 

“Sunoo?” Niki asked, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Are you…telling fortunes?”

 

He gestured vaguely at the tarot cards scattered on the table, then at the purple shawl draped around Sunoo’s shoulders.

 

“You look like a grape that got lost in a magician’s closet.”

 

Sunoo groaned inwardly. This was a disaster. He straightened his shawl, trying to salvage some semblance of dignity.

 

“It’s Sunoo Hyung to you, you monkey,” he hissed, lowering his voice so only Niki could hear.

 

“And this is a legitimate business venture. Very serious. Very mystical.”

 

Niki’s grin widened. “Your monkey,” he repeated, completely ignoring the reprimand, a playful glint in his eyes. He leaned closer, resting his elbows on the table, invading Sunoo’s personal space. The scent of his cologne, something fresh and citrusy with a hint of something warm and musky, filled Sunoo’s nostrils. Sunoo just wanted him to go away.

 

“So, Grape Hyung, what does the future hold for me?”

 

Sunoo rolled his eyes, trying to ignore the way his heart rate had picked up. He was pretty sure he was developing early-onset heart disease, all thanks to Niki. He grabbed a random card from the deck – The Tower, depicting a crumbling structure – and dramatically held it up. “Disaster,” he declared, trying to keep his voice steady.

 

“Imminent and unavoidable. Probably involving… a severe case of annoyingness.”

 

Niki chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Is that your professional opinion?” He winked, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. “Or are you just saying that because I’m here?”

 

Sunoo just glared. "Both," he mumbled, his voice a little sharper than intended. He shuffled the cards again, trying to regain his composure. “Now, if you’re not going to take this seriously…”

 

“Oh, I’m taking it very seriously,” Niki interrupted, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He leaned in even closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Tell me, Grape Hyung,” he breathed, his gaze locking onto Sunoo’s, “will I ever find… true love?”

 

Sunoo’s head tilted slightly, his brows furrowing. His eyes, usually bright and expressive, clouded with a momentary confusion before fumbling with the cards again, his fingers suddenly clumsy. He picked another card – The Lovers – and showed it to Niki, a playful smirk tugging at his lips despite his inner annoyance.

 

“It says… your true love is near,” Sunoo said. He paused, then added with a dry chuckle, a slight wrinkle of his nose accompanying it.

 

“Though anyone with that kind of… preference… ew. Someone actually likes you? They’ve definitely got… interesting taste.”

 

Niki burst out laughing, a warm, genuine sound that made Sunoo’s cutely pout.

 

“Excellent taste, huh?” He tapped his chin thoughtfully, his eyes never leaving Sunoo’s. “I wonder who that could be.”

 

He then proceeded to list various traits of his ideal type, his voice laced with playful teasing, but a subtle tremor ran through his voice as he began to describe them, a hint of vulnerability peeking through the playful facade.

 

"Someone who's dramatic, but in a cute way," he said, his gaze lingering on Sunoo's expressive eyes.

 

"Someone with soft features," he continued, his eyes tracing the delicate line of Sunoo's jaw. And finally, with a soft smile, a fleeting look of something akin to longing crossing his features,

 

"Someone who looks amazing in purple." A curious expression settled on Sunoo’s face, Purple? Does he like Barney? 

 

Niki then leaned in even closer, so close Sunoo could feel his warm breath ghosting over his cheek.

 

“You know,” he murmured, his voice low and smooth. “I have a feeling…my destiny is right here.” He gestured between himself and Sunoo with a subtle tilt of his head.

 

Sunoo’s brow furrowed. He glanced around the tent, taking in the two other students, his classmates, who were also busy giving (and receiving) equally dubious tarot readings at their own tables. His gaze returned to Niki, a genuinely intrigued look flickering across his features before quickly fading back into his usual annoyed expression. He didn’t understand what Niki was getting at.

 

“Maybe the cards were right.”

 

Right about what? he thought, his stomach twisting into an odd knot. About disaster? 

 

He looked back at Niki, a flicker of intrigue still lingering in his eyes. Niki, as if sensing the shift, reached out and ruffled Sunoo’s meticulously styled hair, effectively undoing all of Sunoo’s careful preening. He met Niki’s gaze for a brief, confused moment before quickly looking away, a frown tugging at his lips as he smoothed down the hair Niki had just ruffled.

 

What was he talking about? There was a strange intensity in Niki’s gaze that Sunoo couldn’t quite place. He opened his mouth to ask, to try and decipher the riddle in Niki’s eyes, but just then…

 

The tent flap swung open, and a wave of heat and perfume washed over them. A small influx of female students, all with barely-concealed crushes on Niki, crowded into the tent, raising the temperature considerably.

 

Suddenly, the thought of who Niki's crush is was replaced with the image of the cold, sweet strawberry milk, the one with the cartoon bear on the carton, a beacon in this now purple-shawled hell. Sweat prickled on Sunoo's forehead, the heat in the tent intensifying with the influx of students. He felt himself overheating, the purple shawl suddenly feeling suffocating. He needed that strawberry milk. He needed it now, not just for the taste, but for the icy relief it would bring.

 

 

Chapter 21: 🦊

Summary:

The dog park: Where tails wag, hearts flutter, and Sunoo makes a hasty exit in a cloud of confusion and blush.

The late afternoon sun cast long, honeyed shadows across the sprawling expanse of the dog park. The air, thick with the scent of freshly cut grass, damp earth, and a faint undercurrent of wet dog fur, hummed with the joyful chaos of canine interaction. A cacophony of barks, yaps, and playful growls filled the air, punctuated by the occasional shriek of laughter from a child or the distant rumble of traffic.

 

Golden retrievers, their coats gleaming like polished gold in the sunlight, chased after errant tennis balls, their tails wagging furiously. A tiny Pomeranian, a fluffy white cloud on four miniature legs, barked imperiously at a lumbering Great Dane, seemingly oblivious to the size disparity. Jake, a human blur of energy, weaved through the canine pandemonium, his own laughter mingling with the excited barks as he playfully dodged a slobbery kiss from a German Shepherd.

 

Sunoo, however, was only partially present in this vibrant scene. He sat beside Sunghoon at a weathered picnic table, the rough wood warm beneath his fingertips, but his gaze was fixed on some distant point beyond the park’s perimeter. The events of the school festival replayed in his mind, a persistent loop of purple shawls, whispered confessions, and the unsettling intensity of Niki’s gaze.

 

Niki has a crush? Who is it?

 

The question echoed in his mind, a nagging melody he couldn't shake. Sunghoon had noticed Sunoo’s unusual quietness since they’d started their walk to the park. Sunoo was never silent; he was usually a constant stream of chatter, commenting on everything from the fluffy clouds to the particularly stylish dog collars. His unusual silence had been immediately noticeable.

 

Sunghoon, observing Sunoo’s faraway expression, reached into his backpack and pulled out two ice-cold cans of Coke. The condensation beaded on the aluminum, leaving damp rings on the picnic table. He gently pressed one of the cans against Sunoo’s cheek. The sudden chill made Sunoo jump, a small gasp escaping his lips. He blinked, his dark eyes widening in surprise before focusing on Sunghoon’s concerned face.

 

“Earth to Sun,” Sunghoon teased, a gentle smile curving his lips. “You’ve been staring into space for the past ten minutes. Anything you want to share?”

 

Sunoo hesitated, his gaze flickering back to the bustling dog park before returning to Sunghoon. He shifted in his seat, turning his torso fully to face him.

 

“It’s about Niki,” he began, lowering his voice as if sharing a deep secret. “We had this festival at school… and Niki came to my booth.”

 

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, listening patiently as Sunoo launched into a dramatic recounting of the fortune-telling incident. Sunoo mimicked Niki’s hushed tone and exaggerated his own pronouncements, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation.

 

“And then,” Sunoo continued, his voice laced with comical disbelief, “he started describing his ‘ideal type’. He said… ‘someone who’s dramatic, but in a cute way’,” Sunoo emphasized the word "cute," widening his eyes and tilting his head in a perfect imitation of Niki.

 

“Like, hello? Who isn’t dramatic in a cute way? It’s practically a requirement for being a teenager.” Sunghoon bit back a laugh, a fond smile tugging at his lips. He remembered an eleven-year-old Niki, small but fierce, glaring at him with a possessiveness that had been both amusing and slightly alarming. Kids these days can be so angsty, he mused inwardly.

 

Sunoo continued his story, his voice rising in pitch as he recounted Niki’s descriptions. “‘Someone with soft features,’ and then he looked at me like… like he was trying to memorize my face,” Sunoo shuddered dramatically, wrapping his arms around himself. “And the worst part? ‘Someone who looks amazing in purple!’”

 

Sunghoon paused, a playful glint in his eyes. “Were you wearing purple that time, Sun?”

 

Sunoo gasped, his hands flying to cover his mouth. His eyes widened, gleaming with excitement. “How did you know that, hyung? Are you a psychic?”

 

Sunghoon chuckled, taking a long swig of his Coke. The cool liquid slid down his throat, a refreshing contrast to the warm afternoon. “Just a lucky guess,” he said, his eyes still twinkling.

 

Sunoo, however, was not convinced. He leaned closer, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “No, seriously! How did you know?” He shook his head, momentarily forgetting his earlier frustration with Niki. “Anyway,” he continued, returning to his story, “I was wearing purple! It was practically neon purple! How could he not be talking about someone in purple?” Sunghoon chuckled again, shaking his head. Sunoo's obliviousness was truly astounding.

 

Sunoo crossed his arms over his chest, a pout forming on his full lips. “And then he said his ‘destiny’ was right there! But he wouldn’t tell me who he likes! He just kept saying these vague things! It’s so frustrating!”

 

Sunghoon’s smile softened. He reached out and gently nudged Sunoo’s shoulder with his own. “So, you think Niki has a crush?”

 

“Duh!” Sunoo exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation. “He practically spelled it out! But he knows who my crush is! We’re best friends! Why won’t he just tell me?”

 

Sunghoon considered this for a moment, taking another sip of his Coke. “Maybe he’s… nervous?” he suggested gently. “Maybe he’s worried about how you’ll react.”

 

Sunoo scoffed. “Nervous? Niki? Please. He’s fearless! He’d probably wrestle a bear if he had the chance.”

 

“Even fearless people get nervous sometimes, Sunoo,” Sunghoon said softly.

 

“Especially when it comes to things like… feelings.” He paused, choosing his words carefully, his gaze drifting towards Jake, who was now engaged in a fierce competition with a Border Collie for a bright red frisbee. Jake was leaping and reaching, his face flushed with exertion, but the Border Collie, with its superior agility and laser focus, seemed to have the upper hand.

 

“Maybe he’s waiting for the right time. Or maybe he’s trying to figure things out for himself first.”

 

Sunoo frowned, picking at a loose thread on his jeans.

 

“But… it’s me! We tell each other everything! Well… almost everything.”

 

He looked up at Sunghoon, his expression filled with genuine confusion. “It just doesn’t make sense.”

 

Sunghoon’s smile widened, a playful glint entering his eyes. He tilted his head slightly, meeting Sunoo’s gaze.

 

“Oh? He knows who your crush is?” He paused, drawing out the moment. “Then who is your crush, Sunoo?”

 

The air crackled with a sudden, charged silence. The sounds of the dog park seemed to fade into the background. Then, a slow, crimson blush bloomed across Sunoo’s face, starting at his neck and quickly spreading upwards until his ears were burning. His eyes widened in a mixture of panic and embarrassment. He stuttered, his gaze flickering down for a brief moment before returning to Sunghoon. A subtle tightening of his jaw, a fleeting compression of his lips that hinted at a sudden realization, passed across his face.

 

“it's... It's a S-SECRET! ” he blurted out, before turning and sprinting across the dog park, his cheeks flushed like ripe tomatoes. He veered towards a group of dogs playing near his brother, Jake, seamlessly joining their playful chaos as if trying to outrun the blush still burning on his face.

 

Sunghoon watched him go, a warm grin spreading across his face as he takes another swig of the drink.

 

“Cute,” he murmured to himself, shaking his head with a fond chuckle.

Chapter 22: 🦊

Summary:

Sunoo's on a mission to find Niki's crush.

Days after the whirlwind of the school festival, the school settled back into its usual rhythm. The colorful booths had been dismantled, the loud music silenced, and the lingering scent of takoyaki and cotton candy had finally faded. But for Sunoo, a lingering question remained, planted like a seed during the festival.

 

Who is Niki's crush? 

Who is Niki's crush? 

Who is Niki's crush? 

 

 

Sunoo, a master of stealth (in his own mind), was on a mission of utmost importance:

 

Operation: Find Niki’s Crush.

 

 

 

 

 

Attempt #1: The Canteen Caper (Rock, Paper, Chicken Ball!). Sunoo, believing the canteen to be a hotbed of budding romance, decided to observe Niki during their shared lunch. He sat across from Niki, ostensibly focused on his suspiciously green-looking pasta, but his eyes were constantly darting around, searching for clues. He envisioned himself a seasoned detective, a regular Sherlock Holmes of high school romance. In reality, he looked more like a squirrel trying to solve a Rubik's cube.

 

Was that a lingering glance at the dessert display? Did Niki’s smile seem a tad brighter when someone walked past? The possibilities swirled in Sunoo's mind, each potential crush a suspect in his grand investigation.

 

However, Sunoo’s keen observational skills were quickly overridden by another pressing matter: the irresistible allure of chicken balls. Niki’s plate was piled high with the golden, crispy spheres of deliciousness, each one glistening enticingly and emitting a mouthwatering aroma of savory spices and lightly sweet batter. Sunoo's stomach rumbled in protest. His detective's focus wavered. The chicken balls were calling to him, a siren song of deliciousness.

 

Sunoo, well, Sunoo was only human. Instead of subtly observing, he found himself drawn into a chicken-ball-induced trance. Niki, noticing Sunoo's captivated gaze, subtly began offering him chicken balls. He picked one up with his chopsticks, the golden-brown orb looking particularly delectable against the backdrop of his chopsticks, and extended it towards Sunoo. A tiny crinkle appeared at the corner of Niki's eye, a telltale sign of his amusement. He knew exactly what he was doing. Sunoo, initially hesitant, leaned forward, a wide smile spreading across his face, his leg swaying slightly under the table.

 

He accepted the offering with increasing enthusiasm, completely forgetting his mission. One chicken ball became two, then three. The crispy exterior gave way to a tender, juicy interior, the savory flavors dancing on Sunoo's tongue.

 

Niki, meanwhile, watched with quiet amusement as Sunoo devoured the chicken balls, his cheeks puffing out slightly with each bite. He’d deftly pluck another chicken ball from his plate and offer it to Sunoo, who accepted each one with a happy little wiggle of his eyebrows. He was so focused on the steady stream of chicken-y goodness delivered via Niki's chopsticks that any chance of actual crush investigation flew right out the window. Sunoo's inner Sherlock Holmes had been completely and utterly bribed.

 

Note to self: Niki is incredibly generous. Also, chicken balls delivered via chopsticks are highly effective distractions. Especially when they smell that good.

 

 

Attempt #2: The Dance Studio Debacle (Scarf-tastrophe) : Convinced Niki’s dance practice was prime crush-spotting territory, Sunoo donned his disguise: a huge, brightly patterned head scarf that completely obscured his hair and most of his face, along with dark sunglasses that kept sliding down his nose.

 

He shuffled awkwardly into the dance studio, bumping into people and tripping over his own feet, all while trying to discreetly observe Niki. He looked less like a secret agent and more like a lost tourist. At one point, Niki turned suddenly, and Sunoo froze, his heart leaping into his throat.

 

Had he been spotted? He ducked behind a conveniently placed (and very large) potted plant, holding his breath until he was sure Niki had moved on. Too close, he thought, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow (or at least, he hoped it was sweat – it could have been the scarf-induced heatstroke).

 

He even tried interviewing some of the dancers, sidling up to them and whispering conspiratorially,

 

“So,” he’d whisper conspiratorially, adjusting his slipping sunglasses, “what do you think of… you know… Niki?” The dancers just gave him confused looks and hurried away. He wasn't very good at spying.

 

Note to self: Niki moves gracefully. Head scarf is surprisingly hot and makes it difficult to hear.

 

 

Attempt #3: The Hallway Ambush (Kabedon Calamity: The Spy Who Bumped Into Love). Sunoo, refusing to admit defeat, decided on a more… direct approach. He’d trail Niki in the hallway, hoping to overhear a crucial conversation or witness a telltale interaction. He followed Niki at what he thought was a discreet distance, his footsteps echoing slightly in the quiet hallway (he blamed his new shoes).

 

Niki rounded the corner. Sunoo, heart suddenly thumping a little faster, quickened his pace, determined not to lose sight of his target. He mimicked Niki's turn, a little too enthusiastically, and promptly slammed into a solid wall. Except it wasn't a wall. It was Niki. The impact sent a jolt through Sunoo, his hand instinctively grabbing onto the nearest thing for support – which happened to be the front of Niki’s shirt. He clutched a fistful of the soft fabric, yanking Niki closer than he intended.

 

The world seemed to tilt. One minute he was following Niki, the next he was staring at the buttons of Niki’s shirt, the faint scent of sandalwood filling his senses. His brain short-circuited. He looked up, and found himself trapped. Niki's arms were on either side of him, his body close enough that Sunoo could feel the warmth radiating off him. Sunoo's breath hitched. Niki's lips twitched into a small smile, but his eyebrows were furrowed, and his eyes held a hint of worry. 

 

"Sunoo hyung?" he asked, his voice soft. "Are you okay?" Sunoo's face burned. He felt like he'd swallowed a whole bag of those spicy chili chips. His carefully constructed cool exterior crumbled.

 

"Uh…" he squeaked, his voice cracking mid-sentence. "Chicken… balls?" He cringed inwardly. Chicken balls? Seriously?

 

Note to self: Hallway stalking is hazardous to my health, my social life, and my ability to form coherent sentences. Also, Niki is surprisingly close. And possibly amused. Which is…concerning. And maybe a little bit…exciting? (He quickly shoved that thought to the back of his mind.)

 

 

 

 

Their daily walk home began, unusually quiet. Sunoo, the self-proclaimed Sherlock Holmes of romance, felt a pout forming, a full-blown, bottom-lip-quivering pout.

 

Operation: Find Niki's Crush had been a spectacular, three-part face-plant, a comedic tragedy of epic proportions. He let out a dramatic sigh, the kind that could wilt flowers, kicking a pebble with the force of a disgruntled gnome, sending it skittering across the pavement. He crossed his arms, huffing slightly.

 

"What's wrong?" Niki asked, his voice laced with a hint of amusement, though there was a softness in his eyes as he watched Sunoo's dramatic display. He'd witnessed the three stages of Sunoo's crush-finding meltdown, and was now watching the post-mortem with detached amusement, though his amusement was tinged with something else… something Sunoo was too preoccupied to notice.

 

Sunoo stopped, turning to face Niki with the gravitas of a Shakespearean actor about to deliver a tragic soliloquy. His lower lip trembled.

 

"I'm sad," he declared, his voice thick with theatrical woe, "because you won't tell me who you like!" He emphasized the "won't" with a dramatic flick of his wrist. His eyes, though slightly watery from the sheer effort of his pout, narrowed accusingly.

 

Niki paused, his expression shifting, a flicker of something Sunoo couldn't quite place crossing his face. He looked at Sunoo, really looked at him, his gaze more intense than usual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Do you...really want to know?" he asked, his voice softer, almost hesitant. Niki's heart hammered against his ribs. This is it, he thought. Tell him.

 

Sunoo's head bobbed so enthusiastically he thought his neck might snap. His pout had vanished, replaced by an eager, almost manic grin.

 

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" he exclaimed, eyes wide and sparkling with anticipation, though a tiny sliver of suspicion still lingered.

 

Niki's cheeks flushed a delicate pink, the color creeping up his neck. He looked directly at Sunoo, his gaze intense, a nervous tic twitching in his left eyebrow. He took a deep breath, the air escaping his lips in a shaky sigh.

 

"He's got a pretty smile," he began, his voice a near whisper, barely audible, "and he's so expressive…" His gaze softened, a flicker of something vulnerable in his eyes, hinting at a private thought he was struggling to articulate. He hesitated, then continued, his voice even quieter,

 

"And… I like to tease him. A lot, because of it." He shifted his weight nervously, his fingers twisting the fabric of his sleeve. He licked his lips, his eyes never leaving Sunoo's.

 

"He loves to stare at his reflection. Loves food more than anything. He's older than me…" His voice trailed off, the words hanging in the air. He looked at Sunoo, a flicker of hope in his eyes, quickly followed by a wave of something that looked suspiciously like despair.

 

"And… he's…close, actually." The last two words were barely a breath, a whispered confession in the twilight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunoo listened, his brow furrowed in concentration. His eyes dart around as if the answer was written on the walls. Just then, at a distance, Sunghoon walked by, a happy expression on his face. He glanced at Sunoo and Niki, then waved his hand and continued on his way. 

 

 

 

"Pretty smile… expressive… teases a lot… older…" He ticked off each point on his fingers, his lips moving as he silently repeated Niki's descriptions.

 

 

Wait a minute....

 

 

 

 

 

He does have a really nice smile... 

 

 

Niki teases him all the time... 

 

 

A small gasp escaped his lips. 

 

 

 

And he is older...than Niki. 

 

 

His eyes widened as another piece of the puzzle clicked into place. 

 

"You said before that your crush looks good in purple...right?" he asked, a tremor of anticipation in his voice, like he was holding his breath waiting for the answer.

 

 

Niki blinked, a flicker of nervousness crossing his face before he nodded slowly.

 

"Y-yeah…"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh. Oh. 

 

 

 

Sunoo's eyes sparkled with the thrill of the chase, the pieces of the puzzle falling into place with satisfying precision.

 

"It all adds up!" he exclaimed, circling Niki with a playful skip.

 

"I knew it!" Sunoo exclaimed, shaking Niki like a bag of chips. 

 

Niki watched him through his shaky vision, a growing unease settling in his stomach. He could see the cogs turning in Sunoo's brain. 

 

 

"I finally know! I finally know!"

 

 

 

Sunoo's grin widened. Niki felt nauseated. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"It's Sunghoon hyung, right?!" he blurted out, beaming.

 

Niki’s face crumbled.

 

 

 

 

 

Of course... of course he knew his Sunoo hyung. That familiar gleam of misplaced confidence in his eyes. He's going to get this all wrong, Niki thought, a knot of dread tightening in his chest. And, as always, he was right.

 

 

His eyes widened, his mouth formed a thin, tight line, and he looked like he was going to be sick. Not just nauseous, but like he’d swallowed a handful of mint chocos. His breath hitched, and a sheen of tears began to well in his eyes.

 

Just then, at a distance, Sunghoon walked by again, a slightly confused yet still happy expression on his face. He glanced at Sunoo and Niki, then waved his hand and continued on his way, completely oblivious to the emotional turmoil he had just unwittingly caused.

 

Sunoo, oblivious, clapped Niki on the shoulder, nearly sending him stumbling.

 

"I knew it!" he crowed, his voice ringing with misplaced triumph. "You're so obvious!"

 

He puffed out his chest, basking in the glow of his perceived detective prowess.

 

"It all makes sense! You said he had a pretty smile, right? And who has a prettier smile than Sunghoon hyung? Plus, you said he was expressive – Sunghoon hyung is always making those funny faces during practice! And you tease him all the time about his ice skating poses! And he's older than you! And you said he looks good in purple – I remember Sunghoon hyung's sparkling purple suit from his ice skating competition last month! It all adds up!"

 

He beamed, completely convinced of his brilliance. "You're so predictable, Niki!"

 

Niki opened his mouth to speak but Sunoo held up a hand, silencing him. He then patted Niki’s arm reassuringly. "It's okay, Niki," he said, his voice dripping with brotherly understanding.

 

"We always have the same taste. Mint choco, horror movies… it's not surprising we like the same person."

 

He cupped Niki’s face in his hands, squeezing his cheeks gently.

 

"Don’t worry, our friendship won’t crumble like those K-dramas." He winked, raising a triumphant fist.

 

"I figured it out!" Sunoo let out a slightly unhinged laugh, a sound that bordered on maniacal glee, while Niki stared at him, his face a mask of utter bewilderment and dawning despair.

 

Niki wiped his face with the back of his hand, as if trying to erase the horror of Sunoo’s words. He let out a long, drawn-out sigh, the sound heavy with resignation. His eyes glistened, threatening to spill over.

 

Sunoo, misinterpreting the almost-tears as relief at finally being able to be open about his feelings, pinched Niki’s cheeks playfully.

 

"Aw, are you getting emotional?" he teased, patting Niki’s head. "It’s okay! Now you can fully let out your feelings! May the best man win, ducky!"

 

Niki just blinked, his eyes fixed on the ground, utterly lost. "No, Su..." he started, his voice thick with unshed tears, then looked away, unable to meet Sunoo's eyes.

 

He fidgeted with his sleeve, a gesture of nervous frustration. "It's...it's not," he mumbled, the words almost lost in the quiet.

 

He then looked at Sunoo, his eyes pleading, a desperate, silent cry for understanding, but Sunoo, still beaming, missed the desperation in his gaze.

 

"I-I want to hold hands," Niki declared, his voice small and uncertain, extending his hand towards Sunoo with a possessive and almost desperate tug on his sleeve, like a child clinging to a favorite toy, a lifeline in a sea of misunderstanding.

 

Sunoo, radiating the smug satisfaction of a detective who’d just cracked the world’s most complex case (even if he hadn't), grinned, his eyes sparkling with misplaced confidence. He grasped Niki’s hand, their fingers intertwining, and tugged him forward, launching them into their walk home.

 

Sunoo, hand-in-hand with Niki, completely unaware of the emotional turmoil he had just unleashed, chattered happily about… well, his crush (which, in his mind, was definitely Sunghoon). A small, strangled sigh, like a deflating balloon animal, escaped Niki's lips, unnoticed by Sunoo, as he listened to Sunoo's enthusiastic recounting of his "detective work."

 

Note to self: Sunoo-hyung's hands are so warm and soft. Mine. Need to hold them always. No one else can. He's mine. He'll know. He will. Soon. Mine. 

Notes:

Work stress has officially drained my fluff reserves and… I'm feeling a distinct pull towards angst in the next few so... (*´︶`*)ฅ♡

Chapter 23: 🦊- End Arc 1

Summary:

Sunoo's starting to suspect Niki's not just extra, he's extra something. But is it love? A bet? Or did someone accidentally swap his personality with a K-drama villain?

Sunoo woke up to… a face. A very enthusiastic face.

 

It was so close to his, he could practically count Niki's eyelashes. And Niki was grinning. Like, full-on, sunshine-and-rainbows grinning. Sunoo blinked, his brain still trying to boot up. Was this a dream? Had he accidentally wandered into a toothpaste commercial? Nope, definitely Niki. And he was just beaming at him, like Sunoo was the best present ever.

 

It was a little intense, honestly, like being under a happiness microscope, but Sunoo couldn't help but grin back. Before he could even ask what was up, Niki had yoinked his blanket and dove into the bed beside him, snuggling close.

 

"Hyung," he mumbled, his face nuzzled into Sunoo's shoulder, "you smell amazing."

 

Sunoo's brain went boing. Niki in his bed? Snuggling? Complimenting his scent? First thing in the morning?! It was so Niki, but… different. Like Niki, but with a secret upgrade. His heart did a little thump-thump-thump, but his brain was still buffering.

 

Okay, so maybe Niki was a little extra enthusiastic today. He'd been practically vibrating with excitement since yesterday, ever since he'd… asked Sunoo out. Or at least, that's what Sunoo thought Niki had done. Niki had used the word "date," sure, but Sunoo had just assumed he meant it in the general, friend-hangout kind of way. Like, "Hey, let's hang out, it's a date!" not, "Hey, I like you, will you go on a date with me?" Sunoo was pretty sure it was the former. 

 

Honestly, when Niki had first brought it up, Sunoo had been internally groaning. Saturday was prime binge-watching K-drama time. All-day, uninterrupted, face-glued-to-the-screen time. He’d almost said no. But then Niki mumbled something about needing "Sunoo-therapy" and pouted in a way that made Sunoo’s heart do a little flip-flop. Who could say no to that? So, Sunoo had agreed, even though he was a little confused.

 

Now, as they walked together, Niki's hand brushing against his, he was going on and on about how much he'd missed Sunoo and how they absolutely needed some quality "Sunoo-time." (Even though they're practically attached at the hip 24/7) Sunoo watched Niki out of the corner of his eye. Was Niki being weird even for him? Something was definitely different.

 

Then, at the mall, things got even weirder, but in a good way. Sunoo picked up a blue sweater.

 

"Hyung! My eyes!" Niki gasped dramatically, one hand flying to his chest, the other fluttering theatrically. Sunoo's lips twitched.

 

"What's wrong? Suddenly blind?" Niki grinned, undeterred, a vibrant, almost manic energy radiating from him.

 

"Yeah, blind by your beauty! You're so pretty!" Sunoo huffed, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He grabbed some jeans and headed to the fitting room, muttering,

 

"Someone's a little dramatic today." He tried them on, striking a pose in front of the mirror, checking himself out. When he came out, Niki was waiting, perched precariously on a nearby bench, fanning himself with his hand.

 

"Hyung, does it hurt?" Niki asked, his brow furrowed in a way that Sunoo suspected was entirely performative. Sunoo looked at him, a touch of sass in his expression.

 

"Does what hurt?"

 

Niki grinned again, leaning closer, his eyes sparkling with playful mischief.

 

"It must have hurt when you fell from heaven." Sunoo chuckled, twirling in front of the mirror, still admiring his reflection.

 

"Nope, I came from hell," he quipped. Niki's eyes widened.

 

"Ahh, that must be why you're so hot." 

 

 

Sunoo stared at him, utterly bewildered.  He reached out and, with the casual intimacy of close friends, touched Niki's forehead.

 

"Are you okay?" he asked, genuinely concerned now.

 

"You're being really weird, even for you." He paused, his hand lingering on Niki's forehead 

 

You don't have fever, though," Sunoo said, a slight frown creasing his brow. Niki's grin faltered, and a visible blush spread across his face, creeping up his neck. He avoided Sunoo's eyes, suddenly finding the floor incredibly interesting.

 

"You're cute when you're confused, hyung," he managed to say, his voice a little higher pitched than usual, before turning and practically fleeing the scene.

 

Sunoo watched him go, completely bewildered. Niki was definitely blushing. He was acting so strangely. Something was definitely different.

 

The food court was a whole other level. Niki had somehow conjured up a mountain of food, including heart-shaped sandwiches, mint chocolate drinks, and a giant plate of cheese balls.

 

"Hyung, you have to try this!" Niki insisted, grabbing a cheese ball and holding it out to Sunoo. Before Sunoo could even reach for it, Niki popped it into his mouth.

 

"Mmm, so good!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. He then proceeded to feed Sunoo, one cheese ball at a time, ignoring Sunoo's protests that he could feed himself.

 

"Just one more," Niki would say, holding out another cheese ball. "You're so cute when you eat," Niki cooed, his eyes glued to Sunoo. He then dabbed at Sunoo's lips with his thumb, his brow furrowed in mock concern.

 

"Oh.no.ketchup!" he robotically exclaimed. Sunoo blinked, utterly confused. He hadn't used any ketchup. Where was this mysterious ketchup coming from? Niki was being so extra… doting and… imaginative today.

 

Just then, Sunoo started choking on a cheese ball. His eyes widened in panic as he tried to cough it up. Niki, ever the dramatic one, sprang into action. He grabbed Sunoo's drink and, before handing it over, quickly made tiny hearts in it with his straw.

 

"For my precious hyung," he murmured, with a wink, before thrusting the drink into Sunoo's mouth. Sunoo, still coughing, gratefully took a large gulp, the drink soothing his throat. He shot Niki a grateful look, but also a slightly bewildered one. Precious? Was Niki always this… sweet?

 

Ice skating was next. Niki, who Sunoo knew was a surprisingly graceful skater, suddenly clung to Sunoo's arm, wobbling dramatically.

 

"Hyung," he whined, "I'm terrible at this! I think I might fall!" Before Sunoo could suggest they just chill on the sidelines, Niki grabbed his hand, his eyes wide and pleading.

 

"Hyung, we have to hold hands! It's the only way I'll stay balanced!" Sunoo blinked. A terrible skater? And holding hands would help? Niki was being ridiculously dramatic, but Sunoo just rolled his eyes and kept skating, already finding his hand firmly clasped in Niki's. He chalked it up to Niki being Niki.

 

Then, suddenly, Sunghoon appeared beside them, seemingly materializing out of thin air like a protagonist in a K-drama, complete with an invisible wind machine dramatically ruffling his hair (okay, maybe not, but it felt like it).

 

"Hi guys!" Sunghoon chirped, his sudden appearance startling Sunoo. "Didn't know you were here too!"

 

Sunoo's head whipped around to Niki, a playful grin spreading across his face.

 

"Ooh, look who it is!" he sing-songed, nudging Niki with his elbow.

 

He was fully expecting the usual starry-eyed, slightly awestruck expression. He was pretty sure Niki had a massive crush on Sunghoon. Instead, he found Niki glaring at Sunghoon with an intensity that could melt ice.  Wow, Niki really had some intense… love? …for Sunghoon? Sunoo was starting to get seriously confused.

 

"W-we're just hanging out," Sunoo explained to Sunghoon, glancing back to gauge his reaction. But before he could elaborate, Niki suddenly tightened his arms around Sunoo in a back hug, nearly squeezing the air out of him.

 

"Hyuuuuuung," he whined, his voice muffled against Sunoo's shoulder,

 

"I feel a little dizzy… and my head hurts… and my tummy kind of aches…" He then peeked out from behind Sunoo's back, glaring at Sunghoon with an air of possessiveness. 

 

"We're on a very important date. A super important date. Like, national-security-level important."

 

Sunghoon chuckled nervously, raising his hands in mock surrender. He glanced at Niki, then back at Sunoo, an amused expression on his face. "Okay, okay! Just saying hi…"

 

But Niki was already on high alert. He was like a tiny, adorable, overly caffeinated guard dog, hackles raised (metaphorically, of course, unless his hair was doing something weird), protecting Sunoo from… well, Sunghoon, apparently.

 

Sunoo didn't understand. Was Sunghoon going to challenge him to an impromptu ice skating dance battle? Kidnap him and whisk him away to a hidden K-drama set? Or, frame him for a crime he didn't commit? Niki's protectiveness was escalating rapidly. Sunoo half-expected him to start barking.

 

Every time Sunghoon took a step closer, Niki would puff out his chest and subtly (or not-so-subtly) shift his body to barricade Sunoo. He even started shuffling sideways, inching Sunoo away from Sunghoon like a crab. When Sunghoon tried to make a casual comment about the weather, Niki launched into a detailed explanation of Sunoo's favorite ice cream flavors, complete with dramatic hand gestures and sound effects.

 

"It's mint chocolate chip, with extra chocolate chips, and no nuts! Because Sunoo-hyung is allergic to… uh… bad vibes!"

 

And when Sunghoon dared to ask Sunoo a simple question about his day, Niki practically launched himself into Sunoo's lap, clinging to him like a koala and declaring,

 

"Hyung is having an amazing day with me! We've been having the best time! We even saw a… a… fluffy cloud that looked like a… a… duck! It was so romantic!" He then burrowed his face into Sunoo's neck, mumbling, "And we're going to have many more amazing days together…"

 

Sunoo, feeling a bit like a hostage in a very strange, very clingy K-drama, tried to catch Sunghoon's eye. He wanted to apologize for Niki's bizarre behavior, maybe even subtly flirt a little (because Sunghoon was adorable), but Niki was acting like an adorable, clingy, and incredibly effective human shield.

 

Don't leave me, Sunoo hyung. I'm so dizzy… and my head hurts…" Niki mumbled, a slight whine creeping into his voice. It was the tone he used when he wanted something and wasn't getting his way. He snuggled closer to Sunoo, effectively creating a physical barrier between them and Sunghoon. Sunghoon just shook his head, amused, but the message was unmistakable: Shoo, Sunghoon.

 

Sunoo, confused, looked down at Niki, clinging to his arm, face buried in his sleeve. Dizzy? Headache? Niki had been twirling and leaping on the ice just moments ago! Sunoo frowned, a tiny crease forming between his brows. Was he pretending? Niki could be a little dramatic sometimes. But… why? He gently patted the top of Niki's head, which was peeking just barely out of his sleeve. Niki mumbled something soft and snuggly, like a purr, and tightened his already firm grip. So adorable, yet bewildering.

 

As the day ended, Niki, his tiny shadow, walked him home, hand-in-sleeve.

 

"Today was the best date ever," Niki sighed happily, squeezing Sunoo's hand. Sunoo smiled, a warm, fuzzy feeling spreading through his chest. Date? Niki really thought of it as a date? He was so… sweet. And confusing. As Sunoo waved goodbye, he couldn't help but replay the day's events in his head. Niki's over-the-top compliments, the clinginess, the… the thing with Sunghoon. It was all so out of character.

 

Sunoo frowned. Didn't Niki like Sunghoon? Or was he wrong? Why wouldn't Niki like Sunghoon? Sunghoon was handsome, kind, and always knew exactly the right thing to say. He showered Sunoo with compliments, just like… Sunoo paused. Just like… Niki had been doing all day.

 

A tiny seed of understanding began to sprout in Sunoo's mind, fragile and new. Could it be…? Nah, he was probably just imagining things. Niki was just being Niki, right? But… the way Niki had looked at him… the way he’d clung to him… Sunoo shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips. He was probably overthinking it. But as he turned to go inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he was starting to understand what Niki was trying to say. Or maybe not. He was still confused. 

 

Chapter 24: 🐱

Summary:

Jay thought his baby was growing up too fast. He had no idea.

Notes:

Jay & Jungwon side stories are back! 🎉

 

To the magnificent RossWeil, I raise my virtual glass! 🥂 Thank you for tapping me on the shoulder and saying, "Hey! What about these guys?!" Your comment was the spark I needed to get back to their stories huehue

(◍•ᴗ•◍)

Jay was a man possessed. His weapon? A smartphone. His target? His son, Sunoo, on his very first day of kindergarten. The tiny human, sporting a backpack almost as big as himself, looked like a miniature explorer ready to conquer the wilds of… kindergarten. 

 

"Okay, Sunoo baby, over here by the alphabet wall! Smile! Big smile!"

 

Jay chirped, snapping a photo of Sunoo looking vaguely in the direction of the letter "K," his face scrunched up in concentration as he tried to peel a sticker off his name tag.

 

"Now, by the crayons! Pretend you're drawing a dinosaur!" Click! Sunoo, still battling the sticker, managed to hold up a bright red crayon like a tiny, triumphant sword.

 

"Perfect!"

 

Jay was everywhere. He was crouched, he was kneeling, he was practically lying on the floor, all in pursuit of the perfect kindergarten photo. He was so focused, he almost tripped over a small child carrying a lunchbox shaped like a rocket ship.

 

"Excuse me!" he mumbled, not taking his eyes off Sunoo. "Just capturing a precious moment!"

 

Sunoo, bless his heart, seemed to be enjoying the attention. He struck a pose by the window, one hand on his hip, the other pointing dramatically at a picture of a cat.

 

"Look, Dada! Meow!"

 

"Oh, that's my boy!" Jay beamed, snapping a rapid succession of photos. "You're a natural! A star! A… a… kindergarten superstar!"

 

The other parents exchanged amused glances. One mom whispered to another, "I bet he’s going to have a whole album dedicated to just the first day."

 

Jay, overhearing, puffed out his chest. "You're absolutely right! Maybe two albums! One for posed shots, one for candid moments!"

 

Sunoo, sensing the excitement, decided to up his game. He started doing a little dance, waving his arms around and singing a song about a bus. Jay, naturally, captured every single frame.

 

"This is gold!" he whispered to himself. "Pure gold!"

 

As the bell rang and the children began filing into the classroom, Jay gave Sunoo one last hug and a kiss on the cheek.

 

"Have a great day, buddy! And don't forget to smile for the camera!"

 

Sunoo, already halfway inside the classroom, turned back and gave his dad a thumbs up. Jay, of course, took another picture.

 

Walking back to his car, Jay scrolled through the photos, a wide grin plastered on his face. He couldn't wait to show everyone. Sunoo’s first day of kindergarten was going to be documented. And it was going to be epic. He just hoped he had enough storage on his phone. He might need to invest in a cloud. A special cloud just for Sunoo's kindergarten photos. Yes, that was a good idea. A very good idea. He was so proud. Maybe a little too proud. But hey, it was kindergarten! A momentous occasion! And Sunoo was a star! A kindergarten superstar! And Jay, well, Jay was just the proudest dad in the world. And he had the photos to prove it.

 

Later that day, Jay waited outside the classroom, phone in hand, ready to capture Sunoo’s triumphant return from the wilds of kindergarten. When the doors finally opened, Sunoo came bounding out, a bright smile on his face. Jay’s heart swelled. He was so big now! Where had his baby gone? He felt a single, solitary tear well up in his eye. He was so proud.

 

"Dada!" Sunoo yelled, running, skip bouncing towards him.

 

"Hey, buddy!" Jay choked out, his voice thick with emotion. He was going to cry. He just knew it. He was so emotional. It was the kindergarten. It was making him soft.

 

"Dada," Sunoo said, stopping in front of him. He paused, a little grin spreading across his face.

 

"Dadaaa," he repeated, drawing out the word.

 

Jay waited, his smile still slightly wobbly, anticipating some cute story about finger painting or maybe a new friend.

 

"Dada," Sunoo said again, his eyes sparkling mischievously.

 

Jay chuckled. "Yes, buddy? What is it?"

 

Sunoo took a deep breath. "Dada," he finally announced, the words stretched out like taffy, each syllable carefully enunciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I… have… a… boyfriend!"

 

Jay froze. His smile faltered. His tear evaporated. His face went blank. His mouth hung open. His phone clutched tightly in his hand. He became a statue.

 

Boyfriend?! He was so not ready for this.

Notes:

Yay! I'm creatively bankrupt. Give me your best plot ideas! Let's do this! ❤️

Any suggestions welcome! 🙏

Chapter 25: 🐱

Summary:

Jungwon thought glitter was the worst of his problems. He was wrong (ﾐㅇ ༝ ㅇﾐ).

Notes:

Engenes, are you crying? Because I'm definitely crying... ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚
and I'm also currently attempting to make a celebratory cake...which is mostly just frosting and glitter at this point..

Enhypen just won their FIRST DAESANG! Let's flood the internet with our love and support!

(*˘︶˘*).｡.:*♡

Proud mama here, who's also currently trying to find a tissue that can handle these happy tears. ♡(*´ω｀*)/♡

Ahhh my heart is warm~

The late afternoon sun, like a warm, golden syrup, streamed through the kindergarten classroom windows, illuminating the minefield of glitter, stray crayon shavings, and the ghostly imprints of tiny handprints in dried playdough.

 

A lopsided clay dinosaur, a smear of green and yellow drawing that is possibly a very sad pickle, and a collection of construction paper butterflies littered the tables. Jungwon, perched on a child-sized chair that threatened to collapse under his weight, watched his son, Jake, with a fond smile, while simultaneously attempting to decipher his hastily scribbled lesson plan for the following day.

 

Jake, his son, was sprawled on the floor, legs kicking rhythmically in the air, utterly absorbed in a book about space travel. Jungwon had a few more minutes before the official end of the school day, time he cherished spending with Jake. The classroom was a post-apocalyptic quiet, the last few pint-sized escapees having been collected by parents who looked like they'd just survived a glitter-bombing. Everything  seemed perfectly calm and normal—until Jake dropped the bomb. Without so much as a glance up from his book, Jake said,

 

"Appa, I have a boyfriend now."

 

The tranquil scene shattered like a dropped teacup. He blinked, wondering if he’d misheard. 

 

Jungwon's internal monologue, usually a soothing voice that narrated the day's events like a calm, educational podcast, abruptly switched to a death metal concert performed by kittens wearing tiny spiked leather jackets, screaming for tuna. His smile stretched too wide, his eyes widened, and the peaceful hum of the classroom turned into the sound of a swarm of angry squirrels fighting over a single nut.

 

"A...boyfriend?" he squeaked, his voice cracking like a dry twig.

 

"Did you say...boyfriend?"

 

Jake, still engrossed in his book, flipped a page, seemingly oblivious to the chaos he'd unleashed.

 

"Yeah, Sunoo. He's in your class. He's really funny and he shares his gummy worms."

 

"Sunoo," Jungwon repeated, his mind racing. Sunoo... the kid who once tried to trade his lunchbox for a handful of shiny pebbles and a half-eaten crayon. Sunoo, now his son's mini Casanova.

 

He imagined Sunoo's dad, a man who looked like he wrestled bears for a living, wearing a pink apron covered in flower patterns, but still with the build of a bear, arms crossed, a thundercloud of disapproval hovering over his head. Jake, confused and upset, asking why he couldn't marry his gummy-worm-sharing boyfriend. Jungwon himself, fumbling for words, trying to explain the complexities of romance to a five-year-old and a bear-wrestling dad. He could feel a cold sweat prickling his forehead, and his hair felt like it was trying to escape his scalp.

 

"And how," Jungwon began, his voice a strained whisper, "by what celestial alignment, what cosmic coincidence, did this...arrangement come about?"

 

Jake finally looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion.

 

"We were building a spaceship out of blocks, and he said I was his best friend. And I said, 'Yeah, you're my best friend too.' And then he said, 'So, are we boyfriends now?' And I said, 'Sure, as long as I get some more gummies."

 

Jungwon's jaw dropped. "Sure?" he echoed, his mind reeling. "Sure."

 

"Yeah," Jake said, returning to his book. "Now, can you hand me that blue crayon please? I need to add laser beams to my spaceship."

 

Jungwon, still reeling, mechanically handed over the crayon. He watched as Jake meticulously colored his spaceship, his tongue peeking out from the corner of his mouth in intense concentration, his brow furrowed in a display of serious artistry, completely unfazed by the romantic revolution he'd just instigated.

 

Jungwon's brain did a mental cartwheel, landing squarely in a pile of bewildered relief and existential dread. Relief because it was, thankfully, just kid logic. Dread because he now had to navigate the minefield of explaining "boyfriends" to a five-year-old and possibly, more terrifyingly, to Sunoo’s dad. 

 

"Ah, yes," Jungwon managed, forcing a chuckle that sounded suspiciously like a strangled chicken. He wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, leaving damp, anxious streaks that mirrored the growing panic in his eyes. He knew, with a sinking feeling, that this was just the beginning. He'd need a lot of coffee, lots of coffee and maybe a helmet. Just in case.

Chapter 26: 🐱

Summary:

Daddy's official rival had arrived.

The kitchen table, normally a hub of cheerful chaos, was now a crime scene. Jay, armed with a damp dishcloth, that smelled suspiciously of yesterday’s lasagna, was conducting a forensic analysis of a phantom juice spill. Juice spill that had long since surrendered to the forces of evaporation. In reality, he was a parental ninja, lurking behind a strategically fortified cereal box, spying on his unsuspecting son, Sunoo.

 

Sunoo, brow furrowed in artistic fervor, scribbled furiously. Two stick figures emerged, one a towering, vaguely menacing titan compared to the other, a tiny, adorable dot. Jay squinted, the lines blurring through the haze of parental paranoia. Was that… a fishing rod? A meticulously rendered, miniature fishing rod, clutched in the titan's stick-figure hand? The boyfriend. It had to be. A tiny, nefarious angler, dangling the bait of worms and muddy waders before his innocent son. Jay's heart stuttered, performing a frantic tango. 

 

He’d been trying to be casual, to play it cool, but the tension was thicker than the syrupy residue from Sunoo’s spilled apple juice. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore.

 

“Sunoo-yah,” he’d said, his voice a little too high-pitched, like a helium balloon desperately trying to escape,

 

“what ... are ... you ... drawing?”

 

Sunoo, like a seasoned criminal caught mid-heist, slammed his hand over the paper, his cheeks flushing a delicate pink his eyes gleaming with adorable, yet suspicious, secrecy.

 

“No no no!” he squealed, his voice a delighted whisper. “It’s a secret!”

 

Normally, Jay's heart would have transformed into a soft, squishy marshmallow, melting into a symphony of "Oh, you're just too precious!"

 

He’d have launched a tickle attack, a gentle barrage of playful pokes and nuzzles, until Sunoo's secret escape in a torrent of giggles. Afterwards, he’d have showered him with compliments and kisses, a sparkly parade of affection fit for his tiny, beloved prince. 

 

But today? Today, the universe decided to throw Jay a curveball wrapped in a tiny, blushing enigma. He’d already been on edge since Sunoo’s casual announcement that he had a boyfriend. A boyfriend, at five years old! He’d tried to reason with himself. Maybe it was an imaginary friend? Maybe it was a pet? But the blushing, the secret drawings…it all pointed to something far more…romantic.

 

CODE PINK! CODE PINK! CODE PINK!!!

The tiny love bug has breached the perimeter! Repeat, the love bug has breached the perimeter!

 

He imagined the horror: Sunoo and the tiny heartbreaker exchanging macaroni bracelets, a clandestine wedding ceremony in the playhouse, officiated by a teddy bear with suspiciously wise eyes, accompanied by a dramatically off-key rendition of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.’ Or worse, a shared popsicle, sticky and laden with unspoken affection, followed by the ultimate betrayal: a secret handshake, a complex series of finger wiggles and thumb taps, a bond forged in the fires of playground romance, excluding Jay forever, leaving him to wander the earth like a lonely sock without its partner.

 

"A secret, huh?” Jay repeated, his voice strained, like he was trying to swallow a golf ball. He tried to peek around Sunoo’s arm, his head bobbing like a frantic woodpecker, but Sunoo just pressed the paper closer. 

 

“Uh-huh!” Sunoo chirped, then giggled, a sound that usually melted Jay’s heart but now sounded suspiciously like the cackle of a tiny, heart-stealing villain.

 

Jay’s lasagna-scented dishcloth slipped from his trembling fingers, landing with a pathetic, wet splat. He stared at his Sunoo, his mind racing faster than a hamster on a caffeine high. This is it. This is the beginning of the end. My baby boy is growing up too fast! And he’s keeping secrets! Secrets about…boys!

 

He felt a wave of panic wash over him. He had to act, now. He had to infiltrate, investigate, and dismantle this pint-sized romantic conspiracy before it was too late.

 

 

Chapter 27: 🐱

Summary:

Is 'boyfriend' a term of endearment or a declaration of war?

Notes:

JayWon's arc: my current obsession. SunSunKist timeline: my future obsession.
HeeJake: heehee.

☆(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*

SunSunKist fans, I have some… news. My deepest, most sincere apologies! I know you're yearning for SunSunKist sweetness but I've hit a bit of a timeline snag with the JayWon arc.

To avoid further confusion and ensure everything makes sense, I need to focus on straightening it out first.

SunSunKist will return, brighter and more glorious than ever, but JayWon's story needs my undivided attention right now.

And if my brain remembers HeeJake exists... we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Don't worry, they'll be back... maybe...

 

Thank you for your patience! ก₍⸍⸌̣ʷ̣̫⸍̣⸌₎ค

Jay, a figure of pure parental anxiety, was perched precariously on a park bench, his brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed to slits. He was squinting so hard, he could practically see his own eyelashes. The playground, usually a scene of innocent chaos, was now a battleground in Jay’s mind, a minefield of potential heartbreakers.

 

"Okay, focus, Jay, focus," he muttered, adjusting his oversized eyeglass, which, ironically, did nothing to improve his already compromised vision.

 

"Must…identify…the…boyfriend."

 

 

Sunoo was his world, and anyone orbiting too closely was a potential meteor strike. He snapped photos, not of Sunoo's sandcastle, but of the children around him, their faces analyzed for signs of… intent. A shared toy? A long hug? A secret giggle? Each was a red flag in Jay's mind. He was building a database of potential threats, one snapshot at a time.

 

"Look at him! The architect of affection! Is that sandcastle a metaphor? A symbol of their… commitment?"

 

He zoomed in on Sunoo’s hand as he shared a plastic shovel.

 

"The sharing! The intimacy! It’s too much!"

 

Then, a sudden wave of panic washed over him. He held his phone up, framing only his eyes and forehead in the shot. His eyes were wide, the whites practically glowing, and his forehead was a landscape of deep, worried furrows. He snapped the picture.

 

Evidence of emotional distress due to excessive cuteness and fear of tiny suitors.jpeg

 

 

He captioned it in his head, scrolling through his gallery to see the distorted image.

 

"Perfect. A visual representation of my current mental state." He then zoomed in on Sunoo again.

 

“Wait is that a hand hold?!”

 

 

 

--

Meanwhile, high above the playground, nestled precariously in the branches of a large oak tree, Jungwon clung to a thick branch, his heart pounding like a drum solo. He was Sunoo's teacher, and while he'd braced for the inevitable parent meeting, Jay's face had triggered a full-blown internal fireworks display. Not fear, of course! Just… an overwhelming awareness of the man's existence. Which was weird.

 

"No, no, this is ridiculous," he muttered, shaking his head. "Okay, deep breaths," he whispered, his voice cracking. "Professional Jungwon reporting for duty. I can totally handle this. I'll just… stroll down, casually mention that Jake's 'boyfriend' title is purely honorary, like a participation trophy for being Sunoo's favorite sandbox buddy. No big deal. Easy peasy. Please, brain, don't short-circuit."

 

He peered through the leaves, watching Jay's frantic photo-snapping session. Jungwon's shoulders slumped. He ran a hand through his hair, the leaves rustling around him.

 

"But… how do I explain that when he looks like he's about to spontaneously combust from parental anxiety?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

 

Panic swelled in his chest. He imagined Jay's eyes, wide and searching, the way his jaw clenched. The man radiated an aura of protective intensity that made Jungwon's knees weak. And then, there was the rest of him. The sharp line of his cheekbone, the way his shiny hair caught the sunlight, the sheer, undeniable… presence. Jungwon's breath caught. Wait, what? He shook his head. Worried dad, not runway model. But Jay's jawline lingered, a distracting warmth in his panic.

 

"This is going to be a disaster," he muttered, burying his face in his hands. "He'll think I'm running a tiny marriage bureau for preschoolers!"

 

Jungwon watched Jay, who was now hunched over his phone, scrutinizing a photo of Sunoo clutching a plastic toy like it was a vital piece of evidence. His brow was a landscape of furrows, and he muttered under his breath, completely absorbed.

 

"He hasn't even registered the tree," Jungwon whispered, a wave of relief washing over him.

 

"Or the inflatable T-Rex. Or... well, anything beyond a five-foot radius of Sunoo, it seems."

 

He shifted, the branch creaking ominously beneath him, trying to angle himself for a clearer view. I just need to keep Jake away from Sunoo, he thought, his palms slick with sweat, until Sunoo's father leaves. Jungwon inhaled sharply, the air catching in his throat, trying to quell the frantic flutter in his chest.

 

Suddenly, a high-pitched voice shattered the playground's babble.

 

"Appa!"

 

Jungwon's heart leaped into his throat. He looked down to see Jake, his son, standing at the base of the tree, looking up at him with a puzzled expression.

 

"What are you doing up there?" Jake asked, his voice echoing through the playground.

 

"Uh…c-c-cat watching!" Jungwon stammered, his voice cracking.

 

"Yes, cat watching! There's a… a very rare… tree cat!"

 

Jake raised an eyebrow, a slow, deliberate arch that screamed skepticism.

 

"But you're staring directly at the playground."

 

Jungwon's eyes darted around, his voice climbing an octave. "Yes, well, the cats are… observing the children!"

 

"They're very interested in… in playground dynamics!" He gestured vaguely with his hands. 

 

Jake blinked, his head tilting slightly. He looked thoroughly perplexed, but after a moment, a small, trusting smile flickered across his lips. He still looked confused, but he trusted his appa. Jungwon held his breath, a wave of relief washing over him. He actually believes me. Just as he was about to exhale, a piercing scream shattered the illusion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Haiiiiiii booooooyprreeeeeeend~"

 

Sunoo's high-pitched warble pierced the air, his tiny legs a blur as he barreled toward Jake, a grin splitting his face.

 

Time warped. Jungwon's ears rang with the drawn-out syllables, each one a sonic boom in his skull. He watched, paralyzed, as Sunoo closed the distance, his heart a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. Jake, his precious son oblivious, replied with a casual, 

 

"Hey there, Sunny," and patted Sunoo on the head. Then, hand in hand, they ran off towards the playground, their laughter fading into the background noise.

 

Jungwon, still perched in the tree, felt beads of sweat trickling down his forehead. He glanced, almost against his will, towards Sunoo's dad's direction and saw the emotions flash across Jay's face: disbelief, horror, and a terrifyingly focused parental fury. 

 

Then, suddenly, Jay faced him. Jungwon’s breath hitched, a sharp, involuntary gasp, as their eyes locked. He was caught. In that instant, Jungwon felt like a guilty cat caught red-handed with a stolen fish. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry.

 

 

"Uh oh,"

 

Jungwon whispered, his voice barely a breath. A cold dread settled in his stomach, heavier than the giant, inflatable bouncy castle that was suddenly deflating behind him. He wasn't just hearing a soap opera's "to be continued" theme; he was living it. And the next episode was about to be a very, very careful attempt to explain Sunoo's social interactions without revealing too much, while also trying to ignore the distracting proximity of Jay and the way his heart skipped a beat. Uh oh. 

 

Notes:

This whole chapter was basically born from that one picture of Jay. I was gonna edit it with a playground background, but... yeah, nap time sounded better. 😴

Chapter 28: 🐱

Summary:

Parental paranoia meets playground romance, and the only casualties are Jungwon's sanity and Jay's dignity.

Jungwon's leg was a human maraca. It twitched, a rapid, involuntary flick. His eyes, wide and darting, scanned between Jay's stern expression and the innocent scene of Sunoo and Jake playing in the corner.

 

He held himself with a tense, coiled posture, ready to defend Jake at a moment's notice. The air around him crackled with an unspoken tension, a palpable anxiety that Sunoo's dad seemed to amplify.

 

Jungwon's proximity to Sunoo's dad also fueled a strange, unfamiliar tension within him. His heart pounded a frantic rhythm against his ribs, a sensation he couldn't quite name. It was a confusing mix of nervousness and something else, something that made his palms sweat and his breath catch in his throat whenever Sunoo's dad moved or spoke. He just knew he needed to be extra vigilant, extra aware, around the man, though he couldn't have explained why.

 

 

“So, Mr. Yang,”

 

Jay began, his voice a low, ominous rumble, his eyebrows furrowed, creating deep lines across his forehead. His lips were pressed into a thin, hard line, and his gaze, fixed on Jungwon, was unwavering and intense. 

 

 

“you’re telling me… ‘boyfriend’ means… play buddy?”

 

Jungwon swallowed, his Adam’s apple doing a nervous jig.

 

“Yes, Mr. Park. In Sunoo's… uh… world, 'boyfriend' is, like, a super-duper friend. They, you know, share… toys, and… and they play together really well. It's… it's like, a close friendship, you see?”

 

He forced a small, strained smile. "It's all very… innocent. Just… pals." Jungwon gestured vaguely toward the corner, where the two boys were a picture of carefree innocence, though his hand betrayed him with a slight tremble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jay's skeptical nod was slow, deliberate, as if weighing Jungwon's words. For a fleeting moment, Jungwon almost believed he'd pulled it off, saw a hint of relief in Jay's eyes. Then, a chorus of high-pitched voices shattered the fragile peace.

 

 

"I love you!"

 

Sunoo declared, his voice ringing with childish enthusiasm, leaping forward to give Jake a tight hug.

 

 

"No, I love you more!"

 

Jake countered, his tone equally enthusiastic, returning the hug with a squeeze and then playfully twirling Sunoo around.

 

 

"No, I love you the most!"

Sunoo insisted, his giggles echoing through the room, as he was twirled, his small arms flailing happily.

 

 

"and I love you forever!"

Jake proclaimed, his laughter mingling with Sunoo's, finally setting him down but keeping an arm around his shoulder, a wide grin on his face.

 

 

Jay’s jaw dropped. His eyes widened, and he dramatically clutched his chest, as if struck by a physical blow. He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, and his voice, when he finally managed to speak, was a strained

 

"What... what was that?"

 

he stammered, his voice laced with panic, his eyes darting between the two boys like a trapped fly.

 

"Did they just... declare their undying love for each other? In public? In broad daylight? Are they trying to give me a heart attack?"

 

 

Jungwon’s cheeks flushed a shade of crimson.

 

“They’re just kids, M-Mr. Park!”

 

he retorted, his voice a little too loud, his hands flying up in a dramatic, almost theatrical, flail, as if trying to swat away Jay's concerns like pesky flies. 

 

 

"Things like 'I love you forever'?" Mr. Park's voice rose an octave.

 

"That's not just 'kids', that's practically a marriage proposal!"

 

"They’re expressing… affection! It’s normal!” Mr. Park, Kids, they don't… they don't have the same… romantic… baggage we do."

 

Jungwon said, his voice firm, though his eyes were wide and pleading, like a  kitten who's just knocked a vase off a shelf and is trying to look innocent. He tried to nod reassuringly, but ended up bobbing his head erratically, like a cat trying to catch a laser point that isn't there.

 

 

"Affection?" Mr. Park practically shrieked.

 

"My five-year-old is being serenaded with declarations of eternal love! This is a parental emergency!" 

 

Jay began pacing, his strides comically long and frantic, like a cartoon character whose feet are spinning. He’d pace from one end of the room to the other, then abruptly reverse direction, narrowly avoiding tripping over his own feet, and occasionally bumping into furniture, each bump accompanied by a small, panicked yelp. 

 

"He's not being serenaded, Mr. Park!" he retorted, his voice firm.

 

"He's being shown affection by a friend! A good friend! More like an older brother, in fact!"

 

"An older brother?"

 

he repeated, his voice barely a whisper. Then his eyes narrowed again, suspicion creeping back into his expression.

 

"An older brother... or a cunning manipulator using his age and experience to gain influence over my innocent, pure as oxygen, sweet beloved son!?"

 

Jungwon's eyebrows shot up.

 

"Excuse me!?" he said, his voice laced with disbelief.

 

 

 

"Oh, I don't know,"

 

Jay countered, a dramatic sigh escaping his lips.

 

"He seems awfully eager to play with a younger child. Perhaps he's trying to establish some sort of... dominance? Creating a loyal follower who will do his bidding?"

 

"Do.mi.nance?" Jungwon scoffed, his voice rising in indignation.

 

"They're building Lego castles and having imaginary sword fights, not engaging in political warfare! You're reading way too much into this, Mr. Park!"

 

"Am I?" Mr. Park challenged, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

 

"Or am I simply being a vigilant parent, protecting my son from the sinister clutches of a playground... puppet master?"

 

Jungwon's patience, already worn thin, finally snapped.

 

"He is not a puppet master!" he retorted, his voice sharp.

 

"He's a good kid! He's kind, he's compassionate, and he genuinely enjoys playing with your son! And for your information, my son is not some manipulative mastermind. He's just... a good kid!"

 

"A good kid who conveniently happens to be playing 'I love you forever' with my son," Mr. Park countered, his voice laced with suspicion. "I'm just saying, it's a bit... much."

 

"Oh, for crying out loud!" Jungwon exclaimed, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

 

"They're kids, Mr. Park! They don't understand the complexities of adult relationships! They're just expressing their affection in their own way!"

 

"Their own overly dramatic, slightly disturbing way," Mr. Park muttered under his breath.

 

"Look," Jungwon said, taking a deep breath and trying to regain his composure,

 

"I understand your concern, but you're blowing this way out of proportion. My Jake is not a threat to your son. He's a good influence, and they genuinely enjoy each other's company. Can't you just accept that?"

 

Mr. Park crossed his arms, a stubborn glint in his eyes.

 

"Your son...I'll accept it when I see it," he declared.

 

"Until then, I'll be keeping a close eye on this 'friendship'."

 

Jungwon rolled his eyes.

 

 

"Of course you will," he muttered under his breath, "You'll probably install security cameras in the sandbox."

 

Just then, Mr. Park scooped Sunoo up into his arms, a possessive glint in his eyes, like he was rescuing a priceless porcelain doll from a particularly rambunctious toddler.

 

"Come on, my love," he said, his voice a touch too cheerful, "Let's leave these… puppet masters to their own devices.

 

 

"But Dad!" Sunoo protested, reaching out towards Jake.

 

"Jake, come here," Jungwon said, grabbing his son's hand. "Time to go."

 

"But Appa!" Jake protested, stretching his arm out towards Sunoo.

 

"Oh, no you don't!" Jay interjected, hiding Sunoo up.

 

"No more lovebirds today!"

 

 

"They're playing, Mr. Park!" Jungwon scoffed, pulling Jake closer.

 

"You're the one being dramatic!"

 

"No I'm not! " Jay retorted, clutching Sunoo.

 

"Yes you are!" Jungwon sputtered.

 

 

As they bickered, their voices rising in a comical crescendo, they each began to back away from each other, still holding their respective children. It was a slow, awkward retreat, like two crabs scuttling sideways, their eyes never leaving each other.

 

Finally, they were a safe distance apart. Jay gave Jungwon one last, dramatic glare, and Jungwon returned the favor with an equally theatrical eye roll.

 

 

"Boundaries, Sunoo!" Jay declared, turning away.

 

"Playground behavior, Jake!" Jungwon echoed.

 

As they walked away, Sunoo and Jake exchanged a lingering glance. Jake, with his older, slightly wiser eyes, gave Sunoo a reassuring nod, a subtle promise of something to come. Sunoo, with his five-year-old enthusiasm, was ready to follow his lead. They knew something the adults did not. And whatever it was, it was going to change everything. 

Chapter 29: 🐱

Summary:

Fairytales and hidden agendas Pt. 1

Notes:

Happy April Fools! ♪ヽ(*´∀`)ﾉ

I'm uploading 3-4 chapters tonight. Tiny, delightful bursts of... something, for fun
(ﾟ▽＾*)☆

Also, did you ALL see Jay's cover and Sunoo's new haircut?! My children are SO cool omg.

The sleek, obsidian car, a testament to Jay's impeccable (and expensive) taste, peeled away from the curb, its engine a low, powerful growl. From the outside, it was a picture of refined elegance, a scene straight out of a K-drama, the kind where the wealthy CEO whisked away his equally glamorous date.

 

However, the interior was a stadium rock concert crammed into a luxury sedan, featuring a father-son rock star duo.

 

"THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND!"

 

Jay roared, his voice a powerful, full-throated belt, channeling the energy of a rock god in his prime. He gripped the steering wheel like a microphone stand, head bobbing to the imaginary drumbeat, though with a careful, gentle touch, mindful of his precious cargo.

 

"ROUND AND ROUND! ROUND AND ROUND!"

 

In the backseat, Sunoo's little voice harmonized perfectly with his dad's rock rendition, a tiny rockstar headbanging with surprising ferocity. His black hair flew wildly, a glitter-covered wand clutched tight, and his bright eyes sparkled, mirroring Jay's own fervent energy, as he sang along.

 

"THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND ALL THROUGH THE TOWN!"

 

"DAD YOU'RE SO COOL!"

 

 

--

"Daddy, daddy! Library! Library! Fairytales!"

 

Sunoo chirped, his voice rising with excitement as the grand building came into view. He poked Jay's shoulder with his wand, a gentle but insistent prod. Jay, hearing his son's rising excitement, swerved slightly as he navigated the car into a parking spot, a rockstar parking maneuver.

 

Jay's heart melted, a warm, fuzzy sensation spreading through him with each of Sunoo's excited giggles. Sunoo had been asking to go to the library for days, his little voice filled with the pure, unadulterated joy that was impossible to resist.

 

Well, how could he possibly say no to his beautiful child? This was a chance to hang out and encourage learning, a perfect combination. He immediately rescheduled any pending meetings, his baby boy's happiness taking absolute priority.

 

Jay took Sunoo’s hand, and they walked hand-in-hand towards the grand library doors. Sunoo bounced with each step, his voice filled with pure joy.

 

“Daddy, I’m so happy! We’re going to have so much fun!”

 

Jay smiled, a warmth spreading through him.

 

"Me too, my little rock star. Me too.”

 

Chapter 30: 🐱

Summary:

Fairytales and hidden agendas Pt. 2

Sunoo clapped his hands, his wand twirling in the air.

 

"Yay! Fairytales! Fairytales!"

 

Jay, preoccupied with logging their library details into the electronic kiosk, briefly released Sunoo's hand. In a flash, Sunoo, fueled by pure fairytale-induced excitement, darted away, his little black-haired head bobbing through the crowd.

 

"Sunoo! Wait!"

 

Jay called out, turning to chase after his son. But just as he took a step, he collided with a solid, unyielding object. Thump. He was about to launch into a polite apology when he looked up and his eyes widened.

Standing before him, looking equally disoriented, was Yang Jungwon. Not just Yang Jungwon, but Yang Jungwon, Jake's father. Yang Jungwon, the man whose son had somehow convinced Sunoo that they were "going to get married someday," a fact that Jay found deeply disturbing and the source of many late-night parental anxiety spirals. Yang Jungwon, the man who Jay suspected was secretly training his son to steal Sunoo's heart with strategically placed puppy-dog eyes and expertly crafted friendship bracelets. Yang Jungwon, his mortal enemy.

"Oh, you," Jay groaned, rubbing his forehead.

"Of all the libraries, in all the towns..."

 

Jungwon blinked, his usually serene expression replaced with a flicker of annoyance.

 

"Mr. Park? What are you—"

 

"I'm chasing my son, who has apparently decided to audition for 'Fast and Furious: Fairytale Edition,"

 

Jay retorted, gesturing wildly towards the receding figure of Sunoo.

 

"And you, apparently, are standing directly in my way."

 

Jungwon annoyed was about to retort with a sharp, "Mr. Park, perhaps you should—" when Jay suddenly began to act like a cat on the prowl, his head swiveling left and right, his eyes darting through the crowd, as if searching for a laser pointer dot. He was muttering under his breath,

 

"Where is he? Where is he?"

 

Then, his gaze locked onto a specific area, his eyes narrowing, almost closing into slits. Jungwon, following Jay's line of sight, saw him target lock his own son, Jake, who was currently engaged in a deep conversation about dragons with Sunoo.

 

"Oh, no," Jungwon groaned, realizing the impending parental showdown.

Chapter 31: 🐱

Summary:

Fairytales and hidden agendas Pt. 3

"Mr. Park, perhaps we could—" Jungwon began, attempting to diffuse the situation, but Jay cut him off with a sharp, "Shush," his fingers, surprisingly warm and firm, pressing directly against Jungwon's lips, silencing him. Jungwon's eyes widened, a delicate pink blush blooming across his cheeks as the unexpected, intimate contact sent a strange, flustered warmth through him, but the blush deepened into a vibrant crimson red when Jay began to dramatically whisper, his eyes wide and conspiratorial.

 

"Everything... is... suspicious,"

 

Jay hissed, his voice a low, theatrical rumble. He shook Jungwon's shoulders with each word, his eyes fixed on the other man with a mixture of suspicion and disbelief.

 

"The library... the fairytales... the convenient meeting... it's all part of a meticulously crafted grand design, Mr. Yang. A premeditated grand design to steal my son's affections!"

 

Jungwon sighed,

 

"They're kids, Mr. Park. AGAIN they are boy friends, not boyfriends,"

 

Jungwon retorted, his voice a strained whisper, pushing Jay's hand away.

 

"And there is no grand design!"

 

"Oh, really?"

 

Jay whispered back, his eyes narrowing.

 

"Then explain the glitter! Explain the matching dinosaur-shaped crayon holders!"

 

"They're… they're just common crayon holders!"

 

Jungwon hissed, his face now flushed with a mixture of anger and embarrassment.

 

 

"A likely story!"

 

Jay countered, poking Jungwon's chest with a finger.

 

"Your son is trying to brainwash my son with sparkly propaganda!"

 

"I am not—" Jungwon began, but was cut off by a loud,

 

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

 

A stern voice echoed from behind a nearby bookshelf. The librarian, a woman with a bun as tight as her patience, glared at them.

 

Jay and Jungwon exchanged a look of strained silence, their faces flushed, then they turn into a whisper-fight, now punctuated by dramatic hand gestures and pointed glares.

 

"He's corrupting his innocence!" Jay hissed.

 

"You're being ridiculous!" Jungwon whispered back, his voice strained.

 

"He's going to elope with your son and become a dragon tamer!"

 

"They are reading a book!"

 

"SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

 

the librarian hissed again, her voice even louder this time, causing several patrons to turn and glare.

 

Jay and Jungwon, realizing the gravity of their situation, resorted to exaggerated facial expressions and frantic hand gestures, trying to convey their points without making a sound.

 

When they got reprimanded again and threatened by the librarian to leave the library they then proceeded to gather their respective kids, attempting to maintain a semblance of dignity while their kids relentlessly asked "why?" and pointed at the increasingly flustered librarian. Eventually, a tense truce was called, and they retreated to separate tables, as far apart as the relatively small elementary section of the library allowed.

 

Chapter 32: 🐱

Summary:

Fairytales and hidden agendas Pt. 4

A peaceful scene came by. Jay and Jungwon settled into a comfortable silence, each engrossed in their own picture book. Jay was quietly flipping pages, occasionally making exaggerated "oohs" and "ahhs" at the giraffe's stylish scarf collection, when Sunoo leaned in close and whispered in his ear, his eyes wide with theatrical disappointment,

 

"Daddy, I wanna read a story, but… this one isn't… sparkly enough!"

 

"Sparkly?" Jay whispered back, raising an eyebrow.

 

"What do you mean, 'sparkly'?"

 

Sunoo dramatically gestured with his hands, miming a series of exaggerated movements. He swung his arms wide, then clenched his fists and shook them, then pointed dramatically into the air.

 

"It needs… more drama! More action! More… oomph!"

 

He puffed out his cheeks, trying to look very serious, and then mimed an explosion with his hands, making a small "poof" sound.

 

"Can we… can we oomph it, Daddy?"

 

Jay, always eager to indulge his son's theatrical whims, grinned.

 

"Oomph it? You mean… act it out?"

 

Sunoo nodded enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling.

 

"Yes! Yes! Like a play!"

 

"Alright, little director,"

 

Jay chuckled, closing his book about the giraffe's stylish scarf collection.

 

"Let's see what we can do."

 

He stood up, ready to embrace the chaos.

 

"Where do we start?"

 

Sunoo, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, grabbed Jay’s hand and began to drag him across the small children's section. Jay, initially thinking his son wanted to use the small puppet theater in the corner, was surprised when Sunoo stopped right in front of… Jungwon, who was simultaneously being dragged by Jake. Both Jay and Jungwon exchanged weird, questioning looks, as if silently asking,

 

 

 

"What is happening?"

 

Jake, with a flourish, produced a well-loved storybook from behind his back.

 

"We want you to act this!"

 

he announced, presenting the book with a dramatic flip. The cover revealed a picture of a fair-skinned princess with raven hair and a bright red apple.

 

"Snow White!"

 

Sunoo clapped his hands, his eyes sparkling.

 

"Tada!"

 

he exclaimed, spreading his hands outwards and wiggling his fingers for added emphasis.

 

Jay and Jungwon, meanwhile, stood awkwardly between their enthusiastic sons, still trying to process how they had gone from a peaceful reading session to a theatrical collaboration with their mortal enemy, centered around a classic fairytale. They exchanged a long, bewildered look, then glanced at their beaming sons, then back at each other, and finally, with a shared sigh, resigned themselves to their fate.

 

"Alright,"

 

Jay said, forcing a strained smile.

 

"Who's playing what?"

 

"You're the Evil Queen!"

 

Sunoo declared, pointing at Jay with a dramatic flourish.

 

"And appa,"

 

Jake said, pointing at Jungwon,

 

"you are Snow White!"

 

"Me? Snow White?"

 

Jungwon asked, his eyebrows shooting up.

 

"But I—"

 

"No buts!"

 

Jake interrupted, wiggling his index finger back and forth emphatically, a clear "no-no" sign, while Sunoo, arms crossed and a cute pout forming on his lips, shook his head in silent agreement.

 

"It's in the book!"

 

Jake and Sunoo declared in unison.

 

And so, the theatrical battle began. Jay, his eyebrows arched into dramatic peaks, stalked across the makeshift stage, his voice booming like a thunderclap, each word dripping with exaggerated malice. He punctuated his lines with sweeping hand gestures and dramatic pauses, clearly relishing his role as the Evil Queen.

 

Jungwon, surprisingly, countered with equally theatrical flair. He fluttered his eyelashes, sighed with exaggerated sorrow, and moved with a delicate grace that contrasted hilariously with his normally composed demeanor. Every gasp, every pose, was a silent challenge, a competition for the most over-the-top performance.

 

As the performance progressed, their competitive spirits intensified, fueled by the enthusiastic cheers of their sons. Jake and Sunoo, perched on the edge of their seats, began to brag to the other children about how their dad was the best actor.

 

"My dad's the most evil queen ever!"

 

Sunoo declared, puffing out his chest.

 

"No, my dad is the prettiest Snow White!"

 

Jake countered, crossing his arms. The playful rivalry between their sons sparked an unspoken contest between Jay and Jungwon, each determined to prove themselves the "best dad" through the sheer force of their dramatic talent.

 

Their dramatic performance began to attract attention. A small crowd of children gathered, their eyes wide with fascination. Even the stern librarian, her bun slightly loosened, paused her shelving to watch with a flicker of amusement.

 

The kids, however, had their own ideas.

 

"Now, the Evil Queen gives Snow White the apple!"

 

Jake announced, pushing Jay towards Jungwon.

 

Jay, with a dramatic flourish, mimed holding out a shiny, red apple.

 

"Eat, my dear,"

 

he hissed, his voice dripping with false sweetness. Jungwon, with a look of innocent suspicion, took the imaginary apple.

 

"Oh, how kind,"

 

he said, taking a dramatic bite.

 

"And now, you fall asleep!"

 

Sunoo declared, pushing Jungwon towards a pile of cushions.

 

Without a word of protest, Jungwon dramatically flung himself onto the cushions, his arm thrown across his forehead, a theatrical sigh escaping his lips.

 

"Oh, cruel fate!"

 

he declared, his voice echoing with mock despair.

 

"I am cursed!"

 

"And now,"

 

Sunoo declared, pointing at Jay,

 

"you're the Prince!"

 

"Me? The Prince?"

 

Jay sputtered, his Evil Queen persona vanishing.

 

"But I—"

 

"Kiss my dad! I mean, Snow White!"

 

Jake demanded, pushing Jay towards the "sleeping" Jungwon.

 

"No!"

 

Jay and Jungwon exclaimed in unison.

 

"But it's in the story!"

 

Sunoo whined, his lower lip trembling.

 

"No kissing!"

 

Jungwon said firmly, sitting up, his face flushed.

 

"We… uh… we're not… kissers! We're… hand-shakers! Enthusiastic hand-shakers!"

 

He demonstrated with an overly vigorous handshake, nearly dislocating his own wrist. Jay, nodding along frantically, added,

 

"Yeah! We're… uh… kiss-deficient! We have a rare condition! It's… it's called… labiophobia! Fear of lips! It's very serious!"

 

He then proceeded to clutch his chest and feign a dramatic gasp, as if the mere thought of kissing was causing him physical pain.

 

Jake, tilting his head, said,

 

"Oh, so you're like… allergic to kisses?"

 

Sunoo nodded sagely.

 

"Like how I'm allergic to broccoli? That's sad."

 

"Exactly!"

 

Jay and Jungwon said in unison, relieved.

 

"But,"

 

Jake continued, his eyes narrowing,

 

"Snow White needs a kiss to wake up. It's in the story."

 

"Yeah,"

 

Sunoo added,

 

"and you're the Prince."

 

Before Jay or Jungwon could react, with the surprising coordination of two tiny, mischievous directors, Sunoo, perched precariously near Jungwon's head, and Jake, practically tackling Jay as he knelt, grabbed them.

 

They then forcefully mashed their faces together like two action figures in a bizarre, head-on collision. There was a loud, wet "thwack," followed by a moment of stunned silence, and then… a very awkward, very accidental kiss that looked less like a romantic fairytale moment and more like a poorly executed faceplant.

 

Jay and Jungwon pulled apart, their faces bright red, their eyes wide with shock. They both gagged dramatically, wiping their mouths with the backs of their hands as if they'd tasted something truly awful.

 

"What was that?!"

 

Jay sputtered, holding his nose.

 

"You can't just do that!"

 

Jungwon added, clutching his forehead.

 

"That's not how kisses work! And you need consent!"

 

Jake and Sunoo, however, were unfazed.

 

"Yay! Happy ending!"

 

they declared, clapping their hands, while the gathered children giggled and the librarian tried to suppress a smile.

 

As Jay and Jungwon, holding their respective injured areas, scolded the children about consent and the proper way to act out a fairytale, they couldn't help but feel a strange, lingering sensation.

 

On the way home, a silence hung between them, a strange, unspoken memory of the accidental kiss lingering in the air. Jay cleared his throat.

 

"Well,"

 

he said, trying to sound casual,

 

"that was… something."

 

Jungwon nodded, his cheeks still slightly flushed.

 

"Yeah,"

 

he agreed, his voice barely a whisper. They both looked away, a strange, unfamiliar warmth spreading through them, a warmth that had nothing to do with the library's stuffy air. As they walked down the hallway towards the exit, unbeknownst to them, Jake and Sunoo exchanged a mischievous giggle and a resounding high-five, complete with dramatic sound effects and triumphant air punches. Their operation: Papa-Buddies-Play-Nice? Totally worked!

 

 

Chapter 33: 🐱- End Arc 1

Summary:

Some endings are just the beginning of a very cozy, very blush-inducing new chapter.

Notes:

Hey~

A soft sigh escapes my fingertips as I type these words, a sigh that carries with it a bittersweet blend of my deepest apologies for the late (very late) upload and the gentle tug of farewell as ta-da 👐 this chapter lovingly draws the curtain on our cherished JayWon arc.

Now, let's be real, my personal stash of rainbows and giggles has been looking a little… well, let's just say my inner unicorn needs a serious energy drink. Blame the real-life drama (I feel so tired nowadays) and the fact that my other unfinished story is currently drowning in peak angst! (it's pulling me into the dark, send help! 🖤) So, apologies if I'm not my usual fluffy self, but I truly hope this cozy conclusion brings a smile to your faces.

As you know, the master plan was to wrap up this adorable JayWon arc so we could zoom off into the sunset with my other darling ships. But guess what? Turns out, their past is like a treasure chest overflowing with the cutest little nooks and crannies! Seriously, I could probably write a hundred chapters just exploring all their sweet moments! (And oh boy, is it tempting! 🥰) But, I can't leave my other sweethearts collecting dust bunnies forever, can I? (some of you also really miss them) 😉

So, with a dramatic, slow-motion backward glance (think of that silver haired Jay meme side glancing, but towards my own characters and to you), and a heart brimming with affection for JayWon, I’ve decided to bring this arc to a close with this soft, snuggly ending.

My focus now will be zooming over to the shores of my other beloved ship(s). 🚢💨 What do you think, sweethearts? All in all, thank you for riding with me, and sending you all the warmest fuzzies and the brightest rainbows! 💖🌈✨

Jungwon took a deep breath, a triumphant fanfare echoing in his mind as he surveyed their new place. "At last!" his inner voice declared, conveniently forgetting the preceding hours of grunting, precarious furniture Tetris, and that brief but intense futon-induced existential crisis. Still, optimism was his superpower!

 

New beginnings. Freshly painted walls. A unique aroma hung in the air – a blend of newness and the subtle scent of cardboard dust.

 

Being new to the neighborhood, Jungwon was really looking forward to a fresh start for himself and Jake. A chance to build new memories, meet new people... ideally ones who knew where the good takeout was.

 

Jungwon was about to open a new carton box, a particularly promising one labeled "Kitchen Essentials" (which hopefully included that elusive coffee maker) when a rapid-fire knocking echoed from the front door.

 

"Eep! Okay, okay, I'm coming! Don't break down the door!" he called out, rubbing his chest dramatically. "Ah my heart!" The rapid knocking had definitely startled him.

 

He took a moment to compose himself, a nervous yet excited smile playing on his lips as he smoothed down his bright green t-shirt (his "I'm approachable!" uniform) and gave his hair a quick fluff (because first impressions, even to potential guitar-playing neighbors, mattered).

 

"Well, this is exciting!" he exclaimed, his voice a little breathless with anticipation and the lingering fear of a door-breaching maniac.

 

"Our first visitor in our new house!" He took a final, bracing breath and swung the door open.

 

And then it hit him. It wasn't just a visual of a person standing there; it was a full-blown sensory assault, like walking face-first into a spice rack while a toddler had a tantrum nearby: olfactory and auditory.

 

First, the smell. Imagine the most potent, pungent, mouth-watering curry you've ever encountered. Now amplify that by a factor of ten. It was the kind of curry that didn't just announce its presence; it staged a full-blown, aromatic invasion. Jungwon's stomach began to immediately grumble, and he felt his sinuses clear with alarming speed.

 

Second, the sound. A high-pitched, sustained scream, the kind that could shatter glass and possibly summon nearby dogs. It was coming from a small child, who was standing next to the source of the curry-paradise.

 

Third. It couldn't be. But it was.

 

 

 

"WELCOME TO THE NEYBORH-, EEEEEK! TEACHER JUNGWON!!!!"

 

Jungwon blinked, his eyes widening. He hadn't seen Jay since... well, let's just say there was a... ummm.

 

Jungwon could see Jay's face went through a series of rapid-fire expressions: surprise, disbelief, mild horror, and then… was that a hint of pink? 

 

They both just kind of gaped at each other for a moment, like two goldfish who had suddenly realized they were in the same bowl... a very small, very awkward, and very curry-scented bowl. 

 

"You're… my new n-neighbor?"

 

Jay finally managed to croak, his voice emerging like a punctured tire. A beat of stunned silence hung in the air before Jungwon managed a reply, his voice a touch breathy.

 

"Y-yeah?"

 

 

The irony was almost comical. His "mortal enemy," the bane of his existence (at least, that's what he dramatically declared to his cactus), the recipient of approximately 7,483 internal sarcastic remarks and eye-rolls, was his next-door neighbor? A flush crept up his neck, a warmth that felt suspiciously like… dare he think it… pleasant? Nope! Nope, nope, nope. Brain, shut that down. He immediately dismissed the thought, he definitely wasn't prepared to analyze that particular sensation.

 

Sunoo, a tiny, oblivious sunshine ray in the sudden storm cloud of adult awkwardness, bounced on the balls of his feet, his eyes shining with a contagious sparkle. He then wrapped his tiny arms around Jungwon's legs, clinging to him like a ridiculously adorable, curry-scented koala.

 

"Teacher Yang? Can I go in and say hi to Jakey hyung, pwease?"

 

Sunoo looked up at Jungwon, tilting his head slightly, his eyelashes fluttering like tiny butterfly wings as he batted them. He paused for a beat, and taking Jungwon's stunned silence as an affirmative, he giggled and zipped past, calling out with unrestrained glee,

 

"JAKEY HYUNG! JAKEY HYUNG!!"

 

Hearing Sunoo's voice, Jake practically bounced out of his room. A wide, excited grin stretched across his face. Without missing a beat, he pulled Sunoo into a tight, welcoming hug. 

 

"Sunoo-yah?!" he practically sang, his voice bubbling with giddy delight. "Come see my room! Want to see my legos?"

 

 

The two adults were left standing awkwardly in the doorway, the lingering aroma of Jay's curry clinging to the air, a fragrant reminder of the chaos that had just unfolded.

 

Jay's confusion seemed to make him clutch the pot a little tighter. He looked from the pot to Jungwon and back again, his silent

 

"Curry?"

 

almost a plea for understanding. He even offered a slight, awkward tilt of the pot as if presenting evidence. Stunned, Jungwon slowly reached out for the pot with a slow, deliberate nod

 

"Yep. Curry."

 

 

---

Jay was breathing as if he'd just completed a marathon. In reverse, uphill, wearing flippers. He leaned against the doorframe, a sheen of perspiration doing an impressive impression of morning dew on his forehead.

 

Beside him, a pocket-sized supernova of cheer named Jungwon, all five-foot-nothing of infuriatingly sunny disposition and a smile that Jay was starting to see as alarmingly endearing, simply clapped his hands together with the boundless energy of a toddler who'd just mainlined pure sunshine.

 

Their current mission: wrestling a floral behemoth of a sofa through a doorway that clearly held a personal vendetta against both bulky furniture and Jay's spinal alignment.

 

"Okay, Jay hyung, just a teeny scootch more to the left,"

 

Jungwon instructed, his voice bright and unwavering, though it held a teasing lilt that Jay tried very hard to ignore. He was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet, his eyes sparkling with amusement, and against his better judgment, a tiny, rebellious corner of Jay's brain whispered, cute. He immediately squashed it.

 

"Okay, maybe a bit more to the right,"

 

Jay groaned, his grip on the sofa slipping slightly. Right? Right?! He could feel his back protesting with every awkward twist and turn. Of all the people whose moving trucks could have inexplicably parked next door, it had to be him. Him. 

 

"Oh, come on, hyung," Jungwon said, emphasizing the honorific with a playful wiggle of his eyebrows that Jay pretended not to notice.

 

"Don't give me that look"

 

"You.Did.Offer.To.Help." 

 

Jungwon punctuated each word with an innocent smile that Jay recognized as pure, weaponized sunshine. He wanted to simultaneously laugh and bury his face in the offensively floral upholstery. He had offered, and his past self was clearly an idiot with a death wish.

 

"A little more! more! Okay, back a bit! No, forward! Your other right!" Jungwon's directions were about as helpful as a GPS in a black hole.

 

"Are you sure this thing even fits sunshine?"

 

Jay gasped, his arms feeling like they were about to detach from his body and his face now a full-blown crimson. He was trying to sound exasperated in a cool way, but his voice came out a bit like an old man wheeze, which only made Jungwon giggle, and Jay quickly looked away. Nope. Not endearing. Annoying. And he definitely did not want to pinch his cheeks.

 

Jungwon tilted his head, considering the doorway with a thoughtful hum. "Yep?"

 

Jay stared at him, jaw slack. "Jungwon," he began slowly, each syllable measured with the weight of his aching muscles and his increasingly confused emotions. Just then, a sweet, innocent voice drifted from the doorway leading into the living room.

 

"Awwww," Sunoo cooed his tiny hands adorably cupping his jaws, his eyes wide and full of hopeful curiosity. "Are Daddy and Teacher fwends now?"

 

A silence descended upon the doorway that was thick enough to spread on toast. Jay's blush deepened to a shade of purple usually reserved for eggplants. Jungwon, who had been mid-giggle, suddenly froze, his bouncy energy momentarily short-circuited.

 

They both looked at each other, then quickly away, suddenly finding the floral sofa, the doorway, and even the slightly messy carton boxes on the floor incredibly fascinating.

 

It was an awkward, almost painful moment of...recognition? Attraction? Sheer, unadulterated embarrassment? Whatever it was, it was definitely something. Then, a small voice broke through the tension.

 

"Appa? I'm hungry," Jake announced from the living room doorway, his small hand making determined circles on his stomach. Beside him, Sunoo, a miniature echo of Jake's hunger, offered a solemn nod and an expression that could melt glaciers for a sandwich.

 

Both Jay and Jungwon blinked, the spell momentarily shattered by the more pressing matter of rumbling tummies. Jay's gaze flickered to his watch, then softened as it landed on the two expectant faces.

 

"Wow," Jungwon said, a genuine surprise in his tone, his earlier playful energy returning, albeit slightly subdued.

 

"Has it been that long already, Jay?" He deliberately dropped the "hyung," the informality hanging in the air like the lingering scent of curry, a tiny, playful jab that also felt… different.

 

Jay’s ears warmed slightly. "Right, Jungwon." He mirrored the informality, the sound of Jungwon's name on his lips feeling… surprisingly natural.

 

"So, kitchen duty?"

 

 

---

Jay watched, his eye twitching slightly, as Jungwon attacked a carrot. The result was less a slice and more a geometric abstraction – one chunk resembled a small boulder, the next a sliver so thin it was practically translucent.

 

"Jungwon," Jay began, his voice dangerously low, "are you aware that vegetables are meant to be… edible?"

 

Jungwon grinned, unfazed. "Details, details! they'll all taste the same in the end, right?" He held up a particularly mangled carrot piece next to one of Jay's perfectly uniform dice. The difference was… stark. Jay's smile tightened. 

 

Their banter continued, a mix of exasperated sighs from Jay and cheerful defiance from Jungwon, as they navigated the kitchen. Just as Jay was demonstrating the proper way to dice an onion (slowly, deliberately, with a pointed glare at Jungwon), two small figures suddenly popped into existence near the kitchen entrance.

 

Sunoo stood there, his nose twitching like a curious bunny, taking in the aromatic battlefield. Jake peeked out from behind him, equally captivated. Drawn by the increasingly enticing aroma of dinner and the lively (and occasionally heated) sounds of their fathers' cooking (and bickering), they both skipped fully into the kitchen, their eyes wide with curiosity.

 

Without a spoken word, a subtle shift occurred. Drawn by Jay's focused attention and the satisfying thwack of the knife against the cutting board, Jake tugged gently on the hem of Jay's shirt, his big, curious eyes looking up.

 

Without hesitation, Jay adjusted his stance, positioning Jake's small hands over the knife with patient care, to teach and guide him in a slow, deliberate motion. His own hand rested briefly on Jake’s, a gesture that felt both natural and protective.

 

Across the counter, Jungwon, with an encouraging smile, assisted Sunoo in carefully tipping his collection of oddly shaped vegetables into the simmering pot, narrating a fantastical tale of their "brave vegetable warriors" embarking on a delicious adventure. While stirring the pot with one hand, Jungwon used the other to playfully wipe a smudge of sauce from Sunoo’s cheek, a tender, almost automatic gesture.

 

They continued their culinary dance, a playful exchange of jabs about Jungwon's artistic vegetable hacking versus Jay's precise dicing, punctuated by moments of fluid, almost telepathic cooperation as they navigated the crowded counter. 

 

Jay found himself automatically reaching for a missing clove of garlic Jungwon needed and Jungwon, in turn, instinctively slid a small bowl of freshly chopped cilantro across the counter towards Jay, knowing he'd need it for the finishing touch. A silent exchange, a budding rhythm in their unexpected culinary partnership.

 

They didn't notice the easy rhythm they had fallen into, the comfortable way their small family unit – however unconventional – had formed in the heart of the messy kitchen. As Jungwon stirred, a stray piece of perfectly diced carrot clung to his spoon.

 

Without a second thought, he blew on it gently, a soft puff of air, and turning with a soft smile, almost absently offered it to Jay for a taste.

 

Jay, equally unthinkingly, accepted the offered bite, a small, surprised smile touching his lips at the unexpected sweetness amidst the savory aromas. They were simply focused on the task at hand, the laughter of their sons a warm and comforting soundtrack to their unexpected domesticity.

 

The kitchen, a landscape of scattered vegetable remnants and happily licked spoons, hummed with a comfortable exhaustion. Sunoo, a whirlwind of post-dinner energy, recounted happily every detail of their culinary adventure in rapid-fire Korean. Jake, in contrast, sat quietly, his gaze fixed on his hands twisting in his lap, stealing shy glances at Jay and Jungwon.

 

"I'm so happy!" Sunoo declared, his face still slightly sticky with its rich sauce.

 

Jake offered a small, almost imperceptible nod, his eyes briefly meeting Jay's before darting back down to his fidgeting fingers.

 

"Mmm me too," he murmured, his voice barely audible above Sunoo's chatter as he nibbled on a misshapen piece of zucchini. He then reached over with a napkin and gently dabbed at a smear of sauce on Sunoo's cheek, a small, brotherly gesture.

 

A warm smile passed between Jay and Jungwon. Jay's eyes then flickered to the clock, a surprised widening indicating the lateness of the hour. He drew in a breath, ready to suggest a return home, but Jake's hesitant movement stopped him. The boy's shoulders hunched slightly, his gaze fixed on the floor as he spoke, his voice a mere breath.

 

"Mr. Park… um…" He paused, swallowed hard, and his cheeks flushed a delicate pink as he finally lifted his eyes, the plea evident in their depths.

 

"Would… would you and Sunoo… maybe… stay? With us?"

 

He punctuated the question with a nervous glance at Jungwon.

 

"We could… maybe… build a fort?" His hands continued their silent dance in his lap.

 

Before Jay could respond, Sunoo, oblivious to Jake's quiet nervousness, launched himself at Jay, his small arms wrapping around his waist in a sudden, enthusiastic hug.

 

"Please, Dad! Can we all sleep over? It'll be the bestest fort ever!"

 

Jay's arms instinctively tightened around Sunoo, a soft chuckle rumbling in his chest. He glanced at Jungwon, a playful warmth in his eyes that mirrored the hopeful anticipation radiating from both boys.

 

Jake, still fiddling with his fingers, watched his appa with a mixture of hope and apprehension. Jungwon's gaze softened as he took in the scene: Sunoo's enthusiastic embrace, Jake's shy plea, and the genuine warmth emanating from Jay. He ran a hand through his own hair, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

 

The thought of the comfortable silence of his own home warred briefly with the undeniable charm of this unexpected, messy camaraderie. He looked from the two expectant young faces to Jay's inviting gaze.

 

"Well," Jungwon began, his voice betraying a hint of amusement despite his initial intention to decline,

 

"it is getting awfully late." He paused, letting the anticipation build.

 

"And I suppose a fort… a really awesome fort… does sound rather appealing." A wider smile finally broke through.

 

"Alright, you two. Fort-building it is." A collective cheer erupted from Sunoo and Jake, their earlier nervousness replaced by unrestrained joy. Sunoo ran to Jungwon to give a cheek kiss and a squeeze, while Jake's shy smile finally blossomed into a wider, more confident grin. 

 

Soon, the living room transformed into a cozy landscape of draped blankets and plump pillows, a collaborative effort between the two excited boys and the two adults who were perhaps slightly too into fort construction for their own good.

 

Later, fueled by leftover dinner and pure silliness, they launched into a dramatic retelling of a fairytale, complete with exaggerated voices and questionable sound effects and a strict "no kissing, absolutely not, we're setting a good example" disclaimer.

 

 

---

The living room, a landscape of draped blankets and scattered pillows resembling the aftermath of a particularly gentle explosion, held the quiet stillness of early morning. Soft snores, punctuated by the occasional snort, drifted through the air.

 

Two small figures, however, were wide awake, their movements ninja-level quiet as they peered through a strategically ripped hole in their blanket haven, gazes fixed on the two adult casualties sprawled on the floor.

 

The first sound to truly break the silence was a series of suppressed giggles that sounded suspiciously like tiny hyenas trying to be stealthy, followed by the unmistakable click of a phone camera, a sound that promised blackmail material for years to come.

 

Jay stirred groggily, a pleasant warmth radiating from his side. He blinked open his eyes, his vision fuzzy, before focusing on the two sets of wide, innocent (yet clearly mischievous) eyes peering down at them through a gap in the blanket fort.

 

The tell-tale glow of a phone screen illuminated their faces as they stifled their laughter. He shifted slightly, but a pleasant weight anchored his right arm. His gaze landed on Jungwon, still lost in the peaceful realm of sleep, a serene smile gracing his lips. Their bodies were nestled together, an arm slung casually over Jay's waist, their closeness undeniable.

 

A blush bloomed on Jay's cheeks as Jungwon slowly opened his eyes, his soft gaze meeting Jay's in a moment of quiet, shared intimacy. A slow-burn blush ignited on Jay's cheeks as Jungwon’s eyes fluttered open, his soft, unfocused gaze meeting Jay's in a moment of quiet, surprisingly comfortable, shared intimacy.

 

That morning, amidst the stifled giggles, the incriminating photographic evidence, and the lingering scent of blanket fort adventure, marked the adorably awkward beginning of how Jungwon and Jay embarked on their journey of waking up together… one accidental cuddle (with Jay's arm as a surprisingly popular headrest) and a whole lot of blushing mornings at a time.

 

Notes:

Hey hey! Just a little heads-up, the next chapters are... guess what's in there? The HeeJake and SunSunKi prologue for the brand new arc! Happy reading! 🤗

Chapter 34: 🦊- Start Arc 2

Summary:

 What is love?

Notes:

Double update today and....

 

SunSunKi is BACK! No plot, no compass, just pure, unadulterated... something ✨

Niki had grown up seeing a lot that personal space was less a rule and more a suggestion. He'd witnessed countless instances of his Uncle Jay and Uncle Jungwon's... enthusiastic displays of affection.

 

There were the morning cuddles that resembled a koala attack, the surprise back hugs/rides that often involved one nearly toppling the other, and the incessant pasta feeding accompanied by high-pitched squeals of "Yummy? Yummy!"

 

It was, to put it mildly, a lot.

 

At ten, Niki had observed these interactions with a mixture of fascination and slight horror. He'd concluded that love, as demonstrated by his elders, was a potent combination of physical entanglement and the constant exchange of sugary compliments.

 

His constant side eyeing of closeness solidified a firm belief in ten-year-old Niki: he would never be like that (BIG WORD). The sheer intensity of his uncles' affection felt foreign, almost a different species of connection.  One afternoon, while Jay and Jungwon were engaged in a particularly intense staring contest (apparently a prelude to a "mega-hug"), driven by a need to break the spell of their overwhelming intimacy, Niki tugged on Jay's sleeve.

 

 

"Uncle," he'd asked, his brow furrowed in concentration, "what is love?"

 

Jay, startled out of his romantic reverie, blinked at Niki. He ruffled the boy's hair and, with the earnestness of someone explaining the mysteries of the universe, said,

 

"Love, Niki-yah, is about giving your whole self. Your heart, your time, your... everything. It's about showing them how special they are, making them feel cherished, like the most precious gift in the world."

 

He punctuated this with a dramatic flourish towards Jungwon, who responded with an equally dramatic swoon. Ten-year-old Niki, however, focused on the "giving your whole self" and "most precious gift" parts.

 

His mind, still grappling with the nuances of human emotion, filed this information under "Love = Extreme Self-Sacrifice Via Elaborate Presentation." This idea, however childish, stuck with him.

 

Fast forward five years.

 

Now fifteen and sporting a perpetually dramatic expression, like a romance novel hero who'd just lost his true love but was also secretly a vampire.

 

Niki watched from across his room as Sunoo, lying on his bed and twirling around like a barbecue over his duck-printed bedsheet, giggled, his cheeks flushed a delightful pink.

 

Sunghoon, the resident ice prince, had just randomly given Sunoo a small box of chocolates, which Sunoo was clutching to his chest while dramatically declaring how he couldn't possibly eat them; he wanted to display them instead.

 

Niki's internal monologue went something like this: Giggles? Pink cheeks? Chocolates? This is serious. I need to act. Uncle's words... the most precious gift...

 

A wave of panic mixed with a strange determination washed over him. He had to show Sunoo how he felt, in the grandest way possible.

 

He excused himself, muttering something about needing "air" (which was technically true, given the way his heart was pounding).

 

He then proceeded to execute what he considered to be a flawless plan, inspired by a combination of his childhood memories and a particularly bizarre K-drama he'd watched the night before, as demanded by Sunoo.

 

He knocked on his sister's door before barging in (because he is a gentleman), targeting the shimmering pink ribbon he knew would be there. It was perfect - eye-catching, and just the right shade to highlight his presentation (Sunoo also told him pink looks good on him).

 

He carefully measured a length of the ribbon, long enough to... well, you'll see. He smoothed it out, ignoring his sister's increasingly concerned glances.

 

He took a deep breath.

 

Tied the ribbon on his neck.

 

And made a large, elaborate bow.

 

Then struck a pose.

 

He was, in his mind, the ultimate present.

 

A gift of himself, for his Sunoo.

 

 

He made his way back to his room, already imagining Sunoo's reaction. His eyes widening, a gasp escaping his lips, and then, in a moment of equally dramatic flair, announcing to the world, "Niki! I like you too!". He reached his own door, a goofy grin plastered on his face, and tapped lightly, like a playful kitten.

 

 

"Sunoo hyung~" he sang, waiting a beat. But there was no reply. He knocked again, and again, and again, and again and again, a bit louder than the last time.

 

 

"Sunoo hyung!" Still nothing. Pouting slightly, he turned the knob, the click echoing a bit too loudly in his ears, and pushed the door open. Niki saw Sunoo standing by the window, chocolates abandoned on the floor. He approached Sunoo with slow, deliberate footsteps.

 

 

"Sunoo hyung?" he called out softly, but Sunoo didn't reply, his gaze fixed on something outside. He followed Sunoo's frozen gaze and across the courtyard, bathed in the afternoon light, there he saw it

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jake hyung.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunghoon hyung.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kissing.

Chapter 35: 🐶- Start Arc 2

Summary:

I got confessions to make.

Notes:

What you're about to read isn't the current act. Think of this as a little peek behind the curtain, a playful nudge hinting at the future.

The fluorescent lights of the office hummed, a monotonous soundtrack to the afternoon hour. Busy workers at their desks formed neat rows, casting long shadows that stretched and distorted familiar shapes.

 

Heeseung leaned against a filing cabinet near the central aisle, his gaze seemingly fixed on the various monitors displaying lines of code. But his focus was subtly trained across the open-plan space, where Jake meticulously reviewed a document, his brow furrowed in concentration.

 

Jake worked with a quiet intensity, a stark contrast to the easygoing banter he often shared during coffee breaks. He seemed deeply engrossed in the task, though his occasional glances towards Heeseung were quick and almost imperceptible, a silent acknowledgment in their shared workspace.

 

Heeseung pushed himself off the filing cabinet, the soft click of his shoes against the carpet barely audible above the office hum. He didn't call out, didn't want to disrupt the focused atmosphere of work time. Their subtle interactions were a carefully orchestrated dance within the professional environment.

 

Jake finally looked up, his eyes meeting Heeseung’s for a fleeting moment before returning to his document. There was no overt greeting, just a subtle stillness in his posture, a heightened awareness of Heeseung's presence amidst the workday focus. He made a small annotation on the page.

 

Heeseung started walking towards Jake’s workstation, his movements casual, as if he were heading towards the printer. Jake straightened up slightly, his hands resting lightly on his desk, his gaze now openly acknowledging Heeseung’s approach, though carefully devoid of any personal inflection. When Heeseung was just a few feet away,

 

Jake tilted his head almost imperceptibly, a silent question masked as professional acknowledgment. It wasn't a beckoning, more of a subtle acknowledgment of their unspoken understanding, a careful navigation of the space between colleagues during work hours.

 

Heeseung stopped near Jake’s desk, leaning a hip against the edge, feigning interest in a nearby flowchart. The bright office lights illuminated the subtle tension that always simmered beneath the surface when they were in close proximity, a current they had to carefully conceal from their diligently working colleagues.

 

His gaze flickered down to Jake’s hands as he capped his pen, before returning to meet his eyes with a neutral expression. A silent acknowledgment passed between them, a shared awareness of the watchful presence around them.

 

Jake’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly, a suppressed smile threatening to break through his professional demeanor. He leaned back slightly in his chair, the movement carefully casual. His foot brushed against Heeseung’s ankle, a fleeting contact that sent a subtle warmth through the carefully maintained professional distance.

 

He didn’t acknowledge it, his focus seemingly on the flowchart Heeseung was “studying.” Heeseung’s hand, which had been resting loosely by his side, tightened slightly. He resisted the urge to react, to acknowledge the touch in any overt way. Instead, he shifted his weight slightly, a subtle repositioning that brought him fractionally closer under the guise of examining the diagram.

 

It was a silent parry, a careful dance performed under the diligent gaze of their working colleagues. Jake’s eyes, usually bright and openly engaged during the day, held a veiled amusement, a subtle spark that only Heeseung would recognize amidst the workday focus.

 

Heeseung let his gaze drift lower, seemingly tracing the lines of the flowchart, but his focus lingered on the subtle curve of Jake’s lips as he briefly glanced up, the almost imperceptible flush that now painted his cheeks. A spark ignited in Heeseung's chest, a familiar yearning for something beyond the confines of their professional facade.

 

Heeseung’s hand twitched, his fingers itching to brush against Jake’s arm, to bridge the small gap between them. Just then, a figure approached their desks – a supervisor, clipboard in hand. Instantly, Heeseung straightened, gesturing towards the flowchart with a practiced air, launching into a fabricated explanation of its intricacies, his voice a touch too loud.

 

Jake quickly mirrored his actions, nodding attentively as if engrossed in Heeseung’s impromptu lecture. When the supervisor moved on, Heeseung’s eyes met Jake’s again, but the earlier warmth had vanished. Jake’s expression was now the picture of office professionalism, his usual friendly but detached smile firmly in place.

 

He offered a polite, work-appropriate smile, then simply stood up and walked away, leaving Heeseung alone by the flowchart, the unspoken tension hanging heavy in the air, a silent promise of something more lingering in the space Jake had just occupied.

Chapter 36: 🐶

Summary:

For the first time in his life, Sunghoon found himself happily drowning.

Notes:

Hello~ 👋

This fic is finally rising from its long beauty sleep.

 

I'm going to try my old writing style for this arc. I've really missed it.

Sunghoon couldn't pinpoint the exact moment it happened. There was no single event, no sudden revelation that split his life into a before and an after.

 

Falling for Jake wasn't a cliff he had jumped off; it was a slow, deliberate descent into a deep lake. He walked into the cool waters of their friendship, feeling the surface break around his ankles, then his knees, the water rising imperceptibly until one day he realized he was completely submerged.

 

He sank into it without a sound, a descent so gentle it felt less like falling and more like floating. He allowed himself to settle into the peaceful stillness of the depths, where the light filtered down in soft, golden luminescence. Here, in the quiet clarity, the world above seemed to fade into a distant memory.

 

Jake was the gentle ripple on the surface, an easy presence that grew without pressure. But beneath the surface, Jake’s very existence was a quiet, insistent song, a siren’s lure calling Sunghoon to dive deeper.

 

With every shared laugh, every accidental brush of hands, every stolen glance, the lure grew stronger, pulling Sunghoon into the golden luminescence of the depths. Sunghoon's own world, typically so still, began to pulse with a new rhythm that was entirely Jake’s.

 

 

 

---

"Hey," Jake said, his voice a low, warm sound that broke the surface of Sunghoon’s thoughts.

 

 

"What's your favorite song?"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunghoon’s mind, typically so quick and precise, went blank. The question felt like a stone dropping into the still water, sending ripples in every direction. He uttered the name of a band, a title he knew he could pull up on a playlist. But in the space between the question and his answer, the real music had begun to play. 

 

The melody wasn’t from an album; it was the soft, golden sound of Jake’s voice when he said Sunghoon’s name, the rhythm of his laugh, the low, contented hum he made while he read. It was the quiet symphony of Jake's very existence, a song he had been listening to for months without truly hearing.

 

As he watched Jake’s lips curve into a gentle smile, Sunghoon felt everything else dissolve. The distant chatter of students, the faint drone of the fluorescent lights, the world outside of this single, sunlit table.

 

It all faded into a soft, unbreathing stillness. All that was left was the golden luminescence, the warmth of the space between them, and Jake’s smile, which was now the only sound, the only sight, the only truth he needed. He was drowning, and for the first time in his life, he knew it was exactly where he was meant to be.

Chapter 37: 🦊

Summary:

Sunoo was the monarch of his misery, and he had no plans to abdicate. Maybe?

The mournful wail of a ballad filled Sunoo's room, a song so devastatingly sad it made you feel personally victimized by a break-up you never even had. Sunoo was a magnificent, Oscar-worthy sulker, curled up on his bed with a blanket wrapped around him like a sorrowful burrito. He had been a hermit for two days, a self-imposed exile from the world's cheerfulness. All because he had accidentally seen his brother and his crush kiss. Their  happiness? His sadness. A cosmic personal attack.

 

 

A low, rhythmic tapping began. Tap. Tap. Tap.

 

It was coming from his window. He squeezed his eyes shut tighter, but the tapping persisted, a persistent, annoying beat against the glass. He opened one eye just enough to see Niki's blurry, grinning face pressed against the pane, followed by an enthusiastic hand tapping sounding like a cryptic message. It sounded like Morse code for: I am bored and you are sad and it is a crime.

 

Sunoo sighed. He reluctantly slid open the window. Ni-ki, who lived in the house directly across from his, climbed over the railing of his own balcony and, with the agility of a human-sized spider, shimmied across the narrow ledge separating their buildings. He landed in Sunoo's room with a soft, perfectly executed roll.

 

Sunoo didn't even bother to mumble "go away." He just gave the subtlest of sighs, a tiny, weary puff of air that a drama director would have been proud of.

 

The tapping stopped, but now replaced by a new sound: a high-pitched, off-key hum. Sunoo peeked out again. Ni-ki was now perfectly balanced on his hands in a handstand, humming a song that was definitely not in tune. He swayed gently, a human metronome of pure chaos. Sunoo stared at him. Was he really going to have to be sad while his best friend performed Cirque du Soleil in his room?

 

"I said, go away," Sunoo mumbled into his pillow, his voice laced with the kind of tired irritation that only a best friend can provoke.

 

Ni-ki landed softly on his feet, did a quick spin, and then flopped down on the bed right next to Sunoo. Without a word, he nudged Sunoo's phone with his finger. Sunoo ignored him, so Ni-ki gave a more deliberate tap. The music skipped. A blaring, upbeat pop song about sunshine and rainbows suddenly filled the room.

 

Sunoo let out a quiet shriek, snatching his phone back. He fumbled to slide the upbeat song away, but it was too late. The emotional wall he had so carefully built was now crumbling, and he felt a single, betrayed tear roll down his cheek. He hid his face in his pillow, his body shaking with silent sobs.

 

"Okay, what is it?" Sunoo finally sighed, his voice muffled. "Can't a person just be sad in peace?"

 

Ni-ki's leg-jiggling stopped. He looked at Sunoo, his gaze shifting from his usual mischievous glint to something quieter. His eyes crinkled slightly, and he leaned in, his voice dropping to a theatrical whisper. He suddenly grabbed Sunoo's hand.

 

"Sunoo hyung" he said, pulling him up.

 

 

 

"Let's date."

Notes:

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Thank you for reading~